Trial set in slaying of US diplomat

KHARTOUM - Five suspects are to stand trial on Aug. 17 on charges of killing US diplomat John Granville and his driver, state media said yesterday. Granville, 33, and Abdelrahman Abbas Rahama, 39, were shot Jan. 1 in a rare attack on foreign nationals in Sudan. "The papers have been filed to the court," a senior Justice Ministry official Babiker Abdel Latif said. (Reuters)

ANKARA - Kurdish rebels threatened yesterday to stage more attacks on economic targets in Turkey, days after claiming responsibility for a fire at an oil pipeline, a pro-Kurdish news agency said. Turkish authorities have not confirmed the pipeline fire was sabotage, as claimed by the Kurdistan Workers' Party, a group that seeks autonomy in Turkey's Kurdish region. (AP)

BAGHDAD - After two decades, Iraq resumed oil exploration yesterday, an Oil Ministry official said. Iraq has confirmed reserves of an estimated 115 billion barrels, but it is believed the reserves could be twice as high. A seismic team began work in the Gharraf field in Nasiriyah. (AP)

TOKYO - A small amount of liquid containing uranium splashed out of a container at a Japanese nuclear plant near Tokyo, slightly exposing two people to radiation, the plant operator said yesterday. The amount of radiation in the spill was "extremely low," and there was no threat to the workers, Global Nuclear Fuel-Japan Co. said. (AP)