IN BRIEF (Page 11)

Vietnam

Twin blasts claim 10 lives

Several people were killed when twin blasts tore through a residential street and destroyed three houses in south Vietnam early on Sunday, police said, with reports putting the death toll at around 10. "We have been informed of two explosions this morning that killed about ten people ... but we need to check the exact number of the victims," a local policeman said.

Iran

Military 'shoots down drone'

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have brought down a foreign surveillance drone during a military exercise, the official Islamic Republic News Agency said on Saturday. "We have managed to bring down a drone of the enemy. This has happened before in our country," the agency quoted war games spokesman General Hamid Sarkheli as saying.

Afghanistan

Suicide bombers kill 3

Two Taliban suicide bombers killed three members of Afghan security forces on Sunday, but a third attack in Kabul's diplomatic enclave was foiled when police shot dead the would-be assailant, officials said. The attacker in Kabul was armed with a suicide vest and his SUV was full of explosives, but police opened fire when he tried to penetrate deeper into the capital's diplomatic enclave of Wazir Akbar Khan.

Italy

Italians vote in crucial election

Italians voted on Sunday in one of the most closely watched and unpredictable elections in years, with pent-up fury over a discredited elite adding to concern it may not produce a government strong enough to lead Italy out of an economic slump. The election will conclude on Monday afternoon.

Bangladesh

Clashes leave at least 4 dead

Islamists demanding the execution of bloggers they accuse of blasphemy clashed with police in Bangladesh for a third straight day on Sunday, and at least four protesters were killed when police opened fire. Up to 3,000 protesters barricaded a highway at Singair in the central district of Manikganj, police said.

AFP-Reuters-AP

(China Daily 02/25/2013 page11)