IN BRIEF (Page 7)

Israel

Sharon condition deteriorates

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's already critical medical condition is deteriorating further as key bodily organs continue to decline, the hospital treating him said on Friday. The 85-year-old Sharon, who has been in a coma for eight years after a devastating stroke incapacitated him at the peak of his political power, is fighting and is not in pain, said Dr Zeev Rotstein, the director of Tel Hashomer hospital near Tel Aviv.

Myanmar

Govt releases 1,600 prisoners

More than 1,600 prisoners were released across the country on Friday under an amnesty order of President U Thein Sein, local media reported. The president granted the pardons to mark the country's Independence Day, which falls on Saturday. The freed prisoners included more than 40 foreigners.

Pakistan

Musharraf's trial 'internal matter'

Pakistan said Friday that the trial of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf on a charge of high treason is the country's internal matter. The comments from the foreign ministry came amid rumors that Musharraf could leave Pakistan under a deal to be brokered by friendly countries. Local media have reported the Saudi Foreign Minister who was scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on Monday could discuss the trial.

South Sudan

More US staff evacuated

The United States evacuated more embassy staff on Friday from South Sudan's capital, Juba, due to worsening security in the country, where clashes between rebels and the army threaten turning into a full-blown civil war. The fighting, which began on Dec 15, has split the world's newest state along ethnic lines, between President Salva Kiir's Dinkas and former vice-president Riek Machar's Nuer group, and raised fears of regional instability.

Iraq

Al-Qaida group nears major city

Al-Qaida militants advanced on Friday into new areas of one major Iraqi city and held part of another, after days of violence. Parts of Ramadi and Fallujah, west of Baghdad, have been held by militants for days, harkening back to the years after the 2003 US-led invasion when both cities in Anbar province were insurgent strongholds.

Libya

London confirms death of Briton

Britain on Friday confirmed the death of one of its nationals and said it was also aware of the death of a New Zealander in western Libya, but gave no details of the circumstances in which they died. Libyan security sources said on Thursday that a British man and a woman from New Zealand had been found dead with gunshot wounds at Mellitah, 100 km west of Tripoli, outside a large oil and gas complex co-owned by Italy's ENI.

AP-AFP-Reuters-Xinhua

(China Daily 01/04/2014 page7)