Briefly

NIGERIA

Hundreds missing after new mass abduction

Several hundreds girls are missing after a raid by suspected armed bandits on a school hostel in Zamfara, northwest Nigeria, a teacher and parent said on Friday, in what would be the latest mass kidnapping in the troubled region. Heavily-armed criminal gangs in northwest and central Nigeria have stepped up attacks in recent years, kidnapping for ransom, raping and pillaging."More than 300 girls are unaccounted for after a headcount of remaining students," a teacher at the Government Girls Secondary School Jangebe said. Last week, 42 people were taken by a gang from a school in nearby Niger state.

ARMENIA

Pashinyan, Putin discuss situation over phone

Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the situation in Armenia in a telephone conversation with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday."Putin spoke in support of maintaining peace and order in Armenia and resolving the situation in a lawful manner," it said in a statement. Putin urged all parties to exercise restraint, the Kremlin said. Pashinyan on Thursday sacked the country's chief of the general staff Onik Gasparyan, accusing him of attempting a military coup. Earlier on Thursday, Gasparyan and dozens of top military commanders signed a statement, demanding Pashinyan and his cabinet resign, local media reported.

Agencies - Xinhua