Taiwan quick take

■Accidents
Woman barbecues her arm
A woman's right forearm was amputated yesterday after she unintentionally barbecued it while sleeping. The Taichung Veterans General Hospital said the unidentified woman set up a barbecue in her bedroom Thursday evening to keep her warm. She fell asleep with her right arm hanging over the grill, and woke up yesterday morning to find it completely charbroiled on one side with the other half roasted, Dr. Tang You-wen said. "Since the nerves and tissues are dead, we had to amputate her forearm," he told reporters. Tang said the woman, in her 20s, adamantly denied that she was drunk and swore she had not taken drugs, "so I cannot understand why she did not feel pain." He said he suspected the woman had taken some sleeping pills.

■ Australia
Student drowns in river
Australian divers yesterday found the body an 18-year-old Taiwanese student who drowned in the Brisbane River. The teenager was among a group of seven students taking a late-night swim on Thursday. The teen, whose name was not released, was at a barbecue with friends in Mowbray Park in East Brisbane when the group decided to go for a swim. Several members of the group told police they saw the teenager disappear under the water. Regional Crime Coordinator Don Mabbutt told Australia's AAP news agency that police divers located the body. The staff of Shafston International College at Kangaroo Point have issued a statement saying they are deeply saddened by the incident.

■ Diplomacy
Haiti extends invitation
Haitian Jean-Bertrand Aristide said Thursday that he welcomes President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) to visit his country any time. Aristide also expressed his appreciation for the Taiwan government extending a helping hand during the Caribbean country's most difficult times. Aristide made the remarks at the Haitian Presidential Office when he gave a farewell party to outgoing Ambassador to Haiti Lu Ching-long (呂慶隆). The Haitian Presidential Office secretary-general, the foreign minister and business leaders from both countries also attended the party. Aristide praised Lu for his contribution in promoting bilateral cooperation and friendship, bestowing a plaque on the ambassador. He said the Haitian government and people will always remember Lu's efforts and contributions. Lu thanked Haitian government officials for their assistance over the past two years while he served in the Caribbean country, adding that he is sure the new ambassador will do an even better job.

■ Diplomacy
Dominican leader to visit
Dominican Hipolito Mejia Dominguez will arrive in Taiwan tomorrow at the head of a 17-member mission for a three-day visit, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. While here, Mejia will exchange views with President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) on major issues of mutual concern. He will also visit legislative speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) and Control Yuan President Fredrick Chien (錢復), among others, the spokesman said. It will be Mejia's 24th visit to Taiwan, which he has described as his "second homeland." The delegation will include various Dominican Cabinet members, including Secretary of State for Foreign Relations Hugo Tolentino Dipp, Secretary of State for Tourism Rafael Subervi Bonilla and Secretary of State for Environment Frank Moya Pons.

Agencies