■ Afghanistan
Norwegians shot in attack
Suspected Taliban sympathizers shot and wounded two Norwegian peacekeepers Tuesday, in a daytime ambush north of the Afghan capital, Kabul. A spokesman for the 22-nation peacekeeping force, Isaf, said the two soldiers were attacked at a school in the village of Mir Bacha Kot in the Shomali plain between Kabul and Bagram, where US and coalition forces have their main base. They had helped to rebuild the UN-funded school and were at its inauguration when unidentified gunmen shot at them. Last night the Norwegian foreign ministry said one of the men had serious injuries and the other minor ones. They were being treated at a hospital in Kabul.
■ Austria
Leader accused of racism
President of the Austrian Jewish community Ariel Muzicant accused Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel on Tuesday of ill-will against the Jewish community. Schuessel was giving him "the feeling that his goal is the liquidation of the community," charged Muzicant in the early edition of yesterday's Standard newspaper. Muzicant referred to differences over financing security for the Jewish community. He claimed Schuessel has said on several occasions that the Austrian government would not pay for "come-down Mossad agents" as security men. Schuessel's spokeswoman has denied this. But Muzicant insisted although he had not heard them personally, he had been told the Chancellor's words by reliable sources.
■ Colombia
Abducted priest freed
A Catholic priest abducted two days ago by an unidentified illegal armed group was released Tuesday with his driver in northern Colombia. Alfredo Guerra said that he and his driver were abducted by an armed commando as they were heading to Valledupar in Cesar province. The priest did not identify his kidnappers but said he had been treated humanely. In Valledupar and environs, Marxist rebels of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army, as well as the right-wing paramilitary United Self-Defence Forces of Colombia, are all known to operate. Nine days ago, FARC executed 10 hostages during a botched government rescue attempt. Among those killed in cold blood were the governor of Antioquia Guillermo Gaviria and former defence minister Gilberto Echeverry.
Agencies
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