■ Sweden
Fat police set off sensors
Portly police have a new reason to work out thanks to a new security entrance at the National Police headquarters that won't let them in if they weigh too much. A construction error in the recently remodeled security entrance, which has a built-in scale designed to only let one person at a time pass through the door, has caused some embarrassing moments for officers who may not have spent enough time exercising. Those weighing more than 105kg who try to pass through the entrance are greeted by a recorded voice telling them to "Stop! One at a time!" and are not let through, police spokeswoman Linda Widmark said.
■ Israel
Sharon committed to pullout
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon vowed to press ahead with a pullout from Gaza and part of the West Bank in the summer despite yet another slap from his own party, setting his sights on a parliamentary vote in two weeks. The vote Thursday by the Likud Party central committee called on its members of parliament to support a referendum on the plan. Sharon dismisses that as a delay tactic by opponents of the pullout. The Likud convention's action had only symbolic value, because there is no parliamentary majority for a referendum. However, Sharon has to survive a crucial budget vote to remain in power, and party rebels plan to vote against him.
■ Iraq
Attacks on `infidels' continue
Al-Qaeda's wing in Iraq said that suicide attacks carried out in recent days proved the group was still strong and capable of pursuing its war against "infidels," according to an Internet statement posted yesterday. "What happened ... and will happen in coming days is a response to infidel deceptions and claims that the mujahideen [holy fighters] are weaker and that their attacks have abated," said the statement attributed to the military commander of the al-Qaeda Organization for Holy War in Iraq, Abu Aseed al-Iraqi. In a separate Internet statement, also dated March 3, the group said its leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, would soon issue a message to the faithful.
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