Briefs, February 25, 2013
The Philippines is sending a navy ship to waters off eastern Malaysia to bring back about 180 Filipinos who became locked in a standoff with Malaysian authorities after claiming the territory, officials said.
MANILA - The Philippines is sending a navy ship to waters off eastern Malaysia to bring back about 180 Filipinos who became locked in a standoff with Malaysian authorities after claiming the territory, officials said. The Filipino group arrived in Sabah state's coastal district of Lahad Datu about two weeks ago, claiming Sabah belongs to their royal clan based in the southern Philippine province of Sulu. Malaysian authorities regard them as armed intruders and have tried to persuade them to leave peacefully, setting tomorrow as a deadline. AP
DHAKA - Islamists demanding the execution of bloggers they accuse of blasphemy clashed with police in Bangladesh for a third straight day, and at least four protesters were killed when police opened fire. Up to 3,000 protesters, including students from religious schools known as madrassas and supporters of the main opposition party, barricaded a highway at Singair in the central district of Manikganj, police said. Tensions have risen over allegedly anti-Islamic blog posts by Ahmed Rajib Haider, who was hacked to death last week near his home in Dhaka. AFP