Briefs
JAKARTA - A moderately strong earthquake hit eastern Indonesia, but there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. No tsunami warning was issued. The US Geological Survey said the 6.0-magnitude quake struck yesterday off the eastern province of Papua. It was fairly shallow, just 20 kilometres beneath the sea. Witnesses said shocked residents and hotel guests in Nabire town ran outside screaming. AP
MANILA - The government of the Philippines and the secessionist Moro Islamic Liberation Front have made "substantive gains" in their 31st round of formal talks in Malaysia, according to a joint statement released yesterday. Both parties agreed to meet again before the end of the month to "discuss unresolved issues". They say they hope to sign a final peace agreement within the year. Xinhua
BATTICALOA - Sri Lankans in Eastern Province voted in a provincial assembly election seen as a test of whether ethnic-minority Tamils still want self-rule or are satisfied with government-led economic development in a region devastated by a quarter-century civil war. The Tamil National Alliance, the main Tamil political party, is seeking to control a provincial assembly for the first time and hopes a victory will be seen internationally as a mandate for more power-sharing in Tamil-majority areas. AP
COLOMBO - A stolen diamond worth US$13,600 swallowed by a Chinese man at a gem show has been recovered after he was given a dose of laxatives, Sri Lankan police said yesterday. The man, 32, swallowed the 1.5-carat diamond at a stall at Sri Lanka's annual jewellery show on Wednesday. AFP
