News In Brief

166 Olympic cycle protesters cleared

PROTEST: Lawyers for some of the 182 cyclists arrested during a demonstration at the Olympics said today that all but 16 will face no further action.

Hodge Jones & Allen solicitor Raj Chada said: “This has all the hallmarks of a flawed police operation.

“We consider there are potential civil claims for compensation against the police following the mistreatment of our clients and will be taking this further.”

The 16 will face questioning next week.

RMT declares ferry privatisation sunk

SCOTLAND: Transport union RMT claimed victory today in its battle against the privatisation of government-owned CalMac ferries.

General secretary Bob Crow hailed a “massive” win a day after members had voted for strike action, saying that transport bosses had decided to postpone the outsourcing plans for three years.

The Scottish authorities had not confirmed the news as the Morning Star went to press.

Probe traces Alps murder to Britain

MURDERS: The French chief prosecutor probing the murder of a British couple, the woman’s mother and a passer-by in the French Alps said today that the “reasons and causes” have their origins in Britain.

Eric Maillaud and examining magistrate Michel Mollin, another senior member of the inquiry team, met officers from Surrey Police at Woking police station to discuss the case.