World in brief

Zuma begins Zimbabwe talks

South Africa: President Jacob Zuma has begun talks with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in an effort to break the political deadlock that is hobbling Harare's unity government.

Zanu-PF chief negotiator Patrick Chinamasa said that "the principals are meeting."

Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai formed a unity government in February last year, but it has been deadlocked over a slate of key appointments, including the central bank governor and the attorney general, while Mr Tsvangirai maintains that Zanu-PF supporters continue to persecute his allies.

Haiti rebuilding 'will cost billions'

Haiti: The UN regional assessor for natural disasters said that Haiti needs $11.5 billion (£7.5bn) over three years to rebuild and transform the western hemisphere's poorest state after its catastrophic earthquake.

Alejandro Zapata said that the figure was an estimate from the Haitian government and international agencies including the United Nations, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank.

Mr Zapata suggested that two-thirds of the money should be spent on poverty alleviation programmes.

Security deployed after shrine riots

Uganda: The country has deployed security forces across Kampala after rioters attacked policemen, firefighters and soldiers following a blaze at the UN-listed Kasubi tombs.

The 128-year-old tombs in straw-thatched buildings are revered by the Baganda people because four of their kings are buried there.

Young supporters of the current Baganda king Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II claimed that the government may be responsible for Tuesday night's fire.

35 dead after bus falls off mountain

Afghanistan: At least 35 people have been killed after a bus plunged off a road near the Salang Pass, a major route through the Hindu Kush mountains.

The Salang pass connecting northern and southern Afghanistan is a notoriously dangerous stretch of road and the scene of avalanches in February that killed 170 people.

The interior ministry said that the accident appeared to have been caused by the "narrow width of the road and the carelessness of the driver."

Red Shirt activists to keep camping

Thailand: Leaders of the Red Shirt protesters who are campaigning to bring down Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's government have said that they will remain camped out in Bangkok indefinitely.

United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship protesters hurled plastic bags filled with their own blood into his residential compound on Wednesday - following similar protests the day before at his office and the headquarters of his Democrat Party.

More than 100,000 demonstrators converged on the capital on Sunday, but their demands and deadlines were snubbed by Mr Abhisit.

Volunteers begin tidying river bank

India: Hundreds of volunteers wearing gloves and face masks have picked up rubbish along the Yamuna River to offset what they said was government inaction that has left the waterway a putrid sewer.

The volunteers hope that the Commonwealth Games coming to New Delhi in October will finally spur action to clean up what has become an embarrassment to the government and a public health crisis for the city.

PM faces protest against land laws

Malaysia: Hundreds of indigenous citizens have staged a rare protest outside the prime minister's office to denounce legal amendments that the government is planning for indigenous land issues.

The Orang Asli - which means "Original People" in the Malay language - collectively refers to some 18 ethnic tribes, many of whom live in or near the rain forest in peninsular Malaysia.

Orang Asli representatives have reportedly been told that tribal families will be given ownership of nearly 125,000 acres of state land, but they will have to surrender their claim to another 200,000 acres in return.

Relief operations begin after cyclone

Fiji: Relief operations have been launched on the northern regions after the island suffered overwhelming damage from a powerful cyclone that battered its shores for more than three days.

Fiji sent naval patrol boats laden with supplies and support staff sailing for the northern islands which bore the full brunt of the storm, while Australian and New Zealand air force planes began airlifting emergency supplies to the islands. Only one death has been reported, but the full extent of the damage has yet to be confirmed.