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DUBAI, Oct 28 (Reuters): Saddam Hussein's half-brother and co- defendant in a trial on charges of crimes against humanity has asked to his captors to free him so that he can seek treatment for cancer, an Arab newspaper said on Friday.
The daily Asharq al-Awsat said Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti made his appeal in a letter to US President George W. Bush, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Arab leaders to help win his release so he can be treated for spine cancer.
"I plead to President Bush ... in the name of justice and the principles of democracy and human rights defended by the United States, to look into my humanitarian situation," the newspaper quoted Barzan as saying in the letter.
The letter, which the London-based newspaper said was in Barzan's handwriting, could not be immediately authenticated.
Barzan, a former head of Iraq's feared Mukhabarat intelligence service, said he could not receive proper treatment in prison, adding that some prisoners had died of cancer while in detention.
Strike to protest media restrictions shuts down Kathmandu
KATMANDU (AP): A general strike to protest laws restricting the media shut down schools, businesses and transportation in Nepal's capital, Katmandu, on Friday.
Nepal's seven major political parties called the strike to oppose new regulations that let authorities shut down newspapers and radio stations, and jail journalists.
The new laws, imposed on October 09, make publishing or broadcasting criticism of Nepal's king punishable by up to two years in prison.
They also raise the maximum fine for newspapers or journalists who criticise the royal government by 10 times to 500,000 rupees (US$7,000; euro5,800), and give authorities the power to revoke journalists' credentials.
On Friday, hundreds of police patrolled Kathmandu's streets as journalists and activists planned to hold a mass protest rally in the city.
China's president heads to N Korea for rare summit with North's reclusive leader
BEIJING (AP): Chinese President Hu Jintao headed for North Korea on Friday for a rare summit with the North's reclusive leader, Kim Jong Il, the government said.
Hu's trip comes amid US pressure for Beijing to do more to get its communist ally North Korea to stop developing nuclear weapons.
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