PATNA, India - Gunmen from a radical communist group killed at least 35 sleeping villagers in the latest caste massacre in India‘s Bihar state.

BRUSSELS - Divisions grew between European Union governments on Thursday over how to deal with the crisis sparked by the mass resignation of the EU‘s executive body.

KUALA LUMPUR - Troops and police on Friday were set to cordon off three villages in western Malaysia to shoot thousands of pigs carrying a virus which has killed at least 51 people and created a major health scare.

PORTADOWN - Masked youths hurling petrol bombs fought running battles with police in a Northern Ireland town, overshadowing fresh peace pleas by U.S. President Bill Clinton and British and Irish leaders.

MILAN - Jacques Santer, outgoing president of the European Commission, thinks former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi would be the right man to head a new executive body.

MOSCOW - Fire killed 21 people in a hospital for psychoneurological disorders in the Vologda region, north of Moscow.

GENEVA - Two balloonists trying to complete their around-the-world tour have broken the record for the longest flying time by a hot-air balloon without refuelling or stopping.

SHENZHEN, China - Chinese police have arrested a man repatriated from Taiwan after serving a jail sentence there for hijacking a plane from the mainland.

NUWARA ELIYA - The foreign ministers of India and Pakistan said on Friday they were committed to cementing bilateral relations and intensifying efforts to resolve old disputes.

SYDNEY - The ex-wife of Australian IOC member Phil Coles sent a note to the International Olympic Committee on Friday confirming allegations she had received gold and diamond jewellery from a man involved in the bid by Athens for the 1996 Games.

MEXICO CITY - Tens of thousands of students, masked Zapatista rebels and power sector workers marched through Mexico City in protest at plans to open the nation‘s electricity sector to foreign investment.

ANKARA - Turkey‘s veteran prime minister, Bulent Ecevit, lost a battle in his war to shield his caretaker coalition government but a rift seems to be opening up in the opposition alliance seeking to topple him.

WASHINGTON - Russia has told the United States it will take steps to curb nuclear cooperation with Iran but Washington wants to see action before lifting sanctions.