Two quakes in Sumatra

JAKARTA: Two earthquakes measuring 4.5 and 5.6 on the Richter scale rattled the western coast of Indonesia’s Sumatra island on Monday but caused no reported damage or casualties, the Meteorology and Geophysics Office here said. The first temblor hit with a magnitude of 4.5 and an epicentre 33 km under the floor of the Indonesian Ocean 240 km southwest of the West Sumatra town of Pariaman, the office said. The second, a magnitude 5.6 earthquake, was centred 15 km below the ocean floor around 140 km southwest of Painan, another town in West Sumatra. — AFP

No survivors in air crash

JAKARTA: All 17 people missing since their light aircraft crashed in jungle-clad mountains in Indonesia’s eastern Papua province six days ago were confirmed dead on Monday, police said. “There were no survivors, the airplane was completely destroyed,” said Zainuri Lubis, a national police spokesman. He said that all the remains were awaiting air evacuation. — AFP

Blast was a mishap: US

KABUL: The US military said on Monday that a probe into an explosion that destroyed five fuel tankers at its main base in southern Afghanistan has found that it was an accident, not the result of a Taliban attack. At least three drivers were injured in the incident on Sunday, and Afghan officials blamed Taliban rebels. — AP

Myanmar junta leader

YANGON: Myanmar’s junta leader Senior General Than Shwe will travel to Indonesia and attend the Asia-Africa summit there this week, state media reported on Monday. “At the invitation of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe will attend the Asian-African Summit 2005 and the commemoration of the golden jubilee of the Asia-Africa Conference,” the New Light of Myanmar said. — AFP

Blast claims two kids

KHOST: Two children were killed and two others wounded by a bomb which was carried by floodwaters into a residential neighbourhood in southeast Afghanistan, an official said on Monday. The youngsters were playing with the device when it detonated on Sunday in Itesarq Mena, a district west of Gardez city, said security officials. — AFP

HK leader under pressure

HONG KONG: Pressure was building on Hong Kong’s acting chief executive on Monday to declare he will campaign to be the territory’s next leader in the July 10 election. Donald Tsang, who’s expected to win the race, has refused to say if he’s running. Pro-Beijing legislator Choy So-yuk said Tsang should announce plans soon so that people can scrutinise his policy vision. — AP

Aussies held in drug haul

DENPASAR: Nine Australians were arrested on Monday when police on the resort island of Bali swooped on a major drugs syndicate attempting to smuggle home a large quantity of heroin — a crime that can carry the death penalty in Indonesia. — AFP