World Scene

PAKISTAN

Visits to Libya, Iran sparked interrogations

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s decision to detain and question some of its leading nuclear scientists came after it dispatched top-secret investigative teams to Iran and Libya to check claims that greed led the men to cash in on nuclear know-how, a senior Pakistani official told the Associated Press.

He said the interrogations sprang from information learned on the trips, as well as evidence from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog.

Authorities are investigating charges that Pakistani scientists aided nuclear programs in Iran, Libya and North Korea.

CANADA

Reporter raided over al Qaeda story

OTTAWA — Police raided the home and office of an Ottawa journalist yesterday to investigate any leaks of classified information about a Syrian-born Canadian who was deported to Syria by the United States and was suspected of ties to al Qaeda.

The raids on the home and office of Ottawa Citizen reporter Juliet O’Neill came as lawyers for Maher Arar said their client planned to file a lawsuit against the United States today over his deportation.

FRANCE

Rail strike causes chaos, traffic jams

PARIS — A rail strike caused chaos for French commuters and led to huge traffic jams around Paris yesterday, stepping up protests intended to put pressure on the government over pay, conditions and reforms.

The 24-hour strike by unions at SNCF railway company forced the cancellation of many intercity and local trains.

GERMANY

Court delays verdict in September 11 case

BERLIN — A German court yesterday postponed the verdict on a Moroccan accused of aiding the September 11 attackers after prosecutors said they had found a new witness that cast doubt on his expected acquittal.

The Hamburg court where Abdelghani Mzoudi is on trial said the verdict would not be issued today as expected after a request from prosecutors to hear evidence from two police officials about a new witness.

MALAYSIA

Court rejects Anwar’s bail plea

PUTRAJAYA — A Malaysian court yesterday denied jailed former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s request to be freed on bail, prompting the opposition hero to lash out at the judges and the country’s new and old prime ministers.

Jailed in 1998, Anwar completed five of the 15 years he was sentenced to for sodomy and abuse of power when his nemesis, Mahathir Mohamad, stepped aside in October for Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to become prime minister.

NORWAY

Nation hails birth of future queen

OSLO — Norway celebrated after Crown Princess Mette-Marit gave birth yesterday to a princess who is in line to become the nation’s first reigning queen in more than six centuries.

Flags flew from public buildings across the Nordic nation to fete the girl, who is second in line to the throne after her father Crown Prince Haakon, 30. She is a great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Britain’s Queen Victoria.

The country’s law of succession was changed in 1990, making female members of the royal family eligible for succession.