International briefs: Russia

AUTHORITIES say floods in southern Russia have killed eight people and forced the evacuation of at least 160 others. Two days of heavy rains in the Krasnodar region caused a mountain river to burst its banks, sending torrents of water down the mountains on to villages.

Local emergency ministry spokesman Roman Kravchenko said three of the eight killed were elderly people trapped in their houses. Two more were found dead in a drain. People had to be evacuated on Friday, Kravchenko said, but said they were able to return when the rain stopped yesterday.

The heavy rain also caused mudslides, closing the North Caucasian railway at numerous points.