World News: Police beat back thousands of demonstrators in Yemen

Yemeni police armed with sticks and daggers beat back thousands of protesters marching through the capital in a third straight day of demonstrations calling for political reforms and the resignation of the country's US-allied president.

The protests have mushroomed since crowds gathered on Friday to celebrate the ousting of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak after an 18-day revolt fuelled by similar grievances.

Yemen is one of several countries in the Middle East feeling the aftershocks of pro-reform uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia.

Police used truncheons to stop protesters, many of them university students, from reaching Sanaa's central Hada Square. Witnesses said plain-clothes policemen wielding daggers and sticks also joined security forces in driving the protesters back.The Ministry of Interior called on people not to heed "suspicious calls for chaos" and to avoid rallies which "obstruct the course of daily life".

Meanwhile, Egypt's military rulers have dissolved parliament, suspended the constitution and promised elections in moves cautiously welcomed by pro-democracy protesters.

Supoj Jaengmoraka and Maratee Sukamanee swing out on rappelling ropes during their wedding ceremony in Prachinburi province, Thailand. Chavez says socialism will stay

President Hugo Chavez said that he has no intention of ceasing his efforts to make Venezuela a socialist country, and he expressed confidence that his allies would take the reins of his Bolivarian Revolution if he died or decided to step down.

Taylor stays in hospital

Elizabeth Taylor is likely to spend another few days in a Los Angeles hospital while being treated for congestive heart failure, a spokeswoman said.

Taylor was said to be resting comfortably and had been receiving family and friends in her room at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre.

Wife chases tiger away

A WOMAN in a jungle region of northern Malaysia rescued her husband from a tiger attack by clubbing the beast on its head with a large wooden soup ladle and chasing it away.

The tiger pounced on Tambun Gediu near his home in a jungle settlement of the Jahai tribe.

Mr Tambun's 55-year-old wife, Han Besau, rushed out when she heard his screams and struck the tiger on its head with a kitchen ladle, causing it to flee immediately, police said.

Tunisian migrants flock to Italy

Hundreds of Tunisians landed on a tiny Sicilian island by the boatload yesterday, swelling the numbers of illegal migrants arriving on Italian shores in less than a week to well over 4000.

Sixteen boats had arrived in less than 24 hours since Saturday night, coastguard officials said.

Radical cleric faces charges of terrorism

Indonesia: The country's best-known radical cleric, Abu Bakar Bashir, has gone on trial over fresh terrorism charges.

He faces a maximum penalty of death if found guilty of helping fund a new terror cell in Aceh province and mobilising foot soldiers.

China: Provinces in the drought-stricken north-east have been ordered to hasten emergency irrigation work to help minimise the loss of crucial wheat crops.