In Brief

Saudi Arabia’s first beheading in 2007 RIYADH – Saudi Arabia yesterday beheaded a Saudi man for murdering another Saudi national after an argument, in the first execution reported in the kingdom in 2007, the Saudi Interior Ministry said.

Saud bin Harbi al-Hajiri was convicted of stabbing to death Faisal bin Fahad al-Muteiri following a dispute, the statement said. He was executed in al-Qatif town, in the kingdom’s eastern region.No other details were given.Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which people convicted of murder, drug trafficking, rape and armed robbery can be executed.The executions are carried out with a sword and in public, as a deterrent measure.The kingdom beheaded 38 people last year, 83 people in 2005 and 35 people in 2004.* Iran denies stalled nuclear activities TEHRAN – Iran yesterday denied reports that nuclear activities had stalled at one of its uranium enrichment plants and reiterated it would press ahead with the programme which the West fears could be used to make nuclear arms.”Activities in Natanz continue,” Mohammad Ali Hosseini, spokesman of Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said during a weekly media briefing, in response to a question whether nuclear enrichment at the plant had stopped.* Indian investigators find 3 more skulls NEW DELHI – Indian investigators recovered three more skulls near the home of a businessman suspected of killing up to 38 women and children, media reports said Sunday.The skulls were found in a drain outside the home in Noida, an industrial and software hub adjoining New Delhi, bringing to 20 the number uncovered so far, the Times of India newspaper reported.India’s top federal investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI, resumed searches near the home after taking over the case last week from local police who were slammed for failing to properly investigate dozens of reports of missing children from a nearby slum.At least 38 children have gone missing from the slum in the past two years.Nampa-APHe was executed in al-Qatif town, in the kingdom’s eastern region.No other details were given.Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which people convicted of murder, drug trafficking, rape and armed robbery can be executed.The executions are carried out with a sword and in public, as a deterrent measure.The kingdom beheaded 38 people last year, 83 people in 2005 and 35 people in 2004.* Iran denies stalled nuclear activities TEHRAN – Iran yesterday denied reports that nuclear activities had stalled at one of its uranium enrichment plants and reiterated it would press ahead with the programme which the West fears could be used to make nuclear arms.”Activities in Natanz continue,” Mohammad Ali Hosseini, spokesman of Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said during a weekly media briefing, in response to a question whether nuclear enrichment at the plant had stopped.* Indian investigators find 3 more skulls NEW DELHI – Indian investigators recovered three more skulls near the home of a businessman suspected of killing up to 38 women and children, media reports said Sunday.The skulls were found in a drain outside the home in Noida, an industrial and software hub adjoining New Delhi, bringing to 20 the number uncovered so far, the Times of India newspaper reported.India’s top federal investigating agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI, resumed searches near the home after taking over the case last week from local police who were slammed for failing to properly investigate dozens of reports of missing children from a nearby slum.At least 38 children have gone missing from the slum in the past two years.Nampa-AP