SERBIA

Serbian police detained 56 neo-Nazis who defied a ban and demonstrated to demand that the contested province of Kosovo remain part of Serbia.

The arrests came after clashes broke out between the extremists and anti-fascists holding a counter-demonstration.

Kosovo, where ethnic Albanians make up 90% of the population, remains part of Serbia. But it has been run by the United Nations and North Atlantic Treaty Organization since 1999, when NATO airstrikes ended a Serbian military crackdown on ethnic Albanian separatists.

PAKISTAN

Musharraf aides killed in crash

The crash of a helicopter carrying aides to President Pervez Musharraf revived concerns for the Pakistani leader's safety as his war with Islamic militants intensifies.

The army said four people died when the craft tried to land after a technical problem. Three helicopters were taking Musharraf and his entourage to the Pakistani-held portion of Kashmir.

AUSTRIA

Asylum seeker stabs himself

A Nigerian teenager stabbed himself in the stomach at a public square after he was denied asylum, Austrian police said.

The 18-year-old, who has not been identified, was hospitalized and his life was not in danger, police said.

The incident occurred in the town of Steyr. Earlier in the day, the man learned that his asylum request had been denied and that he would have to leave the country.

The Austria Press Agency reported that he had lived in Austria for about 2 1/2 years.

The incident occurred amid a debate about the expulsion of asylum seekers.

AFGHANISTAN

Australian soldier dies in combat

A roadside bomb killed an Australian soldier, the first combat death in that nation's military contingent, the country's government said.

Australia has about 1,000 soldiers in Afghanistan.

In other violence, the U.S.-led coalition said that airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday killed 16 militants who were fighting under a warlord.

GUATEMALA

Politician's aide, guard slain in car

A presidential security guard and the secretary of Guatemala's leading presidential candidate were shot and killed, extending a plague of election-related violence as the country prepares for a runoff vote next month.

The candidate, Otto Perez, blamed organized crime for killing guard Valerio Castañon and secretary Aura Salazar as they sat in a car a block from Congress in Guatemala City.

More than 50 people have been killed in election-related violence this year.

SUDAN

Town attacked despite peace pact

Sudanese forces attacked a southern Darfur town controlled by the only rebel group that signed a peace deal last year with the government.

The attack could deepen rebel mistrust ahead of peace talks in Libya this month. It also appeared to be an expansion of an offensive the military has been waging in northern Darfur, despite promises for a cease-fire.

Battles took place in Muhajeria, a town controlled by the Sudan Liberation Movement.

From Times Wire Reports