S P O T L I G H T

Eight killed in Bangladesh
Dhaka, August 12
Eight persons were killed and 50 others injured following clashes between activists of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League and former Opposition leader Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) at Companyganj in Feni district today, BNP sources said. At least eight remained missing in clashes which followed assault on BNP workers yesterday while they were returning from BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s electioneering meeting at Companyganj thana. UNI

Ban cloning of humans: Germany
Berlin, August 12
German President Johannes Rau has called for a worldwide ban on cloning humans. In an interview with the conservative Welt am Sonntag newspaper today, Mr Rau said it was “more important to help human beings who already exist”. Mr Rau said instead of cloning, research ought to concentrate on serious illnesses like diabetes, cancer, and heart attacks, with all scientific means available. “The debate on cloning doesn’t provide any answers to these questions.” DPA