CM's train blocked
KOZHIKODE, Dec 5 (PTI) —A Mangalore-bound train carrying Kerala Chief Minister E.K. Nayanar was blocked by about 25 Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha workers, near here, today in protest against the alleged CPM attacks on their cadres in Kannur. The train was delayed for about 30 minutes following the protest sit-in, railway sources said.

5 killed in crash
MOSCOW, Dec 5 (PTI) — Five crew members were killed and two seriously injured when a cargo plane of Uzbekistan Airlines crashed and tore into pieces soon after taking off at Domodedovo Airport here early today. The Tashkent-bound IL-114 aircraft crashed 400 metres from the runway with its cargo of paints catching fire immediately. While five crew members died in the crash, the chief pilot and technician survived and have been hospitalised.

Russian envoy dead
MOSCOW, Dec 5 (PTI) — Russia's Ambassador to Pakistan Anredi Gulyaev, died in Islamabad last night following a massive heart attack, Itar-Tass reported today. Gulyaev (47) was a veteran on Indian affairs and had served in the Soviet Embassy in New Delhi on several occasions.

S.D Sharma
NEW DELHI, Dec 5 (PTI) — The condition of former President Shankar Dayal Sharma remained unchanged and he continued to remain on ventilator following complaint of breathlessness, hospital sources said today. There was no improvement in his condition and he continued to remain on respirator, the sources at Escorts Heart Institute said.

Emergency landing
OTTAWA, Dec 5 (AP) — An air force plane carrying Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien landed with one of its two engines shut down after a warning light indicated fire or overheating. It was unknown if fire actually ignited in the left engine, during yesterday's afternoon flight. The crew shut the engine off and proceeded to Ottawa.

Uruguay's Vice-President
NEW DELHI, Dec 5 (PTI) — Vice-President of Uruguay Hugo Fenandez Faingold arrived here today on a five-day official visit aimed at giving a new impetus to bilateral ties. Several agreements are expected to be finalised during his visit with special focus on enhancing economic and commercial ties.

7 drowned
HYDERABAD, Dec 5 (UNI) — Seven persons were drowned and three others died in a wall collapse in separate incidents in Andhra Pradesh in the past 24 hours. The police said here today that four students of a private college in Bhimavaram, who had gone for a picnic, were drowned in the Bay of Bengal. Three others were drowned in the Godavari in east Godavari district. In another incident three labourers were killed and three injured when a wall under construction collapsed on them.

5 die in mishap
RAJAHMUNDRY, Dec 5 (PTI) — Five persons were killed and five others injured, when a lorry in which they were travelling, overturned at Nallipudi village today. The police said the injured, of which two were in a serious condition, were admitted to a hospital.

Naxals torch houses
HYDERABAD, Dec 5 (PTI) — Naxalites of the banned People's War Group (PWG) set afire the houses of two ruling Telugu Desam Party workers in separate incidents in Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh today. The police said a group of ultras torched the house of Mr Narsing Rao, chairman of Single window scheme, and a TDP sarpanch at Dodipoally village in Adilabad district. They later went to Pendhckalpet village and set a ablaze the house of Mr G.Srinivas, TDP worker.

CPI-ML protest day
PATNA, Dec 5 (PTI) — CPI-ML (Liberation) has decided to observe a statewide "protest day" in Bihar on December 18 against the alleged "police high-handedness" on the issue of setting up the statue of veteran leader late Vinod Mishra here. The party had decided to organise "badlo Bihar, badlo gaon" rally here on December 18, party's central committee members Mahendra Singh and Krishna Dev Yadav told reporters here.