RESCUERS yesterday afternoon halted their search for people feared trapped for more than a day under the roof of a skating rink in south-eastern Germany, concerned that the ruins could collapse again.

Rescuers tonight halted their search for people feared trapped for more than a full day under the fallen roof of a skating rink in south-eastern Germany, concerned that the ruins could collapse again.

A court has freed a monk and four nuns who are charged with killing a nun last month during an exorcism ritual, authorities in Romania said today.

Two Polish contractors and five aides were today abducted near Baghdad, before one of the Poles escaped, a spokesman for their company said.

A teenage gunman has released two of the four youngsters he took hostage today at a school in south-western Germany, police said.