SECURITY forces stormed an apartment building in southern Russia yesterday, killing three suspected Islamic militants who had barricaded themselves inside, law enforcement officials said.

Thirty people have been arrested in Uzbekistan on terrorism charges in the wake of three days of attacks that killed 42 people in the former Soviet republic in central Asia.

ISLAMIC extremists were blamed yesterday for suicide bombings, attacks on police and an explosion at an alleged terrorist bomb-making factory in Uzbekistan that killed 19 people including the bombers and injured 26.

Saudi Arabians will be able to vote for the first time after the absolute monarchy announced it was to hold elections for municipal councils.

More than 300,000 Muslims began a two-day, 110-mile march to the holy city of Najaf today to mourn the Shiite leader assassinated in a car bombing that killed at least 85 people.