Protesters against the government of Syria set fire to offices of the ruling party today while hundreds of political prisoners were released in a bid to appease the rioters.

A passenger jet carrying 90 people, including a Kyrgyz high school basketball team, crashed shortly after takeoff today near the Kyrgyz capital, killing at least 65, government officials said.

A SENIOR Iraqi official said last night that an Iraqi weapons’ expert had submitted to a private interview with UN arms inspectors – a sign of progress in deadlock over weapons inspections.