Briefs from around the world

Lebanon - Three people were killed and dozens left injured, after Hezbollah protesters took to the streets of Lebanon last week and clashed with government supporters. The group burnt tires and cars on roads in and around the capital to enforce a general strike aimed at toppling U.S. - backed Prime Minister Fuad Saniora.

Africa - Flooding has killed at least 44 people and forced thousands of others in Angola and Mozambique to flee their homes. Most of the deaths occurred in and around the capital, Luanda, which was threatened by torrential rains last week. Meanwhile, 20 people died and 20 others were pronounced missing after a flood in Cacuaco, 10 kms north of Luanda.

Venezuela — Venezuela may be heading the way of Cuba, where inflation and uncertainty reign as President Hugo Chavez says “nothing and no one” can stop him from transforming the country into a socialist state.

Israel - In what would be an unprecedented indictment against an Israeli head of state, Israel's ministry of justice says prosecutors intend to charge President Moshe Katsav with rape and other crimes against female employees. His post is largely ceremonial and the scandal is unlikely to have a direct impact on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has himself been hurt politically by a string of investigations into suspected corruption, which he has denied.

Australia - Sydney municipal officials have paid private detectives thousands of dollars to have sex with prostitutes to gather evidence needed to shut down illegal brothels. Nine local councils have paid private investigators the equivalent of $23,150 over the last three years to go undercover and root out the illicit trade.