Suicide attack in Turkey kills 2, injures 24

ISTANBUL • Two Turkish soldiers were killed and at least two dozen other troops were wounded yesterday in a suicide attack blamed on Kurdish militants. The attack in the eastern Agri province is the first time Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants have been accused of staging a suicide attack in the current crisis.

The suspected PKK suicide bomber drove a tractor laden with explosives to the military station in the Dogubayazit district, the official Anatolia news agency reported.

Ankara has launched an "anti-terror" offensive against ISIS militants in Syria and PKK militants based in northern Iraq but the bombardments have focused more on Kurdish rebels.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Aussie beaches closed after shark sightings

SYDNEY • Several beaches on the east coast of Australia were closed yesterday after fresh shark sightings.

Beaches at Ballina, where a bodyboarder was injured by a shark last month and a Japanese surfer was killed in February, stayed closed after sightings this weekend, Surf Life Saving New South Wales said.

Experts said that attacks are increasing as water sports become more popular, but fatalities remain rare.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Toddler's death sparks clashes in Jerusalem

JERUSALEM • Clashes broke out yesterday at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque, one of Islam's holiest sites, two days after a Palestinian toddler was burned alive in a firebombing by suspected Jewish extremists.

Police said masked Palestinian youth at the mosque threw stones at security forces, while protesters held pictures of the 18-month-old child killed in last Friday's arson attack in the occupied West Bank.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Canada's PM calls for elections on Oct 19

OTTAWA • Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper dissolved Parliament yesterday and called for general elections on Oct 19.

The announcement marks the official kick-off of an 11-week-long campaign, in which the Conservative leader will seek a fourth straight term in power.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE