Two ministers visit Japanese war shrine

TOKYO • Two Cabinet ministers visited Japan's Yasukuni war shrine yesterday, paying respects at a venue seen by neighbouring countries as a symbol of Tokyo's militarist past.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a passionate supporter of the shrine, made a ritual offering last Saturday but is thought unlikely to visit in person.

He is due to hold talks next month with the leaders of China and South Korea, countries that bore the brunt of Japanese military aggression in the 20th century.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Hardliners demand Aceh church closures

ACEH SINGKIL (Indonesia) • Hardline Muslims in Indonesia's conservative Aceh province yesterday demanded that the local government close 10 Christian churches, just days after a mob burned down a church, leaving one dead and several injured.

Tensions are high among the ethnically and religiously diverse population of Aceh Singkil district, raising the risk of further religious violence in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation.

REUTERS

Save Selangor rally draws 200 attendees

KUALA LUMPUR • About 200 people turned out for the Save Selangor rally yesterday - a far cry from the 5,000 forecast - but organiser Jamal Mohd Yunos said it was still a success, The Malay Mail Online reported yesterday.

Datuk Jamal, the Sungai Besar Umno division chief, said the protest served as an opportunity to spread the rally's grievances over the government's incapability.

He vowed to stage monthly protests against the local authorities and continue to dig out more "weaknesses and lies" of the Selangor government and its leaders.