Bangladeshi assault kills two militants

DHAKA • Bangladeshi troops using armoured vehicles and firing bullets and tear gas hit an apartment on Sunday in the north-eastern city of Sylhet, killing two of the militants besieged in the building, the authorities said.

But the troops did not succeed in ending a violent three-day stand-off that has left six other people dead, including two police officers, and injured at least 43.

NYTIMES

Seoul subway stations' naming rights for sale

SEOUL • The government of Seoul, South Korea's capital, plans to sell the naming rights for more than 50 subway stations this year to make up for losses in its subway operations, Yonhap news agency reported yesterday.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said it will auction off the naming rights for 58 additional subway stations.

A number of downtown and commercial hub area stations will be up for sale, it said.

Troops evict MPs from Maldives Parliament

MALE • Security forces physically ejected protesting MPs from the Maldives Parliament yesterday in chaotic scenes during a failed opposition attempt to impeach the Speaker and destabilise the President ahead of elections next year.

Lawmakers shouted and stood on their chairs ahead of the impeachment vote, which came a day after exiled opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed declared a unity pact with the President's powerful half-brother Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Mr Gayoom is nominally the leader of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives despite falling out with his half-brother, President Abdulla Yameen.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE