British soldier dies of gunshot wound in Iraq

LONDON: A British soldier has died of a gunshot wound while serving with an armoured unit in the Iraqi city of Basra, the Ministry of Defence said on Friday.No enemy forces were involved and there was no evidence to suggest any third party involvement in the death on Thursday of the soldier who was serving with the 20th Armoured Brigade, the MoD said in a statement.The Royal Military Police Special Investigations Branch is looking into the death."The soldier's next of kin have been informed and have requested a period of grace before further details are released," the statement added.The death brings the number of British armed forces killed in Iraq since March 2003 to 178, of which 136 were as a result of hostile action.

Mumbai lawyers refuse to defend Ajmal Kasab

MUMBAI: Lawyers in Mumbai are refusing to take on the case of the lone surviving gunman from last month’s attacks in India’s financial hub, citing moral and ethical concerns, legal officials said. The decision presents Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital, with a problem as police continue their investigation into the attacks.Dinesh Mota, a member of the state’s legal aid cell that provides free counsel, was asked to defend the accused, Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, after Mumbai’s Bar Association decided that its members would not take on the case.