MOSCOW - A recent gas leak in northeast China near the Russian border that killed three people contained phosgene, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said Friday citing environmental experts. "An expert evaluation confirmed that the leak contained phosgene gas," Andrei Nesterenko said, adding that eight people had been poisoned as a result of the leak.
Phosgene is a chemical warfare agent with a lethal concentration of 0.01-0.03 milligrams per liter. There is no known antidote. Earlier Friday, a Russian emergencies ministry spokeswoman quoted Chinese authorities as saying the chemical leak in the town of Qiqihar in the Heilongjiang province was no threat to the environment.
Irina Andrianova quoted the Chinese general consulate in the Russian Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk as saying that on June 5 a cylinder containing unidentified gas "disintegrated" causing a gas leak. "Local authorities and environmental experts disposed of the cylinder and dealt with the consequences of the accident," she added.
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http://en.rian.ru/world/20080606/109426611.html
1,000 kilos of explosives seized near Pakistan capital
Jun 6, 2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Police seized two vehicles carrying about 1,000 kilograms of explosives, foiling a possible terror plot near Pakistan's capital. Senior police officer Rao Mohammed Iqbal said several suspects were arrested in the operation late Thursday in the garrison city of Rawalpindi.
Two security officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media, said Friday at least three men were arrested, suspected of wanting to target "sensitive installations."
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1212659675544&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
A chiropractor was jailed after a bomb scare led authorities to find explosives materials inside of his Park City office, police said. A bomb scare occurred at the chiropractor’s office earlier this week, when someone reported seeing bomb-making equipment in the hallway.
As investigators searched and secured the office building, they reportedly found more equipment inside the office of chiropractor Matthew Zarit. Officials believe that the equipment in the hallway also belonged to Zarit. Zarit, 36, was eventually arrested and booked into the Summit County Jail. Authorities believe he intended to blow up the office building with the bomb-making materials which included gasoline, sodium hydroxide, road flares and a fuse. Zarit faces two felony charges of attempted arson and possession of an incendiary device.
http://www.kutv.com/mostpopular/story.aspx?content_id=18247e8b-18c8-48d6-8340-63af0a5a2f6c
Egypt deploys hundreds of policemen on Gaza border
Fri Jun 6, 2008
Egypt deployed hundreds of riot police along the border with the Gaza Strip on Friday, fearing hundreds of Palestinian protestors may try to storm the Rafah crossing, security officials said. One official said 500 policemen as well as scores of border guards were deployed at Rafah border crossing and along a concrete wall separating Sinai and the coastal strip.
"Hundreds of Palestinians are starting to gather in front of the main gate of the crossing on the Palestinian side demanding it to be opened," the official told Reuters on a customary condition of anonymity. Another security official put the number of policemen at around 1,000, along with 500 border guards.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSL064443220080606