Wikinews:Briefs/April 18, 2007

Virginia Tech was warned about gunman Cho
A former professor at Virginia Tech has said that she informed the university authorities about Cho Seung-hui and his unusual behaviour in 2005.

Lucinda Roy claims that after Cho wrote a disturbing piece for an English class, she "was so uncomfortable that I didn't feel that I could leave him in the classroom." Roy also indicates that she felt the repeated warnings that she gave concerning Cho should have been considered more seriously.

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16 Killed in Egyptian motor accident
In Egypt, 16 teenagers on their way to school have been killed. The vehicle they were traveling in was involved in a head-on collision on the main road from Cairo. Early reports indicate that at least eight others were injured.

About 6,000 people die and 30,000 are injured each year in traffic-related incidents in Egypt.

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Nigeria begins 'evacuation' of militants
There are reports that the Nigerian Army has clashed with militants. The army has begun an operation to remove militants from Kano in the north of the country.

According to police the militants, who have been linked with Islamic extremists, may have been in the area because an Islamic cleric was assassinated last week.

The unrest comes days after a number of political parties in Nigeria called for postponement of Nigeria's presidential election and a boycott of the poll over its integrity.

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Brewing Cartel? - Not here says EU
The European Union has imposed fines on brewers in the Netherlands totaling at least 273 million euros for price fixing and alleged anti-competitive behavior.

Whilst not record, the fines are intended to send a clear message that cartel-like behavior would not be tolerated in the EU.

EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes was quoted as saying "The highest management of these companies knew very well that their behavior was illegal, but they went ahead anyway and tried to cover their tracks", indicating that senior management in the firms had done little to stop the behavior.

Combating price-fixing and cartels remains a priority of EU Competition Commission authorities; 1.7 billion euros in related fines have already been issued this year.

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More Fatalities in Somalia
There have been seven more deaths in Somalia in fresh clashes between insurgents and Ethiopian troops. 50 people are also reported to have been injured.

A spokesperson for the Dominant Hawiye clan indicated that despite high tensions a ceasefire agreement holds.

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