Wikinews Shorts: June 9, 2007

Malaysian prime minister marries
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi married Jeanne Abdullah in a private ceremony today at Seri Perdana.

Premier Abdullah, 61, has been a widower since October 2005, when his wife of 40 years, Endon Mahmood, died of breast cancer. Jeanne, 53, is a hotel management professional who has served as a supervisor at the prime minister's official residence in Putrajaya.

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Two killed, nine hurt in South Thailand violence
Two men were fatally shot today in Narathiwat Province in southern Thailand. The men were riding a motorcycle and were fired upon by gunmen who were waiting along the road.

Also in Narathiwat, a roadside bomb went off, injuring five Royal Thai Army soldiers. Three soldiers were wounded in an ambush attack. And, one police sergeant was seriously injured in a drive-by shooting.

Sources

Thailand deports 163 Hmong to Laos
Thailand today sent 163 Hmong people back to Laos, handing them over at the Vientiane-Nong Khai border point.

Thailand says the 163 entered the country illegally, but the Hmong said they were seeking political asylum, because in Laos they face persecution for their role in the Laotian Civil War, in which the Hmong sided with the United States in a war against the communist Pathet Lao. On Monday, Hmong military leader Vang Pao and eight others were arrested in the U.S. in a plot to overthrow the Laotian government. Thai officials said today's deportations were routine, and were not linked with the Vang Pao case.

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