Zemin meets with Albright: cm nese President Jiang Zemin met US Secret^ of State Madeleine Albright yesterday on the last morning of a visit marked by deep differences over human rights. AFP reports from Beijing.

Albright, who arrived Sunday, had earlier met Premier Zhu Rongji, vice premier Qian Qichen and foreign minister Tang Ji-axuan. The rift over human rights dominated what the US termed 'forceful and tough' talks.

5 die in Bihar road accident: At least five persons were killed and over 24 injured when a minibus which they were travelling in overturned and rolled into a roadside ditch near Rajaura village In Begusarai, Bihar on Monday, police sources said, PTI reports from Begusarai.

While four persons died on the spot another succumbed to injuries on way to hospital.

3 Americans abducted in Colombia: Three US researchers reported missing in the Jungles of Colombia have been kidnapped. Colombian officials confirmed on Monday. ‘AFP reports from Bogota.

Citing the FBI and US officials here, the head of Colombia's anti-kidnapping unit. Jose Alfredo Escobar, said the trio had been taken hostage by rebels. 'The FBI and the American consulate have confirmed the kidnapping of Terence Freitas. Larry Gai Lameenal and Ingrid Inawatuk. who were investigating the disappearance of the native U'wa tribe." he told journalists.

Dissidents detained in Cuba: Nearly 100 Cuban dissidents were either detained or prevented from leaving their homes in Havana on Monday as the tr ial of this Caribbean nation's most prominent opposition group began, a human rights organisation said, AFP reports from Havana.

According to the Cuban Commission on Human Rights and National Reconciliation, at least 45 dissidents were rounded up by Cuban security forces while another 46 were barred from leaving their homes.

Politician killed in Haiti: Unidentified gunmen shot and killed a prominent opposition political and critic of President Rene Preval in Port au Prince Monday, police said. AFP reports from Port au Prince.

The gunmen fled and police said they have so far found no motive for the killing of Senator Jean-Yvon Toussaint. 47. Witnesses said the senator was shot in the street while leaving the home of a friend after being told his car had a flat tire. Tous-saaint was a member of the Organisation of the People in Struggle (OPL), the party that dominates parliament but is locked in a bitter battle with Preval's administration.

Palestinian shot in WB:

troops shot and wounded a Palestinian man Monday who was trying to break through a military checkpoint in the West Bank, the army spokesman said. AP reports from Jerusalem.

The soldiers opened fire on a car with Palestinian licence plates near the Jewish settlement of Mevo Horon after the driver "tried to break through an army checkpoint", the spokesman said in a statement. A hospital spokesman said the man had been shot in the pelvis and was in stable condition. The army said it was investigating the incident.