Car crashes kill eight in C. Java

SEMARANG: Two families were killed in separate traffic accidents along Central Java's northern coast early Saturday morning.

Antara reported that a family of four died when the Kijang van, license plate number H 8646 DS, they were riding collided head-on with a box truck on Kademan highway in Tulis district, Batang, 100 kilometers west of provincial capital Semarang. Two others were seriously injured in the accident.

Another deadly car crash took place on the highway connecting Semarang and Demak, involving a Panther van and a produce truck carrying chili. Sumanto, 25, his wife Sulastri, 25, their three- month-old baby Tito Ardiyanto, and the van's driver Sugiyono, 40, died instantly, while two other passengers Riyanto, 43, and Tiyadi, 43, were seriously wounded.

The survivors were rushed to Sultan Agung Hospital in Semarang, while the bodies of the victims were taken to Kariadi Hospital morgue in the city. -- Antara

;DPA; ANPAi..r.. Highlight-Singapore-Matori Matori condition improving JP/2/Matori

Matori condition improving

SINGAPORE: Indonesian Defense Minister Matori Abdul Jalil was in intensive care in a Singapore hospital on Saturday after a mild stroke.

Matori, 61, was unconscious when he arrived at Mount Elizabeth Hospital but has since regained consciousness, said Chalief Akbar, the Indonesian Embassy's head of information.

"His condition is improving," he added.

Matori checked into an army hospital in central Jakarta last Wednesday because he felt very tired after making several trips within the country, Indonesian media reports said. He had the stroke on Monday and arrived in Singapore by air ambulance Wednesday night, Chalief said. -- DPA