Deer me, grass sweeter in Monas

SERANG: Hundreds of people in the village of Petir in Serang regency, Banten province, were shocked by the birth of a baby goat whose body resembled that of a human baby, on Tuesday.

However, later in the evening the baby died.

The owner of the goat, Sarkim alias Akong, 45, said the ewe had been pregnant for over a year before giving birth to the anomalous baby.

The villagers considered the baby's birth to be the sign of a something big about to happen to the country. Many even related the birth to the prolonged dry season in the Serang regency, which has caused a water shortage and threatened rice production.

Islamic cleric Chaerudin said that it was a sign from God to people who have turned their backs on God. -- JP

;REUTERS; ANPAi..u.. Odd-Germany-bananas German goes bananas JP/2/ODD

German goes bananas

BERLIN: A raging German fruit thief battered a shop worker with bananas when he was caught swiping a bunch, police in Dusseldorf said on Tuesday.

Attempting to flee, the man first kicked and punched the 38- year-old assistant but then switched to using the fruit.

"The bananas were handy so he decided to use them," said Dusseldorf police spokesman Norbert Peters.

"By the time the police arrived, the attendant's face and upper body were completely smeared with bananas," police said in a statement. He was not seriously injured.

Police arrested the 24-year-old thief. -- Reuters