Two workers die in landslide

INDONESIA: Two workers were killed and 17 others injured in a landslide in Wonosobo regency, Central Java on Saturday morning.

Local officials said the accident occurred when the residents of Banyumadal village were excavating a hillside to widen the road below it.

Local administration spokesman identified the dead as Sutarman, 16, and Paidi, 17.

Fuad said the injured had been admitted to the Islamic Hospital. The Wonosobo regency administration would cover the medical expenses.

"We will provide them with rice and pay their hospital bills," Fuad said. The regency would give families of the dead Rp 500,000 (US$60) each. -- Antara

ANTARA; ANPAc..r.. High-Hamsad-award Hamsad wins literary award JP/2/HIGH

Hamsad wins literary award

INDONESIA: Veteran literary figure Hamsad Rangkuti emerged as the winner of the 2003 Khatulistiwa Literary Award on Friday night in Jakarta.

He bested four other finalists with his short story anthology Bibir Dalam Pispot (Lips In the Chamber Pot).

The 60 year old received a cash prize of Rp 70 million (US$8,285) and a scholarship to train in England as well as to have his anthology translated into English.

Hamsad Rangkuti expressed delight at winning and said the award was his most cherished among all the awards he has ever won during his 43-year career.

He later told Antara that he would use the money from his prize to buy an angkot (public minivan) for his children.

In his speech titled "The Author and His Roots", the former editor of Horison literary magazine said that falsehood and injustice in the community drove him to express provocative thoughts.

The other four finalists were poet Sapardi Djoko Damono with his collection of poems Ada Berita Apa Hari ini, Den Sastro? (What's the News Today, Den Sastro?), Nukila Amal with her debut novel Cala Ibi, Radhar Panca Dahana with his anthology of poems Lalu Batu (Then Stone) and Joko Pinurbo's anthology of poems Telepon Genggam (Cell phone).

-- Antara

;ANTARA; ANPAc..r.. High-film-Sekar-award Sekar takes film director honor JP/2/HIGH

Sekar Ayu takes directing honor

EGYPT: Indonesian Sekar Ayu Asmara, director of Biola Tak Berdawai (A Stringless Violin), won the Naguib Mahfuz prize for Best Debut Film Director at the 27th Cairo International Film Festival with 45 participating countries.

Sekar, who also wrote the script, received a trophy and a charter with Mahfuz's name as a tribute to the Egyptian literary man who won a Nobel prize for literature. The novel was later put to film.

"I am proud to be selected as the best director in the Cairo film festival," Sekar told Antara here on Friday after receiving the prize at the National Opera Building Friday night.

Biola Tak Berdawai stars Ria Irawan, Nicholas Saputra and Jajang C. Noer. The film explored complex issues, ranging from handicapped children to rape and abortion.

-- Antara

;AP; ANPA ..r.. High-Pakistan-Militant Three jailed for assassination plan JP/2/HIGH

Three jailed for assassination plan

PAKISTAN: A court on convicted three militants on Saturday and sentenced them to 10 years in jail for planning to kill President Gen. Pervez Musharraf last year, prosecutor Abdul Wahid Khan told The Associated Press. Two other men were acquitted.

The ruling was announced at a high-security jail in the southern city of Karachi where the trial of the men was held because of security reasons.

Police this year charged the five men with plotting to kill Musharraf on April 26, 2002, while he was visiting the sprawling port city.

-- AP

;REUTERS; ANPAc.. High-Kashmir-rebels Kashmir rebels slain after standoff JP/2/HIGH

Kashmir rebels slain after standoff

INDIA: Indian security forces killed two militants after a lengthy battle near the home of Indian Kashmir's chief minister, police said on Saturday.

On Friday, the militants lobbed grenades and fired shots outside Mufti Mohammad Syed's home, killing two soldiers.

The rebels, holed up in nearby shops for 24 hours, wounded 12 Indian soldiers and policemen in the overnight exchange of fire in the heart of Srinagar, Kashmir's main city, officials said.

-- Reuters