Police storm NHK Tokyo headquarter, rescue hostage

TOKYO: Japanese police charged into an office of national broadcaster NHK on Friday and overpowered a knife-wielding man who had taken a woman hostage and demanded to speak to Prime Minister Koizumi.

Live NHK television coverage showed police in the western city of Kyoto charging into the office and taking the man into custody after spraying him with a fire extinguisher.

NHK said the hostage, a receptionist, was unhurt but one policeman was slightly injured during the raid. The man, who described himself as a member of a paramilitary group, had given officials a document titled ‘‘Words of Resolution’’ in which he stated his views on US action in Afghanistan and demanded NHK to broadcast it.

Finally, war over in Sierra Leone

LUNGI: Sierra Leone’s government and rebel leaders declared a decade-long civil war over on Friday as they watched thousands of weapons burn on a ceremonial bonfire. ‘‘The war is over,’’ said President Ahmed Kabbah, who also announced the end of the wartime curfew. ‘‘Go and enjoy yourselves.’’

The war in the West African country, the worst place to live on earth according to a UN league, has horrified the world with its images of mutilated civilians, their hands and feet hacked off by fighters who were often children. Up to 50,000 people have been killed and thousands wounded or raped. (Reuters)