WORLD BRIEFS

YEMEN: 26 in anti-Saleh crowd killed

Government forces fired anti-aircraft guns and automatic weapons on tens of thousands of anti-government protesters in San'a who were demanding the ouster of longtime President Ali Abdullah Saleh, killing 26 and wounding dozens, medical officials and witnesses said. After nightfall, the capital sank into complete darkness in a power outage, as protesters took control of a vital bridge, halting traffic and setting up tents.

PAKISTAN: Tussle over parts of drone

Pakistani troops battled Taliban militants Sunday for control of the remnants of a crashed CIA drone, according to security officials. The cause of the crash of the unmanned Predator, among those the CIA uses to fire missiles at Taliban and al-Qaida hideouts in the rocky region bordering Afghanistan, remained in dispute hours after it was downed in Zangarha village in South Waziristan. The Taliban claimed to have shot it down.

RUSSIA: Fisticuffs on TV panel

A Russian tycoon punched a fellow billionaire on a television panel show when a discussion on the financial crisis degenerated into name-calling. Alexander Lebedev, a former KGB operative and owner of the British newspapers the Independent and the Evening Standard, wrote on his blog that property developer Sergei Polonsky had behaved abusively during the recording of the program. In a preview clip posted on the NTV channel's website, Polonsky is seen saying he sometimes felt like "bashing [Lebedev] in the face," prompting Lebedev to jump to his feet. His sucker punch sent Polonsky tumbling to the ground. Lebedev is estimated by Forbes magazine to have a net worth of $3.1 billion.

LIECHTENSTEIN: Abortions remain illegal

Voters in the tiny principality rejected a plan to legalize abortion Sunday, following a referendum campaign that saw Prince Alois threaten to veto the proposed change. Opponents won 52.3 percent of the votes.