WORLD BRIEFS

NIGERIA: Helicopter crash kills six

A navy helicopter crashed Saturday in the oil-rich southern delta, killing a state governor and five other people, officials said. The ruling People's Democratic Party said the governor of the central state of Kaduna, Patrick Yakowa, died in the crash in Bayelsa state in the Niger Delta, describing it as a "colossal loss." The statement said the former national security adviser, Gen. Andrew Azazi, also died in the crash. Azazi was fired in June amid growing sectarian violence in Nigeria, but maintained close ties with the government. Four other bodies had been found. The helicopter had taken off from the village of Okoroba in Bayelsa state, where officials had gathered to attend the burial of the father of a presidential aide, Commodore Kabir Aliyu said.

PAKISTAN: Rockets kill 3 in Peshawar

Militants fired three rockets at an airport in Peshawar on Saturday night, killing three people and wounding 30 others, officials said. Peshawar is on the edge of the northwest tribal region, the main sanctuary for al-Qaida and Taliban militants in the country. None of the rockets landed inside the main airport area, which is jointly used by civilian authorities and the air force, said a Civil Aviation Authority spokesman. A gun battle broke out between security forces and militants after the rocket attack, but no militants could enter the airport.

IRAN: General warns Turkey

Iran's army chief of staff warned Turkey on Saturday against stationing NATO anti-missile systems on its territory, saying such a move risks conflict with Syria. The remarks by Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi were carried on state TV the day after the Pentagon announced it will send two batteries of Patriot missiles and 400 troops to Turkey as part of a NATO force to protect Turkish territory from potential Syrian missile attacks. Firouzabadi said the Patriot deployment was aimed at protecting Israel from Iranian missile attacks and inhibiting a potential Russian military defense of Syria.