In Brief

Catholic priests die in ambush
TWO CATHOLIC priests have been killed in Colombia in an ambush by left-wing paramilitaries. The attack on Monday killed four men altogether. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia have been held responsible. Fabian Marulanda Lopez, Bishop Emeritus of Florencia, said that it was unclear if the rebels had targeted the priests or if they had made a mistake.
Police stop church worship
POLICE have ordered Christians to stop worshipping at a church in Sri Lanka after a mob threatened churchgoers on two consecutive Sundays.
Police in Horana have ordered the evangelical Christians to stop meeting for worship and prayer at the Foursquare Gospel Church. The move follows a campaign of intimidation and harassment by extremists to throw out Christians from a mainly Buddhist area. Christians fear an anti-conversion law may also be introduced.
Priest prays for ceasefire
THE PRIEST of the only Catholic parish in Indonesia’s Aceh province said he hopes that the peace deal signed by the Indonesian government and separatist rebels can be implemented after several decades of violent conflict. Indonesia’s chief negotiator Hamid Awaluddin and Malik Mahmud, the exiled leader of the Free Aceh Movement, signed the treaty in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday.
Bishops launch peace week
COLOMBIA’S bishops have launched a campaign to promote Colombia’s 18th annual Peace Week.
“It is extremely urgent to work for a decent life for all Colombians, and that is the condition for peace to be possible among us,” Mgr Hector Fabio Henao, director of Caritas Colombia said.
A decent life includes issues of labour, health, respect for freedom and human rights, and an end to hunger, Mgr Henao said.