Somali soldier accidentally kills at least 17 people

AT least 17 civilians were killed yesterday when a Somali government soldier fired on a crowd in Mogadishu, according to hospital sources and witnesses.

Witnesses said the soldier accidentally triggered an anti-aircraft machine gun after a dispute with other soldiers on a crowded street in the south of the Somali capital. It was unclear what caused the dispute.

"There was a disaster in Mogadishu today [Monday]. We have received around 56 injured people, 12 dead bodies and five others died of their injuries at the hospital," said Mohamed Yusuf, the director of Mogadishu's Madina hospital.

Defence Minister Abdihakin Mohamed Fiqi expressed regret over the incident and promised government assistance to the wounded.

"On behalf of the Somali government, the president, his prime minister and the speaker, we are very sorry about the sad incident," Mr Fiqi said at the hospital.

"We will help the wounded and promise to bring those behind the brutal killing to justice."

Bond composer John Barry dies aged 77

Composer John Barry, famous for his work on Born Free, Out of Africa and the James Bond films, has died in New York of a heart attack aged 77.

Born John Barry Prendergast in 1933, the York-born musician first found fame as leader of the John Barry Seven.

His arrangement of Monty Norman's James Bond theme led to him composing scores for 11 films in the series, among them Goldfinger and You Only Live Twice.

His work saw him win five Oscars, while he received a Bafta fellowship in 2005.

His most recent film score featured in the 2001 war thriller Enigma, while a musical version of Brighton Rock, created with lyricist Don Black, had its London premiere in 2004.

Black, who worked with the composer on his Born Free, Thunderball and Diamonds are Forever theme songs, said Barry remained unaffected by his international success.

Microsoft Allen's yacht helicopter in emergency landing

(Reuters) - A helicopter from a huge luxury yacht owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, made an emergency landing on water in Argentina on Monday, but neither Allen nor Bill Gates were on board.

Paul Allen's spokesman said a co-pilot was hurt when the helicopter came down on chilly waters in the bay off the southern Argentine tourist city of Ushuaia, a jumping off point for Antarctic cruises.

"Paul landed in Ushuaia soon after the accident ... He was going to join up with the Octopus on a private vacation to explore Antarctica," spokesman David Postman said, referring to the $200 million Octopus yacht.

Facilities on the vessel -- once the world's largest privately owned yacht -- include two helicopters and a professional recording studio. It has a permanent staff of 60 crew members.

The helicopter took off from the Octopus carrying two crew members at about 8 a.m. local time (1100 GMT). It was not clear why an emergency landing was necessary, Postman said.

Crew members rushed to activate flotation devices and landed upright. A photograph showed the helicopter bobbing in the water, its rotor blades twisted.

"This was a close call," Postman said. "We're glad that the there was no danger to guests or crew."

Allen, who founded Microsoft with Gates in 1975, is one of the world's wealthiest people and a well-known philanthropist and adventurer.

Gates was in New York when the accident occurred.

Chrysler projects profitable 2011 ahead of IPO

(Reuters) - Chrysler Group LLC forecast a return to profit for 2011 as it gears up for an initial public offering in the second half of the year and launches an array of new and revamped vehicle models to stimulate its recovery.

The automaker, which is managed and 25 percent owned by Fiat SpA, on Monday projected net income between $200 million and $500 million for 2011. It expects its 2011 revenue to jump by nearly one-third to $55 billion.

Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne has said Chrysler must report a "couple" quarters of net income before its expected IPO this year. The company must also refinance high-interest government loans for lower-cost debt before a public offering.

Chrysler, the No. 5 automaker by sales in the United States, emerged from a U.S. government-funded bankruptcy in mid-2009.

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood: A force to be feared?

(CNN) -- The scenes in Egypt have been dramatic, as thousands turn out onto the streets demanding that President Hosni Mubarak resign after 30 years in power.

Few images have been more powerful than those of demonstrators dropping to the ground to pray in the face of security forces. And while some have been inspired by the role of religious faith in the protests, there are definite worries that the banned Muslim Brotherhood is waiting in the wings, hoping for a chance to take over.

"You don't just have a government and a movement for democracy," former British Prime Minister Tony Blair cautioned on Monday. "You also have others, notably the Muslim Brotherhood, who would take this in a different direction. We need to be anxious to meet the aspirations of the people, but do it in a way that produces something better."

Former Israeli diplomat Eli Avidar argues that elections put the militant Islamist Hamas movement in power in Gaza.

"President (George W.) Bush and (Secretary of State) Condi Rice pressured the State of Israel to allow democratic elections in the Palestinian Authority and what happened was that Hamas took over and these were the first and last democratic elections," he said.

The Muslim Brotherhood could do the same thing in Egypt, he fears.