TRIPOLI – Libya has restored its energy ministry, in a government reshuffle that also established four more ministries – national security, training and labor, culture, and youth and sports – giving the Libyan government a more orthodox structure. The finance, justice, and deputy prime ministers lost their portfolios. RED CROSS CALLS FOR ACCESS TO SUDAN’S DARFUR REGION

NAIROBI – The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has accused Sudan of preventing aid workers reaching tens of thousands of people affected by war in the western Darfur region, by refusing them travel permits. At least 3,000 people have been killed in fighting between the government and rebels in the area since February 2003. MSF ACCUSES RUSSIANS OVER DAGESTAN KIDNAP

PARIS – The aid organization Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF) has accused Russian and Dagestani officials of being involved in the kidnap of MSF worker Arjan Erkel, a Dutch national who was abducted in the Russian republic of Dagestan, neighboring Chechnya, in August 2002. Erkel is reported to have suffered from a pulmonary infection and to have been threatened with execution. The last sign that he was alive was received in October. RUSSIA REFUSES VISA FOR CHECHNYA CRITIC

MOSCOW – Russia has refused to grant a visa to a former Council of Europe rapporteur on Chechnya, who has been critical of Moscow’s policies in the republic. Frank Judd was due to attend an award ceremony in Moscow, sponsored by a group called the Yalta Peace Initiative for Chechnya, on Wednesday – days before a presidential election expected to be won by incumbent Vladimir Putin, who launched the war in the Caucasus republic.  LEBANESE OPPOSITION FIGURE CALLS FOR ANTI-SYRIAN VOTE

BEIRUT – The exiled Lebanese opposition figure Michel Aoun has called for a “union of democratic forces, both Muslim and Christian” in the run-up to municipal elections due in May, to defeat groups that support Syria’s dominance of the country. Aoun is a former army chief backed by Christian militias, who was named as head of a caretaker government in 1988, during Lebanon’s civil war. A rival Syrian-backed administration finally forced him into exile in France. RIYADH ATTACK SUSPECT FREED IN SWITZERLAND

GENEVA – One of eight foreigners arrested in Switzerland in connection with last year’s suicide bomb attacks in Saudi Arabia has been released, after no evidence was found against the detainee. The announcement on Sunday gave no further details about the detainees, who were arrested in simultaneous police raids in January. Switzerland opened an inquiry after the May 12 Riyadh attacks, which claimed a total of 35 lives including a Swiss citizen. Another attack on November 8 claimed 52 lives. INFORMERS FOR ‘EXTREMIST’ GROUP ARRESTED IN ALGERIA

ALGIERS – Algerian security forces arrested 19 people accused of being informers for the armed Islamic movement, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, which is particularly active in the northeastern Kabylie region. The arrests followed a bomb attack in Kabylie on Sunday, in which two soldiers were killed and four injured. A local official said the group had attracted unemployed youths in the region. JORDAN FOILS EXTORTION RACKET

AMMAN – Jordanian authorities have arrested several people accused of plotting to abduct Jordanian investors. Government spokeswoman Asma Khodr said the suspects planned to kill their victims after forcing them to transfer funds to an undisclosed bank account outside Jordan. She said the suspects, who included Jordanian and other Arab nationals, were arrested after police stormed their headquarters.

    ISRAELI GRENADE ATTACK SUSPECT ‘NOT A TERRORIST’

SYDNEY – Australian officials said a man arrested over a grenade attack on an Israeli police station was not a terrorist, and denied his capture in Australia earlier this month reflected a security failure. Yehezkel Bohadana, 23, is wanted by Israeli police over his alleged involvement in the July 2000 incident. No one was injured in the attack. However, Bohadana has been charged with attempted murder and will face an extradition hearing in Sydney on April 14. EIGHT PEOPLE JAILED FOR ‘TERRORIST’ ACTS IN LEBANON

BEIRUT – A Beirut military court has sentenced eight people to prison for belonging to a “terrorist” group. Yemeni Moammar Abdullah Al Awwami was sentenced to 20 years in prison in connection with bomb attacks at three American fast food restaurants in 2002 and 2003. A Palestinian, Ali Muhammad Qassem, was sentenced to 15 years after he was accused of wanting to kill US Ambassador Vincent Battle. FIRE WRECKS GREEK MOSQUE

ATHENS – A fire has seriously damaged a mosque in the village of Topeirou in Greece’s northeast Thrace region, home to a large part of the country’s Muslim minority. The authorities said they were investigating whether the fire was caused by arson. Flames erupted shortly after an announcement that the conservative party had won general elections.