Yahoo! News: World News World News Iraqi Shiites burn Bush effigy to protest US pact (AP) AP - Thousands of followers of a radical Shiite cleric protested a proposed U.S.-Iraqi security deal Friday, burning an effigy of President George W. Bush in the same square where Iraqis beat a toppled Saddam Hussein statue five years ago. Chanting and waving flags, Muqtada al-Sadr's followers filled Firdous Square to protest the pact that would allow American troops to stay for three more years. Congo refugees plagued by shootings, rape, looting (AP) AP - Looting soldiers tried to rape one woman and fatally shot another at a refugee camp, witnesses said Friday, as the United Nations prepared to send more peacekeepers to help protect traumatized civilians in eastern Congo. Mexico: Former drug czar took cartel money (AP) AP - Mexico's former drug czar was accused Friday of taking $450,000 from a powerful cartel, the highest-ranking official implicated so far in a corruption scandal over efforts by drug gangs to buy protection from the government. Myanmar court hands comedian 45-year prison term (AP) AP - Myanmar's courts continued a crackdown on activists Friday, handing out a 45-year prison sentence to a comedian who went to the delta to help cyclone victims and criticized the junta's slow relief response. Islamists say they'll fight Somali pirates (AP) AP - A radical Islamic group in Somalia said Friday it will fight the pirates holding a Saudi supertanker loaded with $100 million worth of crude oil. BBC governors back decision to keep top star despite lewd prank (AFP) AFP - The BBC's governing body on Friday blasted the corporation for broadcasting a lewd phone prank -- but backed the decision not to sack the institution's highest-paid star Jonathan Ross over the affair. Rocket hits Israeli city, Gaza still sealed (AP) AP - Palestinians fired a rocket at an Israeli city near the Gaza Strip on Friday but caused no casualties, police said, as the Israeli military continued its closure of all crossings into the coastal territory because of ongoing rocket fire. `The Terminal 2'? Japanese man makes airport home (AP) AP - Hiroshi Nohara is on a layover at the Mexico City airport. It has lasted almost three months, and he has no plans to leave. Rwandan presidential aide expresses 'surprise' at arrest (AFP) AFP - A Rwandan government official accused of conspiracy to a political murder which sparked the 1994 genocide said Friday she was "very surprised" by her recent arrest in Germany on a French warrant. China, Taiwan hold historic meeting (AFP) AFP - Chinese President Hu Jintao met here Friday with a senior Taiwan envoy in the highest-level meeting to take place overseas between the rivals since their split in 1949. Aussie mayor wins sexist 'award' for inviting ugly women to town (AFP) AFP - An Australian mayor who invited ugly women to move to his outback mining town, saying even they would find a man there, has won the top "award" for the most sexist public comment of the year.