Yemen: Grenade-tosser sentenced to prison

A court handed down a 10-year prison sentence Saturday for a man who threw a grenade into the grounds of the U.S. Embassy in Yemen two months ago.

Amid tight security, the Specialized Court of First Instance convicted Samir Yahya Awadh, 25, of endangering public security, tarnishing Yemen’s image and illegal weapons possession.

The device was a concussion grenade, which is used to stun and shock rather than kill. It exploded harmlessly and police arrested Awadh. They found another grenade in his pocket.

South Korea: President’s son charged with accepting bribes

South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung’s youngest son was arrested Saturday for allegedly taking bribes.

Kim Hong-gul, 39, who lives in Los Angeles but had returned to Seoul to answer charges, is accused of receiving millions of dollars in bribes last year from a businessman who is now in jail.

Prosecutors, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Hong-gul denied that he had peddled influence in return for the money.

Ireland: Majority in parliament nears for Irish P.M.

Prime Minister Bertie Ahern will remain in office atop a stronger Fianna Fail-led government, analysts and opposition leaders agreed Saturday as results flowed in from a parliamentary election dominated by Ireland’s thriving economy.

Michael Noonan, leader of the main opposition Fine Gael party, resigned after his party suffered its most grievous defeat in its 70-year history.

The Fianna Fail party appeared close to claiming more than half of Ireland’s 166-seat parliament to form a government on its own, a feat achieved just once before in 1977.