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Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, April 16

Xinhua, April 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Hundreds of Shiite Houthi gunmen with support of army units were battling tribal militia loyal to Yemen's President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi on Wednesday in the country's southern provinces, leaving dozens of people killed and wounded on both sides, according to military sources.

Fierce battles started on Wednesday morning in the southern port city of Aden, where the pro-Hadi militiamen were covered by the Saudi-led airstrikes. The two sides have been battling to take over the control of the city since late March. (Yemen-UN-Crisis)

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KHARTOUM -- Four civilians were killed and nine others injured on Wednesday in a missile attack by the rebel Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector against two towns in Sudan's South Kordofan State, local Ashrooq net reported.

"The rebels targeted populated areas in Kadogli and Al-Dalang towns and killed 4 civilians including two children" said Abul-Basher Abdul-Ghader, commissioner of Kadogli locality. (Sudan-Rebels-Attack)

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WASHINGTON -- A small helicopter landed on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, and a single occupant aboard has been detained, U.S. Capitol Police said.

"The U.S. Capitol Police is investigating a gyro copter with a single occupant that has landed on the grassy area of the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol," Capitol Police spokeswoman Kimberly Schneider said. "The U.S. Capitol Police continues to investigate with one person detained and temporary street closures in the immediate area." (US-Capitol)

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ATHENS -- Credit rating agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) further downgraded the Greek economy's long-term credit rating from 'B-' to 'CCC+' and short-term credit rating from 'B' to 'C' on Wednesday amidst renewed default scenarios, Greek national news agency AMNA reported.

The downgrade came as Greece was continuing talks with creditors over the terms of the release of further funding to Athens to avert a possible cash crunch this spring. (Greece-Standard & Poor's-Credit Rating)

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BAMAKO -- Three civilians have been killed and 16 others, including peacekeepers, injured in a suicide bomb attack on a U.N. base in northern Mali on Wednesday, said the U.N. peacekeeping mission.

The suicide bomber's car exploded when he tried to enter a UNO to Mali (MINUSMA) camp in Ansogo, killing at least three civilians and injured another seven. Nine Nigerien peacekeepers were also injured, according to a statement from the mission. (Mali-Security) Endi