Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, March 12

Nigerian security forces have killed 40 Boko Haram terrorists in an operation carried out in the northeastern state of Borno, a military spokesperson said on Friday.

The West African country's Army spokesman Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman said in a statement reaching Xinhua Saturday that the terrorists also lost a number of weapons, equipment and several other assorted ammunition. (Nigeria-Militant-Operation)

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HELSINKI -- Credit rating agency Fitch has downgraded the credit ratings for the Finnish government from the best possible AAA to AA plus, but with a "stable" outlook.

Finland registered an economic growth of 0.4 percent last year and there is no proof of strong potential growth now, Fitch noted in its ratings published late Friday. (Finland-Fitch-Downgrading)

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DAMASCUS -- Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said on Saturday that his government rejects talks about the possible federalization of Syria, stressing the unity of the country.

"As a Syrian citizen, I say we reject talks about a federal Syria and we are with the unity of Syria, as a territory and people," the minister told a press conference in the capital Damascus. (Syria-FM-Unity)

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SANAA -- Fighting raged in Yemen's rebel-besieged city of Taiz over the past 24 hours, as pro-government forces advanced and broke rebel siege on the city and over 100 people were killed in the clashes, officials said on Saturday.

"We announce that our forces on Friday night broke the rebel siege on southwestern areas of Taiz after beating the Shiite Houthi rebels and their allies loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh," read a brief statement by the government army and local resistance unit. (Yemen-Clash-Operation) Endi