Xinhua world news summary at 0030 GMT, Dec. 18

Twelve people were killed, including nine civilians and three Al-Shabaab militants, in their clashes in south Somalia on Saturday, officials said.

Ahmed Mohamud Ahmed, spokesman for Jubaland State security agency, said their forces backed locals near Kismayo town who were fighting Al-Shabaab.

"Al-Shabaab militants killed nine livestock owners. They also stole 2,000 camels from the locals. Later the locals backed by the military fought back the militants where the forces killed three Al-Shabaab fighters and injured several others," Ahmed said.(Somalia-Clash-Al-Shabaab)

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WASHINGTON -- Ice and freezing rain hit the northeastern United States on Saturday as a new blast of Arctic air from Canada is expected to bring more heavy snow and cold wind chills across middle America for the weekend, the National Weather Service forecast.

In parts of the eastern U.S., freezing rain created widespread travel headaches, prompting Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., to temporarily close all runways Saturday morning. (U.S.-Freezing rain-Washington)

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PARIS -- Seven candidates will compete for the French left-wing primary in January to win the nomination for next year's presidential election, the organizers said on Saturday.

Four people from the ruling Socialist Party will run in the competition including ex-prime minister Manuel Valls and three former members of his executive staff ex-economy minister Arnaud Montebourg, Benoit Hamon and Vincent Peillon, both had managed education portfolio.(France-Left-wing-Primary)

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UNITED NATIONS -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday urged parties in Lybia to join efforts to find a consensual solution to the country's ongoing crisis.

On Dec. 17, 2015, the Libyan Political Agreement was signed in Skhirat, Morocco. Saturday marks one year since the signing of the UN-brokered deal.(UN-Libya-peace agreement) Endi