Xinhua world news summary at 0330 GMT, Dec. 24

PYONGYANG -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) issued on Sunday a strong-worded statement condemning the latest UN resolution to impose more sanctions over its nuclear and missile programs, calling it "an act of war."

A spokesperson for the DPRK's Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused the United States of getting more "frenzied" in imposing the harshest ever sanctions.

A stern-faced broadcaster of Korean Central Television read the statement which condemned UN Security Council Resolution 2397 adopted unanimously Friday to restrict oil export to the country and demand repatriation of all DPRK citizens working abroad. (DPRK-UN-Sanctions)

- - - -

CAIRO -- Nine terrorists were killed in a security raid conducted in the northern Egyptian province of Sharqiya, Egypt's Interior Ministry announced Sunday.

Egyptian security forces killed the terrorists in a fire exchange during a raid on a farm in Sharqiya, which was used as a hideout and a training camp for terrorists involved in attacks in North Sinai, the ministry said in a statement. (Egypt-Police-Raids)

- - - -

LONDON -- London Zoo reopens Sunday after animals died or went missing in a big fire.

The zoo confirmed that a 9-year aardvark called Misha died during the blaze and four meerkats, who remain unaccounted for, were also presumed dead.

The fire, which broke out Saturday morning in the Animal Adventure section, has destroyed a cafe shop and about half of the adjacent petting zoo, said firefighters. (UK-Zoo-Fire)

- - - -

ABUJA -- Eleven bridesmaids were confirmed dead following a road accident after a local wedding in Nigeria's northwestern city of Kano, the road safety police said on Sunday.

The women were accompanying the newly-wed home late Saturday when the driver of their vehicle lost control and hit a tollgate in Kano, said Kabir Ibrahim-Daura, spokesman for the Federal Road Safety Corps in the northern state. (Nigeria-Accident)

- - - -

TIKRIT, Iraq -- Iraqi security forces Sunday launched an operation to clear Himreen mountainous area from Islamic State (IS) militants in Iraq's central province of Salahudin, a police source said.

The Iraqi forces, backed by helicopter gunships, cleared large areas in Himreen mountain range in the northeastern part of the province and seized a number of IS hideouts containing weapons, ammunition and military equipment, the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity. (Iraq-IS-Operation) Enditem