World briefs 1/8/06

Japanese arrest U.S. sailor on murder charge

TOKYO -- Japanese police arrested an American sailor Saturday on charges of robbing and beating a Japanese woman to death, and the United States is cooperating with Japanese authorities in the case. William Oliver Reese, 21, was arrested after being transferred to police from the U.S. Navy base in Yokosuka, police officials said. Police said Reese admitted during questioning that he killed Yoshie Sato, 56, in Yokosuka. She was found beaten and unconscious that day and later died.

Roadside bomb in Afghan city kills passer-by

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A roadside bomb blew up Saturday as a van packed with police cadets and trainers was driving through an eastern Afghan city, killing a passer-by and wounding a police colonel and driver, officials said. Investigators concluded the blast was from a roadside bomb, said Abdul Jabar, a senior police officer in Jalalabad city where the attacks occurred. The two wounded were rushed to a hospital in Jalalabad and were in stable condition.

Britain closes Jordan embassy due to danger

LONDON -- Britain indefinitely closed its embassy in Jordan Saturday because of the danger of a terrorist attack, the Foreign Office said. A spokesman for the office would not comment on whether there had been a specific threat against the embassy in Amman, saying only that the closure was prompted by the security situation in Jordan.

Australian police: More than one shark attacked

SYDNEY, Australia -- Up to three sharks may have been involved in the fatal attack on a 21-year-old woman off an island in eastern Australia, police said Sunday. Queensland is 16 hours ahead of U.S. Central Time. The woman, whose identity was not immediately released, died late Saturday after being attacked near North Stradbroke Island, east of the Queensland state capital Brisbane. Queensland state police inspector Peter Harding said officers were searching for the sharks and had closed several nearby beaches.

-- From wire reports