BOGOTA (Reuters):

Colombia took steps to free jailed rebel fighters yesterday, hoping to persuade guerrilla commanders to hand over hostages they have held for years, including a French-Colombian politician and three Americans.

President Alvaro Uribe, a Washington ally, has said he will free several hundred guerrillas as an act of good faith he hopes will convince rebel commanders to liberate around 60 key hostages, some of whom have been held for more than five years in secret jungle camps.

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

Guyana says it is welcoming the initiative by United States President George W. Bush to seek further funding that would allow Georgetown and Haiti to benefit from the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.

Bush identified the two Caribbean Community member states among 15 countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean that would continue to receive help from Washington in battling the pandemic.

The Emergency Plan aims to support treatment for at least two million people living with HIV/AIDS, prevent seven million new infections, and support care for 10 million people infected with and affected by HIV, including orphans and vulnerable children.

BERN, Switzerland (AP):

The Swiss government has extended a freeze on bank accounts linked to former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude 'Baby Doc' Duvalier, an official said yesterday.

The accounts will remain blocked for a further three months, government spokesman Oswald Sigg told the Associated Press.

The money had been due to be released in two days' time, which would have given Duvalier's family access to some 7.6 million Swiss francs (US$6.2 million; €4.6 million).

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

The region's main disaster response body says its preparations for the Cricket World Cup has placed the agency in a better position to respond to any disaster during the 2007 hurricane season which started yesterday.

Caribbean Disaster Emergency Relief Agency (CDERA) Coordinator, Jeremy Collymore, said mechanisms put in place for the international tournament, placed it in a position to initiate standards for mass event planning and in documenting procedures which were previously not structured.

"We also believe that the security assistance treaty, launched in association with CWC, has provided an excellent platform for the better harmonisation of the assets of the disciplined forces in the community in support of disaster operations," he said onthe eve of the start of an anticipated busy hurricane season.

ST GEORGE'S, Grenada (CMC):

The Grenada government yesterday announced a clampdown on the illegal importation of petroleum products into the country, warning offenders that they face imprisonment and "heavy fines".

A statement issued by the Ministry of Finance warned all captains and owners of vessels and schooners "arriving in or using Grenada's territorial waters" to be reminded and advised that an importation licence is required for the importation of petroleum products into the country, including Carriacou and Petite Martinque.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP):

Haitian and United Nations authorities seized 420 kilograms (925 pounds) of cocaine and arrested 10 suspected smugglers, half of them police officers, in one of the Caribbean country's biggest drug busts in years, the United Nations said yesterday.

Haitian and U.N. police intercepted the drug shipment on Thursday after stopping three cars in the rural town of Leogane, just west of the capital of Port-au-Prince, the U.N. said.

A search of the cars turned up the cocaine, one of the largest amounts seized since Haiti's police force was created 13 years ago. The drugs will be turned over to the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, the U.N. said.

WASHINGTON (AP):

President George W. Bush demanded yesterday that Iran "immediately and unconditionally" release four Iranian-American scholars and activists being held on suspicion of spying.

"I strongly condemn their detention at the hands of Iranian authorities," the president said in a written statement.

The United States has denied that the four are spies or employees of the U.S. government. The State Department on Thursday warned U.S. citizens against traveling to Iran, accusing Islamic authorities there of a "disturbing pattern" of harassment of Iranian-Americans.

ORSAY, France (Reuters):

Prime Minister Francois Fillon promised a speedy shakeup of French universities yesterday with a law aiming to make them more competitive that has worried student unions.

French universities have been struggling to compete on an international level and business leaders complain graduates are often ill-prepared for work.

MEXICO CITY (AP):

President Felipe Calderon's fight against drug cartels is helping his popularity, according to a poll published yesterday.

The poll, by the Reforma newspaper, found 65 percent approve of the job Calderon is doing, up from 58 per cent in March, with the majority citing his efforts to combat organised crime. On a scale of 1 to 10, the poll's respondents gave him an average score of 6.8.

Sixty-four per cent said Calderon's fight against drug traffickers has been successful, despite an increase in violence.