World datelines

Iran: Yacht seized

LONDON — Iran is holding five British sailors after stopping their racing yacht in the Persian Gulf, the British government said Monday. The move could heighten tensions between Iran and major world powers, including Britain, that are demanding a halt to its nuclear program.

The yacht owned by Sail Bahrain was stopped on its way to Dubai on Wednesday when it "may have strayed inadvertently into Iranian waters," Britain's Foreign Office said. Sail Bahrain's Web site identified the yacht as the "Kingdom of Bahrain" and said it had been due to join the 360-mile Dubai-Muscat Offshore Sailing Race, which was to begin Nov. 26.

Italy: Terror trial

ROME — Two Tunisians who had been detained at Guantanamo arrived in Italy late Monday and will be tried on international terrorism charges for having allegedly recruited fighters for Afghanistan, officials said.

Adel Ben Mabrouk, 39, and Mohamed Ben Riadh Nasri, 43, are suspected of being members of a terror group with ties to al-Qaida. They were immediately taken into custody upon arrival in Milan and were being interrogated, a prosecutor told The Associated Press.

A third Guantanamo detainee was being relocated to France, and a fourth to Hungary, according to a U.S. official.

Philippines: Charged

MANILA — Philippine prosecutors have filed murder charges against the heir of a powerful clan for the massacre of 57 people in a convoy, including journalists and the family and supporters of a candidate.

Prosecutor Al Calica said Tuesday that authorities have at least 10 witnesses who will testify they saw Andal Ampatuan Jr. leading the gunmen, including police officers, when they stopped the convoy Nov. 23. All the victims were found dead, some buried in mass graves. Ampatuan turned himself in last week and denied the charges.

New Zealand: Icebergs

WELLINGTON — Strong westerly winds in the southern Pacific Ocean have driven scores of icebergs originally headed toward New Zealand to the east, away from the country, an oceanographer said Tuesday.