Turkey claims first 3-limb transplant
ANKARA, turkey — A hospital in southern Turkey on Saturday performed the world’s first triple limb transplant, attaching two arms and a leg to a 34-year-old man, an official said.
At the same time, a team of doctors at Akdeniz University Hospital, in the Mediterranean coastal city of Antalya, transplanted the face of the same donor onto a 19-year-old man. It was Turkey’s first face transplant.
Dr. Omer Ozkan, who headed a 25-member team, said both patients were being cared for in intensive care and were “doing well.”
Quake rattles Mexico •MEXICO CITY — A magnitude-6.2 earthquake that hit off the coast of the southern Mexican state of Chiapas on Saturday shook as far away as El Salvador but brought no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
The quake at 12:47 p.m. local time broke windows in the Chiapas state capital of Tuxtla Gutierrez and sent frightened residents into the streets in numerous cities. It was felt from the Mexican state of Veracruz through Pacific regions of Guatemala and into El Salvador.
Flaming bull kills man •MADRID — A flaming-horned bull trampled and fatally gored a man early Saturday during a festival in eastern Spain, an official said.
Large balls of flaming wax are traditionally affixed to the beasts’ heads before they are let loose to rampage through squares and narrow streets in such festivals.
The mayor of Navajas, population 730, said emergency services in his town were unable to save the life of the 45-year-old man, whose name was withheld.
Madagascar’s ex-leader fails to end exile •JOHAN- NESBURG — Madagascar’s toppled president tried to end his exile in South Africa on Saturday, but his commercial plane was forced to turn back in midflight when his landing was blocked by the populist former disc jockey who toppled him.
Ex-President Marc Ravalomanana’s Indian Ocean island has a long history of volatile politics.
Thousands of Ravalomanana supporters awaited his return at the capital’s airport Saturday. But a government minister told reporters there that the politician who toppled him with military backing, Andry Rajoelina, had issued a notice closing the country’s main airports to prevent the former leader’s return.
Abortion clinics get OK to advertise on TV •LONDON — Britain’s broadcast advertising body has given the go-ahead for abortion clinics to advertise on television, angering those who say the move desensitizes the public to the practice.
The Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice said Friday there was no justification for barring private clinics that offer post-pregnancy services, including abortions, from advertising on TV.
Gbagbo backers attacked •ABIDJAN, ivory coast — Numerous supporters of ex-President Laurent Gbagbo were injured when their rally was attacked Saturday, according to the United Nations. A statement issued by the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Ivory Coast said “many were injured” during the meeting of the Ivorian Popular Front party, known by its French acronym of FPI. Denver Post wire services
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