NATO and US airstrikes have killed scores of Afghan civilians this week, residents and officials said yesterday . . .deaths likely to deepen discontent with foreign forces and the westernbacked Afghan government.

Nato-led and US forces said there were heavy clashes in Farah province in western Afghanistan and Kunar province in the east and that troops in both places had called for air support.

Several residents and the head of a district council in Farah said an air attack in the Bala Boluk area had killed 108 civilians.

Transformers pirate arrested

A MAN has been arrested under tightened anti-piracy laws in New York after allegedly recording the sci-fi blockbuster Transformers.

Kalidou Diallo (48) has been charged with unauthorised use of a video camera in a cinema.

Under upgraded legislation, he could face six months in jail and fines of up to $5,000 ( 6,000) if found guilty.

Nepal king turns 61 amid protests over monarchy

NEPAL'S unpopular king, Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, marked his 61st birthday on Saturday as former Maoist rebels organised rallies demanding an end to the monarchy and a clash between the monarch's supporters and Maoists left 10 people injured.

About a thousand of the king's supporters, led by five small girls wearing traditional red goldembroidered costumes waited for hours in scorching sun outside the king's pink palace to offer the monarch bouquets and gifts.

Some beat cymbals, blew copper pipes and chanted "long live the king" and "our king is dearer to us than our hearts". A short distance away, about 5,000 youth and student supporters of the Maoists, who joined the government in April, protested by demanding the monarch leave the country.

Russian tax man branded MI6 spy

AUTHORITIES in Russia have charged a former Russian tax inspector with spying for Britain.

The Federal Security Service said Vyachaslav Zharko was recruited by agents from Britain's MI6 foreign-intelligence service.

Correspondents say the move is part of a row between Britain and Russia over the murder in London last year of Russian ex-spy Alexander Litvinenko.

On Thursday Russia officially refused to extradite a suspect in the killing.

Pope ends Latin mass restriction

POPE Benedict has lifted restrictions on celebrating the Latin Tridentine Mass, pleasing some traditionalists. The Latin mass was largely abandoned in the 1960s as part of reforms to make Catholicism more relevant to its worldwide congregation. Traditionalists wanted to bring the mass back, though some Jewish groups opposed it because of a prayer calling for their conversion.

The Pope denied claims the reversal could cause a schism in the church.