World briefs 1/15/07

Bangladesh leader takes reins; thousands arrested

DHAKA, Bangladesh -- Bangladesh's new interim leader consolidated his power Sunday by taking over the two agencies that control the army, police and paramilitary security forces. The move by acting leader Fakhruddin Ahmed to take control of the Interior Ministry and Election Commission came days after the president declared a state of emergency in an attempt to quell weeks of deadly unrest over upcoming elections. Ahmed was appointed Friday after President Iajuddin Ahmed stepped down as leader of a caretaker government. Iajuddin Ahmed retained his title of president, a largely ceremonial position. More than 4,000 people were detained after the state of emergency was announced, including 1,518 people arrested since Saturday evening, the Interior Ministry said.

3 killed, many injured in Thailand train collision

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Two passenger trains collided near a beach resort town south of Bangkok early Sunday, killing three people and injuring more than 100 others, officials said. The accident occurred before dawn when a Bangkok-bound train took the wrong track and hit an oncoming train head-on just outside the station in Hua Hin, said Wichai Choochumporn, a rail official. All three victims were rail employees, according to officials at Hua Hin Hospital, one of three facilities that provided treatment. Foreigners were among the 107 injured passengers, including an Italian man and a German woman, both of whom were treated for minor injuries, Wichai said.

-- From wire reports