Saudi Arabia arrests officials in flood investigation

At least 40 Saudi officials have been arrested in an investigation into the authorities' response to devastating floods in Jeddah, local media say.

Some 150 people were killing in the floods in the port town last month.

The officials included a number of senior assistants to the mayor of Jeddah, the reports said.

The Saudi government have launched an unprecedented public investigation after a wave of criticism over the handling of the floods.

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, who ordered the inquiry, has said that those responsible will be punished.

Local government officials, consultants and, and construction contractors are among the people arrested by police, it was reported.

Heavy rainfall sparked a flash flood in the town, Saudi Arabia's second city, on 25 November.

Angry Saudis have blamed local authorities for not providing basic protection from floods and failing to act fast enough.

Arabic media reported that the arrests did not necessarily mean the officials were being accused, but that the it was necessary for them to be detained to ensure the inquiry could be completed.

It was not clear if they would be released on bail, but they would be prevented from leaving the country, Arab News reported.

The public anger in the wake of the floods has been dubbed by some Saudis as a turning point, with Saudis for once forcing the authorities to take responsibility for their mistakes.

But correspondents say that while some members of the local government may be named and shamed, the endemic corruption that Saudis privately hold responsible for the disaster, and for the fact that no adequate drainage was in place in Jeddah, is unlikely to be tackled in any systematic way.

Pakistan 'militants' kill official and family members

Militants in Pakistan have blown up the house of a local official, killing him and five members of his family.

Sarbraz Saddiqi, a government official in Kurram district, his wife and four children were killed in the attack, a police official said.

Sunday morning's attack came as the family were asleep.

No-one has admitted planting the bomb. But the police spokesman said it could be linked to a Pakistan army offensive against the Taliban in the area.

The army has captured territory in South Waziristan, a hotbed of Islamic militancy, but many insurgents are believed to have fled to nearby regions, including Kurram.

Small children killed

The attack occurred in Mosu Zai village, about 200km (125 miles) from the north-western city of Peshawar.

"Unknown miscreants planted dynamite around the house and exploded it between 0200 (2100 GMT) and 0300 and the house was destroyed," Abab Ali, a local official told AFP news agency.

"Those killed were aged five to 11," he said.

"We don't know whether the Taliban, terrorists or Shias were responsible," Mr Ali said.

But police officer Naeemullah Khan said the attack appeared to be linked to the army's efforts against the Taliban militants in the area.

Pakistani air strike kills 10 in tribal area

Pakistani fighter jets have targeted suspected militant hideouts in the Orakzai tribal agency, south-west of Peshawar, killing at least 10 people.

Officials say the dead were militants, but eyewitnesses told the BBC the bombs destroyed the home of a tribal chief, killing three women and four children.

Pakistani troops have been engaged in an major offensive against the Taliban in South Waziristan, further south.

The army believes many insurgents fled from there to areas such as Orakzai.

A number of air strikes have targeted militant targets in Orakzai in recent weeks.

The UN says more than 40,000 civilians have left their homes in Orakzai and are in need of humanitarian assistance.