Ankara - Seven police officers and a television cameraman were injured in Istanbul Monday in a shootout between police and three members of a left-wing group that began after police raided a number of houses in the Turkish city early Monday. Istanbul Governor Muammer Guler said the raids started at 5:30 am (0230 GMT) and the shootout in the suburb of Bostanci on the Asian side of the city was continuing some five hours later.

Guler said the far-left group was planning a "sensational operation".

In a raid on a house in the suburb of Bagcilar, police seized weapons, ammunition and bomb-making materials

Islamabad - A pro-Taliban cleric suspended talks with Pakistani authorities Monday, a day after paramilitary troops began an offensive against the militants in the restive north-western region. The new push began early Sunday in Lower Dir district, part of the Malakand Division where the regional government introduced Islamic sharia law this month under a truce with Taliban.

"No peace negotiations will take place with the government until a halt in the Dir operation," said Amir Izzat Khan, a spokesman for hardline cleric Sufi Mohammad, who brokered the peace pact.

London, Apr 27 : English model Sophie Dahl has blasted "stick-thin starlets" for inspiring others to diet.

Dahl, 31, who is very curvaceous, and had been a size 14 when she began modelling aged 19, warned people not to follow the "paranoid and unhappy" stars.

"Starving is not sexy," the Sun quoted her as saying.

"It is bleeding gums, acrid breath, brittle bones, osteoporosis, infertility and complication. It saps and withers.

Manila- Philippine security forces have lost track of an ailing Italian Red Cross worker held by Muslim militants on a southern island for over 100 days, a Marine spokesman acknowledged Monday. Lieutenant Colonel Edgard Arevalo appealed for public "patience and understanding" as security forces tried to determine the exact location of Eugenio Vagni, a staffer of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Sydney - Australian police have given up trying to prosecute civil libertarian Ian Bryce for driving around Sydney in a fake pope-mobile during the real pope's visit in July for World Youth Day. Charges were dropped Monday after the police case collapsed for a fourth time. A Sydney judge dismissed the case.

"It was against the pope's claims to have supernatural authority and all the harm he's doing in the world in banning condoms and trying to avoid family planning," Bryce said.

London, April 27 : Two competitors turned man and wife after tying the knot during the 28th annual London Marathon.

Rachel Pitt paced up the aisle to marry Garry Keates after taking a half-mile detour for their wedding.

The pair won the title of the first couple to wed in a Christian ceremony during the race covering the 26.2 mile course for35,000 runners.

Both runners managed to have a quick bath before the ceremony in front of 50 guests at St Bride''s Church on Fleet Street.