Vienna  - Britain, France, and Germany are formulating further sanctions if Iran continues to defy UN Security Council resolutions, but European diplomats said Friday they would not act before the start of direct talks between the United States and Iran.

The Europeans' aim was to "strengthen (US President Barack) Obama's hand during the talks as much as possible," a diplomat said in Vienna.

Berlin - A second day of strikes in schools, courtrooms, university clinics and regional government offices across Germany on Friday charged the atmosphere ahead of public sector pay negotiations due Saturday.

Tens of thousands of public service employees, from 14 of Germany's 16 federal states, took part in demonstrations organised by Verdi trade union.

Madrid - A special anti-drug unit set up by the Spanish tax administration agency has intercepted a vessel carrying 5 tons of cocaine in the Atlantic, the agency said Friday.

The five Venezuelan crew of the 16-metre-long Dona Fortuna were detained in the operation, which took place some 1,500 kilometres off the Canary Islands on Thursday.

The cocaine, which was believed to come from Colombia, would have been worth about 250 million euros (300 million dollars) on the black market.

New Delhi, Feb 27 : Union Minister for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury on Friday sacked National Commission for Women (NCW) member Nirmala Vankatesh, saying her conduct was detrimental to public interest.

"Vankatesh was sent to Mangalore to probe the assault on women in a pub by the Hindu outfit Sri Rama Sene, but she went public and acted in a way which was detrimental to public interest," a notification issued to NCW member said.

New Delhi, Feb. 27 : The Union Home Minister, Palaniappan Chidambaram, on Thursday said that the dossier provided to Pakistan by India is an authentic document and sound in its analysis.

Porbandar, Feb 27 : Terming all belongings of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, a national heritage, residents of Porbandar on Friday opposed the auction of Mahatma Gandhi's personal belongings, which is due next month in New York.

The proposed sale has dismayed the Gandhians in Porbandar, as they believe it goes against the philosophy of a man who shunned material possessions and led an ascetic life.

The pair of the famed metal-rimmed spectacles, a pocket watch and sandals of Gandhi are scheduled to be auctioned.