Islamabad, Dec. 25 (Reuters): An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 shook northern Pakistan today but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The tremor rocked buildings in Islamabad and people ran out of their homes in Muzaffarabad and Balakot ? both the towns were badly hit in the Octo- ber 8 quake.

Bangla alert

Dhaka (Reuters): Ten suspected Islamist militants were detained across Bangladesh on Sunday as the country enforced tight security for Christmas. Bangladesh’s nearly 100 churches were guarded by police and special forces.

Iran denial

Tehran (Reuters): Iran on Sunday denied receiving a proposal from Moscow to build a joint venture plant to enrich uranium in Russia but said it was happy to continue negotiations over its nuclear programme with the EU.

Qaida killing

Dubai (Reuters): Al Qaida’s wing in Iraq said on Sunday it had abducted and killed three Arab women and an Arab man working for US authorities and the Iraqi government, web postings said.

Congo clash

Kinshasa, Congo (Reuters): UN and Congolese troops fought a bloody battle with Ugandan rebels in Congo’s war-torn east in their latest move to restore order after the country approved a post-war Constitution. Thirty-five rebels were killed in the fight.