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N.L. offshore flights to resume early next week

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The president of a union that represents Newfoundland and Labrador oil workers says he's not comfortable about plans to resume helicopter flights to the offshore as early as Monday, two months after the crash of Cougar Flight 491 killed 17 people. "If I can, I'm going to put my decision off (to fly) at least until I get home and talk with my family," Sheldon Peddle said in an interview Friday from the Hibernia offshore oil platform. Cougar Helicopters has had its fleet grounded since March 12, when one of its choppers crashed in the North Atlantic as it was ferrying workers to two offshore oil platforms. Since then, offshore supply vessels have taken workers to the platforms. Some workers are wary about stepping aboard the flights, Peddle said.

Forest fire

Homes evacuated in eastern N.L.

FERRYLAND, N.L. - Five homes have been evacuated in a small community in eastern Newfoundland and Labrador as officials fight a fire being fed by high winds. Firefighters say they have contained the forest fire that was moving fast toward Ferryland and endangering several homes. RCMP Sgt. Mike Ouellette says winds have shifted and appeared to be directing the fire away from the community. He says they were not allowing anyone into the area under threat, because of the shifting winds.

Politics

N.S. Liberals pledge to axe gas regulation

HALIFAX - The Nova Scotia Liberals are promising to scrap gasoline price regulation and reduce the motive fuel tax if elected on June 9. Party Leader Stephen McNeil says almost three years of gas regulation have hurt the economy. McNeil says he'd get rid of the system - and its $10-million price tag - immediately after becoming premier.

Somalia

Food running out as battles rage

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Hundreds of foreigners fighting alongside Somali Islamic insurgents have driven this week's fierce battles against government forces, which have killed more than 100 people, the UN envoy to Somalia said Friday. Concern that the government might fall is mounting. Observers fear that if the al-Qaida linked insurgents seize the capital, they will gain a safe haven on the Horn of Africa. The UN Security Council on Friday condemned the upsurge in fighting and gave strong support to the country's leaders.

Sri Lanka

President says war over in 48 hours

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - Sri Lanka's president vowed to end the decades-old war against the Tamil Tiger rebels within 48 hours as the military battled Friday to take complete control of the country's coastline. President Mahinda Rajapaksa said thousands of civilians still in the war zone will be quickly freed from a tiny slice of land still controlled by the guerrillas, formally known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. As the fighting raged, hundreds of desperate war refugees escaped the conflict zone.