Dutch religious leaders have ordered an inquiry into alleged sexual abuses of children by Roman Catholic priests.
Earlier, the Vatican defended its response to allegations of child sex abuse against Catholic clergy, saying it reacted rapidly and decisively.
Source
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8558311.stm
A serial sex-offender was sentenced to life in prison today for kidnapping, raping and murdering a teenager whom he lured to meet him using a false identity on the social networking site Facebook.
Peter Chapman, 33, changed his plea to admit to killing Ashleigh Hall, a 17-year-old student, on the eve of his trial at Teesside Crown Court.
He was told by Judge Peter Fox QC that he must serve a minimum of 35 years in prison before he can be considered for release.
Nigeria's security forces have been put on high alert after a new burst of sectarian violence left over 500 people dead, most of them women and children hacked to death by machete wielding gangs.
The attack happened before dawn on Sunday morning when gangs of men descended on several mainly Christian villages near the central city of Jos, firing guns as they approached. Witnesses of the attack, which centred on the village of Dogo-Nahawa, described how victims were caught in animal traps and fishing nets as they tried to flee their attackers.
A resident of Dogo-Nahawa said the attackers had fired guns as they entered the village, to lure their victims out of their houses.
ONE of the killers of James Bulger is being investigated over a criminal offence that could see him jailed for at least two years.
Jon Venables is expected to be charged imminently with the crime, which is alleged to be of a sexual nature. The investigation could lead to further charges.
It has emerged that Venables could be put through the courts under a new identity — his third to date — to preserve his anonymity and to ensure a fair trial.
