WORLD briefs

CARACAS. An earthquake shook Venezuela's capital and nearby states Saturday, injuring 14 people and causing damage to a few buildings. The US Geological Survey reported a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 for the quake, saying the epicenter was off Venezuela's Caribbean coast 110 kilometers west of Caracas. Infrastructure Minister Diosdado Cabello said there were no reports of major infrastructure damage.

HONG KONG. A construction platform inside an elevator shaft collapsed Sunday, sending six workers falling about 20 stories to their deaths inside a Hong Kong skyscraper, officials said. The accident occurred at the International Commerce Center. The building's developer, major Hong Kong property company Sun Hung Kai, has agreed to pay each of the victims' families $128,000 on top of normal compensation payments.

RIYAD.The family of Osama bin Laden has announced the death of one of the terror mastermind's brothers, Thabet bin Laden. Thabet bin Laden was one of 54 children born to Mohammed bin Laden, a poor Yemeni immigrant who started the family contracting business that grew into a multimillion dollar construction empire.

CALIFORNIA. The award-winning US television, film and theatre writer Larry Gelbart, who is best remembered for the MASH TV comedy series, has died at 81.

MOSCOW. Top secret military documents may have been destroyed or damaged during a fire at Russian military base Tambov yesterday. Five soldiers were killed in the blaze. Classified documents for Russia were kept in the building.

JERUSALEM. Israeli President Shimon Peres was discharged from a Tel Aviv hospital on Sunday, a day after fainting on stage during a talk. Doctors said 86 year old Peres was apparently overcome by the heat.