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Bush pushes for free trade on Peru trip

LIMA, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush called on leaders meeting in Peru Saturday to embrace free trade despite recent global economic uncertainty.

Speaking to leaders at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Lima, Bush said member nations should work to create a region of "free markets, free trade and free people," the BBC reported.

Even though Bush has only two more months as president, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino said the president is confident he can still be effective in efforts to persuade countries attending the conference to line up with moves to end the global economic crisis made this month by the G20 summit in Washington.

Perino also said Bush had addressed concerns about North Korea ahead of the conference with Chinese President Hu Jintao, The New York Times reported, saying Bush urged the Chinese leader to work toward a formal "verification protocol" under which the United States, China and others in the "six-party talks" could verify Pyongyang was following through on promises to dismantle its nuclear weapons program.

Pirates release hijacked Greek oil tanker

MOGADISHU, Somalia, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Pirates off the coast of Somalia have relinquished control of a Greek-owned oil tanker commandeered two months ago, officials said Saturday.

East African Seafarers Association head Andrew Mwangura said the MV Genius, its 19 crew members and refined oil cargo are no longer under the control of pirates, the BBC reported.

"The pirates released the ship today and it is now sailing to freedom," Mwangura said.

The Greek Merchant Marine Ministry confirmed the ship had been released and was on its way to the United Arab Emirates.

Specific details concerning the ship's release, including the possible payment of ransom to the pirates, were not reported.

The Genius was hijacked Sept. 26 while traveling through the Gulf of Aden, the BBC said.

The British broadcaster said the vessel was taken the same day as a Ukrainian ship, MV Favina, which has remained under pirate control.

Somali pirates have been blamed for the hijacking of eight vessels during the last two weeks, including another oil tanker.

6.7-magnitude earthquake off Sumatra coast

BENGKULU, Indonesia, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- No damage or casualties had been reported after a 6.7 magnitude earthquake occurred Saturday off the coast of Sumatra, experts say.

Indonesia's meteorology agency said the earthquake occurred at a depth of 14.3 miles and had an epicenter 88 miles from the city of Bengkulu, the BBC reported.

The British broadcaster noted quakes are nothing new for the region, which frequently experiences major seismic activity because of its proximity to the Pacific Ring of Fire. The arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Ocean have been blamed for seismic tremors and earthquakes in the region, including a 2004 quake and ensuing tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people.

The U.S. Geological Survey offered a contradictory magnitude reading for Saturday's earthquake. The U.S. agency said the quake that occurred 380 miles away from the Indonesian capital of Jakarta only measured a 5.7 on the Richter scale.

Indian forces blamed for Kashmir shootings

SRINAGAR, India, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Two youths were fatally shot by Indian paramilitary forces Saturday during a disturbance in an Indian-controlled region of Kashmir, authorities said.

An unidentified senior police officer said the shootings began when congressional party candidate Mir Mushtaq traveled through the Kashmir town of Baramulla, CNN reported.

The officer said after protesters began throwing stones at Mushtaq's convoy in the India-controlled region, attached police forces opened fire on them.

During the Baramulla conflict, 10th-grader Manzoor Ahmad Kumar was killed.

After the teenager's body was moved to the town's so-called Old Town area by protesters, the violence spilled into that area as government forces attempted to implement a curfew.

The officer said in that second conflict a second youth, identified as Tanvir Ahmad Sheikh, was shot and killed by the government forces.

CNN said, according to police, six protesters were injured.