The World Health Organisation says new research into the H5N1, or bird flu virus, should not be published
in full
until further analysis of the risks is
carried out
. The researchers have modified the H5N1 virus so that it might be passed from human to human. Imogen Foulkes reports from Geneva.
Many scientists believe research into bird flu is essential to develop vaccines and treatments, but public health officials fear a
mutant
virus created in the laboratory could become a weapon in the hands of terrorists. The meeting in Geneva agreed only that publishing research in full was preferable to developing a way to partially censor it, but no date has been set for publication. In the meantime, a
moratorium
on research into bird flu has been extended indefinitely.
Police in Colombia have arrested five suspected left-wing rebels they believe were involved in the bombing of a police station two weeks ago.
Eleven people died when a motorcycle packed with explosives went off outside the police station in Tumaco on the Pacific coast. Four of the suspects are accused of handling the explosives, a fifth with providing a safe house. Police accused all five of belonging to the country's largest rebel group, the Farc.
And a member of the Dutch royal family, Prince Johan Friso, has been seriously injured after being buried under an
avalanche
in the Austrian Alps. Prince Friso, who's a son of Queen Beatrix, was on a skiing holiday near the resort of Lech when the accident happened. He's reported to be in a critical condition. The Alps have experienced heavy snow in recent weeks.