MADRID: The hijacker of the Iberia Airlines Boeing 727 sequestered in Spain today has surrended and freed all the passengers, officials said. Officials said the plane, with 131 persons aboard, was hijacked during a domestic flight from Seville to Barcelona today. The hijackers initially demanded to be flown to Athens, forcing the pilot to land at Valencia for refuelling for the longer flight, it was said. Once on the ground, however, the hijackers reportedly changed their demands and said they wanted to be flown to Tel Aviv. Iberia said the plane was carrying 124 passengers and a crew of seven.

Pak crash

ISLAMABAD: Seven army officers were killed when a Pakistani Army aviation Puma helicopter crashed in stormy weather on a routine training flight, a military spokesman said Tuesday. Earlier reports about the crash late Monday near the city of Multan in Punjab province, 633 kilometers (395 miles) south of here, had spoken of four dead. The victims included twoArmy majors, one captain, a junior commissioned officer and other ranks. An inquiry into the crash has been ordered.

Nepal drowning

KATHMANDU: At least 41 people including women and children drowned today after a bus plunged 200 metres into the Marsyangdi river west of here, state-run radio said. Police and army personnel rescued nine people after the bus carrying about 50 people fell into the river near Abukhaireni, 180 kilometres from Kathmandu, the radio said. The cause of the accident was not immediately known. Police, army and local fishermen were engaged in rescue work.