Riyadh - A prominent Saudi Arabian Muslim cleric who called for attacks on Israelis worldwide in retaliation for the ongoing airstrikes on the Gaza Strip has been arrested, Saudi media reported on Wednesday.

Sheikh Awad al-Qarni issued a fatwa, or religious ruling, on Monday saying that "it is legitimate to spill (Israeli) blood as long as they are spilling the blood of our brothers in Palestine."

The report in the al-Rasad newspaper said that al-Qarni had been arrested in the south of the country and had been brought to the capital Riyadh. Police would not confirm the arrest.

Nove Mesto, Czech Republic - Axel Teichmann of Germany got his second stage win on Wednesday while Swiss Dario Cologna retained the overall lead in the Tour de Ski cross-country series.

The former world champion Teichmann, who had dominated Saturday's prologue, won the 15-kilometres classic style stage in 39 minute 3.7 seconds.

Martin Johnsrud Sundby of Norway finished 5.0 seconds behind and Kazakh Nikolay Chebotko was third on the podium, 10.5 seconds off the pace.

Colombo - The Sri Lankan government has offered a relief package to the public amidst pressure from opposition parties to reduce fuel prices and lower the cost of living.

The government has reduced fuel and gas prices with immediate effect and offered incentives for garment, tea and rubber exporters as well as the tourism industry as part of the economic measures.

Cairo - The head of the Arab League urged the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday to take immediate action to stop Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip.

"We urge the Security Council not to fall under any pressure and take an immediate decision to stop the Israeli attacks on Gaza," said UN Secretary General Amr Mussa at the opening of an Arab League emergency meeting.

Decrying the rising number of Palestinian casualties, Mussa asked: "Which 'magic number' is the security council waiting for before it will act to put an end to these attacks?"

Moscow - The deputy prime minister of the Russian province of North Ossetia and his driver were fatally shot in an attack Wednesday, reported the Interfax news agency, citing the North Ossetian Interior Ministry.

No details were available about the attack on North Ossetian Deputy Prime Minister Kasbek Pagiyev. The attack in the north Caucasian province is believed to be linked to the November murder of Vitali Karayev, the mayor of Vladikavkaz. Pagiyev held that position before Karayev.

Geneva - The ongoing violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has caused the displacement of over 250,000 people, has put children at particular risk of recruitment into armed groups, the UN's Children Fund said Wednesday.

UNICEF called on "all armed groups to end the recruitment and use of children," Pierrette Vu Thi, the agency's chief in the DR Congo, said in a statement. They must "immediately release the children within their ranks."