(Continued from page 37)

intended to defuse the crisis.
• Two Ukrainian helicopters were shot down and their pilots killed, both sides said. The Ukrainian Security Service said one of the helicopters was shot down with a surface-to-air missile, which it said undercut Russia's claims that the city is under control of civilians who took up arms.
• Stella Khorosheva, a spokeswoman for the pro-Russian militants, said one of their men was killed and another injured. She offered no further details.
• Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said the Kremlin had sent an envoy to Ukraine's southeast to negotiate the release of foreign military observers who were captured by pro-Russian militia in Slovyansk.
• ___

• ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) -- The death toll from a car bomb that exploded on a busy road in Nigeria's capital rose to at least 19 overnight, police said Friday from the city that within days hosts an international conference.
• The bomb was driven near a checkpoint where traffic built up, located across the road from a busy bus station where a massive explosion on April 14 killed at least 75 people. That blast was claimed by the Islamic extremist Boko Haram terrorist network in a video April 19 that threatened further assaults.
• The government is deploying 6,000 police to protect the May 7-9 World Economic Forum on Africa, with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang as an honored guest, in Abuja, and Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan last week assured delegates they would be safe. It attracts world leaders, policymakers, philanthropists and business leaders to discuss Africa's economic growth prospects.
• The explosion occurred in a working class suburb just a 15-minute drive from the presidential villa and the hotel venue of the conference.
• Police Superintendent Frank Mba told reporters Friday the toll is up to 19 dead with as many wounded being treated in the hospitals. Six cars were burned up in the blast, he said.
• ___

• WASHINGTON (AP) -- Signs that the U.S. economy is emerging from a deep winter freeze have raised hopes that hiring accelerated in April.

(Continued on page 39)