News In Brief

India and Bangladesh clash over frontier fence

India charged Saturday that Bangladeshi security forces had started the latest border clash between the two countries over Indian work on a frontier fence. Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry said that firing began from the Indian side and that Bangladeshi forces responded in self-defense. Dhaka said one of its troops was killed in the battle.

An Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesman said the Bangladeshi soldiers opened fire Friday to prevent workers from erecting the barbed-wire fence on the border. India says it needs the fencing to keep out illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.