World IN BRIEF : TAIWAN : Man Bombs Cycles; 16 Die in Fire, Blast

A man tossed several firebombs at motorcycles parked outside a commercial building, triggering an explosion and fire that killed 16 people, officials said. The man, in his 20s, fled immediately, and there was no explanation for the incident in Kaohsiung, 215 miles south of Taipei. Police said arsonists have been setting fire to parked motorcycles in the past month. The latest fire spread quickly through several floors of a six-story building that housed an all-night video parlor, trading firms, boutiques and apartments on its top two floors. The high death toll was blamed on furniture and other objects that blocked emergency exits.