In Saudi Arabia, Pipeline Fire Kills 28

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — An explosion and fire killed 28 people working on a natural gas pipeline in eastern Saudi Arabia, the Saudi national oil company said yesterday. It said the cause of the fire was an accident during maintenance work and that it did not expect a disruption in gas supplies. "The fire broke out while contract workers were linking a new pipe" to the pipeline late Saturday, Aramco said. "The company is taking all necessary measures to guarantee the continuation of the normal gas output."