World in brief

Zimbabwe: Plane had mercenaries

Zimbabwean authorities said Monday that they had impounded a U.S.-registered cargo plane after its owners lied about the presence of 64 men suspected of being mercenaries and about military equipment on board.

The Boeing 727-100 cargo plane was seized on Sunday night at the international airport in Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, the home affairs minister, Kembo Mohadi, told reporters.

Spokesmen for the State Department and the Pentagon said they had no indication that the plane was connected to the U.S. government. It was not immediately clear where the plane had come from, or what its purpose was.

The plane is registered to Dodson Aviation Inc. of Ottawa, Kan. However, company director Robert Dodson said it had sold the aircraft about a week ago to a "reputable" South African company, Logo Ltd.

LONDON - Prime Minister Tony Blair's plans to overhaul Britain's age-old legal system stumbled on Monday, as opposition peers in the House of Lords voted to delay the government's reform package for further scrutiny.

Many of Britain's most senior judges, backed by the main opposition Conservative Party, say there are flaws in the government plan to eliminate the ancient post of Lord Chancellor, create an independent commission to appoint judges and establish a new supreme court as the nation's highest court of appeal.

After an eight-hour debate in the House of Lords, peers voted 216-183 to refer the Constitutional Reform Bill to a special committee where it can be further examined.

MANILA, Philippines - The Muslim extremist group Abu Sayyaf has about 300 fighters and maintains links with foreign militants, a captured top rebel commander has told Philippine interrogators.

Galib Andang, known as Commander Robot, gave insights into the inner workings of Abu Sayyaf, an al-Qaida-linked group, but evaded questions on his alleged role in terror activities and denied carrying out high-profile kidnappings, according to an official report on the interrogation seen Sunday by the Associated Press.

Andang, 37, was captured on Jolo island last December. The United States rewarded a former Abu Sayyaf rebel with nearly $10,000 Friday for giving information that led to Andang's arrest.

ISRAELI ROADBLOCKS: Israel's defense minister endorsed a plan Monday to speed up checks at West Bank roadblocks, but also make them more permanent - a sign that crippling travel restrictions imposed on Palestinians after violence erupted in 2000 will not be lifted soon.

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