World in brief

Hearing starts for soldier in al-Qaida case

FORT LEWIS, Wash. - The military began a hearing Wednesday to determine if a National Guardsman should be court-martialed on charges that he tried to assist al-Qaida and join the organization so he could conduct terrorist attacks.

Spc. Ryan G. Anderson, 26, a Muslim convert and member of the Washington Guard's 81st Armor Brigade, was arrested in February and charged with four counts of attempting to provide information to the terrorist network. The information allegedly involved U.S. troop movement and tactics.

A fifth count disclosed Wednesday alleged that Anderson told undercover military personnel: "I wish to desert from the U.S. Army. I wish to defect from the United States. I wish to join al-Qaida, train its members and conduct terrorist attacks."

Wednesday's proceeding at this Army base south of Tacoma was an Article 32 hearing, similar to a preliminary hearing in civilian court. After hearing the evidence, the investigating officer, Col. Patrick J. Reinert, will recommend whether Anderson should face a court-martial. Reinert's recommendation will go to the base commander, Lt. Gen. Edward Soriano, who will decide whether Anderson will be tried.

Military law says those convicted of trying to aid the enemy could face the death penalty.

DAMASCUS, Syria - Syria denounced U.S. economic sanctions on Wednesday and other Arab countries - including close U.S. allies - joined in the criticism. Europe ignored the penalties by dispatching a trade delegation to Damascus.

The 22-member Arab League said the embargo would harden Arab opinion against the United States. In a statement, the organization said the sanctions would "add to the sour feelings in the region and will raise more questions among Arab people" about U.S. plans for the region.

The measures were criticized by Egypt and Kuwait, the closest Arab allies of the United States, and America's non-Arab NATO partner Turkey.

WASHINGTON - Panama, which registers more ships than any nation in the world, signed an agreement Wednesday with the United States to permit search of vessels suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction or weapons technology.

Panama's Justice Minister, Arnulfo Escalona, called the weapons a cancer and said at a State Department ceremony, "We hope the agreement will serve as a starting point for other hemisphere nations."

Signing for the United States, Undersecretary of State John Bolton said that almost 50 percent of commercial shipping is now subject to search and seizure.

CHINA SPACE PROGRAM: China plans to launch a pair of astronauts into orbit in autumn 2005 in its second manned space mission, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Wednesday. The flight will last five to seven days, Xinhua said.

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