World in brief

Cambodia ratifies atrocity trials deal

After years of delays, the Cambodian Parliament ratified an agreement with the United Nations on Monday to create an international tribunal to try leaders of the Khmer Rouge for atrocities that took 1.7-million lives during the communists' four-year rule.

No timetable was set and a number of technical and political issues lie ahead, including the raising of an estimated $57-million from international donors.

None of the aging Khmer Rouge leaders has been brought into court for their actions from 1975 to 1979, when as much as one-fourth of the Cambodian population died from execution, starvation, overwork and disease. The law still needs approvals by the Senate and head of state, both of which are considered formalities.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Supporters of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide wielded machetes and threatened to cut off the heads of Haitian police and the interim prime minister during demonstrations on Monday, part of a recent campaign that has been dubbed "Operation Baghdad."

No violence was reported in Monday's demonstrations, when 150 Aristide supporters demonstrated in the capital Port-au-Prince. But tensions erupted into violence last week; at least 14 people were killed in clashes Thursday and Friday, including three police officers who were shot to death and then beheaded.

Also, the death toll from Tropical Storm Jeanne's floods and mudslides rose Monday to 1,870, with 884 reported missing and most presumed dead.

INDONESIA CHIEF: Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was declared Indonesia's next president Monday. He won 60 percent of the vote compared with President Megawati Sukarnoputri's 39 percent in the Sept. 20 runoff, final results showed Monday. Yudhoyono, 55, will be inaugurated Oct. 20.

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