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World in brief

Brazil refuses to identify those killed in gangland violence

By TIMES WIRES
Published May 21, 2006

SAO PAULO, Brazil - Sao Paulo's government refused to release the names of 109 people killed by police during a week of gangland violence, despite increased pressure on Saturday from activists who said public confidence in law enforcement had been shaken.

The Sao Paulo State Security Secretariat on Saturday raised the death toll to 109, from a previous figure of 107. Officials declined to explain the new figure.

Police said Saturday that no new attacks had been reported since Friday.

Irish police peacefully remove hunger strikers from church

DUBLIN, Ireland - Police removed Afghan hunger strikers Saturday night from a Dublin cathedral, where protesters spent a week demanding asylum and warning they would kill themselves if officers came near.

Officers swept into St. Patrick's Cathedral and, without a struggle, hauled out about 40 protesters - all males ages 17 to 45 - from the 13th century Dublin landmark. No injuries were reported.

Egyptian president criticizes U.S. foreign policy at forum

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak opened the World Economic Forum on Saturday with a surprisingly tough speech criticizing the United States.

The 78-year-old leader implied the United States was running a foreign policy that promoted double standards on nuclear issues and ignored international opposition to the invasion of Iraq and was meddling in the internal affairs of countries - including his own - by pressing for Western-style democratic reforms. Mubarak has faced repeated U.S. criticism recently for failing to follow through on promises of political reform.

[Last modified May 21, 2006, 09:50:39]