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Voters back $ 5.3-billion plan to expand canal
By TIMES WIRES
Published October 23, 2006
Panamanian voters overwhelmingly approved the largest modernization plan in the 92-year history of the Panama Canal on Sunday, backing a $5.3-billion plan to allow the world's largest ships to use the waterway. About 79 percent of Panamanians voted in favor the canal expansion, with 66 percent of 4,416 polling stations reporting, according to preliminary results released by the country's electoral tribunal. The expansion plan calls for building a third set of locks on the Pacific and Atlantic ends by 2015. Afghan commanders clash; dozens killed Fighting between the followers of rival commanders of two Pashtun clans in the western province of Herat on Sunday killed 32 fighters and wounded numerous others, said an assistant to Ismail Khan, the former governor of Herat. Ghulam Sarwar said the fighting involved tthe Barekzai and Noorzai tribes. The clash took place three days after a factional commander, Arbab Basir, and three of his men were killed in a clash with another Pashtun commander, Amanullah Kahn, Sarwar said. He said Kahn died in the fighting. Protesters oppose trade pact with U.S. Hundreds of demonstrators blocked traffic in South Korea's capital Sunday to protest a proposed free-trade agreement with the United States, and farmers called for it to be scrapped. Washington and Seoul have held three rounds of trade talks since June aimed at forging a deal to lower tariffs and open markets between the countries. The two sides have set a goal of reaching a basic agreement by the end of this year. Elsewhere ... FRANCE: Nearly 5,000 bottles from the wine cellar of Paris City Hall that went to auction during the weekend brought in about $1.2 million, far beyond expectations, the auctioneer said Sunday. Among others, a 1986 Romanee-Conti, a Burgundy, went for $6,280; a 1989 Petrus, a Bordeaux, went for $5,025. MEXICO: Tropical Storm Paul strengthened off Mexico's west coast Sunday and forecasters predicted it could become a hurricane overnight and hit land within three days.
[Last modified October 23, 2006, 02:14:03]
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