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Law allowing early abortions takes effect

By TIMES WIRES
Published April 27, 2007

MEXICO CITY - A new measure legalizing abortions in Mexico City was published into law on Thursday, allowing doctors almost immediately to begin terminating pregnancies in their first trimester. City Health Secretary Manuel Mondragon said early term abortions will be legal starting today for women who are nearing the 12-week limit and cannot wait. Women whose pregnancies are less advanced will have to wait until the law's regulations are published, expected to be next week. Women will have to prove residency in the capital, and girls under 18 need parental consent.

Victory claimed over insurgents

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA - Somalia's government claimed victory over an Islamic insurgency Thursday hours after a surge in violence killed 58 people in the capital, but diplomats said they were skeptical that the worst fighting in more than 15 years had ended. Machine gun and artillery fire could still be heard in the south of Mogadishu.

Key al-Qaida leader dies in army clash

ALGIERS, ALGERIA - The No. 2 al-Qaida official in Algeria was killed Thursday in a clash with an army patrol, the country's official APS news agency said, citing security officials. Samir Moussaab, whose real name is Samir Saioud, was killed near the village of Si Moustapha about 25 miles east of the capital, Algiers, the radio reported. Double suicide bombings on April 11 killed 33 people and wounded 57 in Algiers, and Al-Qaida in Islamic North Africa claimed responsibility.

Elsewhere

Colombia: Colombia's electrical grid collapsed Thursday, causing a nationwide blackout that briefly halted stock trading and trapped people in elevators. By midday, power was slowly being restored to homes and companies. The outage apparently began with an undetermined glitch at a substation in Bogota and quickly spread nationwide, a utility statement said.

[Last modified April 27, 2007, 01:41:27]