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Voters endorse French president's proposals

By TIMES WIRES
Published June 11, 2007

PARIS - Voters resoundingly endorsed President Nicolas Sarkozy's plans to overhaul the French economy, giving his party a commanding lead Sunday in the first round of elections for Parliament, according to preliminary official results. With 82 percent of the vote counted, Sarkozy's UMP party had 40 percent of the vote, while the opposition Socialists had 25 percent, the Interior Ministry said.

The election sapped support from the fringes - including Jean-Marie Le Pen's once-influential extreme right National Front and the Socialists' farther-left allies - and left France with a Parliament tilted unusually well to the right.

Iran says it is holding fourth dual citizen

TEHRAN, IRAN - Iran confirmed Sunday that it has detained a fourth Iranian-American - this one a peace activist from California. The United States has criticized the detentions but Iran insists America has no right to interfere.

Mohammed Ali Hosseini, the spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, confirmed at his weekly news briefing that Iranian-American Ali Shakeri is being held. Shakeri is a founding board member of the University of California, Irvine, Center for Citizen Peacebuilding.

2.5 tons of cocaine seized at airport

CARACAS, VENEZUELA - Venezuelan authorities seized 2.5 tons of cocaine bound for Africa and arrested nine suspects including four federal police officers and a U.S. citizen, the military said Sunday.

After an undercover operation, military intelligence agents seized the drugs Saturday at the airport on the tourist destination of Margarita Island, National Guard Cmdr. Marcos Rojas Figueroa said. Among other foreigners arrested, two were Mexicans and one was from Sierra Leone.

Gay pride parade attracts millions

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - Millions of people packed the streets of Sao Paulo for what organizers said was the world's largest gay pride parade, dancing and waving rainbow flags in a carnival-like atmosphere to condemn homophobia, racism and sexism. At least 3-million people filled the canyonlike Paulista Avenue, organizers said, surpassing last year's count of 2.5-million.

The larger count was confirmed by a police spokesman who is not authorized to be quoted by name under department rules. "Our city is showing, once again, its respect for diversity, " Tourism Minister Marta Suplicy said.

Napoleon's sword sells for $6.4-million

FONTAINEBLEAU, FRANCE - A gold-encrusted sword Napoleon wore into battle in Italy 200 years ago was sold Sunday for more than $6.4-million, an auction house said. The last of Napoleon's swords in private hands, it has an estimated value of far less - about $1.6-million, according to the Osenat auction house managing the sale.

Osenat did not identify the buyer, but said the sword will remain in Napoleon's family.

Official predicts win by Musharraf

ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN - Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Sunday he expects President Pervez Musharraf to secure another five years in office this fall in spite of turmoil over his bid to fire the chief justice. Aziz also predicted Parliament would finish its full five-year term for the first time in the country's history.

Media curbs withdrawn: Musharraf has formally withdrawn his decree that imposed new regulations on the news media, government officials said.

Belgian prime minister concedes defeat

BRUSSELS - Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt conceded defeat Sunday on behalf of his coalition of Liberals and Socialists in general elections that saw the Christian Democrats end eight years in opposition with major gains.

"The voters of our country today elected a new government and the results of these elections are clear: The voter opted for a different majority, " the prime minister said.

Elsewhere

Expulsions regretted: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake said Sunday that the government took responsibility for the expulsion of ethnic minority Tamils from Colombo, the country's capital, and promised it would not happen again. The expulsion of 376 Tamils was condemned by rights groups and donors, as well as the United States.

Soldiers kill civilians: Two drunken soldiers shot and killed six civilians, including a 9-year old boy, after arguing with guests Sunday at a party in southern Colombia, the army said. The two men were captured by other soldiers shortly after the killings.

Cleric replaced: Australia's top Islamic cleric, Sheik Taj Aldin al-Hilali, who came under fire last year when he likened women without head scarves to "uncovered meat, " stepped down Sunday. Australia's council of Muslim leaders appointed Sheik Fehmi Naji El-Imam to the post.

Gunmen target Hamas leader's house

GAZA CITY, GAZA STRIP - Rival Palestinian forces clashed in Gaza on Sunday, killing two militants by throwing them out of high-rise buildings. Gunmen also fired shots at the house of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas.

There were no immediate reports of casualties in the attack early today on Haniyeh's house in the Shati refugee camp next to Gaza City. The attack, apparently by the rival Fatah faction, was the first time in a month of infighting that Haniyeh was targeted.

Tactic condemned: Journalists on Sunday condemned Palestinian militants for using a television truck to disguise their assault on an Israeli military position, saying the new tactic would make their jobs significantly more dangerous. In Saturday's attack, four gunmen drove a white jeep with press markings in English and Arabic to a fence on the Gaza-Israel border, then broke through on foot and attacked a guard tower in a failed attempt to capture a soldier. Israeli troops killed one gunman, while the others escaped. The attackers were from Islamic Jihad and an offshoot of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement.

[Last modified June 11, 2007, 00:03:15]