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More than 100 arrests made in pedophile ring

By TIMES WIRES
Published June 21, 2007

TORONTO - More than 100 people have been arrested so far in a global investigation that arose two years ago in Canada when police began monitoring an Internet chat room used by pedophiles to stream live videos of children being raped, authorities said Wednesday. British officials revealed the extent of the crackdown Monday, saying the investigation had identified 700 suspects in 35 countries but providing no figures on total arrests. They said 31 children had been rescued. Toronto police Sgt. Paul Krawczyk said Wednesday that he had been involved in 82 arrests around the globe and that the total number of arrests was more than 100. U.S. prosecutors said in March 2006 that they had charged 27 people, including 15 Americans in 11 states. Of those 15, there have been 11 convictions, one suicide and three cases are pending. U.S. officials have declined to comment further on their part of the investigation, which is continuing.

Three Canadian soldiers killed

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - Afghanistan's surging violence left three Canadian soldiers and 21 suspected Taliban militants dead Wednesday. The Canadian troops died when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb while on a supply mission in Kandahar's Panjwayi district, said Brig. Gen. Tim Grant, the head of Canadian forces in the country. The latest deaths brought to 60 the number of Canadian troops killed in Afghanistan since deploying as part of the NATO-led force in 2002. NATO and Afghan troops, meanwhile, clashed with militants in the same province and called in airstrikes, killing 21 suspected fighters, local Mayor Khairudin Achakzai said.

President dissolves legislative house

ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN - President Nursultan Nazarbayev dissolved the lower house of Parliament on Wednesday and called early general elections for August in what the opposition called a maneuver to secure his grip on power in Kazakhstan. Elections in 2004 produced a legislature without a single opposition lawmaker. The next ballot had been set for 2009. Holding the election earlier was seen as an effort by Nazarbayev to maintain control over the house, giving the opposition little time to campaign. Nazarbayev, who has ruled the oil-rich nation for 17 years, recently signed a constitutional amendment allowing him to seek re-election in 2012 and in any subsequent vote.

Elsewhere

Clashes in Lebanon: The monthlong fighting in a Palestinian refugee camp on the outskirts of Tripoli continued Wednesday, with Lebanese troops bombing Islamic militants holed up there Wednesday.

Sri Lanka attacks rebels: Government troops killed up to 44 Tamil Tiger separatist rebels while destroying three small camps in the insurgents' last eastern stronghold, the military said Wednesday. The guerrillas disputed the death toll figures. The clashes came after the navy said it fought off a sea attack Tuesday, killing an additional 40 rebels.

Russia rejects Kosovo resolution: Russia rejected a draft Security Council resolution on Wednesday designed to win its support for an independence plan for Kosovo, saying it would not back statehood for the province until Serbia does.

Nigerian unions strike: Labor unions launched a strike Wednesday aimed at overturning government price hikes on gasoline in Africa's oil giant.

[Last modified June 21, 2007, 00:27:52]