World briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 23, 2001

Sharon promises to punish militants

TEL AVIV, Israel -- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon pledged Thursday to hit back at Palestinian militants, despite U.S. concerns an escalation in the conflict could spill over into the rest of the region.

On returning from a visit to the United States, Sharon referred to proposed U.S. plans to build a new Arab coalition to confront Iraq and said it could not be achieved at Israel's expense.

Sharon met at the airport with his military chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz, to decide how to respond to what he called "the escalation in Palestinian terrorism" while he was away.

Chaos marks start of trial in bishop's slaying

GUATEMALA CITY -- A trial in the murder of a bishop who fought for human rights, widely viewed as a test of Guatemala's justice system, stumbled through a chaotic first day Thursday.

Trouble started when a bomb exploded at a judge's house the night before. Then two suspects on Thursday fought police trying to bring them to the courthouse. When the trial started, it was recessed when a suspect said he was having a heart attack.

Prosecutors hope to prove that a current and former army officer, a member of the presidential guard, a priest and a seminary cook came together to kill Bishop Juan Gerardi, head of the Roman Catholic Church's human rights office.

In unrest . . .

INDIA: Police commandos were posted in Amritsar to prevent religious clashes Thursday after Hindu nationalists desecrated a mosque and burned copies of the Koran.

Members of the All India Hindu Protection Committee entered the 200-year-old Kheruddin Mosque in Amritsar late Wednesday, burned copies of the Islamic holy book and threw pork, a meat forbidden to Muslims, into the main compound, mosque manager Mohammad Anwar said.

GUYANA: Police in Buxton fired tear gas and metal pellets Thursday at stone-throwing black protesters who claimed their votes weren't counted in racially tense elections. At least two people were injured.

With almost 90 percent of the votes counted in Monday's general election, the ruling party backed by the ethnic Indian majority was far ahead, but election results expected to be announced Thursday were delayed, also inflaming the demonstrators.

Also Thursday . . .

ANNAN HOPES TO STAY: Kofi Annan, the first leader of the United Nations to rise from within its ranks, said he would accept a second five-year term as secretary-general. With no other strong candidates in the field at this point, he is likely to be re-elected this year, well before the end of his first term on Dec. 31.

FOX IN CALIFORNIA: Nearly 3,000 people crowded into a Fresno, Calif., convention hall to hear Mexican President Vicente Fox, who praised field workers and promised to work on issues that matter most in their lives. About 2,000 more listened outside through loudspeakers.

HOLOCAUST REVISIONISM: Lebanon's government said it would not allow a gathering of Holocaust revisionists in Beirut, planned for this month.

EX-PRESIDENT TO WED: Former Argentine President Carlos Menem said he will marry 35-year-old television personality and former Miss Universe Cecilia Bolocco before the end of May.

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