World briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 2, 2001

Mexico to suggest looser U.S. immigration rules

MEXICO CITY -- The new Mexican government plans to urge the Bush administration to change U.S. immigration policy to allow far more Mexicans to enter the United States legally and give a new legal status to those now working there illegally.

The Mexican proposals, although still tentative, constitute the first test for a pledge of better cross-border relations -- in particular on the issue of immigration -- adopted by President Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox at an effusive summit meeting in Fox's hometown of San Cristobal on Feb. 16. Fox's ideas will be presented to U.S. officials at a high-level meeting Wednesday in Washington.

In fighting Sunday . . .

COLOMBIA: Colombian troops advanced toward a remote town in a restive southwestern province after a rebel assault that the army said destroyed several homes and may have killed police. Guerrillas from the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia attacked Almaguer early Sunday, army Col. Fidel Velandia told the Associated Press.

BURUNDI: The Tutsi-dominated army fought Hutu rebels in a southern suburb of Burundi's capital, Bujumbura, where officials said 37 combatants were killed in clashes last week.

BANGLADESH: Violent clashes in Bangladesh killed one man and injured 200 during the start of a three-day general strike intended to force Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation, police said. Bombs in the capital, Dhaka, injured 35.

Also . . .

GERMAN MERGER: Directors at Allianz AG and Dresdner Bank AG have approved the German insurance giant's takeover of the country's No. 3 bank to form a new European powerhouse, Allianz said Sunday in a statement. Allianz, which already owns 20 percent of Dresdner, will pay $47.81 per share in cash and stock for the remaining 80 percent stake.

OIL RIG PROTEST: Greenpeace environmental activists occupied an oil exploration rig on Scotland's east coast Sunday, accusing Houston oil company Conoco of contributing to global warming. Police arrested 17.

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