World briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 9, 2000

Kashmir cease-fire called off

NEW DELHI -- The prospect of peace in the Indian province of Kashmir appeared to disappear Tuesday when the militant group Hezb-ul Mujahedeen called off its cease-fire.

"This peace offensive has not been reciprocated by India, who have demonstrated their traditional intransigence," organization chief Sayed Salahuddin said in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad.

The group had insisted that Pakistan be allowed to join in any talks, something India refused. It accuses Pakistan of sponsoring the "cross-border terrorism" in Kashmir.

Hezb-ul Mujahedeen, one of the main insurgent groups in the territory, declared a unilateral, three-month cease-fire July 24. India was receptive to the peace initiative, but the move drew immediate and harsh criticism from other militant groups. Some of those guerrillas murdered more than 100 civilians last week.

The ownership of Kashmir, which has a majority-Muslim population, has been disputed between predominantly Muslim Pakistan and largely Hindu India since 1947. The two nations have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir.

Chilean high court lifts Pinochet's immunity

SANTIAGO, Chile -- Chile's Supreme Court lifted Gen. Augusto Pinochet's immunity from prosecution on Tuesday, paving the way for the former dictator to be tried on human rights charges. But chances for a quick trial appeared slim.

Pinochet's supporters in Congress announced a bill to try to block a trial of the 84-year-old Pinochet on grounds of health. Pinochet suffers from diabetes, uses a pacemaker and has had three mild strokes.

Even Eduardo Contreras, a lawyer and Pinochet opponent, predicted putting Pinochet on trial could take "up to eight years."

The court voted 14-6 to allow Pinochet to be prosecuted on charges stemming from his 1973-90 rule, court secretary Carlos Meneses said.

Efforts to prosecute Pinochet center on the so-called "caravan of death," a military squad that executed 72 political prisoners after the coup. In a 49-page ruling, the court said Pinochet should respond as to whether he gave authority to the members of the caravan, as plaintiffs have alleged.

Elsewhere . . .

SPAIN BOMBS: Two car bombs blamed on Basque separatists went off in Madrid and in northern Spain on Tuesday, killing a businessman and injuring 11 other people.

LEBANON BORDER: Lebanon announced Tuesday it will begin deploying its security forces in southern Lebanon, an area patrolled by Shiite Muslim guerrillas since Israel's withdrawal in May.

CHAVEZ TRIP: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Thursday will become the first foreign leader to visit Iraq since the Gulf War. Venezuela's foreign minister, Jose Vicente Rangel, said Tuesday in Caracas that Chavez will cross the border from Iran by car, ducking a U.N. flight ban. Chavez is on a whirlwind tour of fellow OPEC members.

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