World briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 3, 2000

12 hostages in Philippines rescued

JOLO, Philippines -- In the first major success of a 17-day rescue assault, Philippine troops freed a group of Christian evangelists Monday after one escaped and alerted the military.

The escaped evangelist was taken in a military helicopter and pointed out the rebels' camp from the air. The soldiers then attacked the rebels, who fled after a brief clash, said Gen. Angelo Reyes, military chief of staff.

The recovery of the 12 Filipino evangelists, held by Abu Sayyaf rebels for three months, left five hostages in guerrilla hands: an American, three Malaysians and a Filipino.

U.N. appeals for flood aid

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- The United Nations on Monday issued an appeal for $10.7-million to aid flood victims in Cambodia, as a U.N. team assessed the damage from Vietnam's worst flooding in decades.

Parts of Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos have been devastated by floods along the Mekong River and its tributaries. Vast areas of rice paddies have been destroyed, and at least 470 people have died: 184 in Cambodia, 224 in Vietnam, 47 in Thailand and 15 in Laos.

Meanwhile, in India and Bangladesh, monsoon rains and the unexpected release of waters from manmade reservoirs claimed more than 1,000 lives and left 20-million people either marooned or homeless. U.N. teams also were assessing the destruction there.

The United Nations said the $10.7-million it seeks for Cambodia would assist 850,000 of the most vulnerable flood victims.

Train carries Trudeau to Montreal

MONTREAL -- A train carrying the body of Pierre Trudeau reached Montreal on Monday, hours after the former prime minister's ex-wife broke down in tears and fell to her knees on Parliament Hill in an emotional outpouring of grief.

The train carrying Trudeau's flag-draped coffin pulled into Central Station after a two-hour journey from Ottawa for today's state funeral at Notre-Dame Basilica. Thousands lined the tracks as the train passed, waving, saluting and clapping, and admirers sang O Canada as the train pulled into Montreal.

Trudeau died Thursday at 80.

Over the weekend in Ottawa, an estimated 60,000 people walked past his coffin at Parliament Hill. On Monday, crowds milled around the Centennial Flame, which has become a makeshift memorial to Trudeau, adorned with flowers, cards and flags.

Margaret Trudeau came to view the flame shortly after Trudeau's coffin was taken away. She broke down after a reporter reminded her that Monday was the birthday of her son, Michel, who was killed in a skiing accident.

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