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World briefsCompiled from Times wires © St. Petersburg Times, published October 16, 2000 Ebola virus blamed for 34 deaths in UgandaNAIROBI, Kenya -- The World Health Organization confirmed Sunday the Ebola virus has killed 34 people and infected 29 others in northern Uganda. Ebola, named for the Congo river near where the disease was discovered in 1976, is the most dreaded of the viral hemorrhagic fevers, with a fatality rate approaching 90 percent. Its onset is deceptively similar to malaria, with fever, headache and muscle pain. But Ebola progresses within days to a grotesque late stage in which the patient bleeds through the nose, mouth, rectum, genitals and even eyes. The first known outbreak, in the village of Yambuku, Congo, killed at least 280 people, while a simultaneous outbreak in southern Sudan left 117 dead. The 1995 outbreak in the Congolese city of Kikwit killed 244. The outbreak in Gulu is the first in Uganda, although health officials said a 1977 outbreak of the Marburg virus, similar to Ebola, killed 22 people in the country's east. In Gulu, 225 miles north of Kampala, the capital, doctors say the vast majority of fatalities have been young women. A WHO team arrived in Gulu over the weekend to help protect health workers, treat patients and assess the scope of the epidemic. Philippines president targeted for impeachmentMANILA, Philippines -- Opposition politicians said Sunday they would move forward in seeking the impeachment of President Joseph Estrada despite his apology for a scandal over alleged gambling payoffs. An impeachment complaint and a separate criminal suit will be filed this week, said Rep. Ernesto Herrera. Estrada apologized Saturday after allegations by provincial governor Luis Singson that Estrada received more than $8.6-million in payoffs from illegal gambling operators. Herrera, however, called the president's apology vague and said Estrada did not address whether he received the payoffs. The House of Representatives, where Estrada's LAMP party has a sizable majority, must investigate the impeachment charges. If it finds the charges substantial, it sends them to the Senate, which conducts a trial and decides on a verdict. ElectionsBELARUS: Parliamentary elections in Belarus cleared the minimum voter turnout Sunday despite an opposition boycott, and electoral officials said the vote would likely be declared valid. Many opponents of hard-line President Alexander Lukashenko didn't show up to vote, protesting what they alleged were massive violations in advance of the balloting. But pleas for a boycott were ignored in rural areas, where the government is popular. Lukashenko, who has used his widespread powers in Belarus to crack down on dissent, dismissed the criticism over the vote and said it would be fully democratic. Preliminary results were not expected before today, but pro-government forces looked set to sweep the elections for the 110 seats in the lower house, or Chamber of Representatives. MEXICO: Mexico's ruling party fought Sunday to make a comeback in state elections after months of turmoil and a string of defeats, including its first loss in a presidential race. Most polls showed the candidate of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, Miguel Andrade, leading 10 other opposition members in the race for governor of oil-rich Tabasco state. A victory by Andrade would help current Tabasco Gov. Roberto Madrazo in his fight to become national president of the PRI. Initial results were expected early today. ElsewhereCHESS CHAMPIONSHIP: In London, the fifth game of the world chess championship ended in a draw Sunday after Garry Kasparov miscalculated in an advantageous position. It was the third time Kasparov had failed to defeat challenger Vladimir Kramnik with the white pieces. Kramnik leads 3-2 after five games of the 16-game match. Game six will be played Tuesday.
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From the Times wire desk
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