The world in brief

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 1, 2000

Ship sinks off France; chemicals on board

CHERBOURG, France -- An Italian cargo ship carrying 6,000 tons of chemicals sank Tuesday northwest of the Channel Islands, a day after it sent out distress signals as gale-force winds lashed France's Atlantic coast.

Anti-pollution teams searched the water surrounding the Ievoli Sun for spills.

A helicopter had evacuated the 14 members of the crew Monday. A rescue tug had been sent to help the stricken vessel, but the ship could not make port before sinking.

The tanker was carrying mostly styrene, used to make plastics, rubber and resins. Other products on board included isopropyl, or rubbing alcohol, and methyl ethyl ketone, often used as a solvent.

Environmental groups warned that the chemicals, especially styrene, could cause ecological problems if they leaked out of the ship.

After visiting the site, French Transportation Minister Jean-Claude Gayssot told the National Assembly in Paris that traces of pollution had been detected in the area where the tanker sank.

"We don't know whether it is the product at hand ... the styrene, or if it is (fuel) from the engine," Gayssot said.

Shell Chemicals, which chartered the ship, said the styrene would not damage the environment. In case of a spill, the company said, the styrene would float to the surface, evaporating in a matter of hours.

U.S. suspect in Moscow suffers attack; trial halted

MOSCOW -- Fueling his family's worst fears, jailed U.S. businessman Edmond Pope suffered an attack of joint and back pain Tuesday so acute it put his Moscow espionage trial on hold -- and suggested his bone cancer may be back.

Pope, whose cancer was in remission when he came to Russia this spring, has spent six months in Moscow's dank, overcrowded Lefortovo prison, trying to win permission for an American doctor to examine him.

His pain Tuesday did not appear to advance that appeal.

After complaining of aches through the morning, Pope doubled over during his lunch break in a suspects' cage and asked for medical help, his lawyer Pavel Astakhov said. Pope was returned to the prison and examined by the same doctors who have insisted he is fit for trial.

Their diagnosis was terse: rheumatic inflammation of the back and hip joints. They ordered the 54-year-old Pope to rest for at least two days, and Judge Nina Barkina adjourned his trial until Thursday, Astakhov said.

"This is bone pain which is very terrifying to us and his family because that's how he first recognized his cancer when it first surfaced," said Jennifer Bennett, spokeswoman for Rep. John Peterson of Pennsylvania, who has championed Pope's cause.

Elsewhere

TRAVEL WARNING: The State Department advised Americans to defer travel to Jakarta and other areas of Java, the most populous island in Indonesia. In an announcement Monday, the department said intimidation and threats of violence had been directed at U.S. citizens in Jakarta, Solo and other parts of the island.

SUB RECOVERY: Divers abandoned their search for remains in the rear of the sunken Kursk nuclear submarine and shifted to the more mangled front of the ship, naval officials said Tuesday.

CHESS MATCH: Garry Kasparov had to settle for a draw in Tuesday's game 14 of the world chess championship, almost assuring challenger Vladimir Kramnik the championship. Kasparov must win both of the two remaining games to retain his title.

U.N. ADMISSION: Yugoslavia moved a step closer Tuesday toward ending eight years of international isolation by winning the Security Council's endorsement for it to join the United Nations as a new member.

The council's recommendation goes to the 189-member General Assembly for formal approval, which is expected today, assembly spokeswoman Sue Markham said.

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