World Digest
U.S. trip off; Sharon works on Gaza plan

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Most e-mailed articles

Sharon told his Cabinet he will present it with a revised version of his "disengagement plan" in the next three weeks. He did not reveal what changes he is contemplating.

In Washington, Sharon was to have addressed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a pro-Israel lobbying group. He also had been expected to meet with President Bush, who had endorsed Sharon's plan.

Two Polish police officials quit over deadly ammo mix-up

WARSAW, Poland — Police mistakenly opened fire with live ammunition to stop a street fight in the central Polish city of Lodz, killing a 19-year-old man and wounding three others, officials said yesterday.

The shootings prompted Lodz Police Chief Jan Feja and his deputy to resign.

The fighting began when a group of soccer fans attacked some students. The attackers threw stones and bottles at police as they arrived.

Police responded by firing rubber bullets, but some officers accidentally reloaded with live ammunition and fired six rounds before realizing their mistake.

Captured Colombians aimed to oust him, Chávez says

CARACAS, Venezuela — Security forces yesterday captured Colombian paramilitaries who were being trained by his foes to overthrow him, President Hugo Chávez announced.

Opposition leaders dismissed the charge as a crude effort to torpedo their attempts to legally remove him from office.
 
Chávez said 80 unarmed Colombians dressed in Venezuelan military uniforms were seized in a raid on a ranch on the southern outskirts of Caracas. He said the group was recruited, trained and led by opposition leaders.

Recount begins in Taiwan; no change in winner expected

TAIPEI, Taiwan — The recount began today in a hotly contested presidential election whose initial outcome sparked violent street protests and paralyzed policy-making on the island.

Incumbent Chen Shui-bian defeated opposition leader Lien Chan by fewer than 30,000 votes among 13 million cast in the March 20 vote, which came a day after Chen was slightly wounded in what the opposition claims was a faked assassination attempt. Most analysts say a recount is unlikely to overturn Chen's victory.