Agreement reached on Gaza crossings

Israel and the Palestinians reached a deal on Gaza border crossings today following intense negotiations brokered by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Israeli Defense Ministry sources said.

Rice had postponed her departure to Asia for an APEC meeting, staying in Jerusalem an extra day until she got a deal on opening the Gaza-Egypt border.

Access to Gaza is key to strengthening the impoverished strip's economy and giving a boost to chances for peacemaking following Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in September.

U.S. officials scheduled a news conference in Jerusalem later today for an announcement.

The Israeli sources said the sides had agreed to the presence of cameras at the Rafah border, and that Israeli and Palestinian officers would monitor the video feed from an operations room located several kilometers away. Palestinians had insisted Israelis not sit at Rafah.

Berlin

Germans reach deal, clear way for Merkel

The main German political parties agreed Monday on contentious welfare cuts and tax increases to be carried out by a new coalition government, clearing the final obstacle for Angela Merkel to be sworn in next week as the nation's first female chancellor.

The agreement between the leftist Social Democrats and conservative Christian Democrats forges an uneasy power-sharing coalition that must overcome deep differences on reforming the welfare state. It puts Merkel in the precarious role of presiding over a fractious government that many critics say lacks the political will to revitalize Europe's largest economy.

But the pact brings stability to a nation that has been anxiously awaiting new leadership since Sept. 18, when an inconclusive election forced the two parties into a "grand coalition." The rivals have vowed to reduce the budget deficit, raise the value-added tax by 3 percent, push the retirement age from 65 to 67 and impose new taxes on the rich.

Toronto

Martin rejects call for new elections

Canada's minority Liberal government Monday rejected an opposition demand for general elections in February, a move that could topple Prime Minister Paul Martin's administration and force the first Christmas campaign in 26 years.

The country's three opposition party leaders called on Martin on Sunday to agree to dissolve Parliament in January and hold elections the next month or face a no-confidence motion that could bring down his government as early as next week.

The opposition says the Liberal Party no longer has the moral authority to lead the nation because of a corruption scandal.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan

15 men convicted in fatal uprising

Uzbekistan's top court Monday convicted 15 men for organizing a May uprising in which more than 180 people were killed, ending a trial that was criticized as a government-orchestrated show with testimony coerced by torture.

The May 13 crackdown has left President Islam Karimov's authoritarian government increasingly isolated by the West. The United States quickly criticized the verdicts, with State Department spokesman Adam Ereli saying the convictions were "based on evidence that isn't credible and a trial that isn't fair."

Kampala, Uganda

Opposition leader's arrest fuels protests

Ugandan police arrested an opposition leader and charged him with treason Monday, touching off anti-government protests that police put down with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons.

Police said Monday they suspected the opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, of links to the Lord's Resistance Army — a cultlike rebel group notorious for kidnapping children and using them as soldiers or concubines.

Besigye, who was greeted by huge crowds when he returned from exile last month and has mounted a strong challenge to President Yoweri Museveni's 19-year rule, was charged at a magistrate's court with treason, concealment of treason and the 1997 rape of a woman, Asumani Mugenyi, a police spokesman, told The Associated Press.

If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

Compiled from Reuters, The Associated Press and Los Angeles Times