Volcano erupts, threatens villagers in Bogotá, Colombia

A volcano erupted Thursday in southwestern Colombia, spewing smoke and ash and raising fears for the safety of nearby villagers, officials said.

Police and emergency officials were on high alert after the 14,110-foot Galeras volcano became active at dawn and dumped ash on Pasto, 12 miles away.

A 1993 eruption killed nine people, including five scientists who had descended into the crater to sample gases at the moment it blew.

Opposition seeks no-confidence vote

Opposition parties introduced a no-confidence motion Thursday that is expected to topple Prime Minister Paul Martin's government and force a parliamentary election campaign during the Christmas holidays.

Canada's three opposition party leaders said their members would vote in Parliament on Monday to bring down Martin's minority government, claiming his Liberal Party no longer has the moral authority to lead the nation because of a corruption scandal.

An initial investigative report absolved Martin of wrongdoing but accused senior Liberal members of taking kickbacks and misspending tens of millions of dollars.

Study urges warning on wine labels

A new study upset French wine producers Thursday by calling for wine bottles to carry public-health warnings to combat alcohol abuse.

A report drawn up for the Health Ministry recommended that French wine bottles should carry labels similar to those on packs of cigarettes to help fight alcoholism, which it said affects one in 10 people in France.

French wine producers already are struggling to cope with falling consumption in France and stiff competition from "New World" rivals such as Australia and Chile.

Court OKs partial move of government

South Korea's Constitutional Court ruled Thursday the government could move part of the government south of Seoul, the capital.

The decision was a partial victory for President Roh Moo-hyun, but it fell short of his original aim of moving the capital from Seoul, home to one in five of the country's 48.4 million people.

Roh has pledged to develop other regions because economic activity is focused on Seoul.

Also

Philippines: One Philippine soldier was killed as renewed fighting with suspected Abu Sayyaf rebels, who have ties to al Qaida, entered a second day on the remote southwestern island of Jolo, an army general said Thursday.

Machu Picchu patrol: Police will begin patrolling Peru's famed Inca Trail following the recent armed robbery of 13 tourists, officials said Wednesday. Peru's National Institute of Culture, which administers the trail and the Machu Picchu ruins — the country's top tourist destination — said national police would assign 12 officers to protect hikers.

Compiled from Reuters and The Associated Press