Deal signed to oust Canadian government

Toronto

Deal signed to oust government

Canada's opposition parties signed an unprecedented agreement Monday to topple the Conservative government in a no-confidence vote next week and form a coalition government less than two months after national elections.

The three parties in the alliance, which together control a majority in Parliament, plan to vote against Prime Minister Stephen Harper's minority government Dec. 8, which would remove it from power.

If Harper loses the confidence vote, Governor General Michaelle Jean would either call another election or ask the opposition to form a government.

Constitutional experts say Jean would likely allow the opposition to form a government because an election was held so recently.

If the opposition plan is successful, it would be the first time a Canadian government was ousted and replaced by an opposition coalition without an intervening election.

Beijing

Tainted milk tied to deaths of 6 babies

China's Health Ministry said six babies may have died after consuming tainted milk powder, up from a previous official figure of three deaths.

Health authorities across the country also found 294,000 babies had suffered from urinary problems after consuming milk powder tainted with the industrial chemical melamine, the ministry said late Monday.

The Health Ministry's previous count stood at three deaths, with more than 50,000 babies sickened.

The scandal highlighted the widespread practice of adding melamine to watered-down milk to fool protein tests.

Harare, Zimbabwe

Police battle angry soldiers

Police wielding guns and riot sticks skirmished with unarmed soldiers in Zimbabwe's capital Monday, after frustration over unpaid wages touched off a riot.

Police took away one civilian hit by a bullet.

Trouble began when soldiers attacked money changers and stole cash after being unable to draw their wages at banks. Zimbabwe's dire financial situation has triggered a cash shortage, making it impossible for people to get access to enough money to survive.

The violence was the second time in a week that soldiers attacked money changers. Authorities battling a cholera epidemic also cut water supplies because of a shortage of chemicals at treatment plants, fueling emotions further.

Tijuana, Mexico

Top cop removed amid more slayings

At least 38 people have been killed since Friday in escalating drug-related violence that appears to have left in tatters a Mexican military offensive launched two weeks ago.

The killing spree marked the end of the tenure of the city's top law-enforcement official, Secretary of Public Security Alberto Capella, who was ousted Monday evening. Hundreds of soldiers and federal agents patrolling the eastern part of the city have failed to stop the killings between rival drug cartels.

Three of nine decapitated bodies discovered in an empty lot Sunday were those of police officers, according to the Baja California attorney general's office. On Saturday night, two brothers, 4, and 13 years old, were gunned down along with their father outside a grocery, authorities said.

Since the latest military-led operation began Nov. 18, at least 70 people have been killed in Tijuana, and more than 350 have died since rival gangs began battling in late September.

Also

Meltdown in Iceland: Hundreds of Icelanders stormed the country's central bank in Reykjavik on Monday demanding the sacking of the governor they blame for the country's economic collapse.

India train blast: A bomb exploded in a train coach in India's insurgency-hit northeast today, killing at least two people and injuring 30, a state government official said.

Quake strikes Taiwan: A powerful earthquake struck southeastern Taiwan today, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Seattle Times news services