World

A mother of three accused of collaborating with Israeli security forces was shot to death by fellow Palestinians in the West Bank city of Tulkarm Saturday night. She was believed to be the first female to meet such a fate, although many men have been killed for suspected collaboration. In the southern West Bank, Israel was refusing to pull troops out of Hebron until it received guarantees "that calm will be maintained." But Defense Minister Binyamin Ben Eliezer said negotiations would continue with the Palestinians on the phased-withdrawal plan agreed to last week.

Saying "This is not a summit for anarchy," South Africa's government warned antiglobalization protesters to stay within the law after police had to use stun grenades to disperse hundreds of leftists in Johannesburg Saturda night. But activist organizers countered: "we have learned to fight for our rights and intend to do so." The unauthorized protest – and vows of more to come – threatened to eclipse diplomatic efforts to save the 10-day Earth Summit, which opens Monday, from widely predicted failure. Rich and poor nations remained well apart on alleviating poverty and protecting the environment.

Forecasts of more heavy rain as soon as Tuesday worried emergency crews and millions of residents in central China, where huge Dongting Lake remained six feet above danger level, but largely within its dikes. So far, an estimated 67,000 homes have been damaged, authorities said.

"Not a moment of peace" will be accorded the political wing of ETA, the Basque separatist group, Spain's prime minister vowed, as parliament prepared to vote Monday on banning it. But leaders of Herri Batasuna were calling on their supporters to protest in the streets, and ETA warned legislators who vote for the ban to expect trouble. A local councilwoman near Bilbao reported finding a death threat that had been slipped into the pants pocket of her small son, who'd been playing in a public park.

In a referendum whose outcome was never in doubt, 97 percent of voters OK'd a proposed change to the Constitution of Azerbaijan so President Gaidar Aliyev can transfer power to his son. Aliyev said the amendment would bring the ex-Soviet republic's charter more into line with Western standards. Aliyev, whose two terms have followed heavily criticized elections, has a history of medical problems.