World
New signs emerged that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is working hard to rally domestic support in case of an attempt by the US to oust him. Abu Dhabi TV aired an edict by a leading Iraqi Muslim cleric warning the faithful that providing any help to the US "would bring shame and disgrace in this life and painful punishment in the other world." Meanwhile, four Iraqis who fled to Jordan told Agence France-Presse that civil servants had been forced to pledge not to leave their workplaces "no matter what the circumstances" if the US attacked.
With the help of the environmentalist Green Party, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder narrowly won reelection to a new four-year term in Sunday's national vote. But his coalition's margin in parliament fell to just 11 seats over the conservative Christian Democrats and their Free Democrat allies. Despite the scare, Schröder repeated the stiff opposition to a US-led assault on Iraq that he used as a campaign issue. But he acknowledged a need to repair relations with the US after his justice minister was quoted as comparing President Bush to Adolf Hitler for his attitude toward Iraq. Schröder said Herta Daeubler-Gmelin had asked not to be reappointed.
At least 10 more people were killed and 29 others were hurt as suspected Muslim separatist militants sought to intimidate residents of disputed Kashmir into not voting today in Round 2 of crucial state elections. Turnout was an unexpectedly high 47 percent in Round 1 last week. More than 100 people have died in election-related violence so far.
Tensions were building along sectarian lines in Ivory Coast, as it became clear that dissident soldiers threatening the government of President Laurent Gbagbo had chosen mainly Muslim cities as their refuge. Gbagbo's government has blamed the uprising that began last week on "other countries," a reference believed to mean Muslim-dominated Burkina Faso on the northern border. French troops flown in to evacuate foreign nationals were standing by in the event of a government attack on rebel-held Bouake, the nation's No. 2 city.
A hand grenade exploded prematurely, killing one man and wounding another outside a building in Indonesia's capital that belongs to the US Embassy. Two others in a car with the casualties escaped, police said. But State Department officials disputed speculation that the building was being targeted. The embassy was closed from Sept. 10-16 because of a "credible and specific threat" that it would be the target of a terrorist attack.
Hope faded that more residents of an area in southern Russia would be found alive after rescuers airlifted to safety only one man from the aftermath of a massive landslide. Millions of tons of ice, rock, and mud from a glacier loosened by heavy rains buried villages in the Caucasus mountains early Saturday. So far, the remains of 24 people have been recovered; 95 others are reported missing.
