World

Radical Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr resurfaced as a concern in Iraq, calling the interim government "illegitimate" and pledging to "continue resisting oppression and occupation to our last drop of blood." "There is no truce with the occupier," Sadr said. Less than a month ago, he ordered fighters loyal to him to go home. But his spokesman Monday sought to clarify that his latest statement was not a call to arms and that his loyalists would be disbanded once all foreign troops leave Iraqi soil.

Early returns gave ex-Army general and cabinet minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono the lead in Indonesia's first direct presidential election. But it was too soon to tell whether a runoff might be necessary. Balloting was being conducted across 13,000 islands and three time zones. If necessary, a second round will be held in September. Yudhoyono had a five-point edge over incumbent Megawati Sukarnoputri, whose inability to stem corruption or rally the economy squandered her popularity.

Saying, "The time has come for a radical review of the trial process," the chief judge of the UN's tribunal for the Balkans adjourned the start of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic's defense. He and the tribunal's other judges are expected to rule Tuesday on how to proceed. Milosevic, who is representing himself, had planned a four-hour opening statement in the highest-profile war-crimes case in Europe since the Nuremberg trials. But new medical reports on his fragile health indicated it is essential that he rest. The prosecution, which rested its case in February, has rejected suggestions that Milosevic isn't fit enough to continue with the trial but has called for court-appointed lawyers to represent him and ease the stress on his health. The trial, already two years old, has had frequent adjournments.

At least 35 people were reported dead or missing and more than 10,000 others were stranded in the worst flooding in Taiwan in a quarter-century. Tropical storm Mindulle still was dumping heavy rains on the island Monday, although its main force was pushing on across the East China Sea toward South Korea.

Doctors said they held out hope for the life of Austrian President Thomas Klestil after he was rushed to a Vienna hospital in critical condition because of what was diagnosed as a heart problem. His second and final six-year term ends Thursday.