Al-Qaida No. 2 praises al-Zarqawi in new video

CAIRO, Egypt -- Al-Qaida's No. 2 praised Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in a videotape broadcast Friday but did not mention his death in a U.S. airstrike, suggesting the tape was made earlier. Ayman al-Zawahri focused on political developments in the Palestinian territories, Sudan and Egypt in the tape broadcast by the Al-Jazeera network.The video is the sixth al-Zawahri has issued this year. An Al-Jazeera anchorman said the tape was made before al-Zarqawi's death was announced Thursday because al-Zawahri praised the al-Qaida in Iraq leader's efforts to confront U.S.-led forces in Iraq.

Villagers return to Indonesia's rumbling Mount Merapi

MOUNT MERAPI, Indonesia -- Hundreds of poor farmers concerned about their crops and livestock returned to the slopes of Indonesia's ash-spewing Mount Merapi on Friday, a day after fleeing the biggest eruption yet. A monitoring station counted dozens of lava bursts and nine small emissions of gas from Indonesia's most dangerous volcano, the official Antara news agency reported. A thin layer of gray ash covered crops and village rooftops. But there was nothing Friday comparable to Thursday's burst, which sent billowing gray clouds of hot ash 3 1/2 miles down the slope, and farmers said they felt at greater risk of losing their livelihood than their lives.

Hamas militants say truce off after Israeli attack

BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip -- Hamas militants called off a truce with Israel on Friday after a barrage of Israeli artillery shells tore into Palestinians at a beachside picnic in the Gaza Strip, killing seven civilians. The declaration raised the prospect of a new wave of bloodshed. Hamas militants suspended a campaign of deadly suicide attacks on Israelis after the February 2005 cease-fire, and have largely stuck to the truce. The Islamic group now leads the Palestinian government. The Israeli artillery attack was part of a wider aerial and artillery bombardment of suspected Palestinian rocket-launching sites that killed a total of 10 people Friday.

Bus plunges off Tanzanian bridge, 54 killed

ARUSHA, Tanzania -- An overloaded bus plunged off a bridge and into a river gorge in northern Tanzania on Friday, killing at least 54 people, police said. Twenty people were injured. The bus crashed into the Malala river 15 miles east of Mount Kilimanjaro, Regional Police Commander Balilo Matei said. The cause of the crash was under investigation. Witnesses said the bus appeared to be speeding when the driver lost control. Abbas Kandoro, the regional administrator, said more bodies could be uncovered by a crane that was headed to the scene to move the wreckage.

Thai king calls for unity as he marks 60 years on throne

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's king, the world longest-serving monarch, marked 60 years on the throne Friday, calling for unity in his politically troubled country as hundreds of thousands of adoring Thais cheered and waved yellow flags. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, 78, greeted his subjects in a glittering golden gown from the palace balcony in Bangkok, only the third such appearance of his royal career. "Unity is a basis for all Thais to help preserve and bring prosperity to the country," the king said in a five-minute speech. "If Thais uphold these ethics, it will ensure that Thailand will stand firmly."