World briefs 03/06/03

Army presses parliament to accept U.S. troops

ANKARA, Turkey -- Turkey's powerful military said Wednesday it supported letting in U.S. troops for a war in neighboring Iraq, boosting pressure on legislators to reconsider their rejection of a measure allowing the American deployment.

The comments from Gen. Hilmi Ozkok, the nation's top officer, came a day after Turkey's top political leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, indicated that the government plans to reintroduce a new troop deployment resolution.

The two men are widely considered the most influential leaders in Turkey. The military is the most respected institution in the country and has led three coups since 1960.

Party officials have said that a vote is not likely for two to three weeks. It was unclear, however, if the momentum building in favor of a resolution would push that timetable forward.

Rights group: Saudis jailed 95 for al-Qaida links

LONDON -- Saudi Arabia has convicted 95 people of links to al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and sentenced them to prison terms of one to three years, a Saudi human rights campaigner says.

Saudi authorities are holding 400 others in jail, Abdelaziz al-Khamis, head of the London-based Saudi Center for Human Rights Studies, said in an interview.

He said authorities had detained a total of 2,500 for questioning since the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, most in the past three months as the United States geared up for possible war against Iraq.

Government officials weren't immediately available for comment. A press office spokeswoman at the Saudi Embassy in Washington, who did not give her name, said officials who could discuss the subject had left for the night.

China announces increase in military spending

BEIJING -- China unveiled plans today for a new military budget that calls for a near 10 percent increase in spending "with a view to adapting to changes in the international situation."

The announcement, in a preliminary budget document at the country's legislature, raises China's military budget to $22.4 billion, a 9.6 percent hike.

That budget, released this morning, was scheduled for presentation to the National People's Congress by Finance Minister Xiang Huaicheng.

It was drawn up, according to Xiang, "with a view to adapting to changes in the international situation, safeguarding national security and sovereignty and territorial integrity and raising the combat effectiveness of the armed forces in fighting wars to defend the country with the use of high technology."

China has raised its military budget consistently -- in double digits for the last 13 years. This announced budget barely misses the double-digit marker and is significantly smaller than last year's increase, though actual spending for the entire People's Liberation Army is believed to be much more.

Nigerian opposition official killed in home

ABUJA, Nigeria -- A senior member of Nigeria's main opposition party was shot and killed Wednesday by gunmen who broke into his home in the capital, relatives and police said.

Opposition officials blamed President Olusegun Obasanjo's party for the slaying. Ruling party officials denied it.

Marshall Harry was shot at close range in his bedroom in a suburb of Abuja by one of five gunmen who broke in after scaling a low fence around the house, family members said.

The attackers subdued and tied up several security guards before breaking into Harry's room. The men shot him twice and took some money before fleeing, the victim's 17-year-old niece Loliwa Harry told The Associated Press. She was in another part of the house at the time.

Harry was rushed to a hospital, where he died of his wounds.

Harry's All Nigeria People's Party filed a police affidavit blaming Obasanjo's People's Democratic Party for the killing.

-- From wire reports