World briefs 05/28/03

Fugitive former priest jumps to death in Mexico

MAZATLAN, Mexico -- An international search for a fugitive former priest from the United States neared an end as authorities surrounded a beachfront hotel. But Siegfried F. Widera, who fled to Mexico to avoid 42 counts of child molestation in Wisconsin and California, did not surrender.

The 62-year-old died Sunday after jumping from a balcony next to his third-floor room at the Vista Dorada Hotel, near one of Mazatlan's most popular beaches.

It was unknown whether Widera intended to kill himself or to escape, said Marta Gutierrez, an official with the state attorney general's office in Sinaloa, the state that includes Mazatlan.

As federal and state agents surrounded the hotel, Widera was seen running to his balcony, Gutierrez said. He died as an ambulance rushed him to a hospital.

Britain investigates disappearance of TV crew

LONDON -- Britain began a military investigation Tuesday into the disappearance of two TV crew members after a shooting in Iraq more than two months ago when a colleague was slain, officials said.

Translator Hussein Osman and Fred Nerac, a French cameraman working for Britain's ITN news, have not been seen since the March 22 shooting in southern Iraq near Basra involving coalition and Iraqi forces. Veteran TV reporter Terry Lloyd was killed.

The U.S. military has been looking into the disappearances. ITN has conducted its own investigation and has made repeated calls for help from the British military who control the area near where the shooting took place.

Fabienne Nerac, the cameraman's wife, had earlier complained that British officials hadn't helped in the search.

The Royal Military Police launched its own investigation on Tuesday, the Ministry of Defense said.

North's nuclear ambition could slow rice shipment

SEOUL, South Korea -- Toughening its stance on North Korea, South Korea said Tuesday it would delay shipments of badly needed rice aid for the communist North if Pyongyang escalates tensions over its nuclear ambitions.

During inter-Korean talks on economic cooperation last week, South Korea agreed to provide North Korea with 400,000 tons of rice this year to help ease chronic food shortages.

The agreement came amid tensions on the Korean Peninsula, roiled by North Korea's suspected development of nuclear weapons and its resistance to U.S.-led international efforts to keep the peninsula nuclear-free.

Asked by ruling party lawmakers if the rice shipments would continue even if the nuclear standoff deteriorated, Vice Finance and Economy Minister Kim Gwang-lim said the shipments would have to be delayed.

Kim made the remark in a meeting with members of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party.

South Korea had previously said shipments of humanitarian aid should not be linked to political tension.

Al-Jazeera replaces general manager

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Al-Jazeera satellite television said Tuesday it will replace its general manager, making the announcement days after Secretary of State Colin Powell criticized the all-news station for airing a purported al-Qaida tape.

But the Arab broadcaster did not give a reason for the removal of Mohammed Jassim Al-Ali, who has managed the station since its inception seven years ago.

Jihad Ballout, communication and media relations manager, said Al-Ali would remain on Al-Jazeera's seven-member board of directors.

The board of directors, chaired by Sheik Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, a member of Qatar's royal family, is responsible for editorial policy.

Al-Jazeera has broadcast messages by Osama bin Laden or other members of the al-Qaida terror network.

-- From wire reports