World briefs 06/13/03

WHO: SARS could be coming to an end

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The World Health Organization said Thursday the global SARS outbreak may be nearing an end, and hard-hit Hong Kong reported no new infections or deaths for the first day since March.

However, the WHO cautioned that the disease is not yet controlled in Taiwan. In Canada, authorities tested 23 people from two facilities for the elderly in Ontario for SARS symptoms and hundreds more were quarantined as a precaution.

In Beijing, a visiting WHO official said China has provided information on its handling of SARS cases to encourage the agency to lift a travel advisory.

Hitoshi Oshitani, the WHO regional adviser in communicable diseases and SARS preparedness, said that only seven new SARS cases were reported worldwide on Wednesday, suggesting the end of epidemic could be near.

U.S. wins exemption for American peacekeepers

UNITED NATIONS -- The United States won another yearlong exemption Thursday for American peacekeepers from prosecution by a new U.N. war crimes tribunal. But the European Union warned the immunity wouldn't be permanent.

The Bush administration argues that the International Criminal Court -- established last year and expecting to start operating later this year -- could be used for frivolous or politically motivated prosecution of American troops. In addition to seeking the U.N. exemption, Washington has signed bilateral agreements with 37 countries not to prosecute American officials and is seeking more.

Unlike last year, when an initial one-year exemption received unanimous U.N. Security Council backing after a bitter battle, the United States faced opposition Thursday from France, Germany, Syria and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

Study: Antioxidant pills don't help heart trouble

LONDON -- Vitamin E and beta-carotene pills are useless for warding off major heart problems, and beta-carotene, a source of vitamin A, may be harmful, an analysis of key studies has concluded.

Many experts say the finding, published this week in The Lancet medical journal, settles the issue of antioxidant vitamins for heart health.

But others argue that the pills might still prove useful if started earlier and that while they do not seem to prevent heart attacks and premature death, further studies may show they help to delay the onset or progression of heart disease or other blood vessel problems.

Antioxidant nutrients, especially vitamin E, were widely recommended a few years ago as a way of keeping the heart healthy. However, several recent large studies failed to show any benefit, and a few raised the possibility that the pills might be harmful for some.

The latest research, conducted by scientists at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, analyzed the pooled results from 15 key studies involving nearly 220,000 people.

Italian authorities find alleged explosive on plane

ROME -- Police found an alleged explosive device on a plane waiting to board passengers for a domestic flight Thursday at an airport in eastern Italy, officials said.

The device was found under a seat on an Alitalia plane that had flown in to Ancona from Rome and was scheduled to make a return trip Thursday evening.

A fire department official at Ancona's Falconara airport said that police received an anonymous call alerting them to the device. They removed the device and safely exploded it, the official said on condition of anonymity. No arrests had been made.

The ANSA news agency cited investigators as saying the device appeared to be a cigarette pack with electrical cords sticking out. The packet was found hidden in a life vest under a seat, it said.

Since the device was destroyed, experts will have to piece together the remains to determine whether it was a bomb, ANSA reported.

-- From wire reports