World briefs 09/24/02

Bomb explodes in Spain, killing at least one

MADRID, Spain -- A bomb exploded Monday night in the Basque coastal city of Bilbao, killing at least one person in what appeared to be a bungled ETA attack, authorities said.

The bomb went off in or underneath a parked car in the Basurto neighborhood on the outskirts of the port city just before midnight, according to the regional Basque Interior Ministry.

The ministry said investigators were working to identify the remains of one or possibly two people killed in the blast. There were no other casualties.

Although there was no claim of responsibility, police suspected that explosion was the work of the Basque group ETA.

Petition demands the right to assisted suicide

LONDON -- A man who failed to win the right to help his terminally ill wife commit suicide presented a 50,000-signature petition to Prime Minister Tony Blair's office on Monday, demanding the right to assisted suicide in Britain.

Brian Pretty's wife, Diane, 43, who died of motor neuron disease on May 11, fought in the British courts for her husband to be guaranteed immunity from prosecution if he helped her die.

Suicide is legal in Britain, but helping someone else commit suicide is a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Pretty, 46, from Luton, north of London, said Monday that campaigners "are calling for Tony Blair to listen to the people who are asking for a change in the law. Diane would be 100 percent behind this as she was from the start."

Video shows crashing Russian military helicopter

MOSCOW -- A videotape shows what appears to be footage of the crash of a Russian military helicopter that killed at least 119 people last month and of Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov presenting a pistol to the guerrilla fighter he says shot the massive craft down.

The video, obtained by Associated Press Television News from a Turkish news agency, shows a helicopter thought to be a Russian Mi-26 flying low over buildings and trees, flames streaming from its engine, before descending out of sight. A column of black smoke then rose on the horizon.

Russian officials say Chechen rebels using a shoulder-fired Igla missile launcher shot down the Mi-26 that crashed with 154 people aboard near the Russian military base of Khankala in breakaway Chechnya on Aug. 19, the worst loss in a single incident in Russia's two wars in Chechnya.

It was impossible to independently verify authenticity of the tape, the location or the date of the footage.

Technical failure blacks out most of Chile

SANTIAGO, Chile -- A blackout struck most of Chile, including its capital city, Monday after a breakdown at a distribution plant, officials said.

Police said the blackout cut electrical power to 1,350 miles of Chile's territory, from the northern city of Tal Tal to Puerto Montt in the south.

The blackout lasted an average of one hour and power was gradually restored. Santiago's 5.5 million people were without power for 57 minutes around midday.

The head of the National Energy Commission, Viviane Blanlot, said the problem was caused by a technical failure at the plant in Ancoa, 150 miles south of Santiago. Officials weren't sure exactly what caused the failure.

GM launches venture to make cars in Russia

TOGLIATTI, Russia -- General Motors Corp. and Russia's top automaker, Avtovaz, unveiled a plant Monday capable of producing 75,000 sport utility vehicles a year, the largest joint venture yet for Russia's struggling automobile industry.

For General Motors, the $338-million deal represents a bold attempt to carve a greater niche in Russia's burgeoning car market. For Avtovaz, it represents the opportunity to attract Western money and capability to breathe fresh life into its aging production facilities.

The plant will produce Chevrolet Nivas for sale locally and at GM dealerships overseas, though not in the United States.-- From wire reports