World briefs 1/14/06

European lawmaker: CIA suspect detention illegal

BURGDORF, Switzerland -- The head of a European investigation into alleged CIA prisons on the continent on Friday accused the United States of violating international human rights law in its war on terror. Dick Marty, the Swiss lawmaker leading the probe on behalf of the Council of Europe, said there was no question the CIA was undertaking illegal activities in Europe in its transportation and detention of terror suspects. "The strategy in place today respects neither human rights nor the Geneva Conventions," Marty said at a news conference in the Swiss town of Burgdorf.

Israel's interim leader wins high approval ratings

JERUSALEM -- Ariel Sharon's heir-apparent, Ehud Olmert, scored a whopping 71 percent approval rating after his first week as acting prime minister. Olmert pulled off the delicate task of not appearing over-eager to replace his ailing boss, while reassuring Israel and the world that he can carry out Sharon's agenda of drawing the country's final borders, with or without a deal with the Palestinians. Two polls published Friday indicated support for Sharon's new Kadima Party keeps growing and Olmert is the overwhelming favorite to become prime minister in a March 28 general election.

Bus, train crash in Russia kills at least 21 people

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia -- A bus transporting workers after their shift at a local factory collided with a train Friday in southern Russia, killing at least 21 people, the Emergency Situations Ministry said. Ministry spokesman Sergei Kozhemyaka said in Rostov-on-Don that all the victims were on the bus, which was carrying 27 people from the Kontsentrat factory. The accident occurred at a train crossing under heavy fog and the engine car derailed, said another ministry spokesman, Viktor Beltsov.

S. Korea, U.S. make deal on American beef imports

GWACHEON, South Korea -- South Korea and the United States agreed Friday on partially ending a two-year import ban on American beef triggered by mad cow disease, the South Korean government said. Before South Korea shut its doors to U.S. beef imports in December 2003 after the first U.S. case of mad cow disease, it was the third-largest foreign market for American beef, after Japan and Mexico. South Korea said in a statement that it agreed to resume imports of U.S. meat from calves under 30 months old.

-- From wire reports