World briefs 1/31/06

Security Council agrees on Iran nuke review

LONDON -- The United States and other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council reached surprising agreement Tuesday that Iran should be hauled before that powerful body over its disputed nuclear program. China and Russia, longtime allies and trading partners of Iran, signed on to a statement that calls on the U.N. nuclear watchdog to transfer the Iran dossier to the Security Council, which could impose sanctions or take other harsh action. Foreign ministers from those nations, plus the United States, Britain and France, also said the Security Council should wait until March to take up the Iran case, after a formal report on Tehran's activities from the watchdog agency. Foreign ministers from Germany and the European Union also agreed.

New Saddam trial judge sets tough tone

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- When Saddam Hussein entered the court ahead of his attorneys and other defendants, it was clear there was a new sheriff in town. The change halted the practice of Saddam's co-defendants and defense attorneys snapping to attention as the former leader strolled to his seat last. It was all part of a tactic designed to restore order and decorum to the trial and stop Saddam from using it as a political forum. Behind the new style is Raouf Rasheed Abdel-Rahman, a 65-year-old no-nonsense, tough-talking jurist who took over as chief judge last week and presided at his first session Sunday.

All 72 miners saved from fire in Canadian mine

TORONTO -- Seventy-two Canadian potash miners Monday walked away from an underground fire and toxic smoke on Monday after being locked down overnight in airtight chambers packed with enough oxygen, food and water for several days. The company said the textbook case of safe underground mining was due to those chambers, extensive training of rescue workers and support from the rural community. Davitt McAteer, head of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration under former President Clinton, is leading the investigation into the deaths of 12 miners who died earlier this month at the Sago coal mine in West Virginia.

-- From wire reports