World briefs 10/10/03

Afghanistan militias sign truce after fighting

MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan -- After fighting that killed dozens of people, rival warlords in northern Afghanistan said Thursday that they had reached a truce and would begin withdrawing tanks and other weapons within 48 hours.

But with soldiers squared off along a tense battlefield, it was not clear whether the cease-fire would hold despite assurances from both sides.

The fighting between the two groups -- both nominally loyal to President Hamid Karzai -- was the worst in northern Afghanistan in months, with one side claiming more than 60 people were killed.

One warlord, Atta Mohammed, said the truce took effect immediately and that both sides would return all weaponry to their bases in 48 hours.

"I am sure this cease-fire will hold," Mohammed told The Associated Press.

Israeli forces enter Palestinian refugee camp

RAFAH, Gaza Strip -- Israel sent dozens of tanks into a Gaza refugee camp early today to destroy tunnels allegedly used by Palestinians to smuggle weapons. Military officials said they acted on warnings that militants were trying to acquire anti-aircraft missiles.

The incursion followed a day of political uncertainty and sporadic violence. Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia suffered a severe blow when legislators failed to vote on his Cabinet, casting doubt on his plan to reach a truce with Israel. And a Palestinian suicide bomber struck an Israeli liaison office, injuring two soldiers and a Palestinian.

In Gaza, witnesses said tanks and other armored vehicles entered the Rafah refugee camp from two directions. A gun battle erupted between soldiers and Palestinian gunmen, but there was no report of casualties.

Groups want global arms trade regulated

LONDON -- For farmers in Uganda, AK-47 assault rifles are used instead of spears. In Somalia, weapons are so common that some children are named "Uzi" or "AK." In countries such as Iraq, there is more than one gun per person.

These findings were included in a report released Thursday by Amnesty International, Oxfam and another group as they launched a campaign in more than 50 countries aimed at controlling what they call a dangerously unregulated global arms trade that routinely allows weapons to reach repressive governments, human rights abusers and criminals.

Increasing numbers of arms are being exported, especially by the United States and Britain, to newfound allies such as Pakistan, Indonesia and the Philippines, regardless of concerns about human rights abuses and widespread poverty there, the report said.

The "Control Arms" campaign focuses on promoting a new international treaty covering arms transfers, as well as a number of regional and local measures designed to limit arms proliferation and misuse.

Security breaches probed at Guantanamo prison

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL STATION, Cuba -- Nearly two dozen investigators are searching for possible security breaches at the U.S. prison for terror suspects, officials said Thursday at the camp where espionage charges have heightened tensions.

Investigators will try to establish how a translator already under investigation got secret clearance and was allowed onto the base, and how a second translator managed to leave with classified information.

The translators, from San Diego-based Titan Corp., arrived as officials boosted security by closely monitoring e-mail messages, asking troops to report suspicious behavior.

Titan employed Ahmed F. Mehalba, an Arabic translator charged with lying to federal agents when he denied the compact disc he was carrying contained secret information from Guantanamo.

A second translator, Senior Airman Ahmad I. al-Halabi, was already under investigation for allegedly making anti-American statements before he arrived at Guantanamo. He is now charged with espionage and aiding the enemy.

-- From wire reports