World briefs 10/14/02

Police dismantle migrant-smuggling ring

BOGOTA, Colombia -- Colombia's secret police say they broke up a ring that was smuggling migrants into the United States.

Five Chinese citizens and a Colombian man were arrested on charges they led a crime ring that smuggled people into the United States, the secret police, known as the DAS, said in a press release.

If convicted, the men face six to eight years in prison.

The DAS said it carried out 14 raids throughout Bogota after identifying the ring and determining that its leaders were sending immigrants to the U.S., sometimes for as much as $17,500 per person.

The gang provided transportation, food and false documentation and funneled the illegal aliens through cities such as Bogota, Moscow and Madrid en route, the DAS said.

Grenade attack kills 3, injures 7 in India

GAUHATI, India -- A hand grenade exploded at a Hindu prayer services attended by dozens of people Sunday, killing three people and wounding seven others in northeastern India, authorities said.

The attacker fled after the blast in a tent where worshippers had congregated, said Ganesh Kalita, the top administrator in the town of Bongaigoan, located 125 miles west of Gauhati, the capital of Assam state.

Kalita said three people were killed and seven wounded. Further details were not immediately available.

There were no claims of responsibility and police did not immediately blame any violent group.

Israeli workers strike, protesting tax increase

JERUSALEM -- About 140,000 public workers went on strike in Israel Sunday to protest government plans to tax contributions to pension funds.

The strike included government ministry employees and municipal workers, as well as non-medical staff in state hospitals. Government offices were closed to the public, and garbage began to pile up in the streets, since sanitation workers were also striking.

Ofer Einy, head of the Civil Workers' Union, said the strike would continue until the government cancels the decision to tax pension funds and negotiates with workers, who are also seeking pay raises.

Late-night meetings Saturday and Sunday failed to resolve the dispute between the union and Finance Ministry officials. Sunday is the first day of the work week in Israel.

Pakistani groups ready for coalition talks

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's pro-democracy group is ready to begin coalition talks with Islamic and other parties which made significant gains in parliamentary elections, its leader said Sunday.

"We are opening talks with Islamic parties on Monday to muster their support and to reach understanding with them for forming a stable government," Mukhdoom Amin Fahim, the leader of the Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians told The Associated Press.

"I will hold talks with Qazi Hussain Ahmad with open mind and with a bigger heart ... we will also meet with leaders of all other political parties," he said.

Ahmad is one of the top leaders of an alliance of six conservative Islamic parties that surprisingly emerged as third major force in the National Assembly by securing at least 45 seats in the 342-member house as a result of national elections Thursday.

Changing British adoption laws make contact easier

LONDON -- The British government said Sunday it will change a law to make it easier for mothers to contact children they gave up for adoption decades ago.

Health Minister Jacqui Smith said amendments to the Adoption and Children Bill, which is currently before Parliament, would let adoption support agencies act as intermediaries between birth parents and their offspring. The agencies could trace adopted children and ask permission for their identity to be given to a birth parent.

Until the 1970s, single mothers were routinely encouraged to give their babies up for adoption. Many have no idea what happened to their children.

-- From wire reports