World briefs 10/17/04

Two U.S. troops killed; Afghan vote count goes on

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A bomb killed two American soldiers and wounded three others in southern Afghanistan, the U.S. military said Saturday, and an attack in an eastern province killed three children and two others. The attacks were a reminder of the insecurity still threatening Afghanistan's democratic experiment. Ballot counting from the vote gathered speed after a one-day break, and interim leader Hamid Karzai streaked ahead of his rivals in early returns.

Israel says 17-day Gaza incursion was successful

JEBALIYA REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip -- Israel's military said Saturday that its 17-day incursion into the northern Gaza Strip struck a heavy blow to Palestinian militants routinely firing makeshift rockets into the country's southern region. Palestinian residents accused the army of wanton destruction, saying the broad military offensive targeted densely populated areas never used to launch rockets. At least 110 Palestinians were killed, making this the bloodiest military offensive in northern Gaza in four years of fighting.

Thousands mark pope's 26th anniversary

VATICAN CITY -- Thousands of well-wishers have showered Pope John Paul II with greetings for the 26th anniversary of his election as pontiff, his spokesman said Saturday. Joaquin Navarro-Valls told the Italian news agency ANSA, "many thanked the pope for all that he said about peace in the world, above all on the subject of preventive war."

-- From wire reports