World briefs 11/18/04

Pearl abduction suspect killed in Pakistan

KARACHI, Pakistan -- An Islamic militant wanted in the murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl was killed Wednesday in a shootout with Pakistan police who were trying to arrest him, officials said. Authorities also announced the arrest of a suspect in the deadly bombing near the U.S. Consulate in Karachi two years ago.

Chirac continues vocal opposition to Iraq war

LONDON -- The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq mobilized Islamic extremists and made the world more dangerous, French President Jacques Chirac said, keeping up his vocal opposition to the war on the eve of a visit to London. "There's no doubt that there has been an increase in terrorism and one of the origins of that has been the situation in Iraq," Chirac told the British Broadcasting Corp. in an interview broadcast Wednesday. Despite Chirac's criticism of the war, officials in Paris say he wants stronger relations with Washington.

Criminals, not Taliban, holding U.N. hostages

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Criminals rather than Islamic militants are holding three kidnapped U.N. workers, an official said Wednesday, dismissing the claims of a Taliban-linked group threatening to kill the trio unless the United States frees 26 jailed comrades. Afghan authorities believe the three foreigners -- Philippine diplomat Angelito Nayan, British-Irish citizen Annetta Flanigan and Shqipe Hebibi of Kosovo -- have been kept in Kabul since their abduction three week ago, but still haven't uncovered their hiding place.

Inquiry launched into Arafat's mysterious illness

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia ordered an inquiry Wednesday to determine the cause of death of former leader Yasser Arafat. The commission will take testimony from Palestinian and other Arab doctors in an effort to remove questions surrounding the Palestinian leader's death in a French military hospital last week, a statement from Qureia's office said.

Buenos Aires rocked by bank bombings

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Homemade bombs exploded in two Buenos Aires banks before they opened Wednesday, killing a security guard, police said. The explosions occurred near ATM machines in branches belonging to Citibank and Banco Galicia, damaging the building's facades and shattering windows, officials said. No group immediately claimed responsibility.

-- From wire reports