World briefs 11/24/04

Abbas taking hard-line stance in race to lead

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- The interim Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, told parliament on Tuesday that he'll follow in Yasser Arafat's footsteps and demand that Israel recognize the "right of return" of Palestinian refugees, a hard-line position that has contributed to failed peace efforts in the past. Abbas' remarks were seen as the start of his six-week presidential campaign, signaling to young, militant activists that he would not compromise on long-held Palestinian policies, though Israel considers them deal-breakers.

U.N.: Rights of women crux of AIDS fight

LONDON -- The women's rights movement and the AIDS movement must come together if the world is to ultimately win the fight against HIV, the United Nations said in a report released Tuesday. Women and girls in the developing world are increasingly becoming its main victims, but current safe-sex prevention strategies are of little use to the millions who don't have the power to say no to sex or to insist on condom use.

Crime, security center of Blair's campaign stump

LONDON -- Prime Minister Tony Blair put the fight against crime and terrorism at the center of his campaign for a third term, pledging on Tuesday to fast-track plans for national identity cards and a new police agency similar to the FBI. With parliamentary elections expected in May, the government wants to appear tough on law and order, and security lies at the heart of the legislative program it unveiled Tuesday.

Guerrilla leader believed killed in Colombia

BOGOTA, Colombia -- Army troops in southern Colombia killed the commander of an elite guerrilla unit blamed for a string of high-profile attacks and kidnappings, officials said Tuesday. Humberto Valbuena, the head of the Teofilo Forero unit of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, was killed Monday along with three other rebels during an offensive in remote jungles in Caqueta state, an army spokeswoman said.

Dollar still dropping vs. fast-moving euro

BERLIN -- The dollar slumped to a new record low against the euro Tuesday, after a weekend meeting of the world's top finance officials failed to send any signal that governments were preparing to slow its slide. The European currency rose to $1.3093 in early afternoon trading, breaking the previous record of $1.3074, set Thursday. The euro has risen roughly 10 cents in two months, prompting European leaders to worry openly that the continued rise of the euro might damage their fragile export-driven recovery.

-- From wire reports

U.N. hostages released in Afghanistan unharmed

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Three U.N. workers kidnapped in Afghanistan four weeks ago were released unharmed Tuesday, a day after a string of raids by U.S. and Afghan security forces. The release was a relief to foreign aid workers and U.N. staffers among Kabul's 2,000-strong expatriate community, under virtual lockdown since the kidnapping. Large tracts of the country are already off-limits to relief workers because of a stubborn Taliban-led insurgency.

-- From wire reports