World briefs 12/5/03

Egypt urges Palestinian groups to reach truce

CAIRO, Egypt -- Palestinian factions opened talks Thursday aimed at producing a cease-fire, and Israel hinted it could reduce military activity in the West Bank and Gaza Strip if a truce were declared. Egypt is mediating the talks, and Egyptian intelligence chief Gen. Omar Suleiman opened the session by urging the Palestinians to agree to a total cease-fire conditioned on Israeli reciprocity, Palestinian delegates at the closed-door meeting said. Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the militant groups behind most suicide bombing attacks on Israelis, have joined the talks despite their inclination against a cease-fire.

Chinese resort city opens doors to Miss World

SANYA, China -- In China's latest effort to become a global player, Sanya -- dubbed "China's Hawaii" by boosters -- is playing host to the Miss World beauty pageant. Residents and officials hope the internationally televised event will showcase the resort community, bringing international tourists and money to the city 2,700 miles southwest of Beijing. Tickets for the event have sold briskly, although the prices -- $80 to $1,000 -- are steep for a country where a monthly urban salary averages $100.

Terrorism, immigration focus of 'five plus five'TUNIS, Tunisia -- Five European leaders meet with their Northern African counterparts on Friday in the Tunisian capital, hoping to win greater cooperation in stopping the flow of illegal immigrants and terrorists. The two-day "five plus five" summit brings together heads of state from France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Malta with those of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritania and Libya. At the closest point, Europe and North Africa are separated only by a 7.5-mile stretch of water between Spain and Morocco. The proximity of the continents makes the developed European nations an easy destination for terrorists or illegals from Africa seeking a better standard of living.

S. Korea wants U.S. to ease up on N. Korea

SEOUL, South Korea -- South Korea said Thursday the United States should ease off some of its demands against North Korea to keep up momentum for six-nation talks on the isolated country's nuclear program. South Korean Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun said Washington should show greater understanding for South Korea's position in return for the South's willingness to send troops to Iraq in support of the United States, Seoul's top ally. The South Korean government fears that Washington might resort to punitive steps like economic sanctions against North Korea, a scenario that would hurt the South's economy.

China: Olympics won't deter attack on Taiwan

BEIJING -- China would not be swayed by the threat of an Olympic boycott or condemnation from the international community if it decided to attack Taiwan, a Chinese general said as Premier Wen Jiabao prepares to visit Washington. The comments add the military's voice to increasingly aggressive Chinese warnings over what Beijing says is a push by Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian to declare formal independence. Taiwan and China have been separated since 1949, but Beijing claims the self-ruled island as its territory and has threatened to attack if it declares formal independence.

-- From wire reports