World briefs

Attackers kill nine people in Iraq violence

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Attackers killed nine people in an outburst of violence, including four Christian women headed to jobs at a U.S. military base and two American soldiers. South of the capital, the security chief of Spanish troops in Iraq was shot in the head during a raid. Two Iraqi policemen were killed Thursday when gunmen fired on a police checkpoint between Fallujah and Ramadi. Elsewhere, two U.S. soldiers were killed and another wounded during a rocket and mortar barrage late Wednesday on an American camp near Baqouba, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad. The deaths of the soldiers brought to 505 the number of American service members who have died.

Israel's Sharon says he will not resign

JERUSALEM -- Ariel Sharon said Thursday he will not resign as prime minister, despite corruption allegations and the looming possibility he could be indicted in the coming weeks. A real estate developer was indicted Wednesday on charges of bribing Sharon with $690,000, and Justice Ministry officials said they would decide within weeks or months whether to indict the prime minister for accepting bribes. Despite a flurry of criticism, Sharon said he would not step down. Sharon said the burgeoning scandal would not deflect his attention from what he considers to be more pressing issues.

India holds direct talks with Kashmir separatists

NEW DELHI -- Meeting in their first high-level talks, Kashmiri separatist leaders and top Indian officials vowed Thursday to find a peaceful route to end the violence that has savaged the Himalayan region. While little of substance had been expected from the meeting, the fact that the 2 1/2-hour discussions concluded with such public amicability was a significant sign that things were moving along well in efforts to bring peace to Kashmir -- and in relations between India and longtime rival Pakistan.

Thailand is the latest bird flu flashpoint

HANOI, Vietnam -- After days of denying it had a problem, Thailand became the latest flashpoint in the bird flu crisis Thursday with claims that a village boy is infected. The World Health Organization warned the virus could mutate into a form deadlier to humans. Bird flu has killed five people in Vietnam and infected millions of chickens across Asia. Together with the re-emergence of SARS, the fast-spreading virus has put Asia on a region-wide health alert. Health officials worry that the avian virus could mutate to allow human transmission, which could make the disease a bigger health crisis than SARS.

Cambodian labor leader Chea Vichea fatally shot

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- A prominent Cambodian labor leader affiliated with the country's main opposition party was shot to death on a street Thursday, the latest in a series of suspected political killings of critics of the ruling party. Chea Vichea, president of the Cambodian Free Trade Union of Workers, was shot at least twice in the chest at a newsstand, said Va Sothy, who owned the business. Chea Vichea, 39, helped organize unions at garment factories and negotiate labor disputes. He was closely associated with the opposition Sam Rainsy Party and was frequently seen at the party's Phnom Penh headquarters. At least three members of the Sam Rainsy Party were killed in two separate attacks in recent weeks.

Japan seeks to cut United Nations contribution

UNITED NATIONS -- Japan, the second-biggest financier of the United Nations, wants to cut its contributions to the world body, a Japanese U.N. official said Thursday. Tokyo contributed about $263 million to the United Nations general budget in 2003. The sum accounts for nearly one-fifth of the budget, and Japan pays hundreds of millions more for peacekeeping, development and other U.N. programs. The United States is the only country that pays more, giving more than $300 million. Jun Yamazaki, the Japanese U.N. mission's minister for budgets, said he didn't know numbers but confirmed a Japanese media report that Tokyo wants to pay less.

-- From wire reports