world briefs 13A

Snow, winds wreak havoc across Austria

VIENNA, Austria -- Gale-force winds dumping heavy snow caused havoc across Austria on Saturday, blowing cars across roads and into deadly collisions, knocking out power to thousands of homes and tearing a balcony off a building that critically injured a man below. Police reported numerous head-on collisions apparently caused when powerful gusts pushed cars over the center line and into oncoming traffic. Heavy winds were blamed for damage to homes, businesses and property across Austria, where thousands of households were without electricity overnight.

Russian minister: New missiles purely defensive

UNITED NATIONS -- Russia's new nuclear missile system is purely defensive and part of the country's program to upgrade its military, Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov said. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said the country is developing a new "state-of-the-art" nuclear missile system unlike any weapon held by other countries. He said it will be deployed "in the near future" but gave no details. "It's a military issue, of course," Fedotov said on Friday when asked about the new missiles. "Any armed forces needs a kind of upgrading, so it's a natural process."

Pope speaks of the importance of family

VATICAN CITY -- Pope John Paul II warned against attempts to tamper with what he called "the irreplaceable" institution of marriage-based family, saying Saturday that such efforts would deeply wound society. His speech at meeting of the Vatican's council on family matters did not mention any specific issues. But it appeared to refer to moves by some countries and cities to recognize marriage between homosexuals.

Ill. rep weds daughter of Guatemalan dictator

ANTIGUA, Guatemala -- They met during a trade mission, and despite controversy over their engagement, U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller of Illinois and the daughter of former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt tied the knot Saturday in a civil ceremony. About 300 people -- including Rios Montt -- attended the wedding of the Republican congressman and Zury Rios Sosa, a 36-year-old Guatemalan senator. Weller's opponents criticized the engagement because Rios Montt, a retired general who seized control of Guatemala for 18 months in 1982-83, is accused of leading one of the bloodiest campaigns in the nation's 36-year civil war, which killed 200,000 people.

-- From wire reports

Rios Montt, twice elected president of the legislature after his dictatorship, is under house arrest in the capital, Guatemala City, 30 miles southeast of Antigua.

-- From wire reports