World briefs 14A

Report: Japan rushes to build physics facility

TOKYO -- Japan plans to accelerate plans for a $1.7 billion physics facility in an attempt to keep the nation's Nobel Prize-winning research ahead of U.S. and European rivals, a newspaper reported today.

The facility to generate subatomic particles called neutrinos will be built next year, three years earlier than planned, according to the national newspaper, Yomiuri. The facility will be constructed in Tokaimura, about 70 miles northeast of Tokyo.

The facility is designed to study the nature of neutrinos, elusive particles that stream from the sun by the billions.

The United States and some European nations are currently building similar facilities.

The chamber, the Super-Kamiokande, is the world's largest neutrino detector. It was built in an abandoned copper mine in mountains 170 miles west of Japan's capital, and is operated by the University of Tokyo.

Mexican officials reduce size of Congress

MEXICO CITY -- Electoral officials have temporarily shrunk Mexico's legislature because of disputed races in July 6 elections, a vote in which President Vicente Fox's party suffered serious losses.

The lower house will start out with 496 legislators instead of 500 until dates are set for two races in which an electoral tribunal overturned victories by Fox's National Action Party. The party lost roughly one-quarter of its seats in Congress in the elections.

The Federal Electoral Institute, Mexico's highest electoral body, also suspended two at-large congressional seats allotted to the former ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI.

Venezuelans gather to support President Chavez

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Tens of thousands of President Hugo Chavez's supporters gathered in the capital Saturday to help the leftist leader counter a renewed opposition push for a referendum aimed at ousting him.

Throngs of "Chavistas," as the president's backers are known, congregated for a march through the capital to show the president's foes he still commands high support among the nation's poor majority.

"We are poor and we back the president," said Yaritza Alfaro, a 38-year-old housewife who was convinced the opposition push for an early vote on Chavez's rule would not prosper. "We won't permit a referendum."

The march formed part of a week-long celebration touting government social programs that have convinced many Chavez is their only hope.

Under Chavez, Venezuela has lurched from crisis to crisis and could soon see more upheaval as the opposition presses for a recall. Critics label him a power-hungry populist whose social agenda comes second.

Four suspected Taliban killed in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Government forces fought hundreds of suspected Taliban insurgents in central Afghanistan, killing four guerrillas and arresting 13, local officials said Saturday. At least four government soldiers died, the officials said.

The fighting late Friday broke out after authorities launched a campaign to hunt down suspected rebels, said Abdul Rahim, a provincial government official.

Uruzgan Gov. Mohammed Khan estimated government forces fought as many as 300 suspected Taliban for about four hours before the rebels retreated into the mountains. One government soldier was also wounded, he said.

In a satellite telephone call, a man identifying himself as Mohammed Hanif, the spokesman for wanted Taliban commander Mullah Dadullah, told The Associated Press that 30 government soldiers were killed. He said their bodies were returned after negotiations with village elders.

It was not possible to independently confirm the caller's identity or his information.

-- From wire reports