World briefs 15A

Pressure builds against opposition in Georgia

TBILISI -- There is an anxious mood in the Georgian capital as the country's new leaders press their anti-corruption campaign. President Mikhail Saakashvili, elected in January, has declared fighting corruption to be his top priority. But fighting corruption brings its own array of worries. Every day brings word of new arrests. The anti-corruption campaign has split Georgian society.

Taiwan's candidates argue about China

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan's opposition candidate ripped into President Chen Shui-bian in the final presidential debate Saturday, calling him an incompetent leader who has provoked China and damaged valuable relations with the United States and Japan. Chen fired back that his challenger, ex-Vice President Lien Chan, lacked vision, ideas and courage. He also accused Lien, leader of the Nationalist Party, of having a wishy-washy policy on China.

Taking illegal immigrants back home not popular

REYNOSA, Mexico -- A proposal to deport illegal immigrants caught sneaking into the United States to their hometowns, instead of dropping them at the border, might slow the tide of Mexicans moving north, but it won't halt border crossings, migrant advocates say. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and Mexican Interior Secretary Santiago Creel said Friday they hope to agree on the repatriation program by the summer, when crossings are at their highest and most dangerous.

-- From wire reports