World briefs 4/23/04

China reports two new cases of SARS

BEIJING -- China reported two new suspected SARS cases on Thursday -- one in Beijing and one in an eastern province -- and ordered authorities to prepare for another battle against the highly contagious disease. The cases in Beijing and Anhui province were the first reported in those areas since China's initial outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome subsided in July. The Beijing case was announced by the central government, while word of the Anhui case came from authorities in the Chinese territory of Hong Kong.

Arafat expels 20 fugitive militants from compound

JERUSALEM -- Yasser Arafat expelled 20 wanted militants from his compound Thursday in an apparent bid to forestall an Israeli raid, a further sign the Palestinian leader fears he might become a target himself. Israel has stepped up attacks on Gaza militants in advance of the proposed withdrawal, killing Hamas founder Sheik Ahmed Yassin last month and new leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi on Saturday. Arafat has become increasingly worried he would be next, Palestinian officials said. The Israeli Cabinet decided last year to "remove" Arafat, who it accuses of fomenting terror during 3 1/2 years of violence, though it has never acted on the decision.

School has success in program to fight obesity

LONDON -- School programs discouraging carbonated drinks appear to be effective in reducing obesity among children, a new study suggests -- the first research to document that such programs work. A high intake of sweetened carbonated drinks probably contributes to childhood obesity, and there is a growing movement against soft drinks in schools. But until now there have been no studies showing that efforts to cut children's soft drink consumption would do any good. The study, outlined this week on the Web site of the British Medical Journal, found that a one-year "ditch the fizz" campaign discouraging both sweetened and diet soft drinks led to a decrease in the percentage of elementary school children who were overweight or obese.

U.N. police mourn slain American officers

PRISTINA, Serbia-Montenegro -- Hundreds of U.N. police paid tribute Thursday to two American prison guards slain by a Jordanian comrade during a gunbattle last week, just days after they arrived in Kosovo. The officers packed an auditorium, standing at attention before two tables bearing folded U.S. flags and photographs of Kim Bigley, 47, of Paducah, Ky., and Lynn Williams, 48, of Elmont, N.Y. Among the wounded was Gary Weston of Vienna, Ill., on life support. He was being flown home so his organs can be donated. Officers from the United States, Germany, Jordan, India, Turkey and other countries stood shoulder to shoulder.

Rebel leader surrenders to Haitian officials

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Proclaiming his innocence, a rebel commander convicted of killing supporters of ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide surrendered to justice officials Thursday. Louis-Jodel Chamblain's surrender came as a conference for international donors opened in Port-au-Prince. Haiti's government hopes to get millions of dollars in aid to rebuild the shattered country, which is reeling from a revolt that ousted Aristide on Feb. 29. Chamblain denied the country's U.S.-backed interim government pressured him to surrender. "I am ready to give myself up as a prisoner -- to give Haiti a chance so we can build this democracy I have been fighting for," said Chamblain.

-- From wire reports