World briefs 6/1/04

Washington, Seoul plan talks on troop reduction

SEOUL, South Korea -- The United States and South Korea will start talks next week on slashing the number of U.S. troops based on the divided Korean Peninsula, the Cold War's last flash point, a government official said Monday. The planned troop reduction is seen as part of Washington's global effort to realign its forces so they can better respond to emergencies worldwide. However, the issue is highly sensitive for its ally, South Korea, due to current tension over communist North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

Sharon presents Gaza plan to rebellious ministers

JERUSALEM -- Prime Minister Ariel Sharon presented a revised Gaza withdrawal plan to rebellious legislators from his Likud Party on Monday, a day after he failed to secure a majority in his divided Cabinet. Despite staunch opposition, Sharon has said he is determined to push through the plan, which has been endorsed by President Bush and also won Egyptian backing and Palestinian acquiescence.

Canadian Anglicans pick liberal on gays to lead

ST. CATHARINES, Ontario -- Montreal's Archbishop Andrew Hutchison, regarded as a liberal in the divisive dispute over homosexuality, was elected Monday as new national leader of Anglican Church of Canada. Hutchison was chosen as primate on the fourth ballot over Bishop Ronald Ferris of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, a conservative on the issue. Church delegates face a Wednesday night showdown on whether to give dioceses the go-ahead to provide blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples.

N.Y. church van crashes near Niagara Falls

QUEENSTON, Ontario -- A van carrying home a New York church group from Toronto crashed and burst into flames as it approached a bridge near Niagara Falls, killing three people. All the other passengers were injured, said Vince Circys, a senior constable with Ontario Provincial Police. Two were airlifted from the scene and seven others taken to nearby hospitals.

Ecuador hopes pageant will improve image

QUITO, Ecuador -- The Miss Universe pageant, watched by hundreds of millions around the world, can bring fame and fortune to its winner. The small Andean nation of Ecuador, saddled with an image of political instability in recent years, is hoping for the same thing for itself when it presents the pageant today. But growing demands for President Lucio Gutierrez's ouster over a corruption scandal are threatening to put a damper on Ecuador's efforts to use the event to attract tourists who otherwise might never have visited.

Turkish al-Qaida trial delayed over court rules

ISTANBUL, Turkey -- The trial of 69 suspected members of a Turkish al-Qaida cell accused in a string of November suicide bombings in Istanbul was postponed Monday after the court ruled that it did not have the authority to hear the case. In May, parliament abolished state security courts like the one hearing this trial, but that order does not come into force for about another month. The reform was approved as part of Turkey's bid to join the European Union.-- From wire reports

Ousted Haitian Aristide welcomed by South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- Ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and his family received a first-class diplomatic welcome Monday from South Africa, his new home in exile. Before leaving Jamaica for asylum in South Africa, Aristide insisted he was still the elected president of Haiti and promised to return. Aristide and his wife, Mildred, were embraced by South African President Thabo Mbeki as they stepped off the South African presidential jetliner that flew them, their two young daughters and their bodyguards from Jamaica.

N. Korea accuses U.S. of rumor as pretext for war

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea on Monday accused the Bush administration of making up reports about the North's nuclear weapons program as a pretext for war, saying it echoed similar allegations Washington made about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq before the U.S.-led invasion. The published commentary came as regional powers are trying to arrange a third round of talks on defusing the standoff over North Korea's nuclear ambitions. The United States, North Korea and four other nations agreed to meet before July, but no date has yet been set.

-- From wire reports