World briefs 6/15/04

Uganda begins handing out free AIDS drugs

KAMPALA, Uganda -- Uganda on Monday began distributing free generic HIV drugs in a program aimed at treating all of the country's estimated 100,000 people living with AIDS. Health Minister Jim Muhwezi said the United Nations' Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria will give Uganda $70 million over five years to fund the program.

Saudi clerics condemn attacks on Westerners

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Six Saudi clerics who once espoused Islamic radicalism condemned a wave of attacks on Westerners, part of the kingdom's efforts to rally its people against al-Qaida's stepped-up campaign to oust the ruling family. As part of its campaign to try to discredit Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network, the Saudi government allowed the six clerics to issue on the state news agency their statement condemning the attacks.

Pakistan arrests al-Qaida mastermind near border

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistan claimed successes Monday on two fronts in its war on terrorism, ending an assault against al-Qaida hideouts near the Afghan border and announcing the arrest of the alleged mastermind of attacks on Shiites. The arrested man, Daud Badini, leads an al-Qaida-linked militant group, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. Badini was among 11 terrorist suspects captured over the weekend in Karachi, Pakistan's largest city.

-- From wire reports