World briefs 6/21/04

India, Pakistan establish nuclear hot line system

NEW DELHI -- India and Pakistan announced Sunday they would establish a new hot line to alert each other of potential nuclear accidents or threats, a step forward in efforts to normalize relations between the longtime South Asian rivals. Pakistan said it hopes that the nuclear talks and other tracks of dialogue eventually lead to a summit between Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and India's new prime minister, Manmohan Singh.

Arroyo wins new term as Philippine president

MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has won another term in office, a congressional committee announced Sunday following a contentious vote count six weeks after the election. The opposition, which has claimed Arroyo's camp manipulated the May 10 vote and cheated action film star Fernando Poe Jr. of some 2 million ballots, fought the proceedings all the way. Arroyo's victory margin was about 1 million votes.

Israel attacks outpost in southern Lebanon

JERUSALEM -- Israeli warplanes attacked a suspected Hezbollah outpost in southern Lebanon on Sunday after the guerrilla group fired anti-aircraft shells at an army base in northern Israel, the army said. The army said it destroyed the Hezbollah outpost used to fire the shells, which caused no injuries. There was no immediate report on any casualties from the airstrike.

Al-Jazeera airs video of S. Korean hostage

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The Arab satellite TV network Al-Jazeera aired a videotape Sunday purportedly from al-Qaida linked militants showing a South Korean hostage begging for his life and pleading with his government to withdraw troops from Iraq. The kidnappers, who identified themselves as belonging to a group led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, gave South Korea 24 hours to meet its demand or "we will send you the head of this Korean."

-- From wire reports