World briefs 6/24/04

Catholic colleges drawn into political debate

An election-year dispute over Roman Catholic politicians and their obedience to church teaching has extended to Catholic colleges, as U.S. bishops collectively warn schools against honoring dissenting lawmakers. The admonition, in the bishops' statement last week on the duties of Catholics in public life, puts new pressure on Catholic colleges and universities as they decide which speakers to invite to campus. Conservative Catholic watchdog groups like the Cardinal Newman Society say the prelates' statement is their strongest yet on the topic.

Pakistan: 30 tribesmen, 70 foreign militants killed

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Army troops killed 30 tribesman suspected of shielding al-Qaida fugitives, a senior Pakistani security official said Wednesday, bringing the death toll from a counterterrorism sweep along the Afghan border to 100. As many as 70 "foreign terrorists" were also killed in the operation, which ended last week, said Brig. Mahmood Shah, the head of security in Pakistan's northwestern tribal regions. He told The Associated Press that it was unclear whether any leading al-Qaida figures were among the dead.

Deadly Russian attacks raise specter of war

MOSCOW -- The blazing rebel attacks in Ingushetia herald a renewed attempt by militants to carry the Chechen war into neighboring regions, drawing Russian troops deeper into the troubled Caucasus even as the Kremlin was trying to distance itself from the military morass in Chechnya. The attacks, which killed 92 people, also appeared to be an attempt to galvanize the anger that has long simmered among Russia's Muslims over abuses and discrimination.

Soldier faces court-martial for allegedly aiding terror

SEATTLE -- A U.S. soldier accused of trying to help al-Qaida has been ordered to stand trial at a court-martial but will not face the death penalty, Army officials said Wednesday. The trial for Spc. Ryan G. Anderson was ordered June 9 by Lt. Gen. Edward Soriano, commander at Fort Lewis, south of Seattle, but was not made public until Wednesday. Anderson, 26, who was raised as a Lutheran but converted to Islam, was arrested in February and charged with five counts of trying to provide the terrorist network with information about U.S. troop strength and tactics as well as methods of killing American soldiers.-- From wire reports

Bush visits Turkey as anger soars

ISTANBUL, Turkey -- A cartoon on the front page of a Turkish newspaper shows Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan standing alone at the airport welcoming President Bush. Behind Erdogan an angry crowd holds placards reading "Bush Go Home!" and "No to Bush." Turkey is one of the United States' closest allies in the region, but when Bush arrives Saturday ahead of a NATO summit, he will find a country where anti-American sentiments are soaring because of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Iran postpones talks on releasing British troops

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran is no longer holding eight British troops in custody, but they haven't yet been handed over to Britain, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday. A ministry spokeswoman did not say where the six Royal Marines and two British sailors were located but insisted they were "free to leave." In a day of confusing statements by the two countries, Britain said Wednesday night that the troops were still in Iranian custody, and expressed confidence that they would be released soon.

Health officials alert to new mosquito disease

ATLANTA -- As if West Nile virus wasn't bad enough, now U.S. health officials are on the lookout for another mosquito-bourne disease, fearing it could become a permanent part of the American landscape if it entered the country. Rift Valley fever, which originated in Africa, is the only disease at the top of both human health and agriculture lists of dangerous diseases. The virus can kill people, with a near 1 percent mortality rate, making it deadlier than West Nile. But Rift Valley poses a greater threat to cattle and sheep.

People motoring out of Motor City

WASHINGTON -- Detroit is still home to a big chunk of the U.S. automobile industry and now the NBA champion Pistons, but not so many people any more. Detroit's population dropped by nearly 40,000 to about 911,000 between April 2000 and July 2003. That was the biggest loss for any city with 100,000 or more people during the period, according to Census Bureau estimates being released Thursday.

-- From wire reports