World briefs 6/25/03

Italy arrests six accused of helping terror group

ROME -- Police in Milan arrested six people Tuesday suspected of supporting an al-Qaida-linked group and of having contacts with alleged Sept. 11 coordinator Ramzi Binalshibh.

The six -- five Tunisians and a Moroccan -- are accused of helping the Salafist Group for Call and Combat, an Algerian-based organization that had a cell operating in Milan, police said. A seventh suspect is at large.

They have all been charged with association with the aim of international terrorism -- a charge that was introduced here after Sept. 11 to step up Italy's fight against suspected terrorists.

The suspects were not planning any attacks and did not have weapons, said Milan police. But they were believed to provide logistical support and financing with the aim of Islamic terrorism, fraud, aiding illegal immigration and possessing false documents among other charges.

India, China agree to reopen Himalayan border

BEIJING -- India and China have agreed to take a key step toward warmer ties by reopening a section of their Himalayan border where the Asian giants fought a 1962 war, India's foreign minister announced Tuesday.

Relations between Beijing and New Delhi have improved in recent years as they focused on trade, downplaying border disputes and such divisive issues as China's alliance with Pakistan, India's adversary in three wars.

The agreement opening the border between Tibet and India's Sikkim region came during a visit to Beijing by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that is billed as a landmark effort to build trade and diplomatic cooperation.

It is the first visit to China by an Indian leader in a decade.

"I believe we have taken a very important step forward, and I have reason to believe that more will follow," Indian External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said at a news conference.

Conviction upheld of Kuwaiti who shot soldiers

KUWAIT CITY -- Appeals court judges Tuesday upheld the conviction of a Kuwaiti policeman who shot and seriously wounded two American soldiers last year.

The three-judge panel did not explain the ruling against Kahled al-Shimmiri, 20, who is serving a 15-year-sentence.

Master Sgt. Larry Thomas, 51, and Sgt. Charles Ellis, 27, both of Lake Charles, La., were driving along a Kuwaiti highway on Nov. 21 when al-Shimmiri in a patrol car flagged them down, ostensibly for speeding, and shot and seriously wounded them.

The attack was one of a series against U.S. military personnel in Kuwait, a major U.S. ally and the launch pad for the war on Iraq.

Authorities arrest alleged Abu Sayyaf member

MANILA, Philippines -- Authorities have arrested a suspected Abu Sayyaf rebel who allegedly helped kidnap 20 people, including three Americans, three years ago, the military said Tuesday.

Samir Hakim was arrested in Manila's Intramuros district on Monday by military and police intelligence agents, military chief of staff Gen. Narciso Abaya said.

Hakim, 43, was among the original members of Abu Sayyaf, a Muslim extremist group with alleged ties to al-Qaida. Abaya said he alleged purchased weapons for the group.

He said Hakim was involved in a raid on the Dos Palmas resort in which the rebels seized three Americans and 17 Filipinos.

The group killed one American captive.

The other Americans, Martin and Gracia Burnham of Wichita, Kan., were held for more than a year.

Gracia was brought to safety but her husband was killed in a rescue operation.-- From wire reports