World briefs 6/25/06

Somali Islamic militia names new leader

MOGADISHU, Somalia -- The Islamic militia that seized control of Somalia's capital has identified its leader. Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, a fundamentalist Muslim who is listed by the U.S. State Department as a suspected al-Qaida collaborator, is at the helm of the organization, the militia said in a statement. In yet another sign that the radical Islam is taking hold in the eastern African nation, the militia changed its name Saturday from the Islamic Courts Union to the Conservative Council of Islamic Courts. The appointment of Aweys makes it unlikely that the increasingly powerful militia will govern using the moderate brand of Islam practiced by most Somalis.

Iran mum on response to nuclear proposal

BERLIN -- Iran will still not say when it will respond to international incentives to halt its nuclear program. Iran's foreign minister met with his German counterpart Saturday and said they had constructive talks. Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said his country would take until mid-August to respond to the proposal by the United States, Germany and four other nations. President Bush has accused Iran of dragging its feet.

Italians vote on massive reform referendum

ROME -- Italians vote today in a constitutional referendum on whether to give regions more clout and shift power to the premier to encourage more stability in a country that has had 61 governments since World War II. Opponents of the changes say the reforms were shoddily conceived under the previous government and would give too much power to the executive. Italy's constitution, enacted in 1948, limits the premier's powers more than other Western governments, reflecting the country's fear of dictatorship in the wake of Benito Mussolini's Fascist regime. The reforms would be the biggest overhaul of the constitution since it was adopted.

-- From wire reports