World briefs 7/11/04

Palestinians, Israelis line up support after ruling

JERUSALEM -- Israelis and Palestinians were lining up support for a showdown at the United Nations over Israel's planned security barrier in the West Bank, while violence erupted in the Gaza Strip and four Palestinians were killed. Palestinians and the Arab world were elated by a nonbinding world court ruling Friday that declared the barrier illegal and said it should be dismantled. The Palestinians have said they'll seek the support of the world body's members in the General Assembly, then go to the 15-nation Security Council, which can order action. Israel said the International Court of Justice in The Hague had no right to make such a decision and it planned to continue building the barrier.

Marines clash with Iraqi insurgents, killing three

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- U.S. Marines pummeled guerrillas taking cover Saturday at a taxi stand in a stronghold of support for Saddam Hussein's ousted regime, killing three and wounding five others, military and hospital officials said. The Marines came under fire in Ramadi, part of the so-called Sunni Triangle and the site of frequent clashes with coalition forces, the military said. The Americans counterattacked, blasting the stand into a twisted pile of molten metal.

American editor killed outside Moscow office

MOSCOW -- Police on Saturday found the car used in the drive-by shooting of the American editor of Forbes Magazine's Russian edition, news reports said. Paul Klebnikov, 41, was gunned down Friday night outside the magazine's office. Klebnikov was hit four times outside the magazine's office. The radio station Ekho Moskvy said shells of two different calibers were found at the scene, possibly indicating at least two assailants. Klebnikov was seen as widely knowledgeable about Russia's often-murky business world.

Prince William makes surprise run in charity race

LONDON -- Prince William surprised thousands of amateur runners by joining a charity race Saturday, completing the mile-long course in a respectable six minutes, 10 seconds. "I've been training for about two minutes," the 22-year-old prince said before the Sport Relief race along the River Thames in central London. "I've run round the block. I've done a few miles in my time -- not very well." The prince, a university student who is second in line to the throne, was accompanied by several bodyguards and staff members from his father's Clarence House office.

-- From wire reports