World briefs 7/17/06

N. Korean resolution will help U.N. confront Iran

UNITED NATIONS -- A unanimous U.N. Security Council vote to condemn North Korea's missile launches has set an important precedent and strengthened the powerful U.N. body as it turns to its next challenge: confronting Iran's suspect nuclear program, diplomats said. Sometime this week, the council will take up Iran's continued refusal to respond formally to Western incentives to stop enriching uranium. The fact that the council was able to unite on the difficult North Korea resolution raised hopes among diplomats that a unanimous agreement could be reached on an Iran resolution. Diplomats said the success on delivering a tough message on North Korea will carry over when the Iran talks begin.

Tropical storm Bilis kills 115 in China

BEIJING -- At least 115 were killed, and hundreds injured as tropical storm Bilis pounded China's southeast, toppling houses and forcing the evacuation of a prison and thousands of villages, reports said Sunday. Thousands were stranded by high water after Bilis slammed into the coast Friday with a drenching rain, flooding farms and damaging roads and railways.

Bombay lowers bombing death toll to 182

BOMBAY, India -- New numbers from the bombings of Bombay's commuter train network: 182 dead, 842 injured. Of the injured, 286 remain hospitalized. That from Sanjay Joshi of Maharashtra state's disaster response coordination agency. Bombay is the capital of Maharashtra. Officials previously said that at least 200 died and more than 700 were injured in Tuesday's blasts.

Leftist candidate calls for 'civil resistance'

MEXICO CITY -- Leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told a vast crowd of supporters Sunday to wage a campaign of "civil resistance" to push for a manual recount of the election that he claims his conservative opponent won by fraud. Lopez Obrador did not say what the campaign should entail, but the term "civil resistance" in Mexico often has meant protest camps and street blockades.

-- From wire reports