World briefs 7/24/04

Former Mexican leader faces criminal charges

MEXICO CITY -- A special prosecutor has requested the arrest of former President Luis Echeverria and other senior officials accused of genocide for allegedly ordering the killing of student demonstrators in 1971, Echeverria's attorney said Friday. It is the first time a former Mexican president has faced criminal charges, and the case may create a political confrontation between President Vicente Fox and Echeverria's Institutional Revolutionary Party -- still the largest force in Congress. Fox promised while campaigning for the presidency to lift the veil of secrecy and impunity over so-called "past crimes."

Head found in Saudi Arabia is U.S. engineer's

CAIRO, Egypt -- The United States has confirmed that the head found in a Riyadh freezer this week is that of decapitated hostage Paul M. Johnson Jr., the spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh said Friday. "We did see the head on Thursday and have confirmed that it is the head of Paul Johnson, unfortunately," spokeswoman Carol Kalin told The Associated Press from the Saudi capital. Johnson, a 49-year-old engineer with Lockheed Martin, was kidnapped June 12 in Saudi Arabia by militants linked to al-Qaida and killed six days later.

China wants U.S. to end weapons sales to Taiwan

BEIJING -- China told the top U.S. military commander for East Asia on Friday that Washington must stop selling weapons to Taiwan and end its military exchanges with the self-ruled island. Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing demanded that Washington "halt its arms sales to Taiwan and stop its relevant military exchanges aiming to upgrade [its] substantial relationship with Taiwan," the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Li told Fargo that was the only way to maintain "steady development" of U.S.-Chinese relations and that the United States must "clearly understand the seriousness and sensitiveness of the Taiwan situation."-- From wire reports

Doctors: Accused Army deserter's condition not serious

TOKYO -- Doctors treating an accused U.S. Army deserter in Japan said Friday his condition is not serious and he does not need urgent medical care, but more tests will be carried out. Charles Jenkins, wanted by the United States for allegedly abandoning his Army platoon in 1965 and defecting to North Korea, has been hospitalized in Tokyo since arriving in Japan on Sunday. A Japanese hospital official said Friday that Jenkins had prostate surgery in North Korea. An official said previously that Jenkins underwent abdominal surgery. The United States plans to pursue a case against Jenkins, including a possible court-martial, but it has not yet officially requested custody of him, citing humanitarian concerns over his health.

-- From wire reports