World briefs 8/12/03

Malawi's Anglican bishop threatens rift with U.S.

BLANTYRE, Malawi -- Malawi's top Anglican leader said Monday he was considering severing ties between his 600,000-strong flock and the U.S. Episcopal Church if it does not reverse its confirmation of a gay bishop.

Archbishop Bernard Malango, who heads the church in Malawi, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, said his members refused to support "the odd and unnatural" decision by the American branch of the Anglican church to confirm Bishop-elect V. Gene Robinson, an openly gay cleric.

"We can't support Canon Robinson's election because it is not compatible with our tradition and faith, and if they insist on having him as bishop, we will cut ourselves away from the operation of the U.S. church," he said.

Australia swears in new governor general

CANBERRA, Australia -- A former military officer and decorated war hero on Monday was sworn as the new Australian representative of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.

In a ceremony in Parliament, Michael Jeffery officially took over as governor general of Australia, replacing Peter Hollingworth, who resigned three months ago amid two sex scandals.

Prime Minister John Howard picked Jeffery, 65, as Hollingworth's replacement in June, hoping the career military officer would help restore the public's confidence.

Diplomats and other dignitaries packed the public galleries, while lawmakers crammed inside the Senate chamber as Jeffery was sworn in by Chief Justice Anthony Gleeson.

Philippine president lifts state of rebellion

MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Monday lifted the state of rebellion declared after a military mutiny two weeks ago, saying the threat of another coup attempt has eased.

The declaration had allowed police to make arrests without warrants.

Shortly after the announcement, Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia, the military's vice chief of staff, opened a televised news conference explaining the details of the failed power grab.

The former military intelligence chief said last week that the plotters had originally planned to storm the presidential palace and assassinate Arroyo.

Garcia said the takeover of the Oakwood luxury apartment building and an adjoining mall was part of a wider plot to oust Arroyo and install a 15-member junta.

Inquiry begins into death of weapons expert

LONDON -- A judicial inquiry into the suicide of a government weapons adviser opened Monday with new evidence intelligence officials had serious doubts about a government dossier claiming Iraq could deploy chemical and biological weapons in 45 minutes.

The experts wrote to the government expressing concerns about the Sept. 24, 2002, dossier, which they said made the claim sound like a certainty, said Martin Howard, deputy chief of defense intelligence.

The claim, Howard said, came from a single "well-established and reliable source."

The inquiry is investigating the circumstances surrounding the suicide last month of David Kelly, an adviser to Britain's defense ministry, and the government's use of intelligence on Iraqi weapons.

After his death, Kelly was identified as the anonymous source of a British Broadcasting Corp. report that raised questions about Prime Minister Tony Blair's case for war in Iraq.

-- From wire reports