World briefs 8/12/04

Tape shows apparent beheading of CIA agent

CAIRO, Egypt -- An Islamic Web site carried a videotape Wednesday that appeared to show militants in Iraq beheading a man identified as a CIA agent. The authenticity of the videotape could not be verified immediately. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said CIA officials have accounted for all employees and no one is missing.

Trains collide in Turkey; six dead, 85 injured

TAVSANCIL, Turkey -- A passenger train in northwest Turkey ignored a stop signal and rammed into an oncoming train Wednesday, killing six people and injuring 85, officials said, in the nation's third deadly rail accident in as many weeks. Rescue workers in blue and orange jumpsuits climbed through the wreckage near the village of Tavsancil in Kocaeli province, searching for more victims.

Guantanamo prisoner says he was only a cook

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba -- An Afghan prisoner made an impassioned plea for his release Wednesday, telling a U.S. military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay that he worked as an assistant cook for Afghanistan's ousted Taliban regime but was never an enemy of America. The 24-year-old Afghan prisoner rocked back and forth and fidgeted with his shackled hands as he asked to call four witnesses at his afternoon hearing. He said the witnesses could verify claims that he was forced to join the Taliban as a cook and had tried to escape but was recaptured.

Iran ready to 'pay the price' for nuclear program

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran is ready to "pay the price" for pursuing a peaceful nuclear program, even if that means being brought before the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions, President Mohammad Khatami said Wednesday. At the same time, Iran successfully test fired a new version of its ballistic Shahab-3 missile, which already was capable of reaching U.S. forces in the Middle East. The Shahab-3 can carry a nuclear warhead.

Mauritania arrests Islamist after alleged coup plot

NOUAKCHOTT, Mauritania -- U.S. ally Mauritania briefly arrested a prominent Islamic opposition figure Wednesday, two days after the government said it had foiled an alleged army-led coup plot linked to a threat last month by extremists to strike Mauritania "with an iron fist" over its ties with Israel. Police arrested prominent Islamist Mohamed Jemil Ould Mansour, secretary-general of an opposition coalition that includes Islamists. They searched his home and released him after several hours.

-- From wire reports