World briefs 8/2/04

Majority of Afghans registered to vote

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Nine out of 10 eligible Afghans have signed up for landmark October elections, the United Nations said Sunday, a resounding endorsement of a democratic experiment supposed to help Afghanistan turn its back on years of debilitating war. Women and ethnic minorities are strongly represented among those registered for the first-ever direct vote for president. The turnout is a relief for the U.N., which has overcome misgivings about Afghanistan's readiness for elections under strong pressure from the United States.

Flood relief efforts hampered in South Asia

DHAKA, Bangladesh -- The death toll from South Asia flooding passed 1,550 on Sunday as 30 million people huddled in shelters or were stranded in homes inundated by engorged rivers. Volunteer agencies and relief officials distributing food, drinking water and medicine here complained there was not enough milk formula or cereals to feed infants and not enough oral saline solution to treat those suffering from diarrhea.

Pakistan arrests several in assassination attempt

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistan has detained several people in the attempted assassination of the man selected to be the country's prime minister, a government minister said Sunday. Others close to the investigation also said it was making progress, including a senior official who said the bomber's head had been discovered, along with what appears to be tatters of his clothing. The clothing included a tag from a tailor in Attock, the main town near the site of Friday's suicide attack. The tailor was being questioned, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Shaukat Aziz, the finance minister tapped to take over as prime minister, escaped unharmed, but nine people were killed and three dozen wounded.

-- From wire reports