World briefs 9/11/02

U.S. carrier prepares to hand over tasks

ABOARD THE U.S.S. GEORGE WASHINGTON -- Fighter jets flew training sorties over the Arabian Sea Tuesday as this aircraft carrier prepared to hand over its tasks of supporting U.S. efforts in Afghanistan and over Iraq to another carrier on Sept. 11.

The shift of duty from the George Washington to the USS Abraham Lincoln will take place precisely at the time the first plane hit the World Trade center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001, said Navy spokeswoman Lt. Cmdr. Lisa Braun.

The 97,000-ton, nuclear-powered craft arrived off New York City a day after the attacks, and its jets spent the next week flying 234 sorties over New York and Washington. It later sailed for the Arabian Sea.

U.N. convenes 57th session under security

UNITED NATIONS -- Under heavy security, the U.N. General Assembly convened its 57th annual session on Tuesday, preparing for two weeks of debate over the prospect of war or peace for Iraq.

In the anniversary week of the Sept. 11 attacks, the United Nations also will focus on the struggle against terrorism. The incoming General Assembly president, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kavan, listed it first among the U.N. priorities for 2002-2003, calling for early completion of a comprehensive treaty against terrorism that is under negotiation here.

"I strongly urge member states to proceed with their work," Kavan said.

Switzerland becomes 190th member of U.N.

UNITED NATIONS -- After nearly two centuries of neutrality, Switzerland became the 190th member of the United Nations on Tuesday with the unanimous support of the General Assembly.

The admission of Switzerland was one of the first orders of business at the opening of the new session of the General Assembly. Delegates burst into applause when the new assembly president, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kavan, declared Switzerland the 190th member.

Flooding, storms in France leave 26 dead

NIMES, France -- Flooding and heavy rain in southeastern France have claimed the lives of 26 people, authorities said Tuesday. Rescuers were searching for dozens of others reported missing.

In the village of Aramon, swamped by floodwaters after a dam gave way, rescuers said 30 people were unaccounted for. Twelve other people also were reported missing.

Train service was being re-established among major points like Nimes, Montpellier and Avignon, the state-run railroad authority said. But hundreds of thousands of people struggled without electricity or telephone service.

Embassy-related papers found during rebel raids

BOGOTA, Colombia -- Police discovered documents relating to the U.S. Embassy during weekend raids on rebel safe houses, leading investigators to suspect the insurgents planned an attack, authorities said Tuesday.

The state prosecutor's office confirmed the raids and said police also uncovered an underground facility for producing long-range mortar rounds and firing tubes.

Similar mortars were fired by the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia during President Alvaro Uribe's Aug. 7 inauguration, killing 21 people.

The prosecutor's office declined to specify what type of documents were discovered, but the Bogota daily El Tiempo said they consisted of photos and papers listing streets near the embassy, a fortress-like compound in eastern Bogota.

The U.S. Embassy had no comment.

At least 80 dead after train derailment in India

RAFIGANJ, India -- Rescuers recovered 67 bodies Tuesday and 13 of the injured died after a luxury train jumped the tracks while crossing a bridge in the remote countryside in eastern India. One car plunged 300 feet into a river and two others hung perilously from the colonial-era structure.

Besides the at least 80 confirmed deaths, authorities said more than 170 passengers were injured.

-- From wire reports