World briefs 9/26/04

Rising violence a threat to Afghan election

KABUL, Afghanistan-- U.S.-led forces trying to protect landmark Afghan elections face a rising wave of violence from about 2,000 insurgents, including al-Qaida militants slipping in from Pakistan, an American general said Saturday. In the latest bloodshed, Afghan police said suspected Taliban gunmen killed nine militia soldiers in two attacks on checkpoints in a troubled southern province. Taliban rebels threatening to disrupt the Oct. 9 election appear to have already stepped up their campaign. Militants killed three American soldiers last week.

Ex-Chilean leader Pinochet questioned

SANTIAGO, Chile -- A Chilean judge questioned Gen. Augusto Pinochet Saturday about the disappearance of leftist political opponents during his 1973-90 dictatorship. But Judge Juan Guzman said later that he cut short the session because the former leader was "very tired." Guzman said the next step in the legal process centers on the so-called "Operation Condor," a joint plan developed in the 1970s by the dictatorships then ruling several South American nations to suppress dissent. According to court documents, 20 Chileans died as victims of Condor.

-- From wire reports

, which involved the secret services of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. Court officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Guzman planned to question Pinochet on what he knew about Condor, especially his close relationship with the head of the Chilean secret service at the time.

Iraq war tale wins top honors at Spanish film festival

MADRID, Spain -- A film about Iraqi villagers desperate for a satellite dish as they await the U.S. invasion won the top prize Saturday at Spain's leading film festival. The honors for "Turtles Can Fly" concluded the San Sebastian festival, after nine days of showings that featured the debut of Woody Allen's new film "Melinda and Melinda" and lifetime achievement awards for Allen, Jeff Bridges and Annette Bening. Director Bahman Ghobadi's Iraq war film relates the story of Kurdish villagers who receive news that the war is drawing closer. Ghobadi, who was born in a Kurdish area of Iran, won an award at the Cannes film festival in 2000 and in Chicago in 2002 for other films.

-- From wire reports