World briefs 9/5/02

Canadian Parliament calls for legalizing marijuana

TORONTO -- A parliamentary committee called for legalizing marijuana use among adults, increasing pressure on the government to shift drug laws away from the zero-tolerance policy of the United States.

The report by the Senate Committee on Illegal Drugs recommended that Canada adopt a system that regulates marijuana the same way as alcohol, and expunge criminal records for marijuana possession.

"There is no good reason to subject the consumers of cannabis to the application of criminal law," said Sen. Pierre Nolin of the Progressive Conservative party. "In a free society as ours, it's up to the individual to decide whether to consume cannabis or not."

Club owner convicted of incitement to hate

MUNICH, Germany -- A Munich club owner was convicted of incitement to hate and anti-Semitism Wednesday for canceling a pro-Israel fund-raiser that involved the granddaughter of the late Israeli premier Yitzhak Rabin. He was fined and sentenced to six months' probation.

The trial of Rudolf Fischer, 52, by a Munich court followed his refusal to allow the gathering for 400 guests at his Y Julieta club in March 2001. Fischer said in court that he told the event organizers he didn't want to host any political events.

The event was a fund-raiser for Keren Hayesod, a quasi-government organization that raises money to promote Jewish immigration to Israel and other Israeli causes.

But Claus Peter Zistl, an attorney for the organization, testified Monday that Fischer told one of its members he had canceled the event because "he wanted nothing to do" with Jews and would sooner host a far-right political rally.

Somalian fighting kills seven, hostage freed

MOGADISHU, Somalia -- Heavy machine-gun fire shook Somalia's capital Wednesday, and seven people were killed in a second day of fighting. A U.N. worker taken hostage was released.

The reason for the fighting between gunmen from the Warsanegli and Agon-yar subclans, which left 12 dead Tuesday, was unclear. Representatives from neither side were available for comment.

A Somali employee of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization was freed during Wednesday's fighting when the garage where he was being held was overrun. Mohamed Farah Omar had been held hostage for eight days. He was released to U.N. officials.

Lawmakers: British royal train is too expensive

LONDON -- British monarchs have traveled by royal train to visit their subjects since Queen Victoria's rule. But in the belt-tightening of the 21st century, the train's days may be numbered.

A parliamentary committee suggested Wednesday that the royal train, which costs taxpayers about $78 per mile, is an expensive and underused indulgence that should be scrapped.

The royal household "might well come to the conclusion that it has had its day," said Edward Leigh, chairman of the public accounts committee, as he released a report on royal travel expenses.

The train is a luxurious tradition dating to June 13, 1842, when Queen Victoria made the short trip from Slough, near Windsor Castle, to London's Paddington station in her own splendid train.

Wild boar charges through residential area

CONSTANTA, Romania -- Police killed a wild boar that charged through a residential neighborhood in this Black Sea port city and gored a 7-year-old boy, police said Wednesday.

It was one of five wild boars that spooked tourists and residents along Romania's Black Sea coast in recent days. The animals have begun straying into residential areas in search of food since their habitat was overrun by construction, officials said.

Officials said the boar appeared on the streets Tuesday evening, and began to chase people. It tore the boy's upper lip with its tusks.

Police shot and killed the 175-pound male boar two hours later. The boy was treated at a hospital and released. -- From wire reports