World digest 03/15/03

China's legislature votes for new president

BEIJING -- Hu Jintao was selected Saturday to replace Jiang Zemin as the president of a fast-changing China, the last major step in a sweeping transition to a younger generation of leaders.

Hu, 60, who was vice president, claims the top post four months after ascending to the acme of China's ruling Communist Party. Jiang, 76, was expected to stay on as leader of the government's military commission -- and wield significant influence from behind the scenes.

Delegates voted 2,937 to to 7 to elevate Hu -- a vote largely considered to be a party rubber stamp.

Though the presidency has few official powers in China, Hu's elevation to it -- and the prestige it brings on the world stage -- reinforces his status as the country's new paramount leader.

Crime group targeted in Serbian minister's killing

BELGRADE, Serbia-Montenegro -- The government accused allies of former President Slobodan Milosevic on Friday of working with underworld figures to assassinate Serbia's prime minister, as police hunted for gang members involved in the killing.

The police sweep, dubbed Operation Whirlwind, targeted members of the Zemun Clan, a crime network named after a Belgrade suburb, whose ranks included former paramilitaries loyal to Milosevic. Police demolished the group's compound Friday.

Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, 50, was shot by a sniper Wednesday in Belgrade. He had been instrumental in ousting Milosevic in October 2000 and handing him over to the U.N. war crimes tribunal.

Officials speculate he was killed to prevent him from cracking down on organized crime or extraditing more former Milosevic allies.

Mexican officials detain drug lord Osiel Cardenas

MEXICO CITY -- Accused drug lord Osiel Cardenas -- for whose capture the FBI had posted a $2 million reward -- was arrested Friday after a shootout with Mexican soldiers near the U.S. border.

Cardenas' arrest was the latest blow to the country's powerful drug trade. His Gulf cartel, which moves cocaine and marijuana from northeastern Mexico into the United States, is among Mexico's largest.

Two Mexican soldiers were wounded in the morning shootout in Matamoros, across from Brownsville, Texas, officials said.

Prosecutors said it was unlikely Cardenas' arrest would bring down the cartel.

Costa Rica gives asylum to Venezuela strike leader

CARACAS, Venezuela -- A leader of a failed two-month strike to oust President Hugo Chavez was granted diplomatic asylum by Costa Rica on Friday, the Costa Rican foreign ministry said.

Carlos Ortega, who faces treason charges, entered the embassy earlier Friday, Costa Rican Ambassador Ricardo Lisano said.

The Costa Rican foreign ministry said in a statement Ortega cited fear for his personal security when he requested asylum. He had been in hiding since Feb. 20, after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest.

Ortega, head of the country's largest labor union, helped organize a strike to demand early elections or Chavez's resignation. The strike, which petered out last month, paralyzed Venezuela's oil industry.

-- From wire reports