World digest 05/24/05

Joint declaration eludes 'nuclear five'

UNITED NATIONS -- Russia, the United States and three other nuclear powers have failed to agree on a joint declaration needed to add momentum to a floundering global conference to tighten controls on nuclear arms, a top Russian delegate said Monday. Such a statement "contributed to a compromise on the final document" at the arms conference in 2000, Anatoly Antonov noted. But the gulf has widened since between Washington and other nuclear-armed states on such issues as a nuclear test ban treaty, which Russia, Britain and France have ratified but the Bush administration rejects. Antonov indicated the differences were stalling agreement on a new declaration. Antonov spoke at a news briefing as the monthlong conference -- a twice-a-decade gathering to strengthen implementation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty -- entered its final week.

Palestinians announce delay in elections

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- The Palestinian Election Commission said Monday that parliamentary elections scheduled for July 17 will be delayed because it needed more time to prepare for the vote -- a move threatening to inflame a dispute between the militant group Hamas and the ruling Fatah party. The election commission said it would need at least two months from the time a new election law was ratified to prepare for the vote. The law is being held up by a dispute between Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and parliament over how many legislators should be chosen in district elections and how many from party slates. Hamas, which hopes to gain after strong showings in three rounds of municipal elections since December, has insisted the parliament vote be held as scheduled.

Afghan forces seize 10,000 pounds of opium

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghan anti-drug forces arrested suspected drug traffickers and seized a huge cache of opium in a show of resolve after President Hamid Karzai came under fire for his record in fighting the world's largest narcotics industry. The drug operation took place Sunday and Monday in southern Helmand province. Provincial officials said up to 15 suspects were arrested, including a former intelligence chief. Gen. Said Kamal Sadat, chief of the federal Counter-Narcotics Police, said more than 10,000 pounds of opium were seized. Afghanistan is the world's main source of opium, the raw material for heroin. Drug production has soared since the fall of the Taliban government in 2001, leading to warnings the former al-Qaida haven is fast turning into a "narco-state."