World digest 11/17/05

Abused Iraqi prisoners of all Muslim sects

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A top Interior Ministry official said Wednesday the 173 malnourished prisoners found by U.S. forces included all Iraqi sects, playing down allegations of a campaign by Shiite-led security forces to suppress Sunni Arabs ahead of next month's election. The Shiite-led government sought to dampen Sunni outrage over revelations Tuesday that the detainees, some showing signs of torture, were found last weekend by U.S. troops at an Interior Ministry lockup in the capital. Most were believed to be Sunni Arabs, the leading group in the insurgency. But the deputy interior minister, Maj. Gen. Hussein Kamal, said the detainees also included Shiites, Kurds and Turkomen.

France extends state of emergency three months

PARIS -- Parliament gave final approval Wednesday to extending France's state of emergency for three months after the government said the powers are still needed to end the country's worst civil unrest in four decades. The Senate voted 202-125 to extend emergency powers until February. The extra powers -- approved by the lower house on Tuesday -- allow regional and local officials to impose curfews and permit police searches at night, among other measures. Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy told the Senate that tensions in troubled neighborhoods justified continued state of emergency powers.

Pakistan appeals for $5 billion in quake aid

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan -- Pakistan appealed Wednesday for more than $5 billion in aid to rebuild the earthquake-ravaged north, but said his country will fend for itself if the world doesn't deliver. The appeal came as the United Nations warned again that thousands could die from cold, disease and hunger in the quake zone this winter. President Gen. Pervez Musharraf said that Pakistan had so far received "negligible" funds, but expressed confidence it could raise the $5.2 billion.

-- From wire reports