World digest 12/08/05

Saddam trial adjourns, will reconvene Dec. 21

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The trial of Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants was adjourned Wednesday until Dec. 21 after two witnesses testified in a truncated session, which the ousted president refused to attend to protest his treatment in prison. After the prosecution witnesses described beatings and torture by the regime, Chief Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin adjourned the proceedings and said the court would reconvene six days after the Dec. 15 elections.

Bush cites Iraqi economy to answer war critics

WASHINGTON -- Trying to build support for Iraq war strategy, President Bush acknowledged Wednesday that reconstruction has proceeded with "fits and starts" but spreading economic progress is lifting hopes for a democratic future. In particular, Bush cited Najaf, 90 miles south of Baghdad, and Mosul in northern Iraq -- once the sites of some of the bloodiest battles of the war -- as two cities where headway is being made. "Residents are seeing tangible progress in their lives," Bush said. "They're gaining a personal stake in a peaceful future and their confidence in Iraq's democracy is growing." Bush spoke to a group of foreign policy experts, many of whom have been critical of his policies.

Bank supervisor charged in $50 million robbery

BELFAST, Northern Ireland -- A Northern Bank supervisor who claimed he aided a gang of robbers under the threat of death was charged Wednesday as a willing participant in the record $50 million heist. Defense attorney Niall Murphy said the accusation that Chris Ward, 24, was the gang's inside man was circumstantial. Ward is the first figure to be charged directly in the robbery. Experts considered the raid the world's biggest cash robbery of a bank in peacetime until it was knocked into second place in August, when robbers stole about $70 million from a Brazilian bank.

Eight killed on final day of Egyptian elections

ZAGAZIG, Egypt -- Eight people were killed and hundreds were wounded in an opposition stronghold Wednesday, the final day of parliamentary elections. The Interior Ministry said police had nothing to do with the fatalities because the men were killed by live ammunition and the police did not use firearms. Egypt's three-stage elections have been plagued by increasing violence as police and government supporters try to put down a strong showing by the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, which so far has increased its presence in parliament fivefold.

Delegates accept new Red Cross emblem for Israel

GENEVA -- Delegates to an international conference accepted a new Red Cross emblem Thursday despite Syrian objections, paving the way for Israel to join the humanitarian movement after nearly six decades of exclusion. The 192 signatories of the Geneva Conventions approved the new "red crystal" emblem, which would enable Israel to join the movement without having to use the red cross or Muslim red crescent.

Margaret Thatcher admitted to hospital

LONDON -- Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was admitted to hospital on Wednesday after feeling faint. Thatcher, who governed Britain from 1979 to 1990, turned 80 in October and has grown frail in recent years following a series of small strokes. The Conservative Party said she would be kept in London hospital overnight as a precaution.

Pentagon to cancel two units' deployment to Iraq

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon has tentative plans to halt the scheduled deployment of two brigades to Iraq and instead send smaller teams to support and train Iraqi forces in what could be an early step toward an eventual drawdown of U.S. forces, defense officials said Wednesday.

-- From wire reports