World news in brief 6/29/08

Al-Qaida in Iraq says it was behind Anbar attack

BAGHDAD -- An al-Qaida front organization claimed responsibility Saturday for a suicide bombing that killed more than 20 people -- including three Marines -- as the U.S. military stepped up pressure on extremists in northern Iraq.The Islamic State of Iraq posted the claim on a militant Web site, saying the bomber blew himself up among a gathering of the "heads of apostasy" -- a reference to U.S.-backed Sunni tribal leaders who were attending a meeting Thursday in Karmah, 20 miles west of Baghdad. The dead included the commander of Marines in the area, Lt. Col. Max A. Galeai of Pago Pago, American Samoa, as well as the mayor of Karmah, several key tribal figures and two interpreters, U.S. and Iraqi officials said. It could not be determined if the statement was actually issued by the Islamic State, which is an al-Qaida-controlled coalition of Sunni extremist groups.

Beef dispute confronts Rice on Korean visit

SEOUL, South Korea -- America's chief diplomat found herself vouching for the purity of U.S. cattle Saturday, wading into a bitter trade dispute that for South Koreans has eclipsed North Korea's nuclear activity and threatened the government of President Lee Myung-bak. Just one day after the communist North demolished the most visible symbol of its nuclear programs, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice faced a barrage of questions about the safety of American steaks, chops and burgers. She had told reporters she hoped this issue would not distract from other matters. "I want to assure everyone that American beef is safe," she told a news conference with South Korea's foreign minister, Yu Myung-hwan. But Yu said the beef issue probably would not go away quickly.

Dutch prepare for coffee shop smoking ban

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- This city's famed marijuana bars have weathered many challenges over the years and are still smoking. But now they face an unwelcome blast of fresh air: On Tuesday, the Netherlands will be one of the last European countries to ban smoking in bars and restaurants in compliance with EU law. The Health Ministry says the ban will apply to cafes that sell marijuana, known as coffee shops. But there's a loophole: The ban covers tobacco but not marijuana, which is technically illegal anyway. But that still leaves coffee shops and their customers in a bind. Dutch and other European marijuana users traditionally smoke pot mixed with tobacco. "It's the world upside down: In other countries they look for the marijuana in the cigarette. Here they look for the cigarette in the marijuana," said Jason den Enting, manager of coffee shop Dampkring.

Bomb kills 1, wounds 28 in northern Lebanon

BEIRUT, Lebanon -- At least one person was killed and 28 others wounded early Saturday when a bomb ripped through an apartment building in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, security officials said. The explosion occurred in an area that was the scene of fierce sectarian fighting last week between government and opposition supporters, in which nine people were killed and 44 others wounded.

Report: Iran to hit Israel if attacked

TEHRAN, Iran -- The commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned that Tehran would respond to an attack against it by barraging Israel with missiles and controlling a key oil passageway in the Persian Gulf, said a newspaper report published Saturday. The report in the conservative Jam-e-Jam newspaper comes after the disclosure of a recent Israeli military exercise over the Mediterranean Sea that was seen as sending a message to Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari said there were strong deterrents against striking Iran, including the country's missile power, the vulnerability of Israeli and U.S. forces in the region and the low probability of a successful attack. But Jafari warned that if attacked, Iran would strike back.

-- From wire reports