PERSIAN GULF

U.S. TROOPS LAUNCH RAIDS IN NORTHERN, CENTRAL IRAQ

BAGHDAD, Iraq – American troops staged a series of raids in Mosul and elsewhere in northern and central Iraq yesterday, arresting dozens, while insurgents stepped up their attacks two weeks ahead of national elections, ambushing a car carrying a prominent female candidate and killing 17 people in other assaults.

The deputy defense secretary, Paul Wolfowitz, conceded that American and Iraqi forces cannot stop “extraordinary” intimidation by insurgents before the January 30 vote.

Underscoring the precarious security situation, Salama al-Khafaji was ambushed in central Baghdad by gunmen wearing police uniforms, but she escaped injury when her bodyguards returned fire, an aide said. It was the second attempt since May on the life of Ms. al-Khafaji, who is running on the favored slate endorsed by the country’s main Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.

American and Iraqi officials have insisted that the elections go ahead as scheduled, despite the persistent violence.

President al-Yawer said that if the elections were postponed for six months, there was no guarantee the violence would wane. The insurgents “might lay down for two or three months, then carry out attacks again,” he said.

Most of the violence occurred around Kut, southeast of Baghdad, and the northern city of Mosul, Iraq’s third-largest city.

Near Kut, three Iraqi policemen were killed in one shooting and three Iraqi National Guard officers were killed by a hand grenade in another attack. As mourners gathered for the policemen’s funeral, a suicide attacker blew himself up in the crowd, killing himself and seven others.

– Associated Press

EASTERN EUROPE

INCUMBENT WINS ELECTION IN CROATIA

ZAGREB, Croatia – President Mesic, who is credited for moving this ex-Yugoslav country closer to the West, overwhelmingly won a second term on yesterday.

Mr. Mesic won 66% of the votes, the state-run Electoral Commission said after nearly all votes were counted. His rival, Jadranka Kosor, who was supported by the prime minister’s party, garnered only 34% support, the commission said.

The 70-year-old incumbent thanked his voters and said they recognized in him “a stubborn fighter” for Croatia’s pro-Western course and better living standards. “Croatia has passed a long way in building its democracy and the world and Europe recognized that. That why we’re now before the doors of the European Union,” Mr. Mesic said to enthusiastic cheers from his supporters.

The results give Mr. Mesic a mandate until late 2009, when the nation of 4.5 million people hopes to join the 25-nation E.U., and could indicate a trend ahead of local elections in spring. Mr. Mesic’s victory also was a blow to Prime Minister Sanader’s center-right Croatian Democratic Union, which returned to power a year ago. The party only recently distanced itself from its nationalist roots to become a pro-European conservative group.

– Associated Press

EAST ASIA

REFORM-MINDED COMMUNIST LEADER DEAD

BEIJING – Zhao Ziyang, a former premier and reform-minded Communist Party leader who was toppled in a power struggle following the 1989 Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests, died today, a prominent human rights activist said, citing Zhao’s family. He was 85. Zhao, who was suffering from a lung ailment, died at Beijing Hospital, surrounded by his family, the activist, Frank Lu, said. Mr. Lu, speaking by phone from Hong Kong, said he received the information from Zhao’s daughter, Wang Yannan.

About two hours after Zhao’s death, the official Xinhua News Agency ran a brief report titled, “Comrade Zhao Ziyang passes away.”

The report said Zhao had died of illness: “Comrade Zhao had long suffered from multiple diseases affecting his respiratory and cardiovascular systems, and had been hospitalized for medical treatment for several times,” it said. “His conditions worsened recently, and he passed away Monday after failing to respond to all emergency treatment.” There have been few official comments or reports on Zhao, who had lived under house arrest for 15 years.

– Associated Press