MIDDLE EAST

U.S. TROOPS KILL 26 IRAQIS IN FIREFIGHT

BAGHDAD, Iraq – American soldiers, ambushed by dozens of Iraqi militants near the infamous “Triangle of Death,” responded by killing 26 guerrillas in the largest single insurgent death toll since last fall’s battle for Fallujah, the American military said yesterday.

The high number of deaths in Sunday’s daylight battle south of Baghdad was attributed to the large number of attackers, unusual in a country where most clashes are carried out by small bands of gunmen or suicide bombers.

As the American military reported that and other successes against the insurgency, attackers struck several times yesterday, killing seven civilians and three Iraqi soldiers.

– Associated Press

IRANIAN LEADER SAYS HE’LL FIGHT TO THE DEATH IF ATTACKED

TEHRAN, Iran – Iran’s supreme leader said yesterday he would put on military fatigues and fight to the death if his country were attacked – unlike American “warmongers” who he said cower in the rear far from the front lines.

President Bush has said America is not preparing to attack Iran, but no option is ruled out if Tehran does not abandon what Washington views as efforts to build a nuclear bomb. Iran insists its nuclear program is only to generate electricity. In an apparent bid to boost morale in the face of American pressure over the nuclear program, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei mocked Washington in a TV speech, saying its leaders keep to the rear in any confrontation. “We are not warmongers like U.S. leaders. They are warmongers. They are after war, but we are men of sacrifice,” Mr. Khamenei told a crowd of several thousand in the northeast city of Mashhad.

– Associated Press

EAST ASIA

RICE HINTS AT POSSIBLE SANCTIONS AGAINST NORTH KOREA

BEIJING – Secretary of State Rice hinted yesterday that North Korea faces possible international sanctions if it flouts a diplomatic effort to halt its nuclear weapons program.

Ms. Rice also delivered subtle rebukes to China for raising the stakes in the standoff with Taiwan and for its limitations on religious freedom. “I made the point … that I do hope there is an understanding that religious liberties are not a threat to changing societies,” Ms. Rice said at a press conference. Ms. Rice said she asked Chinese leaders for more help to bring the North Koreans back to the six-way weapons talks. The Pyongyang regime has said it already has at least one nuclear weapon and has given no indication it is ready to bargain further.

– Associated Press

E.U. WILL DELAY LIFTING OF CHINA ARMS EMBARGO

Officials say the European Union will delay the removal of an arms embargo on China that had been planned to be executed sometime before June, the New York Times reported on its Web site. The American and European officials said European nations were troubled by China’s authorization of the use of force against Taiwan to keep the island from seceding.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

EASTERN EUROPE

ESTONIA’S PRIME MINISTER RESIGNS

TALLINN, Estonia – Estonia’s prime minister announced his resignation and dissolved his government yesterday after lawmakers said they had no confidence in his justice minister because of a controversial anti-corruption plan. The prime minister, 38-year-old Juhan Parts, said the government coalition could no longer effectively lead the ex-Soviet Baltic country of 1.4 million people. The unexpected move came after legislators approved a no-confidence motion against the justice minister, Ken-Marti Vaher.

– Associated Press

WESTERN EUROPE

ICELAND GRANTS CITIZENSHIP TO BOBBY FISCHER

REYKJAVIK, Iceland – Iceland, the country where Bobby Fischer won the world chess championship a generation ago, granted citizenship to the 62-year-old recluse yesterday – a boost to Mr. Fischer’s efforts to fight deportation from Japan to America. Immigration officials in Iceland said a passport for Mr. Fischer could be ready as early as today.

– Associated Press