MIDDLE EAST

ABBAS CRITICIZES AMERICA OVER SUPPORT FOR JEWISH SETTLEMENTS

The Palestinian Arab leader Mahmoud Abbas criticized Israel and indirectly, America, over Jewish settlements yesterday, and Israel’s defense minister warned he would send troops into Gaza to seize Palestinian anti-aircraft missiles – the latest threats to efforts to expand a truce into a lasting peace.

Incensed over a reiteration of American support for Israel retaining main settlement blocs in the West Bank in a peace deal, Mr. Abbas did not name America, but his target was clear.

“Any talk of settlements that is not a discussion of stopping them is unacceptable,” Mr. Abbas said. “Here I’m talking about the discussions of annexing settlement blocs. This is unacceptable because this affects final status issues.”

The Palestinian Arabs claim all of the West Bank.

The issue resurfaced over the weekend with a leaked Foreign Ministry document that quoted the American ambassador, Dan Kurtzer, as saying America does not support Israel keeping West Bank settlements. Mr. Kurtzer angrily denied the report, repeating a statement from President Bush that a peace settlement would have to take into account Israel’s main settlement blocs.

The leak came against the background of reports that Israel plans to expand the largest one, Maaleh Adumim, next to Jerusalem, by building 3,500 new homes. At a Cabinet meeting yesterday, Mr. Sharon admitted that the Bush administration still opposes expanding settlements.

“The United States differentiates between keeping settlement blocs and continuing building in the settlements at this time,” Mr. Sharon said, according to participants. “They have been opposed to this since 1968.”

Mr. Sharon’s comments came on the eve of a parliamentary vote on calling a referendum over his plans to pull out of Gaza and part of the West Bank. The vote today could be close, with parties maneuvering for position until the last minute, but it appeared that Mr. Sharon had a majority against holding the referendum, which he calls a delaying tactic that would delay or scuttle the withdrawal plan.

– Associated Press

SOUTHERN AFRICA

ARCHBISHOP URGES ZIMBABWEANS TO RISE AGAINST MUGABE

One of Zimbabwe’s most outspoken church leaders yesterday called for a peaceful uprising against President Mugabe’s autocratic rule, days before a parliamentary election that rights groups say already is tainted by years of violence and intimidation.

Roman Catholic Archbishop Pius Ncube of Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, Bulawayo, said he was willing to put on his vestments and lead a march to Mr. Mugabe’s residence himself, but feared: “If I do it, I do it alone.”

“The people are so scared,” he said in an interview with the Associated Press. “You are not going to get that where people are so cowardly.”

Police arrested nearly 200 opposition supporters after a rally yesterday in the capital, Harare, the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change said in a statement.

Mr. Mugabe, a former guerrilla leader, has led Zimbabwe since the end of white rule in 1980. Mr. Ncube believes Mr. Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party will easily win Thursday’s poll, which he said is certain to be rigged.

“I hope that people get so disillusioned that they really organize against the government and kick him out by a nonviolent, popular, mass uprising,” Mr. Ncube said in a separate interview with the South African newspaper the Sunday Independent. “Because as it is, people have been too soft with this government.”

– Associated Press

CENTRAL ASIA

RIVAL PARLIAMENTS STRUGGLE IN KYRGYZSTAN

Kyrgyzstan’s political uncertainties intensified yesterday in a struggle between rival parliaments, and the head law enforcement official, appointed by one parliament, unexpectedly declared the other legislature as the legitimate lawmaking body.

Although police backed by civilian volunteers solidified control of the capital after several nights of looting and gunfire, the dispute between the parliaments raised troubling questions for the impoverished country’s 5 million people about whether Kyrgyzstan’s interim leaders could overcome deep disputes and bring the country a measure of stability.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, of which Kyrgyzstan is a member, is sending legal experts in an attempt to unravel the conflict between the parliaments.

– Associated Press