CENTRAL ASIA

TALIBAN GUNMEN AMBUSH BORDER PATROL

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Suspected Taliban gunmen ambushed a border patrol in the desert near the frontier with Pakistan, killing and beheading 10 Afghan soldiers, a provincial governor said yesterday. Violence elsewhere left 15 rebels and soldiers dead. The 25-member patrol was attacked Saturday in southern Helmand province by militants driving four four-wheel-drive pickups, provincial Governor Sher Mohammed Aghunzada said. The insurgents killed 10 soldiers, and 15 – including three who were wounded – fled the ambush, Governor Aghunzada said. “The Taliban cut the heads off all the soldiers who were killed,” he said.

– Associated Press

FAVORITE EMERGES IN KYRGYZ ELECTIONS

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan – The man who took over the leadership of Kyrgyzstan after its president fled into exile appeared to be easily ahead in the race to become president of the Central Asian nation, according to preliminary results released early today. Kurmanbek Bakiyev was the favorite among six candidates in Kyrgyzstan, which is of strategic importance for both Washington and Moscow. With about 28% of the vote counted, Mr. Bakiyev had nearly 89%, the Central Elections Commission said. Mr. Bakiyev had been acting president since March 25, the day after demonstrators stormed the offices of the former president, Askar Akayev, and sent him fleeing into exile. The Central Elections Commission said more than 74% of the country’s 2.6 million eligible voters had cast ballots.

– Associated Press

WESTERN EUROPE

OPPOSITION PARTY AIMS TO OUST SCHROEDER

BERLIN – Germany’s opposition aims to oust Chancellor Schroeder with a program to boost Europe’s largest economy and “reinvigorate” relations with America, according to a draft obtained yesterday by the Associated Press. The program, to be formally endorsed today by the Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister party, includes an increase in sales tax and looser rules for companies to hire and fire staff. It also rules out Turkish membership in the European Union. The parties are also trying to win back voters by invoking Germany’s strained relations with Washington. Mr. Schroeder ran for re-election in 2002 on a platform opposing the American-led war in Iraq, and President Bush pointedly refused to offer the traditional congratulations to him on his victory. Germany’s conservatives have been careful not to back the war – sending troops to Iraq would be deeply unpopular – but insist only a change of government can heal the rift with Washington. “We will reinvigorate the trans-Atlantic cooperation with the United States,” the draft said.

– Associated Press