MIDDLE EAST

TERRORISTS REJECT APPEAL FROM ABBAS

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – The Islamic Jihad terrorist group rejected a call yesterday from Mahmoud Abbas to halt rocket attacks on Israeli towns, prompting a new round of Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. In another setback for Mr. Abbas, a dispute within his ruling Fatah Party threatened to divide the movement a day before a key election deadline. Rocket fire was reported in southern Israel yesterday, and the army responded with an airstrike on a suspected launch site in northern Gaza. There were no reports of injuries.

– Associated Press

ISRAELI JETS HIT TERRORIST BASE IN LEBANON

JERUSALEM – The Israeli air force said it carried out an airstrike early today against a training base south of Beirut belonging to a Palestinian Arab terrorist group in Lebanon, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. “This is in response to the firing of projectile rockets last night toward Israeli communities,” the army said. It said it views such attacks with “extreme severity” and holds Lebanon responsible.

– Associated Press

SYRIAN ARRESTED IN ASSASSINATION OF LEBANESE EDITOR

BEIRUT, Lebanon – Abdel-Qadar Abdel Qader was arrested yesterday on suspicion of involvement in the assassination of the anti-Syrian general manager and columnist of Lebanon’s leading newspaper, Gibran Tueni.

– Associated Press

PERSIAN GULF

TERROR SUSPECT KILLS FIVE SAUDI POLICEMEN BEFORE BEING ARRESTED

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – One of Saudi Arabia’s most wanted terror suspects, Mohammed Abdel-Rahman Mohammed al-Suwailmi, killed five policemen in drive-by shootings yesterday before security forces wounded and captured him, the Interior Ministry said.

– Associated Press

EASTERN EUROPE

PUTIN’S ECONOMIC ADVISER ABRUPTLY RESIGNS

MOSCOW – An outspoken economic adviser to President Putin announced yesterday that he was resigning, saying he could no longer work in a government that had done away with political freedoms. The government later said Mr. Putin signed a decree dismissing him. Andrei Illarionov was stripped of his duties as envoy to the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations earlier this year. However, he had remained Mr. Putin’s economic adviser.

– Associated Press

SOUTHEAST ASIA

PHILIPPINE PROSECUTOR CHARGES MARINES WITH RAPE

OLONGAPO, Philippines – Philippine prosecutors charged four American Marines with rape yesterday. Prosecutor Prudencio Jalandoni alleged that one, Lance Corporal Daniel Smith, raped a 22-year-old woman as fellow Marines cheered him on. Also charged were Lance Corporal Keith Silkwood, Lance Corporal Dominic Duplantis, and Staff Sergeant Chad Carpentier. The Americans have denied participating in or witnessing the incident.

– Associated Press

EAST ASIA

CHINA AGREES TO OPEN WAR ARCHIVES TO MIA HUNT

BEIJING – Chinese officials have agreed to consider an American request to search military archives that could yield clues to the fate of missing Korean War servicemen possibly held by China, the American Embassy said yesterday. China also will help organize support for America investigations at sites where the remains of American airmen from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War might be found. The probes should take place next year, it said.

– Associated Press

SOUTH AMERICA

REBELS KILL 24 COLOMBIAN SOLDIERS

BOGOTA, Colombia – Suspected rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, killed 24 Colombian soldiers who were protecting government workers yesterday during a coca eradication effort, General Hernando Ortiz said.

– Associated Press