EAST ASIA

AUTHORITIES DETAIN BLIND CHINESE ACTIVIST

BEIJING – A Chinese activist who documented villagers’ claims of forced abortions and sterilizations was detained while trying to report the beating of his cousin, the activist’s wife said yesterday. Chen Guangcheng, his older brother, and his cousin were taken away Saturday night in a police van and other vehicles as they were on their way to file a police report, his wife, Yuan Weijing, said. She said they have not been heard from since then.

Mr. Chen, who is blind, says he has been harassed by authorities since he prepared a lawsuit for seven villagers in the eastern province of Shandong who said they were forced to undergo abortions or sterilization. Officials are often accused of using such tactics, which the government has forbidden, to enforce China’s birth-control rules that limit most urban couples to one child.

The incident Saturday came during the annual meeting of China’s ceremonial parliament, when communist officials are unusually sensitive to possible criticism and frequently detain or monitor dissidents.

– Associated Press

DALAI LAMA EXPRESSES DESIRE TO VISIT CHINA

The spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists said Friday, “As well as visiting the pilgrim sites, I hope to be able to see for myself the changes and developments in the People’s Republic of China,” according to the British Broadcasting Corporation. The Dalai Lama spoke at an event commemorating Tibetan Uprising Day in Dharamsala, India, which is the seat of the exiled Tibetan government, the network reported. He also expressed a desire to see his homeland become self-ruled, stressing, “my demand for genuine self-rule does not amount to a demand for separation,” from China.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

MIDDLE EAST

ISRAEL INFORMED U.S. OF NEW WITHDRAWAL PLAN BEFORE MAKING IT PUBLIC

JERUSALEM – Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert approached America with his plan to determine Israel’s borders before making it public, an aide said yesterday, reflecting how crucial American support would be for any initiative to separate from the Palestinians.

Ariel Sharon similarly brought America into the loop early three years ago when he embarked on his historic Gaza Strip pullout. Sharon was felled by a stroke on January 4 and remains in a coma. Mr. Olmert, his closest political ally, became acting prime minister.

Mr. Olmert’s spokesman, Asaf Shariv, said an aide to the acting prime minister presented the plan to an American official before Mr. Olmert disclosed it last week in interviews.

– Associated Press

JORDAN COURT CONVICTS FIVE TERRORISTS OF PLOTTING ATTACKS

AMMAN, Jordan – Five Islamic terrorists were convicted Sunday of plotting terrorist attacks on Jordanian intelligence agents, foreign tourists and upscale hotels and sentenced to prison terms ranging from 10 years to life.

The plot’s mastermind, fugitive Mohammad Rateb Qteishat, received a life sentence in absentia. He is believed to be in neighboring Iraq.

– Associated Press

PERSIAN GULF

ATTACK ON A SHIITE SLUM IN BAGHDAD KILLS DOZENS

BAGHDAD, Iraq – The feared resumption of mass sectarian violence erupted yesterday in a Baghdad Shiite slum when bombers blew apart two markets shortly before sundown, killing at least 44 people and wounding about 200.

The bloody assaults on Sadr City came only minutes after Iraqi political leaders said the new parliament will convene Thursday, three days earlier than planned, as the American ambassador pushed to break a stalemate over naming a unity government.

– Associated Press