Foreign Digest
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

MIDDLE EAST
ARAFAT ACKNOWLEDGES HE HAS MADE MISTAKES
JERUSALEM -Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian Authority leader, issued an unprecedented mea culpa yesterday, admitting that he had made mistakes and promising to rectify them. In a speech to the Palestinian Parliament, which has become increasingly critical of him and his aides, Mr. Arafat conceded that his leadership had not been blameless. “There were wrong actions by some institutions and some [officials] were irresponsible and misused their positions,” he said. “There is nobody immune from mistakes, starting from me on down. Even prophets committed mistakes. “We need to move together to correct and reform all the mistakes. We have to be brave enough to admit mistakes.” His admission that there had been failings appeared to be an attempt to defuse the growing internal turmoil that erupted in the Gaza Strip and West Bank last month amid a clamor for reform of the security forces and the removal of corrupt officials. His comments were welcomed, but some critics said the fact that he made no promises of specific action raised concerns that they may have been intended merely as soothing words.
– The Daily Telegraph
WESTERN EUROPE
BOMB FOUND AFTER BLAIRS’ VILLA VISIT
ROME – A bomb was defused near the Sardinian villa of Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, shortly after a visit by Prime Minisiter Blair.
Police said the crude device was found in a rucksack in the resort of Porto Rotondo.
A caller claiming to be from the Proletarian Groups for Communism, a local faction blamed for previous attacks, phoned a newspaper on Tuesday evening to claim responsibility.
“We’re not joking. We promised a summer of fire,” the caller said.
Mr. Blair and his wife, Cherie, had been staying at Mr. Berlusconi’s Villa Certosa since Monday.
But it is thought that the bomb was probably planted shortly after the prime minister and his wife left for Tuscany to continue their holiday.
A Downing Street spokesman said that the discovery of a bomb was a “matter for the Italian authorities.”
Aides of Mr. Berlusconi described him as “calm.”
– The Daily Telegraph
NORTH AFRICA
U.N. STEPS UP SUDAN AID
KHARTOUM, Sudan – The United Nations’ food relief agency is gearing up for a “critical stage” in feeding refugees in western Sudan as more people flee ethnic violence there and the rainy season peaks, U.N. officials said yesterday. The number of internally displaced people in the Darfur region has reached 1.2 million, up from 1 million reported last month, said Radhia Achouri, spokesperson for the U.N. Mission in Sudan. That represents a 20% increase. Another 270,000 people need humanitarian assistance, bringing the total number of people affected by the conflict to almost 1.5 million, Ms. Achouri said.
“The civilian population fleeing to IDP camps and concentration areas is increasing because of reigning insecurity and fear of militia attacks,” she said.
Another 180,000 people have fled Darfur into neighboring Chad, the world body said. The United Nations says Darfur has become the scene of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The region’s nomadic Arab tribes have long been at odds with their African farming neighbors over dwindling resources, particularly water and usable land.
– Associated Press
CENTRAL AMERICA
JAIL RIOT KILLS AT LEAST 31
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – Rival prisoners fought each other with knives and sticks yesterday at a San Salvador jail, leaving at least 31 inmates dead and two dozen injured, officials said.
The riot began before dawn when gang members clashed with other prisoners, a deputy police commissioner, Pedro Gonzalez, said. More than 3,000 prisoners are being held at the facility, which was designed to jail 800 people.
Prison director Rodolfo Garay said 30 prisoners died at the scene. One was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Police finally regained control of the prison late yesterday afternoon, after hours of chaos.
Mr. Gonzalez said the riot began as a battle between rival prisoners, none of whom had escaped. Witnesses reported hearing explosions during the riot, but officials could not confirm the source of the noises.
Officials said the riot began early yesterday after dozens of prisoners beat another inmate to death.
– Associated Press
SOUTH ASIA
RULING PARTY CLAIMS VICTORY
FATEH JANG, Pakistan – The ruling party claimed victory yesterday in special elections designed to clear the path for Pakistan’s finance minister to be elevated to prime minister. The opposition said the vote was rigged.
Shaukat Aziz, a former Citibank executive and strong ally of President General Musharraf, was far ahead in the voting last night, according to unofficial results in two regions holding National Assembly elections. Lawmakers from the two regions resigned so Mr. Aziz could win a seat in the National Assembly – a result seen as little more than a formality. Under Pakistani law, a prime minister must also be an assembly member.
Mr. Musharraf’s government made Mr. Aziz the prime minister-designate after Zafarullah Khan Jamali stepped down in June, reportedly after a falling-out with Mr. Musharraf. The Pakistan Muslim League-Q party named Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain as caretaker prime minister until Mr. Aziz could be formally sworn into the lower house. Running Mr. Aziz in two constituencies he’s not actually from has been denounced by the opposition as an affront to democracy.
– Associated Press
REBELS BLOCKADE NEPAL’S CAPITAL
KATMANDU, Nepal – Without setting up a roadblock or even making an appearance, Maoist rebels cut off the capital from the rest of this Himalayan kingdom by declaring a blockade yesterday, leaving Katmandu with only a few days of food and cooking fuel.
Extra police took to the roads leading into the city, but no drivers defied the rebels. In the past, rebels have burned dozens of vehicles and planted mines to enforce blockades, and early this week they threw a bomb at a luxury hotel for disregarding an order to shut down. The government promised to provide security for travelers, but that didn’t reassure civilians.
Because it is the rainy season, there were relatively few tourists in Katmandu, and only few of them had left because of the unrest, hotel managers said. So far, they said, there had been no cancellations for the main season, which begins in September.
– Associated Press