Oil-for-food chief said to block audit
NEW YORK -- The UN oil-for-food program chief, under scrutiny for alleged corruption and mismanagement, blocked a proposed audit of his office around the same time he is accused of soliciting lucrative oil deals from Iraq, investigators said. A UN auditing team, which was severely understaffed, said running the $64 billion oil-for-food program was ''a high-risk activity" and a priority for review. But Benon Sevan denied the auditors' request to hire a consultant to examine his office in May 2001. (AP)
SOUTH KOREA
Focus on stalled talks shifts to China
SEOUL -- Officials from South Korea and the United States are hoping China can bring unruly ally North Korea back to stalled talks on dismantling its nuclear weapons program, Seoul's foreign minister said. Minister Ban Ki-moon spoke as Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing of China assured US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that Beijing would push Pyongyang to end its boycott of six-party talks on the crisis as soon as possible. North Korea publicly declared for the first time on Thursday that it possessed nuclear weapons. (Reuters)
COLOMBIA
Uribe, commanders meet amid violence
BOGOTA -- President Alvaro Uribe held an emergency meeting with his military commanders after leftist rebels launched a series of attacks yesterday, while US Embassy officials remembered three Americans who were captured by the guerrillas two years ago. US Ambassador William Wood, in a somber ceremony marking the second anniversary of the capture of the three military contractors, said he was disappointed that rewards offered by the US government for the Americans have produced insufficient results. (AP)
RUSSIA
Thousands protest benefits overhaul
MOSCOW -- Tens of thousands of Russians protested across the country yesterday against a law replacing transportation and medical benefits for pensioners with cash payments, but were countered by massive rival demonstrations organized by pro-Kremlin forces. The Communist-backed protest calling for the government's ouster was the most widespread in President Vladimir Putin's five years in power. (AP)
CUBA
Castro says Chavez in danger of attack
HAVANA -- Fidel Castro warned that the life of leftist President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela is in danger, and said he would blame the United States if his close friend and ally is killed. Castro made his remark in a six-hour speech that lasted until 4 a.m. yesterday and closed an international globalization conference in Havana attended by hundreds of economists. ''If Chavez is assassinated, the responsibility will lie entirely with the president of the United States," Castro said, neglecting to provide details. (AP)
JORDAN
Losing candidates to contest results
AMMAN -- Dozens of losing candidates in Saudi Arabia's municipal elections complained yesterday that the winners in the capital, Riyadh, unfairly used the endorsement of influential Islamic leaders. About 45 candidates are alleging that the winners of seven seats on Riyadh's 14-member council circulated an endorsement from a group of Muslim scholars before the polls opened. The complaining candidates said the last-minute ''blessings" were delivered to voters through cellphone text messages and the Internet, and violated campaign rules. (
