Diplomat clarifies criticism of Saudis

UNITED NATIONS -- The US ambassador to the United Nations stressed the importance of Saudi Arabia's help in bringing peace to the Middle East yesterday, a day after accusing the kingdom of undermining US efforts to stabilize Iraq. Zalmay Khalilzad attempted to play down the critical remark he made Sunday on CNN's "Late Edition," telling reporters at UN headquarters in New York that Saudi Arabia is "a great ally" and friend of the United States. Still, he urged Saudi leaders to do more to help end Iraq's sectarian violence. "In terms of Iraq, we would benefit, the Iraqis would benefit, the region would benefit from a more enhanced Saudi cooperation toward stabilizing the situation," he said. (AP)

egypt

RAFAH -- Police clashed with Bedouins protesting a government order to demolish their houses along the Palestinian Gaza Strip's border, leaving dozens injured. The protest came a day after a US delegation toured the area to investigate reports of weapons smuggling from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. Security officials said at least one police officer was wounded when protesters lobbed rocks at a police force trying to disperse them in downtown Rafah, the main town on the border. Police reported firing tear gas and water cannons to evict demonstrators from the streets. A reporter on the scene said that police also fired rubber bullets toward protesters and that as many as 50 people were injured. Egyptian media have reported a government plan to force the Bedouins from a 500-foot-wide strip of land along the border to prevent traffickers from digging tunnels used to smuggle weapons and people into Gaza. (AP)

south africa

JOHANNESBURG -- Wildfires sweeping across parts of eastern South Africa have killed at least 18 people and damaged thousands of acres of land, according to officials and news reports. Officials estimate about 74,000 acres have been gutted near the tourist towns of Sabie and Graskop. Four fires in those areas were still burning out of control, the South African Press Association reported yesterday. Meanwhile, heavy rain and flooding in the Western Cape damaged thousands of homes, affecting about 30,000 people, officials said. Cleanup operations have been underway since the worst of the rain ended Sunday, while the city's disaster management services prepared for more heavy rain expected to hit the already flood-ravaged city next week. (AP)

mexico

MEXICO CITY -- The government said yesterday it is seeking changes in a US plan to expand fences along the two nations' border because of the threat to migratory species accustomed to roaming freely across the frontier. The Environment Department said the fences would seriously harm species that cross the 1,952-mile border, and said the United States needs to alter or mitigate the barriers -- aimed at stopping human migrants from crossing illegally into the United States -- where necessary. Mexico also wants Washington to expand its environmental impact study on the fences and will file a complaint with the United Nations' International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, if necessary. (AP)