US soldiers are cleared in death of Italian

US investigators have found that American troops who shot an Italian agent to death at a Baghdad checkpoint March 4 followed proper procedures, an Army official said yesterday. But Italy was disputing two factual issues in the report: the speed of the car and the nature of communications between the Italians and US forces before the shooting. Intelligence officer Nicola Calipari was killed while escorting freed Italian hostage Giuliana Sgrena. (Reuters)

IRAN

Former president says he's eyeing another run

TEHRAN -- Iran's powerful former president Hashemi Rafsanjani, a relative moderate, said yesterday that he will almost certainly run for president in the June 17 election, a race in which hard-liners are hoping to tighten their hold. With the reformist movement severely weakened, Rafsanjani is seen as the most credible force to stop hard-line allies of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei from seizing the post of president. Iran is facing international pressure over its nuclear program. (AP)

MEXICO

Mayor resumes duties over federal objections

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico City's popular leftist mayor, caught in a legal wrangle that could end his presidential ambitions, returned to work yesterday in defiance of the government, which wants him put on trial. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the front-runner to win the 2006 presidential election, had not been to his office since Congress stripped his immunity from prosecution earlier this month so he could face charges of contempt of court. (Reuters)

SOUTH KOREA

Officials warn N. Korea against a nuclear test

SEOUL -- In a rare harsh tone, South Korea yesterday warned North Korea against conducting a nuclear test, and the communist state said it would consider any UN sanctions a ''declaration of war." The South Korean warning was issued amid fears that the isolated state is trying to harvest plutonium for more weapons after it apparently shut down a nuclear reactor and that it might be preparing for its first nuclear test. (AP)

WEST BANK

Palestinian fatally shot after he ran over Israeli

HEBRON -- A Palestinian driver ran over and killed an Israeli at an army checkpoint in the West Bank yesterday before soldiers shot him to death in the latest violence to strain a de facto cease-fire. The Israeli was the first to be killed by a Palestinian since a suicide bomber killed five Israelis in an attack on a Tel Aviv nightclub on Feb. 25. Palestinian witnesses said a Palestinian taxi driver ran over the Israeli at a dimly lit checkpoint near Hebron. (Reuters)

CZECH REPUBLIC

Leftist nominated as new prime minister

PRAGUE -- Leftist Jiri Paroubek was nominated as Czech prime minister yesterday to replace Stanislav Gross, who resigned over a housing scandal that has cast uncertainty over his government for months. Gross, Europe's youngest leader at 35, stepped down as part of a deal reached last week that will see his coalition government revamped. Paroubek has 30 days to call a confidence vote and must win a majority of votes in the lower house. (Reuters)

TOGO

Opposition supporters, security forces clash

LOME -- Security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades at crowds of opposition supporters in Togo yesterday as vote counting got underway after a presidential vote in the West African nation. In a bid to avert mounting violence, ruling party candidate Faure Gnassingbe and exiled opposition leader Gilchrist Olympio flew to Nigeria for talks with African leaders. (AP)