Group questions ID plan for Gypsies

ROME - The Italian government's plans to fingerprint Gypsies living in camps, including children, drew more criticism yesterday when a Catholic human rights organization warned that identifying people according to ethnicity would set a dangerous precedent. "We are very worried about discrimination according to race or religion," said Marco Impagliazzo, president of the Community of St. Egidio, which is based in Rome. As part of a broader crackdown on crime, the government has pledged to take a census of Roma and Sinti people, as they prefer to be known. (International Herald Tribune)

ANKARA - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert called for quickly starting face-to-face negotiations with Syria after a third round of indirect peace talks mediated by Turkey ended with an agreement to meet again. "With the Syrians, we are talking seriously and, in my estimation, very soon the negotiations will have to be direct," Olmert said yesterday in the Israeli resort city of Eilat. The third round of talks between the long-time foes ended in Turkey yesterday with an agreement to hold a fourth round later this month, said a Turkish government source. At that meeting, the sides will decide whether to move to direct talks, the source said. (Reuters)

BAGHDAD - In a move to separate mosque and state, the Iraqi government said yesterday that Islamic houses of worship should be off limits for campaigning in provincial elections scheduled for the fall. Government spokesman Ali Dabagh also said that photos of anyone but the candidates would be banned from campaign advertising. (Los Angeles Times)