World briefs 3/9/05

Bolivian lawmakers will support president

LA PAZ, Bolivia -- Key lawmakers signaled Tuesday they would reject a resignation offer by President Carlos Mesa, rallying behind the Bolivian leader ahead of a congressional vote on whether to end his government amid escalating street protests that have underscored social tensions in South America's poorest country. As lawmakers met privately to discuss the vote, more than 1,000 supporters of the president, many waving white flags, gathered outside Congress chanting "Mesa, our friend! The people are with you!"

Israel to relinquish control of Jericho, Tulkarem first

EREZ CROSSING, Israel -- Israel will turn over two West Bank towns to Palestinian control in the coming days, Israel's defense minister announced Tuesday after meeting the Palestinian leader, but disagreements remained over how much land around the towns would be transferred. The two-hour meeting at the main crossing point between Gaza and Israel was Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' first with an Israeli leader since a Feb. 8 summit, when he and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared a truce to end four years of bloodshed. Transferring control of five West Bank towns was part of the truce package.

Russia says Chechen rebel leader killed

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia -- Chechen rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov, blamed by Russia for last year's school hostage crisis and other deadly terrorist acts, has been killed during a raid, the head of the Federal Security Service told President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. One report said he was killed accidentally by his bodyguards. The shirtless body of the gray-bearded Maskhadov, lying on a concrete floor, was shown on Russia's NTV channel.

Dozens arrested in Nepal anti-monarchy protests

KATMANDU, Nepal -- Nepal's political parties launched their first major protest Tuesday against King Gyanendra's imposition of emergency rule, but truncheon-wielding police poured into the streets of the capital and arrested former lawmakers and ministers at the rally. Anti-monarchy protests also broke out in cities across the Himalayan nation, defying a ban on meetings that is part of the emergency rule declared Feb. 1. Hundreds were arrested, police and political activists said.

Chinese law allows attack on Taiwan

BEIJING -- China unveiled a law Tuesday authorizing an attack if Taiwan moves toward formal independence, increasing pressure on the self-ruled island while warning other countries not to interfere. Taiwan denounced the legislation as a "blank check to invade" and announced war games aimed at repelling an attack. The proposed anti-secession law, read out for the first time before the ceremonial National People's Congress, doesn't specify what actions might invite a Chinese attack.