2 dead, 96 wounded in Venezuelan protest

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Police battled protesters Thursday after more than 150,000 people marched on the presidential palace demanding President Hugo Chavez's ouster as a general strike gripped the country. At least 12 people were killed and 96 wounded, officials said.

Thursday night 15 tanks took up positions outside the palace, and seven tanks were seen rolling out of the Fuerte Tiuna military base.

A total of 41 military officers have declared themselves in rebellion against Chavez "for violating democratic principles, guarantees and the human rights of Venezuelans."

Serb war crimes suspect shoots himself in head

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- A former Serbian police chief indicted for war crimes shot himself in the head Thursday, hours after the Yugoslav parliament adopted a law that allows arrests and extraditions to the U.N. tribunal.

Vlajko Stojiljkovic, who headed the police during former President Slobodan Milosevic's reign and was indicted for crimes against humanity, fired his pistol in front of the federal parliament building.

Mihajlo Mitrovic, head of the emergency room at the Belgrade hospital where Stojiljkovic was taken, said he was being resuscitated after suffering a "severe gunshot wound to the head."

War crimes tribunal to begin operation July 1

UNITED NATIONS -- Despite vehement U.S. opposition, the world's first permanent war crimes tribunal will come into force on July 1, after receiving more than the 60 needed ratifications Thursday from U.S. allies and nations around the globe.

Hundreds of supporters of the court rose to their feet in a standing ovation after 10 nations deposited their ratifications of the Rome treaty, which establishes the International Criminal Court.

But the U.S. seat in the crowded chamber was empty. The United States boycotted the ceremony, just as it has not attended meetings preparing for the court's operations since last year.

Lawmakers kidnapped from Cali parliament

BOGOTA, Colombia -- Suspected rebels dressed in military uniforms kidnapped lawmakers from a parliament building in the city of Cali on Thursday, police said. Five of the hostages later were rescued by security forces.

A policeman was killed in the attack; two soldiers were wounded in the rescue.

Witnesses said the gunmen posed as a bomb squad -- and even brought a dog -- to gain entry to the building.

Kidnappers told the assemblymen there was a bomb in the building and then took six to nine legislators away with them, said Gen. Luis Ernesto Gilibert, the national police chief. The hostages were driven off in vehicles.

-- From wire reports