World
Turmoil reigned in Iraq on the first day after the capture of Saddam Hussein, with reports of new terrorist attacks, speculation on his eventual trial, and demonstrations by supporters in the so-called "Sunni triangle" who demanded his restoration to power. Members of the interim Governing Council said Hussein would be tried possibly "within weeks," with the death penalty probable if he's convicted. They said any trial would be televised. Meanwhile, car-bomb attacks outside police stations killed at least nine more Iraqis and wounded dozens of others. Security forces in Baghdad and Tikrit dispersed pro-Hussein demonstrators with batons and by firing over their heads.
Victory was predicted by interim Afghan President Hamid Karzai as the nation's grand council resumed work on the draft constitution he has promoted. The 500 delegates gave Karzai early optimism Sunday by electing a close ally as their chairman. Karzai has said he won't seek the presidency again if the council decides on a parliamentary-style government with a prime minister. But the draft constitution foresees a centralized government with sweeping presidential powers.
A new attempt to forge a truce by Palestinian radicals against Israeli targets was scheduled for Tuesday by senior Egyptians. The talks are intended to follow on those that collapsed last week when Hamas rejected a proposed comprehensive cease-fire. Unlike the last set of negotiations, in Cairo, these will take place in Gaza City. At the breakup of the earlier talks, Hamas indicated it would participate in another such effort.
Another election will be necessary in the Turkish sector of Cyprus if the opposition parties that won Sunday's vote can't form a viable government within 60 days, leader Rauf Denktash said. With the vote-count complete, the Republican Turkish Party and the Peace and Democracy Movement held a two-percentage-point lead over the ruling coalition partners. But the two sides tied with 25 seats each in parliament. Denktash and the incumbent coalition oppose a UN plan to unify the Mediterranean island's Turkish and Greek sectors so they can join the European Union together next May. The opposition favors the plan.
In an apparent warning to protesters against the rule of Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, his supporters were setting rubber-tire barricades afire in the streets of the capital, Port-au-Prince. And the government's communications minister warned that notice of anti-Aristide demonstrations must be received two days in advance. Since mid-September, 21 people have died in clashes between Aristide supporters and opponents. His government says it expects protesters to try to spoil state-sponsored celebrations of Haiti's bicentennial Jan. 1.
