Railway Owner Visits Crash Site

Italy's Premier Is Asked To Form New Government

ROME -- Italy's president asked Romano Prodi on Saturday to stay on as premier and put his center-left government to a new vote of confidence in Parliament, seeking a swift end to the political crisis prompted by the cabinet's resignation days ago.

Prodi has demanded commitments from the parties in his coalition to support government policy, and he promised Saturday that he could command a majority in Parliament.

"I will seek a vote of confidence as soon as possible, with renewed impetus and a united and determined coalition," Prodi said.

But with a Senate majority constantly threatened and allies who have proved less than reliable, the new effort by Prodi risks the same instability that led to his resignation Wednesday.

THE AMERICAS

· GUATEMALA CITY -- Emergency crews found a third body in a 330-foot-deep sinkhole that swallowed a dozen homes in a crowded Guatemala City neighborhood Friday and forced the evacuation of nearly 1,000 people.

· BOGOTA, Colombia -- Marxist rebels holding former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt hostage said she was still held in Colombia and they were open to talks on her release. Betancourt was seized in February 2002.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia has repeatedly called for President Álvaro Uribe to remove troops from a guerrilla stronghold in southwest Colombia as a precondition for talks to exchange jailed rebels for 60 high-profile captives.

ASIA

· GAUHATI, India -- Fifteen police officers who had been supervising elections were killed when suspected rebels ambushed their patrol in India's remote northeast, officials said.

· CHEECHA WATNI, Pakistan -- Three Islamic fighters died in eastern Pakistan when a powerful bomb they were carrying on a bicycle accidentally exploded, police said.

The men were apparently targeting the funeral of a policeman in Punjab province, authorities said.