WORLD IN BRIEF

italy

Conservative Candidate Defends Fascism

Silvio Berlusconi's conservatives suffered a major embarrassment this week as one of their candidates for April elections said he is an unrepentant and lifelong Fascist.

The comments by Giuseppe Ciarrapico, a veteran Rome businessman who is running for a Senate seat, drew quick criticism from center-left politicians and leaders of the Jewish community. His candidacy was not withdrawn, even though some fellow conservatives demanded that he give up running.

india

Airport Workers Strike Over Privatization

About 15,000 airport workers across India went on strike Wednesday at 129 state-run airports over plans to privatize two major airports, a move that threatened to ground hundreds of domestic flights and leave tens of thousands of passengers stranded.

Airports were open despite the walkout. Major disruptions and cancellations were expected later in the day.

serbia

Kosovo Will Not Face Embargo, Belgrade Says

Serbia said Tuesday that while it strongly opposes the independence of Kosovo, it will not try to undermine the fragile economy of the ethnic Albanian region that declared independence Feb. 17.

"It is in our vital interest that all of Kosovo's communities prosper -- and prosper together in peace, security and reconciliation as neighbors in a progressive society of hope and forgiveness," Vuk Jeremic, Serbia's foreign minister, told the U.N. Security Council.

Before Pristina's declaration of independence, Belgrade warned that it would use all economic, political and diplomatic means at its disposal to prevent Kosovo from seceding.

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Ugandan President Says Rebels to Be Tried at Home

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said rebels with the Lord's Resistance Army due to stand trial at the International Criminal Court on charges of rape, mutilation and murder will instead face justice in Uganda at the request of their victims. Museveni denied the deal was key to ending the 20-year insurgency in northern Uganda.

From News Services