WORLD IN BRIEF

Monday, September 1, 2008

RUSSIA

Moscow to Offer Aid To S. Ossetia, Abkhazia

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Sunday that his country will give military aid to the two separatist regions at the center of the war with Georgia -- signaling that Moscow has no intention of backing down in the face of Western pressure.

Medvedev reaffirmed his decision Tuesday to recognize the Georgian breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent.

"We have made our decision, and it's irreversible," he said in a speech broadcast on Russian television.

Medvedev also warned that American domination of world affairs is unacceptable, though he insisted that Russia did not want hostile relations with the United States and other Western nations.

MEXICO

President Vows to Enact Anti-Crime Proposals

Moving quickly to address mounting anger over crime, President Felipe Calderón vowed Sunday to adopt several proposals from civic groups who led more than 100,000 Mexicans in marches against daily kidnappings and killings.

Among the measures are the creation of a citizens' panel to monitor government progress in fighting crime, better police recruiting and oversight systems and equipping police with more powerful weapons, Mexico's president said.

The government "shares the demands and the indignation of the people," Calderón said after meeting with 14 civic leaders who staged Saturday night's candlelight protests in the capital and cities across the country. "We know the biggest problem in Mexico is public insecurity."

Homicides and kidnappings have surged despite the deployment of more than 25,000 soldiers and federal police to hotspots in Mexico, and the arrests of several top drug lords.

THAILAND

Prime Minister Debate Extends Into Parliament

Facing chaotic street protests demanding his resignation, Thailand's embattled prime minister turned to lawmakers Sunday to find a way out of the crisis, but ended up having to fend off his critics' calls to step down or call new elections.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej went before a special joint session of parliament to find a solution to the deepening crisis. The debate ended early Monday after about 11 hours with scores of lawmakers either lambasting Samak or defending him.

MIDDLE EAST

Palestinians Reject Deal

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejected Israel's idea of an interim peace agreement at a Sunday summit, a Palestinian negotiator said, insisting on an all-or-nothing approach that virtually ruled out an accord by a January target date.

The latest meeting between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was their shortest, lasting less than an hour. Neither side pointed to progress.

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Pakistan Military Offensive Halted

Pakistan said that it was suspending a military operation against insurgents in a tribal region for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, but warned that any provocations in the area would bring immediate retaliation. Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik said that the more than 300,000 people displaced from the Bajaur tribal region by the operation could return "without any fear." A Taliban spokesman welcomed the decision to halt the strikes in Bajaur, a rumored hideout of Osama bin Laden.

Venezuela Rejects U.S. Drug Fight

Venezuela rejected U.S. requests to resume cooperation in the war on drugs, saying it has made progress, despite an alleged fourfold gain in the amount of Colombian cocaine now passing through its territory. Venezuela dismissed U.S. attempts to renew talks on drugs as "useless and inopportune," saying that Washington officials should focus on slashing demand for drugs at home.

No Deal in Zimbabwe Talks

Zimbabwe's main opposition party said that the latest round of power-sharing talks with the ruling ZANU-PF party reached no agreement. "Nothing was achieved in the latest round of engagement in South Africa to break the deadlock. We remain where we were," said Nelson Chamisa, spokesman for the Movement for Democratic Change.

From News Services