Around the World

NORTH KOREA

Seoul Alleges Restarting of Nuclear Program

South Korea said Wednesday that North Korea had begun restoring its nuclear facilities. But the United States played down the assertion, saying the North Koreans had apparently only moved some equipment out of storage.

The North said last week it had stopped dismantling its Yongbyon nuclear reactor Aug. 14 because the United States had not held up its end of a disarmament deal -- a promise to remove North Korea from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The South Koreans did not say specifically what the North Koreans were doing to restore the facility. But in Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said: "Our understanding is that the North Koreans are moving some equipment around that they had previously put into storage. Based on what we know from the reports on the ground, you don't have an effort to reconstruct, reintegrate this equipment back into the facility."

McCormack added, however, that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice planned to dispatch chief nuclear envoy Christopher R. Hill to Beijing on Thursday to consult with China about the situation.

HAITI

Hundreds Found Stranded in Wake of Hanna

Entering the flooded Haitian city of Gonaives in inflatable boats Wednesday, U.N. peacekeepers found hundreds of people stranded on rooftops and upper floors in the wake of Tropical Storm Hanna as the carcasses of animals bobbed on still-rising waters.

"There is no food, no water, no clothes," said Arnaud Dumas, a pastor gathered with about 150 people in a church. "I want to know what I'm supposed to do. . . . We haven't found anything to eat in two, three days. Nothing at all."

Haiti's crops have been ruined and at least 126 Haitians have been killed this hurricane season, after three storms in less than three weeks. As Hanna took aim here, islanders were also tracking two other storms churning westward in the open ocean -- Hurricane Ike and Tropical Storm Josephine.

* * *

Rival Cypriot Leaders Launch Reunification Talks

Cypriot leaders launched talks that are seen as the best chance in decades to reunite their divided island. Cypriot President Demetris Christofias, representing the Greek Cypriot community, and Turkish Cypriot President Mehmet Ali Talat, met in the no man's land dividing the capital, Nicosia. Separated since a Turkish invasion in 1974, the two sides have agreed to reunite as two ethnic communities largely living in separate areas and running their own affairs but with a strong central government to represent them abroad.

2 Journalists Attacked, 1 Fatally, in Russian Caucasus

In the troubled North Caucasus region, a television reporter known for criticizing Islamic fundamentalism was shot and killed, and an opposition newspaper editor suffered a fractured skull in a beating. Police and co-workers said the two men were probably targeted for their work.

Israeli Policemen Convicted in Killing of Palestinian Teenager

Two Israeli border policemen who kidnapped a 17-year-old Palestinian and threw him from a moving vehicle in the West Bank city of Hebron in 2002 have been convicted of manslaughter. The men face up to 20 years in prison.

Philippines Abandons Peace Talks With Muslim Separatist Rebels

The Philippines ended peace talks with the country's largest Muslim separatist group, the 11,000-member Moro Islamic Liberation Front, scrapping an 11-year peace process. Last month, rogue members of the group attacked communities on the southern island of Mindanao, killing civilians and burning property.

Swiss Drop Charges Against Gaddafi's Son in Beating Case

Geneva's chief prosecutor said he will drop the case against Hannibal Gaddafi, a son of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi, and the son's wife, Aline, for allegedly beating two servants. The servants had withdrawn their complaint.

From News Services