■ North Korea
Officials dismiss terror fears
North Korean officials angrily denied US accusations that they might sell nuclear weapons to terrorists and offered to freeze a plutonium-based nuclear program in exchange for aid, said an American researcher who visited the North. But the officials wouldn't confirm whether Pyongyang has a second, uranium-based weapons program -- a key sticking point in talks with the US and other governments -- said Selig Harrison of the Center for International Policy in Washington.
■ Japan
By-election voting begins
Voting began yesterday in three lower house by-elections in Japan in polls seen as referendums on the government's policy in Iraq and its pension reform plans. Central Saitama, western Hiroshima and southern Kagoshima were voting for seats formerly held by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The results were expected late yesterday. By 11am voter turnout was four to five percentage points lower than last year's November general election vote in each district, public broadcaster NHK said. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's LDP, the opposition Democratic Party of Japan and Japanese Communist Party fielded candidates in all three races.
■ Pakistan
Militants get amnesty
Some 50 men arrested last month in an operation aimed at rounding up pro-al-Qaeda tribesman were expected to be freed by Pakistan's army yesterday, a day after five prominent leaders were also granted amnesty. Offering a Kalashnikov assault rifle and a Koran to an army general as symbolic gifts, the five were allowed to go free on Saturday in return for a promise not to help al-Qaeda and Taliban fugitives near the Afghan border. The deal could end months of bloody confrontation between tribesmen and Pakistan's army in the lawless region of South Waziristan, but may unnerve the US, eager for more tough action by Pakistan in the war on terrorism.
■ Indonesia
Religious groups clash
Muslim and Christian gangs hurled rocks at each other, and several buildings were torched in violence yesterday in Indonesia's religiously divided Maluku islands. At least two people were killed, witnesses and officials said. The clashes occurred as the region's small, mostly Christian separatist movement celebrated the anniversary of a failed independence bid 54 years ago. Violence between the two sides has often broken out in previous years on the same day. Yesterday's fighting was triggered when around 12 activists from the separatist Maluku Sovereignty Front marched through the provincial capital, Ambon, witnesses said.
■ Indonesia
Search for landslide victims
Rescue teams yesterday searched for bodies buried under a landslide that enveloped a passenger bus on Indonesia's Sumatra island, killing at least 38 people and leaving five others feared dead, police said. Search efforts were hampered because the landslide had pushed the bus to the edge of a steep ravine, making digging at the site hazardous, said police Lieutenant-Colonel Muhammad Zaini. Heavy rain sent tonnes of mud, rocks and uprooted trees crashing onto the bus late Friday on a hilly and windy road close to the West Sumatran town of Padang, 940km northwest of Jakarta.
■ Israel
Arafat won't be killed ... yet
Israel has no imminent plans to kill Yasser Arafat, Israel's vice premier said yesterday after the US criticized remarks by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that he was no longer bound by an earlier promise not to harm the Palestinian leader. Sharon said Friday that he was no longer bound by an obligation he had made to the US not to assassinate Arafat. The US, Russia and Germany criticized the comments. The Palestinians said Washington was at fault for siding with Israel on key issues. Two ministers said yesterday that Sharon did not have imminent plans to expel or assassinate Arafat but spoke only in principle.
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