■ United KingdomRally slams Iraq war, Blair
Up to 70,000 people from more than 70 countries rallied on Sunday in the center of London against the Iraq war, calling for troops to be pulled out and British Prime Minister Tony Blair to be tried in the international courts. The rally in Trafalgar Square brought to a close the third meeting of the European Social Forum, one of the largest political gatherings held in London. Organizers yesterday estimated that 20,000 people had attended more than 500 meetings in three days. Yesterday's rally was marred by scuffles as activists tried to break into the cordon around the main stage in Trafalgar Square.
■ United Kingdom
Soft Cell singer in hospital
British singer Marc Almond, who scored a worldwide hit in 1981 with Tainted Love as part of the duo Soft Cell, is in critical condition in hospital after a motorcycle crash, police said yesterday. "There was a serious collision between a car and a motorcycle in London on Sunday afternoon and the motorcycle passenger, Marc Almond, suffered severe injuries," a City of London police spokesman said. The motorcycle driver, who has not been named, was also hospitalized in the crash. Almond, 47, formed Soft Cell in Leeds, England, with synthesizer player David Ball in 1980.
■ Russia
Putin gives Bush a boost
Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday that terrorists are aiming to derail US President George W. Bush's chances at re-election through their attacks in Iraq. "I consider the activities of terrorists in Iraq are not as much aimed at coalition forces but more personally against President Bush," Putin said at a news conference after a regional summit in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe. "International terrorism has as its goal to prevent the election of President Bush to a second term," he said. "If they achieve that goal, then that will give international terrorism a new impulse and extra power." Still, Putin didn't say which candidate he favored in the Nov. 2 election. "We unconditionally respect any choice of the American people," he said.
■ United States
Navy updates dress code
The US Navy is getting a 21st century makeover, with a new dress code that makes skirts optional for its more than 54,000 female sailors for the first time since women officially entered the service in 1908. Women can still choose to wear skirts, which come in colors that vary according to rank and sometimes the season. But until the new rules went into effect this month, they had
to maintain skirts in their sea bags and could be ordered to wear them for special events such as change-of-command and retirement ceremonies. As a result of the survey of more than 40,000 sailors, all those in working uniform can also wear mobile phones and carry garment bags over their shoulders.
■ Ecuador
Voters punish president
Ecuadoreans punished President Lucio Gutierrez's Patriotic Society party in local and provincial elections on Sunday, throwing their support behind behind parties leading a growing opposition movement. Preliminary results showed Gutierrez's party, which helped him win the presidential election in 2002, losing by hefty margins in the country's two main provinces and three cities. The results could deal a blow to Gutierrez's already weak image and make it harder for him to push reforms of the oil and electricity sectors through Congress where his party has five of 100 seats.
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