LITTLE ROCK — QUOTE OF THE DAY "We cannot wait forever." Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's prime minister, warning of action against Kurd guerrilla bases in northern Iraq Article, 1A
Charter protest turns violent in Caracas
CARACAS, Venezuela - Thousands of university students scuffled with police and government supporters during a protest Tuesday against constitutional changes that would let President Hugo Chavez run for re-election indefinitely.
Police tossed tear gas canisters into the crowd of opposition students after bottle-throwing clashes broke out with a smaller group of pro-Chavez demonstrators near the National Assembly.
Journalists estimated that there were about 20,000 protesters, but pro-Chavez lawmakers said there were far fewer.
The students said they fear civil liberties would be severely weakened under the constitutional changes, which would allow authorities to detain citizens without charges during a state of emergency.
The National Assembly, dominated by Chavez supporters, is poised to approve 67 constitutional amendments that would give the government control over the Central Bank, create new types of cooperative property and extend presidential terms from six to seven years while allowing Chavez to run again in 2012. The changes must be approved by voters.
Somalia releases top U.N. food-aid official
MOGADISHU, Somalia - The government on Tuesday freed a top U.N. food-aid official for Somalia after holding him for nearly one week in detention, granting the man bail but maintaining allegations he committed unspecified crimes, officials said.
Idris Osman, the Somali head of U.N. World Food Program operations in Somalia's war-battered capital, was seized Oct.
17 when dozens of armed security agents stormed a U.N. compound. Osman was released on bond Tuesday but is still under investigation for unspecified crimes, said a top Somali intelligence chief, Gen. Mohamed Warsame Darwish.
The World Food Program hailed Osman's release but gave no details. Citing security issues after Osman's detention, the foodaid agency said it had shut down food deliveries to about 76,000 needy recipients in Mogadishu, Somalia's war-battered capital. It wasn't immediately clear if the World Food Program operations would be restarted after Osman's release.
NATO, Afghan troops battle militants
KABUL, Afghanistan - NATO and Afghan troops called in airstrikes during a battle against insurgents in central Afghanistan that killed 20 suspected militants and several civilians, officials said Tuesday.
In a separate clash in eastern Afghanistan, a NATO soldier was killed and two others were wounded Tuesday during a firefight with insurgents in Kunar province, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces said.
In the central Afghanistan clash Monday, NATO said 50 insurgents were trying to set up an ambush, and fighter aircraft dropped two bombs on their position. The casualty figures varied widely.
Maj. Zalmay Khan, an Afghan army commander, said 20 enemy fighters died in the joint NATO-Afghan operation in a remote area of Wardak province. Khan said militants were firing at Afghan and NATO forces from the cover of civilian homes.
Afghan officials said between three and 12 civilians were killed in the fighting just west of the capital, Kabul. A governor's aide said 12 fighters and three civilians were killed.
Separately, the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan said one child and five militants were killed in Zabul province Tuesday after militants fired on coalition soldiers from a tent.
Italian-Canadian mafia bust nets 12
ROME - Police broke up an Italian-Canadian mafia clan that ran drug-trafficking and money-laundering operations, arresting 12 people Tuesday and seizing millions of dollars in assets, officials said.
Police arrested 11 Italians in cities across the country and one in Cannes, France, while seven Italian-Canadians already jailed in Montreal were served additional warrants, anti-mafia police in Rome said. Police could not immediately say if those jailed in Canada were dual nationals.
The clan was led from Canada by Nick and Vito Rizzuto, a father and son who were jailed for previous crimes respectively in 2006 and 2005, said anti-mafia official Col. Paolo La Forgia.
Among those arrested in Italy were two bank workers who managed the clan's Swiss bank accounts. Police in Italy and abroad also seized assets, property and companies worth $212 million, La Forgia said. The group's members are accused of mafia association, money laundering and other financial crimes.
Front Section, Pages 7 on 10/24/2007