The world in brief

LITTLE ROCK — QUOTE OF THE DAY "This is a bloodless revolution, the first transfer of power from one party to another in postwar Japan."

Tomoaki Iwai,

a political science professor in Tokyo, after the party that has led Japan for nearly all of the postwar era was swept out of power Article, 1ADalai Lama says Taiwan visit isn't political

TAOYUAN, Taiwan - The Dalai Lama denied any political agenda as he began what he described as a "purely humanitarian" mission Sunday to comfort victims of Taiwan's worst storm, trying to calm fears that he would further anger China by verging into politics.

Although the Tibetan spiritual leader has traveled to Taiwan before, many fear his arrival could hurt the island's improving relations with rival China - the signature issue in the 15-month-old administration of Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou. China has protested the visit.

The Dalai Lama, who clasped his hands and smiled as he greeted Buddhist followers and supporters at the Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei, said his visit would have no political overtone.

China has long vilified the Dalai Lama for what it says are his attempts to fight for independence in Tibet. Beijing has said it "resolutely opposes" the visit "in whatever form and capacity."

Toll rises to 19 in Indonesia ship sinking

JAKARTA, Indonesia - The death toll from an Indonesian ferry accident two days ago has risen to 19, while the bodies of up to 15 missing people were believed to be trapped in the sunken ship, officials said Sunday.

Local Police Chief Lt. Col. Ahmad Sauri said divers found seven bodies trapped inside the wooden ship Sari Mulia on Sunday. The bodies of 12 others were found Saturday.

The overcrowded ship capsized Friday night in the Negara River on Indonesia's part of Borneo island. It was traveling from Negara to Banjarmasin in South Kalimantan province.

Sauri said five to seven people were still missing and presumed dead, while an official with the provincial search and rescue agency said the number was 15.

Sucipto, the search and rescue official who like many Indonesians only uses one name, said officials rescued 116 people.

He estimated the ship was carrying 150 people - well above its intended 45-passenger capacity. Earlier reports said the ship's manifest indicated there were at least 132 passengers and crewmen onboard.

The ferry sank about 60 miles from Banjarmasin.

Merkel's party slips in German elections

BERLIN - Voters inflicted losses on Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives in state elections Sunday, a setback weeks before a national election that she hopes will produce a new center-right government.

Merkel's center-left rival in the Sept. 27 national ballot, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, celebrated her party's "dramatic losses." However, his Social Democrats trail in national polls.

Voters chose new state legislatures in Saarland, on the French border; and in Thuringia and Saxony, in the formerly communist east. All three currently have governors from Merkel's Christian Democrats, which remained the strongest party.

But results in Saarland showed the party slumping to 34.5 percent of the vote from 47.5 percent five years ago. Projections for ARD and ZDF television showed a similarly sharp drop in Thuringia.

That left the conservatives without a majority in those two states and also unable to form center-right coalitions. At least one governor, Saarland's Peter Mueller, could be in danger from a leftwing alliance.

In Saxony, projections indicated that Governor Stanislaw Tillich could end a "grand coalition" with the Social Democrats and instead govern with the center-right Free Democrats.

Iran leader defends Cabinet amid criticism

TEHRAN, Iran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad defended 21 Cabinet nominees Sunday against accusations that they don't have the necessary qualifications and are simply unquestioning loyalists.

Ahmadinejad is forming his new government while still under attack by the pro-reform opposition, which claims his reelection in June was fraudulent. But he is also under pressure from fellow conservatives ahead of the confirmation process that is scheduled to end with a vote on Tuesday.

Lawmakers from both sides criticized Ahmadinejad on Sunday for choosing inexperienced ministers.

Prominent conservative lawmaker Ali Motahari singled out the nominees for the interior, oil and energy ministries as inadequate because they would have to learn the necessary skills on the job.