Afghanistan: Nonaggression pact signed

War-battered Afghanistan signed a nonaggression pact with all six of its neighbors Sunday, hoping to bring an end to foreign interference that led to during two decades of war.

The foreign ministry said Sunday’s “Kabul Declaration” was designed to “emphasize constructive and amicable relations, respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to refrain from actions that may jeopardize peace and stability in the region.”

China, Pakistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan signed the agreement along with Afghanistan. Also attending the conference were representatives from India, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the European Union, the United Nations and the United States.

West Bank: Palestinian vote postponed

Palestinians on Sunday postponed January elections, blaming the continuing Israeli occupation of their cities.

The postponement of the Palestinian election is a setback for reforms in the Palestinian Authority demanded by the United States and Israel as a step toward resuming peace talks.

Israel charges that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is responsible for more than two years of Mideast violence and refuses to deal with him.

The Palestinian Cabinet accepted the recommendation of its election commission to delay the vote, set for Jan. 20, until 100 days after Israeli troops leave West Bank cities and towns. Since the Israelis have given no signs that they are preparing to pull back, that amounts to an indefinite postponement.

Venezuela: Oil workers’ jobs at risk

Striking managers at the state oil monopoly will be fired and prosecuted, President Hugo Chavez said Sunday as he vowed to break the strike aimed at forcing him from office.

Chavez also said his oil-rich country may import gasoline from neighboring countries to ease shortages.

The participation of dissident managers of the Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., or PDVSA, in the general strike has cut exports from the world’s fifth-largest oil exporter to a trickle and dried up domestic gasoline supplies.

“We have begun to recover PDVSA and we will start a cleansing in PDVSA,” Chavez said during his weekly television and radio show.

PDVSA President Ali Rodriguez was drawing up a list of workers to dismiss, Chavez said.