Egypt: Web site statements threaten more attacks

Statements on a Web site attributed to an al-Qaida spokesman’s claim that Osama bin Laden will soon make a televised address to the Muslim world.

The remarks, purportedly made by Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, appeared on an Arabic-language Web site that issues daily updates on the war in Afghanistan.

“We assure Muslims that Sheik Osama bin Laden is in good health, and all that has been reported about his sickness or his being injured in Tora Bora is completely false. The sheik will address the (Muslim) community soon in a televised interview,” Abu Ghaith was quoted as saying.

There was no way to independently confirm the authenticity of the remarks. The Bush administration has said that it does not know whether bin Laden is alive or dead.

Sweden: Deadly seal virus returns to Europe

More than 600 dead seals have washed up on beaches in Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands in a new outbreak of a virus that ravaged seal populations in 1988.

The distemper virus, which does not affect humans, has been confirmed in harbor seal carcasses tested in Denmark and neighboring Sweden. So far, Denmark has reported 461 dead animals and Sweden 150.

Health officials on Thursday also confirmed a case in the Netherlands. Dutch health officials warned people not to touch dead animals found on the beaches because they could transmit the virus to dogs.

In 1988, the virus killed seals in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Germany and Britain threatening the entire population in the North Sea.

Denmark: Organization declares Europe zone free of polio

The World Health Organization Friday declared its European zone, which includes former Soviet republics and almost a billion people, free of the polio virus.

Southeastern Turkey was the last area in the region to have had polio. The final case was reported there in November 1998 along the Iranian border.

The European zone, which has 51 countries and 873 million inhabitants, was the third WHO region decreed free of polio. The Americas were certified polio-free in 1994, followed by the Western Pacific region three years later.

To be certified poliomyelitis-free, a region must prove that three years of extensive surveillance have found no polio.

Spain: EU leaders pledge to manage immigration

European Union leaders vowed Friday to curb immigration but held off on punishing poor nations that do not stop their citizens from seeking illegal work in Europe.

The leaders at the summit in Seville, some of whom slipped away to watch World Cup games, said they would create order in the hodgepodge of national immigration and asylum laws, and move toward a more equal treatment across the region.

They also would seek “cooperation and partnership” accords to reward nations that curb the movement of illegals to Europe, said Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique.

In a surprise announcement, Pique said the EU may set a starting date by year’s end for membership talks with Turkey, a problematic candidate often criticized for its human rights and economic records.

Spain: Car bombs strike two sea resorts

Car bomb explosions bearing the hallmarks of the Basque separatist group ETA rocked two Mediterranean resorts teeming with tourists Friday as European Union leaders met under extremely tight security in the inland city of Seville.

A third car bomb blast Friday night rocked northeast city of Zaragoza, the Interior Ministry said. There were no immediate reports of injury in the explosion at a department store parking lot.

As in recent ETA bombings, callers claiming to speak on behalf of the outlawed organization gave detailed warnings on the location of the booby-trapped cars at least 20 minutes before each explosion, giving authorities time to evacuate hotels and office buildings.

Bangladesh: Figurehead resigns

Bangladesh’s figurehead president resigned Friday, a day after the governing party asked him to quit for showing disrespect to the party’s late founder.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party had accused President A.Q.M. Badruddoza Choudhury Thursday of insulting party founder and slain President Ziaur Rahman by not visiting his grave on the 21st anniversary of his death May 30.

Rahman, who was the husband of the current prime minister, Khaleda Zia, was killed in a failed military coup in 1981.