Venezuela

President may call referendum on rule

President Hugo Chavez suggested Sunday he may ask for a referendum on his own rule, a vote that his opposition has sought aggressively.

“I’m even capable of gratifying some who are asking for a referendum to oust Chavez. I may even convoke it myself we’ll see what happens,” Chavez said during his weekly radio program, using his trademark off-the-cuff tone. He did not elaborate.

It was the first time Chavez raised the possibility of asking Venezuelans to vote on whether he should continue governing this South American nation, still on edge after a failed coup in April.

Some of his political allies have promoted the idea, arguing it would prevent more violence and expressing confidence that Chavez would win.

Colombia

More mayors quit amid rebel threats

Three mayors in Colombia’s coffee-growing region resigned Sunday, joining dozens of others who have left office after being threatened by rebels.

State control across wide swaths of this South American nation is starting to slip with threats by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

In western Colombia’s mountainous Caldas state, the mayors of Pensilvania, Samana and Victoria quit because of threats they would otherwise be killed.

“We decided the best thing to do was present our resignations, although we know this will generate chaos,” said Pensilvania Mayor Jose Oscar Gonzalez. “But we must save our own lives.”

The rebels have allegedly threatened municipal officials in at least half a dozen other states as well.

Russia

Villagers clean up as flooding recedes

Residents across southern Russian on Sunday began shoveling mud from their water-soaked homes after the flood waters that killed dozens and forced 55,000 to evacuate started to recede.

The death toll had climbed to 48 by Sunday and as many as 10 people were reported missing, said Lt. Col. Alexander Lemeshev at the regional Emergency Situations Ministry in Rostov-on-Don. Two rescue workers were among those killed.

The floodwaters, which began Tuesday after heavy rain, started to recede in some areas, and residents returned to homes drenched in mud. Russian television showed residents wading through pools of mud to hang out bed sheets, rugs and curtains to dry in the sun.

Rescue workers scrambled to repair damaged power lines and roads.

But as repair work began in some regions, other areas struggled with new flooding. ITAR-Tass news agency reported Sunday that the Malka River in Kabardino-Balkaria broke through the dam at Prokhladny, washing away several houses and a bridge.

Republic of Congo

Week after attack, voters trickle to polls

Armed soldiers patrolled the streets and security was tight for runoff parliamentary elections Sunday in Brazzaville, one week after a rebel attack on the central African capital.

Sunday’s vote and a first round of balloting May 26 were the first parliamentary elections since two back-to-back civil wars ended in 1999.

The start of voting was delayed by up to an hour in Brazzaville’s southern districts, where fighting broke out June 14. Electoral officials blamed difficulties distributing voting materials.

Minor irregularities, including attempts to cast ballots with forged voter cards, were reported in other parts of the city. But voting in most parts of the country took place slowly but without incidents, electoral officials said.

Results weren’t expected for at least two days.