Tokyo: Powell focuses on Koreas during visit to Japan

Secretary of State Colin Powell acknowledged widespread anti-American sentiment in South Korea and said today the United States would have to do a better job of demonstrating the benefits of the alliance between the two countries.

Winding up a 24-hour visit to Tokyo, Powell told a news conference there were South Koreans who do not remember the half-century history of U.S.-South Korean ties.

Shortly after his arrival in Tokyo Saturday, Powell and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi shared concerns about North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs. They agreed to coordinate efforts to deal with the problem, officials said.

California: No damage reported after earthquake

A magnitude-5.4 earthquake early Saturday shook Southern California, jarring residents awake as far south as San Diego and rattling buildings in downtown Los Angeles. There were no immediate reports of injuries or serious damage.

The quake hit at 4:19 a.m. about 4 miles north of Big Bear City, a mountain resort town 90 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. It was followed by a magnitude-4.5 one minute later, then a magnitude-4.2 and dozens of smaller aftershocks.

Ivory Coast: Rebels insist peace deal grants control of forces

Rebels holding the northern half of Ivory Coast insisted Saturday that a French-brokered power-sharing deal be followed to the letter, leaving doubts of any breakthrough in the efforts to end a 5-month-old civil war.

Rebel and government leaders appeared still sharply divided after talks late Friday in Paris, though there was no comment on the outcome of those talks.

Seydou Diarra, named interim prime minister as part of the Jan. 24 peace accord, stayed in Paris on Saturday for further consultations.

The rebels insist that the plan gives them the defense and interior ministry, and thereby control of security forces — a claim loyalists reject.