Cambodia

Premier’s party claims victory in election

Prime Minister Hun Sen’s party appeared headed for victory today in Cambodia’s general election but was likely to fall short of the two-thirds majority needed to govern outright.

Hun Sen’s Cambodian People’s Party said that it expected to control about 73 of the 123 seats in the new National Assembly, a division that would force it to seek a coalition government with rivals.

While official results from Sunday’s election won’t be announced until Aug. 8, independent observers agreed with the party’s assessment.

The ruling party’s winning trend was unlikely to change, said Thun Saray of the local poll-watching group Comfrel.

The polls mark a further consolidation of Cambodia’s fledgling democracy as the country distances itself from a violent past.

Montreal

Protesters smash shops during WTO meeting

Trade ministers from 25 countries — ignoring outbursts of street riots by protesters — worked to find compromises Monday to disputes about agricultural trade, investment and drug prices for the world’s poor.

The ministers were in Montreal at the invitation of Canadian Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew to try to find solutions to problems negotiators and diplomats have so far failed to resolve at the Geneva-based World Trade Organization.

A small group of protesters rampaged through downtown Montreal around midmorning, smashing windows and attacking U.S. symbols.

The protesters smashed windows at a Burger King restaurant and a Gap clothing store on Montreal’s main shopping street and attacked a Canadian Forces recruitment center before police dispersed them after about 45 minutes.

Jerusalem

Israel recognizes status of ‘black Hebrews’

Israel has given permanent resident status to the “Black Hebrews,” a community of black Americans, some of whom have been in the country since 1969, the Interior Ministry said Monday.

The government granted the new status to the group of about 2,000 American citizens, who followed Chicago bus driver Ben Ami Carter to the southern Israeli desert town of Dimona in the belief that they are descended from the 10 lost tribes of Israel.

As permanent residents, the Black Hebrews will be able to serve in the Israeli army and establish their own residential communities, an Interior Ministry statement said.

Bermuda

Premier resigns after close-call election

Bermuda’s premier resigned Monday, blaming the decision on a narrow victory in last week’s elections and “friendly fire” from within her party.

Jennifer Smith, who quit as leader of the Progressive Labor Party on Sunday, will remain a member of Parliament.

“It was the stated aim of the opposition to put an end to the Smith government,” she said at a news conference. “It is more unfortunate that friendly fire has taken out the Smith government.”

Alex Scott, who was elected to lead the Progressive Labor Party over the weekend, is expected to become the next premier.

Smith kept her parliament seat by only eight votes in Thursday’s elections.