Indonesia

Two islands captured from Aceh rebels

Indonesian forces captured two islands from rebels in Aceh province, while thousands of refugees fled fighting elsewhere in the region, the military said Friday.

Fifty-eight guerrillas have been killed since the government offensive began Monday, the military said in a statement. Rebels have said 12 of their fighters and 53 civilians had been killed.

It wasn’t possible to independently verify the claims because monitors fled Aceh before the fighting began.

Operation commander Brig. Gen. Bambang Darmono said guerrilla resistance collapsed on the islands of Nasi and Aceh, both close to the provincial capital Banda Aceh, after three days of attacks.

India

Leaders say no talks with Pakistan soon

Indian leaders on Friday ruled out holding high-level talks soon with Pakistan, reflecting a chill in efforts to revive peace talks between the nuclear-armed South Asian rivals.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee said in a German newspaper interview published Friday that he had no plans to meet Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, though both will attend the G-8 summit next month in Evian, France.

Asked whether there would be high-level meetings in the coming months, he replied: “Not immediately.”

The comments were in sharp contrast to earlier this month, when Vajpayee announced May 2 he would have a new round of talks with Pakistan in a bid for peace in his lifetime.

Norway

Officials urge caution to residents abroad

After a purported threat to Norway by al-Qaida, the foreign ministry on Friday urged Norwegians abroad to be cautious and issued travel advisories for Kenya, Tanzania and Afghanistan.

The Scandinavian country of 4.5 million, known for its global peacemaking efforts and as home of the Nobel Peace Prize, continued to ponder why al-Qaida singled it out as a terror target in a radio broadcast this week.

The U.S. Embassy in Oslo remained closed for a second day Friday in response to the threat, while Norwegian companies and embassies in the Middle East stepped up security.

Montreal

Moroccan suspected of links to terrorism

A Moroccan man labeled a threat to Canada’s national security has been arrested in Montreal, reportedly on suspicion he has ties to a convicted terrorist in the United States.

Adil Charkaoui, who has lived in Canada since 1995, was detained Wednesday, said Nicole Currier of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

A May 16 warrant, filed in Federal Court in Ottawa, states there are “reasonable grounds” to believe he is a danger.

Court documents in the case were sealed, but newspaper reports said authorities accused Charkaoui of associating with Ahmed Ressam, an Algerian who was convicted in April 2001 of plotting to bomb Los Angeles International Airport.