London

Global protests seek withdrawal of troops

Thousands of protesters demanding an end to the occupation of Iraq took to the streets Saturday in London, Athens, Paris and other cities around the world, chanting slogans against the United States and Britain.

The protests were the first major demonstrations since Saddam Hussein was ousted earlier this year. London’s was the biggest protest, drawing 20,000 people, above. Demonstrators turned out in a dozen other countries, including South Korea and Egypt.

Some 3,000 people marched in Paris, and thousands took to the streets in Beirut and Spain. Outside the U.S. Embassy in Athens, 3,000 demonstrators gathered.

Japan

Quake cleanup begins

Dozens of aftershocks rocked Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido on Saturday, keeping residents busy picking up fallen books and sweeping up glass a day after a major earthquake.

At least two people still were missing in wake of the magnitude 8 quake, the most powerful worldwide in more than two years. Nearly 600 people were injured, some seriously.

The quake was followed by more than three dozen aftershocks — some as powerful as magnitudes 6 and 5.2.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency warned that during the next three days there would be a 50 percent chance of a magnitude 6 quake and a 10 percent chance of one reaching magnitude 7.

Still, the damage was relatively light, apparently because the quake struck deep under the ocean.

Rome

Report: Mussolini wanted Hitler excommunicated

Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini once privately suggested the Vatican consider excommunicating Adolf Hitler, a historian said Saturday, citing a document recently disclosed by the Holy See.

Experts were surprised by the document, but noted that Mussolini’s remark came in April 1938, the year before he sealed a wartime alliance with the Nazi leader.

Prof. Emma Fattorini pointed out that Hitler had invaded Austria shortly before Mussolini’s reported remark. The Italian dictator was worried about his own borders, she said.

She speculated that Mussolini’s aim was “to weaken Hitler and have more power himself, to do it in a way that the Church would stop Hitler a bit.”

Hitler was born into a Catholic family, but did not practice the faith. It was not clear how the Vatican reacted to Mussolini’s suggestion.

West Bank

Palestinian party names most of new Cabinet

Yasser Arafat’s Fatah faction approved a new Palestinian Cabinet on Saturday that included several longtime allies of the Palestinian leader, but not a key security official who Israel and the United States had hoped would rein in Palestinian militants.

With the ouster of security chief Mohammed Dahlan, it appeared even less likely that the Palestinian security forces would begin dismantling militant groups, as required by the U.S.-backed “road map” peace plan. Israel has said it would not move on the plan unless such action was taken.

Israel and the United States have been trying to sideline Arafat, but the new Cabinet includes several Arafat supporters, including Yasser Abed Rabbo, whom outgoing Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas kept out of his government, and Saeb Erekat, who resigned in May after being caught in a power struggle between Arafat and Abbas.

Vatican City

Pope back on track after intestinal illness

Pope John Paul II appeared alert and relatively strong Saturday at a meeting with the president of the Philippines, days after illness caused the pontiff to skip his weekly general audience.

John Paul, who was attending a Mass later Saturday for two deceased popes, met for 20 minutes with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her entourage.

The 83-year-old pope’s rare absence at Wednesday’s general audience because of a mild intestinal problem raised fresh concerns about his health just weeks before he presides at ceremonies marking his 25th anniversary as pope.