Briefly

JERUSALEM

Sharon fires 2 ministers to secure Gaza plan

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon fired two government ministers Friday to clear the way for approval of his Gaza withdrawal plan, but one minister went into hiding, avoiding delivery of his dismissal letter and threatening to delay this weekend’s vote.

The dismissals, which would create a Cabinet majority in Sharon’s favor at the risk of tearing apart his coalition, underscored the Israeli leader’s move to the political center after a career as a settler patron.

But the political drama at times bordered on farce as the two rebellious ministers tried to dodge the prime minister’s couriers carrying dismissal letters. Transport Minister Avigdor Lieberman was eventually tracked down at his gym, but Tourism Minister Benny Elon’s whereabouts remained a mystery, with Israeli media reporting he went to Gaza or the West Bank.

Congo

U.N. peacekeepers take control of town

U.N. peacekeepers took control of a strategic eastern Congolese city Friday as renegade soldiers withdrew and President Joseph Kabila attempted to calm the nation after the largest and most violent protests since he took office.

Renegade Gen. Laurent Nkunda said most of his forces had completed their pullout and U.N. peacekeepers were now controlling Bukavu, a trading center on the border with Rwanda. He said only a few officers and their bodyguards remained, and they would leave today for camps nine miles away.

TOKYO

After brawl, parliament approves pension bill

Japan’s legislature adopted a bill designed to save the country’s troubled pension system today after an all-night debate marred by brawls and a walkout by opposition parties.

A majority of upper house members passed the highly unpopular measure, making it law. It increases citizens’ pension premiums while also cutting their benefits.

Opposition parties had delayed the vote for more than 18 hours using a range of stalling tactics, causing frayed tempers that at one point erupted into a brawl outside the upper house chamber.

Security guards could be seen trying to separate lawmakers as they shoved each other up against the walls of the corridor.

Pakistan

Nuclear-capable missile test-fired in Islamabad

Pakistan successfully test-fired a medium-range, nuclear-capable missile Friday for the second time in a week, but officials said the test was not intended as a message to neighboring India’s new government.

The new version of the Ghauri V missile has a range of 930 miles and can hit most cities in northern India, Pakistan’s nuclear-armed rival, which was informed beforehand about the launch, government and defense officials said.

The launch was described as part of routine testing to improve Pakistan’s missiles.

Nigeria

Villagers, militants claim dozens killed

Soldiers in gunboats clashed with ethnic militants in the rivers of Nigeria’s oil delta Friday, and militants and villagers claimed that dozens of fighters and civilians were killed. A navy spokesman denied there were casualties.

Residents of Port Harcourt, the oil-rich Niger Delta’s main city, which is several miles from where the clashes occurred, reported hearing pre-dawn gunfire at the time of the attack.

Hundreds of soldiers and police have deployed to the nearby villages of Ogbakiri, Buguma and Tombia since last week — apparently to stem months of fighting between two rival ethnic Ijaw militant factions.