Venezuela

Thousands celebrate likely Chavez recall vote

Tens of thousands of opposition supporters marched through the capital on Saturday to celebrate a recent announcement by election authorities that President Hugo Chavez likely will face a recall referendum on his rule.

Waving flags and chanting “Referendum Now!” demonstrators danced to anti-Chavez jingles booming from loudspeakers mounted on trucks. Others blew whistles and set off fireworks. One man carried a banner reading, “Chavez, Your Time Is Nearly Up!”

More than 2.4 million signatures — 20 percent of the electorate — are needed to trigger a recall vote on Chavez. Activists say they turned in more than 3.4 million signatures in December.

Egypt

Clerics given new power to seize extremist items

One of Islam’s most-prominent religious institutions is seizing extremist books and pamphlets sold on Cairo streets, and has been granted the authority to confiscate materials deemed un-Islamic.

Egyptian rights activists worry authorities are creating a religious police force akin to Saudi Arabia’s Committee for the Protection of Virtue and Prohibition of Vice that roams streets looking for violators of strict Islamic social norms.

Unlike the Saudi religious police, the roaming clerics in Cairo have a narrow mandate and do not have the power to make arrests, though they can report suspicious activity to police for further investigation.

The Muslim world has been under pressure since the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States to reign in extremist rhetoric that could incite terrorist acts.

Switzerland

Frail pope says he’s not giving up the papacy

A frail Pope John Paul II made his first foreign trip in nine months Saturday by visiting Switzerland, calling it his “duty” to keep traveling. He told young people he had no intention of giving up the papacy.

The pontiff spoke to a rally of 13,000 Swiss Roman Catholic youths, his hands trembling but his voice clear. He had difficulty speaking at times, but the crowd encouraged him by cheering.

“It’s wonderful to be able to offer oneself until the end for the cause of the Kingdom of God,” he told the rally, describing that as his testimony after nearly 60 years as a priest.

The 84-year-old John Paul has Parkinson’s disease and crippling hip and knee ailments, but he has repeatedly brushed aside suggestions that he step down.

Jerusalem

Sharon determined to win Gaza vote today

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is determined to win approval for his Gaza withdrawal plan in a crucial Cabinet vote today, a government official said, brushing off efforts by hard-line ministers to water down the proposal.

In an apparent boost to Sharon, Atty. Gen. Meni Mazuz ruled that Tourism Minister Benny Elon, fired by Sharon Friday, could not take part in the Cabinet vote, Israel TV reported.

Elon, a staunch opponent to the withdrawal plan, went into hiding Friday to prevent the delivery of his dismissal letter and delay the Cabinet vote, but resurfaced Saturday in Jerusalem. A Justice Ministry spokesman declined to confirm the TV report.

Meanwhile, an estimated 2,000 people rallied Saturday night in Jerusalem in favor of Sharon’s plan, marching from a central square to the Prime Minister’s residence about a mile away.