Washington, D.C.

Dean ready to fight for Democratic Party

Howard Dean’s bid for chairmanship of the Democratic Party has tapped into members’ hunger for a fighter who can recruit new supporters, raise plenty of money and inspire enthusiasm in a party out of power.

Now he’s on the cusp of leading a party that once rallied behind his presidential bid only to abandon him a year ago when the voting started in Iowa.

Still, some Democrats worry about the image Dean projects: anti-war Northeastern liberal. Amid all the talk of values, Democrats wonder if Dean would be an albatross as they try to make inroads with conservative-leaning voters.

On Friday, the field challenging Dean was reduced by two as activists Simon Rosenberg and Donnie Fowler abandoned their bids and endorsed Dean.

Dean is expected to have the necessary votes when the 447-member DNC meets Saturday.

Vatican City

Pope likely to make broadcast remarks

Pope John Paul II was strong enough to turn the pages of written greetings Saturday and speak in a clear voice, a visitor said. But, still hospitalized and recovering from the flu, the pontiff sent an emissary to read a speech in his name at the Vatican.

In a hopeful sign that the 84-year-old pontiff would be well enough today to say a few words to a public apprehensive about his health, giant video screens were ordered to be set up in St. Peter’s Square, where thousands of faithful were expected to gather to pray for his recovery.

Vatican broadcast technicians were told to prepare for a possible video or audio connection with the hospital where the pope was taken Tuesday night after he developed breathing problems during a bout with the flu. The Vatican hasn’t said when the pope might be released.

Saudi Arabia

Leader seeks global intelligence center

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince called for the creation of a worldwide center to share intelligence on terrorism Saturday at a conference on fighting al-Qaida and other groups, hosted by a country often accused of exporting militants.

Crown Prince Abdullah, who is the kingdom’s de facto leader and has led a tough campaign against militant groups during the past year, said a global intelligence-sharing center could allow experts and officials worldwide to “exchange information instantly” to prevent attacks.

Saudi Arabia is already thought to exchange information with the United States, but the kingdom has been criticized for failing to openly disclose the steps it takes internally to uproot al-Qaida’s structure in the kingdom.

Mexico City

Slayings raise tensions before state elections

Gunmen dressed in black killed five people, including a child and two police officers, Saturday in Acapulco, increasing tensions on the eve of elections for governor in three key state races.

The most closely watched balloting is in Guerrero, the state that includes Acapulco.

The Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, has ruled in Guerrero since its founding in 1929. The results of the governor’s race there and in the Yucatan Peninsula state of Quintana Roo and in Baja California Sur could determine which of the country’s three major parties leads in the already heated 2006 presidential race.

Tokyo

Nine people found dead in latest group suicides

Nine bodies were found in two cars in central Japan in what appeared to be the country’s latest group suicides, police said Saturday.

One group of six people was found on an isolated farm road south of Tokyo by a farmer who called police after noticing people slumped over and apparently dead in a vehicle. Investigators who searched the car found three men and two women in their 20s and one woman in her 40s.

The other car, with the bodies of one man and two women, was discovered in front of an empty vacation home in a resort area farther west.

In both vehicles, charcoal stoves were found lying on the floorboards while the windows were sealed with tape from the inside. All nine appeared to have died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Japan has been the scene of a slew of suicide pacts in recent months, many thought to have been plotted by people who met over the Internet.

Suicides in Japan hit a record high in 2003, exceeding 34,000.