Indonesia

Report: Terrorists still seek means to make dirty bomb

Terrorists have the will and some of the expertise to make a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapon, and are “doing everything they can” to acquire the materials, the U.S. State Department’s top anti-terror official said.

Cofer Black, U.S. ambassador at large for anti-terrorism, told The Associated Press that al-Qaida was still dangerous even though more than two-thirds of its leaders from the time of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks have been killed or arrested.

Speaking at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Jakarta on Saturday, Black said he and other U.S. officials were “killing ourselves” to make sure terrorists didn’t get a so-called “dirty bomb” or other unconventional weapons, but the threat remains.

Jerusalem

Israel to shorten West Bank barrier route

Israel will change the route of its West Bank separation barrier to cause less hardship for the Palestinians and gain U.S. support against legal challenges, an adviser to Israel’s prime minister said Sunday.

The barrier faces two court fights. Today, Israel’s Supreme Court will hear petitions from two civil rights groups, including a request to declare the barrier’s route illegal.

Later this month, the world court in The Hague, Netherlands, will review the legality of the barrier. The U.N. General Assembly has asked the court for a nonbinding advisory opinion.

The Arab League plans to argue at the court that Israel is violating the Geneva Conventions on human rights by building the barrier, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa told The Associated Press on Sunday.

Haiti

Crowds loot port as uprising spreads

Hundreds of Haitians looted TV sets, mattresses and sacks of flour from shipping containers Sunday in St. Marc, one of several communities seized by rebels in a bloody uprising against President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

Using felled trees, flaming tires and car chassis, residents blocked streets throughout St. Marc a day after militants drove out police in gunbattles that killed two people. Many residents have formed neighborhood groups to back insurgents in their push to expel the president.

At least 18 people have been killed since armed opponents of Aristide began their assault Thursday.

Turkey

Teen rescued after six days in rubble of collapsed building

A 16-year-old buried in a collapsed apartment building in central Turkey was pulled alive from the wreckage Sunday, six days after the disaster.

Muhammet Kalem survived because he was trapped in a pocket formed by pulverized concrete, which allowed him to sleep, kept him warm and reduced his need for water.

There are about 40 people believed to be buried in the wreckage of the 11-story building that collapsed Monday in the city of Konya, about 160 miles south of Ankara.

Private NTV television reported early today that a 23-year-old woman also was found alive, with her foot trapped in the debris.