World Digest

www.austin360.com COMPILED FROM WIRE REPORTS Wednesday, March 19, 2003

PAKISTAN

Afghan refugees head home

Afghan refugee Saliha, 9, waits for her bus to leave the Kacha Garhi Refugee Camp in Peshawar. Saliha, who was born in the camp and whose family has lived there for more than 22 years, is on her way to Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

GERMANY

Bid to ban party is tossed

KARLSRUHE -- The German high court threw out a government bid to ban a far-right political party, declaring that the state's evidence was tainted. The decision marked the end of a two-year campaign by Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's administration to outlaw the National Democratic Party, which the government accuses of inciting racial hatred and anti-Semitism.

EGYPT

Activist is acquitted

CAIRO-- Saad Eddin Ibrahim, a prominent prodemocracy activist, was acquitted by Egypt's highest court after a third trial on charges that he defamed the nation and embezzled funds. The court voided an earlier seven-year prison sentence.

ZIMBABWE

Nation strike turns violent

HARARE -- Angered by food shortages and alleged government repression, anti-government protesters called a national strike that disrupted business activity and public transportation. The protests turned violent in some areas, and more than 50 people were arrested, police said.

NIGERIA

8 die in ethnic clashes

LAGOS -- Ethnic clashes in an oil-rich area of Nigeria have left eight people dead, including an employee of ChevronTexaco, officials said. The clashes between ethnic Ijaws and Itsekiris came as the country prepared for presidential elections next month.

YEMEN

5 co-workers shot to death

SAN`A -- A Yemeni man shot four oil company co-workers -- killing an American, a Canadian and a Yemeni -- before shooting himself dead, the Interior Ministry said. The assailant may have suffered from depression, a ministry statement said.