The world in brief

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“From now on, anyone who tries to rescue the hostages in our hands will

only collect dead bodies. It will never ever happen that hostages are rescued and we are hauled to prison.”

Pirate Muse Abdi,

after the deaths of four Americans who had been taken hostage Article, 7A

11 new ministers sworn in for Egypt

CAIRO - Egypt’s military rulers swore in a Cabinet with 11 new ministers Tuesday, a nod to the protest movement that ousted longtime leader Hosni Mubarak.

However, three former members of the Mubarak regime retained senior posts.

The move comes as the military leadership overseeing the country’s transition is trying to assure Egyptians that it is committed to democratic change.

However, the decision to keep Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Justice Minister Mamdouh Marie in their posts drew criticism from youth activists who helped launch the uprising Jan. 25.

Mohammed Abbas, a member of the Egypt Youth Coalition, described the changes as “patchwork.” He called for swift, comprehensive changes.

He said the youth groups hope to draw 1 million to a rally Friday in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the center of the uprising, and will urge them to stay overnight.

Mexican faults U.S. drug-fight role

MEXICO CITY - U.S. cooperation in the fight against drug cartels has been “insufficient,” Mexican President Felipe Calderon said in an interview published Tuesday.

The United States should help by reducing drug use and stemming the flow of automatic rifles to Mexican drug cartels, he said.

He told the Mexican newspaper El Universal that relations with the United States were strained when secret U.S. diplomatic cables criticizing Mexico’s antidrug strategy were leaked to the public.

Calderon said some of the leaked cables show U.S.

diplomats’ ignorance about Mexico’s security situation and that that’s why some reports distort or exaggerate.

More than 35,000 people have been killed since Calderon launched a crackdown against drug gangs in December 2006.

31 Muslims guilty in attack on Hindus

AHMADABAD, India - A court investigating one of India’s worst outbursts of communal violence Tuesday found 31 Muslims guilty of setting fire to a train in which 60 Hindus were killed nine years ago.

The court also acquitted 63 people of participating in the 2002 attack on the train packed with Hindu pilgrims in the western Indian state of Gujarat that triggered deadly anti-Muslim riots in India.

About 1,000 people were killed when groups of Hindus rampaged through Muslim neighborhoods and towns in Gujarat from February to April 2002. Most of the dead were Muslims.

Soon after the verdict was announced Tuesday, special public prosecutor J.M. Panchal said he was satisfied with the court’s decision.

Austria immigration, asylum rules OK’d

VIENNA - Austria’s Cabinet on Tuesday approved new immigration and asylum rules, amid criticism from the United Nations and others.

Some of the new measures will see asylum seekers confined to special centers for up to seven days on arrival while their refugee status is analyzed, while others require some foreigners to have German proficiency before entering the country.

In a statement, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees expressed concern about the confinement aspects of the new measures, saying this was equal to “detention with the doors open,” since those who fail to comply face deportation.

According to the Interior Ministry, children under the age of 14 will not be taken into custody while awaiting deportation under the new measures. But the refugee agency said minors aged 16 to 18 will still face that fate.

Interior Minister Maria Fekter said the requirement will prevent people from disappearing while they await word on whether they’re allowed to stay in the country.

Front Section, Pages 6 on 02/23/2011

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