The world in brief

— QUOTE OF THE DAY

“What we started will not stop.”

Syrian President Bashar Assad, in his first public speech in six months, in which he laid out terms for a peace plan that keeps himself in power, ignoring international demands to step down Article, 1A

European believers dive for crucifixes

SOFIA, Bulgaria - Thousands of young men leapt into icy rivers and lakes across eastern Europe on Sunday to retrieve crucifixes cast by priests in ceremonies commemorating the baptism of Jesus Christ.

By tradition, a wooden cross is cast into the water and it is believed that the person who retrieves it will be freed from evil spirits.

In the central Bulgarian city of Kalofer, 350 men in traditional dress waded into the icy Tundzha River with national flags. Led by the town’s mayor and encouraged by a folk orchestra and homemade plum brandy, they danced and stomped in the rocky riverbed.

In the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta, some 3,000 Orthodox believers turned out to watch priests hurl three crosses into the icy sea. Dozens - some wearing diving suits - dived into the waters to retrieve the crosses.

Some Orthodox Christian churches, including those in Russia, Egypt, Syria and Lebanon, follow a different calendar, and Sunday was Christmas Eve, with Epiphany on Jan. 19.

5 al-Qaida militants sentenced in Yemen

SANA, Yemen - Yemen’s state security court on Sunday sentenced five alleged al-Qaida militants to up to 10 years in prison for carrying out attacks against security forces and supporting the group logistically in the southern province of Abyan in 2011.

The court gave the defendants sentences ranging from four to 10 years. It was not immediately clear how many would serve the maximum sentence.

The court ordered the release of six others who had already spent about 18 months in detention. They were found guilty of supporting al-Qaida but not direct involvement in attacks. They will be under government monitoring after their release.

Journalists were in the courtroom.

Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi has ordered trials for dozens of al-Qaida suspects held without charges for over a year.

S. Africa army to aid C. African Republic

JOHANNESBURG - The South African presidency announced Sunday that it is sending 400 army troops to Central African Republic to help the country’s army as it faces a threat from a coalition of rebel groups.

Sending soldiers to Central African Republic is part of South Africa’s efforts “to bring about peace and stability in the region,” said the announcement by President Jacob Zuma’s office.

Central African Republic’s neighboring countries Cameroon, Gabon and Republic of Congo already have sent about 120 troops each to help stabilize the country confronted by the rebellion.

Chad, a longtime ally of President Francois Bozize’s government, also has provided hundreds of forces who are fortifying the road to the capital, Bangui, to prevent rebels from reaching the seat of power, a city of 700,000.

The rebels had pledged to halt their advance pending peace talks in Gabon that are due to start Tuesday. However, residents said rebels seized two more towns over the weekend, though they are not en route to the capital.

Friction in Chavez party, opponent says

CARACAS, Venezuela - An opponent of Hugo Chavez alleged Sunday that conflicts are brewing within Venezuela’s ruling party and argued that alleged differences between the president’s close confidants have prompted them to postpone the socialist leader’s inauguration.

Opposition lawmaker Julio Borges said Sunday that a rivalry between Vice President Nicolas Maduro and National Assembly President Diosdado Cabello was behind the postponement of Chavez’s swearing-in ceremony.

Chavez has not been able to return to Venezuela from Cuba where he is being treated for respiratory problems after a Dec. 11 operation, his fourth surgery for an undisclosed type of pelvic cancer.

The Venezuelan Constitution states the presidential oath should be taken Jan. 10 before lawmakers in the National Assembly. But it says that the president may also take the oath of office before the Supreme Court if the president is unable to be sworn in before the assembly.

There have been no public signs of friction between Maduro and Cabello, who appeared side by side waving to supporters after a legislative session on Saturday. The two men have repeatedly rejected speculation they are at odds and have vowed to remain united.

Front Section, Pages 6 on 01/07/2013

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