Cuba
HAVANA — Cuban dissidents said today they have collected 10,000 signatures needed to force a referendum on overhauling the government, a move unprecedented in communist Cuba. Miguel Saludes of Cuba's Christian Liberation Movement said activists were checking the signatures to verify their authenticity. The petition will then be delivered to Cuba's National Assembly, he said.
France
PARIS — The Mont Blanc tunnel, closed since a 1999 truck fire killed 39 people, is set to reopen for cars Saturday, but plans to also resume truck traffic through the Alpine passage sparked protests. Government officials are concerned about the economic fallout of delaying trucks access to the 7.4-mile tunnel, which links France and Italy, and insist it will be reopened for trucks in a week. But environmental leaders and tourism promoters say trucks are too dangerous and pollute the air.
Germany
BERLIN — Lawyers for former Chancellor Helmut Kohl asked an appeals court today not to release about 2,500 pages of East German secret police wiretaps because they would damage Kohl's dignity. The official overseeing the old communist spy agency's archive, Marianne Birthler, requested the hearing after judges last year ruled that the records could remain sealed because the eavesdropping made Kohl a victim of the Stasi secret police. Kohl, 71, did not participate in today's hearing in Federal Administrative Court.
Italy
LAMPEDUSA, Sicily — A wooden boat packed with illegal immigrants capsized in rough seas off this tiny Sicilian island, Italian officials said today. Twelve bodies were found and dozens more passengers were missing. At least 11 people were saved, but rescuers feared that time was running out for the others. As many as 60 people — including immigrants from Nigeria, Sudan and Turkey — were on board when the boat flipped over Thursday evening, said Lampedusa Mayor Salvatore Martello.
Mexico
MEXICO CITY — Mexico's antitrust commission has found Coca-Cola Co. and 89 of its bottlers guilty of trying to shut key competitors out of Mexico's soft drink market. In a statement released Thursday, the Federal Competition Commission said Coke has been violating the country's competition laws by signing exclusivity contracts with thousands of small convenience and grocery stores — agreements which prohibit the stores from stocking competitor's products.
Myanmar
YANGON — Myanmar authorities have arrested a son-in-law and two grandchildren of former dictator Ne Win and sealed off the family home in the capital, relatives said today. The reasons for the move against the family of the man who ruled this country for 26 years until his retirement in 1988 were not clear. There was no official announcement from Myanmar's military government.
Pakistan
ISLAMABAD — The Pakistan government will give amnesty to hundreds of detained Islamic militants if they pledge to shun violence and quit outlawed groups, the state-run news agency reported today. That offer comes as alleged militants have been detained for up to two months without formal charges — pushing the limits under Pakistani law. Though President Gen. Pervez Musharraf faced little public criticism for the arrests, the long detentions were seen as setting bad precedents. The amnesty will not apply to those formally charged with killings and violence.
Philippines
ZAMBOANGA — Chances of rescuing two Americans held hostage by Muslim extremists will increase during a six-month counter-terrorism training mission involving U.S. troops, the Philippine military spokesman said today. Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan said sophisticated surveillance and communications equipment brought by U.S. forces could increase the mobility of Filipino troops pursuing Abu Sayyaf guerrillas. The exercise, aimed at wiping out the Abu Sayyaf, involves 660 U.S. troops.
Singapore
Two Australian men who were expelled from China today for protesting a crackdown on the Falun Gong spiritual movement said they were beaten by Chinese authorities. Eight others who stopped in Singapore on their way home said they were unharmed. Olympian Jan Becker, who swam for Australia during the 1964 Tokyo Games and was one of the expelled, questioned the wisdom of allowing Beijing to host the 2008 Olympics because of the crackdown on Falun Gong.