News In Brief

Weary negotiators were trying to end a seige inside Latin America's largest prison, where more than 1,000 hostages were held by rebellious inmates. The standoff at Carandiru Prison was one of 11 across Brazil's Sao Paulo state that began Sunday. Sixteen other revolts were quashed, although at least a dozen people were reported killed. The uprisings were coordinated by a highly organized gang using cellphones.

A key meeting that could make or break the government of national unity in Israel was postponed from today until Sunday, reports said, as members of outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Barak's Labor Party rebelled against last week's deal. The timing appeared to endanger Prime Minister-elect Ariel Sharon's hopes of presenting his Cabinet for parliament's approval next week.

Chanting "Death of America!" an estimated 27,000 Iraqis protested in Baghdad for a third straight day over the bombing of radar posts used to coordinate surface-to-air missiles. Meanwhile, the government basked in condemnations of last Friday's attack by US and British jets from other countries, among them members of the coalition that helped to drive President Saddam Hussein's troops out of Kuwait in 1991.

Cheered on by wives and children, hundreds of laid-off auto-workers fought with police in Bupyong, South Korea, as a protest against moves by bankrupt Daewoo Motor Co. to make itself attractive to would-be buyers entered its fourth day. Daewoo announced 1,750 job cuts Friday. At least six people were hurt as the police tried to arrest union leaders barricaded inside the company's main plant. But it appeared unlikely the violence would spread to other plants that were operating normally.

With his job support nearing a record low level, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori rejected demands for his resignation. A new opinion poll showed only 9 percent approval of his performance in office, just two points better than the support level that forced Noboru Takeshita to quit in 1989. Conversely, Mori's disapproval rating was 79 percent - a 16-point jump over the past month. Analysts said only the lack of an obvious successor was preventing him from having to give up his office immediately.

A helicopter crash blamed on mechanical problems killed powerful Tin Oo, the fourth-ranking member of the military junta that rules Myanmar (Burma). The Army chief of staff also was responsible for the nation's economic affairs. In the 1990s, he survived two apparent attempts on his life.

(c) Copyright 2001. The Christian Science Publishing Society