World

A decision by Israel to confine Yasser Arafat to the West Bank city of Ramallah "is unacceptable," senior Palestinians said, announcing that "for the time being" they'd agree to no further meetings "on the security level or the political level." Although Israel ordered its tanks back from the two-month blockade around Arafat's headquarters, he was expected to reject a demand for the extradition of three suspects arrested last week for the murder of Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi.

The Islamic militant who confessed to plotting the kidnapping of Daniel Pearl will be charged with his murder, Pakistani authorities said. Ahmed Omar Saeed and three other suspects are due in court today. A videotape of Pearl's execution is "too gruesome" to be shown to the public, police said. (Story, page 7.)

Army troops were back in control of much of the haven used by Colombia's Revolutionary Armed Forces, but the latter kidnapped a presidential candidate, reports said. Ingrid Betancourt had ignored warnings not to travel to a key town in the region, even though it had been captured by soldiers. Two other candidates decided against the trip. (Story, page 6.)

Despite the death of their leader, Jonas Savimbi, Angola's UNITA rebels vowed they would continue to struggle for "justice, peace, and reconciliation." They made no mention of a call by President Jose Eduardo dos Santos's government to surrender but said "if he declares a cease-fire, obviously we have a path open that we did not have before." Savimbi was killed Friday in a firefight with Army troops, ending 27 years at the head of the UNITA insurgency. (Story, page 7.)

Supporters of self-declared new President Marc Ravalomanana surrounded his home in Madagascar's capital to keep police away as rumors spread that a warrant had been issued for his arrest. Over international objections, Ravalomanana (above) swore himself in Friday as the government declared a state of emergency. He offered to submit to a nationwide referendum on whether he should be head of state, but refused again to contest a March 24 runoff with incumbent Didier Ratsiraka.

An estimated 80,000 demonstrators jammed the central square of Moldova's capital to demand that the Communist-dominated government resign. The rally, organized by the opposition Christian Democratic Party, took place despite a decision late last week to rescind a new law mandating that the Russian language and history be taught in the schools.

Ending months of speculation, the leader of East Timor's independence movement said he'll seek the presidency in the April 14 election. Jose (Xanana) Gusmao, however, has distanced himself from the nation's largest political party, Fretilin, which also was at the forefront of the push for separation from Indo-nesia, even though it dominated last year's parliamentary election.