World

Yasser Arafat's home in the Gaza Strip was heavily damaged in retaliation by Israeli forces for a new attack by Palestinians using the unguided home-made Kassam rockets that the Jewish state has warned against. In all, Israeli jets, naval units, and Army tanks struck six sets of targets in Gaza, drawing accusations that they had tried to kill a dozen security chiefs who were about to meet. The Israelis have yet to kill any senior Palestinian Authority officials, but Prime Minister Ariel Sharon - his approval rating sliding in opinion polls - has vowed to "beat" them until they beg for a truce. (Related story, page 8.)

Five peacekeepers died in Afghanistan's capital when explosives they were attempting to defuse went off unexpectedly. Three of the casualties were Danish; the others were German. The incident came as a US field commander said a new call for jihad was luring hundreds of local tribesmen to join in fighting allied units in the mountains near Gardez. (Related story, page 2.)

Slobodan Milosevic's appeal to be released from jail so he could better prepare his own defense before the UN war-crimes tribunal in The Hague was denied. Presiding Judge Richard May said the court wasn't satisfied that a free Milosevic "would continue to appear" or wouldn't "pose a danger to witnesses or others." The ex-Yugoslav leader had sought to assure the tribunal that he was not a flight risk.

Three days before the national election that will decide his political future, Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe overturned a Supreme Court decision and reinstated voting rules that critics say favor his continuing hold on power. The rules - such as strict identity requirements for voters and authorizing only government employees appointed as poll monitors to deal with irregularities - were found illegal last week. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said it would promptly file a challenge to Mugabe's decree. Above, MDC candidate Morgan Tsvangirai holds an impromptu news conference in Harare, the capital. (Story, page 1.)

The national TV network went back on the air in Madagascar on orders of self-proclaimed president Marc Ravalomanana, three weeks after his incumbent rival shut it down. Didier Ratsiraka said at the time he was concerned the network was siding with Ravalomanana and trying to incite a rebellion. Meanwhile, five of six provincial governors - all Ratsiraka backers - said they were setting up a new national capital 220 miles from its current site, Antananarivo, Ravalomanana's base.