World

Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for a suicide car-bomb attack that killed at least 16 Israelis on the anniversary of the 1967 war. The victims were on a bus near Meggido in northern Israel that was destroyed by the attack (above). In a first sign of retaliation, Israeli tanks rolled into Jenin on the West Bank, the bomber's hometown, but there were no immediate reports of their objective. The attack came one day after visiting CIA Director George Tenet told Palestinian leader Arafat that if the suicide bombings continued, the US would give Israel "a free hand" to retaliate. Arafat's Palestinian Authority quickly condemned the Meggido attack. (Related stories, pages 1, 2; related editorial, page 8.)

No sign of compromise over the Kashmir crisis was evident by India and Pakistan as their leaders returned from a regional security conference. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry rejected as "unlikely to work" an Indian proposal for joint patrols of the disputed state if cross-border incursions by Islamic guerrillas ended. A small UN observer mission already patrols the border. (Story, page 6; related editorial, page 8.)

Voting for the participants in next week's loya jirga in Afghan-istan won the approval of UN and other international monitors for its fairness, despite "some attempts" at intimidation by "so-called warlords." The traditional council of 1,501 delegates is to convene Monday to choose a three-year transitional government. Acting Prime Minister Hamid Karzai is expected to be chosen to lead it.

Concerns over a power vacuum grew in Turkey despite assurances by Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit that "my health is improving quickly." Ecevit said "I hope I will be able" to attend a key meeting tomorrow of government and opposition leaders on how ready the nation is to meet a Dec. 31 deadline for taking the next step in joining the European Union. Ecevit has been in and out of hospitals since May 3 and has not been seen in public in that time. No one else is considered a clear successor if he steps down.

Fernando Belaunde Terry, who died in Lima, Peru, served twice as president of his country – the second time restoring democracy after he'd been ousted in a military coup. He fled to the US after being overthrown in 1968. But he returned home eight years later and won back the leadership in a landslide at the polls in 1980. He was reelected in 1984.