EU Treaty Way Ahead in Early Irish Count
A treaty essential for speedy EU enlargement headed for a big win in Ireland late Saturday as partial returns from a referendum showed a huge swing to a "Yes" vote following a stunning defeat last year.
( BY MICHAEL RODDY, Reuters, 10/19/2002 08:00 PM EDT)

Sniper-Hunting Police Examine Truck, Bullet
Police on Saturday scoured a seized truck and examined a bullet casing found inside it as they pursued a possible link to a killer sniper terrorizing the Washington area.
( BY SAUL HUDSON, Reuters, 10/19/2002 07:58 PM EDT)

Former Mayor Acquitted in 1969 Racial Slaying
Charlie Robertson, the former mayor of York, bowed his head and wept on Saturday when an all-white jury acquitted him of murder in the death of a black woman 33 years ago during more than a week of race riots in this Pennsylvania city.
( Reuters, 10/19/2002 07:26 PM EDT)

EU Treaty Way Ahead in Early Irish Count
A treaty essential for speedy EU enlargement headed for a big win in Ireland late on Saturday as partial returns from a referendum showed a huge swing to a "Yes" vote following a stunning defeat last year.
( BY MICHAEL RODDY, Reuters, 10/19/2002 07:22 PM EDT)

Irish 'Yes' Has Overwhelming Lead in Early Count
The first returns in Ireland's second referendum on an EU enlargement treaty gave a strong lead to the "Yes" vote in a count of six districts out of 42 nationwide, officials said Saturday.
( Reuters, 10/19/2002 06:52 PM EDT)

Israeli Troops, Settlers Scuffle at Rogue Outpost
Israeli troops and police scuffled with hundreds of Jewish settlers near Nablus on Saturday as they made good on a government promise to dismantle some 20 rogue hilltop settlements.
( BY ATEF SA'AD, Reuters, 10/19/2002 06:23 PM EDT)

Diplomats See U.N. Deal on Iraq Resolution in Days
Key U.N. Security Council members are likely to resolve their deadlock over Iraq and reach a deal on a U.S. compromise resolution in days, diplomats said.
( BY CYNTHIA JOHNSTON, Reuters, 10/19/2002 06:08 PM EDT)

Mom Home with Son After China Custody Battle
An American mother returned safely from China to New York City with her son on Saturday after ending a heated custody battle with her Chinese former husband by paying him $60,000.
( Reuters, 10/19/2002 05:36 PM EDT)

Israeli Troops Scuffle with Hilltop Settlers
Israeli troops Saturday dragged Jewish settlers off a West Bank hilltop where they had established a rogue outpost, as the government made good on promises to dismantle such settlements.
( Reuters, 10/19/2002 05:18 PM EDT)

Israeli Tanks Re-Enter West Bank City of Jenin
Israeli tanks re-entered Jenin Saturday, less than 48 hours after Israel pulled out of the West Bank city and lifted a curfew in response to what it called relative quiet.
( Reuters, 10/19/2002 04:12 PM EDT)

US Said to Train Iraqi Exiles for Combat
The Pentagon has identified as many as 5,000 Iraqi foes of President Saddam Hussein for U.S. combat training due to begin next month, a major step toward a possible U.S.-led military attack on Iraq, The Washington Post reported on Saturday.
( Reuters, 10/19/2002 04:11 PM EDT)

Navy Pilots Still Missing After Calif. Crash
The Coast Guard resumed its search for four missing U.S. Navy crewmen on Saturday, a day after two "Super Hornet" fighter jets collided over the Pacific Ocean during training exercises.
( Reuters, 10/19/2002 02:20 PM EDT)

Two Dead, Dozens Hurt by Grenades at Afghan Wedding
Two people were killed and dozens wounded when two hand grenades were thrown into a wedding party at a popular picnic spot northwest of Kabul, police and state television reported on Saturday.
( Reuters, 10/19/2002 01:07 PM EDT)

Veterans Mark El-Alamein, Key World War II Battle
Gunner Ken Beamish did not expect to survive the decisive World War II battle of el-Alamein, let alone to return for the 60th anniversary of that fierce struggle in the Egyptian desert.
( BY EDMUND BLAIR AND HEBA KANDIL, Reuters, 10/19/2002 12:36 PM EDT)

Car Explosion Shakes Moscow District, No Dead
A car exploded outside a McDonald's restaurant in a busy Moscow district on Saturday, but Russian police said the blast was linked to criminal activities and not a terrorist act.
( BY GENNADY NOVIK, Reuters, 10/19/2002 12:19 PM EDT)

Bush Reaches Out to Wary Investors Before Vote
Reaching out to hard-hit investors before next month's elections, President Bush promised on Saturday to set tough new rules to help protect their retirement savings.
( BY ADAM ENTOUS, Reuters, 10/19/2002 12:05 PM EDT)

Democrats Say Economy Key to Superpower Might
Democrats urged President Bush to take a more bipartisan approach to handling the economy on Saturday, saying strong growth was a key part of U.S. success as a superpower.
( Reuters, 10/19/2002 11:22 AM EDT)

Indonesian Police Hold Militant Cleric
Indonesian police arrested a militant Muslim cleric on Saturday hours after the government issued emergency anti-terror decrees aimed at giving authorities wide powers in the hunt for the perpetrators of last weekend's Bali bombings.
( BY BRIAN HANSFORD AND JOANNE COLLINS, Reuters, 10/19/2002 10:02 AM EDT)

Tourist Flock to Kilimanjaro's Melting Snow Cap
Tourists flocked to test their mettle against Africa's highest peak on Friday, unperturbed by predictions that Mount Kilimanjaro's famous snow cap will be gone in less than 20 years.
( BY PAUL CASCIATO, Reuters, 10/19/2002 09:13 AM EDT)

Tourist Flock to Kilimanjaro's Melting Snow Cap
Tourists flocked to test their mettle against Africa's highest peak on Friday, unperturbed by predictions that Mount Kilimanjaro's famous snow cap will be gone in less than 20 years.
( BY PAUL CASCIATO, Reuters, 10/19/2002 09:12 AM EDT)

Chirac Says War on Terror Must Respect World Law
French President Jacques Chirac said on Saturday the global fight against terror would be unforgiving, but had to go hand-in-hand with peacemaking efforts and respect for international law. "The battle against terrorism will be merciless. But it has to be conducted while respecting human rights and the rule of law," he told delegates at a summit of French-speaking nations in Beirut.
( BY CAROLINE DREES, Reuters, 10/19/2002 09:11 AM EDT)

U.S. General Optimistic on Afghan Army
The head of U.S. Central Command said on Saturday he hoped efforts to build a new national army for Afghanistan would begin to bear fruit in coming months.
( BY DAVID BRUNNSTROM, Reuters, 10/19/2002 09:09 AM EDT)

Retailers Face Make-Or-Break Holidays
With the U.S. holiday shopping season shaping up to be mediocre at best this year, the big question is not whether stores will run out of PlayStations, but which of the once-mighty retailers may fall.
( BY EMILY KAISER, Reuters, 10/19/2002 09:04 AM EDT)

U.S. Eyes Diplomacy to End N.Korean Nuclear Program
The United States will press North Korea to "immediately and visibly end" the covert nuclear weapons program the communist state has admitted having, a senior U.S. envoy said on Saturday.
( BY PAUL ECKERT, Reuters, 10/19/2002 07:48 AM EDT)

US to Pay Japan Sub Victims $13 Million - Report
The U.S. Navy will pay about $13 million in compensation to the victims of a collision between one of its nuclear submarines and a Japanese fishing boat, Kyodo news agency said Saturday.
( Reuters, 10/19/2002 07:05 AM EDT)

Congolese Rebels Say Eastern Port Town Retaken
Congo's main rebel army said it had recaptured the eastern lake port of Uvira on Saturday after heavy overnight fighting in which scores of civilians and soldiers were killed.
( BY FINBARR O'REILLY, Reuters, 10/19/2002 05:50 AM EDT)

Indonesian Police Say Hold Militant Cleric Bashir
Indonesian police are holding militant Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, a terror suspect, for at least 24 hours, a police official said on Saturday. Bashir had been scheduled for questioning in Jakarta on Saturday in relation to a bombing in 2000, but he was admitted to hospital on Friday in Solo and aides and doctors said he would be unable to travel on Saturday.
( Reuters, 10/19/2002 02:10 AM EDT)