Ukraine may make its own nuclear fuel

Kiev, Ukraine Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said Friday that his country should produce its own nuclear fuel for power plants, part of the West-leaning leader’s effort to reduce its reliance on Russia following a dispute over natural gas prices.

Yushchenko’s call could put his Western allies in an awkward position as they seek to balance the desire to help Ukraine shed Russian influence with concerns about nuclear weapons proliferation and their campaign to contain Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Ukraine relies on four operating nuclear power plants for about half its electricity production – and it depends on Russia for fuel that feeds them.

Sudan may get U.N. peacekeepers

United Nations The United Nations’ top envoy to Sudan said Friday that three years of diplomatic and African peacekeeping efforts have failed to restore calm to that country’s Darfur region, and that a larger Western-backed peacekeeping force is urgently required to stem the bloodshed.

Jan Pronk, the U.N. special envoy to Sudan, presented the gloomiest assessment to date by a senior U.N. official of the international peace efforts in Darfur since government-backed Arab militia began driving millions of black Africans in tribal communities from their homes. Hundreds of thousands of civilians may have been killed in a wave of violence in Darfur, U.N. officials and diplomats said.

The downbeat remarks come as U.S., European and U.N. officials are considering contingency plans to have a U.N. peacekeeping mission replace or augment an African Union peacekeeping force of about 7,000.

Man who shot pope facing possible rearrest

Istanbul, Turkey The Turkish gunman who shot Pope John Paul II failed to report to a police station Friday – the day after his release from prison – and authorities said the military could ask for his arrest for draft-dodging.

Mehmet Ali Agca was required to report daily to a police station to allow authorities to keep tabs on him until at least officials decide on whether he should serve his military service.

Istanbul Gov. Muammer Guler said Agca – whose whereabouts were unknown – had not reported to any police station by Friday evening. Guler said Agca was also required to report to a military hospital on Monday. “If he doesn’t show up, he will be listed as a draft-dodger” and his arrest could be sought, Guler said.