World in brief: Bomb, assault kill two Americans

KABUL, Afghanistan – A roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan killed a U.S. service member, while an American civilian working for the military died after insurgents attacked a patrol in the east, officials said.

Two mortar rounds were fired early today near the presidential palace in Kabul, the U.S. military said. U.S. spokeswoman Capt. Elizabeth Mathias had no details of damage or casualties from the attack, which occurred two days before presidential elections.

Former leader, Nobel winner dies

SEOUL, South Korea – Kim Dae-jung, who as a longtime opposition leader survived assassination attempts and a death sentence to become president of South Korea, and whose unflagging efforts to reconcile with communist North Korea earned him the Nobel Peace Prize, died today, hospital officials said. He was 85.

Kim had been hospitalized with pneumonia since last month, said Lee Sung-man, a spokesman for Severance Hospital in Seoul.

Taliban spokesman may be in custody

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Intelligence officials said security forces are holding the Pakistani Taliban’s top spokesman after capturing him near the Afghan border.

Three officials said today that Maulvi Omar was seized from a village in the Mohmand tribal region Monday night.

Omar became prominent in recent years as spokesman for the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, calling journalists to claim responsibility for dozens of terrorist attacks inside Pakistan.