World news
President survives slim Indonesia vote
Jakarta, Indonesia President Megawati Sukarnoputri has narrowly survived in her bid to win another term by finishing second in Monday’s elections, securing a spot in an upcoming runoff, according to projections released Tuesday.
A tally of sample districts conducted by the Washington-based National Democratic Institute showed that Megawati would qualify for the Sept. 20 presidential showdown with Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, her former chief security minister who was projected as the top finisher hours after nationwide balloting ended Monday.
The institute had earlier reported that Megawati was in a statistical dead heat for second place but revised its estimates based on additional returns to show her outdistancing former armed forces commander Gen. Wiranto by almost 3 percentage points.
Austrian president Klestil dead at 71
Vienna, Austria President Thomas Klestil, 71, who brought calm to an office frayed by controversy surrounding his predecessor’s past in the Nazi army, died Tuesday, doctors said.
Earlier Tuesday, medical officials said Klestil was in very critical condition after facing a multiple organ failure.
Klestil’s heart stopped beating Monday as he was being flown by helicopter to Vienna’s General Hospital after being found unconscious. He was admitted in critical condition, and doctors said they could not rule out brain damage as a possible result of lack of oxygen before hospital staff got his heart functioning again.
Karzai, U.N. officials meet over elections
Kabul, Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai met with Afghan and U.N. officials Tuesday in an effort to schedule the country’s oft-delayed national elections, and a decision was expected soon, his spokesman said.
A vote for president is expected by early October, despite the threat of Taliban attacks and intimidation by warlords. It had originally been rescheduled from June until September.
“We hope and expect that the Joint Electoral Management Body will announce the date of the election today or tomorrow,” spokesman Jawed Ludin said.
Four Japan cultists arrested in shooting
Tokyo Four members of a Japanese doomsday cult were arrested today in connection with the shooting of the national police chief nine years ago, authorities said.
Takaji Kunimatsu was shot and seriously wounded while investigating Aum Shinrikyo, the cult later held responsible for the nerve gas attack on Japan’s subway system that killed 12 people, injured thousands and crushed the country’s sense of safety. He was shot 10 days after the subway attack in March 1995.
Tokyo police arrested three cult members on allegations of attempted murder, police official Tsutomu Nagai told a news conference. Police arrested a fourth cultist for allegedly trying to set explosives at home of one of the group’s critics and for possible involvement in the shooting.
Queen opens Diana fountain in London
London Britain dedicated a fountain to Princess Diana on Tuesday, a shallow, oval trough in London’s Hyde Park that delighted children who waded through it but drew mixed reviews from adults.
As she dedicated the fountain, the Queen acknowledged there had been difficult times with her late daughter-in-law but said “memories mellow with the passing of the years.”
Water flows from the highest point down both sides of the fountain, which stretches 260 feet by 160 feet. At some places the flow is agitated, at others calm.
Diana’s brother, her sons and one of her best friends all expressed satisfaction.