Indonesia, rebels to sign peace pact
Helsinki, Finland The Indonesian government and Aceh rebels agreed Sunday to sign a formal peace agreement next month, vowing to end a 29-year conflict that has killed 15,000 people in the tsunami-ravaged province.
The peace deal – which will allow reconstruction aid for victims of the Dec. 26 natural disaster – is to be signed Aug. 15 in Helsinki, the two sides said after wrapping up the fifth and final round of talks in the Finnish capital.
In a joint statement, the two sides said the agreement covers the governing of Aceh province and rebel participation in the political process. It also contains an amnesty for the separatist rebels and the establishment of an Aceh monitoring mission consisting of unarmed European Union and Southeast Asian observers.
11 firefighters killed in blaze in forest
Madrid, Spain Eleven firefighters trying to extinguish a forest fire sparked by a smoldering barbecue were killed Sunday in central Spain, officials said.
The charred remains of the firefighters were found together in a gully, said Rosario Arevalo, environmental chief for the central Castilla-La Mancha region where the fire occurred. Arevalo offered no further details on the deaths.
The forest fire destroyed about 12,000 acres of pine forest and forced the evacuation of hundreds of people from their villages in drought-stricken Spain, officials said.
Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega was greeted by protesters who denounced the lack of resources to combat the fire when she arrived at the town of Alcolea del Pinar.
Yemeni leader will step down
San’A, Yemen Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, leader of this Arab nation for more than a quarter-century, said Sunday he will not run in next year’s elections, and he urged political parties to nominate “young blood” to lead the country.
Saleh, president since 1978, said he would remain in office until the September 2006 elections. He did not give a specific reason for stepping down.
“We want to establish a model for peaceful handover of power,” Saleh said during a meeting with political parties and diplomats.