World in brief: Grim U.N. reports on Darfur’s future

The conflict in Darfur is deteriorating, with full deployment of a new peacekeeping force delayed until 2009 and no prospect of a political settlement for a war that has killed perhaps 300,000 people in five years, U.N. officials said Tuesday.

In grim reports to the Security Council, the United Nations aid chief and the representative of the peacekeeping mission said suffering in the Sudanese region is worsening. Tens of thousands more have been uprooted from their homes and food rations to the needy are about to be cut in half, they said.

“We continue to see the goal posts receding, to the point where peace in Darfur seems further away today than ever,” said John Holmes, undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs.

The conflict began in early 2003 when ethnic African rebels took up arms against Sudan’s Arab-dominated central government, accusing it of discrimination.

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Balloons found; priest still missing

Rescuers reached a cluster of brightly colored helium party balloons floating in the ocean off Brazil’s coast Tuesday but did not find the Roman Catholic priest who had been using them in a bid to set a flight record.

The Rev. Adelir Antonio di Carli remained missing after lifting off from the port city of Paranagua on Sunday strapped to hundreds of helium-filled ballons in a bid to break a record for the longest time in flight using party balloons. He was wearing a helmet, aluminum thermal flight suit, water proof coveralls and parachute.

He planned to use the money raised in his attempt to break the 19-hour record to fund a “spiritual” rest-stop for truckers in Paranagua, home to Brazil’s largest grain port.

The cluster of yellow, orange, pink and white balloons was seen Tuesday night floating intact in the sea off Brazil’s southern Santa Catarina state near di Carli’s last contact point.

Authorities reached the cluster of balloons late Tuesday, but the priest was not there, Globo TV said.

“Given his physical condition and the equipment he was carrying, I would say there is an 80 percent chance that he is still alive,” said Johnny Coelho, commander of the Penha Fire Department.

Bogota, Colombia

President’s ally taken into custody

Authorities say President Alvaro Uribe’s close political ally with alleged paramilitary ties has been detained upon leaving Costa Rica’s embassy.

The federal prosecutor’s office says former Sen. Mario Uribe was taken into custody by authorities hours after he entered the diplomatic office in an unsuccessful asylum bid. Mario Uribe is the second cousin and confidante of President Uribe.

Colombia’s chief prosecutor ordered his arrest earlier Tuesday on charges of allegedly promoting illegal far-right militias.