World in brief: Cleric’s departure threatens cease-fire

The hard-line Muslim cleric who has mediated peace talks between Pakistan and the Taliban in the Swat Valley packed up and left the northwestern district Thursday, angrily denouncing the president for failing to sign off on imposing Islamic law in the area.

Sufi Muhammad’s departure imperils a fragile cease-fire between militants and security forces that brought a tense calm to the valley after months of bloodletting but also alarmed Western leaders who want Pakistan to eradicate al-Qaida and Taliban havens.

London

Counterterror chief quits after blunder

Britain’s top counterterrorism officer resigned Thursday after he was photographed clutching secret documents in which the details of a major terrorism operation were clearly visible.

The security blunder forced officials to carry out raids against suspected al-Qaida operatives earlier than they had planned.

A photographer snapped pictures of Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick, in charge of the counterterror unit at Scotland Yard the British prime minister’s office, on Wednesday with a white document marked “secret.”

From wire reports