World Briefs

ARCALIS, Andorra – Lance Armstrong dropped one spot to third place in the Tour de France on Friday, with rival and teammate Alberto Contador breaking away in the final sprint up the mountain to claim second. Italy's Rinaldo Nocentini captured the yellow jersey from Switzerland's Fabian Cancellara after a punishing climb in the Pyrenees to complete the seventh stage. It was the first time the overall lead changed hands since Cancellara won the opening-day time trial in Monaco.

The 140-mile leg from Spain into Andorra, the first in high mountains of this three-week race, was won by Brice Feillu of France.

"Overall, I feel pretty good... Things didn't quite go according to plan that we set up earlier, but it didn't matter," Armstrong said. "It was a fine day overall."

L'AQUILA, Italy – Lasting worldwide recovery "is still a ways off," President Barack Obama declared Friday, but he also said at the conclusion of a global summit that a disastrous economic collapse apparently has been averted.

"Reckless actions by a few have fueled a recession that spans the globe," Obama said of the meltdown that began in the United States with a tumble in housing prices and drastic slowing of business lending. The downturn now threatens superpowers and emerging nations alike.

URUMQI, China – Chinese riot police broke up a small demonstration by Uighurs leaving Friday prayers in a Muslim Uighur area of Urumqi, arresting several protesters in the process.

The action came as the United States urged Chinese leaders to act with restraint in tackling the unrest in the Xinjiang region.

TEGUCIGALPA – Rivals for power in Honduras held to their conflicting and seemingly intractable positions on Friday as hopes faded for a quick negotiated solution to the crisis triggered by last month's coup.

The dual presidents who both claim to be the legitimate head of state failed to reach an accord or even meet face-to-face during talks in Costa Rica on Thursday, but they left behind low-level teams that were set to resume mediation on Friday.

YANGON – The widely condemned trial of Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi resumed on Friday, a week after the country's military rulers ignored a plea from the United Nations chief to drop the security charges filed against her.

Yangon's Northern District Court heard testimony from legal expert Khin Moe Moe, Suu Kyi's one remaining defense witness, legal sources said.