World Briefs

MINGORA, Pakistan – Thousands of fearful civilians — many on foot or donkey-pulled carts — streamed out of a conflict-ridden Pakistani valley Sunday as authorities briefly lifted a curfew. The army said it had killed scores of militants in the latest fighting.

Pakistan has urged residents of the Swat Valley to leave over the past week, while its warplanes have pounded the Taliban-held valley and surrounding areas in a US-backed operation the prime minister has called a "war of the country's survival."

Hundreds of thousands of civilians have already fled the valley.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – An all-night artillery barrage in Sri Lanka's war zone killed at least 378 civilians and forced thousands to flee to makeshift shelters along the beach, a government doctor said Sunday.

At least 1,100 people were wounded in what Dr. V. Shanmugarajah said was the bloodiest day he had seen in months of fighting between the army and Tamil Tiger rebels.

The rebel-linked TamilNet Web site said 2,000 civilians were feared dead and blamed the attack on Sri Lankan forces. The Sri Lankan military denied firing the artillery.

KINGSTON, Ontario – Cuban Parliament President Ricardo Alarcon dismissed President Barack Obama's recent overtures to Cuba and says the new US administration's stance is a continuation of an illegal, unjustifiable and failed policy.

Alarcon said Obama’s administration wants Cuba to change and behave in accordance to Washington's wishes.

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuelan police uncovered a cache of weapons and explosives at a Caracas apartment and later detained four foreigners on suspicion of planning terrorist acts, authorities said Saturday.

While announcing the detentions, Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami accused foes of President Hugo Chavez of "looking for violence," although he did not link the case to the political opposition.

AMMAN, Jordan – Pope Benedict XVI praised Sunday the courage of Middle East Christians who cling to their faith despite war and adversity, addressing a crowd of 20,000 who filled a sports stadium on the first open-air Mass of his Holy Land pilgrimage.

"The Catholic community here is deeply touched by the difficulties and uncertainties which affect the people of the Middle East," Benedict said. "May you never forget the great dignity which derives from your Christian heritage, or fail to sense the loving solidarity of all your brothers and sisters in the church throughout the world."