World Briefs

JERUSALEM - Israeli Prime Minister designate Tzipi Livni says she is sticking by her decision to halt her efforts to form a new government and urge new elections.

Livni told the ceremonial president, Shimon Peres, on Sunday that she has done everything she could to try to put together a parliamentary coalition. But she said other parties want elections.

Palestinians fear the decision could put a year's worth of peace talks in limbo for months.

The balloting opens the door for opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who rejects sweeping territorial concessions to the Arabs, to return to power.

Livni has been trying to cobble together a government since she was elected head of the ruling Kadima Party, replacing corruption-tainted Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, in September.

KIBUMBA, Congo – Rebels seized an east Congo army base and the headquarters of a refuge housing some of the world's last mountain gorillas, in heavy fighting Sunday that sent thousands of civilians fleeing, U.N. officials said.

An unknown number of soldiers, rebels and civilians were killed in the renewed fighting in North Kivu province, according to civilians who said the onslaught began around 2 a.m.

Government troops raced down the road north from the provincial capital of Goma to reinforce a counterattack Sunday morning. One tank careened into a group of fleeing civilians and killed three teenage boys, civilians said.

Sunday's attack marks the second time rebels seize the Rumangabo base since Aug. 28, when rebel leader Gen. Laurent Nkunda went on the offensive claiming that government troops had broken a cease-fire agreement.

TEHRAN, Iran – Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has fallen ill due to exhaustion brought on by his heavy workload, the state-run news agency reported quoting a close associate.

The announcement comes as doubts have surfaced over whether Ahmadinejad, who faces strong criticism from opponents, will seek re-election next year.

Parliament member Mohammad Ismail Kowsari, an ally of the president, said late Saturday that Ahmadinejad was feeling under the weather because of the strain of his position, according to the news agency, IRNA.

"The president will eventually get well and continue his job," said Kowsari, who accompanied Ahmadinejad last month to the U.N. General Assembly. "Every human being can face exhaustion under such a workload."

Ahmadinejad, who rarely misses meetings and public appearances, canceled a speech Wednesday at a conference and did not appear at a Cabinet meeting the same day.