PDI Perjuangan invited to meeting: After three exclusive

PDI Perjuangan invited to meeting: After three exclusive meetings, Muslim politicians invited Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) to the fourth gathering hosted by Alimarwan Hanan, secretary-general of the United Development Party (PPP), on Monday evening. The ruling party was represented by deputy chairman Kwik Kian Gie and deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung Wibowo. Achmad Tirtosudiro of the Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals Association (ICMI) said the meeting would find out a formula to help President Megawati Soekarnoputri revive people- based economy which slumped after the crisis. -- JP

Madagascar rivals reject African power-share deal: Rival claimants to Madagascar's presidency headed home on Monday, rejecting a power-sharing deal designed to end mounting bloodshed on the Indian Ocean island. Marc Ravalomanana and Didier Ratsiraka came face-to-face in Senegal on Sunday for the first time since April at an encounter organized by African heads of state to try to end the strife so that the continent can push on with an ambitious revival plan. -- Reuters

Kashmir crisis easing, but conflict risk remains: Tensions between India and Pakistan in the dispute over Kashmir have eased in recent days but there still remains a "significant" threat of conflict, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said on Monday. He said both sides had taken steps to ease the crisis and that the British and U.S. governments had noted what appeared to be a "significant reduction" in incursions into Indian-controlled Kashmir since the end of May. -- AFP

Sri Lanka eyes Indian support for peace: Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in New Delhi on Monday he would seek India's sustained backing for his government's moves to make peace with Tamil Tiger rebels. Wickremesinghe said he was confident India would continue to support Sri Lanka's bid to end a 19-year bloody ethnic war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who were once armed and trained by New Delhi. --Reuters

Greek minister sacked for plan to leave politics: Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis on Monday fired Health Minister Alecos Papadopoulos for shaking the Socialist government by saying he intended to drop out of politics soon. Papadopoulos, one of the ruling party's most respected members, said in an interview this month he would not run as a candidate in national elections expected by March 2004 for personal reasons. -- Reuters

Mexico's first freedom of information law signed: President Vicente Fox signed Mexico's first freedom of information law on Monday, exposing the government and its records to greater public scrutiny. The Federal law of Transparency and Access to Public Government Information requires all branches of government to provide copies of public documents - from government employees' salaries to details about public programs and government contracts - within 20 days of any citizen's request. The law was endorsed by all three major political parties. -- AP