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