Royal Navy launches bid to recruit gays

LONDON -- Britain's Royal Navy yesterday announced a campaign to recruit gays and lesbians. The navy said it asked Stonewall, a gay rights lobbying group, to help develop the campaign, which could include ads in the gay press. Britain lifted its ban on homosexuals serving in the military in 2000 after a European court ruled that their exclusion was unlawful. In a separate announcement, the government said yesterday that same-sex couples can begin entering into civil unions in December. A law passed last year gives same sex-couples the right to form legally binding partnerships and share pensions. (Reuters)

SERBIA-MONTENEGRO

Bosnian Serb fugitive's key aide surrenders

BELGRADE -- A senior aide to top Bosnian Serb fugitive Ratko Mladic turned himself in yesterday to face war crimes charges in The Hague, the fourth wanted man to surrender in Belgrade in five months. Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica said the decision by former general Milan Gvero, 67, vindicated his policy of relying on persuasion rather than arrest to meet the UN tribunal's demands. (Reuters)

IRELAND

Sinn Fein leaders say they're not in the IRA

DUBLIN -- The leaders of Northern Ireland's main Catholic party yesterday rejected accusations that they are members of the outlawed Irish Republican Army. The allegations have set back efforts to restore a local government in British-ruled Northern Ireland. ''We want to state categorically that we are not members of the IRA or its Army Council," according to a joint statement from leader Gerry Adams, deputy Martin McGuinness, and Irish member of parliament Martin Ferris. (Reuters)

BOLIVIA

Former president charged with genocide

LA PAZ -- The federal prosecutor yesterday charged former President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada and two of his top aides with genocide for the massacre of dozens of protesters in the street demonstrations that brought down his government 16 months ago. Charged along with Sanchez de Lozada were former Defense Ministers Carlos Sanchez Berzain and Yerko Kukoc. (AP)

COLOMBIA

President warns fight with rebels continues

BOGOTA -- Colombia faces a hard road in its fight against leftist rebels, President Alvaro Uribe said yesterday after deadly attacks blacked out towns, shut down a highway, blew up a hotel, and shattered notions that the nation's main insurgent group was on its knees. The weekend violence left nine people dead, and a rebel commander in this Andean nation warned: ''This is only the beginning." (AP)

JAPAN

State said to back princess taking throne

TOKYO -- Japan will prepare for a reigning empress for the first time in more than 200 years as the government drafts legal changes allowing female succession. Kyodo News yesterday quoted an unnamed government official as saying ''Princess Aiko will go next" after her father, Crown Prince Naruhito, in line for the throne. Princess Aiko, 3, is the only child of Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako. (AP)

INDIA

Fire destroys shops; Taj Mahal undamaged

NEW DELHI -- Fire swept through dozens of shops near the Taj Mahal during an annual celebration in Agra yesterday, but there were no injuries and no damage to India's famous monument to love. Hundreds fled in panic as the blaze burned 35 shops at the venue of the Taj festival, about a half-mile from the marble monument. The fire was put out in two hours. (AP)