Display Military Time? Yes No Back at Base, U.S. Troops Say Afghans Failed Them Weary and sunburned but proud, 400 American soldiers who fought tenacious battles with Al Qaeda and Taliban troops in eastern Afghanistan returned here Sunday, some of them telling bitter stories of being let down by an Afghan commander. Taliban Had the Blues, Says an Afghan Doctor They strutted around in black turbans, they drove big pickups, they looked tough. But on the inside, the Taliban were actually a bunch of pretty depressed guys. Attacks Persist Despite Talk of Cease-Fire Faced with a relentless suicide bombing campaign that has demoralized its citizens and emboldened Palestinian militants, Israel said Sunday that it will keep attacking Palestinian-held territories while the United States makes a new effort to secure a cease-fire. Russia Takes a Steely Stance, Bans Imports of U.S. Poultry The U.S. ambassador has been summoned to the Foreign Ministry here twice in the last few days. A delegation of experts has been dispatched from Washington to handle the crisis. Preparations for today's start of tense negotiations in the latest U.S.-Russian flare-up dominated what should have been a festive holiday weekend. Arafat Headquarters Bombed to Ruin It was a vivid symbol of his power and of the state he expected to create and lead. But much of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat's headquarters lay in ruins Sunday after Israeli warships and combat helicopters blasted the building from the air and sea with about 35 missiles in 45 minutes. A Key Monument to Horror Is Laid to Rest in Cambodia Skull by human skull, officials began Sunday to dismantle a key memorial to the victims of atrocities committed by Cambodia's former Khmer Rouge rulers. 3 Killed in India Mob Violence A Hindu activist was killed and 32 people, mostly police, were injured Sunday as Hindus clashed with Indian authorities trying to enforce a ban on large gatherings. Court Extends Zimbabwe Voting by a Day A high court ordered Sunday that this country's landmark presidential election be extended into today after long lines of would-be voters continued to besiege polling places here in the capital well beyond the 7 p.m. deadline. Few Vote in Republic of Congo Poll Voters in the oil-rich Republic of Congo showed little enthusiasm Sunday for a presidential vote in which the central African nation's leader was running virtually unopposed for a seven-year term. 9 Killed, 7 Injured in Blast at Fireworks Factory An explosion at a fireworks factory in southern China killed nine people and injured seven, a local official said. Local Afghan Leaders Get a Crash Course in Governing Fighting may still rage in this country's eastern reaches, but interim Prime Minister Hamid Karzai wants to get things in order--so he summoned the 32 provincial governors Sunday for their first joint meeting and mapped out a program he hopes will put war-torn Afghanistan on the road to normality. 9 Detainees Not Iranian, Tehran Says Iran insisted Sunday that none of its citizens had been arrested in Afghanistan, after an Afghan politician said a Revolutionary Guards general and eight other Iranians were detained and handed over to U.S. forces. Congressional Election Held Amid High Security Colombians embittered by rebel violence voted under heavy security, electing a new Congress that could be called on to give the U.S.-backed military bigger budgets and a freer hand to combat leftist insurgents. Hanoi, Washington OK Agent Orange Study The U.S. and Vietnam agreed to launch a joint study on the health effects of Agent Orange, the herbicide used to destroy large swaths of forest during the Vietnam War. Hunger Striker Dies, Pushing Death Toll to 48 A 38-year-old Turkish man died of starvation, becoming the 48th fatality in more than a year of hunger strike protests against Turkish prison conditions. President's Party Reelects Leader The party that propelled Vicente Fox into Mexico's presidency has reelected its leader--who quickly vowed to improve a troubled relationship with Fox himself. Suicide Bomber Kills 12 at Busy Jerusalem Cafe The Cafe Moment, across the street here from the official residence of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, was packed Saturday night with teenagers and well-heeled Israelis who frequently converge at the trendy eatery. Suddenly, a Palestinian stepped just inside the front door and detonated a devastating bomb, killing 12 people and wounding more than 50 others. Mexico Captures Tijuana Drug Lord Declaring one of 's most powerful drug gangs "dismantled," Mexican authorities announced the capture of Tijuana drug mobster Benjamin Arellano Felix on Saturday while confirming the death of his brother Ramon in a police shootout last month. 12 Killed in Nigerian Stampede Gunmen burst into a weekly prayer meeting in the southern city of Enugu, triggering a stampede by hundreds of worshipers that left at least 12 people dead, police and witnesses said Saturday. Zimbabwe's Presidential Election Off to a Slow Start Hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans braved intense heat and long lines Saturday for a chance to vote in this southern African nation's most contested presidential election. In Japan, Women Fight for the Last Word on Last Names Like many people, Mizuho Fukushima is quite attached to her name--and wants to remain so. When she met her prospective husband, Yuichi Kaido, more than 20 years ago, giving up her surname seemed like killing an old friend. An Iraqi Campaign Faces Many Hurdles Vice President Dick Cheney's ambitious 11-nation swing through the Middle East, which begins today, has as one of its critical goals lining up a consensus on what to do about Iraq. But that doesn't mean the United States will launch an operation to oust the regime of President Saddam Hussein any time soon. Fighting Drives Government-Backed Warlord From Afghan City After two days of deadly battles, a warlord backed by interim Afghan Prime Minister Hamid Karzai retreated Friday from his fight for control of this southeastern provincial capital, a setback for Karzai's efforts to put the nation under government control. Grenade Kills 4, Wounds 20 at Election Rally in Sri Lanka A grenade exploded at an election rally of Sri Lanka's governing party near this capital, killing at least four people and wounding 20 others, police and a party official said Saturday. French Soldier Injured in Blast A French weapons demolition expert in Kabul was wounded in an accidental explosion, two days after Danish and German soldiers died in a similar accident, the International Security Assistance Force reported Saturday.

Death Toll Rises as Israel Presses Hunt for Militants Israeli army tanks smashed into the Jabaliya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip late Monday and drove to the heart of Ramallah in the West Bank as Israel intensified its hunt for militants. Palestinians reported at least 22 dead and 75 injured in heavy fighting in Jabaliya, the largest refugee camp in Gaza. Afghans Set Off to Root Out Al Qaeda, Taliban Holdouts Hardened Afghan soldiers with tanks, rocket launchers and mortars advanced to the edge of this valley Monday, vowing to clean out nests of Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters who might still be lurking in its labyrinth of caves despite more than a week of bombing and firefights with U.S. troops. Fighting for Students, Japan's Colleges Start to Learn Marketing When Takahiko Someya first became admissions officer at Tokyo's private Toyo University, the position was about as demanding as the proverbial Maytag repairman's job. Applications poured in, high schools begged him to take their graduates, and selecting an incoming class was a simple case of comparing test scores. His ample free time was filled with golf, tennis and diving. Extradition of Drug Cartel Boss May Take Years Mexican officials cautioned Monday that any move to extradite notorious Tijuana drug cartel chief Benjamin Arellano Felix to face justice in the United States could take months, if not years. Chaotic Voting Closes in Zimbabwe The government closed the polls Monday in this country's chaotic presidential election, and a high court judge later rejected the main opposition party's petition to extend voting to a fourth day. Dutchman in Product Dispute Takes Hostages, Kills Himself A gunman upset with the quality of wide-screen television grabbed as many as 18 hostages Monday in the tallest building in the Dutch capital, then shot and killed himself after a seven-hour siege, authorities said. Pay Protest Jams French Gas Depots French truck drivers blocked refineries and oil depots Monday, snarling traffic and triggering a run on gasoline in some areas, unions said. Vintner Adds Color to S. Africa's Wine Industry A Congolese wine lover who has penetrated this country's exclusive wine industry wants to cultivate African palates while marketing what he hopes will be an outstanding product. China Goes After U.S. on Rights Responding to U.S. criticism of its human rights record, China returned fire in a blistering rebuttal Monday--a point-by-point dismantling of American society that depicts a nation beset by crime, violent media images, indifference to poverty and arrogant foreign policy. Cheney Steps Out on World Stage With Pledge to Britain Vice President Dick Cheney moved Monday to quiet British critics of possible military action against Iraq, as he set out on his first overseas trip as vice president, a 12-nation journey to round up support for the next phase in the war against terrorism. U.S., Saudis Block Assets of Charity U.S. authorities, working in conjunction with Saudi Arabia, blocked the assets of a Saudi charity's offices in Somalia and Bosnia on Monday, saying they had been linked to Osama bin Laden's terrorist network. 800 Adoptees to Be Allowed in Hong Kong Eight hundred adopted Chinese children have been given permission by Beijing to live with their families in Hong Kong after a bitter struggle, the territory's Department of Immigration said Monday. Hindu-Muslim Violence Continues to Plague India Groups of Hindus attacked Muslims on Monday as religious violence that has killed hundreds in western India continued to smolder. At Least 6 Dead After Migrants' Boat Founders Six illegal immigrants were believed to have drowned and five more were missing off Italy's southeastern coast, just days after dozens of foreigners died in another boating tragedy. U.S. Spy Planes to Be Used in Joint Exercises The U.S. military has shipped unmanned spy planes to the Philippines to take part in joint anti-terrorism training exercises aimed at wiping out a group holding two Americans hostage, officials said. 5 Men Sent to Prison on Gay Sex Charges Five Egyptian men were sentenced to three years in prison with hard labor for engaging in gay sex, judicial officials said. Long Life Expectancy for Those 65 and Older Far too many French die prematurely of cancer and other diseases, but those who make it to 65 tend to go on living for years, according to a government health report. Army Defuses Bomb Found Under Vehicle An army bomb squad in Northern Ireland defused explosives packed in a lunch box that was found beneath a pregnant woman's car, officials in the British province said. Vote Planned on Right to Abort Risky Pregnancies Irish voters will decide whether to amend their constitution to allow abortions in cases where women's lives are endangered, the government announced. British Tourist Dies After Jellyfish Sting A British tourist has died after being stung off northeastern Australia by a tiny jellyfish known to be poisonous but not usually considered lethal. Army Takes Over During Police Strike Nigeria's government declared a strike by police a mutiny and ordered the army to take over "sensitive posts," including escorts for government and embassy officials. Arab Officials Call for Intervention in Mideast Arab foreign ministers opened a meeting in Cairo with calls on the international community to intervene to halt Israeli attacks on Palestinians after some of the bloodiest fighting in 17 months of violence. Man Linked to Lebanese Militia Leader Slain A Lebanese millionaire with close links to a recently assassinated warlord at the center of Palestinian refugee camp massacres was gunned down in Brazil's financial capital, Sao Paulo, police said. Search Yields No More Boat Accident Survivors Italian authorities held out little hope of finding more survivors from a vessel carrying illegal immigrants that capsized in rough seas. About 50 were feared dead. Fleeing to Culture Shock Kim Kang Chul steered past the clutter of fast-food restaurants that make up the bustling streetscape of this Seoul suburb. There are KFC restaurants and Dunkin' Donuts, and towering above them billboards advertising mobile telephones and yet more fast food.