Palestinians prepare for Israeli pullout
DEAD SEA SHORES, Jordan, May 21 (UPI) -- Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmad Qureia said Saturday the Palestinian Authority has finalized a plan to control the Gaza Strip after an Israeli withdrawal.
Qureia told political and business leaders meeting at the World Economic Forum conference on the Jordanian shores of the Dead Sea that the plan covered the political, security, economic and social aspects of the Gaza Strip.
He said the PA was "completely ready to provide security for Gaza's residents," but did not elaborate on the plan, which he said was finalized by a committee involving concerned Palestinian ministers.
Qureia also outlined the reform steps taken by the PA, saying the Palestinian government was pushing through with reforms and restructuring despite the "unprecedented challenges we are facing, especially in regards to the Israeli violations."
The prime minister called on the international community to help the Palestinians in "overcoming the challenges" and to pressure Israel "in order to make the withdrawal from Gaza and the northern West Bank a real withdrawal."
One civilian killed in Algerian violence
ALGIERS, Algeria, May 21 (UPI) -- Two-days of clashes in Algeria between the army and armed groups killed one civilian and injured nine soldiers, Algerian newspapers reported Saturday.
The papers said military search operations in the mountains of al-Boueira, 75 miles (120 kilometers) east of Algiers, led to the injury of six soldiers and three local guards by planted bombs.
The army reportedly killed a civilian and injured another "by mistake" when authorities fired at a car they believed belonged to an armed militant group in Tiziuozo province, 62 miles (100 kilometers) east of the capital.
The papers added one gunman and a civilian were seriously injured in another incident.
The newspapers said the army was currently involved in wide scale search operations for extremist groups in different parts of the country and an unspecified number of soldiers have been wounded during the military operations.
Italian hostage 'not well' but alive
KABUL, Afghanistan, May 21 (UPI) -- An Italian relief worker taken hostage in Kabul is alive, but unwell, her alleged captor said during a phone call, the ANSA news agency reported Saturday.
Clementina Contini, kidnapped Monday in the Afghan capital, "is not well and has an infection in one eye," according to a caller who identified himself as Temor Shah.
In a series of at least five ultimatums phoned in to a French news organization and all postponed before the deadline, Contini's kidnapper demanded Afghanistan ban the sale of alcoholic drinks, cancel a TV program considered offensive by Islamic fundamentalists, and improve the condition of the madrassas, or Islamic religious schools.
The Italian news agency said Afghan President Hamid Karzai told reporters Saturday the government was making progress in its efforts to secure Contini's release. "We know who (the hostage-takers) are, and we know why they did it, but I can't say any more at present," Karzai said.
In Rome, Mayor Walter Veltroni scheduled a mass demonstration outside city hall Monday to protest Contini's kidnapping.
Egypt: Terror suspect committed suicide
CAIRO, May 21 (UPI) -- Egypt's general prosecution officials said Saturday a major terror suspect committed suicide in his prison cell.
Ashraf Saeed Yousef reportedly died Friday in the hospital to which he was transferred for treatment a week ago after repeatedly beating his head against his cell wall.
Officials gave no other details, except to say Yousef was suspected of masterminding two suicide attacks last month in downtown Cairo that killed three tourists and injured several other people.
