World Scene

LIBERIA

Peacekeepers patrol after religious strife

MONROVIA — Blue-helmeted U.N. peacekeepers in flak jackets patrolled the deserted streets of Liberia’s capital yesterday, firing their weapons into the air to enforce a round-the-clock curfew a day after Muslim-Christian violence reverberated through the seaside city.

Interim head of state Gyude Bryant imposed the curfew in Monrovia on Friday after violence began before dawn and degenerated into mayhem and looting sprees in parts of the city.

Around midday yesterday, Mr. Bryant announced that the curfew had been lifted for a few hours to allow people to go out and get food and water, state radio reported.

At least five burned-out vehicles lay along a main road in Monrovia’s eastern district of Paynesville yesterday, where several churches and mosques were set ablaze, apparently sparking the violence.

ITALY

Nominee for EU post withdraws amid uproar

ROME — Italy’s choice for a European Commission post, who sparked an uproar with his comments on homosexuality and women, said yesterday he will step aside.

Rocco Buttiglione said he wanted to give a free hand to incoming Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso in forming a new executive. He made the announcement at a press conference a few hours after Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi indicated he was withdrawing Mr. Buttiglione as Italy’s nominee for the justice commissioner post.

Mr. Berlusconi said the decision was made after he met with Mr. Barroso and other European leaders who were in Rome on Friday to sign the EU’s first constitution.

A committee in the European Parliament earlier this month objected to Mr. Buttiglione’s nomination for the EU justice post because of his conservative views.

Mr. Buttiglione, a Catholic who is a confidant of Pope John Paul II, drew outrage when he told his confirmation hearing at the European Parliament that homosexuality is a sin and women are better off married and at home.

THAILAND

Government seeks calm with Muslims

BANGKOK — The government yesterday tried to ease tensions over the deaths of 85 accused Muslim rioters — including 78 who died in military custody — by freeing hundreds of detainees held after Monday’s protest in southern Thailand.

Reporters saw 238 ex-prisoners at the Inkayut army camp in Pattani province put on four buses for nearby provincial capitals to be reunited with their families.

It was not immediately clear whether detainees were also freed from other camps, though the official Thai News Agency said that “all innocent youth” involved in the riot had been released.

In his weekly radio address yesterday morning, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that about 900 of the more than 1,200 people in detention would be freed, while the remainder should be held for further investigation and possible prosecution.