Briefly

INDIA

Move boosts odds of female president

NEW DELHI — Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said yesterday he would not run for a second term, increasing the chances of the country getting its first-ever female head of state.

Mr. Kalam, 76, was appointed president in 2002 by the Hindu nationalist government. A presidential spokesman said he withdrew from the July 19 vote to avoid dragging the presidency into a “political process.”

The ruling Congress party nominee and poll favorite is Pratibha Patil, 72, governor of the desert state of Rajasthan.

The president has limited authority over day-to-day affairs, but can play a crucial role in government formation at both the state and federal levels.

NEPAL

Maoists seen curbing political activity

KATMANDU — Nepal’s Maoist former rebels and other armed groups are hindering political activity in the countryside, United Nations monitors warned yesterday, raising fears of disturbances ahead of this year’s national elections.

Nepal is due to vote for a constituent assembly by the end of the year to decide the fate of the monarchy, as part of a peace deal with the Maoists that ended a decade-long civil war that killed thousands.

Several armed groups have attacked civilians and political activists since the signing of the peace deal in November, which saw the Maoists join the political mainstream after locking up their weapons under U.N. oversight.

AFGHANISTAN

Militants, civilians killed in air strike

KANDAHAR — An air strike by international security forces killed 25 civilians, including 12 members of a family, and 20 Taliban fighters in southern Afghanistan, a police chief said yesterday.

Helmand provincial police Chief Hussein Andiwal said the raid took place Thursday night as part of an operation against Taliban fighters by U.S. and other foreign forces and Afghan troops.

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