World Scene

SAUDI ARABIA

Police kill militant in shootout

RIYADH — Saudi security forces, battling a wave of al Qaeda violence, killed a suspected Islamic militant and wounded another in a shootout yesterday in the capital, Riyadh, state news reported.

The clash broke out after police stopped a vehicle that was thought to be used by militants and was carrying false license plates. The two men in the car started shooting, and police returned fire, an Interior Ministry official told the Saudi Press Agency.

IRAN

Nuclear watchdog warns clerics

TEHRAN —The head of the U.N. atomic-energy watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, arrived in Iran early today with a warning to the Islamic republic’s clerical leaders that they were failing to ease suspicions that the country was seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

Asked by an Iranian journalist why he needed to visit when Iran had cooperated with the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mr. ElBaradei replied: “I think that does not necessarily reflect the facts.”

MEXICO

Flash flood sweeps border city

PIEDRAS NEGRAS — At least 50 people died and 40 were missing after a powerful storm lashed northern Mexico over the weekend, officials said yesterday.

Officials in the northern Mexican state of Coahuila, which borders the United States, said at least 3,500 people were forced from their homes by the rains.

“We’ve never seen something like this before, and right now, the important thing is for people to help us deal quickly with the problem,” state Gov. Enrique Martinez said.

RUSSIA

Chechen woman convicted of terrorism

MOSCOW — A jury yesterday found a Chechen woman guilty of terrorism for possessing explosives that killed a bomb-disposal specialist as he tried to defuse them outside a popular restaurant.

Zarema Muzhakhoyeva, 23, was tried on charges of terrorism, preparing and attempting to commit a crime and illegal possession of explosives. It was not known what sentence Muzhakhoyeva faces.

JAPAN

7-Eleven to open Chinese outlet

TOKYO — The 7-Eleven Japan Co. will open its first Chinese outlet in Beijing on April 15 and plans to open 500 outlets in the country in five years, a major Japanese business daily reported today.

The Nihon Keizai Shimbun said although a Hong Kong-based firm operates 7-Eleven stores in southeastern China, the Beijing branch will be 7-Eleven Japan’s first Chinese outlet through direct investment.