World Briefing

Across the border in Lebanon, a second day of celebrations marked the return of five militants freed by Israel in exchange for the bodies of soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. The five, including Samir Kuntar, convicted of a 1979 triple murder, prayed at the grave of a slain Hezbollah military commander and vowed to keep fighting Israel.

Goldwasser and Regev were captured two years ago in a cross-border raid by Hezbollah fighters.

AUSTRALIA

Pope tells faithful to care for planet

Pope Benedict XVI said mankind's "insatiable consumption" has scarred the Earth and squandered its resources, telling followers that taking care of the planet is vital to humanity.

The 81-year-old pontiff, appearing rested and in good form, gave his first major speech for Roman Catholicism's World Youth Day before adoring crowds who had traveled from 168 countries to see him in Sydney, Australia's largest city.

As the sun set in the mild chill of the Australian winter, Benedict struck a theme that has earned him a reputation as the "green pope."

MEXICO

Gunmen kidnap police official

Gunmen have abducted the chief of kidnapping and organized crime investigations for the Mexican border state of Coahuila.

The Coahuila prosecutor's office said in a statement that commander Gerardo Valdes was seized this week by at least six men as he was driving in the state capital, Saltillo. The office said an unidentified man called police a few hours later and said Valdes had been kidnapped by the Juarez drug cartel.

President Felipe Calderon has deployed 40,000 soldiers across the country to battle drug gangs, which have responded with bold attacks.

MALAYSIA

Opposition chief refuses DNA test

Malaysia's main opposition leader, arrested Wednesday and released a day later, said he refused to provide a DNA sample to disprove allegations that he sodomized a male aide, alleging that it could be used to frame him and stop his coalition from seizing power.

The sodomy accusation against Anwar Ibrahim comes as the government is struggling to address growing dissatisfaction with the ruling coalition, which suffered election losses in March to a resurgent opposition. Anwar has vowed to build on that victory and topple the government this fall.

CHILE

Three indicted in disappearances

A Chilean judge indicted a deputy of former dictator Augusto Pinochet and two others over the 1987 disappearance of five leftists believed murdered and hurled into the ocean from a helicopter.

They were the last people known to have disappeared at the hands of the 1973-90 regime.

Magistrate Mario Carroza indicted former deputy army commander and junta member Santiago Sinclair, former army secret intelligence service head Hugo Prado and Col. Marcelo Bustos, who is still in the military, over the disappearances.

From Times Wire Reports