World datelines

Afghanistan

KABUL — A kidnapped British engineer was found dead Saturday and two bodies discovered in Afghanistan's southern desert were identified as missing Japanese tourists, raising fears that elections later this month may be disrupted by militant violence. Taliban-led rebels have vowed to disrupt the Sept. 18 poll, the next key step toward democracy after a quarter century of war and civil strife.

China

BEIJING — Chinese President Hu Jintao on Saturday postponed his official visit to Washington next week due to Hurricane Katrina, but he and President Bush agreed to meet on the sidelines of a U.N. assembly in New York later this month.

Egypt

CAIRO — An Egyptian court ruled Saturday that non-governmental groups will be allowed to monitor the nation's first multi-candidate presidential election next week.

Iran

U.S. and European resolve to bring Iran before the U.N. Security Council grew Saturday following revelations that Tehran had recently produced about seven tons of the gas it needs to enrich uranium — a possible pathway to a nuclear weapon. The International Atomic Energy Agency said that Iran had pumped out that amount of uranium hexafluoride gas since resuming conversion from uranium ore last month.

Jordan

AMMAN — Saddam Hussein's daughter said Saturday she has worked out strategy for the defense of Iraq's ousted leader, including a media campaign and a new team of international lawyers for the trial's expected start next month. Raghad Saddam Hussein said the plan was drafted after three days of consultations in the Jordanian capital of Amman with legal consultants from Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Sudan and Lebanon.

Lebanon

BEIRUT — Under intense pressure to cooperate with a U.N. probe, Syria on Saturday invited the chief U.N. envoy investigating the assassination of former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri to visit Damascus and meet with Syrian authorities.

Mauritania

NOUAKCHOTT — Mauritania's ruling military junta said Saturday it had liberated 115 political prisoners jailed by the ousted former regime, but that nearly two dozen Islamic militants linked to al-Qaida would remain in custody.