Datelines

Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - An Islamist leader urged Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's government to explode a nuclear bomb to send a warning to arch-rival India, which he said dramatically altered the regional balance when it conducted five nuclear tests earlier this month.

Russia

VLADIVOSTOK - Border guards shot dead two crew members of a Chinese fishing boat and wounded five after the U.S. Coast Guard tipped them the vessel was poaching in the Bering Strait.

Lebanon

MARJAYOUN - Israeli warplanes raided suspected guerrilla positions in southern Lebanon shortly after an Israeli-allied militiaman was killed and two others wounded in guerrilla attacks.

Bahamas

NASSAU - The government sent 71 more Cuban boat people back to their communist homeland, and an official said they intend to empty their detention camp of Cuban refugees next week.

Cambodia

PHNOM PENH - Pilot error caused the crash of a Vietnam Airlines flight that killed 64 people eight months ago, according to a report by Cambodian authorities. Only two young children survived the Sept. 3 crash of the Russian-built, twin-engine Tupolev 134.

Italy

ROME - The government requested the extradition of Sicilian Mafia boss Pasquale Cuntrera, 63, from Spain where he fled just before he was due to be re-arrested to serve a 21-year jail sentence on drug charges.

Algeria

ALGIERS - A bomb killed at least seven people and wounded eight in a fruit and vegetable market in the northern town of Khemis Miliana, security forces said.

Morocco

RABAT - King Hassan is on his way to visit Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to discussing trade, bilateral concerns and regional and international politics.

France