World datelines

Afghanistan: Fraud

KABUL — The top U.N. official in Afghanistan on Sunday acknowledged "widespread fraud" in the disputed presidential election and rejected allegations from a former deputy that he covered up cheating to smooth the path to victory for President Hamid Karzai.

The remarks by Norwegian diplomat Kai Eide appeared designed to win back respect for both the troubled U.N. mission and the entire election process ahead of a ruling by investigators on whether fraud was extensive enough in the Aug. 20 balloting to require a runoff.

Israel: No peace talks

JERUSALEM — Washington's special Mideast envoy wrapped up his latest round of shuttle diplomacy in the region on Sunday, again having failed to persuade the Israelis and Palestinians to resume peace talks.

The envoy, George Mitchell, spent more than an hour huddling with Israel's prime minister and defense minister. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the talks "continued their discussions on moving the peace process forward."

Australia: Boat people

CANBERRA — Australia will resettle 42 Afghan men who survived a boat explosion that killed five fellow asylum seekers in Australian waters in April, an official said on Monday.

Police announced this month that passengers had deliberately set fire to their wooden vessel after it was intercepted by the Australian navy about 350 miles northwest of the Australian coastal city of Broome.

The survivors, several of whom were injured by the explosion, had been found to be genuine refugees "because of the situation in Afghanistan and the potential threat to their lives that existed in Afghanistan," Immigration Minister Chris Evans told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.

Guatemala: Attacks

GUATEMALA CITY — Two separate attacks on police in Guatemala have killed one officer and wounded six more.

Interior Minister Raul Velasquez says gunmen opened fire Saturday on a patrol car along a highway outside Guatemala City, killing an officer and wounding three others.

Velasquez said Sunday that assailants attacked another squad car hours later in the capital, wounding three officers.

Venezuela: Peace prize