Around the World

Police arrest 25 in Jakarta bombings

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Indonesian police announced yesterday they had arrested 25 people suspected of carrying out a spate of bombings in the capital and said the next target would have been the U.S. Embassy.

The suspects were implicated in attacks including a blast at the Jakarta Stock Exchange that killed 15 people, said Brig. Gen. Dadang Garnida.

One suspect, armed with a grenade, was detained on his way to attack the U.S. Embassy and a crowded department store nearby, the officer said.

U.S. Embassy officials declined to comment yesterday. The U.S. State Department warned last week that American companies and interests might be targeted by the bombers.

Police officials said most detainees were from the northwestern province of Aceh, wracked by decades of bloody fighting between separatist guerrillas and Indonesian troops. All were arrested in the capital, and police were seeking more suspects.

No military or police personnel were arrested, despite speculation that disaffected elements within the armed forces, loyal to former dictator Suharto, might have been responsible.

President Abdurrahman Wahid installed a new national police chief Saturday, ordering him to take quick action to stop the attacks.

Flooding in South Asia kills hundreds

CALCUTTA, India - As flooding receded, the army worked yesterday to deliver food and fresh water to millions marooned in eastern India after six days of rain submerged the countryside and left an estimated 373 dead or missing, officials said.

Soldiers took hundreds of boats into the countryside to rescue people from their rooftops. Their efforts, hampered because of downed roads and rail lines, were back in full swing, officials said.