Around the World

Florence knocks out power in Bermuda
HAMILTON, Bermuda --Hurricane Florence knocked out power to thousands of homes and businesses in Bermuda but was moving away from the wealthy British enclave Monday as tourists hunkered down inside resort hotels. The eye of Florence, the second hurricane of the Atlantic season, was churning northwest of Bermuda. It was spared a direct hit by the eye of the storm, but forecasters said hurricane-force winds extending up to 70 miles from the center could cause substantial damage.

Saddam accuses Kurds of sowing hatred
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A defiant Saddam Hussein accused Kurdish witnesses at his genocide trial Monday of trying to divide Iraqis by alleging chemical attacks and mass arrests during a crackdown that the prosecution says killed up to 180,000 people. Three Kurdish witnesses told of brutal repression during Operation Anfal, the 1987-88 campaign against a Kurdish revolt in the final stages of Iraq's war with Iran. Saddam accused the Kurds of helping Iran in the war.

Agreement reached in Fatah-Hamas coalition
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas struck a deal Monday to share power with the militant Islamic Hamas, an accord that would restore international aid and could lead to contacts with Israel. The breakthrough compromise falls short of international demands that Hamas fully renounce violence, but Israeli officials still voiced cautious support for the accord. Hamas, which is committed to Israel's destruction, swept to victory in January legislative elections, defeating Fatah, and formed a government by itself. The West and Israel reacted by cutting off hundreds of millions of dollars in aid, accusing Hamas of being a terrorist group.

Britain's Blair faces angry protesters on Lebanese visit
BEIRUT, Lebanon -- An angry protester accusing Tony Blair of complicity in the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon disrupted a news conference Monday, and thousands of demonstrators shouted outside as the British prime minister visited Beirut. Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a close Hezbollah ally who was supposed to meet with Blair, left town in an apparent snub. And the country's most senior Shiite Muslim cleric said he held Blair responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Lebanese civilians during the 34-day war because Britain supported the United States in refusing to demand a quick cease-fire.