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Thousands of Iraqi Shi'ite Muslims have gathered in the holy city of Najaf for the funerals of three people killed in a bombing attack. 

Some of the mourners vowed revenge on Monday for the attack that killed aides to prominent Shi'ite cleric Ayatollah Mohammed Sa'id al-Hakim, who was slightly wounded in Sunday's bombing. Several other people were hurt. 

Some Iraqis in Najaf are blaming loyalists of ousted President Saddam Hussein for the attack, while others say a rival Shi'ite group is responsible. Ayatollah al-Hakim is related to a member of the U.S.-appointed Iraqi governing council, which has drawn criticism from Shi'ites opposed to cooperation with the United States. 

Meanwhile, Turkey expressed concern over recent clashes between ethnic Kurds and members of the Turkmen minority in northern Iraq. The clashes in the past three days killed 12 people in the northern city of Kirkuk. 

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Ankara cannot accept the treatment meted out to Turkmen, and urged the United States to establish and maintain peace in Iraq. 

Also, U.S. troops in Iraq announced the arrest of seven men, including two suspected leading members of the anti-American Fedayeen militia. Officials said the arrests took place in Tikrit, the hometown of Saddam Hussein.
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Iraqi Shi'ite Muslims Crowd Streets of Najaf to Bury Bodyguards of Cleric

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Some information for this report provided by Reuters, AP and AFP.

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Provincial officials said U.S. and Afghan government forces destroyed a Taleban camp in Monday's air and ground raids. They say warplanes pounded the mountain areas where some 600 Taleban fighters were said to be hiding after launching anti-government attacks on Friday and Saturday. 

In a separate operation, Afghan and U.S. soldiers captured at least 40 suspected Taleban guerillas in Paktika province, following a series of attacks by anti-government rebels. 

Foreign Ministry spokesman Omar Samad said those in custody may also be associated with the al-Qaida terrorist network and with ethnic Pashtun warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. 

The latest incidents come after a series of clashes in recent weeks between government forces and Taleban fighters in southeastern Afghanistan. On Saturday, five government soldiers were killed in a guerrilla ambush in Zabul province. 

Government and U.S.-led coalition forces have pursued guerrillas in southeastern Afghanistan since the fall of the hardline Islamic Taleban regime in November 2001. The coalition forces are also hunting for Taleban leader Mullah Omar and al-Qaida's Osama bin Laden. 

Mr. Hekmatyar, the Pashtun warlord, is believed to have forged an alliance with Taleban and al-Qaida remnants to oust the Western-backed government of President Hamid Karzai.
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Islamabad Seeks Release of Pakistanis Held in Afghan Prisons Afghan Officials Report Arrest of Scores of Taleban Fighters

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Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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• Mr. Arafat appointed Brigadier General Jibril Rajoub, a former head of the security forces in the West Bank, to oversee operations of the Palestinian police. 
• Palestinian officials say the appointment is part of Mr. Arafat's efforts to retain full control over security forces. 
• Mr. Arafat has sparked an internal crisis within the Palestinian Authority by refusing to relinquish his control over the various Palestinian forces that are responsible for law and order. 
• Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and his security chief, Mohammed Dahlan, have mounted a challenge to Mr. Arafat's rule, declaring that they need to have responsibility for all security forces to confront the Palestinian militant groups that continue to carry out terror attacks. 

AP
Newly appointed national security adviser Brig. Gen. Jibril Rajoub talks to reporters after his meeting with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat

Mr. Arafat appointed Brigadier General Jibril Rajoub, a former head of the security forces in the West Bank, to oversee operations of the Palestinian police. 

Palestinian officials say the appointment is part of Mr. Arafat's efforts to retain full control over security forces. 

Mr. Arafat has sparked an internal crisis within the Palestinian Authority by refusing to relinquish his control over the various Palestinian forces that are responsible for law and order. 

Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and his security chief, Mohammed Dahlan, have mounted a challenge to Mr. Arafat's rule, declaring that they need to have responsibility for all security forces to confront the Palestinian militant groups that continue to carry out terror attacks. 

Mr. Arafat rejected their appeal and enlisted Mr. Rajoub, who he had fired last year following a heated argument. At the time, the Palestinian president reportedly tried to punch Mr. Rajoub and drew his pistol before being restrained by some of his aides. But the two men appear to have patched up their differences and have found common cause in their opposition to Mr. Dahlan, regarded by Mr. Rajoub as a strong rival. 

Mr. Rajoub confirmed he had accepted the position and said a new national security council would be established under the leadership of Mr. Arafat. This body would oversee what he described as the reform of the various Palestinian police forces. 

Mr. Rajoub also said his appointment could help heal the rift between Mr. Arafat and Mr. Abbas, rejecting claims that it would only increase tensions within the Palestinian leadership.
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Hamas Vows Revenge for Latest Killing Israeli Missile Attacks Kill 4 in Gaza City

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AP
Remains of vehicle destroyed in Bombay car bomb attack; at rear is Gateway of India

 The first bomb exploded at a crowded marketplace in southern Bombay in the busy early afternoon. A short time later a second powerful explosion occurred nearby in the heart of the Bombay's commercial center, near the "Gateway of India" landmark, a favorite tourist site. 

Police are describing the blasts as car bombs. 

Television pictures showed gruesome scenes, pieces of clothing strewn amid pools of blood on the street, charred remains of cars blown apart at the site, and shattered glass from windows blown out in nearby buildings. 

Sushilkumar Shinde, Chief Minister of Maharashtra State, appealed for calm. The minister warned people against listening to rumors. He said there were two explosions, not four as had been reported earlier. Mr. Shinde also said the police were doing all they could to ensure security. 

People in Bombay are edgy. The city has been hit by several bombings in the past eight months. The most recent previous attack occurred in late July, when a bomb exploded on a crowded passenger bus. In March, 11 people were killed in a bomb blast on a passenger train. 

Police have, in the past, blamed Islamic militants with ties to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba group for the attacks. Lashkar-e-Taiba is waging a separatist guerrilla campaign in the disputed area of Kashmir. 

Pakistan quickly condemned the explosions, calling them acts of terror. 

"We deplore these attacks and we sympathize with the victims and their families," said Pakistani foreign ministry spokesman Masood Khan. "Civilians have been targeted, according to the reports that we have seen. We condemn all acts of terrorism and I think that such wanton targeting of civilians should be condemned in the strongest possible terms."

 The bombings occurred the same day as the release of a controversial report by Indian archeologists that says there is evidence of an ancient Hindu temple under the ruins of a 16th century mosque in the northern town of Ayodhya. 

In 1992, Hindu mobs destroyed the Babri mosque, claiming it was built on the remains of an earlier Hindu temple. The incident triggered massive nationwide riots in which more than 2,000 people were killed.