World News: Anniversary in Lebanon

hAnniversary in Lebanon

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Hundreds of Lebanese marked the 33rd anniversary of the start of their country’s civil war with a march Sunday along the line that divided Beirut into two sectors during the bloody conflict.

Included, above, was an artist’s toilet seat display titled “Haven’t 15 years of hiding in the toilets been enough?”

The march came as Lebanon is mired in its worst political crisis since the 1975-1990 war, which claimed about 150,000 lives.

Several hundred people marched from the Mar Mikhael intersection in Beirut’s southern suburbs to downtown Beirut.

Beijing exempts eateries from new smoking ban

BEIJING — Beijing has backtracked on a proposed public smoking ban, saying restaurants will no longer be included due to concerns it will hurt their business, a state-run newspaper reported today.

Restaurants, bars and Internet cafes will be exempt from a recently announced ban on smoking in public places to start May 1, the China Daily reported.

They will now be asked only to have separate smoking and nonsmoking areas, it said.

Uruguay barbecue champ

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — One of South America’s smallest countries proved on Sunday it can hold the biggest barbecue in the world.

Some 1,250 Uruguayan grillmeisters sizzled up 26,400 pounds of beef Sunday, beating a 2006 record set in Mexico.

“It’s all so beautiful. It’s a record,” Guinness World Records judge Danny Girton said after the chefssmoked and barbecued their way into the record book with help of 6 tons of charcoal and 1,500 metal barbecue stands.

Mosque blast toll rises

TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian officials raised the death toll from an explosion in a packed mosque in southern Iran to 12 on Sunday and said more than 200 had been injured in the blast.

Mothers of kids removed from ranch make appeal

SAN ANGELO, Texas — The mothers of children removed from a polygamous sect’s ranch in West Texas after an abuse allegation are appealing to Gov. Rick Perry for help, saying some of their children have become sick and required hospitalization.

In the letter, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the mothers from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also say children are “horrified” by physical examinations they have undergone while in state custody.

The mothers said the letter was mailed Saturday.

18 hurt in river collision

ANGOLA, La. — At least 18 people are injured after a boat carrying Louisiana prison employees collided with another vessel on the Mississippi River.

Louisiana State Penitentiary spokeswoman Kathy Fontenot says the collision occurred Sunday evening during a shift change. At least two people were seriously injured.

West Feliciana Parish Sheriff Austin Daniel says no one went into the river.

The Coast Guard says the accident involved the crew boat and a vessel pushing two barges. The Coast Guard says all people aboard have been accounted for.

Deal for Delta, Northwest

ATLANTA — Delta and Northwest could announce a combination as early as Tuesday that would create the world’s biggest airline, but pilot contract issues still loomed and there was no guarantee the deal would move ahead, three people familiar with the talks said Sunday.

The people, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, said officials were mobilizing for an announcement provided the boards of the two companies give final approval to a deal.

Associated Press