World Watch

Lost On A Sea Of Misery
ITALY The sight of 13 coffins in a row — each draped in the blue-and-white Somali flag — was enough to chill even Italians jaded by the grim regularity of would-be immigrants dying. On Friday, Italian leaders and ordinary citizens alike turned out for a special memorial service in Rome, capping a week of anguish after 13 still-unidentified Somalis were found dead from exposure in the hull of a fishing boat off the coast of Lampedusa, a small island south of Sicily. Accounts from survivors indicated that as many as 60 other Somalis had died on the journey, which began on the Libyan coast on Oct. 3. Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu, who estimated that several hundred people have died this year in the waters between North Africa and Sicily, said the latest tragedy "weighs on the conscience of Europe."

Pisanu implored his European counterparts to fight the human-smuggling trade, noting that most of the new arrivals in Italy are ultimately destined for countries to the north. And still they come: after the Sunday discovery

MEANWHILE IN THE U.K. ... Sun Storm in a Gallery When two Englishmen meet, they talk about the weather. When staff at London's Tate Modern museum gather, they talk about "The Weather Project" — and how Danish-born artist Olafur Eliasson's installation leaves them feeling foggy. While visitors have been dazzled, Tate staffers say they've been disoriented by a yellow mist in which a representation of the sun drifts. The haze is glycol, a harmless sugar-and-water mix often used to create atmosphere in nightclubs. The cure? A bit of fresh air. ALASTAIR GRANT/AP

of the 13 victims, three additional boatloads of arrivals from Africa were intercepted last week near Lampedusa. — By Jeff Israely

A Turn to the Right
switzerland The nationalist Swiss People's Party won about 27% of the vote in the country's general elections, leading it to ask for a second seat in the seven-member federal cabinet, to be chosen on Dec. 10. The anti-immigration party's gains came in Switzerland's French- and Italian-speaking cantons and at the expense of center-right parties.

Coughing Up for Iraq
SPAIN Having pledged $20 billion toward reconstruction in Iraq, the U.S. had hoped that other countries at a donors' conference in Madrid would stump up another $36 billion. So far, at least $13 billion in cash grants and loans has been promised. The reconstruction bill has been estimated at nearly $56 billion through 2007.

Road Map to Nowhere
GAZA In yet another blow to the stalled Middle East road map to peace, Israeli forces killed 12 Palestinians, including militants and civilians, in a series of air raids in Gaza, while three Israeli soldiers died in a shooting and grenade attack by Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The latter assault came on the heels of an agreement by leaders of the two main Palestinian Muslim militant groups, meeting in Syria, to coordinate their attacks.

FARC Takes a Hit
COLOMBIA The second-ranking leader of an élite unit of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, was killed in a gun battle that military officials called a major blow to the group. Edgar Gustavo Navarro is said to have been behind the capture of three Americans — and the killing of a fourth — after their plane was shot down during a counternarcotics mission in February.

Still on Top
swaziland King Mswati III reigns supreme despite a general election in Swaziland, Africa's last traditional monarchy. Royal loyalists won most of the 60 seats up for grabs in the House of Assembly as pro-democracy groups boycotted the poll. Still, a prominent opposition leader and five women were elected for the first time.

A Separate Peace?
INDIA Setting aside the issue of Kashmir from its other differences with Pakistan, India proposed a 12-point plan — including restoring cricket matches — to improve relations between the two countries. Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani agreed to a long-standing demand from Kashmiri separatists to talk directly with the All Parties Hurriyat Conference, an alliance of political, social and religious groups. Pakistan said it was pleased with the peace moves, but disappointed that no summit-level talks were offered.