Venezuela strike causes buying panic

CARACAS, Venezuela

Venezuelans waited up to four hours for gasoline and stocked up on food and water yesterday as a strike seeking President Hugo Chavez's ouster created shortages at markets, banks, pharmacies and service stations.

The growing shutdown increased pressure on Chavez to give in to opposition demands to call a referendum on his government or resign. Already, the eight-day strike has crippled the oil industry - the world's fifth-largest and Venezuela's main source of revenue.

Gas, drinking water and cash at automatic teller machines were increasingly scarce in Caracas and other cities. Dozens of domestic flights were canceled. Banks closed. Motorists waited in a mile-long line for gas in the central city Valencia.

Dozens of treasury and customs agents joined the opposition strike, which began Dec. 2.

Harbor pilots and cargo handlers closed Venezuela's biggest port, Puerto Cabello, 90 miles west of Caracas, said Jorge Serrano, president of the National Ports Institute. Puerto Cabello handles most of Venezuela's non-oil imports and exports.

Chavez ordered the military to help the Energy Ministry guarantee gas supplies and oil exports by all means necessary - including by temporarily seizing private truck fleets.

Indonesia signs peace deal with rebel group

GENEVA

The Indonesian government signed a peace deal with rebels from Aceh province yesterday, taking a major step toward ending a 26-year conflict that threatened to destabilize the world's most populous Muslim nation.

The deal with the insurgents in Aceh, a region the size of Maryland that is rich in oil and timber, grants its 4.1 million people autonomy but not independence. It sets a cease-fire and calls for the eventual disarmament of the rebels.

"There's still a great deal of work to be done before we reap the harvest of peace," said Wiryono Sastro Handoyo, the top Indonesian government negotiator.

Rebel spokesman Isnander Al-Faseh said the rebels would withdraw their forces and halt all attacks against government troops. But he accused the special forces of bringing in reinforcements for a possible operation in the north of the province.

"This may be the work of hardline elements within the Indonesian military who do not want this peace deal to succeed," Al-Faseh said.

President Bush called the peace deal a "courageous effort" and said the United States will help provide humanitarian and reconstruction assistance for Aceh.

Palestinian killed by Israeli troops

JERUSALEM

Israeli troops shot and killed a mentally disabled Palestinian yesterday and arrested an alleged gunman accused of killing a 10-month-old Israeli girl last year in the West Bank city of Hebron.

A Palestinian Cabinet minister, meanwhile, joined a growing chorus of Palestinian leaders questioning the use of violence in the 26-month-old uprising against Israel.

Planning Minister Nabil Shaath said attacks on all Israeli civilians must stop, including those on Jewish settlers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. "Stopping targeting Israeli civilians is a step that needs to be implemented," Shaath said.

The Palestinian Authority has condemned attacks on civilians in Israel, but has said settlers and soldiers remain legitimate targets. In yesterday's violence, Israeli troops shot and killed a 28-year-old mentally disabled Palestinian, Basel al-Koa, at a military checkpoint.

U.S. judge dismisses Cheney task force suit

WASHINGTON

A federal judge yesterday rebuffed congressional efforts to learn about meetings that Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force held with industry executives and lobbyists while formulating the Bush administration's recent energy plan.

In dismissing the lawsuit by the investigative arm of Congress, U.S. District Court Judge John Bates said only seven senators and congressmen had expressed support for the efforts to get the information.

The lawsuit by Comptroller General David Walker against Cheney was an unprecedented act that raised serious separation-of-powers issues.

"No court has ever before granted what the comptroller general seeks," wrote Bates. "This case ... is not the setting for such unprecedented judicial action."

Gore, Kerry leading New Hampshire poll

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.

Former Vice President Al Gore and Sen.