WORLD IN BRIEF: Heat from gas dispute spreads

The fallout from a dispute between Russia and Ukraine over the price of natural gas spread to other Eastern European nations Saturday, as Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Romania reported dwindling pressure in their gas pipeline systems. The authorities in Bulgaria said they might have to restrict gas use. But farther west, Germany, the largest consumer of Russian natural gas in the European Union, and Italy reported no troubles two days after Russia halted gas shipments to Ukraine. European Union energy officials said they would call an emergency meeting for Monday. At issue in the dispute, which threatens to cause heating fuel shortages in Europe at the time it is most needed, is a system of gas trunk pipelines that is a legacy of the Soviet Union. Russia has been trying to force higher rates on Ukraine by halting supplies.

Wounded woman called ‘erratic’

U.S. soldiers shot and wounded a woman —- identified by an Iraqi television station as one of its producers —- last week after she failed to heed warnings to stop near a Baghdad checkpoint recently targeted by suicide and car bombs, Iraqi and U.S. military officials said. The U.S. military said in a statement the woman was “acting erratic” and didn’t respond to warnings from Iraqi and American troops near the checkpoint Thursday. Hadeel Emad, 25, was in critical condition in a Baghdad hospital. The U.S. military said that it and Iraqi security officials were investigating the shooting. Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki arrived in Iran for a two-day visit with top leaders, in which he is expected to allay Iranian’s concerns about the United States’ continuing influence over Iraq. It is his fourth trip to Iran since being elected.

Pullout stirs fears of fight for power

Islamic insurgents appeared to be scrambling for power in Somalia, taking over several police stations in the capital, Mogadishu, as Ethiopian troops who have been propping up the government began to pull out, witnesses said. Many fear the Ethiopian pullout —- and last month’s resignation of Somalia’s president —- will cause Islamic militant groups to fight among themselves for power, bringing even more chaos to Somalia.

Tsunami alert lifted after earthquake

A strong earthquake in remote eastern Indonesia cut power lines, cracked building walls and sent panicked residents running out of their homes toward higher ground, authorities and witnesses said. The Indonesian Meteorology and Seismology Agency warned that with a preliminary magnitude of 7.2 it was strong enough to cause a tsunami. However, there were no immediate reports of giant waves and the warning was lifted within an hour. The tremor struck at 2:43 a.m. local time, about 85 miles off the coast of Manokwari, Papua, at a depth of 6 miles. A huge quake off western Indonesia caused the 2004 Asian tsunami that killed around 230,000 people, more than half of them in Sumatra.

Piracy suspects held after attack

Denmark said it is holding five suspects of piracy in custody while it explores legal action after an attack on a Netherlands Antilles-registered freight ship off the coast of Somalia. The Danish navy caught the suspects in the Gulf of Aden on Friday after receiving a distress call from the freighter. The Danes intercepted and sank the vessel after the freight ship crew set it on fire with a distress signal rocket, forcing the suspects into the water.

Strikes follow fall of rebel capital

Sri Lankan forces launched airstrikes and ground assaults on ethnic Tamil rebels in the north Saturday, a day after dealing the separatists’ struggle for autonomy a devastating blow by capturing their de facto capital, the military said. But in a sign the insurgents remained determined to battle on, a small bomb planted under a car exploded on a busy street in Colombo, wounding three people, military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said.

Autopsy planned for Travolta’s son

The Bahamas will use two pathologists to ensure a careful autopsy on John Travolta’s son, who died at the actor’s vacation home in Grand Bahama, according to the territory’s health minister, Dr. Hubert Minnis. Jett Travolta, 16, was found collapsed in a bathroom Friday after having a seizure and hitting his head on the bathtub, said a police officer who declined to be named because she was not authorized to speak on the matter. He was pronounced dead at a Freeport hospital. John Travolta is trying to finish funeral arrangements and hopes to fly his son’s body to his home in Florida, by midweek, said Michael McDermott, the actor’s corporate and commercial attorney. Travolta, 54, and his wife, actress Kelly Preston, 46, have a house in Ocala.