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VATICAN CITY, April 6 (Reuters) : Cardinals decided on Wednesday to start a conclave to elect a successor to Pope John Paul on April 18 as more than 1 million people lined up to see the Pontiff's body, bringing chaos to Rome.
Italy called in the army to help manage the rapidly swelling tumult ahead of Friday's funeral, which is set to be one of the biggest in history, and warned that anyone joining the queue would have to wait up to 14 hours before glimpsing the body.
Secluded from the massing pilgrims, Roman Catholic cardinals chose the start date for the conclave which faces the daunting task of replacing a giant figure of the 20th century.
The electors will vote in the Sistine Chapel twice a day until they have selected a new pontiff.
Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls told reporters that John Paul's last will and testament was read to the cardinals on Wednesday and would be released on Thursday. ( Earlier story on page 15)
Militants raid Indo-Pak delegation
SRINAGAR (Internet): Two suspected Islamic militants on Wednesday stormed a guest house holding passengers waiting for the first bus to cross the divided Himalayan territory of Kashmir in an attack targeting the biggest India-Pakistan peace gesture in decades. Both attackers were killed and at least three people wounded, but all the bus passengers were safe, police said.
Two buildings on the government complex for tourists were gutted by fire and smoke poured out of windows as people jumped from the ground floor assisted by soldiers, but the house where the bus passengers had been staying was left intact. The heat was so intense that firefighters could not enter the buildings.
Nine killed in Afghanistan copter crash
WASHINGTON (CNN) :Nine people were killed Wednesday when a coalition helicopter travelling in "severe weather" crashed in Afghanistan, the American military said.
A CH-47 Chinook helicopter crashed near Ghazni, roughly 100 miles southwest of Kabul.
"The chopper was one of two Chinooks returning to Bagram Air Field from a routine mission in southern Afghanistan. The second helicopter arrived safely at Bagram Airfield," the military said in a news release.
"A recovery operation is at the site providing security and accounting for the dead."
Abdul Rahman Sarjang, the chief of police in Ghazni, told the Associated Press that the crash occurred in the flat desert near a brick factory about five kilometres (three miles) outside the city. The helicopter caught fire, he said.
Pakistan, China sign anti-terror, trade deals
ISLAMABAD(AFP): Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Tuesday as the close allies signed a raft of military, economic and trade agreements, officials said.
Wen is making his maiden South Asian tour as premier, a week-long swing through the strategically and economically important region that will also include trips to India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Officials said a total of 20 agreements were signed in the presence of Wen, who assumed office in March last year, and Aziz.
"The two leaders held formal talks in a cordial atmosphere at Prime Minister house," a Pakistani official said after the meeting.
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