Ruling party wins Ugandan polls: The ruling party of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has won an absolute majority in elections to a new constituent assembly according to official figures released Saturday. AFP reports from Kampala.

With all the results of the 214 elected seats announced, Museveni's National Resistance Movement (NRM) has won 120 seats in the new assembly, according to counts by political groups, while 74 seats were won by opposition candidates. Flood hits Fast Java: More than 100.000 Indonesians were forced to spend the holiday weekend away from their villages after floods caused by torrential rains hit several districts in East Java, an official sajd yesterday. Reuter reports from Jakarta.

A local government official said by telephone from Bojonegoro in East Java. 570 km (355 miles) east of Jakarta, that although flood waters had started to subside, residents from about 150 villages were still unable to return home.

Pope holds Easter prayer: Pope John Paul n held an Easter vigil service of hymn and prayer Saturday evening in-St. Peter's Basilica. AP reports from Vatican.

The pontiff baptized 27 people from various countries during the ceremony. They came from Italy. South Korea. Japan, the Philippines, Hong Kong. Guatemala. Peru.

' Portugal, Slovakia. Spain and Switzerland

Russia to work for ME peace: Syrian President Hafez Al Assad met in Damascus Saturday with Russian first Deputy Foreign Minister Igo{ Ivanov, who handed Al-Assad a message from Russian President Boris Yeltsin on the Middle East peace process. Xinhua reports from Damascus.

A Syrian presidency spokesman said after the meeting that • the Russian envoy expressed his country's interest in the Middle East peace process, as well as its willingness to play a active role In this regard.

Fatah member killed in Gaza: a member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's mainstream Fatah faction was killed on Saturday when a bomb he was preparing exploded near in Israeli army camp in’ the occupied Gaza Strip. Arab sources said. Reuter reports from Gaza

The Fatah hawks announced over loudspeakers that Khalid Al-Halabl, 28. was "a martyr" killed In action in the Khan Yuni* refugee camp. The Israeli army said It was checking the report.

ROK FM in Tokyo: South Korean Foreign Minister Han Sung Joo arrived in Tokyo yesterday, winding up talks with US leaders in Washington on North Korea's suspected nuclear development. AFP reports from Tokyo.

Mubarak okays deaths of 9: President Hosni Mubarak has approved the death sentences of nine Muslim extremists for trying to assassinate Prime Minister Atef Sedki. AP reports from Cairo.

Military sources said Mubarak upheld the sentences Saturday. It was not known when the hangings would be carried out.