ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 20, 1997 TAG: 9704210148
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-19 EDITION: METRO
Greet Marcus and the horse he rode in on
ROME - Welcome back, Marcus. Or, at least, a modern twin.
After a 16-year absence, the statue of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius astride his horse was returned Saturday to the plaza in front of Rome's city hall.
More than 6,000 people filled the Michelangelo-designed square for the unveiling of a copy of the 2nd century bronze original, which was removed in 1981 because of deterioration from pollution and the elements.
The event - part of celebrations for Rome's founding 2,750 years ago - included mayors from modern namesakes including Rome, N.Y., and Rome, Ga.
The 4,180-pound copy was crafted by using a computer-guided chisel and a combination of metal alloy and plastic compound that simulate the green-bronze color of the original, which is now in the Capitoline Museums.
-ASSOCIATED PRESS
Anti-communist group wins Bulgarian elections
SOFIA, Bulgaria - A fervently anti-communist alliance triumphed in Bulgaria's parliamentary elections Saturday, crushing the ex-communists blamed for the Balkan nation's economic misery.
Bulgarians staged a month of peaceful protests this winter to force the early elections and oust the former communists less than 21/2 years after they regained power in the former Soviet ally.
``It is important now that we convince the world that a relapse into the past is out of the question,'' said Ivan Kostov, leader of the victorious United Democratic Forces.
Kostov's alliance won 56 percent of the votes, according to an exit poll by Gallup International. The former communists' renamed Socialist Party won 19 percent, with smaller parties taking the rest, Gallup said.
-ASSOCIATED PRESS
Peru's police chief, interior minister quit
LIMA, Peru - Peru's interior minister and national police chief resigned suddenly Saturday, citing security lapses that allowed leftist rebels to seize hostages at the Japanese ambassador's residence.
Interior Minister Juan Briones, an army general, said he was assuming political responsibility for the hostage crisis, now stretching into its fifth month.
He said he and the police commander, Lt. Gen. Antonio Ketin Vidal, were brave enough to take office at a time when the country was bleeding from terrorist attacks ``and we achieved its pacification.''
Now, he said, ``it is also with this same valor and nobility that we recognize there was deficiency in the security that led to the taking of the Japanese embassy.''
-ASSOCIATED PRESS
India has new leader; political chaos continues
NEW DELHI, India - India's fractious governing coalition ended weeks of paralyzing uncertainty Saturday, choosing the foreign minister to replace Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, who was ousted last month in a no-confidence vote.
Inder Kumar Gujral would be the third premier India has had since elections last year left no party with a clear parliamentary majority.
An hour after the selection, a party whose leader, G.K. Moopanar, was one of several candidates for prime minister said it will withdraw from the coalition, leaving it more vulnerable. The decision by the Tamil Manila Congress would mean that Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, a member of the party widely seen as a promoter of free market reforms, will not be in the new Cabinet.
-ASSOCIATED PRESS
LENGTH: Medium: 72 linesby CNB