Vatican Vatican officials shut Saint Peter's basilica to the public and worked late into the night to prepare for Friday's open-air funeral of Pope John Paul II, amid a security clampdown for visiting world leaders. Iraq Iraq's first elected government in half a century finally took shape when a former rebel leader took oath as its first Kurdish president and named a top religious Shiite as his prime minister. India-Pakistan-Kashmir Hopes rose for lasting peace between India and Pakistan as bus passengers defied Islamic militants and crossed Kashmir's military dividing line for the first time in nearly 60 years. UN-Lebanon-Syria The UN Security Council set up an international inquiry into the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri. Egypt A French national and US citizen were killed and 18 people wounded when a booby-trapped motorcycle blew up in one of Cairo's main tourist areas, officials and witnesses said. Mideast The Israeli government intensified its preparations to uproot Gaza settlers, deciding their old homes would be handed over intact to the Palestinians as Prime Minister Ariel Sharon sought to reassure settlers about their uncertain future.