WASHINGTON - THE United States says a Swedish diplomat has been allowed to visit two American reporters being detained in North Korea.

State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid said on Monday that a Swedish diplomat met with the journalists individually over the weekend.

TOKYO - JAPAN'S military has deployed Patriot missile interceptors around Tokyo and sent warships to the Sea of Japan, nearly completing preparations to defend against any danger from a planned North Korean rocket launch, officials said on Monday.

LUCKNOW (India) - A MEMBER of India's leading political dynasty was kept in jail on Monday on charges that his supporters mobbed the police station where he was arrested over an election speech, police said.