SECTION: NEWS; Nation/World Briefs Column; Pg. A3

LENGTH: 581 words

HEADLINE: NATION/WORLD

BYLINE: From News Services

BODY:
WASHINGTON

Cuba must change to get embargo eased, Bush says

President George W. Bush is setting detailed conditions for easing the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, demanding free and open elections next year and turning aside pleas from former President Jimmy Carter and some members of Congress to ease a 40-year-old blockade.

In a morning speech on Cuban Independence Day and in an afternoon appearance in Miami, Bush today was to reaffirm his support for the embargo, which Carter, human rights groups and dozens of lawmakers from both parties say is a failure.

Bush planned to demand far-reaching changes in Cuba's political and economic systems before he will consider easing the embargo. NEW YORK

Gasoline prices hold steady in past 2 weeks

Average retail gasoline prices held steady over the past two weeks due to robust supplies despite increasing demand as summer approaches, according to a nationwide survey released Sunday.

The national average for self-serve regular unleaded gas rose less than 1 cent to $1.4278 a gallon in the two weeks that ended May 17, 30 cents below the level last year, according to the Lundberg survey of 8,000 gas stations.

Prices at the pumps fell in most regions, but rose in the Midwest, in part because of a looming June 1 deadline for harder-to-produce summer blend gasoline using corn-based ethanol, mandated in many areas there.

TAMPA, Fla.

Busch Gardens zookeeper is released from hospital

A Busch Gardens zookeeper has gone home from a hospital less than a week after a lion attacked her, severing her arm at the elbow.

Amanda Bourassa, 21, was released from Tampa General Hospital on S aturday, spokesman John Dunn said Sunday.

Bourassa was injured on May 12 when the 364-pound African lion, named Max, grabbed her finger and bit her arm, severing it at the elbow. Surgeons were not able to reattach her arm.

Busch Gardens officials said Sunday that Max remains on display and the 12-year-old lion will not be destroyed. They have said park's safety policies would be reviewed.

SAN FRANCISCO

About 75,000 participate in colorful footrace

About 75,000 racers slogged through early morning mist and rain Sunday, but the spirit synonymous with the Bay to Breakers footrace still shone in everything from a "trailer-trash" float to several runners sporting nothing but a smile.

The 7.46-mile, 91st annual race was a sea of color as it snaked its way along the city's famous Hayes Street hill. World-class runners meshed with costumed participants in one of the nation's oldest and largest footraces.

"We're going to have a barbecue at the end," said Adam Conway of San Diego, holding a plastic battle shield and pushing a Roman chariot equipped with a grill, keg, doughnuts and sausage.

James Koskei, the defending champion from Kenya, finished first in 34 minutes, 3 seconds.

VIETNAM

Vietnamese vote for new National Assembly

Prodded by hours of loudspeaker appeals, Vietnamese voted Sunday for a new National Assembly charged with completing a sweeping overhaul of the communist nation's legal system.

A total of 759 candidates - all approved by the Fatherland Front, a group controlled by the ruling Communist party - competed for the assembly's 498 seats.

Voting was mandatory for citizens 18 or older, and the government claimed turnout was high. Some polling places said all voters on their rolls cast ballots within a few hours.

Results of Sunday's election must be announced within a week.

LOAD-DATE: May 20, 2002