ISLAMABAD — The trial of five men accused in the Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people is likely to start next week, Pakistan's interior minister says, calling it proof of Islamabad's commitment to punishing those responsible for the assault.

Rehman Malik said yesterday the investigation into the role that the five played in the three-day siege of the Indian city of Mumbai last November is "almost complete."

Malik rejected allegations — leveled by India — that Pakistan dragged its feet in the investigation.

New Delhi blames the assault on militants trained in Pakistan and has pushed Islamabad to move swiftly to hunt down those responsible for orchestrating the attack.

The U.S. and other Western countries are also closely watching Pakistan's efforts to punish the militant suspects accused of planning and aiding the Nov. 26-28 attacks in the Indian financial center that also wounded scores.

CARLOS BUILDS TO HURRICANE FORCE

MIAMI — The National Hurricane Center says Carlos has become a hurricane swirling far off Mexico's Pacific coast.

The storm's maximum sustained winds have increased to near 80 mph and the center in Miami says the storm could further strengthen in the next 24 hours.

As of 11 a.m. Hawai'i time yesterday, Carlos was centered about 1,000 miles south-southwest of the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula. The storm is moving toward the west at nearly 12 mph on a path taking it farther out to sea.

GUNMEN KILL 7 IN MEXICO'S DRUG WAR

MORELIA, Mexico — Gunmen boldly attacked federal forces across the western state of Michoacan yesterday, killing five federal agents and two soldiers after the capture of a suspected drug cartel operative.

Ten other federal agents were wounded in the ambushes.

President Felipe Calderon's home state of Michoacan has been at the center of his drug war. Calderon has sent more than 45,000 troops to the state and other drug hotspots throughout the nation, and gangs have responded with unprecedented bloodshed.

Drug violence has killed more than 11,000 people nationwide since 2006, when Calderon took office.

HONDURAS STANDOFF REMAINS IN PLACE

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Supporters of ousted President Manuel Zelaya paid tribute yesterday to a teenager killed during protests and expressed fear the interim government will drag out negotiations to resolve the crisis so it can remain in power through November elections.

But a delegate of de facto President Roberto Micheletti who participated in the talks in Costa Rica on Friday said his side has not ruled out the possibility of early elections as a way out of the conflict.

Micheletti — the congressional leader who was sworn in as president when the military escorted Zelaya out of the country on June 28 — made no public statements yesterday.

Zelaya, who was in the Dominican Republic, flew to Washington, but declined to comment on his plans to reporters before boarding.