A Marine staff sergeant linked to the killings of civilians in Haditha, Iraq, is suing anti-war Congressman John Murtha for libel, his attorneys announced Wednesday. Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich accuses the Pennsylvania Democrat of spreading "false and malicious lies" about him and other Marines on media outlets, accusing them of intentionally killing 24 civilians and then covering the matter up, according to court documents. A court document quotes Murtha as saying on CNN May 19: "There was an IED attack, it killed one Marine, and then they overreacted and killed a number of civilians without anybody firing at them."In a response to the lawsuit, Murtha said in a written statement "I don't blame the staff sergeant for lashing out. When I spoke up about Haditha, my intention was to draw attention to the horrendous pressure put on our troops in Iraq and to the cover-up of the incident." ... http://www.cnn.com censor News |
Editor - 09:50:00 08-02-06 |
Israel sends 8,000 troops in attack on Lebanon Hezbollah retaliates by launching a record 160 rockets; diplomacy stalls |
Lebanon - Israel pressed the first full day of a massive new ground attack, sending 8,000 troops into southern Lebanon on Wednesday and seizing five people it said were Hezbollah fighters in a dramatic airborne raid on a northeastern town. Hezbollah retaliated with its deepest strikes yet into Israel, firing a record number of more than 160 rockets. Diplomatic efforts faltered, with France saying it will not participate in a Thursday U.N. meeting that could send troops to help monitor a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah. France, which may join or even lead such a force, said it does not want to talk about sending peacekeepers until fighting halts and the U.N. Security Council agrees to a wider framework for lasting peace. Pope Benedict XVI issued a new appeal for peace in the Middle East. He urged “the international community and those who are more directly involved in this tragedy to lay down conditions as soon as possible for a definitive political solution to the crisis.”... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14128276/
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Editor - 09:47:00 08-02-06 |
'Toxic ship' cleared for breaking |
Experts appointed by an Indian court have cleared the entry of a French ocean liner into a ship-breaking yard, a senior official said. The Blue Lady, owned by an Indian firm, can now be towed to the world's largest ship-breaking yard in Alang in the state of Gujarat and dismantled. It was formerly the SS France and then the SS Norway. Environmental groups say the ship contains 1,200 tonnes of asbestos and other toxic materials. The 11-storey, 315-metre-long, liner entered Indian waters last month and is anchored off Pipavav port. The Indian Platform on Ship-breaking, an alliance of groups including Greenpeace and the Ban Asbestos Network, says the dismantling should not be allowed to go ahead. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5237334.stm
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Editor - 09:44:00 08-02-06 |
'Taleban killed' in Afghan raid |
Nato and Afghan forces have killed 18 Taleban militants in a raid in southern Afghanistan, officials say. It took place late on Tuesday in the town of Garmser in Helmand province. A Danish soldier was badly wounded in Helmand on Wednesday. On Tuesday, three British soldiers were killed in Helmand. Separately, a car has exploded in the capital Kabul, killing its driver and injuring two other people - one of them a passenger - police say. 'We carried out the operation in which 18 Taleban got killed and we recovered a huge amount of ammunitions," provincial police chief, Nabi Mullahkhail, told Reuters. He said there were no casualties among the Nato or Afghan forces in the fighting in Garmser town, which was recaptured from the Taleban last month. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5237176.stm
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Editor - 09:40:00 08-02-06 |
Olmert says fighting will go on |
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said that there will be no ceasefire in Lebanon until an international force is deployed in the south of the country. He said if Israel stopped and waited for peacekeepers, Hezbollah would seize the chance to stage yet more attacks. Earlier, Israeli troops raided Baalbek, deep inside Lebanon, seizing five people they say are Hezbollah fighters. Hezbollah on Wednesday launched its biggest single-day barrage, firing 190 rockets including one 70km into Israel. Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Olmert said that "the infrastructure of Hezbollah has been entirely destroyed" with more than 700 command positions "wiped out". ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5237620.stm
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Editor - 09:38:00 08-02-06 |
Hospital fined for fast treatment |
A hospital has lost £2.5m in funding for treating patients too quickly. Ipswich Hospital, in Suffolk, which is more than £16m in the red, accidentally breached an agreement to ensure all patients had similar waiting times. Ipswich Hospital agreed with the East Suffolk Primary Care Trusts, which fund treatment, that patients should wait at least four months for treatment. However, doctors had treated patients inside that time and the trust refused to pay the £2.5m cost of treatment. This will now have to come from the hospital's own budget, adding to its financial difficulties.... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/suffolk/5237824.stm
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Editor - 09:35:00 08-02-06 |
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