A bomb hit a U.S. armored Humvee on patrol Monday in central Afghanistan, killing four American troops, the military said. It's the deadliest loss for U.S. forces here since September. Shortly after the blast, militants fired at the troops with guns and rocket-propelled grenades. The military responded, calling in attack helicopters and fighter planes, according to a statement. The attack occurred in Dihrawud district, Uruzgan province, as the service members were patrolling in an armored Humvee, along with Afghan forces, the military said. An assessment of militant casualties is ongoing, the statement said. "This is a sad and tragic day for us all," said Brig. Gen. John Sterling, a U.S. commander. ... http://www.cbsnews.com censor News |
Editor - 18:44:00 02-13-06 |
Katrina 'A National Failure' |
A congressional report blames government-wide ineptitude for mishandling the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. The 600-page report by a special Republican-dominated House inquiry into one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history concluded that "Katrina was a national failure, an abdication of the most solemn obligation to provide for the common welfare. At every level – individual, corporate, philanthropic, and governmental – we failed to meet the challenge that was Katrina." Excerpts of the report obtained by CBS News said "a blinding lack of situational awareness and disjointed decision making needlessly compounded and prolonged Katrina’s horror." It also said President Bush received poor and incomplete counsel about the crisis unfolding in the Gulf Coast. ... http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/13/katrina/main1308008.shtml?CMP=OTC-RSSFeed&source=RSS&attr=U.S._1308008
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Editor - 12:19:00 02-13-06 |
Uproar as Saddam returns to court |
An angry Saddam has appeared in court saying he was being forced to attend after boycotting earlier sessions with his 7 co-defendants. The former Iraqi leader shouted "Down with Bush" and continued a stormy exchange with the new chief judge who he says is biased and wants removed. The defendants are accused of killing 148 Shia villagers in Dujail in 1982. The trial was adjourned until Tue but not before 2 ex-Saddam aides complained of being forced to testify. The former head of Saddam Hussein's office, Ahmed Khudayir, and the former chief of foreign intelligence, Hassan al-Obeidi, both blocked questions. Amid threats of a continued boycott, the chief prosecutor had asked new chief judge, Raouf Abdul Rahman, to bring Saddam Hussein and his co-defendants to the Baghdad court by force if necessary. On entering court, Saddam Hussein said: "They have forcibly brought me here." He told the judge: "Exercise your right to try me in absentia. Are you trying to overcome your own smallness?"... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4707626.stm
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Editor - 12:15:00 02-13-06 |
Witnesses claim peacekeepers in Haiti open fire |
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) -- Supporters of Haitian presidential candidate Rene Preval erected flaming roadblocks and stormed a hotel Monday to demand Preval be declared president, and witnesses said U.N. peacekeepers opened fire on one of the crowds, killing at least one person -- a charge the U.N. denied.Protests erupted across the capital Monday as vote counts showed that Preval may have fallen short of the 50 percent needed to win the presidency without a runoff election. The protesters allege the electoral commission is manipulating the vote count to prevent Preval from winning.Across Port-au-Prince, barricades made of old tires were set ablaze, sending plumes of acrid black smoke into the sky. Protesters let only journalists and Red Cross vehicles pass."If they don't give us the final results, we're going to burn this country down," a man screamed at one of the roadblocks.... http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/02/13/haiti.elections.ap/index.html?section=cnn_world
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Editor - 12:11:00 02-13-06 |
Danish PM talks to Muslim group |
The Danish prime minister has met members of a new association called "Democratic Muslims" in a fresh effort to defuse the Muhammad cartoons row. Protests took place in Turkey over the weekend, while Denmark saw about 25 Muslim graves desecrated in what police called a "backlash" against the uproar. Vandals smashed only Muslim headstones in Esbjerg, west of Copenhagen. The group meeting Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Monday was set up by MP Naser Khader to counter extremism. The BBC's Thomas Buch-Andersen in Copenhagen says the group claims to represent around 80% to 85% of Muslims in Denmark. He says that although that may be a high claim, there is no doubt they represent the majority of the country's 200,000 Muslims. There has been criticism that Prime Minister Rasmussen is meeting Mr Khader's "Democratic Muslims" network and not other Muslim groups. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4708312.stm
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Editor - 12:07:00 02-13-06 |
'Exile or trial' for Nepal king |
Nepal's top Maoist rebel leader has said the only future he can envisage for King Gyanendra is exile or trial. Prachanda made his remarks in a rare BBC interview to mark the 10th anniversary of the Maoist revolt. He said a trial of the king might take place in a "people's court", leading to possible execution. However, elsewhere in the interview Prachanda also said he could envisage Nepal remaining a monarchy if the people wanted it. Nepal's minister of state for information, Shrish Shumsher Rana, described the remarks as "unfortunate". Asked whether it was time to consider direct negotiations with the Maoists, Mr Rana said the interview had made it clear the Maoists would give no quarter to their opponents or go back on their demands. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4707040.stm
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Editor - 12:00:00 02-13-06 |
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