Sectarian violence and insurgent attacks increased throughout Iraq over the past three months, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said in the most negative report an American envoy has given to the Security Council since the 2003 invasion. ``The insurgency remains potent and viable, although its visibility has been overshadowed by the increase in sectarian violence,'' U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said in the latest quarterly report to the council. ``The average number of weekly attacks increased 15 percent over the previous reporting period, and Iraqi casualties increased by 51 percent.'' At least 15 people were killed in blasts and shootings today in Iraq, a day after more than 60 bodies were found bound and gagged across Baghdad. A total of 1,536 people died in attacks in the city last month, according to the British Broadcasting Corp. Bolton said 81 percent of the violence occurred in four of Iraq's 18 provinces -- ... http://www.bloomberg.com censor News |
Editor - 15:05:00 09-14-06 |
Lebanese premier vows army will restore control over south, confiscate arms |
Lebanon's prime minister vowed Thur that his army will confiscate any weapons it encounters in southern Lebanon, while the Islamic militant group Hezbollah accused Israel of "flagrant violations" of the month-old cease-fire. Israel denied it was violating the truce. The comments reflected the tensions underneath a truce that has survived longer than many expected. The U N said the cease-fire was holding up well. Hezbollah boasts its fighters remain in towns and villages near the border with Israel, highlighting the challenge faced by the Lebanese army and U.N. Peacekeepers who are to patrol a buffer zone between the militants and Israel. "I intend for the Lebanese army to prove its presence in the area south of the Litani River," Prime Minister Fuad Saniora said after talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo. "We want this area to be under the army's and the Lebanese state's control. The army has all the authority to ban any armed appearances and confiscate those weapons,"... http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2006-09-14-mideast_x.htm?csp=34
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Editor - 14:57:00 09-14-06 |
Judge Who's Been Accused of Bias in Favor of Saddam Tells Him, 'You Were Not a Dictator' |
The chief judge in Saddam Hussein's genocide trial said Thursday that he does not believe Saddam was a dictator. Judge Abdullah al-Amiri made the remark in a friendly exchange with the deposed leader, a day after the prosecution said the judge should step down because he is biased toward the defense. Saddam and his co-defendants are being tried on charges of committing atrocities against Kurds in northern Iraq nearly two decades ago. Questioning a Kurdish witness Thursday, Saddam said, "I wonder why this man wanted to meet with me, if I am a dictator?" The judge interrupted: "You were not a dictator. People around you made you (look like) a dictator." "Thank you," Saddam responded, bowing his head in respect. Two hours after the comment about Saddam, al-Amiri abruptly postponed the session until Monday for what he called "technical reasons," without having heard from a third scheduled witness. No further explanation was given.... http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2433812
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Editor - 14:46:00 09-14-06 |
First New Rabbis In Germany Since WWII |
Germany on Thursday ordained its first rabbis since World War II in an event hailed as a milestone in the rebirth of Jewish life in the country responsible for the Holocaust. The three men were given their ordination certificates at the ceremony in Dresden's modern, stone synagogue, which was rebuilt after the fall of the Berlin Wall — the first in the former East Germany Daniel Alter, 47, of Germany, was the first of the three to be graduated from the Abraham Geiger College. He was joined by 35-year-old Tomas Kucera, of the Czech Republic, and 38-year-old Malcolm Matitiani, of South Africa. All three wore black robes with white prayer shawls trimmed with tassels draped around their shoulders. ... http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/14/world/main2008079.shtml?source=RSSattr=World_2008079
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Editor - 14:42:00 09-14-06 |
Appeals Court Backs Man Convicted of Selling Donated Water After Florida Hurricane |
A convenience store owner convicted of selling donated water intended for hurricane victims committed no crime and should be released from probation, an appeals court ruled. Last year, a judge found Salah Darwish guilty of cheating by false pretenses for selling bottled water that had been distributed free at a Hurricane Charley relief center in 2004. But the 2nd District Court of Appeal ruled Wednesday that the charge was unproven because Darwish didn't clearly lie to officials at the distribution center about what he was going to do with the water. "In this case, we expect that many people would find Mr. Darwish's conduct to be offensive from an ethical point of view," the three-judge panel wrote. "But the question before us is not one of morality." ... http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=2434007
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Editor - 09:20:00 09-14-06 |
Tropical Storm Lane lashes Mexico's Pacific coast, heads toward Baja |
Tropical Storm Lane lashed Mexico's Pacific Coast with winds and rain Thursday, flooding streets in Acapulco before setting on a course to hit the hurricane-battered tip of the Baja California Peninsula.The storm was centered about 105 miles southwest of the port of Lazaro Cardenas and was moving parallel to the coast at 10 mph. It had maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. A tropical storm warning and hurricane watch were issued for a stretch of coast southeast of the resort of Puerta Vallarta.The storm dumped rain and whipped up waves in Acapulco, where authorities closed the port to small boats. Streets were covered in up to 16 inches of water — including the beachside Costera Miguel Aleman, which runs past many of the resort's luxury hotels.There was also some flooding at the Acapulco airport, although service was not interrupted.... http://www.usatoday.com/weather/hurricane/2006-09-14-lane_x.htm?csp=34
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Editor - 09:01:00 09-14-06 |
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