world

Judge withdraws from former Senate Majority Leader's case at prosecutor's request

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 11:42 p.m.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Two days after Rep. Tom DeLay won a fight to get a new judge in his case, prosecutors Thursday succeeded in ousting the Republican responsible for selecting the new judge. Administrative Judge B.B. Schraub withdrew after District Attorney Ronnie Earle filed a request to have him removed.

EU investigates reports of secret CIA prisons

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 11:41 p.m.

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- The European Union and the continent's top human rights group said Thursday they will investigate allegations the CIA set up secret jails in eastern Europe and elsewhere to interrogate terror suspects, and the Red Cross demanded access to any prisoners.

Libby pleads not guilty in CIA leak case

By Alyson Brodsy and Pete Yost · Thursday, Nov. 3,2005 11:40 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff pleaded not guilty Thursday in the CIA leak scandal, marking the start of what could be a long road to a trial in which Cheney and other top Bush administration officials could be summoned to testify.

Centrist Democrat lauds Alito

By Alyson Brodsy and Jesse J. Holland · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 10:58 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- A centrist Democratic senator complimented Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito Wednesday as a jurist who won't "hammer away and chisel away" existing law. While Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska did not endorse President Bush's latest nominee for the high court, he did say he was impressed by what he heard from Alito during his introductory visit.

4,000 mourners honor Rosa Parks at Detroit funeral

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 10:54 p.m.

DETROIT -- A church packed with 4,000 mourners celebrated the life of Rosa Parks Wednesday in an impassioned, song-filled funeral with a crowd of notables giving thanks for the humble woman whose dignity and defiance helped transform a nation.

GOP enthusiastic about Alito; Democrats threaten filibuster

By Alyson Brodsy and Jesse J. Holland · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 12:07 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito is "clearly within the mainstream" and shouldn't be filibustered, declared a Republican who helped fashion a plan limiting parliamentary roadblocks for judicial nominees.

Bush outlines $7.1 million strategy to prepare for flu pandemic

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 12:06 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- President Bush outlined a $7.1 billion strategy Tuesday to prepare for a possible worldwide super-flu outbreak, aiming to overhaul the vaccine industry so eventually every American could be inoculated within six months of a pandemic's beginning. Such a huge change would take years to implement -- Bush's goal is 2010 -- and his plan drew immediate fire from critics who said it wouldn't provide enough protection in the meantime.

Democrats force Senate into unusual closed session

By Alyson Brodsy and Liz Sidoti · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 12:05 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Democrats forced the Republican-controlled Senate into an unusual closed session Tuesday, questioning intelligence that President Bush used in the run-up to the war in Iraq and accusing Republicans of ignoring the issue. "They have repeatedly chosen to protect the Republican administration rather than get to the bottom of what happened and why," Democratic leader Harry Reid said. Taken by surprise, Republicans derided the move as a political stunt.

8 killed as riot police, opposition clash in Ethiopia

By Alyson Brodsy and Anthony Mitchell · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 12:03 a.m.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia -- Riot police clashed with dozens of opposition supporters in Ethiopia's capital Tuesday, leaving eight people dead and 43 wounded in renewed protests against disputed elections, the Information Ministry said.

Judge removed for possible bias in DeLay conspiracy case

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Nov. 2,2005 12:02 a.m.

AUSTIN, Texas -- The judge in the conspiracy case against Republican Rep. Tom DeLay was removed at the congressman's request Tuesday because of his donations to Democratic candidates and causes.

Russian President will not seek 3rd term in office

By Alyson Brodsy and Steve Gutterman · Monday, Oct. 31,2005 11:44 p.m.

MOSCOW -- President Vladimir Putin said Monday he won't seek a third term in 2008 but vowed not to allow "destabilization" in Russia following the vote, leaving the door open for drastic action in the event of a crisis. In an interview with Dutch media on the eve of a visit to the Netherlands, Putin reiterated that he opposes changing the constitution to prolong his time in power -- a possibility that has been widely discussed because of his popularity and control over parliament.

India seeks suspect in attack

By Alyson Brodsy and Matthew Rosenberg · Monday, Oct. 31,2005 11:43 p.m.

NEW DELHI -- Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh claimed Monday there was a foreign link to bombings that bloodied two New Delhi markets, a veiled reference to Pakistan-based militants. But both nations sought to preserve the fragile detente that grew out of the recent quake disaster.

4 men plead guilty in California State hazing incident

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, Oct. 30,2005 11:13 p.m.

OROVILLE, Calif. -- Four fraternity members pleaded guilty in the death of a college student who was forced to drink large amounts of water during an initiation rite.

Season's record-setting 13th hurricane hits Nicaragua

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, Oct. 30,2005 11:13 p.m.

PUERTO CABEZAS, Nicaragua -- Hurricane Beta pounded Nicaragua's Caribbean coast with heavy rains and powerful winds Sunday as thousands of people rode out the storm in boarded-up homes or government shelters. The storm came ashore near the remote town of La Barra as a category 2 hurricane with 105-mph winds. But it weakened to a category 1 with 90-mph winds as it moved inland, dumping up to 15 inches of rain, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

Senate Democratic leader calls for Rove's resignation

By Alyson Brodsy and Nedra Pickler · Sunday, Oct. 30,2005 11:12 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- The Senate Democratic leader said Sunday presidential adviser Karl Rove should resign because of his role in the exposing of a CIA officer's identity, and a veteran Republican senator said President Bush needs "new blood" in his White House. Rove has not been charged, but the investigation continues in the case that brought the indictment and resignation Friday of I.

Rice: Without Parks, I wouldn't be here

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, Oct. 30,2005 11:11 p.m.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Hundreds of mourners remembered Rosa Parks Sunday for her defiant act on a city bus that inspired the Civil Rights Movement and helped pave the way for other blacks, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Israeli missile kills 7 Palestinians in strike against Islamic Jihad

By Alyson Brodsy and Karin Laub · Friday, Oct. 28,2005 12:40 a.m.

JERUSALEM -- Israel killed seven Palestinians in a missile strike Thursday against Islamic Jihad, and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said he would not meet with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas until he cracks down on armed groups -- a double-edged Israeli response to the latest suicide bombing. Sharon threatened a "broad and relentless" offensive against Palestinian militants, including mass arrests and airstrikes, but security officials said Israel would stop short of a large-scale military operation.

Miers withdraws nomination for high court

By Mike Wilson · Friday, Oct. 28,2005 12:39 a.m.

President Bush "reluctantly" accepted the withdrawal of Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers Thursday, according to Associated Press reports. The White House said Miers withdrew because of senators' demands to see internal documents related to her role as counsel to the president.

Saddam's lawyers suspend Iraqi tribunal dealings, seek U.N. help

By Alyson Brodsy · Thursday, Oct. 27,2005 12:17 a.m.

AMMAN, Jordan -- Iraqi lawyers defending Saddam Hussein said Wednesday they had suspended further dealings with the Special Tribunal trying him until their safety is guaranteed, citing the kidnapping and murder of a lawyer representing one of the former dictator's co-defendants last week. A statement signed by Khalil al-Dulaimi, who leads the former dictator's defense team, said poor security put the lawyers and their families in danger.

Iran's new president says Israel should be 'wiped off the map'

By Alyson Brodsy and Ali Akbar Dareini · Thursday, Oct. 27,2005 12:12 a.m.

TEHRAN, Iran -- President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared Wednesday that Israel is a "disgraceful blot" that should be "wiped off the map" -- fiery words that Washington said underscores its concern over Iran's nuclear program. Ahmadinejad's speech to thousands of students at a "World without Zionism" conference set a hard-line foreign policy course sharply at odds with that of his moderate predecessor, echoing the sentiments of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of Iran's Islamic revolution.