world

Damages to Columbia tiles found

By Alyson Brodsy and Marcia Dunn · Wednesday, March 5,2003 12:27 p.m.

HOUSTON -- Molten aluminum was found on Columbia's thermal tiles and inside the leading edge of the left wing, bolstering the theory that the shuttle was destroyed by hot gases that penetrated a damaged spot on the wing, the accident investigation board said Tuesday.

Band member testifies in Rhode Island nightclub fire

By Brian Carovillano · Wednesday, March 5,2003 12:27 p.m.

WEST WARWICK, R.I. - Members of a grand jury investigating the fire that consumed a nightclub have heard from at least one member of the band that was performing when the deadly blaze broke out.

Explosion in southern Philippines kills 19

By Alyson Brodsy · Tuesday, March 4,2003 10:54 p.m.

MANILA, Philippines -- A bomb hidden in a backpack exploded Tuesday at an airport in the southern Philippines, killing at least 19 people, including an American missionary, and wounding nearly 150, authorities said. The government called it a "brazen act of terrorism."

Hamas founder arrested

By Ibrahim Barzak · Tuesday, March 4,2003 12:09 a.m.

BUREIJ REFUGEE CAMP, Gaza Strip -- Israeli troops raiding a Gaza refugee camp arrested a Hamas founder Monday, targeting the political leadership of the Islamic militant group for the first time in 29 months of fighting. Eight Palestinians, among them a pregnant woman, were killed in clashes in the camp.

Nations call for Saddam to leave

By Alyson Brodsy and Anwar Faruqi · Sunday, March 2,2003 11:40 p.m.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- The United Arab Emirates won support Sunday from several Persian Gulf nations in its call for Saddam Hussein to quit power to avert a war, while Iraq poured scorn on the Emirates, calling it a tool of Israel.

Rio Carnival marches on

By Alyson Brodsy and Michael Astor · Sunday, March 2,2003 11:40 p.m.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Army tanks, 3,000 troops and 35,000 police officers patrolled Rio's streets Sunday for the start of the city's glittering Carnival parades.

North Korea warns of destruction

By Alyson Brodsy · Sunday, March 2,2003 11:39 p.m.

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea warned Sunday of "nuclear disasters" around the world if Washington attacks the communist state, while its civilian leaders urged greater cooperation between Pyongyang and Seoul to ease the crisis on the Korean Peninsula.

Sept. 11 fugitive captured

By Alyson Brodsy and Paul Haven · Sunday, March 2,2003 11:38 p.m.

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan -- The stunning arrest of Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed by Pakistani intelligence and CIA agents began with a near miss last month in a dusty border town and became a feverish chase fueled by communications intercepts and suspects' interrogations, security officials said Sunday.

Iraq destroys more missiles

By Alyson Brodsy and Bassem Mroue · Sunday, March 2,2003 11:37 p.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- With U.N. weapons inspectors looking on, Iraq destroyed six Al Samoud 2 missiles Sunday but warned it may suspend the destruction program if the United States indicates it will go to war anyway.

Iraqi sources: Iraq will begin destroying missiles Saturday

By Bassem Mroue · Friday, Feb. 28,2003 12:42 p.m.

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq will begin destroying its Al Samoud 2 missiles on Saturday, the deadline imposed by chief U.N. weapons inspector Hans Blix, Iraqi sources said Friday.

Afghan leader searches for bin Laden

By Alyson Brodsy and Sonya Ross · Thursday, Feb. 27,2003 11:08 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Thursday he is not convinced that Osama bin Laden is alive, but he wishes the al Qeada leader would appear to answer for his actions -- "to God and to mankind."

Sharon sets tough agenda

By Alyson Brodsy and Karin Laub · Thursday, Feb. 27,2003 11:07 p.m.

JERUSALEM -- Winning parliamentary approval for his new rightist government, Ariel Sharon set tough conditions Thursday for peace talks with the Palestinians, even as President Bush urged him to work quickly toward a viable Palestinian state.

UN finds infraction

By Alyson Brodsy and Charles J. Hanley · Thursday, Feb. 27,2003 10:42 p.m.

The U.N. inspectors swarming over Iraq's missile industry found an infraction last week: The short-range Al Samoud 2 sometimes flies a few miles farther than allowed. But the experts have reported no sign of any longer-range missiles that could strike Israel or neighboring oil nations as Washington fears.

National terror alert lowered

By John J. Lumpkin · Thursday, Feb. 27,2003 2:36 p.m.

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration on Thursday lowered the national terror alert from orange to yellow, suggesting the threat of an imminent terrorist attack on U.S. soil has eased somewhat.

Bush says getting rid of Saddam would help build democracy

By Scott Lindlaw · Thursday, Feb. 27,2003 2:34 p.m.

WASHINGTON - A day after declaring that removing Saddam Hussein from power would pave the way toward Middle East peace, President Bush defended his father for stopping short of ousting the Iraqi leader in the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

Blix boosts US case for Iraq war

By Alyson Brodsy and Edith M. Lederer · Thursday, Feb. 27,2003 2:29 p.m.

UNITED NATIONS -- As fresh signs emerged that the United States is making headway in winning support for military action against Iraq, chief U.N. inspector Hans Blix provided the Bush administration with new ammunition Wednesday, saying Baghdad has not provided evidence of "a fundamental decision" to disarm.

Mexico shifts toward US position on Iraq

By Alyson Brodsy and Dafna Linzer · Wednesday, Feb. 26,2003 11:32 p.m.

UNITED NATIONS -- Under intense pressure to vote with its northern neighbor, Mexico appears to be the first among a handful of undecided U.N. Security Council members to shift toward the U.S. position on Iraq, The Associated Press has learned.

Bush speech mocks Saddam

By Alyson Brodsy and Barry Schweid · Wednesday, Feb. 26,2003 11:31 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- President Bush called Saddam Hussein "a master of disguise and delay" Wednesday and mocked the Iraqi leader for disclosing some weapons that he'd previously denied were in his arsenal.

China feels aftershocks

By Alyson Brodsy and Audra Ang · Wednesday, Feb. 26,2003 11:30 p.m.

KASHGAR, China -- Hundreds of aftershocks rocked western China Tuesday, claiming more lives a day after a major earthquake crumpled thousands of homes and schools. The death toll rose to at least 266 people, with another 2,000 injured, state media reported.

Weapons inspector says Iraq is now cooperating

By Alyson Brodsy and Edith M. Lederer · Wednesday, Feb. 26,2003 1:38 a.m.

UNITED NATIONS-- Iraq is providing new information about its weapons and has reported the discovery of two bombs, including one possibly filled with a biological agent -- moves that the chief U.N. weapons inspector said Tuesday signal real cooperation.