Thursday, November 16

Adjust font size:

Editor's Note: The CNN Wire is a running log of the latest news from CNN World Headquarters, reported by CNN's correspondents and producers, and The CNN Wire editors. "Posted" times are Eastern Daylight.

British citizen granted clemency by Pakistani president released from jail

LAHORE, Pakistan (CNN) -- Authorities said a British man locked in a Pakistani prison for more than 18 years, awaiting the death penalty, was released from jail Friday after Pakistan's president lessened his sentence to life in prison.

Mirza Tahir Hussain, a British Muslim of Pakistani descent, was convicted in 1988 of killing a taxi driver.

But after receiving pleas from British authorities and various human rights groups to lower his sentence, "(President Pervez Musharraf ) commuted his death sentence to a life sentence," Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao told CNN on Thursday.

There is no death penalty in Britain and the British government opposes use of the death penalty in any country.

-- From CNN's Syed Mohsin Naqvi (Posted 2:26 a.m.)

2nd Marine sentenced in Hamdaniya slaying; to serve 21 months

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (CNN) -- A Marine will serve 21 months confinement for his involvement in the April death of an Iraqi man in the village of Hamdaniya, Iraq, a military judge ruled Thursday.

Lance Cpl. Tyler A. Jackson was sentenced to nine years' confinement by Lt. Col. Joseph Lisiecki, but a plea agreement reduced his time to 21 months. Under the terms of the plea deal, he will not face a dishonorable discharge, but may face a reduction in rank and a forfeiture of pay and allowances, as the sentence has to be approved by the convening authority, according to a Marines statement.

Jackson pleaded guilty Nov. 6 to aggravated assault and conspiracy to obstruct justice in the April 26 death of Hashim Ibrahim Awad as part of the plea deal. He was among seven Marines and a Navy corpsman initially charged with premeditated murder, conspiracy and other offenses connected with the incident. (Posted 8:53 p.m.)

U.S. soldier killed in Diyala province

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- A U.S. soldier was killed Thursday by small-arms fire during combat operations in Iraq's Diyala province, the military said.

The Task Force Lightning soldier was attached to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. The soldier's name was withheld pending notification of relatives.

On Wednesday, three Task Force Lightning soldiers assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division were killed -- one by small-arms fire and the other two in a roadside bombing, the military said. A fourth soldier, a member of the Multi-National Corps-Iraq, was also killed.

Since the start of the Iraq war, 2,864 U.S. soldiers have died. (Posted 8:33 p.m.)

Florida authorities open criminal probe of former Rep. Foley

(CNN) -- The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has opened a criminal investigation of former Rep. Mark Foley, who resigned in September after his e-mails with teenage congressional pages came to light, a spokeswoman said Thursday.

The FDLE had opened a preliminary inquiry into Foley's conduct shortly after his resignation. Spokeswoman Kristen Perezluha told CNN Thursday that the agency has found "a basis to open a criminal investigation.":

Authorities have been investigating whether Foley might have used computers in Florida to engage or solicit minors in any illegal activities. Foley's attorney, David Roth, has categorically denied that the former congressman ever engaged in sexual activity with minors. (Posted 7:21 p.m.)

U.S. soldier gets life after pleading guilty to rape, murder of Iraqi family

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (CNN) -- A U.S. soldier accused of participating in the rape and murder of a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and the slaying of her parents and younger sister was sentenced Thursday to life in prison after pleading guilty to all the charges against him during a court-martial at his home base in Kentucky.

Spc. James Barker, 23, pleaded guilty to charges of premeditated murder, rape, conspiracy to commit premeditated murder and rape, conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice, violating a lawful general order, arson and housebreaking, according to a statement from the 101st Airborne Division.

After the plea, Barker was handed a life sentence with eligibility for parole and a dishonorable discharge, the military said. Had he been convicted at court-martial, he could have faced a sentence of life without parole. (Posted 7:12 p.m.)

Gates hearing date set

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A hearing on the nomination of former CIA director Robert Gates to succeed Donald Rumsfeld as Defense Secretary will begin on Dec. 5, the Senate Armed Services Committee said Thursday.

President Bush tapped Gates for the position last week when Rumsfeld submitted his resignation amid heavy criticism of his management of the war. (Posted 7:04 p.m.)

Report: Contractors abducted in Iraq

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Several security contractors, including four Americans, were abducted Thursday when a supply convoy was ambushed in southern Iraq, a U.S. military spokesman told CNN.

U.S. troops were conducting a search, the spokesman said. He had no other details. A military spokesman in Baghdad confirmed the incident occurred at a checkpoint.

ABC News, citing defense officials, reported that up to 14 people working for Crescent Security Group were kidnapped near Nasiriya.

Crescent, which operates out of Kuwait City, did not provide details except to say the incident occurred in southern Iraq. (Posted 6:56 p.m.)

At least 8 dead after tornado rips through mobile home park

RIEGELWOOD, N.C. (CNN) -- At least eight people were killed Thursday and nearly 20 were injured when a tornado ripped through a mobile home park in this small town west of Wilmington, Columbus County Emergency Services spokesman Kip Godwin told CNN.

"All of the fatalities were residents in the mobile homes," he said.

At least two of those who died were under 18, said Columbus County Sheriff Chris Batten, who did not provide further details. Nineteen people were injured, four of them -- all children -- critically.

An area about half a mile wide and up to a mile in length was "totally demolished," Batten told reporters. Some of the bodies were found about 200 yards from the twister's path, he said.

Search and rescue efforts continued throughout the day, but were called off Thursday afternoon because everyone had been accounted for, Batten said.(Posted 6:06 p.m.)

IDF attacks houses in Gaza

GAZA CITY (CNN) -- For the second consecutive night, Israeli rockets hit houses in Gaza, a Palestinian security source said Thursday.

One person was slightly wounded in the attacks, which targeted two buildings belonging to Hamas activists, a Palestinian security source said.

The rockets were fired before midnight (6 p.m. ET) from an Apache helicopter, and the attacks were carried out after the owners of the houses were alerted to the impending attack and told to evacuate the buildings, the source said.

One of the houses was in Jabalya, in northern Gaza, and the other in Rafah, in southern Gaza, the source said.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed the attacks, saying they targeted buildings that were being used as weapons warehouses. (Posted 5:37 p.m.)

Report: Iraqi government orders arrest of top Sunni cleric

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- The Iraqi Interior Ministry on Thursday issued an arrest warrant for Hareth al-Dhari, who heads the influential Sunni Association of Muslim Scholars, a group of top Sunni religious leaders, military officials said.

Brig. Gen. Abdul Karim Khalaf told CNN the warrant accuses al-Dhari of violating Iraq's antiterrorism law by inciting sectarian violence and killings.

Al-Dhari has been a strong critic of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Shiite-dominated government. (Posted 4:05 p.m.)

Iraq PM asks Turkey to forgive some of Iraq's debt

ANKARA, Turkey (CNN) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki pressed his Turkish counterpart Thursday to persuade his country to forgive 80 percent of the debt Iraq incurred during the regime of Saddam Hussein, according to a statement from al-Maliki's office.

Al-Maliki and the rest of his delegation are in Turkey to meet with Prime Minister Recep Erdogan and other top Turkish leaders.

Earlier this year, Iraq reached a debt agreement with the Paris Club, a group of financial officials from nearly 20 countries, to forgive about 80 percent of $40 billion in Saddam Hussein-era debt.

Iraq's debt was about $125 billion at the time of the U.S. invasion in March 2003, much of the money owed to Gulf countries. There were no specifics in the Iraqi prime minister's statement on how much money Iraq owes Turkey or other details. (Posted 3:40 p.m.)

Democrats present united front after electing Hoyer to second spot in House

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Democrats moved quickly to present a united front Thursday after electing minority whip Rep. Steny Hoyer to be majority leader, in defiance of Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi's wishes.

The Californian congresswoman had backed Rep. John Murtha, whose criticism of the war in Iraq she has credited with helping the Democrats retake the House.

"I believe the biggest ethical challenge facing our country is the war in Iraq," said Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi, who is on track to become the nation's first woman speaker when she assumes the post in January. "It must be stopped. I thought that Mr. Murtha's elevation to a leadership position would serve that purpose.

"The caucus has enormous respect for Mr. Murtha; they thought otherwise."

She offered no apologies for having backed Murtha of Pennsylvania, who lost to Hoyer of Maryland by a vote of 149-86. "I have to be who I am, and I'm a person who is committed to ending this war," she told reporters. "It is a grotesque mistake." (Posted 2:12 p.m.)

15 killed in Baghdad violence; 35 bodies found

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Insurgents gunned down nine people at a bakery in eastern Baghdad, among 15 people killed in a string of attacks across the capital on Thursday, police told CNN.

Authorities on Thursday also said they found 35 unidentified bodies, shot and killed in what are thought to be sectarian-related slayings.

Two people were wounded in the bloody bakery attack. In that same neighborhood, a civilian was killed and another was wounded by a roadside bomb.

In southwestern Baghdad, a civilian was killed and another wounded when a bomb strapped to a bicycle exploded. In central Baghdad, two civilians were killed and five were wounded by a car bomb planted on a main road.

A civilian was killed and four were hurt when a car bomb exploded around noon in Qahira neighborhood in northern Baghdad. On Palestine Street, a car bomb that exploded near a fuel station around 2 p.m. killed one person and wounded three. (Posted 1:38 p.m.)

Education official: 70 to 80 still missing in Baghdad kidnapping

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- An aide to Iraq's higher education minister says at least 70 to 80 people remain missing from Tuesday's mass kidnapping at a Baghdad research institute and of the 70 who have been released, some were tortured.

Mohammed Ali told CNN on Thursday that some of the people kidnapped were employees at the facility and others at the building were visitors, including a group of engineers who were holding a meeting at the building. Ali said released hostages reported that some of those kidnapped were tortured by captors.

Authorities have given differing estimates of how many were kidnapped and how many have been released. Interior Minister Jawad al-Boulani told CNN on Wednesday that between 65 to 70 people had been kidnapped, including 35 to 40 employees. He said 80 percent of the hostages have been released.

A U.S. military spokesman told CNN that the Iraqi government, the U.S. Embassy, and the Multi-National Forces-Iraq were holding discussions on how to assist the search for the hostages. --From CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq (Posted 1:20 p.m.)

Nobel Prize economist Milton Friedman dead

SAN FRANCISCO (CNN) -- Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman died Thursday at the age of 94, according to a spokesman for the Milton and Rose Friedman Foundation.

Spokesman Robert Fanger did not know the cause of death.

Friedman won the Nobel in 1976 for "his achievements in the fields of consumption analysis, monetary history and theory and for his demonstration of the complexity of stabilization policy," according to the Nobel Prize Web site.(Posted 1:09 p.m.)

More Marines being sent to Iraq's Anbar province

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Up to 2,200 Marines are being deployed to Iraq's volatile Anbar province to help with security there, U.S. Central Command officials told CNN Thursday.

The Marines -- from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif. -- have been offshore on ships in the Persian Gulf region. They will be moved to Iraq.

The move was ordered by Gen. John Abizaid, head of U.S. Central Command. He made reference to dealing with the security challenges in the vast Anbar province when he testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday.

Marines and soldiers have been fighting militants in towns along the Euphrates River in the province, and many of the U.S. military fatalities have been in combat there. --From CNN's Barbara Starr (Posted 11:54 a.m.)

2 die, 3 wounded in Detroit shootings

DETROIT (CNN) -- A man and a woman were killed Thursday and three people were injured in a series of shootings on Detroit's west side, and police were looking for two gunmen, police spokesman James Tate said.

The shootings began shortly after 6 a.m. and ended about 10 minutes later. The woman, believed to be about 48, was found dead after the initial shooting, Tate said. The male fatality, around age 58, was found after a shooting around the corner.

"This is a definitely dangerous individual that we want off the street," Tate said.

The police are still gathering details, he said. He urged anyone with information to come forward. Police said one of the gunmen was black, but with a light complexion, age 18 to 25, weight 160 to 180 pounds, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and dark pants. (Posted 11:16 a.m.)

Democrats elect Pelosi speaker-elect

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- As had been expected, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California was selected Thursday by a unanimous vote of House Democrats to be speaker-elect.

South Carolina Rep. James E. Clyburn was elected majority whip and Illinois Rep. Rahm Emmanuel was elected caucus chairman by Democrats, who cast their votes in the Cannon Office Building.

It was unclear who the Democrats would pick to be her second-in-command. Steny Hoyer of Maryland and John Murtha of Pennsylvania were both vying for the post of majority leader.

Hoyer, now the party's minority whip, is being challenged for the post of majority leader by Murtha, an ardent critic of the Iraq War. The battle has been spiced up by Pelosi's decision to back Murtha, instead of Hoyer, her leadership lieutenant for the past four years. (Posted 11:15 a.m.)

Afghan-coalition operation kills 1 insurgent, arrests others

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -- A "terrorist" was killed and four people were "captured" early Thursday in Afghanistan's Kabul province, the U.S.-led coalition command said.

The killing and the arrests occurred during an Afghan and coalition operation near the Payanden area, which targeted insurgents thought responsible for attacks against troops. The four men were in custody. (Posted 9:40 a.m.)

Report: Displaced Iraqis face hardships

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Displaced Iraqis living in and around the volatile northern city of Kirkuk don't have proper access to a range of services -- shelter, food, water, health care, sanitation, education and legal assistance, a world migration agency said.

The International Organization for Migration has been tracking the problems endured by people displaced within Iraq -- in large part by the nation's Sunni-Shiite violence raging over the past year.

IOM staffers interviewed 695 displaced families in Tameem province, where the city of Kirkuk is located, and issued a report Tuesday on their findings.

Sixty percent of the families "struggle to pay rent for houses, which often lack basic facilities, such as electricity or running water," 36 percent lack access to Public Distribution System rations and 64 percent lack other food assistance.

Since then, the number of Iraqis displaced has risen to almost 240,000 individuals in Iraq's 15 central and southern provinces. (Posted 8:59 a.m.)

Court: Friend of 9/11 hijackers guilty of aiding murder of 246 passengers

KARLSRUHE, Germany (CNN) -- A Moroccan man with ties to the 9/11 terrorists was found guilty of accessory to murder in the 2001 attacks and must return to court for a third time to receive a new sentence, Germany's highest appeals court ruled on Thursday.

A judge ruled Mounir el-Motassadeq knew of a plot in which passengers on a plane would die and aided in the murder of the 246 passengers and crew members aboard four of the planes that crashed in 2001.

Last summer a Hamburg court convicted el-Motassadeq of providing logistical help to an al Qaeda cell that included three 9/11 hijackers but did not convict him of direct involvement of the attacks, citing he did not know of the specific details of the plots. That court sentenced him to seven years in prison.

The Federal Court of Justice on Thursday overturned that ruling, arguing it was irrelevant whether he knew of the minute details of the attacks.

The appeals court ordered the Hamburg court to reconsider his sentence. He now may face a 15 year sentence. --From CNN Berlin Producer Claudia Otto (Posted 8:40 a.m.)

2 Afghans die, child hurt when troops fire at speeding van

(CNN) -- Two Afghan civilian adults were killed and a child was injured when NATO troops in southern Afghanistan fired at a vehicle driving at high speed toward a patrol, according to NATO's International Security Assistance Force.

The ISAF issued a news release Thursday about the incident, which occurred Wednesday, seven kilometers -- or more than four miles -- north of Gereshk in Helmand province.

NATO troops have been battling Taliban militants in that area.

"A civilian van approached an ISAF patrol at high speed and failed to stop when hand signals were given. The patrol subsequently fired in self-defense. Regrettably, two of the civilians were killed and one injured," ISAF said. ISAF said it didn't know why the vehicle didn't stop. (Posted 8:35 a.m.)

Kidnapped Iraqis may have been tortured by gunmen

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Gunmen who snatched about 70 men from a government research institute in Baghdad on Tuesday may have tortured some of their hostages, an aide to the Minister of Higher Education said Thursday.

The aide said some of the hostages who were earlier released reported some of the kidnapped men were tortured at the hands of their captors.

A number of media reports quoted the minister of higher education as saying some of the hostages were killed. However, in a CNN interview, the minister's aide denied that the minister of higher education ever said that hostages were killed.

The Interior Ministry told CNN no conclusive evidence -- such as dumped bodies -- has been found to indicate any killings and the ministry has not heard reports of tortured hostages.

On Wednesday Iraq's higher education minister threatened to resign, arguing he could not stay at his post if he could not protect the nation's educators. (Posted 7:40 a.m.)

Musharraf commutes British citizen's death sentence to life in prison

LAHORE, Pakistan (CNN) -- Instead of facing the death penalty, a British man locked in a Pakistani prison for more than 18 years is now sentenced to life in prison after Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf conceded to pressure from British authorities and various human rights groups on Thursday, an official said.

Mirza Tahir Hussain, a British Muslim of Pakistani descent, was convicted of killing a taxi driver in 1988 and was sentenced to death.

However after receiving pleas to lower his sentence, "the president commuted his death sentence to a life sentence," Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao told CNN.

Upon hearing the news, a spokesman from Clarence House said Prince Charles was "very pleased" with Musharraf's decision. Clarence House is the official residence of the Prince of Wales and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

There is no death penalty in Britain and the British government opposes use of the death penalty in any country. -- From CNN's Syed Mohsin Naqvi (Posted 6:39 a.m.)

Marine to serve 18 months in Hamdaniya case

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (CNN) -- A Marine was sentenced to 18 months confinement Wednesday in connection with the April death of a 52-year-old Iraqi man in the village of Hamdaniya, a military spokesman said.

Pfc. John J. Jodka was sentenced to five years' confinement by Judge Lt. Col. David Jones, but the sentence was reduced as part of a plea agreement, said U.S. Marine spokesman Maj. Jeff Nyhart.

Jodka was among seven Marines and a Navy corpsman who were initially charged with premeditated murder, conspiracy and related offenses in the April 26 death of Hashim Ibrahim Award. (Posted 6:34 a.m.)

Bush arrives in Singapore, pushes regional cooperation

SINGAPORE (CNN) -- In a wide-ranging speech to university students, U.S. President George Bush pushed trade and regional cooperation as he kicked off a three-nation tour of Asia on Thursday.

Speaking at the National University of Singapore Bush pushed his theme: "Working Together to Build More Hopeful Societies in The Asia-Pacific Region."

The speech focused on the U.S. commitment to Asia in the areas of trade, terrorism, economic development and the pandemics of HIV and avian flu, while rejecting any notion of isolationism.

"America will remain engaged in Asia because our interests depend on the expansion of freedom and opportunity in this region," Bush said. (Posted 6 a.m.)

4 U.S. soldiers die in combat in Iraq

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Three U.S. soldiers with Task Force Lightning were killed in action Wednesday in Iraq's Diyala province and a fourth soldier was killed in Baghdad Tuesday, U.S. military statements said Thursday.

Two of the Task Force Lightning soldiers were killed in combat when a roadside bomb exploded near their vehicle in Diyala province Wednesday. Additionally, two other soldiers were wounded and were taken to the hospital.

The military said a third Task Force Lightning soldier fighting in the same area on Wednesday was killed by small arms fire.

All three were assigned to the Army's 1st Cavalry Division.

On Tuesday a fourth soldier was killed by small arms fire during combat operations in Baghdad. The soldier was a member of the Multi-National Corps-Iraq, the military said Thursday.

Since the start of the war, the U.S. military has suffered 2,863 fatalities in Iraq.(Posted 4:25 a.m.)

1,000 coalition troops sweep Kirkuk for insurgents

KIRKUK, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraqi soldiers are in their second day of a sweep of several villages near Iraq's northern city of Kirkuk for insurgents and illegal weapons, a U.S. military statement said Thursday.

The operation involves more than 1,000 soldiers who have begun to cordon-off and search two valleys thought to be harboring insurgents. The valleys targeted are Zytoon and Rashad, which are about 25 miles south of Kirkuk.

The coalition statement said Rashad valley is the site of a recent attack on a combined Iraqi-coalition patrol.

After the sweeps are conducted the coalition said an Iraqi army brigade will stay to "maintain a formal presence" in the area to "protect the civilians and deny the (insurgents) any sanctuary in southern parts" of Kirkuk. (Posted 3:14 a.m.)

13 killed, 9 wounded in various attacks around Iraq's capital

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Thirteen people were killed and nine were wounded in various attacks in Iraq's capital Thursday morning, Iraqi officials reported.

In eastern Baghdad, gunmen opened fire on a bakery, killing nine and wounding two. One civilian was killed and another was wounded in the same neighborhood when a roadside bomb detonated.

In southwestern Baghdad, one civilian was killed and one was wounded when a bomb strapped to a bicycle exploded.

In central Baghdad, two civilians were killed and five were wounded by a car bomb planted on a main road.

Thursday's violence came a day after 17 people were killed in attacks around the capital. -- From CNN's Arwa Damon (Posted 1:59 a.m.)

Israel launches 4 airstrikes on Gaza; no word on casualties

GAZA CITY (CNN) -- Israeli aircraft fired missiles at targets in Gaza overnight in response to a barrage of rocket attacks by militants a day earlier, Israel Defense Forces said Thursday. There were no immediate reports of injuries.

Israeli helicopters fired two missiles into a Palestinian refugee camp in Gaza City, according to Palestinian security sources. The sources said the missiles struck the western Gaza City home of Issa Shrafi, whose son, Aziz Shrafi, is a member of the Popular Resistance Committees.

IDF did not say the target they struck was a home, but said the "structure" was a weapons storage facility used by the Popular Resistance Committees. --From CNN's Ben Wedeman (Posted 1:44 a.m.)

Tools:
Save |
Print |
E-mail |
Most Popular |

Next story in World

World

Get up-to-the minute news from CNN

CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.