In the News

Iraqis condemn al-Zarqawi video

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Iraqi politicial leaders on Wednesday condemned terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi as a foreigner determined to destroy their country, appearing to take his new video promising more attacks as a serious threat.

Al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian-born head of al-Qaida in Iraq, made a dramatic and unprecedented appearance on a video Tuesday, dismissing the new Iraqi government as an American “stooge” and a “poisoned dagger” in the heart of the Muslim world. He also warned of more attacks to come.

Sheik Khalid al-Attiyah, the Iraqi parliament’s newly appointed first deputy speaker, said the video shows that al-Zarqawi remains determined “to inflame a civil war” in Iraq. But al-Attiyah said it also indicates the insurgent leader, an outsider to many Iraqis, fears the country’s new government will unify Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds.

The video-the first released by al-Zarqawi showing his face-was posted on the Internet only days after a breakthrough in Iraq’s political process allowing its Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish leaders to start assembling a government.

Rumsfeld, Rice to meet Iraqi leaders

ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria’s president ordered Wednesday that captured warlord Charles Taylor be immediately deported to Liberia, where he is wanted on war crimes charges.

President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is on a visit to the United States, ordered his “immediate repatriation” to Liberia, Information Minister Frank Nweke said in a statement.

Taylor, who vanished Monday after Nigerian authorities reluctantly agreed to transfer him to a war crimes tribunal, was caught at Nigeria’s border with Cameroon, national police spokesman Haz Iwendi told The Associated Press.

Plans produced to attack high gas prices

WASHINGTON – High gasoline costs and the political fallout it may create is producing a flurry of proposals from both Republicans and Democrats aimed at soothing motorists’ anger.

But nobody is predicting prices will ease anytime soon.

Democrats are blaming Republicans, especially President Bush, while Republicans argue that congressional Democrats have stood in the way of more domestic oil production.

Bush directed his environmental agency Tuesday to stand ready to ease clean air rules if they interfere with gasoline supplies this summer. Industry analysts said that likely would have only a marginal influence on prices.

The president also announced the government would not take 10 million barrels of oil out of the market for the U.S. emergency reserve as had been planned.

‘Lost’ actress chooses jail over service

HONOLULU – “Lost” actress Michelle Rodriguez pleaded guilty to a single count of driving under the influence, choosing to pay a $500 fine and spend five days in jail rather than do 240 hours of community service.

Rodriguez, who portrays police officer Ana Lucia, and cast member Cynthia Watros were both charged with drunken driving after they were pulled over Dec. 1 in separate cars within 15 minutes of each other.

On Tuesday, a judge gave Rodriguez the option of jail time or community service.

She was to surrender to authorities at Kaneohe District Court later in the day.

Watros, who plays Libby on the ABC castaway drama, pleaded guilty to drunken driving in January and was fined $312, ordered to undergo an alcohol assessment and 14 hours of counseling. She also had her license suspended for 90 days.