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06-08-2006

Most-Wanted Iraq Terrorist Al-Zarqawi Dead

A U.S. soldier at a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq, takes down an older image, to display the latest image purporting to show the body of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the al-Qaida-linked militant who led a bloody campaign of suicide bombings, kidnappings and hostage beheadings in Iraq, who was killed Wednesday in a U.S. airstrike, Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced Thursday, June 8, 2006. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) _ Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, whose bloody campaign of beheadings and suicide bombings made him the most-wanted terrorist in Iraq, was killed when U.S. warplanes dropped 500-pound bombs on his isolated safe house, officials said Thursday. His death was a long-sought victory in the war in Iraq. The targeted airstrike Wednesday evening was the culmination of a two-week-long hunt for al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq. Tips from senior militants led U.S. forces to follow al-Zarqawi's spiritual adviser to the safe house, 30 miles outside Baghdad, for a meeting with the terror leader. The adviser, Sheik Abdul Rahman, was among those killed.

Poll: U.S. Disapproves of War in Iraq

President Bush walks from the Oval Office to speak about the death of al-Qaida in Iraq's leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Thursday, June 8, 2006, in the Rose Garden at the White House. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The death of al-Qaida leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in Iraq came as more Americans than ever thought the war in Iraq was a mistake, according to AP-Ipsos polling. The poll, taken Monday through Wednesday before news broke that U.S. forces had killed al-Zarqawi, found that 59 percent of adults say the United States made a mistake in going to war in Iraq _ the highest level yet in AP-Ipsos polling.

Ahmadinejad: Iran to Talk, U.S. Gave In

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad points during a public gathering during his visit to the city of Qazvin, 90 miles (150 kilometers) west of the capital Tehran, Iran, Thursday, June 8, 2006. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday that Iran was ready to discuss "mutual concerns" over its controversial nuclear program but claimed that the West gave in to Iran. Ahmadinejad did not say whether Iran accepts a Western package of incentives aimed at enticing Iran to suspend uranium enrichment to open the way for negotiations with the United States and Europe. (AP Photo)

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) _ Iran's president said Thursday his regime is ready for talks over its nuclear capabilities, but he sent mixed signals on how much is open for negotiation and suggested Tehran has the upper hand in its showdown with the West. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad repeated Iran's position that uranium enrichment is an untouchable national right, a clear jab at the West two days after Iran received a package of economic and technological incentives to suspend the program.

Rumsfeld Cautions on Al-Zarqawi Impact

U.S. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld gestures as he addresses the media after a meeting of NATO defense ministers at the alliance headquarters in Brussels, Thursday June 8, 2006. Rumsfeld said Thursday that the killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was "enormously important" for the fight against terror in Iraq and around the world, but would not halt violence in the country. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) _ Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Thursday that while the death of terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi is a significant victory in the war on terror, it won't end terrorism. "Given the nature of the terrorist networks, really a network of networks, the death of Zarqawi, while enormously important, will not mean the end of all violence in that country," Rumsfeld told reporters.

Texas to Install Border Web Cameras

A U.S. Border Patrol agent patrols along the U.S. border near the point of entry at San Luis, Ariz. on Tuesday, June 6, 2006. (AP Photo/Khampha Bouaphanh)

EL PASO, Texas (AP) _ The governor of Texas wants to turn all the world into a virtual posse. Rick Perry has announced a $5 million plan to install hundreds of night-vision cameras on private land along the Mexican border and put the live video on the Internet, so that anyone with a computer who spots illegal immigrants trying to slip across can report it on a toll-free hot line. "I look at this as not different from the neighborhood watches we have had in our communities for years and years," Perry said last week.

U.S. Climber Gives Up Everest for Rescue

American mountain guide Daniel Mazur, from Olympia, Washington, talks to the Associated Press in Katmandu, Nepal, Thursday, June 8, 2006. Mazur, gave up his chance to be on top Mt. Everest just two hours from the 8,850-meter (29,035 foot) summit on the morning of May 26, to rescue a British climber Lincoln Hall, 50, who had been left a day earlier by his own guides believing he was dead. (AP Photo/ Binod Joshi)

KATMANDU, Nepal (AP) _ Just days after a British climber was left to die near Mount Everest's summit, an American guide abandoned his second bid to stand on top of the world so he could rescue a mountaineer mistakenly given up for dead. Not only did Daniel Mazur not scale the world's highest peak from the northern side, he also failed to get his two paying clients to the top.

FDA Approves Cervical Cancer Vaccine

WASHINGTON (AP) _ Women for the first time have a vaccine to protect themselves against cervical cancer. The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday licensed the vaccine, Gardasil, for use in girls and women ages 9 to 26. The vaccine works by preventing infection by four of the dozens of strains of the human papillomavirus, or HPV, the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease.

Pitt Says Baby's Birth 'Truly Peaceful'

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie address a press conference held for the Namibian press exclusively in a hotel in the Namibian city of Swakopmund Wednesday June 7 2006. The couple thanked the Namibian peopple for their hospitality during the birth of their daughter Shiloh. (AP Photo/Tanja Bause-The Namibian)

SWAKOPMUND, Namibia (AP) _ In Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt's first broadcast interview since their daughter was born, Pitt says the event was "truly peaceful." In the interview, conducted by the Namibian Broadcasting Corp. and obtained exclusively Thursday by AP Television News, Pitt and Jolie sit side by side, reflecting on their experience in the African country where Shiloh Nouvel was born May 27.

Dow Closes Up 8, Nasdaq Finishes Down 6

Van Der Moolen specialist Vanessa Brocco, looks at her screens as she directs trading at her post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Thursday June 8, 2006. Interest rate concerns pushed stocks lower Thursday as investors continued fretting about higher lending costs choking demand and hurting the global economy. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

NEW YORK (AP) _ Wall Street recovered from an earlier plunge to finish narrowly mixed Thursday as investors attempted to rally from a week of losses fueled by concerns that higher interest rates will strain the global economy. Persistent inflation and rate worries pushed stocks substantially lower during the session, with the Dow Jones industrials dropping more than 173 points at midday. But bargain hunters entered the market late in the day and took advantage of relatively cheap stock prices.

Hall's HR in 10th Gives Brewers Victory

Milwaukee Brewers' Bill Hall reacts after hitting the game-winning home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres on Thursday, June 8, 2006, in Milwaukee. The Brewers won 4-3. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

MILWAUKEE (AP) _ Bill Hall homered to lead off the bottom of the 10th and the Milwaukee Brewers, saved by a two-out error the previous inning, beat the San Diego Padres 4-3 Thursday. Padres closer Trevor Hoffman took a 3-2 lead into the ninth. With two outs and a runner on first, shortstop Khalil Greene misplayed a grounder by Rickie Weeks and Brady Clark followed with a tying single.

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