IRAN REMOVES NUCLEAR SEALS

Iran removes nuclear seals
TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran broke U.N. seals on its nuclear enrichment facility Tuesday, pledging only to conduct research, but the international nuclear watchdog said Tehran also planned small-scale enrichment of uranium -- a process that can produce fuel for nuclear weapons. The reopening of the Natanz facility drew an outcry from the United States, Europe and Japan as the move was seen as defiance of demands that Iran maintain a freeze on its nuclear program and could provide justification for it to be hauled before the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions. "If the regime in Iran continues on the current course and fails to abide by its international obligations, there is no other choice but to refer the matter to the Security Council," said White House press secretary Scott McClellan. While U.S. and European criticism of Iran's nuclear moves is common, Russia and China -- which have blocked past efforts to have Iran referred to Security Council -- have indicated growing frustration with Tehran as well. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei also voiced exasperation, telling Britain's Sky News: "I am running out of patience.
Roof collapses in mine
PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- Rescue crews were called to a coal mine in eastern Kentucky after a roof collapsed Tuesday, possibly trapping one miner, a state official said. The rock fall occurred about 900 feet inside the Maverick Mining Co. LLC mine in Pikeville, near the Virginia line, said Chuck Wolfe, spokesman for the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing. "One individual is thought to be involved, but we don't know the nature of that involvement ... and don't really want to speculate on anything," he said. The condition of the person in the mine was "uncertain," according to Suzy Bohnert, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration. She said federal officials were on the scene. Wolfe said a nine-person rescue crew was sent to the mine when the accident was reported shortly after 3 p.m. EST. A person who answered the phone at Maverick Mining in Pikeville declined to comment.
Watchdog resists probeinto domestic spying
WASHINGTON -- Rejecting Democratic requests, the Justice Department's independent watchdog says it does not have jurisdiction to open an investigation into the legality of the Bush administration's domestic eavesdropping program. In a three-paragraph letter circulated Tuesday, Inspector General Glenn Fine instead forwarded the request to Justice's Office of Professional Responsibility, which reviews allegations of misconduct involving employees' actions when providing legal advice. President Bush's decision to authorize the nation's largest spy agency to monitor -- without warrants -- people inside the United States has sparked a flurry of questions about the program's legal justification. Bush and his top aides say the activities of the National Security Agency were narrowly targeted to intercept calls and e-mails of Americans and others inside the United States with suspected ties to Al-Qaida.
Associated Press