Palestinian students, Israeli soldiers clash

Palestinian students,Israeli soldiers clash
BIR ZEIT, West Bank -- Israeli soldiers scuffled with Palestinian university students and teachers protesting the blocking of the main road leading to their West Bank university today.
Israeli soldiers fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowd of protesters who had been sitting in the middle of the road chanting slogans. Eight people were lightly injured by rubber bullets and 20 were treated for gas inhalation, ambulance workers said.
Meanwhile, Palestinian officials said an initial four-day trial period for a cease-fire was completed at midday today, and they expected Israel to ease restrictions.
"We really hope ... we will see genuine steps in lifting the closure and siege and deployment of Israeli troops," said Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat.
The roadblock near Bir Zeit University was among those meant to be lifted by Israel in keeping with last week's cease-fire agreement the two sides have been trying to shore up, despite daily episodes of violence.
A roadside bomb was detonated on the Israeli-Egypt border in the southern Gaza Strip overnight, but no one was injured. The militant Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility.
Indian leader blamesPakistan for attack
SRINAGAR, India -- India's leader said today that he has written a letter to President Bush blaming Pakistanis for the worst terrorist attack in Kashmir in two years.
As the death toll from the car bombing outside the state legislature in India's Jammu-Kashmir state rose to 38, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee suggested Pakistan is lying when it says there are no terrorist groups operating from its territory.
"There is a limit to the patience of the people of India," Vajpayee wrote.
Shortly after the explosion Monday, a Pakistan-based militant group fighting for the independence of Jammu-Kashmir state claimed responsibility, naming a Pakistani citizen as the driver of the car bomb, which also wounded 60 people.
"Ironically, it comes only a day after the Pakistan president announced on television that his country has no terrorist groups operating from its territory," Vajpayee told Bush. "Incidents of this kind raise questions for our security, which ... I have to address in our supreme national interest."
Slain reporter buriedin Northern Ireland
LURGAN, Northern Ireland -- Protestant and Catholic politicians united in silence as more than 2,000 mourners walked behind the coffin of one of Northern Ireland's most courageous journalists -- and the first to be slain in three decades of violence here.
A harsh rain fell Monday as journalists from both parts of Ireland took turns helping to carry the coffin of Martin O'Hagan, 51, from his home in Lurgan to the city cemetery.
The investigative reporter for the Sunday World, Ireland's best-selling tabloid newspaper, died by his wife Marie's side Friday night after Protestant extremists shot him several times in the back near his home.
His killers cited his reports into their activities as the reason.
"Martin was gunned down because he got nearer the truth than the rest of us," said the Rev. Brian d'Arcy, a Roman Catholic priest and columnist for the Sunday World, who gave the graveside oration. "The best honor we could pay his memory is to carry on that quest for truth undeterred."
In Belfast, members of Northern Ireland's cross-community government offered a minute's silence Monday in honor of O'Hagan. And press freedom organizations worldwide appealed to Great Britain to devote extra resources to imprisoning the killers that O'Hagan spent his career trying to unmask.
Candidate for Congress
TAMPA, Fla. -- Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris, who hit the national spotlight during last fall's presidential election recount, announced today she is running for Congress.
"In light of the recent tragedy, I am more committed than ever to serving the president and our nation," the Republican said in a statement. "As a nation we have united to overcome this challenge, and the bonds of our courage and strength to do what is right inspires us to succeed."
Harris, 44, wants to replace Republican Dan Miller, who represents the 13th congressional district that encompasses her hometown of Sarasota. Miller said he plans to retire when his fifth term ends next year.
Associated Press