hFatah gunmen watch during Gaza City protest

hFatah gunmen watchduring Gaza City protest
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip -- Above, Palestinian Fatah gunmen stand by during a protest in the streets of Gaza City. The protest took place today against the speech of Khaled Mashall, head of Hamas' political bureau in Syria. On Friday, President Mahmoud Abbas vetoed Hamas' plan to set up a security force of 4,000 militants, but Hamas insisted it would go ahead, deepening the bitterest clash yet between the Islamic group and the moderate Palestinian leader. Hamas, which ousted Abbas' Fatah Party from power in January parliamentary elections, had spoken in the past of incorporating militants into the Fatah-dominated Palestinian security forces. But the concept of a shadow security force headed by the No. 2 fugitive on Israel's wanted list appeared to go too far for Abbas, who favors talks with Israel and is trying to keep the West from shunning the Palestinians over Hamas' violently anti-Israel ideology. The new force, to be based in chaotic Gaza, is to have about 4,000 members.
Suspect went shoppingafter killings, cops say
LEOLA, Pa. -- Police believe a 21-year-old man charged in the beating deaths of six family members used their credit cards or cash for a shopping spree after the killings, court documents show. Authorities recovered 12 articles of clothing with sales tags still attached from the bedroom of Jesse Dee "Jay" Wise, who is charged with six counts of homicide, according to a search warrant record released Friday. Police believe Wise used his victims' credit cards, checks or money "after their death to purchase items and services as he continued to live in his home," East Lampeter Township detective Joseph Edgell wrote in a search warrant affidavit. Police also reported that they seized knives and bloody tissues, towels and clothing from the home where the bodies were discovered April 12. The documents say one victim had been stabbed repeatedly, and an electrical cord was found around the neck of the suspect's 5-year-old cousin. A coroner determined all the victims had been beaten to death.
Ex-President Ford defends Rumsfeld
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. -- Former President Ford said Friday he was troubled by the efforts of retired generals to force the ouster of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld. Ford, who appointed Rumsfeld as his White House chief of staff and then chose him to be defense secretary during his administration, said in a statement that President Bush was right to keep Rumsfeld in his post. The statement was released by spokeswoman Penny Circle as Bush arrived in California for the weekend. Ford, 92, said the decision on keeping Rumsfeld is the president's alone.
Army soldiers' suicidesincreased last year
WASHINGTON -- The number of U.S. Army soldiers who took their own lives increased last year to the highest total since 1993, despite a growing effort by the Army to detect and prevent suicides. In 2005, a total of 83 soldiers committed suicide, compared with 67 in 2004, and 60 in 2003 -- the year U.S.-led forces invaded Iraq. Four other deaths in 2005 are being investigated as possible suicides but have not yet been confirmed. The totals include active duty Army soldiers and deployed National Guard and Reserve troops. "Although we are not alarmed by the slight increase, we do take suicide prevention very seriously," said Army spokesman Col. Joseph Curtin. "We have increased the number of combat stress teams, increased suicide prevention and training, and we are working very aggressively to change the culture so that soldiers feel comfortable coming forward with their personal problems in a culture where historically admitting mental health issues was frowned upon," Curtin said. Of the confirmed suicides last year, 25 were soldiers deployed to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars -- 40 percent of the 64 suicides by Army soldiers in Iraq since the conflict began in 2003.
Associated Press