POLICE LOOK ABROAD FOR TIES TO ALLEGED TERROR CELL

Police look abroad forties to alleged terror cell
TORONTO -- Police said Monday more arrests are likely in an alleged plot to bomb buildings in Canada, while intelligence officers sought ties between the 17 suspects and Islamic terror cells in the United States and five other nations. A court said authorities had charged all 12 adults arrested over the weekend with participating in a terrorist group. Other charges included importing weapons and planning a bombing. The charges against five minors were not made public. The Parliament of Canada, in Ottawa, is believed to be among targets the group discussed. Toronto Mayor David Miller said CN Tower, a downtown landmark, and the city's subway were not targets as had been speculated in local media, but declined to identify sites that were. A Muslim prayer leader who knew the oldest suspect, 43-year-old Qayyum Abdul Jamal, told The Associated Press on Monday that Jamal's sermons at a storefront mosque were "filled with hate" against Canada. Authorities said more arrests were expected, possibly this week, as police pursue leads about a group that they say was inspired by the violent ideology of the al-Qaida terror network.
Court agrees to rule onschool affirmative action
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court agreed Monday to decide whether skin color can be considered in assigning children to public schools, reopening the issue of affirmative action. The announcement puts a contentious social topic on the national landscape in an election year, and tests the conservatism of President Bush's two new justices. The outcome could mark a new chapter for a court that famously banned racial segregation in public schools in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. Since then, race questions have been hugely divisive, both for the court and the public. Three years ago, more than 5,000 people demonstrated outside as the justices considered whether public universities could select students based at least in part on race. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor broke a tie to allow it in a limited way.
Same-sex marriage ban
WASHINGTON -- Cheered by conservative supporters, President Bush gave a push Monday to a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage as the Senate opened debate on an emotional, election-year measure that has little chance of passing. "Our policies should aim to strengthen families, not undermine them," Bush said in a speech. "And changing the definition of marriage would undermine the family structure." All Senate Democrats, except Ben Nelson of Nebraska, oppose the amendment, and critics say Bush's efforts are primarily aimed at energizing conservative voters for the November elections. Together with moderate Republicans, the Democrats are expected to block a yes-or-no vote, killing the measure for the year.
Abbas to call referendumon recognition of Israel
RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday he will call a referendum on a political plan that would implicitly recognize Israel even though the governing Hamas party firmly opposes such a vote. Abbas' office made the announcement after he failed in last-ditch talks to persuade the Islamic militant group to accept the principle of a Palestinian state alongside Israel in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem -- land Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war. The idea implies recognition of Israel, and the moderate Abbas has endorsed the plan as a way out of crippling financial sanctions imposed on the Hamas-led government over its refusal to recognize Israel and renounce violence. Abbas had also hoped it would allow him to resume peace talks with Israel, frozen since Hamas took over government in March.
Missing 5-day-old baby of Texas woman is found
LUBBOCK, Texas -- A missing 5-day-old baby was found Monday evening, more than 24 hours after her mother said she was abducted by a woman who had posed as a nurse in medical scrubs. Priscilla Nicole Maldanado was taken to University Medical Center. Hospital spokesman Greg Bruce said the baby was fine. There were no immediate details on where the baby was found. Erica Ysasaga had told police that a woman who had visited her several times in the hospital after she gave birth last week disappeared with her daughter when she was distracted by her young son Sunday afternoon.
New York cops will getlife in prison, judge says
NEW YORK -- A judge told two decorated former detectives Monday that they will get life in prison for moonlighting as hit men for the mob. But U.S. District Judge Jack B. Weinstein said he would not formally impose the maximum sentence on Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa until at least June 23. At that time, the defendants will argue they were not adequately represented by their lawyers at their trial. "This is probably the most heinous series of crimes ever tried in this courthouse," the judge said. The two former partners were convicted in April of participating in eight slayings between 1986 and 1990 while simultaneously on the payroll of the New York Police Department and the Luchese crime family.
Associated Press