Man takes hostages at Clinton campaign office

Man takes hostages at
Clinton campaign office

ROCHESTER, N.H. — A distraught man wearing what appeared to be a bomb walked into a Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign office Friday and demanded to speak to the candidate during a hostage drama that dragged on for nearly six hours before he peacefully surrendered.

Shortly after releasing the last of at least four hostages unharmed, 47-year-old Leeland Eisenberg walked out of the storefront office, put down a homemade bomblike package and was immediately surrounded by a SWAT team with guns drawn. Clad in gray slacks, white dress shirt and a red tie, he was put on the ground and handcuffed.

Clinton was in the Washington area the whole time, but the confrontation brought her campaign to a standstill just five weeks before the New Hampshire primary, one of the first tests of the presidential campaign season. She canceled all appearances, as did her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and the security around her was increased as a precaution.

Christmas omitted from
list of ‘important dates’

SPOKANE, Wash. — They made a list, but they should have checked it twice.

In a December newsletter to the families of elementary school pupils, Spokane Public Schools’ list of “important dates” didn’t include Christmas.

Hanukkah, Human Rights Day, winter break, the Islamic holy day Eid al-Adha, first day of winter and Kwanzaa all made the list. But no Christmas.

“It was absolutely an error of omission,” district spokeswoman Terren Roloff said. “In our efforts to be inclusive, we missed the obvious.”

The omission drew complaints from some parents that Christians are being overlooked in favor of other cultures and beliefs.

Greater Spokane Association of Evangelicals Executive Director John Tusant said the error surprised him.

“The stores have been decorated for the last month. How do you overlook that?” Tusant asked.

Bush seeks more funds
in fight against AIDS

MOUNT AIRY, Md. — President Bush urged Congress on Friday to approve an additional $30 billion for the global fight against AIDS over the next five years, and announced he would visit Africa early next year to further highlight the need and his administration’s efforts.

“We dedicate ourselves to a great purpose: We will turn the tide against HIV/AIDS — once and for all,” Bush said. “I look forward to seeing the results of America’s generosity.”

Bush chose the gymnasium at Calvary United Methodist Church in this tiny western Maryland town to make his remarks. The church supports a Christian group home and school in Namibia for children orphaned by the disease. Before speaking, he met with representatives from churches and other religious groups that have been fighting AIDS, part of his attempt to highlight his belief that faith-based organizations are the best vehicles for such work.

Amtrak, freight trains
wreck; 71 people injured

CHICAGO — An Amtrak train plowed into the back of a freight train and crushed one end of a boxcar under its wheels Friday, injuring dozens of people, some seriously. Most of the 187 passengers walked away unhurt.

Passengers were hurled into the seats in front of them in the accident on the city’s South Side, and four people had to be pulled from the front of the train, where the engine was located, authorities said.

The collision sent 71 people to a dozen hospitals, most of them in stable or good condition, according to the Chicago Fire Department. Five people were taken from the scene in serious to critical condition.

The cause of the wreck was not immediately determined.

Sunni politician’s son,
associates arrested

BAGHDAD — Iraqi troops arrested the son of a leading Sunni politician and dozens of his associates after a car bomb was discovered near his compound and keys to the vehicle were found on one of his bodyguards, U.S. and Iraqi officials said Friday.

Five U.S. soldiers and an Iraqi civilian were injured when they detonated the car bomb near the compound of Adnan al-Dulaimi, leader of the biggest Sunni bloc in parliament, the U.S. military said.

The arrests threaten to inflame sectarian tensions at a time when U.S. officials are pushing Iraqi politicians to take advantage of a decline in violence to forge power-sharing agreements among Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds.

Associated Press