McConnell blames death on Syria or Hezbollah groups

McConnell blames death on
Syria or Hezbollah groups

WASHINGTON — The U.S. intelligence chief said Sunday that internal Hezbollah groups or Syria may be to blame for the killing of a Hezbollah commander that has led the FBI to put domestic terror squads on alert in the United States.

Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell said the United States is still reviewing the case after the death last Tuesday of commander Imad Mughniyeh. Hezbollah blamed Israel and has pledged to attack Jewish targets worldwide in retaliation. That led the FBI last week to be vigilant for possible threats in the U.S. against synagogues and other potential Jewish targets.

McConnell said he considers the threat to be primarily against Israel. But he said U.S. intelligence officials are keeping close watch and taking any necessary action to protect the United States because Mughniyeh has been “responsible for more deaths of Americans and Israelis than any other terrorist with the exception of Osama bin Laden.”

“It is a serious threat,” McConnell said. “There’s some evidence that it may have been internal Hezbollah. It may have been Syria. We don’t know yet, and we’re trying to sort that out.”

Space station astronauts,
shuttle crew say goodbye

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The crews of the space shuttle and station said a teary farewell, then sealed the hatches between them Sunday after more than a week of working tirelessly together to build a bigger and better scientific outpost in orbit.

Atlantis was scheduled to undock early today, its load considerably lighter than when it arrived Feb. 9 with Europe’s premier space laboratory, Columbus.

Astronaut Daniel Tani was especially emotional as he left the international space station, his home for the past four months.

Before floating into Atlantis for his long-overdue ride home, Tani paid tribute to his mother, Rose, who was killed in a car accident while he was in space — “my inspiration” — and his wife, Jane, who “had the hard work while I was having fun.”

“I can’t wait to get back to her and my two little girls,” he said.

Leaders warn of fraud
in Pakistani elections

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Opposition leaders warned Sunday against massive fraud as Pakistanis prepared to choose a new parliament in elections that could determine the political survival of President Pervez Musharraf — America’s key ally in the war on terror.

American representatives urged Musharraf to live up to promises of a free and fair vote, despite opinion surveys pointing to an opposition victory in today’s elections.

Musharraf was re-elected last October to a new five-year term. But the retired general faces growing public anger over his moves last year to declare emergency rule, purge the judiciary and curb independent media.

Damaging tornadoes
reported in the South

PRATTVILLE, Ala. — Severe weather howled through much of the nation’s eastern half Sunday, producing damaging tornadoes in the South and treating winter-weary parts of the Midwest to freezing rain, snow and flooding.

A tornado damaged many homes and businesses in Prattville, outside Montgomery, where Mayor Jim Byard said crews searched for people trapped in the wreckage.

No fatalities were immediately reported, but two people were critically injured, said Fire Chief Dallis Johnson.

“It’s very possible we may have more injuries,” he said, saying that some trapped people had been rescued.

A 35-bed mobile hospital unit was set up outside a Kmart to treat victims with minor to moderate injuries so that hospitals could take those with serious injuries, Dr. Steve Allen said.

Leader warns Iranians
to support nuclear activity

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Sunday that God would punish Iranians if they do not support the country’s disputed nuclear program, state radio reported.

“The Iranian people openly announce that they will defend their rights. ... God will reprimand them if they do not do so,” state radio quoted Khamenei as saying.

The 68-year-old ayatollah, who has final say on all state matters, said Washington’s claim that Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon is false. The Iranian government has long insisted its nuclear activities are only for peaceful generation of fuel.

“They know that Iran is not pursuing a nuclear weapon, and they are just trying to block the Iranian nation from achieving advanced technology,” Khamenei was quoted as saying in Tehran.

Associated Press