Shiite cult attacks Iraqis, leaving nearly 50 dead

Shiite cult attacks Iraqis,
leaving nearly 50 dead

BAGHDAD — Violence left nearly 50 people dead in two major southern cities Friday when members of a shadowy, messianic cult attacked police and fellow Shiite worshippers — a year after a similar plot was foiled during Shiite Islam’s most important holiday.

Iraqi authorities said at least 36 people were reported killed in Basra, Iraq’s second largest city, and at least 10 in Nasiriyah, where witnesses said U.S.-led coalition jet fighters and helicopter gunships targeted a police station seized by cult gunmen.

U.S. military spokesman Maj. Brad Leighton said an Iraqi request for air support in the area was approved, but he could not confirm whether airstrikes were carried out. Some clashes raged into the night, raising the possibility of more casualties.

Toddler died from fall off
overpass, autopsy says

HONOLULU — A toddler thrown from a pedestrian overpass onto a busy freeway died from the 30-foot fall, not the vehicle that ran over him, the city medical examiner said Friday.

An autopsy showed Cyrus Belt, who would have turned 2 early next month, died from “multiple blunt force injuries due to fall from height,” the examiner said.

Police arrested a 23-year-old neighbor of the boy but haven’t charged him.

Witnesses say they saw the man hold Cyrus in the air on the pedestrian overpass Thursday and then drop him to the asphalt below. One or two vehicles may have struck the boy.

The man, who was wearing green hospital scrubs, was taken to the police station and then to a hospital, said police spokeswoman Michelle Yu. She didn’t know whether he had a history of mental illness or a criminal record.

Kraig Hengst told The Honolulu Advertiser he was working in an apartment garage across the street from the overpass when he saw a man “toss the baby” at about 11:40 a.m.

“I saw the baby high in the air. I thought it was a doll at first,” Hengst said.

911 operator convicted

DETROIT — A jury convicted a 911 operator Friday of willful neglect of duty after authorities said she didn’t take seriously a boy’s calls to report his mother had collapsed. The mother was found dead three hours after the first call.

The misdemeanor charge against Sharon Nichols is punishable by up to a year in jail. She will be sentenced March 11.

Nichols, 45, testified she could not hear the then-5-year-old boy on the other end of the line. Authorities said Robert Turner called 911 twice Feb. 20, 2006, to report his mother had passed out.

Robert, now 7, testified that Nichols hung up on him and accused him of playing games.

Police found Sherrill Turner, 46, dead three hours after the first call. A wrongful death lawsuit against the city argues that Sherrill Turner, who had an enlarged heart, would have survived if help had been sent immediately.

Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Lora Weingarden said she was more than satisfied with the verdict.

Man arrested near Capitol

WASHINGTON — Police arrested a man carrying a shotgun outside the Capitol on Friday, authorities said.

The man, who was not immediately identified, was in custody and no one was injured, U.S. Capitol police spokeswoman Sgt. Kimberly Schneider said.

An officer first spotted the man near Union Station, about two blocks from the Capitol. The man’s vehicle had “items of concern” inside and was searched, Schneider said.

Police used a robotic camera to see inside the vehicle, Schneider said, then destroyed the items inside the car with a powerful water hose.

U.S. Embassy employees
warned to limit movements

ALGIERS, Algeria — The U.S. Embassy in Algiers on Friday ordered its employees to tightly restrict their movements and urged other Americans in Algeria to do the same, citing indications of possible terrorist attacks.

Security concerns have been high in the Algerian capital since Dec. 11 suicide bombings targeted U.N. offices and a government building, killing at least 37 people, including 17 U.N. employees. An Algeria-based al-Qaida affiliate claimed responsibility for the attack.

“In response to continuing indications of possible terrorist attacks in Algiers, the Embassy has instructed its employees to avoid nonessential movement around the city until further notice, and may occasionally restrict movement completely,” the embassy said in a message.

Associated Press