Nearly 1,000 detained in crackdown on al-Qaida

Nearly 1,000 detained in crackdown on al-Qaida

BAGHDAD — Nearly 1,000 people have been detained in a sweep to break al-Qaida in Iraq’s sway in Iraq’s third largest city, Mosul, but many of the fighters have fled to nearby areas, where troops are hunting for them, Iraqi officials said Saturday.

Iraq’s leaders presented the crackdown as a success so far in depriving the terror network of what has been its most prominent urban stronghold since it lost hold of cities in Iraq’s western Anbar province.

But the flight of al-Qaida fighters raises the concern they can regroup elsewhere, as has often happened in the past.

Judge: Ohio sex offender law is unconstitutional

CLEVELAND — A state law that requires increasing the length of time convicted sex offenders must register with police is unconstitutional, a judge ruled.

The law, which took effect in January, wrongfully increases punishment without a court hearing and is applied to offenders who committed crimes before the law was passed in 2007, said Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Ronald Suster.

Suster, who issued the ruling last week in a case involving a man convicted of sexual battery in 2003, said the law’s intention is “to punish and ostracize this unpopular group,” rather than enhance public safety.

As survivors wait, Myanmar refuses aid

YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s junta kept a French navy ship laden with aid waiting outside its maritime border Saturday and showed off neatly laid-out state relief camps to diplomats.

The stage-managed tour appeared aimed at countering global criticism of the junta’s failure to provide for survivors of Cyclone Nargis, which left at least 134,000 people dead or missing.

The junta flew 60 diplomats and U.N. officials in helicopters to three places in the Irrawaddy delta where camps, aid and survivors were put on display. The diplomats were not swayed.

The relief group Save the Children UK warned that thousands of children could die of starvation within two or three weeks unless more aid gets into the country quickly.

Lebanese coalition issues talk demands

BEIRUT, Lebanon — Lebanon’s ruling coalition demanded Saturday that talks to end the country’s 18-month-old political crisis tackle the issue of Hezbollah’s weapons, a demand the militant group rejected.

Hezbollah insisted that the group’s arsenal remain untouched, saying it was necessary for fighting Israel, Lebanese media reported on the first day of the negotiations in Qatar on forming a unity government and electing a president after the country’s worst violence since the 1975-1990 civil war.

The two sides flew to Qatar’s capital, Doha, after a deal mediated by the Arab League that brought an end to a week of violence. The deal included an agreement that the talks would lead to the election of compromise candidate Army chief Gen. Michel Suleiman as president.

Thousands evacuated after train derailment

LAFAYETTE, La. — Six cars of a freight train derailed Saturday, including one that began leaking hydrochloric acid, causing thousands of people to evacuate homes, businesses and a nursing home within one mile of the wreck.

The spilled acid sent a toxic cloud over the area, and at least five people, including two railroad workers, were taken to a hospital and treated after complaining of skin and eye irritation, said Lafayette Parish sheriff’s Lt. Craig Stansbury.

A nursing home with 161 residents was evacuated, Dr. Jimmy Guidry, the state health officer, said. About 35 of the residents deemed too frail to travel were taken to area hospitals, he said.

Israeli, Egyptian leaders to seek Gaza cease-fire

JERUSALEM — Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak will meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday to discuss efforts to work out a cease-fire between the Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip and Israel, officials said.

The talks in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El-Sheik will also focus on Egyptian efforts to prevent arms smuggling into the Palestinian territory, Israeli government officials said Saturday. They spoke on condition of anonymity since the meeting had not yet been officially announced.

The talks do not signify that a deal is imminent but that the Egyptian mediation efforts are progressing, they said.

Associated Press