RFK’s eldest son nixes run for Ted’s Senate seat

RFK’s eldest son nixes run for Ted’s Senate seat

BOSTON — Former Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II, the eldest son of Robert F. Kennedy, announced Monday he would not run for the U.S. Senate seat held for nearly 50 years by his late uncle, Edward M. Kennedy. The decision was certain to widen the race for the Democratic nomination.

In a statement, the former six-term congressman said he cares about those seeking decent housing, fair wages and health care. But he added, “The best way for me to contribute to those causes is by continuing my work at Citizens Energy Corp.”

The nonprofit organization provides free heating oil to the poor, but Kennedy likely would have faced campaign questions about fuel it received from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez — a persistent U.S. critic. He also has settled into a comfortable lifestyle since leaving Congress in 1999, taking home a $545,000 salary as Citizens Energy’s president as of 2007 and being spared the barbs he has faced from some local columnists recently for his past temper tantrums and high pay.

Fire near Los Angeles flares up in another spot

LOS ANGELES — Firefighters have canceled their plans to burn out brush to create a buffer south of the deadly arson fire in mountains near Los Angeles, because of a flare-up on another edge of the blaze.

Fire spokesman David Ortiz says aircraft, which are necessary to support and monitor burnout operations, were diverted to the fire’s northeastern flank Monday after flames kicked up. There are 19 helicopters and eight fixed-wing aircraft fighting the fire.

Plans to airlift hand crews into rugged parts of the San Gabriel Wilderness also were scaled back.

Ortiz says a firefighter fell and had to be airlifted out Sunday night, bringing the total number of injuries on the Station fire to 11.

3 British Muslims guilty in plot to bomb 7 jets

LONDON — Three British Muslims were convicted Monday of plotting to murder thousands by downing at least seven airliners bound for the U.S. and Canada in what was intended as the largest terrorist attack since Sept. 11.

A jury at a London court found Abdulla Ahmed Ali, 28, Assad Sarwar, 29, and Tanvir Hussain, 28, guilty of conspiracy to murder by detonating explosives on aircraft while they were in-flight.

Four other accused conspirators — whom the prosecution said were to have smuggled liquid explosives onboard jetliners disguised as soft drinks — were acquitted of conspiring to blow up planes. The jury could not reach a verdict on an eighth man.

British and U.S. security officials said the plan — unlike many recent homegrown European terrorist plots — was directly linked to al-Qaida and guided by senior Islamic militants in Pakistan, who hoped to mount a spectacular strike on the West.

The officials said British plotters were likely just days away from mounting their suicide attacks when police rounded up 25 people in dawn raids in August 2006.

At least 17 killed in Iraq

BAGHDAD — Suicide attackers struck near a Shiite mosque north of Baghdad and a checkpoint west of the capital on Monday as bombings killed at least 17 people nationwide.

The violence was concentrated in former Sunni insurgent strongholds that have seen a sharp decline in violence after local tribal leaders turned against al-Qaida in Iraq. Despite the relative calm, a series of deadly bombings have raised concerns about a resurgence of violence as the U.S. military scales back its presence, with a full withdrawal planned by the end of 2011.

The deadliest attack was a suicide car bomber who struck a line of vehicles waiting to be inspected before crossing a bridge near the Anbar provincial capital of Ramadi, police said.

The blast set half a dozen other vehicles ablaze, killing three policemen and five civilians and wounding 16 other people, according to police and hospital officials.

Baucus proposes fee on insurance companies

WASHINGTON — Sen. Max Baucus on Monday pushed a new health-care plan including an industry fee to help pay for covering the uninsured as President Barack Obama said insurance companies must share accountability for the troubled system.

The Finance Committee is the last best hope for a bipartisan bill since four of five congressional committees have produced partisan proposals. Baucus, D-Mont., has said he would move forward on his own if there’s no agreement by next Tuesday.

Associated Press