US Marines’ command in Iraq comes to an end

US Marines’ command in Iraq comes to an end

RAMADI, Iraq — The U.S. Marines marked the end of nearly seven years in Iraq on Saturday by handing the Army their command of Anbar province, once one of the war’s fiercest battlefields but now a centerpiece of U.S.-Iraqi cooperation.

The changing of the guard — overseen by military brass and some of Anbar’s influential Sunni sheiks — signals the start of an accelerated drawdown of American troops as the U.S. increasingly shifts its focus to the war in Afghanistan.

But fears are growing about a possible resurgence in sectarian tensions — fed by the Shiite-dominated government’s plans to blacklist more than 500 parliamentary candidates over suspected links to Saddam Hussein’s regime.

In Baghdad, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden met with Iraq’s leaders Saturday to try to alleviate the pressures. While he kept expectations of a breakthrough low — telling reporters after a meeting with President Jalal Talabani it was up to the Iraqis, not him, to resolve the issue — his visit alone underscored Washington’s concern.

Ships collide, spilling oil in southeast Texas port

PORT ARTHUR, Texas — As much as 450,000 gallons of crude oil may have spilled in a southeast Texas port when two vessels collided Saturday morning, but it’s unclear whether that much actually leaked from the damaged tank, a U.S. Coast Guard official said.

No one was injured in the collision, but the Port of Port Arthur was closed and some nearby residents were evacuated for about seven hours.

According to Petty Officer Richard Brahm, the ship’s crew members said they pumped 69,000 barrels from the damaged tank that carried 80,000 barrels, so they have 11,000 barrels — about 450,000 gallons — that they can’t account for.

Several local officials said only 1,000 barrels, or about 42,000 gallons, of oil had been spilled into the water.

Brahm acknowledged that it doesn’t look like hundreds of thousands of gallons of crude was in the water. He said some might still be in the damaged tank.

Flight diverted to Denver

DENVER — An airplane flying from Washington, D.C., to Las Vegas was diverted to Denver International Airport after a passenger tried to open a door on the plane while it was in flight.

DIA spokesman Jeff Green says that United Flight 223 was diverted into Denver at 5:10 p.m. Saturday, and police who met the plane at the gate took the passenger into custody.

Green said the police were interviewing the passenger Saturday night but did not know if the man would be charged.

United Airlines did not immediately return an Associated Press phone call.

Part of UK airport closed after white powder found

LONDON — Police closed and evacuated part of Manchester Airport on Saturday after discovering a man preparing to board a flight was carrying a white powder in his hand luggage, but the substance turned out to be harmless.

For several hours, the check-in area where the powder was discovered was cordoned off by police, passengers were checked in at other terminals, and the man carrying the substance was questioned.

But the precautions ended and the man was released after the power was analyzed by police. Officer Leor Giladi declined to identify the substance but said it could not have been used as an explosive.

The event occurred one day after Britain raised its terror threat alert from “substantial” — meaning a strong possibility of a terrorist attack — to “severe,” indicating such an attack is considered highly likely.

Venezuelans protest against Hugo Chavez

CARACAS, Venezuela — Tens of thousands of Venezuelans opposed to President Hugo Chavez took to the streets Saturday, blaming him for rolling blackouts, water rationing, widespread crime and other problems they say are making daily life increasingly difficult.

Chavez backers flooded the capital’s avenues with an equally impressive demonstration as the socialist leader confronts mounting criticism and an emboldened opposition ahead of upcoming congressional elections.

Waving Venezuelan flags, protesters accused Chavez of dragging the politically divided South American country into a severe crisis as he accelerates his drive to transform it into a socialist state.

Associated Press