2 sides claim lead in Iraq elections

2 sides claim lead in Iraq elections

BAGHDAD

The Iraqi prime minister’s coalition and its main secular rival both claimed to be ahead in the vote count Monday, a day after historic parliamentary elections that the top U.S. commander said would let all but 50,000 American troops come home by the end of summer.

Sunday’s election marked a turning point for the country’s nascent democracy. The winner will help determine whether Iraq can resolve its sectarian divisions and preserve the nation’s fragile security as U.S. troops leave.

Initial results for some provinces as well as for Baghdad were to be announced today.

Choice for TSA chief

WASHINGTON

President Barack Obama said he wants a former senior Army official with a career in intelligence to lead the Transportation Security Administration.

The president announced his choice, retired Maj. Gen. Robert Harding, on Monday.

The decision to appoint someone with an extensive intelligence background comes after the attempted Christmas airliner attack.

Court to hear case against protesters

WASHINGTON

The Supreme Court is entering an emotionally charged dispute between the grieving father of a Marine who died in Iraq and the anti-gay demonstrators who picket military funerals with inflammatory messages such as “Thank God for dead soldiers.”

The court agreed Monday to consider whether the protesters’ message, no matter how provocative or upsetting, is protected by the First Amendment or limited by the competing privacy and religious rights of the mourners.

The justices will hear an appeal from a Marine’s father to reinstate a $5 million verdict against the protesters after they picketed outside his son’s funeral in Maryland four years ago.

Myanmar moves ahead on election

YANGON, Myanmar

Myanmar announced the enactment of long-awaited laws Monday that set the stage for the country’s first election in 20 years to take place sometime this year.

State radio and television said the new laws would be published in state newspapers beginning today; it gave no details about them. The laws will set out the mechanisms and rules for the election and campaigning and the conditions under which parties may participate.

Gunman injures 2

DALLAS

A gunman apparently angry over business dealings wounded a father and son at their financial-services company inside an office building Monday, then shot himself as police closed in, authorities said.

The gunfire created a frightening, grisly scene at the 15-story building, with one of the injured men making his way down an escalator with blood gushing from his neck and scared bank employees and customers locking themselves in vaults.

After the two men were shot, the suspect apparently turned the gun on himself as three officers were coming down the hall, said Dallas police spokesman Sr. Cpl. Lt. Kevin Janse. The suspect was in critical condition Monday.

Corpse could be that of ex-president

NICOSIA, Cyprus

Cypriot police acting on a tip found a body at a Nicosia cemetery that they think could be the stolen corpse of former president Tassos Papadopoulos, a spokesman said Monday.

Michalis Katsounotos said the corpse was found at a different cemetery to the suburban Nicosia graveyard from where it was stolen Dec. 11 — the eve of the first anniversary of Papadopoulos’ death.

He said DNA testing would be carried out to positively identify the body.

Associated Press