German court finds Demjanjuk guilty

German court finds Demjanjuk guilty

MUNICH

A German court convicted retired U.S. autoworker John Demjanjuk on Thursday of taking part in the murder of tens of thousands of Jews as a Nazi death- camp guard, breaking legal ground that could pave the way for the prosecution of many low-level cogs in Hitler’s machinery of destruction.

The 91-year-old Demjanjuk was sentenced to five years in prison on 28,060 counts of accessory to murder — one each for the number of people killed at the Sobibor death camp during the six months in 1943 when he was convicted of standing guard there.

Presiding Judge Ralph Alt ordered Demjanjuk released from custody pending his appeal — a process that could take at least a year.

2 accused of plan to bomb synagogue

NEW YORK

A man who complained the world was treating Muslims “like dogs” plotted with an accomplice to kill Jews by bombing a synagogue and possibly the Empire State building and bought a grenade and guns for the attacks, authorities charged Thursday.

But there was no indication that what authorities called a homegrown plot, orchestrated as part of a sting operation, ever put New Yorkers in danger or that the men were affiliated with any terrorist organization.

The two suspects, 26-year-old Ahmed Ferhani, an Algerian, and 20-year-old Mohamed Mamdouh, a U.S. citizen of Moroccan descent accused of being his accomplice, were charged Thursday with conspiracy as a crime of terrorism under a rarely used state law.

Pressure mounts on Gadhafi

TRIPOLI, Libya

Pressure is mounting on Moammar Gadhafi from within his stronghold in the Libyan capital, with increasing NATO airstrikes and worsening shortages of fuel and goods. An activist said today that there also has been a wave of anti- government demonstrations in several Tripoli neighborhoods this week — dissent that in the past has been met with zero tolerance and brutal force.

Gadhafi’s rebel opposition, meanwhile, received major political boosts from abroad. Britain promised to provide them with police gear, and the Obama administration invited a rebel delegation to the White House for talks today.

Early treatment curbs HIV spread

WASHINGTON

Treating HIV right away, before patients are too sick, dramatically lowers their chances of spreading the AIDS virus to a sexual partner, says a major international study that may persuade more doctors to offer medication sooner.

The nine-nation study offers convincing evidence of what scientists long have believed — that HIV medicines don’t just benefit the patient, but may act as a preventive by making those people less infectious.

Cops: Man tried to break into post

ROLLA, Mo.

A convicted felon was arrested Thursday after a four-hour police chase that began when officials said he tried to break into a Missouri Army post, then fired on officers who pursued him before crashing a vehicle at a nearby university.

Rolla Police Chief Mark Kearse said a state Highway Patrol trooper arrested Cody N. Willcoxson, of Southwest City, hours after the 31-year-old tried sneaking into nearby Fort Leonard Wood using a suspicious-looking ID. His motives for attempting to enter the military installation were not immediately clear.

Associated Press