Syria agrees to pull troops from cities

Syria agrees to pull troops from cities

UNITED NATIONS

Syria told international envoy Kofi Annan that its military will withdraw troops and heavy weapons from populated areas next Tuesday, in what could be a first step toward ending the bloody yearlong conflict, U.N. diplomats said Monday.

The announcement came as Syrian troops hunted down activists and destroyed their homes in the country’s rebellious areas. The United States remained skeptical of Damascus’ latest statements, pointing to previous broken promises.

Enhanced video shows head wound

ORLANDO, Fla.

A newly enhanced version of police video taken on the night of the Trayvon Martin shooting more clearly shows a possible gash or injury on the back of shooter George Zimmerman’s head.

ABC News showed the new video Monday. In it, an apparent wound of some type can be seen on Zimmerman’s head when he turns away from the camera.

The video is an enhanced version of surveillance tape released by the Sanford Police Department last week. It shows Zimmerman being taken into SPD headquarters after the shooting.

Church probes porn presentation

DUBLIN

The Roman Catholic Church in Ireland said Monday it’s investigating how a priest offering a presentation to parents on their children’s upcoming confessions instead ended up showing them a computer slideshow of gay porn.

The leader of Ireland’s 4 million Catholics, Cardinal Sean Brady, said the priest involved insists he didn’t know how the explicit images got on the memory stick he intended to use for his Powerpoint presentation to families at St. Mary’s Primary School in the Northern Ireland village of Pomeroy.

Combined dispatches