US Marines launch large offensive in Afghanistan
KABUL (AP) — U.S. Marines and Afghan troops on Friday launched the first offensive since President Barack Obama announced an American troop surge, striking against Taliban communications and supply lines in a southern insurgent stronghold, a military spokesman said. Hundreds of troops from the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines and the Marine reconnaissance unit Task Force Raider were dropped by helicopter and MV-22 Osprey aircraft behind Taliban lines in the northern end of the Now Zad Valley of Helmand province, scene of heavy fighting last summer, according to Marine spokesman Maj. William Pelletier.
Iraqi counterterror chief falls to his prey
BAGHDAD (AP) — He compared al-Qaida in Iraq to wolves, urging that the terrorist group be crushed since he believed its members would never reject violence. But the wolves got to the Iraqi counterterrorism officer first. Ahmed Subhi al-Fahal's death in a suicide bombing in Tikrit could embolden al-Qaida loyalists to try to make a return to the area around Saddam Hussein's hometown where he held sway. On Friday, within hours of his killing, dozens of Web sites affiliated with al-Qaida in Iraq were already celebrating the death of their longtime nemesis.
Guinea's wounded president flown to Morocco
CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — Guinea's president has been flown to Morocco for medical treatment after he was shot during an assassination attempt nearly a year after he seized power in a coup, a government official said Friday. Indicating the possible severity of his wounds, President Moussa "Dadis" Camara left the West African country, which he had never dared do since taking power. He had nearly left on multiple occasions, only to cancel at the last minute because of fears of a counter-coup, leaving private jets idling at the airport.
Suicide attackers kill 36 at Pakistan mosque
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan (AP) — Militants stormed a mosque near Pakistan's army headquarters, killing at least 36 worshippers, including six military officers, during Friday prayers as they sprayed gunfire and threw grenades before blowing themselves up, officials said. It was the latest in a wave of strikes by suspected Islamist insurgents that has killed more than 400 people in Pakistan since October.
Clinton says allies can help turn the Afghan tide
BRUSSELS (AP) — Some two dozen countries will send an estimated 7,000 more troops to Afghanistan next year, an infusion of forces that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday is crucial to turning the tide in the long war. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark told reporters at NATO headquarters that at least 25 nations would provide the additional forces in Afghanistan in 2010, "with more to come."
Upbeat US jobs news give world stocks big boost
LONDON (AP) — European and U.S. stock markets shot higher Friday after much better than expected U.S. jobs data fueled optimism about the pace of recovery in the world's largest economy. In Europe, the FTSE 100 index of leading British shares was up 53.66 points, or 1 percent, at 5,366.66 while Germany's DAX rose 78.64 points, or 1.4 percent, to 5,848.99. The CAC-40 in France was up 78.09 points, or 2 percent, at 3,873.20.
Official says Iran to limit cooperation with IAEA
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — A nuclear official said Friday Iran will not answer to the U.N. nuclear watchdog about its plans to build 10 new uranium enrichment sites beyond the barest minimum required under the international nonproliferation treaty. The comments by Abolfazl Zohrehvand, an adviser to the country's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, came days after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran was considering whether to scale back cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency after it approved a resolution censuring Iran over its nuclear program.
Roman Polanski begins house arrest in Gstaad
GSTAAD, Switzerland (AP) — Roman Polanski began his house arrest on $4.5 million bail Friday, rolling into the luxury resort of Gstaad in a police convoy to a warm welcome from his wife and children at his Alpine chalet. Polanski persuaded Swiss authorities to end his two months of incarceration in a Swiss jail pending their decision on whether to extradite him to the U.S. in a 32-year-old sex case.
Somalia blames al-Qaida, Somali group for bombing
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — The Somali government on Friday blamed al-Qaida-linked Islamic militants for a suicide bombing that killed 22 people in the capital, as government officials buried three Cabinet ministers killed in the attack. The bombing Thursday ripped through a university graduation ceremony at an upscale hotel in Mogadishu, killing medical students, doctors, journalists and three government ministers.
Italian jury begins deliberations in Knox trial
PERUGIA, Italy (AP) — An Italian court began deliberations Friday in the yearlong trial of American student Amanda Knox, who is charged with murdering her British roommate. The eight members of the jury, including two judges, sequestered themselves in the courtroom of this Medieval city. A verdict can come any time, but it is not expected before Friday night, according to court officials.
