US unable to document any payments for Abu Ghraib (AP)

WASHINGTON � Fending off demands that he resign over the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told Congress he had found a legal way to compensate Iraqi detainees who suffered "grievous and brutal abuse and cruelty at the hands of a few members of the United States armed forces."

"It's the right thing to do," Rumsfeld declared in 2004. "And it is my intention to see that we do."

Six years later, the U.S. Army is unable to document a single payment for prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib.

Nor can the more than 250 Iraqis or their lawyers now seeking redress in U.S. courts. Their hopes for compensation may rest on a Supreme Court decision this week.

The Army says about 30 former Abu Ghraib prisoners are seeking compensation from the U.S. Army Claims Service. Those claims are still being investigated and many do not involve inmate abuse.

The Army added that U.S. Forces-Iraq looked at its records and could not find any payments to former detainees. The Army also cannot verify whether any such payments were made informally through Iraqi leaders.

From fiscal years 2003 to 2006, the Defense Department paid $30.9 million to Iraqi and Afghan civilians who were killed, injured, or incurred property damage due to U.S. or coalition forces' actions during combat. The Army has found no evidence any of those payments were used to compensate victims of abuse at Abu Ghraib.

So instead of compensation, the legacy of the most infamous detainee abuse episode from President George W. Bush's tenure is lawsuits, and the court battle mirrors the Iraq war � a grinding, drawn-out conflict.

At the U.S. Supreme Court, the former detainees are asking the justices to step into a case alleging that civilian interrogators and linguists conspired with soldiers to abuse the prisoners. All the detainees, who allege they were held at Abu Ghraib or one of the other 16 detention centers in Iraq, say they were eventually released without any charges against them.

Powered by WizardRSS | Full Text RSS Feeds

US unable to document any payments for Abu Ghraib (AP)

WASHINGTON � Fending off demands that he resign over the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told Congress he had found a legal way to compensate Iraqi detainees who suffered "grievous and brutal abuse and cruelty at the hands of a few members of the United States armed forces."

"It's the right thing to do," Rumsfeld declared in 2004. "And it is my intention to see that we do."

Six years later, the U.S. Army is unable to document a single payment for prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib.

Nor can the more than 250 Iraqis or their lawyers now seeking redress in U.S. courts. Their hopes for compensation may rest on a Supreme Court decision this week.

The Army says about 30 former Abu Ghraib prisoners are seeking compensation from the U.S. Army Claims Service. Those claims are still being investigated and many do not involve inmate abuse.

The Army added that U.S. Forces-Iraq looked at its records and could not find any payments to former detainees. The Army also cannot verify whether any such payments were made informally through Iraqi leaders.

From fiscal years 2003 to 2006, the Defense Department paid $30.9 million to Iraqi and Afghan civilians who were killed, injured, or incurred property damage due to U.S. or coalition forces' actions during combat. The Army has found no evidence any of those payments were used to compensate victims of abuse at Abu Ghraib.

So instead of compensation, the legacy of the most infamous detainee abuse episode from President George W. Bush's tenure is lawsuits, and the court battle mirrors the Iraq war � a grinding, drawn-out conflict.

At the U.S. Supreme Court, the former detainees are asking the justices to step into a case alleging that civilian interrogators and linguists conspired with soldiers to abuse the prisoners. All the detainees, who allege they were held at Abu Ghraib or one of the other 16 detention centers in Iraq, say they were eventually released without any charges against them.

Powered by WizardRSS | Full Text RSS Feeds

Israeli settlement freeze to end at midnight (AP)

JERUSALEM � Israel's 10-month slowdown in West Bank settlement construction is set to end at midnight, threatening to upend the fragile new round of Mideast peace talks.

Attempts to find a compromise between the sides have failed so far. The Palestinians have said they will leave the month-old talks if construction resumes in full on land they want for an independent state.

Israeli settlers and their supporters have pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the restrictions on new construction. Some are planning to hold a rally Sunday to count down to the official end of the slowdown at midnight.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday that Israel "must choose between peace and the continuation of settlements."

Powered by WizardRSS | Full Text RSS Feeds

Israeli settlement freeze to end at midnight (AP)

JERUSALEM � Israel's 10-month slowdown in West Bank settlement construction is set to end at midnight, threatening to upend the fragile new round of Mideast peace talks.

Attempts to find a compromise between the sides have failed so far. The Palestinians have said they will leave the month-old talks if construction resumes in full on land they want for an independent state.

Israeli settlers and their supporters have pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the restrictions on new construction. Some are planning to hold a rally Sunday to count down to the official end of the slowdown at midnight.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday that Israel "must choose between peace and the continuation of settlements."

Powered by WizardRSS | Full Text RSS Feeds

Plane arrives in Pakistan after false bomb threat (AP)

KARACHI, Pakistan � Relatives thronged an airport in southern Pakistan on Sunday to greet passengers whose flight from Canada was diverted to Sweden after a baseless report that a man aboard had explosives. Canadian officials investigated whether someone with a grudge called in the threat.

As passengers were smothered with hugs and kisses from the crowd, they expressed relief that the threat turned out to be nothing. They said the experience was quite frightening, especially when a SWAT team seized the suspect as they evacuated the plane in Stockholm.

"We really got scared, especially when we saw a large number of commandos wearing masks coming in," said Irfan Ahmed, a 35-year-old passenger on the flight from Toronto.

Passengers were told there was a technical problem with the aircraft � a Boeing 777 operated by Pakistan International Airlines � and didn't find out the real reason until they were on the ground.

The plane was diverted after an anonymous woman in Canada tipped off authorities that a Canadian man on the flight was carrying explosives, said Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesman Sgt. Marc LaPorte. The tip proved false, and police are now investigating whether the incident was a "terrorism hoax," he said.

A prosecutor decided to release the man after questioning, and police were trying to help him continue his journey to Karachi either late Saturday or Sunday, police spokesman Erik Widstrand said, adding the man had cooperated with investigators.

Haji Mohammad Umar, who sat next to the suspect during the flight, said the man told him he was returning to Pakistan after a very long time to get married. He seemed happy by the prospect and was a bit drunk, said Umar.

"When he was arrested, he remained calm and did not react much," said Umar.

Swedish police described the man as a Canadian citizen born in 1982. Initially they said he was of Pakistani background but later said they were not sure. The man was not on any international no-fly lists and had cleared a security check in Canada, said the police.

LaPorte, the police spokesman, said it appeared that the person who called in the tip had an ax to grind with the man. If the information is deemed a hoax, the caller could be charged with public mischief.

All 273 passengers � except the suspect � were allowed back on the plane in Stockholm nine hours after they landed.

"With the grace of God, it's all OK," said Zainab Jissani after arriving at the airport in Karachi with her two children.

Powered by WizardRSS | Full Text RSS Feeds

Plane arrives in Pakistan after false bomb threat (AP)

KARACHI, Pakistan � Relatives thronged an airport in southern Pakistan on Sunday to greet passengers whose flight from Canada was diverted to Sweden after a baseless report that a man aboard had explosives. Canadian officials investigated whether someone with a grudge called in the threat.

As passengers were smothered with hugs and kisses from the crowd, they expressed relief that the threat turned out to be nothing. They said the experience was quite frightening, especially when a SWAT team seized the suspect as they evacuated the plane in Stockholm.

"We really got scared, especially when we saw a large number of commandos wearing masks coming in," said Irfan Ahmed, a 35-year-old passenger on the flight from Toronto.

Passengers were told there was a technical problem with the aircraft � a Boeing 777 operated by Pakistan International Airlines � and didn't find out the real reason until they were on the ground.

The plane was diverted after an anonymous woman in Canada tipped off authorities that a Canadian man on the flight was carrying explosives, said Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesman Sgt. Marc LaPorte. The tip proved false, and police are now investigating whether the incident was a "terrorism hoax," he said.

A prosecutor decided to release the man after questioning, and police were trying to help him continue his journey to Karachi either late Saturday or Sunday, police spokesman Erik Widstrand said, adding the man had cooperated with investigators.

Haji Mohammad Umar, who sat next to the suspect during the flight, said the man told him he was returning to Pakistan after a very long time to get married. He seemed happy by the prospect and was a bit drunk, said Umar.

"When he was arrested, he remained calm and did not react much," said Umar.

Swedish police described the man as a Canadian citizen born in 1982. Initially they said he was of Pakistani background but later said they were not sure. The man was not on any international no-fly lists and had cleared a security check in Canada, said the police.

LaPorte, the police spokesman, said it appeared that the person who called in the tip had an ax to grind with the man. If the information is deemed a hoax, the caller could be charged with public mischief.

All 273 passengers � except the suspect � were allowed back on the plane in Stockholm nine hours after they landed.

"With the grace of God, it's all OK," said Zainab Jissani after arriving at the airport in Karachi with her two children.

Powered by WizardRSS | Full Text RSS Feeds

Japanese protest plans for downtown Nike park (AP)

TOKYO � About 200 protesters banged drums and waved "No Nike" signs while marching Sunday in downtown Tokyo to oppose plans for a Nike-sponsored skateboarding park where construction has displaced dozens of homeless squatters.

The faceoff between protesters on one side and the U.S. sneaker-maker and the city on the other has underscored a relatively new debate in Japan about how to handle decisions on public space.

Under a 10-year deal signed August 2009, Nike Inc. is planning to build a skateboarding facility sporting its "swoosh" logo in a grassy area and is paying 17 million yen ($200,000) a year for "naming rights." The park, now called Miyashita Park, will continue to be owned and operated by the city government, but will be renamed Miyashita NIKE Park, serving as an ad for the world's biggest athletic shoe and clothing company.

Officials accompanied by police tore out the squatters' tents from the park Friday and threw out their belongings. More than 30 homeless people were forced to vacate the area, according to Yasumasa Hioki, director of public works at Shibuya district, an area filled with fancy boutiques and young shoppers.

"This is just an excuse to get rid of the homeless," said protest organizer Seiji Uematsu, adding residents and visitors should decide how to use the park.

The group of protesters, some wearing colorful costumes, marched through the streets and in front of a Tokyo Nike store shouting, "Don't take away our space for self-expression."

"We simply want to bring sports closer to people with this project," Nike spokeswoman Yoko Mizukami said. "We are hopeful for a positive outcome, but all we can do is wait."

Those who oppose the plan, the Coalition to Protect Miyashita Park From Becoming Nike Park, say the favorite spot for rallies and demonstrations is becoming commercialized.

Construction was supposed to have started in April, but has been repeatedly delayed because of protests. The park was sealed off two weeks ago, and security guards stand at the gates.

"Ideally, public space serves as a laboratory of democracy and civility," said Christian Dimmer, who specializes in urban planning as a researcher at the University of Tokyo. "The future of a collective resource like public space should be broadly discussed by all members of a society, and not in shady back-room dealings."

Powered by WizardRSS | Full Text RSS Feeds

Accused megachurch pastor to talk to congregation (AP)

ATLANTA � The leader of a Georgia megachurch being sued by four men who say he lured them into sex is expected to address his congregation for the first time since the allegations surfaced earlier this week.

Bishop Eddie Long is expected to speak at services set for 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.

Lawsuits by the former church members claim Long � who is an outspoken opponent of gay marriage � pushed them into sexual relationships when they were 17 or 18 years old with gifts including cars, cash and travel.

Long has denied the allegations through his lawyer and a Twitter posting but has not spoken publicly about them.

Long built his 25,000-member congregation into a megachurch empire.

___

Online:

New Birth Missionary Baptist: http://ping.fm/Vjr1O

Powered by WizardRSS | Full Text RSS Feeds

NATO: Bomb blast kills 2 troops (AP)

KABUL, Afghanistan � Two NATO service members were killed in a bomb blast in southern Afghanistan on Sunday, the military alliance said.

NATO said the troops were killed by an improvised explosive device, but provided no further details. The nationalities of NATO deaths are not generally released until after the next of kin have been contacted.

This year is already the deadliest of the war, with more than 530 international forces killed.

NATO also said it launched an air strike late Saturday in Kunar province, along the Pakistan border, that targeted a senior al-Qaida commander who coordinates a group of Arab fighters in the area, saying he routinely helped them travel into the region.

It did not say whether the commander was killed in the attack, but said his compound was destroyed. It said collateral damage was kept to a minimum, but did not provide further information.

Powered by WizardRSS | Full Text RSS Feeds

China repeats demand for Japan apology (AP)

BEIJING � China has reiterated its demand for an apology from Japan over the detention of a Chinese fishing boat captain whose arrest plunged relations between the Asian neighbors to their lowest level in years.

The statement from the foreign ministry late Saturday was issued after Tokyo refused earlier in the day to apologize to China following the release of the captain whose vessel collided with Japanese patrol boats near disputed islands this month.

"China of course has the right to demand Japan apologize and make compensation," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said in the Chinese-language statement.

The diplomatic back-and-forth over the weekend demonstrated that nationalistic sentiments stirred up by the incident show few signs of dissipating. Tensions have already affected business ties between the nations' intertwined economies � the world's second- and third-largest.

Japanese authorities released the captain, Zhan Qixiong, early Saturday and he was flown home by chartered plane to Fuzhou in China's southeastern Fujian province.

State broadcaster China Central Television showed Zhan, 41, smiling and holding his fingers in a victory sign as he walked off the plane. He was greeted by family members bearing flowers and a small group of government officials.

But hopes that his release would defuse mounting tensions were dashed when China promptly demanded an apology and compensation from Japan.

Japan's Foreign Ministry said the demands were groundless and "absolutely cannot be accepted."

Zhan was arrested on Sept. 8 after his boat collided with two Japanese patrol vessels near a chain of islands called Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan. The islands, about 120 miles (190 kilometers) east of Taiwan, are controlled by Japan but are also claimed by Taiwan and China.

Japanese prosecutors detained and questioned the captain while they decided whether to press charges, though his 14-member crew and boat were returned to China.

Zhan's release came after intense pressure from Beijing, which suspended ministerial-level contacts with Tokyo and postponed talks on developing disputed undersea gas fields. This past week, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao sternly threatened further action against Japan if it did not immediately release the captain.

The decision by Japanese prosecutors to let him go has prompted criticism within Japan. An editorial Saturday in the nationally circulated Yomiuri newspaper blasted the captain's release as "a political decision that put the mending of relations as a priority."

However, Japanese authorities said they wouldn't officially close the case � leaving room for some ambiguity that would allow both countries to save face.

The tensions have spilled over into other issues.

On Thursday, Beijing said it was investigating four Japanese suspected of entering a military zone without authorization and illegally filming military facilities. The four employees of Fujita Corp., a Japanese construction company, were working to prepare a bid for a project to dispose chemical weapons abandoned in China by the Japanese military during World War II, the company said.

Meanwhile, Japanese trading company officials said that starting Tuesday, China had halted exports to Japan of rare earth elements, which are essential for making superconductors, computers, hybrid electric cars and other high-tech products. Japan imports 50 percent of China's rare earth shipments.

China's Trade Ministry denied that Beijing had tightened curbs on exports of rare earths to Japan, but Japan's trade minister, Akihiro Ohata, said he had "information" that China's exports to some Japanese trading houses had been stopped.

The territorial dispute over the islands is one of many that has strained ties between Tokyo and Beijing. Japan annexed the island chain in 1895, saying no nation exercised a formal claim over them. The islands, lying roughly midway between Okinawa and Taiwan, were administered by the United States after World War II until they were returned to Tokyo in 1972.

___

Associated Press writers Yuri Kageyama and Malcolm Foster in Tokyo contributed to this report.

Powered by WizardRSS | Full Text RSS Feeds