U.S. to probe Afghan claims of prisoner beatings
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and U.S. Central Command chief Gen. Tommy Franks have asked that an inquiry into a Jan. 23 Special Forces assault on an alleged Taliban hideout be expanded to determine whether any of the 27 prisoners taken in that raid were beaten by U.S. soldiers. Some of the prisoners, all of whom were released Feb. 6, claim to have been abused by their American captors, according to The Washington Post. As many as 21 Afghans died in the assault. One American soldier was wounded in the ankle during the ensuing firefight.
Iraq calls on Iran to face 'common enemy'
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Iraqi Deputy President Taha Yassin Ramadan called on Iran Monday to join with his country to confront their "joint enemy" -- the United States. Iraq and Iran, which were at war with each other from 1980 to 1988, seemed to be improving relations after President Bush accused them, along with North Korea, of being an "axis of evil." He said Bush's statement "requires that both countries look with all seriousness into developing their capabilities to confront the common enemy." Ramadan said Iraq was fully ready to confront any military strike that could be launched by the Untied States.
Senator seeks answers on mail, sickness
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, asked Monday for an investigation into the possible health risks of irradiated mail after Capitol Hill staff members complained of feeling sick. The FBI told District of Columbia Fire Department officials early last month, however, the irradiated mail makes people sick, according to the fire department. Grassley asked the Office of Compliance, responsible for enforcing labor and employment law on Capitol Hill, to investigate complaints of headaches, skin rashes, dry mouth and skin irritation from 73 staff members after handling the mail.
Labor legislators favor trip to Ramallah
JERUSALEM, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Israeli Speaker Avraham Burg won his Labor Party's support Monday for a planned trip to the West Bank town of Ramallah to address the Palestinian Legislative Council, but indicated he would not go if the army orders him not to. PLC Speaker Ahmad Qurie (Abu Ala) invited Burg to Ramallah, sparking a controversy between Israeli doves who see a chance to renew a dialogue with the Palestinians and hawks who insist on maintaining a unified stance against the Palestinian Authority. The Israeli army barred Israelis from going to the fully autonomous Palestinian areas after several Israelis were killed traveling there.
Meningitis cited in woman's death
CHERRY HILL, N.J., Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Authorities said Monday new test results determined a Massachusetts woman who fell ill while attending a weekend convention in New Jersey died of respiratory failure resulting from pneumonia and a deadly form of meningitis. Health officials, taking extra precautions out of concerns over possible bioterrorism in the wake of Sept. 11 and subsequent anthrax incidents, initially were concerned Joanne Hemstreet, 45, of Kingston, Mass., may have been a victim of anthrax or Legionnaires' disease. Hemstreet died early Sunday at Kennedy Memorial Hospitals-University Medical Center in Cherry Hill, N.J. The Kennedy Health Systems announced new test results at a news conference Monday afternoon.
Embattled Van Dams up reward
SAN DIEGO, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- The family of a missing San Diego girl posted a $25,000 reward for their daughter's return Monday as they continued to fend off accusations about their personal lives and keep the spotlight on the search. Damon and Brenda van Dam made the announcement Monday morning outside their home in the tony Sabre Springs subdivision in north San Diego, 10 days after their 7-year-old daughter, Danielle, was apparently abducted while she slept and her parents were reportedly busy partying with some friends behind locked doors.
Shares make second day of gains
NEW YORK, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- After last week's mostly downward trend, the stock market posted its second straight session of gains Monday. Shares were buoyed in morning trading after DuPont said it was reorganizing its businesses into five market- and technology-focused growth platforms along with creating a textiles and interiors subsidiary. Following the news the company was upgraded by Salomon Smith Barney to "outperform" from a "neutral" based on the announcement and the potential for DuPont going forward. Also, the tech market rallied on news from aircraft giant United Technologies Corp., which stated it is likely to meet analysts' forecasts in earnings performance. The company now expects earnings per share at $4.32, nearly 13 percent higher than a year ago. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 140.54 to close at 9,884.78 while the Nasdaq composite index closed 27.78 higher at 1,846.66.
U.S. gets sweep in Olympic snowboarding
SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- The new-wave sport of snowboarding halfpipe brought the United States a medal sweep at the Winter Olympics Monday while Picabo Street's bid to end her career as a champion was put on hold for 24 hours. Ross Powers, Danny Kass and Jarret Thomas won gold, silver and bronze in the snowboarding event, the first medal sweep of these Olympics. The overwhelming performance by the host country left the United States with six medals -- two golds, three silvers and a bronze. No other nation had more. High winds at the Snowbasin ski complex, meanwhile, forced a 24-hour postponement of the women's downhill. Street, who has suffered through a series of injuries in her career, has rebounded once more to perhaps challenge for a final gold medal. She had the fastest training run on the downhill course Saturday.
Montolio upset at Qatar Open
DOHA, Qatar, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Anastasia Myskina of Russia added to the struggles of fifth seed Angeles Montolio of Spain on Monday by pulling away for a 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 upset victory in the opening round of the Qatar Open. Montolio watched her losing streak grow to nine matches. She has not won since the first round at Leipzig, Austria last September. The 26-year-old finished 2001 with a four-match skid and went winless in her first four events this year. The slide is in sharp contrast to earlier last season, when Montolio captured her first career WTA title at Estoril in April and her second at Bol, Croatia in May. Later that month, the Barcelona native reached the final at the Madrid Open in Spain.
