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UPI News Update

Time: Administration procrastinated on al Qaida

NEW YORK, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Former Clinton administration national security adviser Sandy Berger says the Bush administration shrugged off the threat posed by the terrorist group al Qaida in the early days of the administration, Time magazine reported Monday. Berger said he set up a series of briefings with Bush administration officials early in 2001 to stress the danger posed by the group, headed by Saudi dissident Osama bin Laden, but Bush administration officials shelved a plan for dealing with the perceived threat. Time said the plan was not dusted off until after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

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Report: New US counter-terrorism plan

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- A new Pentagon counter-terrorism plan calls for making arrangements with some foreign countries to allow U.S. commandos on their soil to attack terrorist cells, according to a published report Monday. The Washington Times said Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld wants such procedures in place so special operations forces can act on intelligence in hours, not days or weeks. The newspaper said it was too early to predict whether such agreements could be reached with all nations where al Qaida cells exist.

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Israel shuts down West Bank

TEL AVIV, Israel, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The Israeli army announced Monday it will tighten its blockade of five Palestinian towns and cities in the West Bank. Movement will be completely restricted in Jenin, Nablus, Tulkarim, Qalqilya and Ramallah, with the exception of medical and humanitarian cases, the army said in a statement. The southern West Bank cities of Bethlehem, Hebron and Jericho were not affected by the ban. The army also continued its search for the gunmen who killed two people as they were driving on a road near Ramallah, Israel Radio reported. The attack, which was fifth in less than 24 hours, killed a husband and his pregnant wife. Security officials told the Ha'aretz newspaper the gunmen, who ambushed the vehicle, managed to escape.


Arrests may cause retrial of Pearl case

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Police in Karachi, Pakistan, have arrested four men who will be charged with killing American journalist Daniel Pearl, Pakistani security officials said Sunday. They told United Press International the four suspects already convicted last month for Pearl's murder were not the killers. The officials said they believe the previously convicted suspects abducted The Wall Street Journal reporter, but the newly arrested suspects were responsible for Pearl's slaying. The Pakistani government is reluctant to announce their arrest because it fears that the disclosure at this stage may force the retrial of the earlier case, the officials explained.

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China warns Taiwan headed for new crisis

HONG KONG, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- China warned Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian Monday his support for a referendum on independence for the island was destabilizing the region and sparking a new crisis in the Taiwan Straits. Taipei made moves for calm after Beijing unleashed its reactions to Chen's words. China regards Taiwan as a renegade province. In a video conference on Saturday, Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian told a group of Taiwanese nationals living in Japan he regarded Taiwan and China as separate countries.


Koreas agree to revive talks

SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- North and South Korea Sunday agreed to revive stalled reconciliation talks and announced Cabinet-level discussions to be held in Seoul Aug. 12-14. The talks are expected to focus on economic and military cooperation, a plan to reconnect a cross-border railway line, family reunions and North Korea's participation in September's Asian Games to be held in the Southern city of Pusan, a joint statement said. The two sides agreed to the talks at a three-day meeting in North Korea's Diamond Mountain Resort. The Cabinet-level talks would be the first since President Bush said North Korea was part of an "axis of evil" with Iraq and Iran.

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Tropical storm Bertha downgraded

MIAMI, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Tropical storm Bertha was downgraded to a tropical depression Monday as it moved ashore at New Orleans with 35 mph winds. Forecasters predicted rainfall of 3-5 inches over Louisiana with possible pockets of 8 inches, and possible inland flooding.


Govt. investigating alleged Enron bribes

WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The Justice Department is trying to determine whether bankrupt Enron Corp. bribed foreign government officials to win contracts, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. The Journal said federal investigators are looking for violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in Enron's efforts to win foreign pipeline, power and water-privatization projects. The dealings date back to the mid-1990s and include projects where Enron won contracts without competitive bidding or acquired assets at below-market value.


Asian markets close lower

TOKYO, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Asian-Pacific markets closed lower Monday on discouraging U.S. economic data and heightened political tensions between China and Taiwan. Investors retreated to the sidelines as China and Taiwan escalated rhetoric over the island's independence. Taiwan's Weighted index lost 5.78 percent to 4,636.67 while Tokyo's Nikkei dropped 0.05 percent to 9,704.93. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index fell 1.29 percent to 9,862.33. Markets in Sidney, Australia, and Seoul, South Korea, also were lower.

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War Emblem wins Haskell

OCEANPORT, N.J., Aug. 5 (UPI) -- War Emblem outclassed a field of five Sunday at Monmouth Park, posting a wire-to-wire win at the $1 million Haskell Invitational. The winner of the first two legs of the Triple Crown faced little competition as he returned to the track for the first time since a disappointing loss in the Belmont Stakes. Four horses were morning scratches, leaving just four to challenge War Emblem, which also had been expected to skip the 1 1/8-mile race following the death of owner Prince Ahmed Salman on July 21.

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