DC sniper suspect 'expert' Army marksman
WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- John Allen Muhammad, one of two men detained by police in the serial sniper shootings that terrorized the nation's capital for the past three weeks, qualified as an expert marksman with the M-16 in the U.S. Army when he was known as John Allen Williams, according to a defense official. "Expert" is the highest level of achievement in marksmanship in the Army. The standard test for expert marksman involves "knocking down" a minimum of 36 targets with only 40 rounds of ammunition from distances of 50 to 300 meters, the official said. How often and in what years he qualified, as an expert is unclear from his record, according to the official.
Police find gun in suspects' car
WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- The Washington area Thursday hoped the arrest of two men at a rest stop outside Frederick, Md., puts an end to the random sniper attacks that have left 10 dead and three injured since Oct. 2. Law enforcement sources said Maryland State Police arrested John Allen Muhammad and stepson, John Lee Malvo, both sought for questioning in the shootings. There is also a federal arrest warrant on firearms charges issued against Muhammad.
Woman killed by Chechen terrorists
MOSCOW, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- A woman was shot to death while trying to escape from Chechen rebels who took hundreds of hostages Wednesday night at a Moscow theater, an official spokesman said Thursday. The body of the woman has been handed over to security services, but the woman remained unidentified. Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev urged the Kremlin to pledge a political solution to the crisis in separatist Chechnya in return for the release by gunmen of hundreds of hostages held at a Moscow theater. The terrorists are demanding an end to the war in Chechnya and the withdrawal of Russian forces from the territory.
UN urges release of Moscow hostages
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan Thursday personally appealed for the immediate and unconditional release of the Moscow theater hostages, while the Security Council formally condemned the siege and called for its immediate end. Annan's deputy spokesman Hua Jiang said in a statement the secretary-general "is following with utmost concern the events unfolding in the Melnikov Street theatre in Moscow. "He extends his heartfelt sympathy to the government and people of the Russian Federation at this very difficult time and urges the perpetrators to release all the hostages immediately and without pre-conditions," said the statement. "No cause can justify the use of force against innocent civilians."
Palestinian gets death for collaboration
GAZA, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- A Palestinian state security court Thursday sentenced a 23-year-old student to death for providing Israel information that led to the killing of a top Hamas official and others, Palestinian sources in Gaza said. The Palestinian Authority court sentenced Akram Zatma for collaborating with Israel's Shin Bet security service. Judge Abdel Aziz Wadi said Zatma gave Shin Bet information that led to the killing of top Hamas commander Sheikh Salah Shehada and 15 others in July in Gaza City. Nine children were also killed in the airstrike. Last week, two other Palestinians were sentenced to death for collaborating with Israel in the killing of Hamas members.
Iraq says U.S. blocked inspectors return
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Iraq accused the United States Thursday of preventing U.N. weapons inspectors from returning to Baghdad on Oct. 19 because Washington does not want its allegations about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction disproven, Foreign Minister Naji Sabri said in a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. "Preventing the U.N. inspectors from arriving in Beirut at the set time is a violation of the practical arrangements agreed upon during the meetings in Vienna on Sept. 16," Sabri wrote.
Libya quitting Arab League
TRIPOLI, Libya, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Libya Thursday informed the Arab League it intends to quit the 22-nation body, a high-ranking source at Libya's Ministry of African Unity said. The ministry source did not give the reasons for President Moammar Gadhafi's decision to pull his oil-rich country out but last March he opened a scathing attack on Arab governments and called on Libya's Council, or parliament, to take the country out of the league, which he called a masquerade. It was Gadhafi's reaction to a peace plan put forward by Saudi Arabia and unanimously approved by the league to end the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
Jiang supports Bush on terrorism, nukes
COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- China's President Jiang Zemin Thursday pledged support on two issues key to the Bush administration: terrorism and the development of nuclear weapons by North Korea. Jiang spoke at Texas A&M University on the eve of his meeting Friday with President George W. Bush at his Texas ranch.
Ford to appeal $290 million judgment
DETROIT, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Ford Motor Co. Thursday planned to appeal a $290 million judgment in a rollover accident upheld by the California Supreme Court. The $290 million award stemmed from a 1993 accident near Sacramento involving a 1978 Ford Bronco that killed three people. "This is an extreme and unconstitutional punitive damage award and we will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn it," Ford spokeswoman Kathleen Vokes said. The company has 90 days to file its appeal. The California Supreme Court issued a 4-3 decision Wednesday upholding the award but made no comment on the case.
Stocks tumble in active trading
NEW YORK, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Stock prices on the New York Stock Exchange and the Nasdaq Stock Market closed lower in active trading Thursday despite a report showing some improvement in labor market and a barrage of mixed earnings reports. The blue-chip Dow Jones industrial average, which rose 44.11 points Wednesday, fell 176.93 points, or 2 percent, to 8,317.34 on volume of 1.68 billion shares. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index, which added 27.43 points in the previous session, was down 21.57 points, or 1.63 percent, to 1,298.66.
Sutton named Ryder Cup captain
BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Mich., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Hal Sutton Thursday was named Ryder Cup captain for the United States for the 2004 event at Oakland Hills Country Club in suburban Detroit. The announcement was made at Oakland Hills, with Sutton, representatives of the course, the PGA of America, and the state of Michigan in attendance. Sutton competed in his fourth Ryder Cup last month at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield, England, where the United States lost for the third time in the last four events.
