Saddam tapes purported after U.S. bombing
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, April 18 (UPI) -- Abu Dhabi Television Friday aired what it called the last speech by Iraqi President Saddam Hussein during which he urged his people to be patient, keep their pledge to God and fight the "occupation" as their command will remain firm. The Arab satellite channel also broadcast a videotape showing a man who appears to be Saddam greeting a crowd of supporters. It dated the tape to April 9 -- the same day U.S. forces were rolling into Baghdad, and two days after coalition airplanes dropped bombs on a restaurant in the Iraqi capital where Saddam and his two sons were believed to be meeting.
Air Force pilot, formerly missing, now KIA
WASHINGTON, April 18 (UPI) -- The Pentagon announced Friday the identity of an F-15 pilot whose aircraft went down in Iraq April 6. Capt. Eric B. Das, 30, of Amarillo, Texas, was killed in action while supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Das was assigned to the 333rd Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C. There are now 127 confirmed dead in the war. The back-seat officer of the F-15 and one Army soldier are still listed as missing.
Israel dangles carrot for Palestinians
TEL AVIV, Israel, April 18 (UPI) -- Israel has offered to ease its grip on the Palestinians once Mohammad Abbas, known as Abu Mazen, becomes prime minister and shows readiness to combat terror, a senior Israeli diplomatic source said Friday. The source, who spoke to United Press International on condition of anonymity, said the Israeli thinking had been shared with senior Palestinian officials such as Finance Minister Salaam Fayyad and Interior Minister Hani al-Hassan, responsible for security.
N. Korea says reprocessing spent fuel rods
SEOUL, South Korea, April 18 (UPI) -- North Korea said Friday that it was "successfully reprocessing" thousands of spent fuel rods under its nuclear program, which experts say could yield enough plutonium for several atomic bombs. The Foreign Ministry statement carried by the state-run Central News Agency also said the nuclear problem would be the main focus of next week's talks with the United States and China. The reprocessing of spent fuel rods, stored at the North's key nuclear complex in Yongbyon, north of Pyongyang, is "at the final phase," the Pyongyang officials said.
FDA seeks to keep SARS out of blood supply
WASHINGTON, April 18 (UPI) -- The Food and Drug Administration has issued a new guidance that calls for people potentially infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome to be deferred from donating blood to prevent the disease from being transmitted via blood transfusions. The FDA also advises blood banks to quarantine any blood identified as having come from SARS patients or people potentially exposed to SARS.
Futuristic spaceship unveiled
MOJAVE, Calif., April 18 (UPI) -- Noted aircraft designer Burt Rutan unveiled a futuristic-looking manned reusable spaceship intended for suborbital flights. SpaceShipOne, which would be launched aboard a newly designed high-altitude aircraft called White Knight, was displayed for the first time Friday.
Reward offered for bucket of gold
MIAMI, April 18 (UPI) -- Police are looking for a 5-gallon bucket of gold dust worth as much as $347,000 missing from a shipment at Miami International Airport. Detective Kevin Kozak said he thought the theft was an inside job. Jewelers said the thieves will have a hard time selling the 73 pounds of unrefined gold in its current state but it's another matter if they melt it down into gold bricks or jewelry. They said there is no shortage of melting furnaces belonging to jewelers throughout the country. Kozak said a $5,000 reward has been offered.
Toy drumsticks recalled
WASHINGTON, April 18 (UPI) -- Battat Inc., of Plattsburgh, NY, is recalling about 300,000 sets of toy drumsticks sold with Parents Bee Bop Band drum sets because the handles can break off, posing a choking hazard to young children. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said Friday that Battat has received about 240 reports of drumsticks breaking and one report of a child who began to choke after putting a plastic piece in the mouth. The screw at the end of the centipede-shaped drumstick also can loosen and fall off, posing a choking hazard.
Franchitti to miss Indy 500
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., April 18 (UPI) -- Dario Franchitti will miss at least the Indianapolis 500 following his recent motorcycle wreck. Franchitti is the former CART star who is one of the headline drivers for Andretti/Green Racing in the IRL IndyCar Series. The team made the announcement Friday, two weeks after Franchitti broke a vertebra during a crash in his hometown of Edinburgh, Scotland. The L1 stable burst fracture does not require surgery, but Franchitti will wear a brace for some three months. Shortly after the crash, Franchitti pulled out of the Honda Indy 300 in Japan.
Ferrero, Moya reach semifinals
MONTE CARLO, Monaco, April 18 (UPI) -- Spaniards Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Moya moved closer to a repeat of their 2002 title match Friday by advancing to the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters. The defending champion, Ferrero won the first 10 games en route to a 6-0, 6-2 victory over compatriot Alberto Martin. Moya, the second seed, was only slightly tested as he eliminated French qualifier Julien Boutter, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2. Ferrero won his 10th consecutive match at the Monte Carlo Country club and improved to 14-2 at the event.
