U.S. missionary shot to death in Kenya
MALABA, Kenya, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- An American missionary was killed in Kenya Wednesday during a robbery attempt, the BBC reported.
Pastor Paul Arnold Richie was shot and killed by unknown gunmen who demanded U.S. dollars after entering his house in Malaba town, western Kenya.
Local police said no arrests had been made but a murder investigation had been launched.
Richie, 62, was from Maryland and worked for the World Outreach Baptist Church in Kenya and eastern Uganda.
The BBC said Richie was about to have dinner when gunmen wielding AK-47 rifles raided his house and demanded money.
Before he could comply, the gunmen opened fire, killing him instantly.
U.S. meant to seize oil fields in 1973
LONDON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The United States considered using force to seize oil fields in the Middle East during an oil embargo by Arab states in 1973.
According to British government documents just made public, Britain took the threat so seriously it drew up a detailed assessment of what the Americans might do, the BBC said.
It was thought U.S. airborne troops would seize oil installations in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and might even ask the British to do the same in Abu Dhabi.
The British assessment was made after a warning from then U.S. Defence Secretary James Schlesinger to the British ambassador in Washington.
The ambassador quoted Schlesinger as saying "it was no longer obvious to him that the United States could not use force."
The oil embargo was begun by Arab governments during the Yom Kippur war between Israel, Egypt and Syria and was designed to put pressure on the West to get Israel to make concessions.
The embargo was aimed mainly at the United States but many other countries were affected.
There was no military action. The embargo faltered and was ended a few months later, and Israel and Egypt went on to sign a peace agreement.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- California's attorney general ordered an investigation Wednesday, requested by the country sheriff, to see if Michael Jackson's rights were violated.
"At the request of the Santa Barbara Sheriff, I have directed the Division of Law Enforcement with the assistance of the Civil Rights Enforcement Section and Criminal Law Division to conduct an independent investigation into whether the rights of Michael Jackson were violated when he was booked and arrested earlier this month," Attorney General Bill Lockyer said in a statement.
"We will work as quickly as possible to conduct a thorough and fair investigation."
Meanwhile, California law enforcement officers denied Wednesday that Jackson was abused during his arrest for child molestation.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff Jim Anderson said Jackson was treated properly while in his department's custody and denied that anything improper had been done, Fox News reported.
He played a videotape showing Jackson appearing well, rather than in any obvious pain.
Jackson, 45, is charged with performing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent, reportedly wine. The singer is free on $3 million bail and has maintained his innocence.
Israeli soldier arrested in shooting
JERUSALEM, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The Israeli army has arrested a soldier for shooting and seriously wounding a British activist in April, the Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday.
The Israeli soldier, whose name was not released, was brought before a military court, the IDF said.
Tom Hurndall, 22, an activist with the Palestinian-led International Solidarity Movement, was shot in the head in Rafah April 11. He remains in a vegetative state in a London hospital, CNN reported.
The soldier who shot him "originally said he returned fire at a man armed with a pistol," the IDF statement said.
"However, following an intensive investigation" by military police, the soldier "admitted to shooting in proximity of an unarmed civilian in order to deter him," the statement said. "The criminal investigation of the incident is still continuing."
The International Solidarity Movement said Hurndall was shot as he was trying to help a child move out of the path of Israeli soldiers.
Members of ISM have volunteered to act as "human shields" in the region, placing themselves between Israeli soldiers and suspected terrorists.
MALABA, Kenya, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- An American missionary was killed in Kenya Wednesday during a robbery attempt, the BBC reported.
Pastor Paul Arnold Richie was shot and killed by unknown gunmen who demanded U.S. dollars after entering his house in Malaba town, western Kenya.
Local police said no arrests had been made but a murder investigation had been launched.
Richie, 62, was from Maryland and worked for the World Outreach Baptist Church in Kenya and eastern Uganda.
The BBC said Richie was about to have dinner when gunmen wielding AK-47 rifles raided his house and demanded money.
Before he could comply, the gunmen opened fire, killing him instantly.
U.S. meant to seize oil fields in 1973
LONDON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The United States considered using force to seize oil fields in the Middle East during an oil embargo by Arab states in 1973.
According to British government documents just made public, Britain took the threat so seriously it drew up a detailed assessment of what the Americans might do, the BBC said.
It was thought U.S. airborne troops would seize oil installations in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and might even ask the British to do the same in Abu Dhabi.
The British assessment was made after a warning from then U.S. Defence Secretary James Schlesinger to the British ambassador in Washington.
The ambassador quoted Schlesinger as saying "it was no longer obvious to him that the United States could not use force."
The oil embargo was begun by Arab governments during the Yom Kippur war between Israel, Egypt and Syria and was designed to put pressure on the West to get Israel to make concessions.
The embargo was aimed mainly at the United States but many other countries were affected.
There was no military action. The embargo faltered and was ended a few months later, and Israel and Egypt went on to sign a peace agreement.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- California's attorney general ordered an investigation Wednesday, requested by the country sheriff, to see if Michael Jackson's rights were violated.
"At the request of the Santa Barbara Sheriff, I have directed the Division of Law Enforcement with the assistance of the Civil Rights Enforcement Section and Criminal Law Division to conduct an independent investigation into whether the rights of Michael Jackson were violated when he was booked and arrested earlier this month," Attorney General Bill Lockyer said in a statement.
"We will work as quickly as possible to conduct a thorough and fair investigation."
Meanwhile, California law enforcement officers denied Wednesday that Jackson was abused during his arrest for child molestation.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff Jim Anderson said Jackson was treated properly while in his department's custody and denied that anything improper had been done, Fox News reported.
He played a videotape showing Jackson appearing well, rather than in any obvious pain.
Jackson, 45, is charged with performing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent, reportedly wine. The singer is free on $3 million bail and has maintained his innocence.
Israeli soldier arrested in shooting
JERUSALEM, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The Israeli army has arrested a soldier for shooting and seriously wounding a British activist in April, the Israel Defense Forces said Wednesday.
The Israeli soldier, whose name was not released, was brought before a military court, the IDF said.
Tom Hurndall, 22, an activist with the Palestinian-led International Solidarity Movement, was shot in the head in Rafah April 11. He remains in a vegetative state in a London hospital, CNN reported.
The soldier who shot him "originally said he returned fire at a man armed with a pistol," the IDF statement said.
"However, following an intensive investigation" by military police, the soldier "admitted to shooting in proximity of an unarmed civilian in order to deter him," the statement said. "The criminal investigation of the incident is still continuing."
The International Solidarity Movement said Hurndall was shot as he was trying to help a child move out of the path of Israeli soldiers.
Members of ISM have volunteered to act as "human shields" in the region, placing themselves between Israeli soldiers and suspected terrorists.
© 2003 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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