WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- The White House blames irresponsible legislation from the Democrat-controlled U.S. Congress for President George W. Bush’s large number of veto threats.

Bush, who actually has vetoed only three bills, has made twice as many veto threats this year than in any other year of his presidency, USA Today reported Monday.

The White House threatened 48 vetoes through Friday compared with a previous high of 22 for all of 2003, USA Today said.

"We have to be a check on bad policies coming out of Congress," said White House spokesman Tony Fratto.

Bush is taking aim at spending bills supported by Democrats, though he did not veto any appropriations bills passed by any Republican-controlled Congress.

"The bunch now running Congress wants to return to the tax-and-spend policies of the past," Bush told the American Legislative Exchange Council last month. "That's why I plan on using my veto to keep your taxes low."

Bush: Iran must prove its intentions

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush said Monday it remains to be seen whether Iran is a positive force in Afghanistan.

Bush and Afghan President Hamid Karzai appeared at a joint news conference following two days of talks at Camp David, Md., focusing on the level of civilian casualties as U.S. and NATO forces attempt to track down members of the Taliban. “The burden of proof is on the Iranian government to show us they’re a positive force,” Bush said, adding that the people of Iran could be doing a lot better if Tehran would give up its nuclear ambitions.

Bush also expressed concern over the number of civilian casualties as allied forces pursue the Taliban, saying the group “remains a challenge to those who want freedom.”

“The Taliban are the ones who surround themselves with human shields” and show “no regard for human life,” Bush said.

Karzai told reporters he and Bush had a good discussion on the issue of civilian casualties.

Crisis in Darfur needs political solution

ARUSHA, Tanzania, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- A three-day conference on the crisis in Darfur concluded in Tanzania Monday by stressing the urgent need for a political solution to the conflict.

Hosted by the African Union and the special United Nations envoys for Darfur, the conference included representatives from Chad, Egypt, Eritrea and Libya, The Sudan Tribune reported.

The discussions provided a chance for the non-signatories to meet and consult among themselves to prepare the groundwork for peace talks.

Saying a military solution is impossible, conference members reaffirmed their commitment to re-energize the political process.

Representatives of Darfur movements reiterated their readiness to end hostilities provided all sides agree to do so.

They also expressed their commitment to allow free access to humanitarian aid agencies and refrain from hostilities against the African Mission in the Sudan as well as against humanitarian organizations in Darfur.

Five killed in medevac plane crash

ALBUQUERQUE, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- State police say all five people aboard have been killed in the crash of a medevac plane in southern New Mexico.

The plane, which took off from Ruidoso late Sunday, was carrying a 15-month-old baby and her mother to University Hospital in Albuquerque when it went down, radio station KKOB-AM reported Monday.

State police say rescuers reached the crash site early in the morning.

Killed in the crash were 15-month-old Lily Smith and her mother, Tracy Smith, 41, along with the plane’s pilot, a male nurse and a female paramedic.

Quake appears to cause Utah mine collapse

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- An earthquake early Monday appears to have caused a mine collapse in Emery County, Utah, leaving six miners missing.

The Salt Lake Tribune said the Utah American Energy mine collapsed around 3 a.m. MDT, about the same time an earthquake in the area registered a 4 on the Richter scale.

The Bureau of Land Management said a rescue team was dispatched from another mine in the rural area to look for the missing miners.

The quake was centered about 155 miles south-southeast of Salt Lake City. No other damage or injuries were reported.