UPI NewsTrack TopNews

France and Germany reject U.S. Iraq plan

NEW YORK, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- France and Germany rejected a U.S. plan Thursday that seeks greater international participation in Iraq, saying the proposal does not go far enough.

The BBC reported French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said the plan doesn't address the transfer of political responsibility to an Iraqi government.

In the draft text, the United States said the U.N. should play a role in preparing for a new Iraqi government but the draft does not cede any political or military control. The U.S. wants 10,000 more international troops to be deployed in Iraq as part of a multinational force.

The BBC said the U.S. draft resolution says the U.N. should play a "vital role" in Iraq and its special representative should cooperate with the U.S.-appointed Iraqi Governing Council in preparing for elections.

Blair stands firm on Iraq terror battle

LONDON, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair warned Thursday the situation in Iraq is serious but insisted the British and U.S. coalition would not waver.

Speaking at his monthly Downing Street press conference, Blair said: "This is not the American and British forces versus the Iraqi people.

"This is the British and American forces and the vast majority of Iraqis versus a small number of Saddam's (Hussein)supporters and an increasing number of outside terrorist groups."

Pressed on the possible deployment of additional British troops to Iraq, the Prime Minister said no decisions had yet been taken, but the situation was kept under constant review, the London Daily Mail said.

Up to 25 countries are supplying about 14,000 troops in Iraq, with British levels at 10,000 or 11,000, he added. There are some 140,000 U.S. troops in Iraq.

Israeli soldier killed by gunmen

JERUSALEM, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- An Israeli soldier was shot to death Thursday by Palestinian gunmen affiliated with Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction, the Jerusalem Post reported.

In the early morning attack, Palestinian gunmen ambushed a group of Israeli soldiers patrolling the West Bank city of Jenin.

A doctor summoned to the site pronounced the soldier dead.

Israel Radio reported earlier in the day both the Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades of Yasser Arafat's Fatah and the Islamic Jihad's 'Al-Quds Brigades' claimed responsibility.

In recent days there has been an increase in shooting attacks between Palestinian terrorists and Israeli forces operating in the north Samaria area, where Palestinians believed involved in terrorist activities have been arrested.

Defense forces also arrested a Hamas terrorist in Nablus on the West Bank Thursday. Security officials said the 20-year-old was planning to carry out a suicide bombing in Israel within the next few days.

Paraplegic American 'climbs' Mount Fuji

TOKYO, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- An American man who lost the use of his legs in a car crash successfully "climbed" to the summit of Japan's highest peak, Mount Fuji, this week.

The BBC said it took Oregon State University student Keegan Reilly four days to complete the ascent using a titanium climbing bike propelled by a hand-crank and equipped with disc brakes and 42 gears.

The BBC said more than 20,000 people climb the 12,385-foot-high Mount Fuji each year but Reilly's success is believed the first unassisted ascent by a paraplegic climber.

Bicycles are normally banned on Mount Fuji but Reilly's team negotiated with Japanese authorities to grant him an exception.

The 22-year-old Reilly previously climbed Colorado's Mount Elbert and California's Mount Shasta. He told the BBC he next plans to tackle Mount Rainier in Washington state and after that he hopes to climb Aconcagua, South America's highest mountain.

Said Reilly: "I want to show people what I am able to do, Maybe it will inspire them."