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Al-Qaida leader target in Pakistan attack

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- A strike on an al-Qaida leader carried out in Pakistan has U.S. officials waiting for word of its success and Pakistanis upset over innocent deaths.

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The Los Angeles Times reports unnamed U.S. military officials confirmed it conducted the attack but not how.

Witnesses said it was an air strike from neighboring Afghanistan.

The BBC reports Pakistan doesn't allow U.S. troops to conduct operations in the country.

Eighteen people are reported dead but none have been confirmed as the main target, Osama bin Laden's top deputy and reported operational leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.

Accounts of the incident are sketchy, with some claiming unmanned CIA predator drones shot missiles at the tribal village.

Others say bodies of foreigners killed in the attack were removed.

Pakistani officials haven't commented on it yet.

In a conflicting account, Lt. Col. Todd Vician of the U.S. Defense Department said "there is no reason" for U.S. forces to operate in the Bajaur tribal area.

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Locals, including those whose houses were destroyed, said innocent people were killed in the attack.

Shah Zaman said he saw his home being bombed with two sons and a daughter inside.

They all died.


Parties to use Alito fight in elections

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Conservative and liberal interest groups plan to advertise opinions on the Alito Supreme Court nomination as the U.S. Senate debate escalates.

Testimony ended Friday in the Judiciary Committee with Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., criticizing Democratic senators.

While most observers believe Judge Samuel Alito Jr. will be confirmed to replace the retiring Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, both parties are using the debate to posture for November elections, The New York Times reports.

Democratic leaders say Alito is an example of the right-wing's grip on elected officials, eventually leading to weakening of abortion and civil rights and granting the president too much power during wartime.

Republicans say Alito is a mainstream jurist and accuse Democratic leaders of playing politics with the Supreme Court.

The committee is expected to vote next week to send the nomination to the full Senate for debate.

Democratic senators want that to be delayed until after Wednesday when leaders meet to discuss a plan.

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Republicans call that another political ploy.

Jim Manley, spokesman for Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada, said it was the senators' right to "carefully deliberate" the nomination.

Both liberal and conservative-leaning groups said Friday they will create commercials about the issue, not to sway senators, but to further the political debate.


Report: Drug plan leaving poor, old behind

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Poor elderly and disabled in the United States find the new U.S. drug plan not working, forcing states to cover expenses while officials looks for answers.

Ohio and Wisconsin announced Friday they would help those who are supposed to be covered by the prescription plan until the federal government better coordinates the coverage.

They join more than a dozen other states in making up for a gap in President Bush's top domestic program, The Washington Post reports.

The plan, which began this year for 43 million low-income seniors and disabled, has pharmacies presenting larger than expected bills to consumer, if not turning them away altogether, the newspaper said.

Poor customers, switched from Medicaid to the new Medicare plan, were told they would not be charged the usual $250 deductible and co-payments.

Mark B. McClellan, administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, called the situation "not acceptable" and said the federal government would reimburse states that are paying right now.

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Gonzales to testify about wiretap program

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales has agreed to testify before the Senate about a controversial wiretap program but limited the questions to legal issues.

Gonzales said Friday he would appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee to answer questions about the programs legality but not how the program works, CNN reports.

After The New York Times broke the story in December, President Bush admitted he authorized the National Security Agency to listen in on domestic phone calls without warrants previously needed.

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act set up a secret court the president could go to for quick and discreet warrants, and opponents of the program say Bush is illegally operating outside that court.

The White House said the program is allowed under Article II of the Constitution and the power Congress gave to Bush after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Hearings into the eavesdropping plan are expected to start in February.

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