3 Democrats want 2007 Iraq troop deadline
WASHINGTON, June 19 (UPI) -- Three Democratic U.S. senators plan to introduce legislation calling for U.S. combat troops to be redeployed from Iraq by July 1, 2007.
Sens. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.; Russell Feingold, D-Wis.; and John Kerry, D-Mass., put out a news release Monday declaring their intention to attach an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill, which the Senate is to begin debating Tuesday.
They said U.S. troops should "be redeployed out of Iraq, for purposes of strengthening U.S. national security and increasing the Iraqis' ability to establish stability throughout their country."
The Bush administration has said setting a hard deadline is not acceptable and U.S. troop levels in Iraq would be determined by conditions in the country and the Iraqis' ability to provide security.
The key point in the amendment calls for "the redeployment of U.S. combat troops out of Iraq by July 1, 2007."
The Democratic senators say some U.S. troops, such as those "conducting targeted counter-terrorist operations" would remain in Iraq but the majority of U.S. military personnel would be situated to "maintain an over-the-horizon military presence to prosecute the war on terror and protect regional security interests."
Accused U.S. troops face new charge
WASHINGTON, June 19 (UPI) -- U.S. soldiers accused of killing Iraqi detainees also allegedly threatened a fellow soldier with death if he cooperated in an investigation, a report says.
Charge sheets released by the Army Monday in Washington detail the accusations against the three men, The New York Times said.
The two enlisted men and a non-commissioned officer of the 101st Airborne Division have been charged with murder, attempted murder and making a death threat, among other counts, for alleged events occurring May 9.
The accused soldiers were identified as Staff Sgt. Raymond L. Girouard, Spec. William B. Hunsaker and Pfc. Corey R. Clagett, the Times said.
The three initially said the victims were shot to death while trying to escape, U.S. military officials told the newspaper.
The incident allegedly happened near a chemical complex along the Thar Thar Canal, in southern Salahaddin Province in north-central Iraq, a Sunni stronghold, the Times said.
Italian prosecutors seek to indict Marine
ROME, June 19 (UPI) -- Italian prosecutors Monday sought murder charges against a U.S. Marine in the death of an Italian intelligence agent at a Baghdad roadblock last year.
Nicola Calipari was killed by automatic rifle fire as he transported just-released hostage, Giuliana Sgrena, to Baghdad airport when the car in which they were riding failed to stop at a roadblock, the U.S. military said. Sgrena was slightly wounded.
The Italian news agency ANSA reported prosecutors are seeking to indict Mario Lozano, 35, of New York, in the killing. He could be tried in absentia.
Washington has cleared U.S. troops of any wrongdoing in the case, which has produced strained relations with Rome.
Spain's Catalans back autonomy
MADRID, June 19 (UPI) -- Voters in the Spanish province of Catalonia voted to give the region more autonomy, El Pais newspaper reported Monday.
Nearly 74 percent of voters backed the autonomy plan, well more than the 53 percent of respondents in a recent poll who said they supported more political freedom from the rest of Spain.
In March, lawmakers voted in favor of allowing Catalans more control over their local finances.
For years the wealthy northeast province has been pushing for greater autonomy from the rest of the Spanish government, and last week won the right from the Spanish constitutional commission to call itself a nation in its autonomy document.
However critics of the move complain that Catalonia's quest for greater autonomy could lead to the dissolution of the country, as other regions may be inspired to do the same.
