Pope meets with Muslim leaders
VATICAN CITY, Vatican City, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI met with Muslim leaders Monday at his summer home outside Rome to smooth relations between the religions.
The meeting, attended by ambassadors from Muslim countries, Italian Muslim leaders and top Vatican officials, took place at Castel Gandolfo, ANSA news agency reported Monday.
Benedict opened the meeting saying, "I would like today to stress my total and profound respect for all Muslims," and calling for "sincere and respectful dialogue," the BBC reported.
The meeting followed protests throughout the Muslim world over a speech given by Benedict in which he quoted a medieval Byzantine emperor as saying Islam had been spread by violence. The pope has spoken twice since the incident to say his words were misinterpreted.
The meeting was welcomed by many Italian Muslims.
Yahya Pallavicini, vice-president of Italy's Islamic Religious Community organization, told the BBC he hoped the meeting would be "the starting point for a new scenario of inter-faith dialogue with knowledge and truly religious Jewish, Christian and Muslim leaders and scholars."
TSA eases carry-on restrictions
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- The Transportation Security Administration has eased carry-on rules, allowing travelers to once again to carry liquids, gels and aerosols aboard U.S. planes.
The new rules are effective Tuesday.
The TSA imposed the ban Aug. 10, following the disclosure in Britain of an alleged plot to blow up planes in flight to the United States with explosives that could be mixed on board the aircraft.
The new rules allow travelers to carry travel-size toiletries that fit in a single quart-size, clear plastic, zip-top bag through security checkpoints. Travelers may also bring items, including beverages, purchased in the secure, boarding area.
"After the initial, total ban, we have learned enough from the U.K. investigation to say with confidence that small, travel size liquids are safe to bring through security checkpoints in limited numbers," Assistant TSA Secretary Kip Hawley said in a release. "We have also taken additional security measures throughout the airport that make us comfortable allowing passengers to bring beverages and other items purchased in the secure area onboard."
U.S. businesses leaders to aid Lebanon
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. business leaders have committed to help Lebanon "not only recover, but to flourish" from the battle-inflicted damage, U.S. President George Bush said.
Bush and members of his administration met Monday with business leaders to discuss strategies for providing assistance to Lebanon, the scene of heavy fighting in recent months, the White House said.
"Our goal, and our mission, is to help Lebanese citizens and Lebanese businesses not only recover, but to flourish, because we believe strongly in the concept of a democracy in Lebanon," Bush said. "And now we've got generous citizens of the United States ... who are willing to step forward and to strategize and raise monies to help people in Lebanon."
A delegation of U.S. business plan to go to Lebanon, Bush said. The U.S. government already has committed $250 million to the rebuilding effort and OPEC has arranged financing.
Bush reiterated his support for the emerging democracies in the Middle East, including Lebanon and Iraq, adding, "And our dream is one day for there to be a Palestinian democracy living side by side in peace with Israel."
Rumsfeld on way to breaking another record
WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is on his way to surpassing Robert McNamara as the longest-serving U.S. secretary of Defense.
Rumsfeld last Friday passed Caspar Weinberger, to take over the No. 2 spot on the list. In December he'll have served longer than McNamara, USA Today reports.
Working for both U.S. Presidents John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, McNamara retired in early 1968, after serving since 1961.
Rumsfeld, 74, already has the record as both the youngest and oldest person to head up the Defense Department after marking his first tour of duty during the Ford administration. Rumsfeld was secretary of Defense from 1975-77 and took the position again upon U.S. President George Bush's first inauguration on Jan. 20, 2001.
Longevity aside, Rumsfeld is said to be the policymaker who gets most of the heat for U.S. missteps in Iraq.
In "Hard Power: The New Politics of National Security" being published next month, co-author Michael O'Hanlon predicts Rumsfeld will follow in the footsteps of McNamara who was blamed for the Vietnam conflict.
In a USA TODAY/Gallup poll taken Sept, 15-17, 46 percent of those asked said Rumsfeld should resign while 44 percent said he shouldn't.
Whenever he's asked about stepping down, Rumsfeld always says he serves at the pleasure of the president.
Saddam ejected from trial a second time
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was ejected from an Iraq courtroom for the second time in the course of a single week.
Judge Muhammad Oreibi al-Khalifa had Saddam removed Monday after the former leader demanded to be released from the metal cage he was forced to inhabit during the proceedings, the BBC reported Monday. Defense lawyers have boycotted the trial since a similar incident where Saddam was removed from the courtroom last Wednesday.
Khalil al-Dulaimi, the head of Saddam's defense team, said his team was refusing to attend the trial due to government interference and alleged mistakes by the judge.
Saddam reportedly waved a yellow paper during the trial Monday and said, "I have a request here that I don't want to be in this cage any more."
The judge refused the request.
"I'm the presiding judge. I decide about your presence here. Get him out!" Khalifa said.
"You need to show respect to the court and the case, and those who don't show it, I'm sorry, but I have to apply the law."
