S. Korean church group taken by Taliban
KABUL, Afghanistan, July 20 (UPI) -- At least 20 Christian aid workers from South Korea have been kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan, officials said Friday.
The group was traveling from Kandahar to Kabul when their bus was hijacked Thursday night, the Korea Times reported. Anas Sharif, a Taliban commander who claimed responsibility for the abduction, said that the bus had been abandoned and its passengers moved elsewhere.
The newspaper quoted a local source who said that the Taliban would probably free the women in a few days.
The group included 19 members of the Saemmul Community Church and two South Korean workers for a non-governmental organization.
Alalam Satellite TV said the Taliban promised not to harm the group.
"They are safe with us, we are investigating them and our demands and reaction will be announced later," said Yousuf Ahmadi, a spokesman for the group, in a telephone message.
Shortly before the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, the Taliban government put two Christians on trial on charges of trying to make converts from Islam. They were freed unharmed after the fall of the government.
Coalition forces kill 3 terrorists in Iraq
BAGHDAD, July 20 (UPI) -- Coalition forces in Iraq reportedly killed three militants and detained another 44 suspects during raids Friday in or near Baghdad, Ramadi and Mosul.
The three militants were killed while reportedly trying to attack coalition forces, who were engaged in operations targeting terrorist leaders and their cells, Voice of America reported Friday.
Also nabbed in the skirmish was a suspected terrorist with close ties to an Iranian Revolutionary Guards unit -- the Quds Force -- U.S. military officials said in a statement.
Two U.S. soldiers were killed and another wounded Thursday when two roadside bombs exploded in Baghdad.
The British military said three of its soldiers died the same day when mortar rounds struck their base in the southern city of Basra.
Bush to undergo routine colonoscopy
WASHINGTON, July 20 (UPI) -- U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney is to serve as acting president Saturday while U.S. President George Bush has a routine colonoscopy, the White House said Friday.
The president is to undergo the screening Saturday at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland, CNN reported. White House spokesman Tony Snow, who recently announced that his cancer, which began in his colon, has recurred, said the procedure is expected to take about 2 1/2 hours.
Cheney is to be acting president while Bush is under anesthetic.
Bush's last colonoscopy was in 2002. The screening is considered the most reliable one for colon and rectal cancer and for polyps that can become cancerous.
Bush chides Dems on defense spending bill
WASHINGTON, July 20 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush, flanked by military support groups, attacked U.S. congressional Democrats for recessing before approving the defense budget.
Bush, speaking Friday at the White House, said that the leadership "chose to have a political debate on a precipitous withdrawal of our troops from Iraq" instead of acting on the spending bill he submitted in February.
"The House (of Representatives) and Senate are now scheduled to leave for their August recess before passing a bill to support our troops and their missions," he said. "Even members of Congress who no longer support our effort in Iraq should at least be able to provide an increase in pay for our troops fighting there."
Before his Rose Garden appearance, Bush met with representatives of Families United For Our Troops and Their Mission, Military Families Voice of Victory, Vets for Freedom and Troops Need You.
2nd generation peacemakers meet in London
LONDON, July 20 (UPI) -- Children and one grandchild of famous leaders and peace activists of the 20th century launched the Gen II Global Peace Initiative in London this week.
The project is the brainchild of Martin Luther King III, son of the assassinated U.S. civil rights leader.
Joining him last Tuesday for their first meeting were Dalia Rabin, Nadim Gemayel, Justin Trudeau, Naomi Tutu and Christine Chavez.
"We share the names of people who gave their lives to make a better place," said King. "It is incumbent upon us ... to continue to carry on our parents' dreams."
The group was briefed on the human rights situations in Sudan, Israel, the Palestinian Territories, Myanmar and North Korea. They said they would decide on their action plan by the end of the summer.
King Abdullah of Jordan and Arun Gandhi, though not present in London, have expressed their support for the group.
