Tape purported to be of bin Laden airs
WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- A tape ostensibly from Osama bin Laden urged European countries to abandon their support of the war in Afghanistan.
The message purported to be from bin Laden also included a claim of sole responsibility for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States in a tape released Thursday, CNN reported. The recording was aired by al-Jazeera television a few days after al-Qaida's television production unit promised a new communication from the terrorist leader.
The authenticity of the tape and when it was recorded could not be verified immediately, CNN said.
In Thursday's message, the speaker accused the United States and its NATO allies of killing civilians in Afghanistan.
"You didn't respect the rules of war and attacked and killed women and children on purpose," the speaker says.
Musharraf vows to lift emergency rule
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, who took the presidential oath Thursday, said he plans to end the emergency rule no later than Dec. 16.
Musharraf, who stepped down as army chief Wednesday, pledged to reach out to opponents and to move Pakistan toward the "complete essence of democracy," The Washington Post reported. Stepping down from his military position was a key demand of opposition groups and Western allies, including the United States.
After being sworn in as president, the 64-year-old Musharraf said the need for emergency rule had subsided, citing military progress against radical Islamic insurgents.
He imposed a state of emergency Nov. 3.
"Efforts were made to derail the transition to democracy. The transit ion is now back on track," said Musharraf, who wore a civilian suit for his swearing-in ceremony.
He also pledged that "free and fair" parliamentary elections would go ahead as planned for January.
Leahy again demands U.S. attorney info
WASHINGTON, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- A key Senate committee chairman, in a written ruling, told the White House Thursday to comply with subpoenas for information on the firing of U.S. attorneys.
The communication appeared to be the final threat by Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy, D-Vt., before initiating contempt proceedings, The Hill reported.
In the ruling, Leahy said the White House claims of immunity and executive privilege were "overbroad, unsubstantiated and not legally valid," setting the stage for a constitutional showdown between the legislative and executive branches, the newspaper said. Such showdowns have been settled in the past by the judicial branch.
The Hill said Leahy's formal ruling means the full Senate Judiciary Committee could consider contempt citations against the White House as early as next Thursday.
If the full committee approves the citation, the crowded Senate calendar likely would keep it from reaching a vote before the December holiday recess, The Hill said.
The newspaper added Leahy's statement is the latest indication the Senate majority Democrats may be serious about the citations.
Leahy has issued subpoenas to White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten, former White House political director Sara M. Taylor, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove and White House
Deputy Political Director J. Scott Jennings.
Democrats want to investigate the firing of up to eight U.S. attorneys, allegedly for investigating Republicans, failing to investigate Democrats or other political reasons.
Teddy bear teacher jailed, to be deported
KHARTOUM, Sudan, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- An Islamic court Thursday found a British teacher working in Sudan guilty of inciting religious hatred by allowing her class to name a Teddy bear "Mohammed."
The court in Khartoum sentenced Gillian Gibbons, 54, to 15 days in the city's women's prison and deportation, the woman's attorney told CNN.
The British Foreign Office said its was aware of Gibbons' guilty verdict and sentencing, which it said would be effective 15 days from her arrest. Gibbons was arrested Sunday.
Gibbons was detained after it became known that she had allowed her class of 7-year-olds choose the name of the stuffed animal as part of a school project.
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband called the teacher's actions an "innocent misunderstanding." He met with Sudanese Ambassador to Britain Omer Siddig, who was summoned to the Foreign Office in London.
"I explained to him that we were very concerned by the case. We believe that this was an innocent misunderstanding," he said in a statement released after the meeting.
The Sudanese ambassador indicated Britain's concerns were relayed to government officials in Khartoum as well as stressing "the real respect for the Islamic religion in this country," the statement said.
Kasparov released from custody
MOSCOW, Nov. 29 (UPI) -- Russian opposition leader Garry Kasparov has been released from custody, a member of the United Civil Front said Thursday.
The Russian chess grandmaster was arrested Saturday in Moscow while leading a march by opposition group, The Other Russia, made up of People's Patriotic Union, led by former premier Mikhail Kasyanov, the National Bolshevik Party, headed by writer Eduard Limonov, and Kasparov's United Civil Front, RIA Novosti reported Thursday.
Kasparov, who has discussed a possible run in the 2008 presidential elections, was released about 30 minutes ahead of schedule, the Russian news agency reported. The presidential campaign season kicked off Wednesday.
Human rights advocates in Russia and around the world have criticized the Russian government for its tightened restrictions on democracy since Vladimir Putin became president in 2000.
