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Bush: Troops need funds; strategy working

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. strategy in Iraq has made significant strides, but U.S. troops need funding to "sustain and build on" those gains, President George Bush said Monday.

"Our objectives in the coming year is to sustain and build on the gains we made in 2007, while transitioning to the next phase of our strategy" away from leading military operations to "partnering with Iraqi forces," Bush said in excerpts released by the White House in advance of his seventh State of the Union address.

Bush said he appreciated the emergency funding passed last year, and asked Congress to approve the remainder of the amount he sought.

The strategy is guided by the "Return On Success" initiative of forces returning to the United States and not being replaced. He said the surge implemented last year continues to reap benefits.

"Some may deny the surge is working, but among the terrorists there is no doubt. Al-Qaida is on the run in Iraq, and this enemy will be defeated," Bush said. "Our enemies in Iraq have been hit hard. They are not yet defeated, and we can still expect tough fighting ahead."

Bush pledges support in Middle East

WASHINGTON, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- U.S. President Bush, during his final State of the Union address Monday, reaffirmed his commitment to working toward peace in the Middle East.

In addition, he pledged the United States would work with other countries to halt Iran's development of nuclear weapons capability and counter the country's support of terrorism and terrorist organizations.

He said he wanted to clarify that the United States "has no quarrel" with the Iranian people.

"Our message to the leaders of Iran is also clear: Verifiably suspend your nuclear enrichment, so negotiations can begin," Bush said in excerpts released by the White House before his address. "And to rejoin the community of nations, come clean about your nuclear intentions and past actions, stop your oppression at home, and cease your support for terror abroad."

To countries that support terrorism or that seek to derail the Israeli-Palestinian, Bush said, "America will confront those who threaten our troops, we will stand by our allies, and we will defend our vital interests in the Persian Gulf."

Snow storm red alerts issued in China

BEIJING, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Much of China, in the grips of deadly snowstorms affecting tens of millions of people, prepared Monday for even worse weather.

The China Meteorological Administration issued a red alert, the most severe of its warnings, for central and eastern China, Xingu reported. The warning affecting about a dozen provinces predicted heavy snow and even freezing rains in the regions.

The meteorologists urged citizens in these areas to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities.

The Xingu report said snow has been falling in many areas for the past two weeks, collapsing homes, causing power outages, paralyzing transportation and destroying crops.

CNN reported at least 24 people have died and more than 67 million people have been affected by the weather. The report, quoting Chinese officials, said economic losses could reach $3 billion.

More than 800,000 people have been evacuated from the affected areas.

Aid workers get 8 years for kidnap attempt

PARIS, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Six French aid workers convicted in Chad of trying to kidnap 103 children have been sentenced to eight years in prison.

The workers were originally sentenced in Chad to serve eight years hard labor, but a longstanding agreement between the countries allowed the workers to return to France, which does not have a hard labor sentence, the BBC reported Monday.

Zoe's Ark, the charity that employs the workers, said the organization thought the children in question were orphans from Dar fur. It was later discovered that most of the children were from the bordering nation of Chad and still had living parents.

Christophe Leiden, a spokesman for Zoe's Ark, said in December that he was "stunned, sickened and confused by the judgment."

"The evidence of the defense was not even taken into account. It's absolute rubbish," he said.