Sudan accused of meddling in Chad
N'DJAMENA, Chad, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- The United States Monday asked Sudan to stay out of neighboring Chad's affairs and a Chadian general threatened to attack Sudan if it aids rebel forces.
The U.N. Security Council issued a statement condemning the rebel attacks and urged international intervention to put a stop to the violence wracking the African nation, The New York Times reported.
"The Security Council strongly condemns these attacks and all attempts at destabilization by force," the statement said.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters the United States expressed its concern that Sudan may be helping rebels topple the government of President Idriss Deby, the Voice of America reported.
"We have gone in at very high levels of the Sudanese government to say that if there is any support from the Sudanese government to these rebels that that should end immediately, and that any influence they might have with the rebels they should use in order to tell them to withdraw," said Sean McCormack.
One senior general threatened to attack Sudan in retaliation, The Independent reported, adding that Sudan denies involvement.
Rebel forces entered the capital during the weekend and pulled back Sunday after a counterattack, but said the retreat was intended to allow civilians to leave the city, the British newspaper said.
All non-essential U.S. embassy staff and families of U.S. officials in Chad have been evacuated, leaving four U.S. diplomats who are staying at the N'Djamena airport under protection of French troops.
National icons vulnerable, report finds
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Lax security has left U.S. icons, including the Washington Monument and the Statue of Liberty vulnerable, according to a government report released Monday.
The U.S. Interior Department's inspector general found that U.S. Park Police had an "overall lack of commitment to its icon security responsibilities."
In a memo accompanying the 40-page report, Interior Inspector General Earl Devaney wrote also that the Park Police management and operations "adversely affects" security at parks, that the agency has failed to manage its financial affairs and that the police force is suffering from low morale.
"We found that despite having increased security and law enforcement responsibilities since the events of Sept. 11, 2001, USPP's staffing levels are lower now than they were six years ago," the report said.
Among the report's findings: security at such national icons as the Statue of Liberty is woefully inadequate, and officers in some field offices lack proper firearms and weapons training, as in San Francisco.
The report also includes a photograph of what appears to be an officer at the Jefferson Memorial, near the U.S. Capitol, sleeping in a patrol car.
Mormons choose new president
SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Thomas S. Monson has been named the 16th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the church announced Monday in Salt Lake City.
The naming of Monson to the Mormon church's top leadership post came just two days after the funeral and burial of President Gordon B. Hinckley, who was the church's "prophet, seer and revelator" for 13 years before he died Jan. 27 at age 97.
Monson, 80, in turn, named two colleagues to top leadership positions -- Henry B. Eyring, 74, as first counselor and Dieter F. Uchtdorf, 67, as second counselor, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.
"Hinckley's passing has affected all of us -- we shall miss him, yet he has left us with a wonderful legacy," Monson said in introducing his counselors.
Domestic partnerships begin in Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Same-sex couples in Oregon celebrated Monday morning on the first day they could legally apply for domestic partnerships.
In Portland, people were lining up outside the Multnomah County Building as early as 4 a.m., The (Portland) Oregonian reported.
The lines were the result of a decision Friday by a federal judge who tossed out a challenge to Oregon's new civil-unions law. That suit sought to block the domestic partnership law passed by the Legislature and put the matter to a public vote.
The ruling put the new law into effect immediately, entitling same-sex couples to most of the duties and benefits that married residents receive.
The first step for couples was to fill out forms. From there they went into county licensing offices where they faced a five-minute procedure before leaving with a certificate.
