Fallon resigns as Central Command chief
WASHINGTON, March 11 (UPI) -- U.S. Navy Adm. William Fallon resigned as the U.S. Central Command commander, citing the perception that he disagreed with the Bush administration over Iran.
Recent published reports indicated "a disconnect between my views and the president's policy objective have become a distraction at a critical time," Fallon, the top Pentagon commander in the Middle East, said Tuesday in a statement. "Although I don't believe there have ever been any differences about the objectives of our policy in the Central Command area of responsibility, the simple perception that there is makes it difficult for me to effectively serve America's interests there."
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, announcing Fallon's intentions to resign his post and retire from the military, said he approved Fallon's request "with reluctance and regret."
"I think it's the right decision," Gates said. "The notion that this decision portends anything (changing) the policy toward Iran is ridiculous."
U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Martin Dempsey was named as acting commander.
An article in Esquire magazine noted differences between Fallon and U.S. President George Bush about policy on Iran, criticizing those who publicly urged war.
Bush praised Fallon "has served this country with honor, determination, and commitment" during his 40-plus years in the military.
Spitzer reportedly will step down soon
ALBANY, N.Y., March 11 (UPI) -- Top aides to New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer said Tuesday they expect the governor to resign soon, although when was uncertain, The New York Times reported.
The developments came a day after it was revealed the governor was allegedly a client of a high-priced prostitution ring broken up last week by federal authorities, the Times said.
Aides to Spitzer and New York Lt. Gov. David Paterson reportedly met in the state capital to discuss a transition action plan, CNN reported.
Paterson's staff also was reaching out to members of the New York State Legislature, aides told the Times.
As the aides met in Albany, Assembly Minority Leader James Tedisco, R-Schenectady, said he would begin proceedings to impeach Spitzer if the governor didn't step down within 48 hours.
Spitzer, a former state attorney general, apologized during Monday after his alleged involvement was made public.
Spitzer's name as an alleged client with the high-priced Emperor's Club V.I.P. surfaced through wiretapped conversations about payments and arranging to meet a prostitute in Washington in February, the Times reported. Federal prosecutors charged four people with operating the service.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said he spoke to Spitzer, telling him "I was thinking about him and his family."
Arab summit causing fury in Lebanon
BEIRUT, Lebanon, March 11 (UPI) -- Lebanese officials, citing a long-standing row with Syria and Lebanon's own political vacuum, might not attend the upcoming Arab League summit, ministers said.
Lebanese Communications Minister Marwan Hamada said Tuesday the decision to attend the summit "has not yet been made as long as no invitation has turned up," noting the final decision "is still under consideration," the Kuwaiti news agency reported Tuesday.
Lebanon is the only Arab country that hasn't received a formal invitation from Syrian officials.
Meanwhile, Lebanese Member of Parliament Walid Jumblatt called on a general Arab boycott of the summit in the Arab weekly, al-Anbaa.
"Participating in the summit is a reward for the crimes of the Assad regime," Jumblatt said.
Hamada also noted there is no formal way to accept an invitation as the Lebanese Cabinet is assuming presidential duties. Lebanon has been without a president since the term of Emile Lahoud expired in November.
The annual Arab League meeting is scheduled for March 29-30 in Damascus.
Despite peace, Kenyan refugees fear return
NAIROBI, Kenya, March 11 (UPI) -- Kenya's president and his main rival agreed two weeks ago to end their conflict but many Kenyan refugees fear returning home, the Daily Nation said.
Conflict resulting from a contentious presidential race between Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga, leader of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement, displaced more than 350,000 people.
The parties reached a power-sharing agreement to end the crisis but many of the displaced refugees are afraid to return, the Kenyan newspaper reported Tuesday.
Refugees said they were afraid their neighbors harbored resentment as the presidential crisis sparked ethnic violence. Many said their homes were destroyed and pointed to a general lack of money to start over, as well.
Some refugees called on the Kenyan leadership to extend reconciliation to those most affected by the conflict.
"It is those at the top who have greeted each other. But we are yet to go back and greet our neighbors because we are not sure of how they will receive us because they are the ones who chased us away," one of the refugees told the Daily Nation.
Passenger data pact angers EU officials
BRUSSELS, March 11 (UPI) -- Bilateral agreements between the United States and some EU nations over air passenger data are causing a split in European solidarity, the EU Observer reports.
European Union commissioners have increased their pressure on the EU nations that agreed to sign air passenger data agreements in exchange for visa-free travel to the United States.
The top EU justice official, Franco Frattini, said "no member state will be allowed to violate EU legislation."
The EU is set to establish a visa agreement allowing citizens of western European nations to enter the United States without a visa, but the agreement excluded provisions for some EU member states such as Greece, Estonia and the Czech Republic.
Some of these countries said they didn't want to wait for Brussels to implement the pact, instead opting to form bilateral agreements separate from the EU-U.S. arrangement.
The Czech Republic reached an agreement with the United States in February. Slovakia suggested it will sign similar provisions in April and Estonia, and Latvia said they will sign a memorandum of understanding with the United States regarding visa-free travel Wednesday.
Slovakian foreign minister Jan Kubis said the EU visa arrangement "should not halt bilateral negotiations."
Move to drop U.K. soldiers' bearskin hats
LONDON, March 11 (UPI) -- More than 200 British legislators have signed a petition calling for the abolition of the ceremonial military bearskin hats to protect the bears in Canada.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has joined in the call for giving up the tradition, and claims it has evidence of hunters in Canada luring bears with food and then shooting them, The Scotsman reported from London.
Black bears aren't protected in all Canadian provinces and territories, PETA said in a statement.
The British Ministry of Defense said it has spent $640,000 on bearskins in the past five years through suppliers, but hasn't purchased any new ones since 2005, the report said.
One bearskin can make two of the 18-inch-tall hats, which cost about $1,300 each, the ministry said.
In Parliament, Conservative member Ann Widdecombe referred to the PETA report and called for a change to synthetic fur, the Scotsman said.
"It's high time we ended our war against these beautiful animals -- bears have no defense against hunters, and this investigation highlights how urgent it is for the government to go fake for the bears' sake."
