Clinton's options for future varied
WASHINGTON, June 6 (UPI) -- Sen. Hillary Clinton's future depends on what she wants and how she reacts to life after seeking the Democratic U.S. presidential nomination, strategists say.
She could be the running mate of likely Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., or return to the Senate, where she can be a stronger voice for healthcare and other issues she championed -- and possibly prepare for another run at the White House, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.
"Hillary Clinton still wants to be president of the United States. That desire may be chilled for now, but it will come into play in every decision she makes," said political strategist Hank Sheinkopf, who worked on President Bill Clinton's re-election campaign in 1996.
Whatever she does, Clinton must campaign for Obama this fall to shore up her image and repair some fences among several constituencies, African-Americans and superdelegates among them, the Times said.
"It has to be tough on her personally," said former Sen. John Breaux, D-La., who supported Clinton. "She's going to have to swallow her pride and work with all these folks again."
Clinton, D-N.Y., could help her presidential aspirations and enhance the populist image she developed by sticking with the economic issues that earned her working-class support in swing states, strategists said.
"It's a cliche, but she did find her voice in this campaign," said Democratic strategist Michael Berman, a Clinton supporter. "She can be heard anywhere on any subject. She can build an organization to back it up around the country."
Diplomats charge harassment in crackdown
HARARE, Zimbabwe, June 6 (UPI) -- U.S. and British diplomats report threats and other harassment in Zimbabwe amid government banning of all work by foreign aid agencies.
U.S. Ambassador James McGee said in an Harare interview that a convoy carrying U.S. officials had been stopped and detained by Zimbabwean security forces "who threatened to burn our people alive in the car if they did not leave the vehicles," the Guardian, a British newspaper, reported.
The Americans, who said they were trying to investigate reported violence against opposition parties, were held for several hours at Bindura, 50 miles from Harare.
The U.S. State Department called the detention and harassment "absolutely outrageous."
Zimbabwe's government, in issuing its total ban, accused the foreign aid agencies of campaigning for opposition parties in the country's disputed presidential election. President Robert Mugabe faces a June 27 runoff against the opposition's Morgan Tsvangirai.
Zimbabwe's deputy information minister, Bright Matonga, said the diplomats were stopped at a roadblock on their way back to Harare and refused a request to disembark.
"Basically, the police told them they were not going anywhere unless they got out of the car," Matonga said. "The police told them they should respect the laws of the country unless they have something to hide."
Matonga later said the diplomats had addressed the opposition rally.
Myanmar press criticizes foreign media
YANGON, Myanmar, June 6 (UPI) -- Myanmar's state-run media has accused international media of embellishing reports about the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis to harm the country's image.
An article in a state newspaper accused international media outlets of faking video footage of widespread damage and exaggerating poor living conditions "with the intention of tarnishing the image" of the country formerly known as Burma, the BBC reported Friday.
The New Light of Myanmar condemned "self-seekers exploiting storm victims," for their "shooting video films featuring made-up stories in the storm-affected areas ... and sending the videotapes to foreign news agencies."
The country's military junta has been criticized for its unwillingness to accept foreign aid after the May 2 cyclone. Now military leaders allow some experts from U.N. agencies and southeast Asian countries to help victims.
Officially, 78,000 people were killed and 56,000 are missing. More than 2 million people were affected, aid agencies say.
Myanmar leaders want to prove they are in control of the relief effort and don't need massive foreign aid, observers and news correspondents told the British broadcaster. Relief agencies said they don't have the unrestricted access they need to implement fully the types of relief and reconstruction operations required.
Pakistani police seize explosives
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, June 6 (UPI) -- Police in Pakistan said they seized two vehicles carrying hundreds of pounds of explosives in Rawalpindi, foiling a possible bombing.
Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said six people were arrested in the incident police said was a suspected bombing plot, the BBC reported Friday.
Police made the arrests Thursday, Malik said.
Rawalpindi is about seven miles south of Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, and serves as headquarters for the country's military. President Pervez Musharraf also lives in Rawalpindi.
Police theorized either military installations or Musharraf's residence may have been targets, the British broadcaster said.
