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Iraq: Maliki 'mistranslated' on pullout

BAGHDAD, July 19 (UPI) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was "mistranslated" in a report that he favors Barack Obama's plan to withdraw U.S. troops, an Iraqi spokesman said.

Der Spiegel reported Saturday that Maliki, in an interview with the German news magazine, said U.S. troops should leave Iraq "as soon as possible, as far as we are concerned."

"U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months," Maliki said. "That, we think, would be the right time frame for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes."

Maliki stressed that he was not endorsing Obama, the likely Democratic presidential nominee.

A spokesman for Maliki issued a statement saying the comments were "misunderstood and mistranslated," The New York Times reported. The statement did not specify how Maliki's remarks had been mistranslated, the newspaper said.

The Obama campaign issued a statement by campaign foreign policy adviser Susan Rice saying the Democratic senator from Illinois "welcomes … Maliki's support for a 16 month time line for the redeployment of U.S combat brigades."

Randy Scheunemann, foreign policy director for the campaign of likely Republican nominee John McCain, issued a statement saying Maliki affirmed the Arizona senator's position that "withdrawal must be based on conditions on the ground."

"The difference between John McCain and Barack Obama is that Barack Obama advocates an unconditional withdrawal that ignores the facts on the ground and the advice of our top military commanders," he said.

Bomb hits Indian convoy in Kashmir

SRINAGAR, India, July 19 (UPI) -- An Indian army convoy hit a roadside bomb Saturday in Kashmir and the blast killed 10 soldiers, a witness said.

At least 14 more were injured, The Times of India reported.

The bomb exploded near a bus carrying 25 soldiers, a witness told the newspaper. The blast broke windows on six other vehicles in the convoy.

The convoy was en route to Srinagar, the capital of Indian Kashmir, from Baramulla, about 30 miles to the west. The road is heavily traveled by military vehicles going to and from posts on the Line of Control that divides Kashmir.

Hizbul Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the explosion.

Pope holds vigil for WYD pilgrims

SYDNEY, July 19 (UPI) -- Thousands of young people walked through Sydney to Randwick Racecourse Saturday, gathering for the final events of World Youth Day in Australia.

In the evening, Pope Benedict XVI led the pilgrims in a vigil, the Canberra Times reported. He was to return Sunday morning to celebrate mass for 500,000 people.

The young people were in a joyous mood as they walked through the city and over the Harbor Bridge. Some chanted "Benedetto, Benedetto," using the pope's Italian name.

Then they pitched tents or laid out sleeping bags at the racecourse.

Benedict, after leading a large mass Thursday, spent much of Friday and Saturday in smaller meetings. He talked to leaders from other Christian churches and other religions, met with a group of teenagers dealing with problems like homelessness and drug abuse and apologized for clergy sex abuse, at a meeting at St. Mary's Cathedral that was mostly for members of religious orders and priests.

Cristobal churns off U.S. coast

MIAMI, July 19 (UPI) -- Tropical storm Cristobal lurked off the Carolina coast Saturday, the National Hurricane Center said.

The weather center said storm watches and warnings had been issued for most coastal regions of both North and South Carolina.

Cristobal was producing sustained winds near 45 mph and was located about 130 miles east of Charleston, S.C. It was moving slowly northeastward and was expected to slowly strengthen as it moves "parallel and very close" to the coasts of both North and South Carolina for the "next day or so," the hurricane center said.

Three to 5 inches of rain was expected in North Carolina, with more possible in isolated areas.

Hurricane Bertha, meanwhile, was moving quickly northeastward out into the Atlantic about 490 miles east-southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland. It was carrying winds of up to 75 mph but was expected to weaken in coming days.

Out in the eastern Pacific Ocean, Hurricane Fausto was about 460 miles west-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, the hurricane center reported.

Fausto was moving toward Mexico at about 8 mph, with winds of almost 85 mph. However, it was expected to weaken gradually Sunday night and Monday.

The hurricane center said reconnaissance aircraft were investigating a strong tropical wave in the western Caribbean sea. That system, which was producing a large area of thunderstorms with winds up to 45 mph south of Jamaica, was likely to become a tropical depression or tropical storm in the next day or two, the forecasters said.