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Compromise on U.N. cease-fire resolution

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- The United States and Arab countries agreed Thursday on a British-drafted U.N. resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

The consensus followed a reversal in position by the delegation led by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, The Independent reported. The delegation said late Wednesday the United States would accept a call for a cease-fire, although not the one presented to the Security Council by Libya.

Rice and her counterparts from Britain, France and some Arab countries agreed Thursday on the wording. A vote was expected late in the evening.

"It is not every day that the United Nations speaks loudly and clearly and across all the nations in the (United Nations) about the Middle East," British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said.

The Bush administration has been supportive of Israel since the bombardment of Gaza began almost two weeks ago. Even Britain, generally among the most reliable U.S. allies in the Middle East, has taken a less hard-line stance.

CIA missile kills 2 top al-Qaida officials

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- A CIA strike this month in Pakistan killed two top al-Qaida terrorists, The Washington Post reported.

The newspaper reported that sources told the Post the New Year's Day missile attack in northern Pakistan killed a Kenyan national who used the name Usama al-Kini, described as al-Qaida's chief of operations in Pakistan, and his lieutenant, Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan.

The men were killed by a 500-pound Hellfire missile fired by a pilotless drone aircraft operated by the CIA, near Karikot in South Waziristan, counter-terrorism officials said.

Both men were on the FBI's most-wanted list for ties to the 1998 bombings of U.S. Embassies in East Africa and a series of recent bombings in Pakistan.

The CIA declined to comment on the missile strike. But the Post said a U.S. counter-terrorism official confirmed that the two died in a CIA strike on a building that was being used for explosives training.

"They died preparing new acts of terror," said the official, who insisted on anonymity.

Panel recommends impeaching Ill. governor

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Jan. 8 (UPI) -- A special Illinois House committee considering the impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich Thursday voted to accuse him of abuse of power.

The House Special Investigative Committee voted 21-0 to accuse Blagojevich of a series of alleged efforts to secure personal gain or campaign contributions in exchange for official acts. Among the acts were his alleged effort to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder and alleged demands that the Chicago Tribune fire members of its editorial board in exchange for state assistance in the sale of the Chicago Cubs. The committee also cited the governor's multimillion-dollar purchase of flu vaccine that federal officials would not allow into the country and his expansion of a state health insurance program despite the Legislature's opposition.

"Some or all of these acts constitute a pattern of abuse of power. It is the opinion of this committee they warrant impeachment and trial and removal from the office of governor," the recommendation said.

"This is an individual who is not fit to be governor in the state of Illinois," committee Chairman Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, said in casting her vote to approve the articles of impeachment.

"Nobody is above the law," Rep. William Black, R-Danville, said.

A report issued earlier in the day outlined federal corruption charges against the two-term Democratic governor.

"The citizens of this state must have confidence that their governor will faithfully serve the people and put their interests before his own," the report said. "It is with profound regret that the committee finds that our current governor has not done so."

Blagojevich, who was arrested Dec. 9 on a federal criminal complaint alleging he planned to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat for his personal benefit, did not testify during hearings.

"While the governor's silence could not be held against him in a criminal case, the opposite is true in a non-criminal proceeding such as this impeachment inquiry," the report said.

The full House is expected to vote Friday.

Burris: 'No quid pro quo'

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris Thursday denied there was any "quid pro quo" for his appointment to the state's vacant U.S. Senate seat.

Testifying before the Illinois House Special Investigative Committee in Springfield, Burris said he was surprised when Sam Adam Jr., an attorney representing scandal-ridden Gov. Rod Blagojevich, contacted him Dec. 26 about filling the seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

Blagojevich has been accused of attempting to sell Obama's seat.

Burris said he told Adam initially he would have to think about the offer and would respond by the following Sunday. He said he then contacted a number of friends around the state to seek their advice. All responded favorably, Burris said.

When he talked with the governor Dec. 28, the offer was made and Burris said he responded, "Yes I will."

Asked whether he offered Blagojevich anything in return, Burris responded: "I can before this committee state there was nothing, personal or political exchanged for my appointment to the seat. Absolutely positively not."

Burris said he expressed a desire to fill the seat as long ago as July but never would have agreed to any sort of deal.

"Knowing my ethics, I would not participate in anybody's quid pro quo," he said, declining to say whether he would have gone to federal authorities had any favor been sought.

Burris said the last campaign contribution he made to Blagojevich was June 27, 2008, for $1,000, and acknowledged he sponsored a fundraiser during Blagojevich's last gubernatorial campaign.

Burris said he has resigned from all lobbying activity on behalf of the state and Cook County.

He also said he agreed with the action taken by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan in mid-December, seeking to have the state Supreme Court declare Blagojevich incapacitated.