House resolution supports Iran protesters
WASHINGTON, June 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. House of Representatives Friday approved a resolution showing support for Iranians protesting the country's disputed presidential election.
"When America hears the call for freedom, we ought to answer," Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., the minority whip, said. "We have a moral responsibility to speak out on behalf of the Iranian people."
The resolution, approved 405-1, expresses "support for all Iranian citizens who embrace the values of freedom, human rights, civil liberties, and rule of law ... ."
Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, was the lone "nay" vote.
President Barack Obama has been criticized by some Republicans and conservatives for not taking what they consider a more forceful position on the discontent in Iran since the June 12 presidential election in which hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was declared the landslide winner over his nearest challenger, Mir Hossein Mousavi.
White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the White House "obviously welcome(s) the resolution."
"We believe ... that it echoes the words of President Obama throughout the week," Gibbs said.
Asked for reaction to Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's warning to protesters to stop protesting, Gibbs said Obama has said, "those who wish to have their voices heard should be able to do that ... without fear of violence. That is an important universal principle that should be upheld."
Gibbs said Obama did not want to be a political foil or political football in the debate by Iranians in Iran.
"There are people in Iran that would love for us to get involved, "Gibbs said. "There are people in Iran who would love not to make it about one side in Iran versus another, but to make this about Iran versus the West or Iran versus the United States of America. The president's not going to do that."
Clinton rests at home after elbow surgery
WASHINGTON, June 19 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton rested at home Friday after undergoing a two-hour surgery on her right elbow, the State Department said.
"Her doctors at the George Washington University Hospital have advised her that they expect her to make a full recovery without lasting damage to her arm," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told reporters. "After the surgery, she returned to her home, where she is now and where she will remain with her family through the weekend."
Clinton banged her elbow Thursday when she took a tumble while going to the White House. Kelly said her arm was in a cast. He said he didn't know how long the cast would be needed.
She did not transfer acting secretary of state power for the two hours she was under a general anesthetic, Kelly said.
"As I understand it," he said, " there is no formal requirement for her to do that, for the secretary to do that. And I don't believe it was done formally."
No details were given regarding Clinton's schedule or travel plans for the near future.
Walter Cronkite said to be gravely ill
NEW YORK, June 19 (UPI) -- Veteran newscaster Walter Cronkite, 92, is reported to be gravely ill, multiple sources at CBS have told an online news site.
Mediabistro.com says the network in the process of updating Cronkite's obituary.
An executive at CBS designated to speak on Cronkite's behalf declined to comment on the report.
A native of Missouri, Walter Cronkite rose from World War II correspondent for United Press to become the anchor of the "CBS Evening News" for 18 years.
During his tenure, he led the newscast to first place in the Nielsen ratings.
Cronkite's nightly signoff of "And that's the way it is" became part of the popular lexicon.
Sen. Burris won't face perjury charges
SPRINGFIELD, Ill., June 19 (UPI) -- Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., won't be charged with perjury in connection with the impeachment of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a prosecutor has decided.
Sangamon County State's Attorney John Schmidt says he won't press charges against Burris stemming from allegations he misled a special state legislative panel considering whether to recommend the impeachment of Blagojevich, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday.
The panel questioned Burris about the circumstances surrounding his appointment by Blagojevich to fill the Senate seat left vacant when Barack Obama was elected U.S. president.
Schmidt said Burris's answers to the Illinois House Special Investigative Committee were "incomplete" and vague but did not rise to the level of a crime.
Schmidt launched an investigation after Burris changed his story several times regarding the number of conversations he had about Obama's Senate seat, the Chicago Tribune reported.
During the hearing, Burris mentioned only one contact with Blagojevich's former chief of staff but later acknowledged talking to the former governor's brother, who asked him to raise money for Blagojevich.
Starr throws support behind Sotomayor
WASHINGTON, June 19 (UPI) -- Pepperdine University Law School Dean Kenneth W. Starr says he supports the nomination of federal appellate judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Starr's office said in a statement Starr applauded U.S. President Barack Obama's choice for associate justice, The Washington Post reported Friday.
Starr, known best as the special prosecutor who investigated former U.S. President Bill Clinton over the Whitewater scandal, made his supportive comments for the Hispanic nominee following a speech at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles Thursday.
While Starr said he had a positive opinion about Sotomayor, he added the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge should be questioned on numerous issues during her confirmation hearings.
Among the issues Starr would like explored was Sotomayor's 2001 comment that a "wise Latina woman" may make better case decisions compared with a white man, the newspaper said.
WWI veteran becomes world's oldest man
LONDON, June 19 (UPI) -- A British veteran of World War I is the world's oldest man at the age of 113 after the death of the past record holder in Japan, Guinness World Records says.
The death of Tomoji Tanabe at the age of 113 means British national Henry Allingham now holds the oldest man title with a birth date of June 6, 1896, the Times of London reported Friday.
Allingham is one of the two surviving World War I veterans in the United Kingdom, The Times said.
After serving as a bomber and a spotter during the war, Allingham called for more peaceful resolutions to global conflicts.
"War's stupid," he once told the BBC. "Nobody wins. You might as well talk first, you have to talk last anyway."
The Times said after a life that included working as motor industry worker and raising a family, Allingham lives in a care home near Brighton.
