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Jackson family may seek own autopsy

LOS ANGELES, June 27 (UPI) -- Los Angeles detectives have interviewed the doctor who was with Michael Jackson when he collapsed, Dr. Conrad Murray's lawyer said Saturday.

The lawyer released a statement saying Murray is not a criminal suspect and would cooperate with investigators, The New York Times reported. Murray, a cardiologist, accompanied Jackson to the hospital where he was pronounced dead Thursday.

Police have said Jackson's death is being investigated by homicide detectives because of his high profile and not because of suspicions of foul play.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson told ABC's "Good Morning America" the pop icon's family would like a second autopsy. The civil rights leader, no relation to the singer, said Saturday he met with the Jackson family Friday and heard concerns about the medications the physician reportedly prescribed him.

Media reports that Jackson, 50, went into cardiac arrest shortly after being given a shot of the narcotic Demerol began circulating shortly after he died.

The body was released by the Los Angeles County coroner Friday night. Toxicology tests will take a few more weeks to complete.

Moving vans were outside the house Jackson had been renting in Holmby Hills. Observers said they saw Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson's his sister, arrive at the house Saturday.

S.C. Dems calls for Sanford probe

COLUMBIA, S.C., June 27 (UPI) -- The head of the South Carolina Democratic Party Saturday called on state lawmakers to conduct a bipartisan investigation of Gov. Mark Sanford.

Carol Fowler issued a statement saying Sanford deceived South Carolinians about his travels and his extramarital affair with an Argentine woman and the only way "to feel confident they are being told the truth is for the General Assembly to pursue every recourse under the law to get at that truth," CNN reported.

"During the past 10 days South Carolinians have been subjected to the greatest display of irresponsible behavior by an elected official in a hundred years," Fowler said. "Mark Sanford abandoned his official duties, deceived the public, and misled his family.

"But in spite of 10 days of full national humiliation, South Carolinians still don't know the whole truth. Is Mark Sanford simply an irresponsible public official or guilty of something criminal?"

Fowler said Sanford had "made a mockery of Republican claims to represent family values and stewardship of tax dollars."

"Now he's hoping his fellow Republicans will turn their heads rather than do what they are obligated to do -- investigate how the governor abused the public trust by using official resources to conduct and cover up an affair."

Sanford apologized Friday to members of his Cabinet for disrupting state operations with his trip to Argentina last week, where he visited the woman with whom he has admitted having an affair. He said he will reimburse the state for the cost of trip.

Sanford has indicated he intends to remain in office until his current term as governor -- his second -- expires in January 2011. He is barred by South Carolina law from seeking a third term.

Pakistan says victory over Taliban at hand

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 27 (UPI) -- Pakistan's interior minister said Saturday the government's military campaign against the Taliban should be wrapped up in the near future.

Rehman Malik said Pakistan was on the verge of driving out the Taliban and would prevent the militants from reconstituting at a later date.

Malik said the success was due, in large part, to cooperation with neighboring Afghanistan.

"The militants are our common enemies and we are committed to fight them," Malik said.

According to Dawn, Malik told reporters Pakistan had been disrupting Taliban supply lines and working to eliminate safe havens for terrorists at religious schools.

Pakistan's military reported a dozen Taliban militants were killed Saturday in air strikes on training camps and ammunition caches in South Waziristan Agency. Dawn said the bombings were a prelude to a ground offensive certain to take place soon.

Police in Karachi told Dawn five suspects were killed in a raid on a suspected hideout of a militant gang suspected in a series of bank robberies in the city.

U.S. summer airfares to Europe spike

CHICAGO, June 27 (UPI) -- Travel analysts say summer airfares from the United States to several major European cities have jumped in recent days.

The increases affect the prime travel period for families heading to Europe on summer trips. In some cases, ticket prices have doubled.

The Chicago Tribune reported Saturday that flights from the Windy City, a major U.S. airline hub, to destinations such as Frankfurt, London, Rome and Athens have spiked between 45 and 100 percent since Wednesday.

Analysts say the price hike can be traced to fewer seats on international routes and aggressive pricing on last-minute trips.

The good news for travelers, the Tribune said, is that ticket prices tumble starting in mid-August when American families are preparing for the beginning of the new school year.