Taliban leader said ready for peace talks
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, April 18 (UPI) -- Supreme Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar indicated he might be willing to have peace talks with Western politicians, The Sunday Times of London reported.
In an interview, the newspaper said, two of the Taliban's senior Islamic scholars said they have passed on a message from the Quetta shura, the Taliban's ruling council, that Omar wants "sincere and honest talks" with Western leaders.
The newspaper also quotes the scholars as saying Omar no longer seeks to rule Afghanistan.
A senior U.S. military source said the remarks suggested a "breakthrough" was possible. "There is evidence from many intelligence sources the Taliban are ready for some kind of peace process," the source said.
In an interview in Taliban-controlled territory, two leaders of the group said their military campaign sought the return of Islamic law, expulsion of foreigners and restoration of security.
"(Omar) is no longer interested in being involved in politics or government," said Mullah Abdul Rashid, the elder of the two commanders, who used a pseudonym to protect his identity.
"All the mujahedin seek is to expel the foreigners, these invaders, from our country and then to repair the country's constitution. We are not interested in running the country as long as these things are achieved."
He said the Taliban had become too entwined in politics and lacked the ability to govern the country.
The interview came as an American source said U.S. officials were discussing whether President Barack Obama could permit talks with the Taliban.
Pope expresses 'shame' to abuse victims
VALLETTA, Italy, April 18 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI met Sunday in Malta with a group of victims of sexual abuse by priests and pledged the church would seek justice against abusers.
In a statement, the Vatican said the pope "was deeply moved by (the victims') stories and expressed his shame and sorrow over what victims and their families have suffered."
The statement came after Benedict met at Apostolic Nunciature in Valletta with eight Maltese men who say they were molested by priests as children in a Malta orphanage, The New York Times reported.
"He prayed with them and assured them that the church is doing, and will continue to do, all in its power to investigate allegations, to bring to justice those responsible for abuse and to implement effective measures designed to safeguard young people in the future," the statement said.
The eight men who met with the pope included Lawrence Grech, 37, one of 10 who filed a 2003 criminal suit against priests they say molested them when they were growing up in an orphanage in Malta.
"Today I feel much better because I just met the pope," Grech said after the meeting. "It's fantastic. I can't explain."
He and others had complained the Malta diocese had been investigating for the case for seven years without determining how to proceed against the priests.
The Rev. Federico Lombardi, a Vatican spokesman, told reporters the 20-minute meeting was "very intense but very serene."
Lombardi did not elaborate on the measures the Vatican statement referred to and said the meeting was a "symbolic" event more than a "legal" one.
Benedict has also met with abuse victims in visits to the United States and Australia.
Earlier, at a large outdoor mass in Valletta, the pope did not mention Malta child abuse.
Italy appeal filed for Amanda Knox
PERUGIA, Italy, April 18 (UPI) -- Italian lawyers of convicted murderer Amanda Knox maintain she is innocent and have filed an appeal of her 26-year prison sentence, documents show.
The 220-page document was filed with the Court of Appeals in Perugia Saturday, the Seattle Post Intelligencer reported.
Knox was convicted of the murder of 21-year-old British university exchange student Meredith Kercher in Perugia in November 2007.
Knox was convicted along with Raffaele Sollecito, an Italian student who had been Knox's boyfriend for two weeks, and Rudy Hermann Guede, an Ivorian long-term resident of Perugia, the newspaper said.
Knox's attorneys have appealed all points of the verdict, they said.
"It includes the first days of the interrogation, the DNA and the (blood) traces detected with luminal," lawyer Luciano Ghirga said. "We re-iterate the innocence of Amanda and remain convinced there is not proof of her presence at the scene of the crime."
Knox's legal team is expected to ask for a third-party review of forensic evidence. That request was turned down during the 9-month trial, but an appeals court judge could decide to grant such an independent review, the Post Intelligencer said.
Police investigate possible food tampering
CALGARY, Alberta, April 18 (UPI) -- Reports of glass pieces found in a loaf of bread have prompted Canadian police to investigate a case of possible food-tampering, they say.
The bread was bought at a Sobeys store in Calgary's Millrise area and investigators say they can't determine whether the glass got into the product by tampering, accidental damage or manufacturing defect, the Calgary Herald reported Sunday.
"They had a complaint and are looking into it," said duty inspector Keith Cain.
There has been a wave of similar incidents involving grocery chains in recent months, with as many as 16 cases reported -- one at the Millrise store. The incidents may be the work of copycats, the Herald said.
Officials are warning Calgary residents to scrutinize their purchases.
A $10,000 reward has been offered by The Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors for information leading to charges.
