Report says CIA powers broadened
The Bush administration secretly gave the CIA broad powers to transfer terrorism suspects to foreign countries for interrogation, The New York Times reports today. Under the policy, the agency does not require case-by-case approval from the White House or the State Department, the Times said, citing a directive signed by President Bush after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Human rights groups have said such transfers sidestep safeguards against torture.
WEST BANK
Palestinian police seize weapons
HEBRON-- Palestinian police seized bombs and other weapons in the West Bank for the first time in more than four years yesterday, a senior Palestinian security official said. The official said police raiding the West Bank town of Dura, south of Hebron, arrested 16 suspects in the start of a new crackdown by the Palestinian Authority against lawlessness in the territories. (Reuters)
Israel said to eye freeing Jordanians
RAMALLAH -- Israeli officials said yesterday that they may release 20 Jordanian prisoners after Jordan's foreign minister, Hani Mulki, pressed for their release during a visit to the Jewish state yesterday. It was the first trip by such a senior Jordanian since 2001. Jordan has renewed ties with Israel, restoring an ambassador to Tel Aviv after a Feb. 8 peace summit in Egypt. (Reuters)
VENEZUELA
Chavez says US planning to kill him
NEW DELHI -- President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela told reporters yesterday he had evidence that the United States was planning to assassinate him, an accusation a US official denied. Chavez did not offer evidence. Venezuela's relations with the United States have been strained since the leftist was elected in 1998. The ambassador to Venezuela, William Brownfield, said the United States had ''no plans or thoughts of assassinating either the president here or any other leader." (Reuters)
RUSSIA
Troops on watch as Moldova votes
MOSCOW -- Russia has placed its troops on alert in Moldova's separatist Trans-Dniester region, a news agency reported yesterday, as tensions increased between the two countries ahead of parliamentary elections today in the former Soviet republic. About 100 Russians heading for Moldova by train to observe the elections were stopped at the border, the Interfax news agency reported. (AP)
VATICAN CITY
Pope conducts church business
Pope John Paul II met with a top cardinal and sent messages to students and Italy's premier yesterday, reinforcing the Vatican's portrayal of a pope who is alert and attending to church business as he recovers from his latest health crisis. The Vatican said the 84-year-old pontiff again would give a silent blessing today from a window of Rome's Gemelli Polyclinic hospital, where he is undergoing breathing and speech therapy after Feb. 24 throat surgery. (AP)
