USA
Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein poses a "grave and growing" threat to Americans, President Bush said Saturday, and must be disarmed before he can inflict "massive and sudden horror" with weapons of mass destruction. Bush's speeches in Manchester, N.H., at a police and National Guard event and a fundraiser for Republican US senatorial candidate John Sununu, were seen as a preview of his televised address Monday night. The president is expected to explain why the country should be ready for a possible war with Iraq.
Some 5,000 protesters opposed to US military action against Iraq marched Saturday in Portland, Ore. Similar rallies in Austin, Texas and in Manchester, N.H., during Bush's visit drew a few hundred and a few dozen supporters, respectively. The Internet-based antiwar group "Not in Our Name" hoped to stage rallies in two dozen cities through the weekend.
Almost 200 cargo ships laden with food, manufacturing supplies, and retail goods were waiting off the West Coast Sunday as a labor dispute between shipping companies and longshoremen entered its second week. One economist warned that after 10 days, the port closures will cost the US $1.9 billion a day. In a positive sign for the ongoing and difficult contract talks, port managers agreed late Friday to let goods flow to Alaska and Hawaii. Both states depend heavily on imports for food and other basics.
A massive manhunt was continuing for a sniper who killed six people and wounded another in a series of shootings in and around Washington. Some 100 police officers and 50 federal agents, including those from the FBI, were pursuing leads in the case. The attacks took place between Wednesday night and Friday afternoon in Maryland, Washington, and Virginia. Police said a man detained Saturday for questioning was not a suspect.
Five people were in custody in Portland, Ore., and Detroit on charges of conspiring to fight US troops in Afghanistan. A federal indictment accused Patrice Ford, Jeffrey Battle, October Lewis of Portland, and Muhammad Ibrahim Bilal of trying to aid the former Afghan Taliban regime and of participating in weapons-training in Washington state after the Sept, 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. All are US citizens.
For the first time in team history, the Anaheim Angels will play for baseball's American League championship and the right to go to the World Series after defeating the New York Yankees. Their ouster means the Yankees won't play in a World Series for the first time since 1997. Last year's World Series champions, the Arizona Diamondbacks, also are out of the running, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in a three-game sweep of their National League playoff series.
