USA

Minnesota's Democratic Party scrambled to replace Sen. Paul Wellstone, who died in a plane crash Friday less than two weeks before Election Day. Speculation focused on former Vice President Walter Mondale as the most likely choice. Before the crash that also killed Wellstone's wife, a daughter, and five other people, the two-term liberal was locked in a tight race with his Republican challenger, former St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman. The election is one of a handful that will determine control of the Senate. The cause of the crash, which occurred in bad weather, is under investigation.

Prosecutors in Virginia are to file additional charges against alleged snipers John Allen Muhammad and John Lee Malvo today and say they plan to seek the death penalty against one or both men. Maryland charged the military veteran and teenage illegal immigrant with murder Friday in six of the 13 shootings. Alabama authorities also accused them in a robbery-homicide. In Washington state, meanwhile, federal agents were checking records at a gun shop, Bull's Eye Shooter Supply. The rifle used in 11 attacks was traced to there, but the shop has no proof of a sale.

The UN Security Council must end debate on an Iraq resolution and make key decisions this week, Secretary of State Powell said at an economic conference of Asian-Pacific nations in Los Cabos, Mexico. President Bush, also at the summit, repeated his position that, "If the UN won't act, if Saddam Hussein won't disarm, we will lead a coalition to disarm him."

Protests against possible US military action in Iraq drew large crowds in Washington, San Francisco, Seattle, as well as in such European cities as Berlin and Amsterdam over the weekend. Civil-rights activist Jesse Jackson denounced what he termed "preemptive, one-bullet diplomacy" during a rally at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington. Organizers estimated the turnout for Saturday's protest (below) at 150,000, making it one of the largest antiwar demonstrations since the Vietnam era. Some witnesses, however, suggested a far lower figure – perhaps 50,000.

The Oregonian newspaper announced it would print "commitment" announcements for same-sex couples, joining a growing list of US dailies to do so. In the past three months, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch have have pledged or begun to run such listings, which are similar to wedding announcements. The Oregonian, of Portland, has an audited circulation of 348,000 copies.