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Monday, November 27

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Editor's Note: The CNN Wire is a running log of the latest news from CNN World Headquarters, reported by CNN's correspondents and producers, and The CNN Wire editors. "Posted" times are Eastern Daylight.

Bollywood actor found guilty on weapons charges, but cleared of conspiracy in 1993 Mumbai bombings

MUMBAI, India (CNN) -- An Indian court Tuesday convicted Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt for illegal arms possession, but found him not guilty on the more serious conspiracy charge in connection with the 1993 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai that killed 257 people and wounded hundreds more.

He was convicted of possessing an AK-56 rifle and a 9 mm pistol under India's Arms Act.

Dutt's conviction can be appealed to India's Supreme Court and his sentencing is scheduled for a later time.

The popular Bollywood actor has already served 18 months in jail, but was out on bail at the time of the court's ruling. (Posted 3 a.m.)

Atlanta calls in feds to probe police shooting after informant's denial

ATLANTA (CNN) -- Federal prosecutors will probe an Atlanta drug raid that left an elderly woman dead and three police officers wounded after an informant cited in the search warrant denied buying drugs at the woman's house, authorities said Monday.

Atlanta Police Chief Richard Pennington said the eight-member narcotics squad that took part in the raid has been placed on paid leave while investigators look into the informant's story and the circumstances surrounding the Nov. 21 death of Kathryn Johnston. The informant also told investigators from the Atlanta police internal affairs bureau that he was told to lie about the matter, he said.

Police said Johnston opened fire on police who tried to enter her home, prying off burglar bars and forcing open her door, during a "no-knock" drug raid last Tuesday. Officers returned fire, killing her. (Posted 7:47 p.m.)

Hagel: Iraq in anarchy

From CNN Radio Correspondent Lisa Goddard

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- As the media and the military each debate whether Iraq is in a civil war, Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., defined it a new way Monday, saying the Gulf nation had descended into anarchy.

Hagel, a potential 2008 candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, said he also believes Iraq is in a civil war, but that sectarian violence is devolving into more widespread lawlessness in Iraq.

The remarks came one day after Hagel published an editorial on Iraq in the Washington Post, writing that the United States has "misunderstood, misread, misplanned and mismanaged" the war in Iraq with "an arrogant self-delusion reminiscent of Vietnam." (Posted 6:38 p.m.)

Hadley: Bush, al-Maliki to discuss adapting to 'new phase' in Iraq war

TALLINN, Estonia (CNN) -- When they meet in Jordan Thursday, President Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki will discuss how to adapt to a "new phase" in the Iraq war marked by increasing sectarian violence, but Bush will not present any plans for adjusting U.S. troop levels, White House National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said Monday.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One en route to Estonia, the first stop on a trip that includes the president's meeting with al-Maliki, Hadley said Bush and the Iraqi leader will be talking about "what steps Iraq needs to take and how we can support them."

However, Hadley said that rather than presenting any specific plans on the way forward, Bush would be "listening" to Maliki's views and assuring the Iraqi leader "that he and the prime minister are going to obviously develop this way ahead together." (Posted 6:27 p.m.)

Feds to probe police shooting of elderly Atlanta woman

ATLANTA (CNN) -- Atlanta's police chief Monday announced a federal criminal probe into the last week's shooting of an elderly woman during a drug raid last week and placed his department's eight-member narcotics squad on paid leave. (Posted 5:19 p.m.)

NATO leaders gathering in Latvia as Afghan war strains show

TALLINN, Estonia (CNN) -- President Bush landed in eastern Europe late Monday on his way to a NATO summit likely to be dominated by the alliance's mission in Afghanistan and a debate over its future role.

Bush landed in the Estonian capital Tallinn late Monday, becoming the first American leader to visit that former Soviet republic.

The summit comes as troops from NATO's International Security Assistance Force are battling the resurgent Taliban movement and its allies in the al Qaeda terrorist network in rugged Afghanistan. The fighting has claimed the lives of more than 70 allied troops, mostly British and Canadian, in the past six months, along with 65 Americans.

NATO commanders have been pleading with the leaders of the alliance for more troops and equipment and for the leaders of individual countries to stop restricting their troops to comparatively safe areas. (Posted 5:10 p.m.)

Justice Dept. inspector general to examine 'Terrorist Surveillance Program'

From Justice Producer Terry Frieden

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Justice Department Inspector General said Monday he has begun an investigation of the Justice Department's use of information collected by the NSA in what the administration calls the "Terrorist Surveillance Program."

In a brief letter to several Congressional committees, Inspector General Glenn Fine announced that he and two other supervisors in his office had received the necessary security clearances, and the White House had promised others on his staff would be cleared to allow them to proceed with an investigation of the Justice Department's involvement in the warrantless surveillance program. (Posted 3:39 p.m.)

Britain to bring thousands of troops home in 2007

LONDON (CNN) -- Britain plans to bring much of its contingent in Iraq home by the end of 2007 if its current schedule for handing over control to Iraqi forces holds up, Defense Secretary Des Browne said Monday.

Browne would not give specific numbers, "But I can tell you that by the end of next year I expect numbers of British forces in Iraq to be significantly lower -- by a matter of thousands."

He told the British think tank Chatham House that the remaining troops will be used to train Iraqi troops and police, provide emergency support for Iraqi security forces in emergencies and protect supply lines for British, U.S. and other international forces still in Iraq. (Posted 3:29 p.m.)

NY Mayor: Groom's shooting 'unacceptable'

From CNN's Ellen Rose

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Five police officers appeared to use "excessive force" in a weekend shooting that killed a man hours before he was to be married and wounded two others, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Monday.

But Bloomberg said he would stand by embattled Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, who is weathering calls to resign over the incident.

The shooting has enraged local community leaders, who are demanding to know why officers fired as many as 50 rounds -- one officer alone fired 31 shots -- at the unarmed group of men as they were leaving the party early Saturday morning. The officers' shots hit the men's car 21 times. (Posted 3:27 p.m.)

High court denies NYTimes request to temporarily block handover of phone records

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Supreme Court Monday denied a request from the New York Times for a temporary stay from a pending order to turn over phone records sought by the Justice Department in the government's probe of who may have leaked information dealing with its investigation of two Islamic charities.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg referred the matter to the full court, which denied the motion without comment. How and when the turnover of the documents will be handled is unclear, but it's not likely to be soon. The newspaper has a pending appeal with the New York-based 2nd Circuit. Lawyers for the paper had asked the high court for a stay while that is pending.

The appeals court in August ordered the newspapers to turn over the phone records of reporters Judith Miller and Philip Shenon for their 2001 stories about plans to freeze assets and conduct searches of the Holy Land Foundation and Global Relief Foundation. (Posted 2:44 p.m.)

Insurgents attack oil sites in Baghdad, near Kirkuk

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Insurgents Monday targeted key oil sites in Iraq, firing mortar rounds into an oil distribution center in northern Iraq and bombing a pipeline in a southern suburb of Baghdad, Iraqi officials said.

The attack on the oil distribution center triggered a massive fire that halted the flow of crude oil to Iraq's largest refinery, a Kirkuk police official said.

The second attack -- a bomb planted beneath an oil pipeline in the al-Rashid district -- also started a fire at around 11 a.m., an official with Iraqi civil defense said, adding that the civil defense put out the fire in about 2 hours. (Posted 2:40 p.m.)

Iraqi president arrives in Tehran to meet with Iran's Ahmadinejad

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- The search for solutions in Iraq moved to the international stage Monday as Iraqi President Jalal Talabani traveled to Iran and President Bush began a trip that will take him to the Middle East to meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.

Talabani's meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, originally scheduled for Saturday, was delayed when Iraq closed Baghdad International Airport and imposed a curfew after more than 200 people were killed Thursday in the capital's Shiite slum of Sadr City.

Police called it the single worst attack since the war began.

Meanwhile, Bush is scheduled to talk with al-Maliki in Amman, Jordan following a two-day NATO summit in Latvia, which wraps up on Wednesday.

Both al-Maliki and Bush face political pressure at home over the meeting and the future of Iraq.

On Friday, anti-U.S. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's bloc threatened to withdraw support for al-Maliki if the meeting with Bush goes ahead as planned. (Posted 1:07 p.m.)

Military source: U.S. fighter jet crashes while flying at low level outside Baghdad; 1 pilot aboard, condition unclear

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- A U.S. Air Force F-16CG fighter jet crashed Monday outside of Baghdad while flying on a low level "strafing run" -- firing on targets on the ground at a low altitude -- a U.S. military official in Baghdad said.

The aircraft was carrying one pilot when it went down at 1:35 p.m. (5:35 a.m. ET) about 20 miles northwest of the Iraqi capital, according to a U.S. military statement. The military did not say if the pilot survived the crash.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

A Pentagon source said the plane was operating near Falluja, which is about 30 miles west of Baghdad.

Al Jazeera, the Middle East-based network, has aired video showing what it said was the smoldering wreckage of the F-16. The video shows pieces of the aircraft including the tail which displays the aircraft's number and an "Air Combat Command" logo.

It said the video was shot in Karma, which is about nine miles (15 kilometers) northeast of Falluja.

-- CNN Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre contributed to this report (Posted 12:50 p.m.)

Insurgents attack oil distribution center near Kirkuk; crude oil halted

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Insurgents Monday fired mortar rounds an oil distribution center in northern Iraq, triggering a massive fire that halted the flow of crude oil to Iraq's largest refinery, a Kirkuk police official said.

The attack happened around 6:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m. ET) in Baiji, which is about 15 miles (25 km) northwest of Kirkuk, the police official said. Iraqi army and civil defense are still on the scene trying to put out the fire, which could take several hours.

Smoke from the blaze could been seen from miles away.

The refinery in Baiji is the largest in Iraq, with a daily production level of about 8.5 millions liters of gasoline, 7.5 millions liters of diesel and 6.5 millions liters of white oil. (Posted 12:30 p.m.)

IDF: Two rockets fired into Israel, a day after cease-fire takes effect

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- In violation of a cease-fire agreement between Palestinian factions and Israel, Palestinian militants in northern Gaza Monday fired two rockets into Israel, the Israel Defense Forces said.

It is not the first violation of the cease-fire, which took effect at 6 a.m. Sunday (11 p.m. Saturday ET). The IDF said militants fired at least 11 rockets after that time, but only two landed in Israel -- both of them in open fields, causing no casualties or damage.

Following those rocket attacks, Palestinian leaders dispatched 13,000 security forces to the Gaza-Israel border to enforce the agreement, according to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' office.

Islamic Jihad and Hamas' military wing claimed responsibility for several of the rocket attacks that took place after the cease-fire took effect.

In the wake of Sunday's violations, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said his country would "show restraint" and "give the cease-fire a chance to be fully implemented."

Palestinian factions offered the current cease-fire proposal for Gaza to Israel on Saturday, agreeing to stop firing rockets from northern Gaza into Israel.

In exchange, Israel agreed to withdraw troops from Gaza and cease military operations, including targeted airstrikes on militants.

Although the Israeli military pulled out of Gaza last year, troops have at times entered to stop militant attacks.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's office said Monday he "welcomes" the cease-fire agreement for Gaza.

"He is, however, deeply concerned that Palestinian militants continue to fire rockets against civilian targets inside Israel," his spokesman said. "Such attacks underscore the destructive power that militants have to derail the crucial efforts underway to de-escalate tensions."

In the statement, Annan also encouraged both sides to extend the cease-fire to the West Bank. (Posted 12:26 p.m.)

Gunmen kill mobile phone store owner, plant explosives, kill 4 customers

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Gunmen Monday stormed a mobile phone store, killed the owner and planted explosives which later detonated as people gathered inside, killing four people and wounding 25 others, an official with Diyala Joint Coordination Center told CNN.

The attack happened at 5 p.m. (9 a.m. ET) in the town of Muqdadiya, about 25 miles (40 km) north of Baquba.

Separately, Iraqi police found 12 bullet-riddled, unidentified bodies scattered across Baquba on Monday, evidence of sectarian tensions in the ethnically diverse city.

In Baghdad, police Monday found 39 bullet-riddled, unidentified bodies scattered across the capital city, a Baghdad emergency police official said.

Insurgents in Baghdad on Monday killed at least seven Iraqis and abducted seven others.

Gunmen kidnapped three Iraqi facility protection services guards (FPS) outside the Baghdad Municipality building in central Baghdad around noon, the official said. A guard was wounded in the ensuing clash with the gunmen.

In the eastern Baghdad neighborhood of al-Talbiya, gunmen abducted four brothers and killed a fifth brother after he resisted, the official said. The kidnapping happened around 4 p.m.

Three Iraqis were killed and 15 others wounded in a mortar attack on a residential area in the southeastern Baghdad district of Jisser Diyala around 2 p.m., the official said.

Two Iraqi police officers were killed Monday during a police raid on houses in the southern Baghdad neighborhood of Abu Dshir, the official said. Police detained 11 suspected terrorists and a number of weapons, according to the official.

The raid was conducted after gunmen opened fire on an Iraqi police patrol in Abu Dshir Monday morning, wounding seven officers, Baghdad emergency police said.

An Iraqi police patrol was also attacked by gunmen in the western Baghdad neighborhood of Yarmouk, the emergency police official said. One police officer was killed and four other police were wounded in the attack, which happened around 5 p.m.

-- From CNN's Mohammed Tawfeeq (Posted 11:44 a.m.)

Annan: Iraq "almost" in civil war

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said Monday he believes Iraq is "almost" in a civil war.

Responding to a question from CNN, Annan said, "I think given the developments on the ground, unless something is done drastically and urgently to arrest the deteriorating situation, we could be there, and in fact we are almost there."

Sectarian violence is raging in Iraq, leading to hundreds of deaths each week. Iraqi and U.S. officials have said the current conditions do not constitute an all-out civil war.

-CNN Senior U.N. Correspondent Richard Roth contributed to this report (Posted 11:38 a.m.)

Gunmen kill mobile phone store owner, plant explosives, kill 4 customers

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Gunmen Monday stormed a mobile phone store, killed the owner and planted explosives which later detonated as people gathered inside, killing four people and wounding 25 others, an official with Diyala Joint Coordination Center told CNN.

The attack happened at 5 p.m. (9 a.m. ET) in the town of Muqdadiya, about 25 miles (40 km) north of Baquba.

Separately, Iraqi police found 12 bullet-riddled, unidentified bodies scattered across Baquba on Monday, evidence of sectarian tensions in the ethnically diverse city.

In Baghdad, police Monday found 19 bullet-riddled, unidentified bodies, a Baghdad emergency police official said.

Also, gunmen kidnapped three Iraqi facility protection services guards (FPS) outside the Baghdad Municipality building in central Baghdad around noon, the official said. A guard was wounded in the ensuing clash with the gunmen.

Three Iraqis were killed and 15 others wounded in a mortar attack on a residential area in the southeastern Baghdad district of Jisser Diyala around 2 p.m., the official said.

Two Iraqi police officers were killed Monday during a police raid on houses in the southern Baghdad neighborhood of Abu Dshir, the official said. Police detained 11 suspected terrorists and a number of weapons, according to the official.

The raid was conducted after gunmen opened fire on an Iraqi police patrol in Abu Dshir Monday morning, wounding seven officers, Baghdad emergency police said. (Posted 11:15 a.m.)

Group home fire kills 10

ANDERSON, Mo. (CNN) -- A fire at a group home that includes mental health patients killed 10 people Monday in Anderson, Mo., fire officials said.

Assistant State Fire Marshal Greg Carrell told CNN 19 people were transported to hospitals, and 10 died.

"It's my understanding that they had 35 people in the home at the time," he said.

Carrell said authorities did not know the cause of the fire. An investigation is under way.

He described the home as "a residential care facility... a combination Department of Menatl Health/Department of Health facility. I'm not really not sure what the makeup of those clients were."

The fire took place during the night, he said. (Posted 11:02 a.m.)

IDF: Two rockets fired into Israel, a day after cease-fire takes effect

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- In violation of a cease-fire agreement between Palestinian factions and Israel, Palestinian militants in northern Gaza Monday fired two rockets into Israel, the Israel Defense Forces said.

It is not the first violation of the cease-fire, which took effect at 6 a.m. Sunday (11 p.m. Saturday ET). The IDF said militants fired at least 11 rockets after that time, but only two landed in Israel -- both of them in open fields, causing no casualties or damage.

Following those rocket attacks, Palestinian leaders dispatched 13,000 security forces to the Gaza-Israel border to enforce the agreement, according to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' office.

Islamic Jihad and Hamas' militant wing claimed responsibility for several of the rocket attacks that took place after the cease-fire took effect.

In the wake of Sunday's violations, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said his country would "show restraint" and "give the cease-fire a chance to be fully implemented."

Palestinian factions offered the current cease-fire proposal for Gaza to Israel on Saturday, agreeing to stop firing rockets from northern Gaza into Israel.

In exchange, Israel agreed to withdraw troops from Gaza and cease military operations, including targeted airstrikes on militants.

Although the Israeli military pulled out of Gaza last year, troop s have at times entered to stop militant attacks. (Posted 9 a.m.)

U.S. fighter jet crashed outside Baghdad; 1 pilot aboard, condition unclear

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- A U.S. Air Force F-16CG fighter jet supporting ground troops engaged in combat operations crashed Monday outside of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.

The aircraft was carrying one pilot when it crashed at 1:35 p.m. (5:35 a.m. ET) about 20 miles northwest of the Iraqi capital. The military did not say if the pilot survived the crash.

The incident is under investigation.

The F-16 was flying on a low level "strafing run" -- firing on targets on the ground at a low altitude -- a source in Iraq told CNN.

A Pentagon source said the plane was operating near Falluja, which is about 30 miles west of Baghdad.

-- CNN Senior Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre contributed to this report (Posted 8:59 a.m.)

U.S. fighter jet crashed outside Baghdad; 1 pilot aboard, condition unclear

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- A U.S. Air Force F-16CG fighter jet crashed Tuesday outside of Baghdad, the U.S. military said.

The aircraft was carrying one pilot when it crashed at 1:35 p.m. (5:35 a.m. ET) about 20 miles northwest of the Iraqi capital. The military did not say if the pilot survived the crash.

The incident is under investigation. (Posted 7:53 a.m.)

Olmert offers to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for kidnapped soldier, speaks of new opportunity for peace

SDE BOKER, Israel (CNN) -- Despite Israel's long-standing policy not to negotiate with terrorist groups, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday his country is willing to free Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of an Israeli soldier kidnapped five months ago.

Olmert's remarks came as part of a major new initiative to restart peace talks with the Palestinians.

"With Gilad Shalit's release and his return safe and sound to his family, the Israeli government will be willing to release many Palestinian prisoners, even those who have been sentenced to lengthy terms," Olmert said.

"I know that many Palestinian families are waiting for the return of their loved ones home. This day can come very soon."

It is a turnaround from Israel's previous demand that the Palestinian militants in Gaza holding Shalit free the soldier without conditions. Israel stood by its refusal to negotiate with terrorist groups when Hezbollah militants in southern Lebanon kidnapped two Israeli soldiers in July.

Shalit was kidnapped by Palestinian militants on June 25 in daring Palestinian raid across the border with Israel in southern Gaza.

Speaking at a memorial ceremony for Israel's first premier in southern Israel, Olmert signaled that a truce between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza was a turning point in Palestinian-Israeli relations.

"I stand here today, at the grave of Ben Gurion to offer you to take a different path that would allow both you and us a different future," Olmert said.

"The day before yesterday we started taking this path, and I hope that it will lead us to progress towards the aim we all want to achieve -- the peace, quiet and trust in each other."

Hamas, whose lawmakers dominate the Palestinian government, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have been trying to negotiate a new unity government.

Olmert said that government could bring a new opening for peace.

"If you establish a new government that would abide by the Quartet's principals, that would implement the Road Map and that would bring about the release of Gilad Shalit, I will offer Abbas to meet immediately in order to carry an open, honest and serious dialogue," said Olmert, referring to the U.S.-backed plan for a Middle East Peace.

Olmert offered once again to give up land for peace. "Israel would agree to leave large territories and settlements we have established. This is an extremely difficult thing for us. But we will be willing to do so in exchange for a true peace," he said.

"To ease on the Palestinian public and to improve their lives that is damaged by our need to take security measures against terror carried out by you, we will reduce significantly the road blocks, increase the freedom of movement in the territories, ease on movement of people and goods on both sides, improve the functioning of the Gaza crossing, will defreeze your money that we keep"

Palestinian factions offered the current cease-fire proposal for Gaza to Israel on Saturday, agreeing to stop firing rockets from northern Gaza into Israel.

In exchange, Israel agreed to withdraw troops from Gaza and cease military operations, including targeted airstrikes on militants. (Posted 7:42 a.m.)

Iraq lifts Baghdad curfew, airport reopens Iraqi president slated to meet Monday with Iran's Ahmadinejad

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Imposed after a string of deadly attacks in the capital's Sadr City neighborhood last week, Iraq's government lifted a curfew and reopened Baghdad International Airport Monday.

Delayed by the tight security, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani is scheduled to fly to Tehran later in the day to meet with his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Talabani's office said Monday.

He is expected to arrive in the Iranian capital at 5:15 p.m. local time (9:45 a.m. ET), according to the Iranian Culture Ministry.

The meeting, intended in part to discuss Iran's role in creating a more stable Iraq, had been planned for Saturday.

More than 200 people were killed in Sadr City on Thursday, the single worst attack since the war began.

Iraq restored diplomatic relations with its neighbor Syria on Tuesday during a visit to Baghdad by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem. The two countries severed relations in 1982, when Damascus sided with Tehran in its war with Iraq in the 1980s. (Posted 7:20 a.m.)

Vatican: Turkish PM to meet with pope

ROME (CNN) -- Pope Benedict XVI will meet with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan when the pontiff arrives in Ankara on Tuesday, a Vatican spokesman confirmed to CNN.

The Turkish leader had initially said he could not meet with Pope Benedict because of a scheduling conflict with this week's NATO summit.

Many saw the move as a snub in light of recent tensions following a controversial speech in Germany in which the pope quoted a 14th century emperor who said Prophet Mohammed's teachings are "evil and inhuman."

There have been some protests ahead of Pope Benedict's visit to Turkey, a secular Muslim country that is geographically and culturally part of both Europe and Asia.

The pope's speech in mid-September prompted widespread criticism from Muslims. Pope Benedict has made a series of increasingly apologetic statements since then.

The pontiff will arrive in Ankara on Tuesday and plans to wrap up his trip on Friday.

-- CNN's Flavia Taggiasco contributed to this report (Posted 7:19 a.m.)

Greek authorities investigate deaths of 5 hunters

ATHENS (CNN) -- Greek authorities grappled Monday with one of the country's most mysterious murder cases after a family of hunters was killed over the weekend while pursuing their hobby in the plains of central Greece.

Police said the five men, aged between 17 and 33, had each been shot at least twice in what appeared to have been an execution-style killing on Saturday in the woodlands of Kalyvia, 175 miles (280 kilometers) northwest of Athens, the Greek capital.

No motive has yet been established and authorities have set up roadblocks as far north as the Albanian border, scouring the region for clues that may solve the unprecedented case. (Posted 5:55 a.m.)

Baghdad-area violence kills at least 5, wounds 18

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Gunmen opened fire on an Iraqi police patrol in southern Baghdad's Abu Dshir neighborhood Monday morning, wounding seven officers, Baghdad emergency police said.

In northern Baghdad Sunday evening, the U.S. military opened fire on a group of people believed to be members of the Mehdi militia, killing five people and wounding eight others, police said.

The incident took place around 8 p.m. in the Husseiniya district.

Also Sunday evening, four mortars landed in northern Baghdad's Adhamiya district -- a Sunni neighborhood -- wounding three people, according to police. (Posted 5:15 a.m.)

Israeli troops kill 2 West Bank Palestinians

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli troops operating in the northern West Bank shot and killed two Palestinians early Monday, Israeli military and Palestinian medical sources said.

According to an army spokesperson, Israeli forces were on an overnight raid to arrest Palestinian militants in the village of Qabatiya when they came under fire by Palestinian gunmen.

Israeli troops shot and killed an armed Palestinian that approached him.

A short time later, Israeli troops killed a woman who rushed to the side of the deceased man, grabbed his weapon and was acting in a "suspicious manner."

Palestinian hospital officials confirmed the deaths. (Posted 3:40 a.m.)

2 NATO soldiers die in southern Afghanistan

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (CNN) -- A pair of NATO soldiers died Monday when a suicide car bomber slammed into a NATO convoy in southern Afghanistan, a Canadian military spokesman said.

"Today at around 8:30 a.m., a vehicle-borne suicide bomber drove into a NATO convoy in Kandahar province. Two Nato soldiers were killed," the spokesman said.

"We have no report at this time of civilian injuries or death. We cannot confirm the nationality of the NATO soldiers at this time."

NATO does not release the nationalities of its casualties, but typically Canadian soldiers patrol Kandahar. (Posted 3:15 a.m.)

Iraq lifts Baghdad curfew, airport reopens; Iraqi president slated to meet Monday with Iran's Ahmadinejad

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Imposed after a string of deadly attacks in the capital's Sadr City neighborhood last week, Iraq's government lifted a curfew and reopened Baghdad International Airport Monday.

Delayed by the tight security, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani was expected to fly to Tehran later in the day to meet with his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The meeting, intended in part to discuss Iran's role in creating a more stable Iraq, had been planned for Saturday.

Without being specific, Talabani's office told CNN the president will be cleared to leave for Tehran when the curfew ends.

More than 200 people were killed in Sadr City on Thursday, the single worst attack since the war began. (Posted 2 a.m.)

At least 36 die in crash of Iranian military plane

TEHRAN (CNN) -- An Iranian military plane crashed in Tehran Monday morning, state-run IRINN television reported, killing 36 people and injuring two others.

According to the network, an Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) "plane flying from Tehran to Shiraz crashed soon after takeoff from Mehrabad Airport."

The aircraft, an Antonov-74, went down around 7:20 a.m. (10:50 p.m. ET Sunday) and is a light transport airplane designed to carry passengers or cargo, depending on its configuration. (Posted 1:05 a.m.)

Honolulu police officer dies after Bush motorcade crash

(CNN) -- A Honolulu police officer hurt in a collision with a vehicle in President Bush's motorcade last week has died of his injuries, the Honolulu Police Department announced Sunday.

Officer Steve Favela suffered severe internal injuries in the crash, and Hawaiian authorities had requested blood donations to help save him.

"When I received the phone call that Steve had passed away, quite frankly, my heart just sank to the guts of my stomach," said Honolulu police Capt. Frank Fujii. "He's going to be missed by everyone."

Bush stopped in Hawaii on Tuesday en route back to Washington after a trip to Asia. During his stopover, he met with U.S. troops in Honolulu, where the U.S. Pacific Command is based.

In a statement from the White House, Bush said he and first lady Laura Bush were "deeply saddened" by Favela's death.

"We send our condolences to his wife, Barbara, his entire family, and his fellow law enforcement officers. We pray that God will comfort them and that their friends and loved ones will sustain them in this difficult time," the first couple said. (Posted 12:35 a.m.)

Chief: Cops found pot in 92-year-old's home after shootout

ATLANTA (CNN) -- Investigators found a small amount of marijuana in the home of a 92-year-old woman killed during a shootout with police who raided her home last week, Atlanta's police chief said Sunday.

But Chief Richard Pennington said his department would review its use of "no-knock" search warrants after the shootout, which left three police officers wounded and neighbors questioning whether investigators raided the right home.

Pennington said Sunday that an informant made a drug buy at the the home of Kathryn Johnston and showed the drugs to police officers. The officers then went and got a no-knock search warrant.

Though police said the officers identified themselves at the outset of the raid and wore body armor with the word "POLICE" on it, Johnston opened fire on the officers as they worked to break through her burglar bars and wooden door to get inside. (Posted 10:05 p.m.)


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