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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 Time. 1 NATO soldier killed, 10 'militants' arrested in Afghanistan(CNN) -- One NATO soldier was killed during combat in eastern Afghanistan, while further south, Afghan and coalition forces arrested 10 Taliban militants in an early-morning raid, military statements said. A NATO International Security Assistance Forces statement issued Tuesday said the NATO soldier was killed while battling enemy fighters in NATO's Regional Command-East, which includes Asadabad, Bamian, Gardez, Ghazni, Jalalabad, Khowst, Parwan, Mehtar Lam and Sharona provinces. The soldier's nationality and the exact location of the operation were not released. There is ongoing fighting between Taliban militants and NATO and Afghan forces in many sections of the country. Meanwhile, Afghan and U.S.-led coalition forces detained 10 Taliban militants in an early-morning raid Wednesday in southern Afghanistan's Qalat and Zabul provinces, a coalition press statement said. (Posted 1:10 a.m.) Israel kills 2 Palestinians during raid, airstrikeJERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli soldiers shot and killed a Palestinian man and wounded three other people early Wednesday during a raid in the West Bank city of Hebron, an Israel Defense Forces spokeswoman and Palestinian sources said. According to the IDF, soldiers entered a building to arrest a number of wanted men when they were assaulted and, in turn, the soldiers opened fire, resulting in the casualties. Two men were arrested and taken for questioning by the Israeli forces. Palestinian medical and security sources said six people were wounded in the incident, adding that the dead man was more than 60 years old. A second Palestinian man was killed overnight during an Israeli airstrike, near Jabaliya in northern Gaza, the Palestinian sources said. The sources identified the man as a 24-year-old Hamas militant, who they said was killed by a rocket from an Israeli drone. (Posted 12:57 a.m.) GOP candidates split on pardon for LibbyMANCHESTER, N.H. (CNN) -- When it comes to the debate over whether former White House aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby should be pardoned, the Republican presidential field is split among "yes," "no," "maybe" and "I'd have to study the transcript." On the day Libby was sentenced to 30 months in prison for lying to federal investigators during an investigation into who leaked the identity of a CIA operative in 2003, the GOP field was queried about the possibility of a pardon during a CNN-sponsored debate Tuesday night in New Hampshire. Only two candidates said outright that they would offer a pardon to Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff -- Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas and Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado. The discouraging news for Libby, as he tries to avoid prison, is that those two White House hopefuls, combined, have a scant 3 percent support in the latest average of national polls. Two other candidates who are currently long-shots, former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, said they would not pardon Libby. "I'm steeped in the law," said Gilmore, who was once his state's attorney general. "I wouldn't do that." (Posted 10:01 p.m.) McCain defends immigration bill from 2008 GOP hopefulsMANCHESTER, N.H. (CNN) -- Sen. John McCain defended his support of a controversial immigration reform bill from criticism by other Republican presidential hopefuls Tuesday night as the GOP contenders held their first debate in New Hampshire. McCain was a lonely voice on the stage at Saint Anselm College in defense of the plan now being debated in the Senate. But the front-runner in recent polls, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, called it "a typical Washington mess." "The litmus test you should have for legislation is, is it going to make things better?" Giuliani said. "And when you look at these compromises, it is quite possible it will make things worse." And former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said the bill's central proposal, to offer a path to legal status for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants, was unfair. "It's simply not fair to say those people get put ahead in the line of all the people who've been waiting legally to come to this country," Romney said. Only Sen. Sam Brownback joined McCain in offering a defense of the bill, and that was qualified. "I think if you do exterior enforcement, border enforcement, you do aggressive interior enforcement, and then you work on a comprehensive solution interior, that's something that a lot of people are going to be upset with but that can work and move us forward," he said. "And it's better than not doing anything." (Posted 9:43 p.m.) Castro looks healthy, alert in interview regarding Vietnamese visitHAVANA (CNN) -- Looking healthy, alert and animated, Cuban leader Fidel Castro discussed on national television the recent visit to Cuba by a Vietnamese communist leader, his first interview since he underwent intestinal surgery last summer. "It was excellent, excellent," said Castro, who was wearing a red, white and blue Adidas track suit with the Cuban flag on it, about the weekend visit of Nong Duc Manh, general secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party. "Let me tell you, he's a very intellectual person." In the interview with Randy Alonso, host of the government's nightly "Round Table" program, Castro, 80, did not mention the United States except in passing. Instead, he discussed the country of Vietnam, and recalled a 1963 visit there, saying, "It was so hot." And he insisted there was "no state secret" regarding his health. "All I can tell my fellow countrymen is what I've already said, that I'm now doing what I have to do, nothing else. There's no secret. I can't put it more clearly," he said. (Posted 9:14 p.m.) GOP candidates wade into evolution vs. creation debateMANCHESTER, N.H. (CNN) -- During the first GOP presidential debate last month in California, three Republican candidates raised eyebrows by indicating they did not subscribe to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, a widely accepted scientific concept about the origins of life. When the topic came up again Tuesday night in a CNN-sponsored debate in New Hampshire, one of those evolution skeptics, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, offered a spirited defense of the biblical creation narrative. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth," said Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister. "A person either believes that God created the process or believes that it was an accident and that it just happened all on its own." Huckabee also said that if Americans "want a president who doesn't believe in God, there's probably plenty of choices. But if I'm selected as president of this country, they'll have one who believes in those words that God did create." He went on to quote Martin Luther: "Here I stand, I can do no other. And I will not take that back." Huckabee later added, "If anybody wants to believe that they are the descendants of a primate, they are certainly welcome to do it." (Posted 9:12 p.m.) House votes to launch ethics investigation of JeffersonWASHINGTON (CNN) -- With strong bipartisan support, the House Tuesday night ordered its ethics committee to investigate indicted Rep. William Jefferson and decide whether the Louisiana Democrat should be expelled for alleged corruption. The resolution calling for an ethics investigation, sponsored by House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, came a day after a 16-count criminal indictment of Jefferson was unveiled by federal prosecutors in Virginia, charging the nine-term lawmaker with racketeering, money laundering, obstruction of justice and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Boehner said his resolution was "not intended to cast innocence or guilt on the gentleman from Louisiana." "It's intended to ensure that the ethics committee process ... begins its deliberations on this issue," he said. However, Republican leaders made it clear that they believe the ethics committee can proceed against Jefferson for violating the House's standards of conduct even before the criminal case against him is resolved. (Posted 8:48 p.m.) McCain defends immigration bill from 2008 GOP hopefulsMANCHESTER, N.H. (CNN) -- Sen. John McCain defended his support of a controversial immigration reform bill from criticism by other Republican presidential hopefuls Tuesday night as the GOP contenders held their first debate in New Hampshire. McCain was a lonely voice on the stage at Saint Anselm College in defense of the plan now being debated in the Senate. But the front-runner in recent polls, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, called it "a typical Washington mess." "The litmus test you should have for legislation is, is it going to make things better?" Giuliani said. "And when you look at these compromises, it is quite possible it will make things worse." And former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney said the bill's proposal, to offer a path to legal status for an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants, was unfair. "It's simply not fair to say those people get put ahead in the line of all the people who've been waiting legally to come to this country," Romney said. Rep. Tom Tancredo, whose presidential campaign is rooted in his strong opposition to immigration reform, said the bill would be the first step toward abandoning English as a national language and becoming "a bilingual nation." (Posted 8:47 p.m.) Graves says he was 'given a push' to quit as U.S. attorneyWASHINGTON (CNN) -- The man some have called the ninth fired federal prosecutor, Todd Graves, told a Senate panel Tuesday he was clearly "given a push" to quit his post as U.S. Attorney in Kansas City, Mo., in January 2006, but would not give a judgment on whether he should be lumped with the eight U.S. attorneys fired later that year as part of an investigation. Graves' name appeared that January on an early draft of a Justice Department list of U.S. attorneys who might be asked to resign. The Senate Judiciary Committee called him to testify as part of its investigation into whether the attorneys' firings were influenced by political considerations. Graves said he got the word the Justice Department wanted to replace him from a phone call from Michael Battle, then head of the Justice Department's Executive Office of U.S. Attorneys. According to Graves, Battle told him Justice Department officials had no problems with his performance but a decision had been made to put someone else in his job. "To this day, I bear no rancor or bitterness over that phone call," said Graves, adding he would have been happier not to have been drawn into the controversy about the firings. -- From CNN's Carol Cratty (Posted 7:32 p.m.) Showdown on immigration may come this weekWASHINGTON (CNN) -- A showdown vote on the contentious immigration bill will likely come later this week after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday he will move to limit debate and amendments on the bill. In response, Republicans said they will try to filibuster the bill unless Reid agrees to allow more amendments, arguing the only way to get enough Republicans to support a final bill is to allow ample chance to amend it. "There are a lot of good amendments out there, and a lot of them could pass and improve the bill, and I hope that we'll have that opportunity," said a frustrated Sen. John Kyl of Arizona, a conservative Republican who helped broker the compromise bill but said he would filibuster it if Reid moves to limit debate. "This is a bill that will never make the majority of Republicans happy," responded Reid, adding that some Republicans want an "excuse" to block final passage of the bill, which is unpopular with many conservative voters. Reid said he is moving to limit the debate because the Senate has a crowded legislative calendar. The immigration debate will get the two weeks Republicans had originally asked it be scheduled, he said. -- From CNN's Ted Barrett (Posted 7:16 p.m.) Castro looks healthy, alert in interview regarding Vietnamese visitHAVANA (CNN) -- Looking healthy, alert and animated, Cuban leader Fidel Castro discussed on national television the recent visit to Cuba by a Vietnamese communist leader, his first interview since he underwent intestinal surgery last summer. "It was excellent, excellent," said Castro, who was wearing a red, white and blue Adidas track suit with the Cuban flag on it, about the weekend visit of Nong Duc Manh, general secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party. "Let me tell you, he's a very intellectual person." In the interview with Randy Alonso, host of the government's nightly "Round Table" program, Castro, 80, did not address his health and did not mention the United States, instead discussing the country of Vietnam. On July 31, Castro relinquished his presidential powers to his brother, Raul, after undergoing intestinal surgery, calling the move temporary. The switch touched off a flurry of speculation that the Communist leader, who came to power in 1959, might be dying. (Posted 7:14 p.m.) Bad weather hampers search for transplant plane wreck(CNN) -- The search for the wreckage of a small plane which crashed into Lake Michigan on Monday while carrying a team of doctors on an organ transplant mission was stalled Tuesday after searchers ran into adverse weather conditions, authorities said. High winds and 4- to 6-foot waves forced the suspension of the recovery effort about 1 p.m., said Coast Guard Capt. Bruce Jones. Searchers had yet to find any large pieces of wreckage, the plane's main fuselage or its cockpit voice recorder, he said. The search is set to resume Wednesday. The Cessna Citation was en route from Milwaukee to Ypsilanti, Mich., with four members of the University of Michigan organ transplant team and two crew members. The Coast Guard said earlier Tuesday no one survived the "high speed impact" crash. Some body parts have been recovered, along with material that may aid identification efforts, authorities said. Dental records are being sought, they said, and the victims' family members are submitting DNA swabs in case they are needed. (Posted 7:12 p.m.) XDR-TB patient 'doing quite well'DENVER (CNN) -- Andrew Speaker, the 31-year-old lawyer who has extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, "is doing quite well," his doctor said Tuesday, afterthe last of three sputum test results came back negative. The test evaluates if there are large numbers of tuberculosis organisms in a patient's sputum, and helps determine how sick and how contagious a patient is. "I'd place him down at the not-very-infectious area" of a continuum that stretches from "extremely" to "not infectious," said Dr. Charles Daley, the attending physician for Speaker. But, he added, "that does not mean zero." A negative culture test would be required before doctors would able to say he is not infectious, Daley told reporters. (Posted 5:22 p.m.) California wildfire continues to spread, prompts evacuations(CNN)-- A Walker, Calif., wildfire that started Friday was affecting about 500 acres of land as of Tuesday, and shows no signs of stopping, officials said. High winds on Tuesday exacerbated the flames, which have jumped U.S. Highway 395. In response, California Highway Patrol has closed a part of the highway between Holbrook Junction, or Nevada State Route 208, and California State Route 182 in Bridgeport. The winds have grounded fire helicopters, said Mark Struble, spokesman for the Sierra Front Incident Management Team, but fire engines have been dispatched to the site. Several neighborhoods in Walker were evacuated as a precautionary measure, and an evacuation center was set up at Walker Community Center to accommodate the residents. (Posted 4:47 p.m.) After TB snafu, feds move to tighten discretionary power at bordersWASHINGTON (CNN) -- A slip-up involving a man infected with an often fatal form of tuberculosis has led the Customs and Border Protection to revoke the discretionary power given officers to override orders to halt someone attempting to enter the country, a Department of Homeland Security official said Tuesday. In the future, a supervisor will be involved in any such decisions, said the official, who did not want to be identified. The move was made after Andrew Speaker, a 31-year-old Atlanta lawyer infected with the rare form of tuberculosis, was allowed on May 24 to cross from Canada into the United States at Champlain, N.Y., despite a warning from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that he posed a public health threat and that a CDC doctor should be alerted if Speaker were to seek entry. Also Tuesday, a timeline of events obtained from the House Homeland Security Committee showed that Speaker's placement on a no-fly list did not occur until May 24, two hours after he had already arrived in Montreal from Prague. The committee will hold a hearing on the matter Wednesday. (Posted 3:48 p.m.) Attorney General Gonzales won't respond to recent controversiesWASHINGTON (CNN) -- Attorney General Alberto Gonzales placed himself in the line of reporters' fire Tuesday for the first time in three weeks, but refused to answer questions on recent controversies that arose when former aides openly questioned his past actions. Since Gonzales' last meeting with Washington journalists, his former deputy, James Comey, and former White House liaison, Monica Goodling, had testified separately before Congress about actions relating to the terrorist surveillance program, the firing of U.S. attorneys and the alleged politicization of the Justice Department. Comey was sharply critical of Gonzales, whom, he charged, as White House counsel had gone to the bedside of ailing Attorney General John Ashcroft to pressure him to override Comey's refusal to approve a warrantless surveillance program. Gonzales declined to defend his actions Tuesday. "You're asking me to comment on Mr. Comey's testimony. I'm not going to comment on Mr. Comey's testimony," he said. --From Justice Producer Terry Frieden (Posted 3:38 p.m.) JFK bomb plot suspect surrenders, proclaims innocencePORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CNN) -- The fourth man wanted in connection with a reported plot to attack New York's John F. Kennedy airport made a brief court appearance Tuesday after turning himself in to authorities in Trinidad. Abdel Nur, 57, of Guyana, appeared in court in a gray T-shirt and slacks and requested a lawyer after turning himself in about 11:30 a.m. Senior Magistrate Lianne Leekim set a June 11 bail hearing for Nur, along with two other suspects in the case. "It's a conspiracy against me by the United States," reporters outside the courthouse quoted Nur as telling them before his 15-minute hearing. Nur, fellow Guyanan Abdul Kadir and Kareem Ibrahim of Trinidad are charged with conspiring to plant explosives to blow up fuel supply tanks, pipelines and buildings at John F. Kennedy International Airport, the U.S. Justice Department announced Saturday. Another suspect, U.S. citizen Russell Defreitas, is being held in the United States. --From CNN's Susan Candiotti (Posted 3:32 p.m.) FCC profanities broadcast policy struck down by appeals courtNEW YORK (CNN) -- In a victory for TV networks, New York's highest court has ruled the indecency regulation policy of the Federal Communications Commission may be unconstitutional and broadcasters cannot be held liable for airing profane language such as the "F-word." In a 2-1 decision, the judges for the New York 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals found that the FCC's "fleeting expletives" policy is "arbitrary and capricious" and that the agency did not adequately explain amendments and enforcement of its "vague" policy on broadcasts of profanity. First Amendment lawyer Martin Garbus, who represents high-profile media personalities such as Don Imus, said the decision means the FCC cannot levy any fines for profanity on the airwaves until the FCC comes out with "reasoned policies." FCC Commissioner Michael Copps responded to the court decision by warning that "any broadcaster who sees this decision as a green light to send more gratuitous sex and violence into our homes would be making a huge mistake." --By CNN's Katy Byron (Posted 3:08 p.m.) Louisiana congressman announces temporary leave from House committeeWASHINGTON (CNN) -- Louisiana congressman William Jefferson on Tuesday requested temporary leave as a member of the House Small Business Committee, a day after he was indicted by a federal grand jury on a raft of corruption charges. Jefferson asked to step down, pending the "successful conclusion" of the "legal matter," in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. "In doing so, I, of course, express no admission of guilt or culpability in that or any other matter that may be pending in any court or before the House of Representatives," Jefferson wrote. It is Jefferson's only committee assignment. He had been appointed by his Democratic colleagues to the Homeland Security Committee earlier in the year -- a move that outraged some GOP members -- but the nomination was never voted on by the full House of Representatives. (Posted 2:41 p.m.) Libby asked judge to consider his 'whole life' before sentencingWASHINGTON (CNN) -- Lewis "Scooter" Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, stood quietly beside his wife Tuesday as he was sentenced to 30 months in prison for lying and obstructing the investigation into who revealed in 2003 that Valerie Plame Wilson was a CIA operative. "It is respectfully my hope that the court will consider, along with the jury verdict, my whole life," Libby said to the judge before the sentencing. "My family and I sincerely appreciate the consideration and the many courtesies shown to us throughout this proceeding by the court and staff." After the hearing, Libby left the courthouse with his lawyers, making no statements to reporters. U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton, who also fined Libby $250,000, tentatively turned down a request by Libby's lawyers to allow him to be free while an appeal is filed. However, he said he would consider arguments from the prosecution and defense, and likely make a ruling at a hearing June 14. In the meantime, Libby remains free. --From CNN's Paul Courson and Debra Krajnak (Posted 2:21 p.m.) UNHCR: 4.2 million Iraqis displacedUNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- The Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said Tuesday that more than 2 million Iraqis are displaced inside Iraq and another 2.2 million have sought shelter in neighboring nations. "The situation in Iraq continues to worsen," the U.N.'s refugee agency said in a written statement. "Calls for increased international support for governments in the region have so far brought few results, and access to social services for Iraqis remains limited." Jordan and Syria are carrying most of the burden, the statement said. Since February 2006, about 820,000 people have been displaced, "including 15,000 Palestinians who have nowhere to go," the statement said. (Posted 1:24 p.m.) Trinidad police: 4th suspect linked to JFK plot turns himself inPORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CNN) -- The fourth suspect wanted in connection with a plot to attack New York's JFK airport turned himself in to Trinidad authorities on Tuesday, police said. Abdel Nur, 57, of Guyana surrendered around 11:30 a.m. (ET) at the West End Police Station, police said. A law enforcement source told CNN he is expected to make an initial court appearance later in the day. He is believed to have been in hiding since U.S. authorities identified him as one of the suspects in the plot over the weekend. The FBI helped Trinidad authorities in an intense manhunt for Nur, whose photo was on the cover of Tuesday's Trinidad Guardian newspaper under the caption, "Most Wanted." Nur and the other three suspects -- U.S. citizen Russell Defreitas, Abdul Kadir of Guyana and Kareem Ibrahim of Trinidad -- are charged with conspiring to plant explosives to blow up fuel supply tanks, pipelines and buildings at John F. Kennedy International Airport, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Saturday. --From CNN's Susan Candiotti (Posted 1:20 p.m.) U.S. military: Suicide car bomber kills 15 near FallujaBAGHDAD (CNN) -- A suicide car bomber struck a local market near Falluja Tuesday, killing 15 people and wounding 13, the U.S. military said. The attack happened in Ameriya, south of Falluja in Iraq's Anbar province, at 10:40 a.m. (2:40 a.m. ET), the military said. -- From CNN's Jomana Karadsheh (Posted 12:52 p.m.) Libby sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison in CIA leak caseWASHINGTON (CNN) -- Lewis "Scooter" Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was sentenced Tuesday to 30 months in prison for lying and obstructing the investigation into who released the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson in 2003. Federal Judge Reggie Walton said he would make a decision next Tuesday on whether to allow Libby to remain free while his lawyers file an appeal. CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin said that under federal sentencing guidelines, Libby -- if imprisoned -- must serve at least 80 percent of his sentence, or two years. Libby, standing next to his wife, bowed his head when the sentences were read, according to CNN's Paul Courson in the courtroom. Neither Libby nor his attorneys spoke to reporters after leaving the courthouse. (Posted 12:50 p.m.) Source: 4th suspect wanted in connection with JFK plot turns himself inPORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (CNN) -- The fourth suspect wanted in connection with a plot to attack New York's JFK airport has turned himself in to Trinidad authorities, a law enforcement source told CNN on Tuesday. Abdel Nur, 57, of Guyana is expected to make an initial court appearance later in the day. --From CNN's Susan Candiotti (Posted 12:44 p.m.) Bush: Democratic reforms in Russia 'derailed'PRAGUE, Czech Republic (CNN) -- President Bush on Tuesday risked escalating a rumbling row with Russia over U.S. plans for a Europe-based missile defense system by warning that democratic reforms in Russia had been "derailed." The comments came in a speech to a conference organized by former dissidents in the Czech capital, Prague. "In Russia, reforms that once promised to empower citizens have been derailed, with troubling implications for democratic development," said Bush, who is due to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday ahead of this week's G8 summit in Germany. Posted 12:34 p.m.) Third test evaluating contagiousness of TB patient comes back negativeDENVER (CNN) -- The last of three sputum test results for Andrew Speaker, the 31-year-old lawyer who has extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis, came back negative, National Jewish Hospital said Tuesday. Speaker -- whose air travel last month to his wedding in Greece set off international concerns for the safety of his fellow passengers -- is considered "smear-negative," a hospital spokesman told CNN. The hospital said the sputum smear test helps evaluate if there are large numbers of tuberculosis organisms in a patient's sputum, and is a helpful tool in determining how sick and how contagious a patient is. (Posted 12:23 p.m.) Libby sentenced to 30 months in prisonWASHINGTON (CNN) -- Lewis "Scooter" Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, was sentenced Tuesday to 30 months in prison for lying to investigators about what he told reporters about CIA operative Valerie Plame Wilson, whose name was leaked to the media in 2003. He also has been fined $250,000. Libby was convicted March 6 of four counts in a five-count indictment alleging perjury, obstruction of justice and making false statements to FBI investigators. He plans to appeal the verdict. (Posted 11:53 a.m.) Judge considering tougher sentence for LibbyWASHINGTON (CNN) -- In the first hour of the sentencing hearing Tuesday for Lewis "Scooter" Libby, U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton ruled that because Libby obstructed an investigation into the Intelligence Identities Protection Act, his sentence will be lengthened. He didn't elaborate. The sentence is expected to be announced later in the day. Libby was found guilty in March of lying to investigators about what he told reporters about Valerie Plame Wilson, whose identity as a CIA operative was leaked to the media in 2003. --From CNN's Paul Courson (Posted 11:21 a.m.) Strong cyclone heads for Arabian peninsula(CNN) -- U.S. Navy warships in the Persian Gulf are on alert as Cyclone Gonu -- with winds topping 120 mph (195 kph) -- makes its way toward Oman's coast, U.S. officials said Tuesday. The U.S. Embassy has issued a warden message for the approximately 1,200 Americans in Oman, warning them of the impending storm, which measures as a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale. "American citizens residing or traveling through Oman are advised to stay indoors as much as possible during the period of the storm and to monitor local news reports for relevant guidance issued by the government of Oman," the warden message stated. "It is recommended that individuals: avoid beaches, coastal areas, lowlands, wadis, and streams; avoid standing under trees and other structures on the road; and do not drive around affected areas." (Posted 11:02 a.m.) Saudi govt. announces arrests of three 'senior' al Qaeda recruiters(CNN) -- Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry announced Tuesday the arrests of three senior members of al Qaeda who were responsible for recruiting youths via the internet and encouraging attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities. The two Saudis and one Arab non-national were arrested in Medina, but the ministry statement did not say when. They were also in charge of media publications for the al Qaeda terror network, the ministry said. Saudi security forces have arrested scores of suspects in recent months as part of an anti-terror sweep against people alleged to be plotting attacks on senior officials and government oil, military and security installations. (Posted 9:36 a.m.) Libby to be sentenced today in perjury case; may speak in courtWASHINGTON (CNN) -- Lewis "Scooter" Libby is to be sentenced Tuesday on convictions related to the leaking of a CIA operative's identity to the media. The hearing got underway around 9:30 a.m. ET. The former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney did not testify in his own defense at his trial in March, but his defense lawyers have not ruled out a response when the judge asks him if he has anything to say before sentencing. Libby has maintained his innocence ever since he was indicted and resigned in October 2005. Neither federal prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald nor defense attorneys made comments to reporters as they entered the courthouse. Libby was convicted March 6 of four counts in a five-count indictment alleging perjury, obstruction of justice and making false statements to FBI investigators. He plans to appeal the verdict. -- From CNN's Paul Courson (Posted 9:36 a.m.) Female suicide bomber shot by police in Baghdad's Sadr CityBAGHDAD (CNN) -- Iraqi police Tuesday shot a female suicide bomber in Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood, causing the woman's explosives to detonate, killing her and injuring three policemen, an Interior Ministry official said. The bomber was attempting to target a police recruitment center in Sadr City, a sprawling Shiite neighborhood. In central Baghdad, gunmen traveling in two vehicles opened fire on a car, immediately killing the driver, the official said. South of Baghdad in Babil province, gunmen killed the head of the local office of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's political movement. (Posted 8:12 a.m.) Report shows airline delays on the riseWASHINGTON (CNN) -- The nation's 20 largest airline carriers reported better on-time performance for April 2007 than in March. However, when compared to April a year ago, on-time performance is sliding, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report released on Monday by the Department of transportation. The airline carriers recorded an on-time arrival rate of 75.5 percent in April. That's a 2.4 percent improvement from March, but down from 78.4 percent in April 2006. US Airways, followed by JetBlue and Comair were the worst performers, while Aloha Airlines arrives on the top of the list. (Posted 8 a.m.) Hamas, Fatah forces engage in gunbattle at Karni crossingJERUSALEM (CNN) -- Hamas militants and members of the Presidential Guard loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas engaged in a two-and-a-half hour gun battle in Gaza early Tuesday at the sensitive Karni border crossing. The fighting marked the second time in a month that the border crossing has come under attack by Hamas gunmen. According to a senior Western official some 50 to 60 Hamas militants armed with "significant weaponry" attacked a guard outpost in the area of the crossing. The official described the fighting as "heavy and intense" and said the militants were trying to inflict damage on the crossing in an effort to discredit Abbas and his Fatah faction. There was no immediate tally of deaths or injuries. (Posted 8 a.m.) U.S. Coast Guard: None of organ transplant team survived 'high impact' plane crash(CNN) -- The U.S. Coast Guard announced Tuesday no one survived the crash of a small plane carrying a team of doctors and donation specialists on an organ transplant mission. The Cessna Citation made a "high speed impact" into the chilly waters of Lake Michigan just east of Milwaukee, Wis., late Monday afternoon, Capt. Bruce Jones said. "We believe this to have been a nonsurvivable crash," he said, announcing tht the search teams found human remains late last night. The plane, which was en route from Milwaukee to Ypsilanti, Mich., carried four members of the University of Michigan organ transplant team, along with a two crew members. The Cessna Citation appeared to be traveling about 185 mph at the time of impact, which would be "absolutely devastating" to an aircraft of that size, according to Milwaukee Fire Chief Douglas Holton. (Posted 7:40 a.m.) Iran's president warns against new U.N. sanctionsTEHRAN (CNN ) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned Tuesday that imposing new sanctions against his country would be like "playing with the lion's tail." At a news conference to commemorate the 18th anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ahmadinejad called U.N. Security Council interference in Iran's nuclear program illegal and urged the body to abandon its "biased approach" toward Iran and pursue a balanced policy. The president's comments came as Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani was meeting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin on Tuesday to discuss Tehran's nuclear program. The U.N. Security Council has so far imposed two rounds of limited sanctions on Iran. -- From CNN's Shirzad Bozorgmehr in Tehran (Posted 6:50 a.m.) Bush invites Putin to cooperate on missile defense planPRAGUE, Czech Republic (CNN) -- President Bush Tuesday tried to defuse tensions with Russia over the U.S. plan to deploy missile defenses in eastern Europe by extending an invitation to Vladimir Putin to cooperate and participate in the plan. Speaking at a news conference with Czech Republic leaders in Prague, Bush explained what he would say to the Russian leader when he meets with him on Wednesday at the Group of Eight economic summit in Germany. "My message will be, Vladimir -- I call him Vladimir -- that you shouldn't fear a missile defense system," Bush said. "As a matter of fact, why don't you cooperate with us ... Please send your generals over to see how such a system would work. Send your scientists, let us have the ability to discuss this issue in an open forum." Top Russian officials have sharply objected to the deployment of missile-defense technology in Poland and the Czech Republic, where Bush landed Monday en route to this week's G8 conference. Putin raised the ante over the weekend, warning that he may aim nuclear weapons at European targets unless Washington abandons its plans. (Posted 6:50 a.m.) Suicide bomber kills self, wounds three police, scattered violence in BabilBAGHDAD (CNN) -- A female suicide bomber detonated her explosives at a police checkpoint to eastern Baghdad's sprawling Sadr City neighborhood Tuesday, injuring three policemen and killing herself, an Interior Ministry official said. The attack took place near a police recruiting center. The bomber's explosives went off after she was shot by police. In developments in Babil province, gunmen killed the head of the local office of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's political movement. According to Hilla police, Abdul Raheem Mohammed Nayef was gunned down Tuesday morning in Jbela, about 40 miles (65 km) south of Baghdad. Elsewhere in Jbela, Iraqi police found five bullet-riddle bodies. Separately, four Iraqi police were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded near their patrol in Iskandariya Tuesday morning, about 25 miles (40 km) south of the Iraqi capital. -- From CNN's Jomana Karadsheh and Mohammed Tawfeeq. (Posted 5:40 a.m.) Basque separatist group calls off nearly 15-month-old cease-fireMADRID (CNN) -- Basque separatist group ETA called off a unilateral cease-fire it declared more than a year ago, a statement published in a Basque newspaper said on Tuesday. The ETA statement was published overnight in the Basque-language newspaper Berria and it warned of attacks resuming as early as midnight Tuesday (6 p.m. ET). The announcement came a day after Spain's largest-circulation newspaper, El Pais, published a story, citing police and intelligence services, warning of imminent new ETA attacks. Government ministers huddled Tuesday morning to address developments, CNN's sister network CNN Plus reported. In a nationally televised statement after the meeting, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said the Spanish government will never respond to the actions of terrorists. --From CNN Madrid Bureau Chief Al Goodman (Posted 5 a.m.) GOP Sen. Craig Thomas loses battle to leukemiaWASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republican Sen. Craig Thomas of Wyoming, who had been battling leukemia since November, died Monday night at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., a family spokesperson told CNN. He was 74. "Laura and I are deeply saddened by the death of Wyoming Senator Craig Thomas," President Bush said in a White House statement. "During nearly 23 years of public service as a Senator, Congressman, and state legislator, Senator Thomas was a tireless and effective advocate for the people of his beloved home state." Reacting to the news of Thomas' death, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell expressed his condolences, saying "the state of Wyoming and our nation are much better places because he was here." "Wyoming had no greater advocate, taxpayers had no greater watchdog and rural America had no greater defender than Craig Thomas," McConnell said. Thomas was elected to a third term last year. (Posted 3:25 a.m.) Basque separatist group calls off cease-fireMADRID (CNN) -- Basque separatist group ETA called off a cease-fire it declared more than a year ago, a statement published in a Basque newspaper said on Tuesday. Much of Spain had already considered the cease-fire dead following a December 2006 ETA car bombing at a parking garage at the Madrid airport, which killed two people. Prior to the Dec. 30 airport bombing, ETA had not killed anyone since 2003. After the blast, the government announced that it considered the peace process finished, although ETA later issued a statement saying its cease-fire was still in force. March 22 was the first anniversary of ETA's announcement of a unilateral, "permanent" cease-fire, which had raised hopes for an end to nearly 40 years of ETA violence blamed for more than 800 deaths. ETA wants Basque independence and is listed as a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union. --From CNN Madrid Bureau Chief Al Goodman (Posted 3:20 a.m.) Suicide bomber kills self, wounds three policeBAGHDAD (CNN) -- A female suicide bomber detonated her explosives at a police checkpoint to eastern Baghdad's sprawling Sadr City neighborhood Tuesday, injuring three policemen and killing herself, an Interior Ministry official said. The attack took place near a police recruiting center. The bomber's explosives went off after she was shot by police. (Posted 2:55 a.m.) Coalition forces detain 4 suspected terroristsBAGHDAD (CNN) -- U.S.-led coalition forces detained four suspected terrorists, including a suspected cell leader, during early Tuesday raids in northeast Baghdad, a military statement said. "The individuals detained during the raid are believed to be members of the secret cell terrorist network known for facilitating the transport of weapons and explosively formed penetrators, or EFPs, from Iran to Iraq, as well as bringing militants from Iraq to Iran for terrorist training," according to the release from Multi-National Force-Iraq. The military said the suspected cell leader received minor injuries during the operation and was taken to a military medical facility for treatment. (Posted 2:25 a.m.) Afghan, coalition forces kill about 2 dozen enemy fighters(CNN) -- Afghan National Army Corps soldiers and coalition forces killed an estimated two dozen enemy fighters Monday during a four-hour battle in southern Afghanistan, a coalition military statement released Tuesday said. The fighting took place near the village of Chenar in Kandahar province, about 22 miles (35 km) north of Kandahar. "Enemy fighters are no match for the skill and determination of the Afghan National Army and Coalition forces," said Combined Joint Task Force- 82 spokesman Maj. Christopher Belcher. "We will continue to pursue and defeat all enemy fighters who threaten the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan." There were no reports of civilian injuries. Information on military casualties was not immediately available. (Posted 1:35 a.m.) Military judges throw out charges against bin Laden bodyguard(CNN) -- Military judges at the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, threw out war crimes charges Monday against a Yemeni man, who said he served as al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's bodyguard and driver, and a Canadian accused of killing a U.S. soldier. Military judge Navy Capt. Keith Allred granted a defense motion to dismiss the charges against Salim Ahmed Hamdan of Yemen based on a lack of jurisdiction. Allred's ruling follows a decision earlier Monday by Army Col. Peter Brownback, the judge who dismissed the charges against Canadian Omar Khadr for similar reasons. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Charles Swift, Hamdan's defense counsel, said his client is relieved that he will have a better chance at a fair hearing. "That's all he's ever asked for," Swift said. Hamdan was at the center of a 2006 Supreme Court ruling that struck down the Bush administration's use of military tribunals to try suspected terrorists. The court ruled them unconstitutional because they did not allow prisoners to challenge their detention by U.S. authorities. (Posted 12:40 a.m.) |
 | Horrified envoy has message for 'everyone with a gun'Upon his arrival in Damascus, Syria, joint U.N.-Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan called Monday for those responsible for Friday's massacre of 108 people ... |
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