The CNN Wire: Tuesday Aug 21

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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.

Preparations under way in Mexico as nation braces for Dean's return

VERACRUZ, Mexico (CNN) -- Mexican government officials travelled from beach to beach Tuesday, warning people to prepare for the reappearance of Hurricane Dean, a weakened storm that could restrengthen and potentially pack a hard punch as it makes a second landfall, forecasters warned.

Winds were picking up and waves were growing higher as evening fell in the coastal town of Veracruz, CNN's Karl Penhaul reported, even though Dean's predicted landfall was 12 to 18 hours away.

As of 10 p.m. (11 p.m. ET), the center of Dean was about 215 miles east-northeast of Veracruz and about 295 miles east-southeast of Tuxpan. It was moving west-northwest at near 18 mph, and is expected to continue doing so until landfall, the National Hurricane Center said.

Dean's maximum sustained winds were near 80 mph. As the storm had weakened, it also decreased in size. Hurricane-force winds extended outward up to 35 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extended up to 140 miles. (Posted 11:05 p.m.)

American scholar released from Iranian prison

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- American Haleh Esfandiari -- arrested nearly four months ago by Tehran officials on charges of harming national security -- was released Tuesday from an Iranian prison after her mother posted bail, her family said.

"I'm very happy, I mean, it was very unexpected," Esfandiari said in an interview on Iran's state-run IRINN TV.

Esfandiari's husband, Shaul Bakhash, said Esfandiari's mother, who lives in Tehran, received a call from Iranian authorities telling her to post bail of $330,000, which she did.

Esfandiari was arrested while she was in Iran visiting her ailing mother, who is in her 90s.

There was no official government statement about Esfandiari, and it was not clear what restrictions, if any, would be imposed on her. (Posted 11:05 p.m.)

Preparations under way in Mexico as nation braces for Dean's return

Winds were picking up and waves were growing higher as evening fell in the coastal town of Veracruz, CNN's Karl Penhaul reported, even though Dean's predicted landfall was 12 to 18 hours away.

Officials warned residents that the coastline near Veracruz was particularly prone to flooding, as a number of rivers flow down from the mountains to the sea. In addition, a nuclear power plant near the city supplies power to much of northern Mexico. While the facility itself is safe, high winds could affect some pylons carrying electricity away from the plant, Penhaul said.

After raking Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, making landfall as a Category 5 storm with maximum sustained winds of 165, Dean entered the Bay of Campeche later Tuesday as a Category 1 storm. It was forecast to reach Category 2 intensity before its second landfall.

As of 7 p.m. (8 p.m. ET), the center of Dean was about 110 miles west of Campeche, Mexico, and about 345 miles east of Tuxpan, Mexico, the National Hurricane Center said. It was moving between west and west-northwest at near 20 mph. (Posted 8:08 p.m.)

Israeli airstrikes kill 1 in Gaza; Hamas fires rockets at Israel

GAZA CITY (CNN) -- An Israeli air strike east of Gaza City early Wednesday killed a militant, Palestinian security and medical sources and the Israel Defense Forces said.

The IDF said the strike targeted armed men approaching the fence in northern Gaza. Palestinian sources said the dead man was Hamas militant.

Palestinian sources also said that the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigade, Hamas' military wing, was firing rockets at the Israeli border. (Posted 8:07 p.m.)

Bush to invoke Vietnam legacy in arguing against Iraq pullout

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush Wednesday will try to put a twist on his critics' argument that the Iraq war has become a Vietnam-like morass by invoking the historical lessons of Vietnam to argue against pulling out of Iraq, according to speech excerpts released by the White House Tuesday.

Bush will tell members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Kansas City that "then, as now, people argued that the real problem was America's presence and that if we would just withdraw, the killing would end."

According to the excerpts, the president will also make the argument that withdrawing from Vietnam emboldened today's terrorists by compromising U.S. credibility, citing a quote from al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden that the American people would rise against the Iraq war the same way they rose against the war in Vietnam.

The White House is billing Wednesday's speech, along with another address next week to the American Legion, as an effort to "provide broader context" for the debate over the upcoming report on progress in Iraq by Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. military commander and Ryan Crocker, the U.S. ambassador in Baghdad. (Posted 6:46 p.m.)

Tikrit police chief killed

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Tikrit's police chief was shot to death Tuesday night by gunmen who broke into his house in the town of al-Qadisiya, about 2.5 miles (4 km) north of Tikrit, police in the Iraqi town told CNN.

Col. Othman Chachan al-Ba'ajeeli, who became police chief last year, was killed at about 11 p.m. (3 p.m. ET), police said.

Ba'ajeeli's family was in the house at the time but escaped unharmed, police said.

According to police, he did not have tight security around his house because he felt it was unnecessary, as he was a former member of Saddam Hussein's Iraqi army and a well-known tribal figure.

Ba'ajeeli will be buried in his hometown of Ba'ajeel at Wednesday morning. (Posted 6:01 p.m.)

New York prosecutors to probe fatal Deutsche Bank fire

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The Manhattan district attorney's office and New York's attorney general announced Tuesday they have opened investigations into a fire last week at the condemned Deutsche Bank building that left two firefighters dead.

Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said his office would defer to District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau's probe and assist in any way. But in a written statement, he added, "The office of the attorney general is committed to examining and understanding what took place and what went wrong in order to ensure that this never happens again."

The announcements came three days after a seven-alarm fire in the abandoned building next to Ground Zero, where the World Trade Center once stood. The blaze claimed the lives of firefighters Joseph Graffagnino, of Ladder Company 5, and Robert Beddia, 53, of Engine Company 24. (Posted 5:52 p.m.)

Bush sees 'frustration' with Iraq's leaders but says change up to Iraqis

MONTEBELLO, Canada (CNN) -- President Bush acknowledged a mood of "frustration" hanging over Iraq's fractious, paralyzed government Tuesday, but said it was up to Iraqis to replace their leadership.

Stymied by boycotts, bickering, and bombings, the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has been unable to take the political steps Iraqi and U.S. officials say are necessary to bring an end to the 4-year-old war.

The leaders of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee warned Monday that Iraqi leaders may be facing their "last chance" to hold the government together -- and the panel's chairman, Sen. Carl Levin, called on Iraq's parliament to turn al-Maliki's "non-functioning" government out of office when it returns in two weeks.

Speaking at a news conference in Canada, where he was meeting with the leaders of Canada and Mexico, Bush said Iraqi leaders had made some progress -- but he said the government has "got to do more." (Posted 5:34 p.m.)

Dean moves into Bay of Campeche; Calderon fears for Mayan communities

CHETUMAL, Mexico (CNN) -- Hurricane Dean emerged back in the Gulf of Mexico Tuesday, entering the Bay of Campeche after soaking the Yucatan Peninsula. Earlier, forecasters said the storm -- which struck the Yucatan as a monster Category 5 hurricane with top winds of 165 mph (264 km/h) -- had weakened to a Category 1. But the National Hurricane Center warned some re-strengthening was possible as Dean prepares for a second landfall in Mexico.

As of 4 p.m. (5 p.m. ET), Dean's maximum sustained winds had dropped to 80 mph, forecasters said.

The storm is expected to hit central Mexico on Wednesday after crossing the bay, which lies in the southwestern corner of the Gulf of Mexico.

Dean is being blamed for at least nine deaths in its march across the Caribbean, including two in Jamaica, two in Haiti, two in Martinique, two in Dominica and one in St. Lucia.

As Dean weakened, it also decreased in size, forecasters said. The National Hurricane Center said hurricane force winds extended up to 35 miles from the storm's center, and tropical storm force winds extended outward 140 miles.

As of 5 p.m. ET, the center of Dean was located about 60 miles west-southwest of Campeche and about 410 miles east-southeast of Tuxpan. (Posted 4:48 p.m.)

Ex-Marine sergeant denies killing prisoners during Falluja battle, lawyer says

(CNN) -- A former Marine sergeant accused of killing two captives during a 2004 battle in Iraq says the scene other members of his squad described to investigators "didn't happen," his lawyer said Tuesday.

Jose Luis Nazario, who left the service in 2005, has pleaded not guilty to voluntary manslaughter charges brought by federal prosecutors in southern California. According to an affidavit from a Navy investigator, after killing one prisoner, the former sergeant asked his squad, "Who else wants to kill these guys? Because I don't want to do it all myself."

The prisoners -- four men who had been captured in a house that had been the source of hostile gunfire -- were killed so the Marines could keep up with the rest of their unit in the early days of the November 2004 battle to recapture Falluja, the affidavit states.

But Kevin McDermott, Nazario's lawyer, said his client denies the allegations completely. (Posted 4:36 p.m.)

D.A. launches investigation into Deutsche Bank fire

NEW YORK (CNN) -- The Manhattan district attorney's office announced Tuesday it has opened an investigation into a fire last week at the Deutsche Bank Building in Lower Manhattan that resulted in the deaths of two firefighters.

Three days after the seven-alarm fire in the abandoned building near Ground Zero claimed the lives of Joseph Graffagnino, of Ladder Company 5, and Robert Beddia, 53, of Engine Company 24, investigators focused Tuesday on why the building's water supply for firefighters and its sprinkler system failed to work.

"A section of the standpipe was not attached and was lying on the floor" in the Deutsche Bank Building, Mayor Bloomberg said Monday in a written statement.

Standpipes supply firefighters with a source of water inside buildings. (Posted 3:38 p.m.)

Pentagon to close domestic terror database

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Pentagon's counterintelligence office is shutting down a database of domestic threat information after years of controversy about whether the program overstepped its bounds by gathering information about Iraq war protesters.

The Talon Reporting System will be closed down on Sept. 17, the Pentagon announced Tuesday. Any data collected about threats to the Defense Department and domestic military installations will be sent to the FBI, until the Pentagon can establish a new program.

Any new database about domestic threats will be handled by the Pentagon's homeland defense office and not by its counterintelligence arm, according to DOD officials

DOD by law cannot collect information domestically about potential threats to its installations. But in late 2005, Talon exploded into the headlines when it was revealed that the Pentagon had kept initial reports in the database about peaceful protesters that posed no threat.

-- From Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr (Posted 3:19 p.m.)

Virginia Tech students recovering from carbon monoxide poisoning

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two of five Virginia Tech students hospitalized over the weekend for carbon monoxide poisoning showed improvement Tuesday, hospital officials said.

The roommates were found unconscious in their off-campus apartment on Sunday, a day before classes began for the fall semester.

Student Kristen Julia's condition was upgraded Tuesday from critical to serious and fellow student Kirstin Halik's condition was upgraded to fair, said University of Virginia Hospital spokeswoman Mary Jane Gore.

Both women were taken 143 miles from Blacksburg to the hospital in Charlottesville, Va.

Eighteen other students were sickened by the invisible, odorless gas. (Posted 3:18 p.m.)

15 ex-Hussein lieutenants on trial

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Fifteen former Iraqi officials from the regime of executed dictator Saddam Hussein went on trial Tuesday for their alleged roles in the slaughter of thousands of Shiite Muslims during a 1991 uprising, court officials said.

They are charged with crimes against humanity in the case being heard by the Iraqi High Tribunal. Estimates of the Shiite death toll range from 20,000 to 100,000. Mohammed Khaleefa -- the chief judge in the Anfal trial and himself a Shiite from the south -- will also preside over a five-judge panel in this case.

Four of the former regime members now standing trial have already been convicted for their roles in the Anfal campaign -- an Iraqi Army offensive in the 1980s that killed up to 100,000 people in the country's Kurdish region. They were convicted on a variety of charges, including genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

Receiving death sentences were Hussein's first cousin, Ali Hassan al-Majeed, nicknamed "Chemical Ali," Sultan Hashem Ahmed, military commander of the Anfal campaign, and Hussein Rashid Mohammed, deputy general commander of the Iraqi armed force, assistant chief of staff for military operations, and former Republican Guard commander. (Posted 2:54 p.m.)

Dean weakens over Yucatan; Calderon fears for Mayan communities

CHETUMAL, Mexico (CNN) -- While Mexico's tourist areas dodged a bullet, Mexican President Felipe Calderon Tuesday expressed concern for the Yucatan Peninsula's poor Mayan communities that may have bore the brunt of Hurricane Dean.

The Mexican leader said he will head to the Yucatan "as soon as my aircraft can land." There, he said he will "supervise the rescue missions" which will concentrate on the poorer indigenous communities.

Dean continued to drench the Yucatan on Tuesday after weakening to a Category 1 storm since coming ashore as a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane with top winds at 165 mph (264 km/h).

As of 1 p.m. (2 p.m. ET), its maximum sustained winds dropped to 85 mph as it began to emerge in the Bay of Campeche, according to the National Hurricane Center.

It is expected to hit central Mexico on Wednesday after crossing the bay, which lies in the southwestern corner of the Gulf of Mexico. (Posted 2:53 p.m.)

CIA report criticizes Tenet's pre-9/11 antiterror efforts

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former CIA Director George Tenet warned about the danger of al Qaeda before the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, but didn't put his full authority behind efforts to fight the terror network, according to a newly declassified report.

The 2005 report from the CIA's inspector-general blamed Tenet and other top CIA officials for not using at least their existing resources and for failing to come up with a complete strategy to battle al Qaeda. Though Tenet warned that that terror network was at war with the United States as early as 1998, he and his top aides did not develop a comprehensive strategy to counter al Qaeda before the attacks, the report found.

The full document remains classified, but a 19-page executive summary was released Tuesday at the direction of Congress.

In response, Tenet said a separate inspector-general's report -- completed shortly before the attacks -- "recommended no actions to me to improve our operations against terrorism."

-- From CNN's Carol Cratty (Posted 2:52 p.m.)

Iraqi, Syrian leaders meet as U.S. reports capture of Syrian insurgent in Iraq

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Iraq's prime minister, on an official three-day trip to Syria, sat down with that country's president on Tuesday to explore ways to deepen their bilateral relationship and find common ground on pressing issues like border security and the massive flight of Iraqi refugees to Syria.

Nuri al-Maliki's meeting with President Bashar al-Assad reflects Iraq's priorities for peace, security and economic development and Syria's stated support of such goals.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali Dabbagh told CNN that al-Maliki's message was clear: "Stability of Iraq is good for Syria and Syria needs to take" all necessary measures to stop border-crossing insurgents.

Dabbagh believes Syrian "goodwill" is important and hopes such goodwill translates into action. He also believes the Syrian leader understands the importance of Iraqi stability.

The Iraqi government is intent on fostering close ties on every level with its neighbors, including Syria and Iran -- both regularly accused by Iraq's biggest supporter, the United States, of being negative influences in Iraq. (Posted 2:50 p.m.)

FBI wants to question two men seen on Washington state ferries

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Seattle FBI has taken the unusual step of publicizing photos of two men who "exhibited unusual behavior" on Washington state ferries in an attempt to identify the pair.

"They seemed to have undue interest in the layout and the workings of the ferry and the ferry terminal," said Seattle FBI Special Agent Robbie Burroughs. Burroughs said the men were observed on multiple ferries and ferry routes and reports were made to law enforcement officials. Burroughs would not describe what actions the men took that were viewed as suspicious.

Burroughs told CNN the FBI is acting "out of an abundance of caution. Here the ferries are the equivalent of subways, so we are cautious." (Posted 1:34 p.m.)

Shuttle lands safely after Hurricane Dean shortens mission

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (CNN) -- The space shuttle Endeavour landed safely in Florida Tuesday after Hurricane Dean forced NASA to shorten its mission by one day.

The shuttle touched down at Kennedy Space Center at 12:32 p.m., 13 days after its departure on a mission to help assemble parts of the International Space Station (ISS).

"Welcome back. You give new meaning to the term 'higher education,'" mission control told the seven-member crew, which includes former teacher Barbara Morgan.(Posted 1:32 p.m.)

Bush sees 'certain level of frustration' with Iraq's leadership 'in general'

GATINEAU, Canada (CNN) -- President Bush on Tuesday acknowledged a mood of "frustration" hanging over Iraq's besieged leadership -- which is now presiding over a fractious, paralyzed government stymied by boycotts, bickering, and bombings.

Bush appeared at a press conference during his visit to Canada and was asked about the statement from Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., that Iraq's parliament should oust Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his government when it returns from its summer break two weeks from now. The president was also asked whether al-Maliki has lost credibility.

Bush noted some progress, but said the "Iraqi government's got to do more through its parliament to help heal the wounds of years -- of having lived years under a tyrant."

"The Iraqi people made a great step toward reconciliation when they passed the most modern constitution in the Middle East and now their government's got to perform. And I think there's a certain level of frustration with the leadership in general, inability to work -- come together to get, for example, an oil revenue law passed or provincial elections," Bush said. (Posted 1:31 p.m.)

American scholar released from Iranian prison after her mother pays bail

TEHRAN (CNN) -- American Haleh Esfandiari -- arrested by Tehran officials on charges of harming national security -- was released from an Iranian prison Tuesday after her mother posted bail, her family said.

Esfandiari's husband, Shaul Bakhash, said Esfandiari's mother, who lives in Tehran, received a call from Iranian authorities telling her to post bail. Bakhash said the bail was posted.

Typically in Iran, bail would be secured by the deed to the mother's apartment.

A cousin went to the prison to meet Esfandiari and later family members said she had returned to her mother's home.

Bakhash said he had spoken to his wife and that she "sounds well" even though other family members described her as "very tired" and she appeared gaunt in pictures broadcast on Iranian television.

Bakhash said Esfandiari was "delight to be out of prison" and was looking forward to getting her passport back. (Posted 1:30 p.m.)

Sixth suspect in Newark shootings pleads not guilty

NEWARK, N.J. (CNN) -- The sixth suspect in the August schoolyard shootings here, Melvin Jovel, pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Tuesday in Essex County Superior Court.

Jovel, 18, told prosecuters that he has no criminal background and has never faced criminal charges before. He said he has been living with his family in Elizabeth for the past five months.

Assistant Essex County Prosecuter said he is "unsure" of Jovel's immigration status. (Posted 1:30 p.m.)

Space shuttle set to land early after Hurricane Dean threatened to shut down mission control in Houston

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. (CNN) -- The space shuttle Endeavour is coming home Tuesday, a day early, after NASA decided to cut short its mission in case Hurricane Dean shut down Johnson Space Center in Houston, which directs the shuttle's re-entry and landing.

Endeavour is scheduled to land at Florida's Kennedy Space Center at 12:32 p.m. Tuesday. It began its deorbit to re-enter the earth's atmosphere around 11:25 a.m.

NASA made the decision Saturday to bring the shuttle back early, when forecasts for Dean showed the monster storm could veer to the north in the Gulf of Mexico and possibly force an evacuation of Johnson Space Center. But Dean, now a category 2 hurricane, has stayed well to the south, passing over the Yucatan peninsula early Tuesday. (Posted 11:34 a.m.)

Monster Dean further weakens after striking Yucatan with 165 mph winds

CHETUMAL, Mexico (CNN) -- Hurricane Dean continued to lose strength Tuesday morning, hours after making landfall on Mexico's Yucatan coast as a monster Category 5 storm, capable of inflicting catastrophic damage.

By 10 a.m. (11 a.m. ET), its top winds had decreased to 105 mph, a Category 2 storm, according to the National Hurricane Center.

There have been reports of downed power lines and damaged buildings in Mexico and northern Belize, but so far no reports of casualties there. Streets were flooded outside a hotel in Chetumal, just south of where Dean's center made landfall around 4:30 a.m. (5:30 a.m. ET) with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph. (Posted 11:12 a.m.)

In August, 4 female troop deaths in Iraq

(CNN) -- A U.S. soldier who died in Baghdad last week was the fourth female servicemember to die in Iraq this month, one of the highest such tolls in the Iraq war.

The numbers come from a CNN count of figures from the Pentagon. Eighty-two female military deaths have been recorded in Iraq since the war began nearly four and a half years ago. (Posted 10:26 a.m.)

Space shuttle set to land early after Hurricane Dean threatened to shut down mission control in Houston

Endeavour is scheduled to land at Florida's Kennedy Space Center at 12:32 p.m. Tuesday. If that landing slot doesn't work, another landing time is scheduled for 2:06 p.m.

But Dean, now a category 3 hurricane, has stayed well to the south, passing over the Yucatan peninsula early Tuesday. (Posted 10:05 a.m.)

American scholar expected to be released from Iranian prison after her mother pays bail

TEHRAN (CNN) -- American Haleh Esfandiari -- arrested by Tehran officials on charges of harming national security -- was due to be released from an Iranian prison Tuesday after her mother paid bail, her family said.

Esfandiari's husband, Shaul Bakhash, told CNN that Esfandiari's mother, who lives in Tehran, received a call from Iranian authorities telling her to post bail. Bakhash said the bail was posted but did not say how much was paid. He said he expected that his wife would be released soon.

The terms of her release were still not known.

The White House, which has criticized Iran for holding Esfandiari and several other Americans, expressed approval. White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said, "The U.S. welcomes the news." (Poste 10 a.m.)

Monster Dean weakens after striking Yucatan with 165 mph winds

CHETUMAL, Mexico (CNN) -- Hurricane Dean started losing strength Tuesday morning, hours after making landfall on Mexico's Yucatan coast as a monster Category 5 storm, capable of inflicting catastrophic damage.

Two hotel workers tried to clear a clogged street drain with a garden rake in an effort to relieve the flooded streets.

The storm's eye passed just below the resort towns of Cozumel and Cancun, striking a rural and sparsely populated area of Chetumal, the capital of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.

As of 7 a.m. (8 a.m. ET), Dean's maximum sustained winds decreased to 125 mph, making it a Category 3 hurricane, according to the latest National Hurricane Center advisory.

The massive storm -- about the size of Texas -- is packing hurricane force winds 60 miles from its center, and tropical storm conditions 175 miles from the center.

According to the latest NHC advisory, Dean's center was about 40 miles northwest of Chetumal moving west-northwest at about 20 mph.

The storm is expected to lose more strength as it passes across the Yucatan, before re-emerging in the Gulf of Mexico. It is forecast to strengthen again and hit central Mexico Wednesday, possibly as a Category 2 storm with winds around 100 mph. (Posted 9:28 a.m.)

In Jordan, a school barrier is removed for Iraqi refugee children

(CNN) -- The nation of Jordan has decided to allow all Iraqi refugee children in the country to attend public schools "regardless of whether their parents have residency permits or not," the United Nations said in a statement on Tuesday.

"We warmly welcome this generous decision and the positive impact it will have on the lives of thousands of refugee children," the U.N. refugee agency said.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees is hoping there will be strong backing for a $129 million appeal "aimed at getting an additional 155,000 uprooted Iraqi children in Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon back to school."(Posted 8:55 a.m.)

Iranian news agency says American will be released on bail

TEHRAN (CNN) -- The semi-official Fars News Agency reported Tuesday -- quoting an "informed source from Iran's judiciary"-- that American Haleh Esfandiari, arrested by Tehran officials on charges of harming national security, will soon be released on bail.

The Fars dispatch quoted the source as saying that a court is now through with investigations of the charges "and thus she won't be detained any more and will be released on bail."

There has been no official government statement about Esfandiari and exactly what being released on bail would mean for Esfandiari was not clear. Because of its semi-official status, the Fars News Agency does not publish articles which have not been sanctioned by the government.

In July, Iranian television aired a documentary that included jailed Iranian-Americans appearing to confess that they had participated in U.S. efforts to undermine the Iranian government. (Posted 8:54 a.m.)

Monster Dean weakens after striking Yucatan with 165 mph winds

As of 7 a.m. (8 a.m. ET), Dean's maximum sustained winds decreased to 125 mph, making it a Category 3 hurricane, according to the latest National Hurricane Center advisory.

The leading edge of Dean's eyewall moved ashore at about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph. The storm's center hit just north of Chetumal, the capital of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, in a rural and sparsely populated area. However, the storm is massive -- about the size of Texas -- and is packing hurricane force winds 60 miles from its center, and tropical storm conditions 175 miles from the center. (Posted 8:51 a.m.)

Islamic Jihad says members killed by Israeli air strike as they prepared to fire rockets into Israel; toll reports conflict

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Islamic Jihad said Tuesday three of its members were killed in an Israeli air strike as they prepared to fire rockets into Israel.

There were conflicting reports about the incident.

Palestinian security sources said that 3 Palestinians were killed standing outside their car near the border fence.

The Israel Defense Forces said an Israeli aircraft fired a missile at two armed Palestinians in the central Gaza .

An IDF spokesman said the two were about 600 meters from the security fence, making their way towards it.

Palestinian medical sources could confirm only one death and 2 injured.

On Monday, six members of the Hamas' Executive Force were killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza, hospital and Hamas officials said.

The IDF said that its air force targeted and hit a vehicle carrying a Palestinian militants who earlier in the day fired rockets into Israel.

The IDF said in the past four days 40 rockets and mortar shells were fired on Israel from Gaza. (Posted 7:05 a.m.)

Iraqi government official abducted by uniformed men, Interior Ministry says

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- An Iraqi government official was kidnapped on Monday afternoon in southern Baghdad while headed to his residence, an Iraqi Interior Ministry official said on Tuesday.

Samir Salim al-Atar, deputy minister of Science and Technology, was abducted by men dressed in military uniforms and driving what appeared to be a government convoy. (Posted 7:04 a.m.)

Monster Dean strikes Yucatan with 165 mph winds

CHETUMAL, Mexico (CNN) -- Hurricane Dean made landfall on Mexico's Yucatan coast Tuesday morning as a monster Category 5 storm -- capable of inflicting catastrophic damage -- after gaining intensity in the western Caribbean overnight.

The leading edge of Dean's eyewall moved ashore at about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday just north of Chetumal, the capital of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, according to the latest advisory from the National Hurricane Center.

Dean's maximum sustained winds were 165 mph, and the center of the storm was about 35 miles east-northeast of Chetumal moving west-northwest at about 20 mph, according to the NHC's 4 a.m. (5 a.m. ET) advisory.

A Category 5 storm is the most extreme level on the Saffir-Simpson scale of hurricane intensity. Such hurricanes can have a storm surge of more than 18 feet and are powerful enough to take off roofs, uproot trees, blow out windows and even completely destroy some structures. (Posted 5:05 a.m.)

Dean comes ashore on Yucatan coast

CHETUMAL, Mexico (CNN) -- Hurricane Dean made landfall as a monster Category 5 storm on Mexico's Yucatan coast Tuesday morning, after gaining intensity in the western Caribbean overnight, according to National Hurricane Center meteorologist Rebecca Waddington.

The leading edge of Dean's eyewall moved ashore at about 4:30 a.m. ET Tuesday just north of Chetumal, the capital of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, the NHC said. (Posted 5 a.m.)

15 ex-Hussein lieutenants on trial

They are charged with crimes against humanity in the case being heard by the Iraqi High Tribunal. Estimates of the Shiite death toll range from 20,000 to 100,000.

Mohammed Khaleefa, the chief Judge in the Anfal trial, will also preside over a five judge panel in this case. (Posted 4:10 a.m.)

Monster Dean bears down on Yucatan with catastrophic punch

CHETUMAL, Mexico (CNN) -- Just hours away from crashing into Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, Hurricane Dean picked up intensity in the western Caribbean Monday night and burgeoned into a Category 5 storm -- capable of inflicting catastrophic damage when it makes landfall early Tuesday.

Squalls of heavy rain and wind were rolling on shore in the Yucatan, where conditions were rapidly deteriorating as Dean's eye moved closer to the coast.

As of 1 a.m. (2 a.m. ET), Dean's maximum sustained winds were 160 mph, and the center of the storm was about 100 miles east of Chetumal, Mexico, moving west at about 20 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center, which forecast that the hurricane would remain Category 5 at landfall and shortly afterward.

Monster Dean bears down on Yucatan with catastrophic punch

Squalls of heavy rain and wind were rolling on shore in the Yucatan, where conditions were rapidly deteriorating as Dean's eye moved closer to the coast.

As of 10 p.m. (11 p.m. ET), Dean's maximum sustained winds were 160 mph, and the center of the storm was about 150 miles east of Chetumal, Mexico, moving west at about 20 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center, which forecast that the hurricane would remain Category 5 at landfall and shortly afterward.

Final body recovered from Minnesota bridge collapse

(CNN) -- Recovery teams searching the Mississippi River in Minneapolis for victims of the Interstate 35W bridge collapse have recovered the 13th and final body from the disaster, Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek said Monday night.

The body of Gregory Jolstad was recovered around 6:15 p.m. (7:15 p.m. ET). Jolstad was a member of the construction crew working on the bridge at the time of the collapse.

"Tonight I have a grateful heart and a measurable sense of relief," Stanek said. "We've reunited each of the known victims of the 35W bridge disaster ... with their families that so anxiously and lovingly awaited them."

The I-35W bridge over the Mississippi collapsed during evening rush hour on Aug. 1. The 35W bridge had been scheduled for major rehabilitation or replacement in 2020, an official with the Minnesota Department of Transportation said earlier this month. (Posted 12:15 a.m.)

Experts rule out underground rescue at Utah mine

HUNTINGTON, Utah (CNN) -- A panel of experts has determined that the Crandall Canyon coal mine is so unstable that it would be "unacceptable" to resume digging through the mine tunnel to try to locate six miners who have been missing for two weeks, officials in charge of the rescue effort announced Monday evening.

Richard Stickler, head of the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, said eight experts brought in to look at the condition of the central Utah mine found "overwhelming" evidence that unpredictable seismic activity and instability of pillars in the mine presented too much of a danger to resume the rescue, which was halted after three rescue workers were killed and six injured Thursday in a cave-in.

However, Stickler said if rescuers get any indications that miners are alive, they would consider digging an opening down to them from above and attempting to get them out with a rescue capsule.

So far, crews have dug four bore holes down into the mine, finding no signs of the miners and too little oxygen to sustain life. Work continues on a fifth bore hole, Stickler said. (Posted 10:10 p.m.) E-mail to a friend

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