The CNN Wire: Saturday Aug 25

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.

Attorney: Sixth mine bore hole revealed chamber filled with rubble

(CNN) -- A sixth bore hole drilled into a space where six Utah miners were thought to be working before an Aug. 6 mine collapse revealed that the chamber was filled with rubble and contained no space where the men could have survived, Colin King, a Salt Lake City attorney representing some of the miners' family members, told CNN Saturday.

That news was conveyed to the family members, King said. He quoted Rob Moore, vice president of Murray Energy, as telling the relatives, "There was zero void."

"They are going through a living hell, and it's just heartbreaking," King said of the miners' families. Moore told relatives Saturday officials have not ruled out the possibility of drilling a seventh hole, King said, but no definite plans or intentions were communicated to the families. "They gave nothing definite about anything," he said.

Earlier, a Mine Safety and Health Administration spokesman on duty at the Crandall Canyon mine said in a statement drilling on the bore hole was complete and "the process of evaluation" was underway. Matthew Faraci said a news conference likely would be held Sunday. (Posted 10:32 p.m.)

Sixth bore hole completed at Utah mine; evaluation underway

(CNN) -- A final attempt to contact six Utah miners trapped underground following a mine collapse early this month was underway Saturday with the completion of the drilling of a sixth bore hole, a federal official said.

The drilling on the hole is complete, and "the process of evaluation" had begun, said Matthew Faraci, a Mine Safety and Health Administration spokesman on duty at the Crandall Canyon mine. A news conference will likely be held Sunday afternoon, Faraci said.

The bore hole is the final one being drilled into the mine. Attempts to contact the miners through five previous bore holes have been unsuccessful, and an underground rescue effort was called off last week after a second cave-in killed three rescuers and injured six others. Bob Murray, co-owner of the coal mine and CEO of Murray Energy, said earlier this week the search effort will stop if no signs of life are found.

"This is the last hole," Murray said. "If we don't find anybody alive in that hole, there's nowhere else that anyone ... would know where to drill any more holes to try to find these trapped miners." (Posted 9:34 p.m.)

Officials: India blasts that killed 41 were terror attacks

NEW DELHI (CNN) -- Indian officials said two nearly simultaneous explosions that killed 41 people Saturday night in the southern city of Hyderabad were terror attacks.

The blasts in a busy commercial district injured more than 60 people, said Y.S.R. Reddy, chief minister of the Andhra Pradesh state. Security has been increased at the airport and railroads.

"This is definitely terrorist activity," Reddy said. "I urge everyone to maintain calm."

He and police officials said 10 people died at Lumbini Park, and 31 were killed at Kothi market. Authorities also found explosives at 16 other locations.

Reddy scheduled a Cabinet meeting Sunday to discuss the incidents. There was a terror attack in Hyderabad three months ago. (Posted 5:55 p.m.)

DMX's attorney says caretaker in charge of dogs

CAVE CREEK, Ariz. (CNN) -- The attorney for rapper DMX defended his client Saturday after sheriff's deputies raided his home near Phoenix and confiscated about a dozen dogs, described as either pit bulls or a pit bull-English mastiff mix.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joseph Arpaio said the property was raided Friday after a two-week investigation prompted by a tip from someone who said the animals were being abused.

Authorities said there have been no arrests, and they found no evidence of dogfighting. The investigation is continuing. Arpaio said drugs, drug paraphernalia and weapons also were discovered. Authorities didn't know whether the weapons were legal.

DMX's attorney, Murray Richman, said his client -- whose real name is Earl Simmons -- has been away on tour for the last several weeks, and left a caretaker in charge of the animals. (Posted 5:30 p.m.)

Sources: Militant killed, two arrested in West Bank

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Two alleged Palestinian militants were arrested and a third was killed Saturday in an Israeli operation in the village of Seida, northeast of Tulkarm, Israeli security sources said.

A border policeman was wounded, the sources said.

The three Palestinians allegedly were members of a cell involved in attempts to carry out suicide bombings against Israeli citizens and Israel Defense Forces, according to the security sources.

Israeli soldiers found assault rifles and ammunition in the militants' possession, sources said, and also found two vests containing nine explosive devices. The devices were detonated safely. (Posted 4:50 p.m.)

Mother, daughter die in hot-air balloon fire in Canada

(CNN) -- The bodies of a mother and a daughter were retrieved Saturday, less than a day after a hot-air balloon caught fire before launching at a recreational vehicle park in South Surrey, British Columbia, authorities said.

Yves Portelance, a spokesman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said the bodies were discovered at midday, but had no other details. Eleven people were injured, but many were treated at a hospital and released, he said. The conditions of the others were not known.

Stephen Pennock, who also owns Fantasy Balloon Charters, said three passengers were in the gondola of the balloon when the fire began on Friday night. One jumped out, and the bodies of the other two were unaccounted for until Saturday. (Posted 1:40 p.m.)

Legal showdown possible between DNC, Fla. Dems over delegate seating at convention

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Democratic National Committee on Saturday rejected a plan submitted by Florida Democrats to hold their presidential primary on Jan. 29, setting up a potential legal showdown between the national and state parties over the seating of delegates at next year's Democratic National Convention.

Anticipating this would happen, Sen. Bill Nelson and other Florida Democratic lawmakers threatened on Friday to sue the DNC if the national party barred Sunshine State delegates from attending the convention.

"If the Democratic National Committee sanctions Florida then some of us (in) the Florida congressional delegation may ask an appropriate legal venue to determine whether or not a political parties rules can supersede someone's right to vote," Nelson said in a conference call with reporters.

The DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee declared that Jan. 29 was not in compliance with its rules and therefore rejected the proposal. The DNC prohibits any state other than Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina from holding a nominating contest before Feb. 5. (Posted 1:14 p.m.)

2 killed in northern Iraq roadside bombs

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Two separate roadside bombs in northern Iraq on Saturday killed an Iraqi soldier and a civilian, police in that city told CNN.

The attacks occurred in the Salaheddin province city of Baiji.

A soldier was killed and three others wounded when a roadside bomb detonated near their convoy in central Baiji. A roadside bomb also killed a civilian and wounded two others just west of Baiji. (Posted 1:13 p.m.)

Greeks probe possible arson link behind fires in south

ATHENS, Greece (CNN) -- Fires in southern Greece have razed dozens of villages and killed at least 44 people, and Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis suggested Saturday night that they may have been deliberately set ahead of next month's national elections.

Karamanlis declared a nationwide state of emergency Saturday night, mobilizing all resources. He requested help from the European Union.

Emergency crews pulled charred bodies from homes and, unofficially, death tolls closer to 50 were reported. None of the fires in the parched region were deemed under control, including one burning on the fringes of Athens.

Scores of people have been hospitalized with severe burns and respiratory problems, state-run television reported.

One fire was burning close to Athens International Airport, forcing officials to close a highway. Karamanlis said a special fund has been set up for fire victims and their families, and a special study would be done to assess the disaster.

The worst-hit area stretched for 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the western towns of the Zaharo, within the highlands of the western Peloponnese, to the southern tip of the peninsula, Mani. (Posted 12:42 p.m.)

10 bodies found dumped in Baghdad

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Ten bodies were found dumped in Baghdad on Saturday, the Interior Ministry said.

The unidentified corpses were thought to be victims of sectarian violence that has been raging between Sunnis and Shiites. The total number of bodies found in the capital so far this month is 371. (Posted 12:34 p.m.)

5 dead , 27 wounded in Baghdad blast

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- At least five civilians were killed and 27 others were wounded when a parked car bomb exploded Saturday afternoon in a busy commercial area near a major Shiite shrine northern Baghdad, the U.S. military said.

The blast occurred in the city's Kadhimiya district at a busy intersection near the Musa al-Kadhim shrine, one of Shiite Islam's holiest shrines.

Iraqi Army troops concluded the explosion was caused from an improvised explosive devise placed beneath a parked vehicle. Several vehicles and a vendor's stand were destroyed, and buildings were damaged, the military said. (Posted 12:33 p.m.)

Baghdad restricts bikes, carts announced ahead of pilgrimage

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Baghdad authorities have banned motorcycles, bicycles and carts from the streets in an effort to protect Shiites trekking south to Karbala for a pilgrimage.

This was in effect until further notice beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, according to the Interior Ministry. Earlier, a complete vehicle ban was announced. But the ban was later modified to not include cars. The ban includes bicycles, motorcyles, and carts pulled by animals and pushed by people.

The faithful are headed to Karbala to commemorate Sha'abaniya, the birthday next week of the Mehdi, the 12th imam revered by Shiites. The celebrations reach their peak on Tuesday night into Wednesday. (Posted 11:15 a.m.)

Defense Minister: Afghanistan called off hostage rescue operation at behest of South Korea

KABUL (CNN) -- Afghanistan conceived a military operation to save 19 kidnapped South Korean hostages but then abstained at the request of the South Korean government, Afghanistan's defense minister said on Saturday.

Twenty-three hostages, all church volunteers, were seized July 19 by the Taliban militant group while they were traveling on a bus in Afghanistan. Two were executed and two others were freed, leaving 19 still in captivity.

"From day, one especially from the second day of Korean hostage crisis, the Afghan army was in a position to initiate a military action, and we also wanted to use our 1st battalion which is the elite unit of the Afghan national army to be used in this operation," Defense Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak told a news conference.

But Wardak said that South Korea -- which had since been involved in negotiations with the Taliban to help free the captives -- asked the country not to take such an action. Afghanistan called off military action "based on that request." (Posted 10:50 a.m.)

Pakistan test-fires new missile

LAHORE, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan, the South Asian nation with nuclear capability, says it has successfully test-fired a new missile that "can carry all types of warheads."

The army said in a statement that the country on Saturday fired an "air-launched cruise missile called Hatf-8, or Ra'ad -- which means thunder in Arabic.

The missile has "a range of "350 kilometers" or nearly 220 miles "for now." And, it has been designed exclusively for launch from a variety of Pakistan's air platforms." (Posted 9:30 a.m.)

3 insurgents killed in Diyala raid; suspected bomb-maker in Baghdad targeted at Red Crescent facility

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Coalition forces in Iraq early Saturday killed three insurgents in a Diyala province town and targeted a suspected bomb-maker at a "Red Crescent facility" in Baghdad.

These are among a series of raids across Iraq announced by the U.S. military on Saturday.

The three insurgents were killed north of Diyala's Muqdadiya, when troops raided buildings in search of al Qaeda in Iraq's local "media emir." In western Baghdad, troops conducted a "pre-dawn operation" targeting a bomb-maker. They targeted a building that was described as a "Red Crescent facility." (Posted 7:51 a.m.)

Troops south of Baghdad find 'terrorist execution site'

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- The U.S. military on Saturday said coalition forces south of Baghdad recently found an "execution and dumping site" used by "terrorists.

The discovery was made during an operation Tuesday through Thursday in the Arab Jabour area, a region where al Qaeda in Iraq has a presence.

"The ground forces found human skulls, decomposing bodies and bones wrapped in bloody clothes," the military said. "Wild dogs were rampant around the area, which was characterized by a crater where most of the human remains were dumped. Inside a nearby building, the ground forces found blood spatter and other signs indicating executions had taken place there." (Posted 7:16 a.m.)

Bomb blast in Baghdad Shiite area kills at least three

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- At least three civilians were killed and six others were wounded when a parked car bomb exploded Saturday afternoon in a busy commercial area in a mainly Shiite section of northern Baghdad, Iraq's interior ministry said.

The blast occurred in the city's Kadhimiya district near al-Orouba square, the official said. Kadhimiya is home to Shiite Islam's third holiest shrine, the Musa al-Kadhim shrine. (Posted 5:31 a.m.)

Fighting between IDF and Palestinian militants breaks out in West Bank

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- In the West Bank town of Jenin Israeli forces opened fire on and killed three armed Palestinian militants as they were driving in a car early Saturday, Israel Defense Forces said.

The attack was launched in concession with an Israeli special forces unit. Afterwards soldiers found several guns and ammunition in the targeted car, the Israeli army said. Palestinian officials had a different account of the incident.

According to Palestinian security officials one Palestinian was killed and four others were injured in the IDF operation. The officials identified the killed man as Alaa Abu Said, a local leader of Islamic Jihad. (Posted 5:35 a.m.)

Israeli troops open fire on Gaza gunmen

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israeli troops opened fire on Palestinian gunmen after they hopped a border fence near the Erez junction in northern Gaza and attempted to flee into a nearby Israeli community, Israeli army sources said.

According to a Palestinian militant spokesman, three gunmen were involved -- two who were killed by Israeli forces and one who escaped.

Israel Defense Forces could not immediately confirm to CNN the exact number of Palestinian casualties involved following the exchange of gunfire -- which the Israeli army said was instigated by the Gaza gunmen -- but it did confirm one Israeli soldier was wounded. (Posted 5:35 a.m.)

IDF: Forces kill 1 militant in West Bank raid

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- A Palestinian militant was killed and two others were arrested Friday during an Israeli raid in the West Bank village of Seida, Israel Defense Forces said.

Israel said all three involved were Islamic Jihad terror operatives involved in bomb attacks against Israeli forces and civilians. One of the men's assistants was also arrested.

During an exchange of gunfire a member of the Israeli paramilitary border police was wounded, the IDF said. (Posted 5:35 a.m.) E-mail to a friend