The CNN Wire: Friday, Sep. 28

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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.

Initial reports: Kabul suicide bomber targets army bus

(CNN) -- A bomb ripped through an Afghan national army bus in the capital city of Kabul, causing a number of casualties Saturday morning and damage to the bus, Interior Ministry spokesman Zmarai Bashary told CNN.

The exact number of dead and wounded caused in the attack, which initial reports indicate were launched by a suicide bomber, was not immediately known.

"At that time of day the area is a crowed place so maybe both army and civilian casualties (occurred)," Bashary said. "We will know more later." (Posted 12:26 a.m.)

Girl assaulted on tape found safe

(CNN) -- A 3-year-old girl shown on a four-year-old videotape being sexually assaulted in Las Vegas has been found and is safe, the Nye County Sheriff's Department said Friday.

A former Las Vegas animal trainer who was a friend of the girl's family is being sought in the case, according to Sheriff Tony DeMeo.

"She's OK; the mother has cooperated with us," said Sheriff Tony DeMeo. "We believe that the mother was not aware of anything that went on with this young girl. It was very sad for her to find this out."

The girl's name is Madison, officials said.

Nevadan Darren Tuck recently gave police the videotape, saying he found it in the desert, DeMeo said. Police said he had had the tape at least since May 2007 prior to handing it over to authorities. He is being sought on a parole violation for failure to pay child support.

Tuck, who also allegedly showed the tape to others prior to giving it to police, faces a possible 10 years to life sentence for exhibiting pornography and another one to six years for possession of child pornography, said DeMeo.

Chester Arthur Stiles, 37, a resident of Pahrump, Nev., has been identified as a suspect. Stiles was not related to the girl, but had a "several-tiered friend connection" to her family, said Nye County Sheriff's Det. David Boruchowitz. (Posted 11:12 p.m.)

Lawmakers want Marine's complaints about Oakland airport investigated

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Two lawmakers asked Friday for a Department of Transportation investigation into a Marine's allegations that he and 200 other military personnel returning Thursday from Iraq were not allowed into the terminal at Oakland International Airport, but instead had to deplane 400 yards away.

"It felt like being spit on," the Marine, who was not publicly identified, wrote in an e-mail to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. "Every Marine and soldier felt the message loud and clear, 'You are not welcome in Oakland.'"

Oakland International Airport spokeswoman Rosemary Barnes told CNN that airport officials are investigating, but believe the incident stemmed from the airport not getting needed information before the flight landed.

"We make customer service a priority here for our passengers," she said, and airport officials "bend over backward" to support the military. (Posted: 8:16 p.m.)

Head of Blackwater probe vows review of security in Iraq

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The man leading the State Department's probe into how Blackwater and other private contractors guard U.S. diplomats in Iraq said Friday his investigation will include "an overall review of how we conduct our security operations in Iraq."

Ambassador Patrick Kennedy is a 34-year State Department veteran and a management and policy expert.

"We have extensive rules and processes the contractors must follow," he said. But "are they the right rules and processes and are they being followed correctly?"

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wants an interim report by next Friday, followed by recommendations. (Posted: 7:04 p.m.)

Justice Dept. officials, civil rights leaders meet on 'Jena 6' case

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- National civil rights leaders met Friday with Justice Department officials to push for a federal civil rights investigation into threats allegedly made in connection with the "Jena 6" case in Louisiana.

"The idea of the hate act is now being spread across the country," said the Rev. Jesse Jackson. "It's Louisiana, it's Maryland, it's West Virginia. We must stop the acts of hate and the law must be used."

The leaders want the federal government to investigate whether last week's hanging of a noose in Alexandria, La., following the nearby march by thousands of activists was a hate crime.

The marchers were supporting six African-American students from Jena who were charged in the December 2006 beating of a white student. The last defendant to get out of jail was released Thursday on bond. (Posted: 6:44 p.m.)

Latest missile defense test hits target missile

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The latest test of the national missile defense system succeeded Friday when a decoy missile was hit by an interceptor missile over the Pacific Ocean, according to Pentagon officials.

A target missile was launched from Kodiak, Alaska, simulating a hostile incoming missile aimed for the United States. Moments later an interceptor missile was fired from a base on the California coast.

Pentagon officials said the test objectives included demonstrating the ability of the Upgraded Early Warning Radar at Beale Air Force Base, Calif., to acquire, track and report incoming missiles.

The multibillion-dollar missile defense project has had mixed success over the years. Friday's ground-based missile test marked seven successful tests out of 11 attempts, Missile Defense officials said. --From CNN Pentagon Producer Mike Mount (Posted 6:16 p.m.)

Republicans' Iraq proposal hits roadblock

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A proposal that a small group of Republicans think will force a change in the president's Iraq policy while getting over a 60-vote hurdle in the Senate ran into a major roadblock Friday when Democratic Leader Harry Reid and Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin dismissed it as too weak.

Spearheaded by Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio, the measure is backed by Republicans Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, and Norm Coleman of Minnesota -- all up for re-election -- who have grown weary of the war but who have been reluctant to support Democratic bills providing a firm deadline for troop withdrawals.

The legislation would set 15 months from enactment as a goal for the United States to end combat missions in Iraq and concentrate U.S. forces on hunting al Qaeda and providing support and training to Iraqi forces.

Levin and Voinovich met several times this week to try to forge a compromise. But at a news conference Friday, Levin said the 15-month time frame -- which would put the goal for transition at the time President Bush is leaving office -- is too long for most Democrats, who prefer a nine-month goal so the transition occurs before the next election. --From CNN's Dana Bash, Deirdre Walsh and Ted Barrett (Posted 6:08 p.m.)

Coast Guard commandant to speak to academy cadets, staff about noose incidents

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The head of the U.S. Coast Guard plans to speak to Coast Guard Academy cadets and employees next week to express his concern about the discovery this summer of two small hangman's nooses on Coast Guard properties.

Adm. Thad Allen will be accompanied Thursday by Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Maryland, who has asked for an investigation into the incidents.

A 6-inch string tied as a noose was found in an African-American cadet's sea bag in July while he was serving aboard the historic tall ship Eagle. And during race-relations training in August that was a response to the first incident, a white female civil rights instructor found a small noose in her office at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn. (Posted 6:07 p.m.)

FBI director: Anthrax killer ultimately will be caught

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Six years after the first anthrax-laced letters started making their way through the U.S. postal system, the FBI director Friday said he believes that "ultimately" whoever was responsible for the attacks will be caught.

"It is an ongoing investigation. And it is a very important ongoing investigation, has been since Sept. 11. We have never let up," FBI Director Robert Mueller said during an appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

Sources familiar with the investigation have previously told CNN there did not seem to be any strong leads toward finding the culprit.

"We have substantial numbers of agents and personnel still dedicated to it. We have learned a tremendous amount," Mueller said. --From CNN Senior Producer Kevin Bohn (Posted 5:27 p.m.)

Clinton, Obama neck-and-neck in latest fund-raising stats

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Democratic presidential campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton will report raising $17 million to $20 million in the third quarter, CNN has learned from campaign sources. The campaign of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., will report raising $18 million to $19 million, campaign sources said.

Last quarter, Obama out-raised Clinton, but she had more cash on hand.

Among Republicans, campaign sources working for the campaign of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani would say only that they expect again to lead the pack of Republican candidates.

Former Sen. Fred Thompson will report more than $7 million, campaign sources told CNN's Gloria Borger. And CNN has learned that Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., will report raising more than $5 million for the quarter, a relatively modest amount. --From CNN's John King (Posted 5:09 p.m.)

Waxman says State Department inspector general's office may be strong-arming staff to be silent

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif. -- who has already scheduled hearings into whether the State Department's inspector general interfered with investigations -- is making fresh accusations against the official, Howard Krongard, claiming the agency's watchdog office is trying to force its own staff to stay silent.

Waxman is chairman of the House Oversight Committee. He slated hearings for next month after accusations by a group of Foreign Service officers that he was interfering with investigations to protect the White House.

On Friday, Waxman fired off a new letter accusing Krongard's staff of threatening to fire officials in their own office if they cooperated with the earlier investigation.

Krongard is on official business in Iraq. A spokeswoman in his office denied Waxman's accusations, saying, "We've been cooperating with the committee. We have made everyone requested available to cooperate and testify truthfully." (Posted 4:41 p.m.)

Security contractors use 'over the top tactics' in Iraq, U.S. general says

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A top U.S. general in Iraq said Friday he has seen security contractors there overreact at times, just days after Defense Secretary Robert Gates said he wants closer oversight of Pentagon contractors in Iraq and has dispatched a team there to review military procedures.

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Joseph Anderson, chief of staff for the Multi-National Corps in Iraq, said many in Iraq have witnessed security contractors operating in a questionable fashion.

"I can certainly say I've seen them do some tactics that I thought were over the top. But that's something we've got to keep working out," Anderson said in a briefing to Pentagon reporters via teleconference from Iraq.

Anderson did not offer any specific examples of incidents he had seen. --From CNN Pentagon producer Mike Mount (Posted 3:49 p.m.)

Facebook profile helps victim find alleged attacker, police say

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Georgetown University sophomore appeared before a District of Columbia court Friday on a hate crime assault charge in connection with an attack near campus nearly two weeks ago. Police say the suspect's profile on the popular Facebook Internet site helped lead to his arrest.

Phillip Anderton Cooney of Southlake, Texas, is charged with simple assault with a bias/hate crime specification, according to police and the U.S. attorney's office.

Police said that after the alleged attack occurred Sept. 9, the victim -- who suffered a broken thumb along with cuts and bruises -- started looking on Facebook to see if he could find the person who attacked him, according to Lt. Alberto Jova of the Metropolitan Police Department's Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit.

When he found a profile of someone who looked like his attacker, police investigated, then created a photo spread of possible suspects. The victim picked Cooney's photo from the photo spread and D.C. Police worked with Georgetown University Public Safety officers to arrest him, Jova said. --From CNN's Larry Shaughnessy (Posted 2:39 p.m.)

Pentagon asks 'high value' detainees if they want lawyers

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Pentagon is asking 14 "high-value" terrorism suspects now held on the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, whether they want to request civilian lawyers. This could open the way for the top level al Qaeda prisoners to challenge their status as enemy combatants in the U.S. court system.

The 14 suspects include Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Ramzi Binalshibh. U.S. officials refer to Mohammed as the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S. and to Binalshibh as a key player in that plot.

The detainees received legal representation request forms during the last week of August and the first week of September. Sources familiar with the process say at least four of them have requested access to lawyers so far.

"Like all other detainees at Guantanamo, the high-value detainees have the opportunity to contest their combatant status review tribunals by filing a Detainee Treatment Act petition with the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit," said Navy Cmdr. J.D. Gordon, who is a Pentagon spokesman. Those tribunals are military proceedings to determine if the detainees are enemy combatants. The prisoners do not have legal representation at those hearings. --From CNN Senior Producer Carol Cratty (Posted 2:33 p.m.)

Myanmar bloggers on 'a mission' now cut off

(CNN) -- The Internet connection in Myanmar was cut Friday, limiting the free flow of information the nation's citizens were sharing with the world depicting the violent crackdown on monks and other peaceful demonstrators.

Myanmar-based blogs went dark suddenly. But London-based blogger Ko Htike -- who has been one of the most prominent people posting information about the violence -- has vowed to keep up the fight, saying, "if there is a will, there is a way."

"I sadly announce that the Burmese military junta has cut off the Internet connection throughout the country," he said on his blog Friday. "I, therefore, would not be able to feed in pictures of the brutality by the brutal Burmese military junta."

Ko Htike, 28, left Myanmar, traditionally known as Burma, seven years ago to study in England.

He told CNN.com a day earlier that as many as 40 people in Myanmar were sending him photos or calling him with information. They often took the photos from windows from their homes, he said. --From CNN.com's Wayne Drash (Posted 12:58 p.m.)

Bush on climate change: 'The moment is now'

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush vowed Friday the United States "will do our part" to improve the environment by taking on carbon emissions.

In an address to the Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change, sponsored by the White House, Bush called on "all the world's largest producers of greenhouse gas emissions, including developed and developing nations," to come together and "set a long-term goal for reducing" greenhouse emissions.

"By setting this goal, we acknowledge there is a problem, and by setting this goal, we commit ourselves to doing something about it," he said.

"By next summer, we will convene a meeting of heads of state to finalize the goal and other elements of this approach, including a strong and transparent system for measuring our progress toward meeting the goal we set... Only by doing the necessary work this year will it be possible to reach a global consensus at the U.N. in 2009." (Posted 12:37 p.m.)

Troops in Iraq find 9/11 insurgent propaganda

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Coalition troops in Iraq this week discovered insurgent propaganda extolling the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States, the military said on Friday.

The material was found Wednesday in a cache in a house in Qarghulli Village, south of Baghdad, by soldiers of the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment.

Troops found "a small booklet featuring images of the attacks and a script praising the attacks." They also found other material, inlcuding blasting caps and a terrorist manual with directions on constructing vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices.

"Our assessment is that these guys were getting ready to launch attacks during the Ramadan celebration," said Lt. Thomas Ceislak of the regiment. (Posted 12:11 p.m.)

World powers keep heat on Iran

NEW YORK (CNN) -- Representatives of world powers Friday announced that unless a November report shows a "positive outcome" of talks with Iran about its uranium enrichment program, they will move ahead with plans for a resolution imposing additional sanctions on the country.

The announcement came out of a meeting of what the participants termed the "P5 plus two." The meeting included the U.S. secretary of state and the foreign ministers of the other four permanent members of the U.N. Security Council (Britain, China, France and Russia), along with the foreign minister of Germany and Javier Solana, the European Union foreign policy chief who has held nuclear talks with Iran.

The Security Council has repeatedly demanded that Iran suspend enrichment of uranium and has imposed limited sanctions on Tehran for refusing to comply. The United States has been trying to cut Iran off from the international financial system and the European Union is weighing its own unilateral sanctions.

The P5 plus two issued a statement Friday saying that because Iran has not suspended its "enrichment and reprocessing activities" and taken other steps called for in two previous U.N. resolutions, they agreed to "finalize a text" for another resolution with the aim of "bringing it to a vote in the U.N. Security Council unless the November reports of Dr. Solana and Dr. ElBaradei show a positive outcome of their efforts."

Mohamed ElBaradei is director-general of the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency. --From CNN State Department Producer Elise Labott (Posted 12:02 p.m.)

NHC: Two storms weaken, another is born

MIAMI (CNN) -- Two tropical weather systems were rapidly losing steam Friday, but a third system was upgraded to a tropical depression, the National Hurricane Center said.

At 11 a.m. ET, a tropical depression that came ashore earlier in the day as Hurricane Lorenzo sported winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) as it moved west across east-central Mexico. Lorenzo was still forecast to drop 5 to 10 inches of rain, more in some locations, before dissipating sometime Saturday.

In the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Karen was barely hanging on with 40 mph (65 km/h) winds, the NHC said. It is expected to continue to weaken over the next 24 hours, forecasters said.

Meanwhile, farther east in the Atlantic, Tropical Depression 14 formed about 210 miles (340 kilometers) southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. At 11 a.m. its maximum sustained winds were near 35 mph (55 km/h) as it moved west at 7 mph (11 km/h). Some strengthening is possible within the next 24 hours, NHC forecasters said. (Posted 11:23 a.m.)

Lack of wiretap evidence leads to acquittal of 7 accused of terror link

MADRID (CNN) -- A Spanish court Friday acquitted seven North Africans of Islamic terrorist activity, some of it allegedly involving logistical support for al Qaeda operatives linked to the September 11 attacks, according to a copy of the sentence viewed by CNN.

A three-judge panel at the National Court, which handles terrorism cases, appeared to throw out key wiretapping evidence that prosecutors sought to introduce against the defendants. Spain's Supreme Court last year issued a ruling limiting the use of wiretapping evidence.

Those acquitted include six Algerians and a Tunisian, most of whom had Spanish residency papers.

The sentence said that police transcripts of the wiretaps could not be admitted for evidence and that the police failed to present the actual wiretap tapes during the trial. --From CNN Madrid Bureau Chief Al Goodman (Posted 11:04 a.m.)

Bush on climate change: 'The moment is now'

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush told a global climate change conference Friday that the United States "will do our part" to improve the environment by taking on carbon emissions.

In an address to a global climate change conference, he called on all countries -- including developing nations -- to come together and "set a long-term goal for reducing" greenhouse emissions. "By setting this goal, we acknowledge there is a problem, and by setting this goal, we commit ourselves to doing something about it," he said.

"We take this issue seriously," he added, at the Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change, sponsored by the White House.

Bush told the group of international leaders, "Last year, America grew our economy while also reducing greenhouse emissions." If the preliminary numbers hold, it would make 2006 the first time in Bush's presidency that greenhouse emissions dropped. (Posted 10:49 a.m.)

World powers meet to turn heat up on Iran

NEW YORK (CNN) -- World powers met Friday to discuss a third U.N. Security Council resolution imposing additional sanctions against Iran for failing to suspend its uranium enrichment program.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met her counterparts from the "P5 plus one" -- the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council (Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States) along with Germany.

Javier Solana, the European Union foreign policy chief who has held nuclear talks with Iran, also joined the meeting.

U.S. military reports killing of top militant in Iraq

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A U.S. military commander Friday reported the death of a top al Qaeda in Iraq leader earlier this week.

He was identified as Abu Usamah al-Tunisi, a Tunisian who was part of the inner circle of al Qaeda in Iraq.

Army Brig. Gen. Joseph Anderson, chief of staff for the Multinational Corps-Iraq, said his death was "a significant blow" to the militant group.

He was killed on Tuesday in Mussayib, south of Baghdad. (Posted 10:37 a.m.)

Consumer spending stays strong in August

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Consumer spending stayed strong in August, despite the problems in mortgage and real estate markets that some feared would put a brake on Americans' willingness to open their wallets, according to a government report issued Friday.

Spending by consumers rose 0.6 percent in August, an improvement from the 0.4 percent rise in July.

Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had forecast another 0.4 percent rise in August.

The solid gain in spending came even as individuals' incomes rose by only 0.3 percent in August, down from the 0.5 percent rise in July. That was a bit weaker than economists' forecast of a 0.4 percent rise in income in the period. (Posted 10:19 a.m.)

13 dead in Gaza attacks

GAZA CITY (CNN) -- Thirteen Palestinians were killed over the past two days in attacks in Gaza, officials said Friday.

Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, said that Hamas, which rules Gaza, will avenge the violence.

In the latest attack, a member of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades was killed and three were wounded Thursday when the house they occupied in Beit Hanoun was hit by a rocket, Hamas officials and members of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades said. (Posted 8:25 a.m.)

Interior Ministry source: Civilians might have been killed during coalition raid in Baghdad

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Non-combatants might have been killed in an early Friday military raid in Baghdad that left at least 10 people dead, an Iraqi Interior Ministry source told CNN.

That assertion contradicts a coalition forces account that called the dead insurgents. The incident comes at a time when the Iraq government has expressed concern over the deaths of Iraqi civilians, caught in crossfires and killed by either coalition forces or U.S. contractors.

Coalition troops aided by Iraqi special forces targeted a residential building in the southern Baghdad district of Dora, an Iraqi Interior Ministry source said.

Along with the fatalities, 12 people were injured. Apartments were damaged during the incident, including some that caught fire, the source said.

Coalition forces list those as insurgents, but the ministry source said Iraqi police identified the people as Iraqi civilians. The U.S. military said is investigating the issue and will release a statement later on regarding this incident. --From CNN's Saad Abedine (Posted 8:24 a.m.)

Humanitarian worker killed in Basra earlier this week; U.N. expresses 'grave concern'

(CNN) -- The U.N. refugee agency on Friday expressed "grave concern" over the kidnapping and killing of a humanitarian worker in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.

The 31-year-old Iraqi worked for Intersos -- an Italian group devoted to helping victims of natural disasters and armed conflicts and in an Intersos project funded by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

He was kidnapped on Tuesday by militias, who have a large presence in the predominantly Shiite city. He and the body of a friend were later found in a morgue, according to his group. (Posted 7:19 a.m.)

NHC: Lorenzo now a tropical storm in Mexico

MIAMI (CNN) -- Hurricane Lorenzo weakened to a tropical storm Friday after making landfall along the east-central Gulf coast of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center reported.

The storm came ashore with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h).

At 5 a.m. ET, the center of Lorenzo was about 30 miles (45 km) south-southwest of Tuxpan, Mexico. The storm's winds had slowed to 65 mph (100 km/h) and were expected to continue to diminish. It was moving west at near 7 mph (11 km/h) and that motion was expected to continue.

The storm made landfall about 12 hours after it was dubbed Tropical Storm Lorenzo at 2 p.m. ET Thursday, when forecasters said a tropical depression they had been watching for several days had strengthened. (Posted 7:09 a.m.)

13 dead in Gaza attacks

GAZA CITY (CNN) -- Thirteen Palestinians were killed over the past two days in attacks in Gaza, officials said Thursday.

The same Palestinian sources said the members of the militant group, an offshoot of Fatah, had fired about two or three rockets into Israel when they were spotted by members of the Israel Defense Forces, who returned fire.

The IDF confirmed a strike Thursday in the northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, but said it was not an air strike. (Posted 7:09 a.m.)

Pakistan court allows Musharraf to run for re-election

LAHORE, Pakistan (CNN ) -- Pakistan's Supreme Court ruled Friday afternoon the country's leader, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, is eligible to run in next week's elections for another five-year presidential term.

In a 9 to 6 vote, the high court dismissed petitions challenging Musharraf's re-election bid. Political opponents have argued the constitution forbids a military officer from running for president within two years of holding rank. In addition, the constitution calls for an elected official to step down and wait a year before seeking a third term.

On Friday the high court was also expected to rule on whether Musharraf must resign as the military's commander, as the opposition has demanded. (Posted 7:09 a.m.)

Shots fired as Myanmar citizens take to the streets in third day of tense protests

(CNN) -- Shots rang out in the streets of Myanmar's biggest city on Friday, marking the third day of continued violence at the hands of the ruling military junta in efforts to suppress an outpouring of citizen protests.

"We have heard shots in the last 15, 20 minutes," British Ambassador Mark Canning told CNN.

Also describing the scene Friday in downtown Yangon, U.S. Charge d'Affaires Shari Villarosa told CNN by phone, "the military is out there with guns and people are marching."

"The military have all the weapons and the people have all their anger," she said. "How long they will be willing to go into the streets and be shot down, I don't know."

Meanwhile, a Western diplomat told CNN that witnesses said security forces were firing rubber bullets into a small crowd outside Sule Pagoda -- the site of previous clashes with government forces.

Describing the situation as "tense," the diplomat said about 200 people had gathered around police barricades, but were being dispersed.

Bloggers also posted reports of shots being fire on Pansodan Road, the site of many of Thursday's shootings. (Posted 5:03 a.m.)

Reports out of Myanmar slow; U.N. envoy to Myanmar stops in Singapore

(CNN) -- Opposition and government reports out of Myanmar slowed Friday, a day after soldiers reportedly fired into crowds of anti-government demonstrators and beat Buddhist monks.

Opposition Web sites that breathlessly posted photos and trumpeted updates from sources from inside the secretive nation had fewer updates on Friday, although blog reports had increased.

Many government Web sites, including state TV, the Foreign Ministry and the state newspaper, had either not updated or were not working at all on Friday. Media and blog reports said Internet service in Myanmar had been cut.

The U.N. special envoy to Myanmar, Ibrahim Gambari, has made his way to southeast Asian neighbor Singapore, according to the city-state's Foreign Ministry. The Myanmar government has said it will issue him a visa on Saturday. (Posted 4:44 a.m.)

NHC: Lorenzo makes landfall along Gulf coast of Mexico

MIAMI (CNN) -- Hurricane Lorenzo made landfall along the east-central Gulf coast of Mexico early Friday, the National Hurricane Center reported.

The storm came ashore with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h).

At 2 a.m. ET, the center of Lorenzo was just inland about 40 miles (65 km) south-southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico. The storm was moving west at near 8 mph (13 km/h) and that motion was expected to continue.

A hurricane warning remained in effect for the Mexican Gulf coast from Palma Sola to Cabo Rojo, the NHC said. A tropical storm warning was in effect for an area south of Palma Sola to Veracruz. A tropical storm watch was issued for an area north of Cabo Rojo to La Cruz. (Posted 2:15 a.m.)

NHC: Lorenzo intensifies off Gulf coast of Mexico

MIAMI (CNN) -- Hurricane Lorenzo strengthened as it churned off the Mexican Gulf coast late Thursday, the National Hurricane Center reported.

The storm was expected to come ashore in Mexico early Friday, with additional strengthening possible prior to landfall, forecasters said, with rapid weakening thereafter.

As of 11 p.m. ET, the center of Lorenzo was about 70 miles (110 km) east-southeast of Tuxpan, Mexico. Its maximum sustained winds were near 80 mph (130 km/h) with stronger gusts. The storm was moving west at near 6 mph (9 km/h) and was expected to continue until landfall.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Karen, churning in the Atlantic, was losing organization and weakening, the NHC said.

As of 11 p.m. ET, Karen's center was about 780 miles (1255 km) east of the Windward Islands. It was moving west-northwest at near 14 mph (22 k/hr). Karen's maximum sustained winds were near 60 mph (95 km/h), but it was expected to weaken some over the next 24 hours, forecasters said. (Posted 12:30 a.m.)

DNI declassifies timeline on Iraq kidnapping

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The deputy to the nation's intelligence chief late Thursday released previously classified details of the government's urgent effort to get a warrant granting authority to eavesdrop on Iraq insurgents who had just kidnapped U.S. soldiers in May.

The information was requested by the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas.

In a letter to Reyes, Acting Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Ronald Burgess disclosed a timeline showing the hours that elapsed during the kidnapping incident in May, saying it is an example of why the surveillance law passed by Congress must be preserved.

The timeline shows it took about six hours for officials to figure out legal complexities in the case and locate and brief then-Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in Texas after determining emergency authorization was needed. But once Gonzales gave the emergency authorization, surveillance of suspected insurgents began within 20 minutes.

At a Sept. 20 House hearing, Reyes pressed Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell to explain why he had briefly invoked the Iraqi kidnapping case two days earlier in testimony before a separate House panel.

In the letter to Reyes, McConnell's deputy says the DNI is now willing to reveal the difficulty intelligence executives faced in the wake of the kidnapping. (Posted 11:50 p.m.)

Officials: Airport screeners had 'advance notice' of covert testers

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Passenger screeners at the Jackson, Miss., airport were given advance notice that plainclothes investigators were testing security checkpoints in 2004, according to an officials who say they are expanding their cheating probe to include other airports.

At Jackson-Evers International Airport, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screeners were told that "red team" investigators were in the area, and spread word about their race and gender, the type of items they were attempting to sneak through checkpoints and the location of the items, according to Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Richard L. Skinner.

"We could not identify, with absolute certainty, where the advance information originated from, but this information was communicated to certain individuals at all levels of TSA personnel" at the airport, Skinner wrote in a letter to TSA Administrator Kip Hawley, dated Aug. 29 and released Thursday.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss. and chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, told CNN last year he believed workers at his home airport had been tipped off before an inspection there. (Posted 10:23 p.m.)

DNI declassifies timeline on Iraq kidnapping to bolster case for FISA law

In a letter to the head of the House Intelligence Committee, Acting Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Ronald Burgess disclosed a timeline showing the hours that elapsed during the kidnapping incident in May, saying it is an example of why the surveillance law passed by Congress must be preserved.

At a Sept. 20 House hearing, Chairman Rep. Silvestre Reyes, D-Texas, pressed Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell to explain why he had briefly invoked the Iraqi kidnapping case two days earlier in testimony before a separate House panel. In the letter to Reyes, McConnell's deputy says the DNI is now willing to reveal the difficulty intelligence executives faced in the wake of the kidnapping. (Posted 10:20 p.m.)

Senate passes children's health insurance bill

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Senate voted 67-29 Thursday night to expand the State Children's Health Insurance program by up to 4 million children, a measure President Bush has vowed to veto as a step toward universal coverage.

Eighteen Republicans joined all the Democrats in voting for expanding the popular program from its current annual budget of $5 billion to $12 billion for the next five years. Four senators -- Republicans John McCain of Arizona and Sam Brownback of Kansas and Democrats Joseph Biden of Delaware and Barack Obama of Illinois -- did not vote.

The program would double -- from 4 million to 8 million -- the number of children covered.

The reauthorization bill "fails to focus on poor children, and instead creates a new entitlement program for higher-income households," said White House Press Secretary Dana Perino in a written statement. (Posted 10:03 p.m.) E-mail to a friend

The CNN Wire: Friday, Sep. 28

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