The CNN Wire: Wednesday, Oct. 17

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.

Congressional sources: Hastert to announce resignation

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert will resign his congressional seat rather than serve out the rest of his term, two GOP congressional sources told CNN Wednesday evening.

Over the summer the Illinois Republican had said he would not seek re-election in the state's 14th District. Both sources said Hastert would make an announcement "soon" but probably not on Thursday.

"I think he is just done with being a member of Congress," a GOP aide said of Hastert, who has just over a year remaining in his term.

Hastert, 65, is the longest-serving Republican Speaker in history, holding the post from Jan. 1999 to Nov. 2006. (Posted 1:45 a.m.)

Mass. governor to back Obama's '08 bid

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will endorse Sen. Barack Obama for president at an event next week in Boston, an aide to the Illinois Democrat tells CNN.

Patrick is the first black governor of Massachusetts, and his decision to back Obama comes at a critical time as the Democratic presidential contenders are all competing for the support of African-Americans.

The battle for this important voting bloc is particularly competitive between Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. Last week, U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Atlanta, a civil rights legend, endorsed Clinton's presidential bid.

Patrick served in the Justice Department under former President Bill Clinton, the husband of Sen. Clinton. In addition to being prominent black political leaders, Obama and Patrick share a top political strategist. David Axelrod helped Patrick win election last year, and is a senior strategist on the Obama presidential campaign. (Posted 11 p.m.)

Corps could limit discharges from Georgia lake amid drought worries

ATLANTA (CNN) -- Faced with complaints amid a persistent drought, the Army Corps of Engineers told Georgia officials Wednesday that it has entered talks with wildlife officials about keeping more water in a major Atlanta-area reservoir.

In a letter to Georgia's state environmental protection chief, Col. Byron Jorns wrote that the agency has begun talks with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over concerns that the Chattahoochee-Flint-Apalachicola river system "may be depleted before drought conditions abate."

The Corps has been releasing tens of millions of gallons a day from Lake Sidney Lanier, the primary source of Atlanta's drinking water, to keep water flowing to the Gulf of Mexico during an intense drought that covers much of the Southeast. The water is needed for municipal water supplies downstream, for cooling major power plants in Florida and Alabama and for keeping alive freshwater mussels and sturgeon protected under the Endangered Species Act.

But Jorns, the corps' district commander, told Georgia Environmental Protection Division Director Carol Crouch that the current drought "could result in the inability to operate the projects in a way that fulfills all the authorized purposes." (Posted 8:46 p.m.)

Officials unclear if cyber attack vulnerability to electric grid has been closed

From CNN Homeland Security Correspondent Jeanne Meserve

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Six months after a dramatic videotape demonstrated to the federal government that a cyber attack could destroy electrical equipment, federal officials are unclear whether the vulnerability has been closed, even though experts say such an attack has the potential to devastate the national economy.

In testimony before a House subcommittee Wednesday, a representative of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Joe McClelland, said 75 percent of the transmission grid has fixed the problem exposed in the videotape or is in the process of doing so, but the status of the remaining 25 percent is unknown. McClelland said that group has not responded to a survey sent out in August.

The videotape, produced by the Idaho National Lab last March and first aired by CNN in September, shows a generator going up in smoke after scientists hack into the system that controls it. The test was dubbed "Aurora." Experts told CNN simultaneous real world cyber attacks exploiting the vulnerability could black out a third of the country for three months, doing more economic damage than the Great Depression. (Posted 8:31 p.m.)

GOP maneuver prompts House leaders to yank surveillance bill

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives put off a scheduled vote to overhaul federal eavesdropping law Wednesday after Republicans pushed back against its limits on warrantless surveillance.

House Republicans wanted to push the bill back into committee to add language that would exempt wiretaps aimed at tracking Osama bin Laden and other al Qaeda leaders from judicial oversight.

"Rather than taking that vote and joining with Republicans to send a clear message of intent with this bill, the majority decided that plan carried too much political risk," House Minority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said in a statement after the decision.

Democrats say their bill would give the government everything it needs to fight terrorism while protecting Americans' constitutional rights. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Republicans "have chosen to engage in politics rather than substantively address the challenges that face the American people."

In written statement, Hoyer said the Republican move would have "substantially delayed" a bill President Bush has called a top priority. Hoyer's spokeswoman, Stacey Bernards, called it "a cheap shot." (Posted 7:31 p.m.)

U.S. Supreme Court stays Virginia execution

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the pending execution of a Virginia man who was convicted of beating a co-worker to death in 2001 for drug money, one of a number of executions it has stayed recently amid questions regarding the constitutionality of lethal injection, the primary method of execution in all states with the death penalty.

Christopher Scott Emmett killed co-worker John Langley during a botched robbery in Danville, Va., by beating him to death as he slept with the base of a brass motel room lamp, and then used his cash to buy crack cocaine, according to documents filed in the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. He was set to die at 9 p.m. Tuesday.

The Supreme Court order stays Emmett's execution pending final disposition of the appeal by the 4th Circuit. But if the 4th Circuit allows the execution to proceed, another round of appeals to the high court would be expected. (Posted 6:21 p.m.)

Venezuela weighs revamping constitution

CARACAS (CNN) -- Venezuela's National Assembly began this week to weigh passage of 25 constitutional amendments sought by President Hugo Chavez, which critics said could result in the suspension of due-process protections.

The pro-Chavez legislature has already approved 33 other changes to the constitution, which are to be considered in a referendum slated for Dec. 2.

"We will do what we have to do to approve the constitutional reforms that the president proposes because that is what the people want," said Iris Varela, a pro-Chavez member of parliament.

But Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at the New York-based Human Rights Watch, expressed fear the changes could do more harm than good.

"This amendment, if approved, would allow President Chavez to invoke a state of emergency to justify suspending certain rights that are untouchable under international law," said Vivanco. (Posted 5:54 p.m.)

U.N. chief wants release of aid worker seized in Somalia

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for the "immediate and unconditional release" of the head of the World Food Programme's Mogadishu office after his arrest by government troops Wednesday, a spokesman said.

Dozens of "heavily armed and uniformed" Somali troops stormed the U.N. agency's Mogadishu office Wednesday morning and seized WFP official Idris Osman, the agency reported. WFP spokesman Marcus Pryer said the aid agency has received no explanation for his arrest, which Ban's office called a violation of international law.

"The secretary-general strongly condemns the forceful and illegal entry of government security forces into the United Nations compound in Mogadishu, and the detention of a United Nations official," a U.N. statement read. "The secretary-general calls for the immediate and unconditional release of the staff member." (Posted 5:38 p.m.)

Dalai Lama honor stokes U.S.-Chinese tensions

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- China slammed the United States for bestowing the nation's highest civilian honor on the Dalai Lama on Wednesday, calling the ceremony an affront to the budding relations between the countries.

President Bush presented the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda. Democratic and Republican leaders praised the Dalai Lama's record of promoting peace and urged China to allow the return of the exiled leader.

Bush also lauded the spiritual leader who as a boy kept a model of the Statue of Liberty by his bedside. The president met privately Tuesday with Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th dalai lama, in the White House.

Though Bush said the ceremony was not meant to antagonize the Chinese, he made repeated references to religious oppression. "Americans cannot look to the plight of the religiously oppressed and close our eyes or turn away," he said. (Posted 5 p.m.)

Less than a third of Americans want all illegal immigrants out

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Most Americans would like to see fewer illegal immigrants in the country, but only three in 10 say all of them should be removed, a poll said Wednesday.

Just 7 percent of those polled said they would like to see the number of illegal immigrants increased; 22 percent said they would like the number remain the same; 16 percent wanted it decreased "a little"; and 22 percent wanted it decreased "a lot," the poll of 1,212 adult Americans found.

Blacks and whites differed over whether the number of illegal immigrants should be increased, with 14 percent of African-Americans saying they did, versus 3 percent of whites.

About one in five (19 percent) of blacks said they thought all illegal immigrants should be removed from the country, versus more than a third (35 percent) of whites who said that. (Posted 4:41 p.m.)

White House to let senators review NSA eavesdropping documents

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The White House has agreed to let the Senate Intelligence Committee review key documents on the legality of the Bush administration's warrantless eavesdropping program after what the committee's chairman called "some loud conversations."

Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., threatened to hold up action on a new bill to authorize the controversial program, which critics say violates the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, unless the administration produced the documents.

"There wasn't going to be any FISA bill at all unless they played ball with us, and they finally agreed to do that," Rockefeller said Wednesday. He said the breakthrough came "after some loud conversations with people at the White House."

"I just had a very strenuous series of conversations, and they found it in their interest suddenly to produce all the authorizations, which have to be renewed every 45 days by the president, as you know, as well as all the legal analysis by the attorney general," he said. "So we have those now." --From CNN Congressional Producer Ted Barrett (Posted 4:05 p.m.)

Poll: Clinton outdrawing Obama among African-American women

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Hillary Clinton's lead over Sen. Barack Obama, her chief rival for the Democratic presidential nomination, is growing among African-American voters who are registered Democrats, and particularly among black women, a poll said Wednesday.

Among black registered Democrats overall, Clinton had a 57 percent to 33 percent lead over Obama.

That's up from 53 percent for Clinton and 36 percent for Obama in a poll carried out in April.

Among white registered Democrats, Clinton drew 49 percent support, versus 18 percent for Obama and 17 percent for former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, the latest poll found. The question had a sampling error of plus-or-minus 6.5 points. (Posted 4:04 p.m.)

Pelosi: Bush 'alone' on child health care veto

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday that Democrats will keep pushing to expand the state-run Children's Health Insurance Program even if they fail to override President Bush's veto of their plan.

The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote Thursday on whether to override Bush's Oct. 3 veto of the proposed $35 billion, five-year expansion. Despite the support of 45 Republicans, the legislation initially fell about two dozen votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass without the president's signature.

Though Democrats have pounded Republicans over the issue for two weeks, House GOP leaders predict they will have the votes needed to uphold Bush's veto. But Pelosi told reporters Wednesday, "We are still in this fight."

"The president is alone, and he's dragging some of his House members with him down this path," the California Democrat told reporters Wednesday. "At the end of the day, 10 million children will have health insurance in this country." (Posted 3:18 p.m.)

Terrorism center chief resigns, citing chronic knee problems

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The head of the National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC), retired Adm. Scott Redd, is stepping down because of chronic knee problems, according to NCTC spokesman Carl Kropf.

In a written statement to the staff, Redd said he reluctantly submitted his letter of resignation to President Bush, to be effective Nov. 10. He indicated he needs to undergo long-delayed surgery that he "could no longer neglect."

Kropf said Redd needs total knee replacement on both legs, and the terrorism chief believed the surgery, recovery and rehabilitation would keep him away from the job too long. As a retired admiral, Redd felt that if the "captain was not on the bridge, someone else needs to step up," Kropf said. --From National Security Producer Pam Benson (Posted 2:07 p.m.)

Pelosi less than confident over Armenian vote as some Dems change tune

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who matter-of-factly stated days ago that the Armenian "genocide" resolution would be brought to the floor for a vote, is now hedging on that eventuality as Democratic lawmakers reassess the logic of the resolution, vehemently opposed by key U.S. military ally Turkey.

"There is reason to bring this to the floor," Pelosi said when asked about it by CNN while she spoke to reporters. "Whether those who have been advocating it want to go to that place remains to be seen."

On Sunday, Pelosi told ABC's "This Week" that she intended to move ahead with a vote on the controversial resolution, which she called "one that is consistent with what our government has always said about ... what happened at that time."

Asked about criticism that it could harm relations with Turkey -- a key military ally and a fellow member of NATO -- Pelosi said, "There's never been a good time," adding that it is important to pass the resolution now "because many of the survivors are very old." (Posted 2:06 p.m.)

Roberts takes leave as ORU president amid lawsuit scandal

(CNN) -- Richard Roberts said he will step aside temporarily as president of Oral Roberts University as the school fights a wrongful termination lawsuit by three former professors who accuse Roberts and his wife of misconduct.

"Today, I have asked the Board of Regents of Oral Roberts University to grant me a temporary leave of absence until such time as these matters can be resolved," Roberts said in a written statement Wednesday. "I have prayed about it, and feel that it is in the best interest of my family and the university."

The lawsuit, filed earlier this month, was amended recently to accuse the school of giving a "convicted sexual deviant unrestricted access to students" and of shredding evidence three days after the suit was first filed. The suit contends that the professors lost their jobs after reporting information indicating that Roberts and his family lavishly spent school money for personal expenses.

Roberts has denied the allegations. (Posted 1:37 p.m.)

Bush bashes Congress: 'Haven't managed to pass many important bills'

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush on Wednesday declared that he remains relevant, even as he accused the Democratically controlled Congress of dragging its feet on passing legislation he has sought.

"I've never felt more engaged and more capable of helping ... the American people recognize that there's a lot of unfinished business," Bush told reporters .

Bush -- slated to step down in 15 months -- said he plans to "sprint" toward the finish line, working to get things done for the country. "And if it doesn't get done, I'm looking forward to reminding people as to why it's not getting done," he said.

Though Democrats have controlled Congress for nine months, "unfortunately, they haven't managed to pass many important bills," Bush said.

Congress was an easy target. It is the only institution in Washington that scores lower than Bush in popularity polls. (Posted 1:21 p.m.)

State Department team probing Blackwater shootings leaves Iraq

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The State Department team sent to Iraq to investigate diplomatic security practices in the wake of last month's shooting of civilians by Blackwater guards have returned to Washington after spending more than two weeks in Baghdad, State Department spokesman Tom Casey said.

Patrick Kennedy, an assistant secretary of state, will likely brief Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the findings next week after she returns from a Middle East trip, Casey said.

A source involved in diplomatic security at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad told CNN the investigative team left the Green Zone Monday afternoon, but Casey would confirm Wednesday morning only that the departure was "in the last 24 hours."

Iraqi officials said 17 people, including women and children, were killed and 27 were wounded when Blackwater guards fired on motorists around Nusoor Square on Sept. 16. The Iraqi investigation has concluded the shootings were an act of "premeditated murder" and recommended that Blackwater pay $8 million to the families of each of the people killed. (Posted 12:45 p.m.)

5 Democratic lawmakers say House Armenian resolution should be shelved

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Citing the militarily strategic importance of Turkey for U.S. foreign policy, five House Democrats on Wednesday underscored their strong opposition to the House resolution that labels the mass killings of Armenians during World War I as a "genocide."

Reps. John Murtha of Pennsylvania, Alcee Hastings and Robert Wexler of Florida and John Tanner and Steve Cohen of Tennessee urged House Democratic leadership to stop the resolution, which passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee last week and is slated to go to the House floor for a vote.

The Bush administration, military commanders, and former government officials have opposed the resolution, citing the importance of Turkey as a military resupply hub and their belief that passage of the resolution could hurt the U.S.-Turkey relationship. One fear is that the Turks would pull the plug on Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey, a scenario the military is planning for.

Democrats are now emerging to reassess the wisdom of voting for a non-binding symbolic measure for moral reasons when national security issues are at stake. (Posted 12:32 p.m.)

Italian police kill Albanian man after he shoots wife, others in divorce court

ROME (CNN) -- An Albanian man Wednesday shot his wife and three others -- one fatally -- as the couple waited in a northern Italian courthouse for a hearing on their marriage separation, police told CNN.

Klirimi Fajzo, 40, was fatally shot by police after he shot the four, said Reggio Emilia police chief Gennaro Gallo.

The couple's two daughters witnessed the entire incident, he said.

The wife is on life support at a hospital, but Gallo said she is "clinically dead." (Posted 12:21 p.m.)

Mukasey promises independence from politics; says torture is not legal

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Attorney General-designate Michael Mukasey made it clear to senators considering his nomination Wednesday that he would be independent of the White House and politics and would make legal decisions based "on facts and law, not by interests and motives."

Mukasey, appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he would resign from office if ever face with a presidential order he believed was unconstitutional.

He said he does not believe the president has legal authority to approve torture techniques for use on terror suspects, something former Attorney General Alfonso Gonzales refused to say.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Democratic chairman of the committee, has predicted that Mukasey, a retired federal judge appointed to the bench by President Reagan, would have no trouble winning Senate confirmation "because we know that we need somebody to clean up the Department of Justice." (Posted 11:59 a.m.)

Dalai Lama honor stokes U.S.-Chinese tensions

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- China slammed U.S. plans to bestow the nation's highest civilian honor on the Dalai Lama on Wednesday, calling the ceremony an affront to the budding relations between the two countries.

President Bush will present the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda. Bush met privately Tuesday in the White House with Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama.

In a news conference Wednesday, Bush said he was attending the ceremony because he admires the Dalai Lama, they both support religious freedom and "I like going to the gold medal ceremonies."

He further said fostering religious freedom would be in China's best interest and officials in Beijing should meet with the Dalai Lama. (Posted 11:49 a.m.)

Dunkin' Donuts recalls 1 million glow stick toys

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Dunkin' Donuts on Wednesday announced a recall of 1 million pink and orange "glow stick" toys because they pose choking and strangulation risks to small children.

The Chinese-made glow sticks were given away free with donuts at Dunkin' Donuts stores nationwide in September and October.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said the glow sticks are not properly labeled to warn consumers that the cap and lanyard can detach, posing a choking hazard. Additionally, the agency said, the lanyard poses a strangulation hazard to young children. --By CNNMoney.com's Parija B. Kavilanz (Posted 11:48 a.m.)

Turkish parliament OKs Iraq incursion vote

(CNN) -- The Turkish parliament has voted 507 to 19 to authorize its military to stage an incursion into Iraq to take on Kurdish rebels. (Posted 11 a.m.)

U.N. condemns killings of 3 truckers working for agency in Darfur

(CNN) -- The United Nations' World Food Programme on Wednesday condemned the recent shooting deaths of three contract truck drivers working for the agency in the war-torn Sudanese region of Darfur.

Two died Tuesday and the other died Friday. They were among the 2,000 drivers and drivers' assistants delivering food for the agency.

"WFP is deeply saddened and shocked by the killings of these brave men, who knew the dangers they were facing but continued to work tirelessly to alleviate suffering and bring food to the hungry in Darfur," said Kenro Oshidari, WFP Sudan representative, who received confirmation of the incidents Wednesday. (Posted 10:32 a.m.)

Funding issues prompt suspension of Atlanta courthouse-slayings trial

ATLANTA (CNN) -- Jury selection in the trial of accused Atlanta courthouse shooter Brian Nichols was abruptly suspended Wednesday morning as the judge accepted a defense motion to stop the trial until questions of funding for Nichol's lawyers are resolved, according to a court spokesman.

Judge Hilton Fuller announced the trial's suspension in open court Wednesday, which would have been the third day of jury selection in the death penalty case.

Nichols is charged with killing a judge and three others while escaping custody from deputies at the Fulton County Courthouse in March 2005. (Posted 10:15 a.m.)

Thousands of BBC journalists set to strike over planned job cuts

LONDON (CNN) -- Thousands of staff at the British Broadcasting Corporation are threatening to go on strike if, as expected, the BBC pushes ahead with massive job cuts, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) said.

Mark Thompson, the BBC director-general, is meeting Wednesday with members of the BBC Trust, the body that oversees the broadcaster's operations, to discuss how to plug a $4 billion budget deficit.

According to widespread reports in the British media, Thompson is expected to recommend cutting up to 2,800 jobs from the organization, with most of the redundancies likely to hit the BBC's news and current affairs output.

Radio news is expected to be hardest hit, with estimated cuts of around 50 percent. (Posted 10:09 a.m.)

Turkish PM asks parliament to OK incursion into Iraq, says it wouldn't mean invasion would be launched

(CNN) -- Turkish lawmakers Wednesday debated a measure causing great anxiety among U.S. and Iraqi officials -- an OK for its military to launch an incursion into Iraq and chase down Kurdish rebels staging cross-border attacks.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government asked parliament in Ankara on Monday to authorize a military incursion.

The parliamentary vote, Erdogan said, wouldn't necessarily trigger immediate military action and many analysts doubt that a full-scale invasion would be launched.

But the chances of such military action raises great concerns in the United States, which fears it would undermine the stability of the American-backed government in Baghdad and jeopardize the supply lines that support U.S. troops in Iraq. (Posted 10:05 a.m.)

Housing starts, permits weaker than expected

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Builders continued to slam the brakes on new homes in September, as the government's latest reading on the battered market out Wednesday showed housing starts and permits were weaker than expected at levels not seen for more than a decade.

The pace of housing starts plunged 10 percent to an annual pace of 1.19 million from a 1.33 million rate in August. That was the weakest level in just over 14 years. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had forecast that starts would fall to an a rate of 1.29 million.

Housing permits, which are seen as a sign of builders' confidence in the market, slumped 7 percent to an annual rate of 1.23 million from 1.32 million in August. It was the lowest level of permits in more than 12 years. Economists had looked for permits to slow to a 1.3 million pace.

The report follows a survey released Tuesday that showed home builders' confidence in the battered market for new homes fell to an all-time low in October, and a measure of their outlook for six months down the road remained at a record low level, according to the latest industry survey. --By CNNMoney.com's Chris Isidore (Posted 9:54 a.m.)

Bush to address media at WH briefing room

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush will hold a news conference Wednesday at 10:45 a.m. in the White House briefing room, White House deputy press secretary Scott Stanzel told CNN.

Bush plans to begin with a 10-minute address on a variety of topics, including the federal children's health-care program, known as SCHIP; the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA; budget issues; No Child Left Behind school program; Attorney General-designate Michael Mukasey; trade and housing issues; and the row with Turkey over the House's resolution on Armenian "genocide." (Posted 9:36 a.m.)

Rape tape suspect to make first court appearance Wednesday

LAS VEGAS (CNN) -- The man arrested for the videotaped rape of a toddler in Las Vegas will make his initial appearance in court Wednesday morning, a statement from the Clark County, Nevada, court said.

Chester Arthur Stiles, 37, was taken into custody Monday night after a Henderson, Nev., police officer pulled over the white Buick Century he was driving. Stiles will appear before Judge Deborah Lippis at 7:30 a.m. PT (10:30 a.m. ET) for his initial court appearance on arrest warrants on 21 counts, including a charge of lewdness with a minor, sexual assault and the use of a child in the production of pornography, the court statement said.

One of the lewdness charges stems from a 2004 incident, while the other 20 are related to the videotape, the court said.

Jerry T. Donohue, the attorney for the girl's mother, has told CNN that the child on the videotape was younger than 3 when the abuse occurred. (Posted 9:35 a.m.)

House majority leader signals that full House vote on Armenian genocide could be put off

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The House majority leader is signaling that a full House vote on the nonbinding Armenian "genocide" resolution could be put off as Democratic lawmakers rethink their stances on a tragic historical conflict that still touches raw nerves among Turks and Armenians.

At the urging of top Bush administration officials and some leading Democrats, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is hedging on his pledge to bring the Armenian genocide resolution to the House floor for a vote before the House breaks for the holidays.

"I said I thought we would bring this up prior to us leaving here," Hoyer, D-Md, said Tuesday. "I have not changed on that, although I would be less than candid to say that there are a number of people who are revisiting their own positions. We will have to determine where everybody is."

Last week, the House Foreign Affairs Committee adopted the non-binding resolution by a 27 to 21 vote formally identifying the killings of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire -- the predecessor of modern Turkey -- as "genocide." Turkish officials acknowledge the killings of Armenians during World War I but vehemently object to the designation of "genocide." (Posted 9:13 a.m.)

Israeli soldier, Palestinian gunman killed in Gaza firefight

GAZA CITY (CNN) -- Israeli forces on Wednesday exchanged fire with armed Palestinians in a southern Gaza village, a battle that left an Israeli soldier and an armed Palestinian dead, according to an Israeli army spokeswoman.

The clash began in the pre-dawn hours and was still ongoing, Palestinian witnesses said. Israeli soldiers are carrying out arrests, they said. The army spokeswoman said the firefight began after Palestinian militants fired an anti-tank missile toward the Israeli soldiers, who had entered the village on an anti-terror mission.

Palestinian eyewitnesses said the forces entered Farahin, east of Khan Younis, around 4 a.m. They said Hazem Asfour, 25, a member of Hamas, was killed by shrapnel from an Israeli tank shell. Israel Defense Forces confirmed in a statement that an Israeli soldier was killed in the firefight in southern Gaza, but offered no other details. (Posted 8:04 a.m.)

U.N. World Food Programme staffer held in Mogadishu

(CNN) -- Dozens of "heavily armed and uniformed" Somalian government forces detained a World Food Programme staff member after storming the humanitarian agency's Mogadishu office Wednesday morning, according to a WFP statement.

According to WFP spokesman Marcus Pryer, the organization is urgently working with the country's transitional forces to resolve the situation and gain Idris Osman's release.

"Mr. Osman is being held in a cell at the NSS (Somali National Security Service) headquarters near the presidential palace," the statement said, adding the agency has not received "any explanation for this actions, which violates international law." (Posted 8:02 a.m.)

Rugby fans face scrum as strikes grip France ahead of World Cup final

LONDON (CNN) -- Widespread strikes were expected to cripple France's transport network just as rugby fans make their way to Paris for this weekend's Rugby World Cup final.

Railway workers will join bus, power, gas and some state employees for the action called after President Nicolas Sarkozy refused to back down over planned pension reforms, according to Monique Ricard, spokeswoman for the French railway SNCF.

Trains across France and the Metro -- Paris's subway system -- are expected to come to a halt starting Wednesday night, Ricard said. "We are certainly concerned about the impact for fans. So far we've been assured the disruptions should be manageable but it remains to be seen," Jessica Chambers, a spokeswoman for the England Rugby Supporters Club.

Prompted by government attempts to cut pension privileges, the strikes will be for 24 hours but could be prolonged to Friday, Ricard said. Only one in four trains will be running on Thursday, including suburban services linking Paris to its three international airports, she said.

About 80,000 rugby fans are expected to attend Saturday's World Cup final between England and South Africa. (Posted 8 a.m.)

Spain seizes U.S. treasure ship amid row over disputed booty worth $500m From CNN Madrid Bureau Chief Al Goodman

MADRID (CNN) - Spain seized an American treasure-hunting ship for a second time as part of an ongoing dispute with the Florida-based owners over who has rights to millions of dollars in booty recovered from the sea, officials said.

Spain seized the "Explorer" -- owned by Odyssey Marine Exploration of Tampa, Fla. -- as it sailed out of port in the British colony of Gibraltar on Tuesday.

Armed Spanish government vessels were waiting for the Explorer when it reached four miles off Gibraltar's shore and entered what Spain considers its territorial waters. The vessels forced the Explorer to dock at Spain's nearby port of Algeciras, a Civil Guard spokesman told CNN. (Posted 7:31 a.m.)

Iraqi army has no plans to deploy its soldiers in north to take on Kurdish rebels

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- The Iraqi army has no plan to deploy its soldiers near the rugged Turkish-Iraqi border to take on the Kurdish rebels targeting Turkey, and Iraqi authorities are satisfied with the efforts by the Iraqi Kurdish regional authorities to deal with the militants there, a top Iraqi military official told CNN Wednesday.

"It's a mountainous area, difficult terrain and our troops are not trained for that," said Lt. Gen. Nasier Abadi, Iraqi Armed Forces deputy chief of staff.

Iraqi officials have been taking all-out diplomatic efforts to keep Turkey from carrying out cross-border assaults against Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK rebels, in northern Iraq. (Posted 7:24 a.m.)

Report: Iraqi VP says more time needed to rein in northern Iraqi rebels

(CNN) -- Iraqi Vice President Tariq Al-Hashimi on Wednesday called on Turkey to grant Iraq's government more time to crackdown on Kurdish separatists, whose recent cross-border terrorist attacks have heightened tensions in the region, state-run Anadolu News Agency reported. (Posted 6:05 a.m.)

China offers fierce criticism as Bush plans to bestow nation's highest civilian honor upon Dalai Lama

BEIJING (CNN) -- China offered harsh criticism of U.S. plans to honor the Dalai Lama with a Congressional medal on Wednesday in a Washington ceremony.

"U.S. leaders meeting the Dalai (Lama) seriously violate the basic principles of international relations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said in a statement. Lui called Tibet "an inalienable part of China" and a matter for the country's internal affairs.

According to White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, Bush will deliver "brief" remarks and bestow the Congressional Gold Medal -- the nation's highest civilian honor -- upon Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th and current Dalai Lama, during a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda. (Posted 6 a.m.)

Material girl signs $120 million deal with concert promoter

LONDON (CNN ) -- Madonna became the latest pop star to turn her back on the music industry mainstream Tuesday by quitting her long-time record label, Warner Brothers Records, to sign up with a concert promoter.

Madonna has joined up with the promotion giant Live Nation Inc., the pop star confirmed in a statement.

The financial details of the contract were not revealed but according to reports in The Wall Street Journal, the pop star has signed up for a three album deal worth an estimated $120 million over 10 years.

Her decision to forego a major record label to join a promoter is a sign of the changing shape of the music industry. (Posted 5:59 a.m.)

Bomb attack kills 7 Iraqi police officers in eastern Diwaniya

BAGHDAD (CNN) -- Seven Iraqi police officers were killed in a roadside bomb attack targeting a police patrol early Wednesday in eastern Diwaniya, an Interior Ministry official told CNN.

Diwaniya, located south of Baghdad, is the capital of the predominantly Shiite province of Qadisiya. (Posted 5:35 a.m.)

U.N. World Food Programme staffer held in Mogadishu

(CNN) -- The United Nations World Food Programme said one of its staff members was detained by government forces Wednesday morning in Somalia, a WFP spokesman said.

According to Marcus Pryer, the WFP is urgently working with Somalia's transitional government forces in Mogadishu to resolve the situation and gain the release of Idris Osmon.

No other details were immediately available. (Posted 5:31 a.m.)

Former premier to return to Pakistan Thursday as promised

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (CNN) -- Fulfilling her promise and ending eight years of self-imposed exile, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto said Wednesday she would return to the southern port city of Karachi on Thursday.

"I say a prayer as I prepare to leave and I pray that God give me the strength and the wisdom to bring democracy to my country and to end extremism; to provide food, clothing and shelter, and fulfill the aspirations of the great people of my country who deserve a better future than they have had in the past." (Posted 5:07 a.m.)

Britain lifts foot-and-mouth restrictions

LONDON (CNN) -- British authorities lifted a protection zone around a cattle farm in Surrey Wednesday, restoring the normal movement of animals and livestock more than a month after it was halted because of foot-and-mouth disease.

The decision ends the ban on moving animals from within the zone, which affected a two-mile (3 km) radius around an infected farm near Egham, west of London. (Posted 5:07 a.m.)

Nevada Democratic Party keeps caucus date Jan.19

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Nevada Democratic Party announced late Tuesday it would hold its caucus on Jan. 19, ending a debate over whether to petition the national party to move the presidential nominating contest a week earlier.

Jill Derby, chair of the Nevada Democratic Party, said the caucus date "best showcases our state as the first test of the Western vote, the Hispanic vote and the labor vote."

Nevada Democrats had considered asking the Democratic National Committee to approve the earlier caucus date of Jan. 12, if the DNC allowed the South Carolina Democratic Party to move its primary up to Jan. 19.

South Carolina Democrats on Tuesday, however, said they would seek to move their primary to Jan. 26 instead -- a date likely to be approved. Their primary is currently slated for Jan. 29, a date also shared by Florida Democrats and Republicans. (Posted 3:25 a.m.)

Myanmar Junta: more than 2,900 detained during pro-democracy protests

(CNN) -- Myanmar's military junta Tuesday admitted to detaining more than 2,900 people during last month's crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators, with hundreds of them still in custody.

The acknowledgment appeared in The New Light of Myanmar, the official government newspaper, which said people continue to be called in for questioning.

"Those who led, got involved in and supported the unrest which broke out in September were called in and are being interrogated," the ruling junta said.

According to the statement, 2,927 were questioned nationwide -- most were from the country's largest city, Yangon. (Posted 1:41 a.m.)

Democrats hold onto Mass. House seat

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The widow of the late Sen. Paul Tsongas won a special election Tuesday to fill the unexpired term of Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Mass.

Meehan resigned from Congress earlier this year to become the chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Democrat Niki Tsongas defeated Republican Jim Ogonowski in a hard-fought battle for this congressional seat in a district bordering New Hampshire.

"Massachusetts voters sent a clear message, they support candidates who fight for their values to provide children's health care and work to end the war in Iraq," Maryland Rep. Chris Van Hollen, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said in a statement late Tuesday night.

Tsongas must seek re-election for her own two-year term in 2008. Had Ogonowski won, he would have been the only Republican serving in the 10-member Massachusetts Congressional delegation. Instead, Tsongas becomes the only woman serving in the delegation. (Posted 10:20 p.m.)

Iowa GOP, South Carolina Democrats choose dates

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Iowa Republican Party will hold its caucus on Jan. 3, while the South Carolina Democratic Party will ask the Democratic National Committee to move its primary to Jan. 26, the two state parties announced Tuesday.

What remains unclear is what date New Hampshire will hold its primary for both parties, and if Iowa Democrats will join their GOP colleagues on Jan. 3 or hold their caucus on another date. Less than three months before the first votes are cast for president, the nominating calendar is still not set in stone.

Iowa Republicans seriously considered Jan. 3 and Jan. 5 to hold the first- in-the-nation caucus, but the GOP's State Central Committee ultimately decided two days after the New Year made the most sense.

"With under 80 days to go, this is a huge help to our counties and county chairs to get the ball rolling and start organizing," Chuck Laudner, executive director of the Iowa GOP, said in a statement Tuesday evening. "They have 1,784 precinct caucus meetings to run, thousands of volunteers to recruit and our presidential candidates deserve a set date. This is a definitive year for Iowa, and it is crucial that RPI, the State Central Committee and our county organizations run a smooth, successful caucus." (Posted 10:19 p.m.) E-mail to a friend