BEIRUT Activists say Syrian security forces have fired guns and tear
gas at thousands of anti-government protesters in the central city of Hama
and killed at least six people.Several thousand protesters were trying to reach
the city's main Assi square to stage a sit-in amid a heavy
security presence Wednesday when troops opened fire to disperse them.Hama-based activist Saleh
Abu Kamel told The Associated Press he had the names of six
people who were killed and many wounded. The number could not be
immediately confirmed.Activists say they expect a team of Arab League monitors now
in Syria to head to Hama on Thursday.
ly Hills.The Lovely and Talented Angelina JolieThe Lovely and Talented Angelina JolieKim
Kardashian's Tiniest DressesBecause sometimes those with the most to cover, wear the
least.
nvention ...are respected at Camp Ashraf."According to former Homeland Security chief Tom
Ridge, "We asked a group of people to disarm themselves, to give
away, surrender their capability of defending themselves. And in exchange for that,
we promised them, we made a commitment that we would provide for
their safety and security."The 3,400 Iranian exiles living in Camp Ashraf worry
they will be killed if left in Iraq without U.S. protection."This agreement
has not been negotiated with the MEK," Ridge wrote in response to
a Fox query in the wake of the announced deal. "Since the
U.S. has yet to lift its 'foreign terrorist organization' designation, many of
us are concerned that the Iraqi government under the influence of Iran
and even with their direct support may provoke an incident against these
defenseless residents to justify another massacre. I just want to reiterate that
this is NOT a negotiated arrangement and frankly, it doesn't appear the
U.S. had much
NEW YORK A U.S. congressman from New York says three security
contractors, including two Americans, have been released by Iraqi Army forces after
they were held for more than two weeks.Republican Peter King announced the
releases of the men Tuesday. He identifies them as an Army veteran
from Long Island, a former National Guardsman from Savannah,Ga., and a man
from Fiji. He says they were working for a security firm when
Iraqi Ministry of Defense officials rejected paperwork prepared on their behalf by
the IraqiMinistry of Interior and held them Dec. 9.The men weren't charged
with any crimes. King says they were released Tuesday after efforts by
his office, the State Department, the U.S. embassy in Baghdad, the DefenseDepartment
and the White House.
western Massachusetts.Prince hanged herself in January 2010 after classmates taunted her
after she dated a popular boy. She had recently moved from Ireland
to South Hadley, a rural town about 100 miles west of Boston.Five
students later accepted plea deals in criminal cases connected with bullying that
preceded her death. None involved prison time.Prince's death drew international attention and
was among several high-profile teen suicides that prompted new laws aimed at
cracking down on bullying in schools. All school districts in Massachusetts are
now required to develop bullying prevention plans.After unsuccessful attempts to gain access
to details of the settlement, which was reached with the town and
its insurer in November 2010, Bazelon sought a court order to release
the information under the state's public records law.In an order dated Dec.
23, Superior Court Judge Mary Lou-Rup ruled in favor of Bazelon, saying
the town had not shown what harm would be c
hs of speculation that he would leave office, the 70-year-old conservative Democrat
told supporters in an emailed statement Tuesday that he felt it was
time he "step away from elective office, spend more time with my
family, and look for new ways to serve our state and nation.""Therefore,
I am announcing today that I will not seek re-election," said Nelson,
a former two-term governor. "Simply put: It is time to move on."Democrats
banking on Nelson's ability to leverage his centrist stances and capture statewide
races were left scrambling; many state activists acknowledged being taken by surprise.While
some floated the names of state Sen. Steve Lathrop of Omaha and
Nelson's former lieutenant governor, Kim Robak, as possible contenders, many said it
was too early to know who might run. Messages seeking comment were
left for Lathrop and Robak.A dream candidate for Democrats: former Nebraska Sen.
Bob Kerrey. Traveling in India on Tuesday, Kerrey told The Washington
