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© St. Petersburg Times, published November 6, 2002
Bush extends 'best wishes' to Muslims for Ramadan
WASHINGTON -- President Bush sent his "best wishes for a blessed time" on Tuesday to Muslims preparing to celebrate Ramadan, their faith's holy month of daytime fasting.
Calling Islam "a peace-loving faith," Bush celebrated the diversity that the millions of American Muslims bring to the United States and praised Muslim nations that support the U.S. war against terror.
"Muslims observe this month by renewing their dedication to caring for those in need, doing good deeds, and strengthening family and community ties," Bush said in a statement. "These actions reflect many of the values that Muslims share with people of other faiths across our nation and around the world, including courage, compassion and service."
Ramadan is the holiest time of year for Muslims, marking God's revelation of the Koran to the prophet Mohammed almost 1,400 years ago. Muslims abstain from food, drink and sex during daylight hours in acts of sacrifice and purification. Each day of fasting ends with family and friends gathering for a meal.
The holiday is marked on a lunar calendar and begins at the month's first sighting of the crescent moon, which should take place today in the United States.
"America remains committed to freedom, justice and opportunity for all people," Bush said. "During this season of reverence and examination, we continue to work together for a future of peace, tolerance and understanding."
PHILADELPHIA -- Thirteen police officers will be suspended for participating in the beating of a robbery suspect that was caught on videotape in July 2000, the city's police commissioner said Tuesday.
The suspensions range from five days to 15 days. Commissioner Sylvester Johnson declined to divulge the officers' names, saying not all had been told of the punishments for beating or shooting at Thomas Jones.
"The commissioner wasn't happy with what happened out there," said Sgt. Roland Lee, a police spokesman.
High on cocaine and marijuana, Jones led police on a chase in a stolen car through north Philadelphia. He was stopped, but jumped into a police cruiser and tried to flee again.
Police shot him five times and yanked him from the cruiser as a news crew in a helicopter taped the arrest. Officers repeatedly kicked and punched Jones, a scene replayed on television across the country.
HOUSTON -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to halt the execution of a Texas death row inmate whose lawyers argue he was mentally ill and unable to assist in his defense at his murder trial.
James Colburn, 42, was convicted of killing a woman in his home in 1994 and has been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. His execution is scheduled today.
The Supreme Court declared in June that executing mentally retarded murderers is unconstitutionally cruel. But the justices have refused blanket protection for all mentally ill people.
LOS ANGELES -- With his family saying he was improving, Irv Rubin remained in grave condition Tuesday as new details emerged about what authorities said was a suicide attempt in federal prison.
The firebrand national director of the Jewish Defense League suffered serious head injuries Monday when, according to officials, he slashed himself with a razor, then leaped over a railing at the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles.
Rubin's 18-foot fall occurred only hours before he and his chief lieutenant were to appear in U.S. District Court for a hearing on charges that he had plotted to bomb a mosque and a congressman's office.
On Tuesday, Shelley Rubin said her 57-year-old husband had showed signs of brain activity.
"Irv is not brain-dead," she said in a statement released by the JDL. "His heart is fine. He is breathing on his own, although he is still connected to a respirator. But the doctors said he was 'breathing over' the respirator."
ABBEVILLE, Ala. -- Violent storms rolled through southern Alabama Tuesday, killing at least one person and injuring nine.
High wind damaged a high school and storefront in Abbeville, about 80 miles southeast of Montgomery, and temporarily left the Henry County Courthouse without power, authorities said.
Coroner Derek Wright said rescue workers found a body in the debris from one building, although it was unclear which one. The victim was not immediately identified.
ANCHORAGE -- Nearly 300 people worked Tuesday to repair the trans-Alaska oil pipeline after Sunday's major earthquake that opened cracks 6 feet wide in roads and rocked boats on lakes as far away as Louisiana.
The pipeline, which carries crude oil from the North Slope oil fields, was expected to reopen this morning, officials said.