U.S. jets retaliate after Afghan bases fired on

KABUL, Afghanistan -- American fighter jets pounded suspected enemy positions in Afghanistan after two U.S. bases came under rocket fire in the east of the country, the U.S. military said in a statement.

In the first attack Thursday evening, nine 107mm rockets were fired at a U.S. military base near Gardez, in eastern Afghanistan. The rockets landed near the base.

U.S. A-10 fighter planes responded by dropping several bombs and firing about 2,000 rounds of ammunition. Special Forces troops found a suspected enemy vehicle and destroyed a rocket that had not been fired.

Several hours later, a U.S. base in Lwara, 110 miles southwest of Kabul, came under rocket and mortar fire and at least one round exploded inside the compound, the military said. U.S. soldiers traded small arms and mortar fire with the suspected attackers.

An A-10 plane fired rockets at the launch site and dropped a 500-pound bomb after three suspected enemy fighters were detected moving, and another aircraft dropped a 1,000-pound bomb shortly afterward, the military said.

There were no coalition casualties. The military said it believes at least two of the attackers were killed.

Meanwhile, the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad came under fire Friday from suspected al-Qaida or Taliban fighters, police chief Haji Ajab Shah said. Four rockets hit an empty high school and the airport, but caused no casualties.

Federal judge blocks airport screening rule

LOS ANGELES -- A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked a rule saying the government's new airport security screeners must be U.S. citizens.

The portion of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act barring noncitizens from the positions is unconstitutional, U.S. District Judge Robert Takasugi ruled.

Takasugi's preliminary injunction will remain in place until trial in a civil rights lawsuit brought by nine plaintiffs at Los Angeles and San Francisco International Airports. No date has been set.

The ruling will affect as many as 8,000 airport screeners, most of whom have lost their jobs, said Ben Wizner, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, which brought the case.

Also .. . .

SENIOR AL-QAIDA LEADER CAUGHT: A senior al-Qaida leader was recently taken into U.S. custody overseas, officials who declined to identify him told the Associated Press. The officials ruled out three of al-Qaida's most wanted: Osama bin Laden; his chief deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri; and suspected Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Shaikh Mohammed. They also said bin Laden's son, Saad, was not among the captured.

HOUSE APPROVES MONEY FOR BUS SECURITY: The House of Representatives on Friday approved a $99-million grant to help bus operators improve security. The money is to be used for building more secure garages, protecting bus drivers, baggage inspection, passenger screening procedures and hiring security officers.

BRITAIN WARNS AGAINST YEMEN TRAVEL: Citing a "heightened" terrorist threat, the Foreign Office advised Britons on Friday not to travel to Yemen and told those there to consider leaving.

On Nov. 8, the government warned against nonessential travel to the country. "We now advise against all travel to Yemen; that all British nationals in Yemen should consider leaving," Friday's update said.

BRITAIN PLANS CHEMICAL ATTACK DRILLS: Britain will start an education campaign, including posters and mock-emergency drills, to advise the public about how to respond to a biological or chemical attack, the government's chief medical officer said Friday.

"However disturbing it may be for some, we must take up the challenge and the unprecedented step of giving the public more 'protect and serve' information," said Liam Donaldson, the medical officer. "It is impossible to guard against all the potential risks, but simple procedural advice could save lives."

GERMANY EXTENDS TERRORISM HELP: The German Parliament extended the participation of German troops in the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism for another year with 573-11 vote.

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