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U.S.: No timetable on finding bin Laden

KABUL, Afghanistan - An intense manhunt will ultimately net the United States' No. 1 enemy, Osama bin Laden, but there is no telling how long it might take, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday during a whistle-stop visit to Afghanistan.

Gen. Richard B. Myers denounced bin Laden's latest taped message, saying its barbarity was a reminder that U.S. forces are involved in "a fight for freedom and civilization."

Two and a half years after their al-Qaida group organized the deadliest terror attack in history, bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahri are at large and believed hiding in the craggy mountains between Pakistan and Afghanistan. A dragnet involving thousands of troops has failed to track down Taliban leader Mullah Omar or renegade Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

Myers insisted he has not grown frustrated at the military's inability to find bin Laden and his deputy, or at the terror leaders' success at smuggling out anti-American audio messages.

"We will be successful against al-Qaida and their leadership, but I'm not going to put a timeline on it, because I just can't tell you," he said. "One or two people hiding in very tough terrain where they have either paid for their security or have sympathizers . . . this is very difficult work."

SEOUL, South Korea - Vice President Dick Cheney met with senior South Korean officials Friday and stressed the tough stance on North Korea he has advocated throughout his weeklong tour of northern Asia, one day after South Korea voters handed control of the National Assembly to a political party that advocates closer ties with North Korea.

Just before flying back to Washington, Cheney drew a stark contrast between South and North Korea when he addressed U.S. troops serving 35 miles from the demilitarized zone separating the two countries.

"The difference between freedom and tyranny is evident to all who live here," he said at the Yonghsan army garrison, a U.S. base inside Seoul. "It's the difference between a life of opportunity and hope and an existence defined by repression and fear."

TONALA, Mexico - An explosion tore through a small fireworks store in western Mexico, killing seven people including a small child, officials said Friday.

The explosion Thursday destroyed the Coheteria Plasencia, one of six fireworks stores in the city of Tonala, said Jorge Sapien, communications director for the Jalisco state civil protection agency. The town is 15 miles southeast of Guadalajara, the state capital.

MADRID, Spain - After easily winning parliamentary backing on Friday, Spain's new prime minister accepted a perfunctory handshake from the country's outgoing leader and bear hugs from delighted Socialist colleagues.

"Now to work, to fulfill commitments, to honor my word," Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said as he took over a country reeling from deadly terrorist attacks.

Jose Maria Aznar, whose staunch support for the U.S.-led war in Iraq cost his conservative Popular Party the March 14 elections, shook hands with Zapatero and then left the ornate parliamentary chamber and Spanish political life, at least for now. His immediate plans include teaching at Georgetown University in Washington.

Friday evening, King Juan Carlos signed a decree naming Zapatero head of Spain's government, the palace said.

The 43-year-old lawyer formally becomes prime minister after taking the oath of office before the king today.