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Afghanistan tour extended for N.Y. Brigade

By TIMES WIRES
Published January 25, 2007

The Pentagon has decided to extend by four months the combat tour in Afghanistan of 3,200 soldiers from the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum, N.Y., said Ben Abel, a spokesman for Fort Drum. The decision comes a week after Defense Secretary Robert Gates met with commanders in Afghanistan and heard a request for more troops to quell violence.

U.S. would triple aid to Lebanon

The United States will offer nearly $770-million to help the fragile democratic government in Lebanon, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday, a tripling of U.S. aid announced a day after deadly protests in Beirut underscored the country's deep political and sectarian divisions. The aid, which must be approved by Congress, would include $220-million in military aid for the Western-backed government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora. Lebanon remained tense Wednesday, a day after Hezbollah-led protesters, who want the prime minister to resign, clashed with government supporters, killing three.

President asserts his innocence

Shaking with fury, Israeli President Moshe Katsav rebuffed growing calls for his resignation Wednesday, saying accusations he committed rape and other crimes were "poisonous, horrible lies" that were part of a broad conspiracy against him. Katsav asked the Knesset to temporarily suspend him from his mainly ceremonial post while he fights to clear his name. But momentum was building for lawmakers to open unprecedented impeachment proceedings.

Greek group claims embassy attack

A Greek militant group has claimed responsibility for a rocket attack on the U.S. Embassy this month, blaming U.S. policy in Iraq and the Middle East for the strike. The far-left group Revolutionary Struggle issued a statement to Pontiki newspaper, publisher Dimitris Benekos said Wednesday. There were no injuries in the Jan. 12 attack.

2,000 accused of human trafficking

More than 2,000 people throughout Italy - most of them from Eastern Europe, Asia and Africa- are accused of human trafficking following an investigation that uncovered minors and adults forced into prostitution and working in sweatshops, police said Wednesday.

Copter crash kills defense minister

New Defense Minister Guadalupe Larriva and one of her children were killed Wednesday when two helicopters collided in southern Ecuador. The pilots also died, government spokeswoman Monica Chuji said.

[Last modified January 25, 2007, 01:27:03]