CBS' Dan Rather heads to war zone

NEW YORK -- Dan Rather has become the first of the major network evening-news anchors to head to the battle zone in Afghanistan, but CBS News is being coy about his whereabouts.

Rather, who left for the war zone Monday, is "currently working his way into Afghanistan," said spokeswoman Sandy Genelius. Although CBS already has numerous correspondents in the region and the trip has kept Rather off the air for much of the week, his first report, from Bahrain, was scheduled to air Thursday night. "The one indisputable thing we know about Dan Rather is, when there is a big story, he wants to be there to report it," Genelius said.

For competitive reasons, CBS also declined to say which city Rather was heading to, even as parts of the country are degenerating into lawlessness and safety has become a major concern for the news organizations operating there.

Rather, 70, possibly could be joined by NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw, although Brokaw has no immediate plans to go. An ABC News spokesman said Peter Jennings has no plans to travel to the area.

Queen, former president join service for Britons

LONDON -- With roses, hymns and tears, hundreds of friends and relatives of the Britons killed in the Sept. 11 terror attacks mourned Thursday at Westminster Abbey, where the nation has come for centuries to grieve and celebrate.

Former President Bush came as envoy for his son. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Prime Minister Tony Blair also joined New York and London rescue workers and relatives who clutched white roses and wore red, white and blue ribbons.

"It is part of the tragedy of so many of those we honor here today that their lives ended far from home," Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey said, "far from family and friends and all those gathered here today to mourn their passing."

More than 1,000 people -- including relatives of many of the 78 Britons killed -- filled the abbey, the site of scores of royal weddings, coronations and funerals.

Mourners sang God Save the Queen and The Star-Spangled Banner, then a few hymns.

Blair, who was joined by his wife, Cherie, read from the Bible, and actor Judi Dench offered a poem by Christina Georgina Rossetti.

"Remember me when I am gone away," she read. "Gone far away into the silent land, when you can no more hold me by the hand."

Bush did not speak. The congregation also included U.S. Ambassador William Farish and dozens of white-gloved firefighters and police officers from New York and Britain.

Ashcroft takes U.S. attorneys on tour

WASHINGTON -- It was not your usual tour group.

On a soggy night, Attorney General John Ashcroft led 90 federal prosecutors who have been on the front lines of the terrorism war on a trek to Washington's monuments.

Their mission: "To acquaint ourselves and to recommit ourselves and dedicate ourselves to the wisdom and knowledge of the founders who were dedicated to justice," in Ashcroft's words.

The prosecutors were in the nation's capital for their annual meeting and, many of them thought, a short break from almost three months of nonstop investigation into the Sept. 11 attacks.

Ashcroft had other ideas.

After Wednesday night's walking tour of the monuments, he had them up early for a visit to the Pentagon, site of Sept. 11 terrorist attack on Washington.

Ashcroft explained both experiences to President Bush on Thursday.

"It was our effort to draw wisdom and understanding from the walk last night, to draw a sense of intensity and purpose from the visit to the Pentagon today."

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