The nation in brief

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 6, 2000

National title game rematches U.S. pushes security for ports

WASHINGTON -- The United States plans to negotiate new security arrangements with every country that U.S. warships visit, establishing tougher measures meant to thwart attacks like the one against the destroyer Cole in Yemen in October, senior Navy officials told the New York Times.

U.S. military commanders in the Persian Gulf region have already completed pacts with authorities in some countries, the officials said, though they declined to identify them, citing security issues. The new arrangements allow significantly stricter security measures by both the Americans and local governments, including the posting of armed gunboats around ships stopping in foreign ports.

Adm. Vern Clark, who as the chief of naval operations is the Navy's top admiral, said Tuesday that ultimately commanders would negotiate agreements specific to every port around the world. That could take months or years to negotiate and rankle diplomatic sensitivities even among countries closely aligned with the United States.

In another effort to tighten security at ports frequented by U.S. warships, officials also announced Tuesday that the Pentagon was sending more than 100 additional sailors to the Persian Gulf region.

Wait to turn on holiday lights, Californians urged

SAN FRANCISCO -- With electricity and natural gas supplies in short supply, energy companies and state officials have asked Californians to delay turning on Christmas lights until well after nightfall and to keep thermostats set at 68 degrees.

Energy bills already are increasing dramatically, more than 50 percent in some cases.

Utility officials said illuminating Christmas lights would be cheaper after 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. when electricity demand falls.

Shortages are plaguing the state. On Monday and Tuesday, Stage Two emergencies were declared, meaning electricity reserves had fallen to 5 percent.

Elsewhere

LEWINSKY TO BE QUESTIONED: Monica Lewinsky will "reluctantly appear" once again for questioning by prosecutors in the perjury and obstruction investigation of President Clinton, an attorney for the former White House intern said Tuesday.

Plato Cacheris said that Independent Counsel Robert Ray's office called last week and that under the immunity agreement, Lewinsky must give her full cooperation. No date has been set.

Ray says a decision on prosecuting Clinton will come shortly after the president leaves office.

BUSH HAS SURGERY: Former President George Bush had his left hip replaced Tuesday morning at the Mayo Clinic, and the clinic reported that things went well.

The surgery was completed at 7:40 a.m., a clinic statement said. The clinic did not say how long the surgery lasted. Bush, 76, was resting comfortably in his hospital room. He was expected to be hospitalized for five days.

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