Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Headlines (5:00)
SUICIDE BOMBING AS CHENEY VISITS AFGHANISTAN
The Taliban has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at the
main entrance to the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. The attack came
as Vice President Dick Cheney was visiting the premises. The blast
reportedly killed 23 people, but left the vice president unharmed.

SRI LANKA
In Sri Lanka, The US and Italian ambassadors and 4 other foreign
envoys were injured today when Tamil Tiger rebels fired on Sri Lankan
military helicopters carrying the delegation. The rebels say they did
not know the helicopters were carrying diplomats and faulted the Sri
Lankan government for jeopardizing the safety of the foreign
delegation by flying it into a conflict zone. None of the diplomats
received serious injuries.

PADILLA HEARING
A prison psychologist testified yesterday that alleged al-Qaeda member
Jose Padilla is mentally fit for trial. That testimony contradicts
experts from the defense who say he is mentally incompetent to stand
trial on charges of participating in a North American terror support
cell. Mitch Perry reports from Tampa

RE-OPENING CIVIL RIGHTS MURDER CASES
Civil rights groups have teamed up with federal investigators to try
to solve the cold case murders of the civil rights era. FSRN Karen
Miller has more.

HOUSE TO VOTE ON LABOR LEGISLATION
The House of Representatives will vote this week on legislation that
would enable working people to have more direct control over
collective bargaining in the workplace. Naji Mujahid has the story.

Features
US Agrees to Negotiations with Syria, Iran and Others on Iraqi Security
The Bush Administration has reversed its long standing diplomatic
policy of not negotiating with its enemies. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice announced the US will open up dialogue with Iran and
Syria in a meeting in Baghdad next month to address Iraqi security.

Senate Delays Iraq Debate for Two Weeks (3:20)
Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice made the announcement before the
Senate Appropriations Committee, which is looking closely at Iraq and
Afghanistan war funding. And although Iraq is still a top priority for
Congress, the Senate has decided to hold off on any Iraq debate for
another 2 weeks. FSRN’s Leigh Ann Caldwell reports.

Former Member of Haitian Military High Command Ordered to Pay $4.3 Million (3:20)
A federal jury in Miami has found a former member of Haitian Military
High Command liable for torture, extrajudicial killing, and arbitrary
detention. Colonel Carl Dorelien has been ordered to pay $4.3 million
dollars in damages to plaintiffs Lexiuste Cajuste, a labor leader who
was tortured by the Haitian military, and to the family of Michel
Pierre, killed during the infamous Raboteau Massacre in 1994. Amber
Cortes reports.

Israel Withdraws from Nablus; At Least One Killed (3:30)
The Israeli Army withdrew most of its troops from Nablus, in the
northern West Bank today – after one of its largest military operations
in months, as Israeli soldiers sealed off parts of the old city center
and conducted door-to-door searches since Sunday, looking for alleged
Palestinian fugitives. Israeli troops killed as least one resident as
he walked with his son on a street, and injured about 20 more. Manar
Jibrin reports.

Winter Freeze Takes its Toll on California Farm Workers (4:00)
An icy freeze that destroyed three-quarters of California's citrus
crops is creating havoc for growers in the region. But, as Leilani
Albano reports, it’s farm workers that are getting hit hardest by the
cold spell.

UK Activists Demonstrate Against New Nuclear Program (4:00)
As the British government makes plans to replace Britain's aging
nuclear submarines, Western diplomats met in London to discuss a new UN
resolution addressing Iran's nuclear program. Speaking out against the
UK's nuclear program, British activists and politicians rallied in
London on Saturday. Manuel Rueda has more.