US secretary of state warns Zimbabwe president against declaring election victory

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Zimbabwe's president on Thursday against declaring victory in what she said will be an illegitimate run-off election this week.

With the opposition boycotting Friday's vote due to ruling party violence and intimidation, Rice said no outcome would be acceptable and that Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe must allow a legitimate government to take power.

"Clearly, no run-off election that doesn't have the participation of opposition ... can be considered legitimate, no outcome can be considered legitimate," she said in Kyoto, where she is attending a meeting of foreign ministers from the Group of Eight …

Man charged with threatening judges: Allegedly left several menacing voice messages

A Chicago man has been charged with threatening two judges --including the presiding judge of Cook County Criminal Court -- afterthe man allegedly left them menacing voice messages.

Salvatore Affrunti, 45, left several voice mails for CriminalCourt Presiding Judge Paul Biebel and Judge Henry Simmons onWednesday after trying to enter Simmons' chambers, said prosecutorLorraine Scaduto. Affrunti, of the 3600 block of North Lake ShoreDrive, is on probation for eight separate offenses, includingintimidation of witnesses.

"This defendant has demonstrated by way of his past behavior andhis convictions his danger," Scaduto said Friday. Judge ColleenHyland set Affrunti's …

Logistics Data - The Secret Weapon in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT)

Since America began its counterattack after the terrorist acts of Sept. 11, 2001, the Defense Logistics Informatio Service (DLIS) and the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS) have worked even harder to meet the logistics needs of U.S. and Coalition Forces.

Both organizations have long strived to support their pieces of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) mission - to bring the right item, to the right place, at the right time - goals that any logistician can appreciate. With its role in the acquisition process, DLIS:

* Supports provisioning efforts and identifies the need for and validates available technical documentation for cataloging purposes.

* …

Slovenia opposes further Croatia-EU talks

Slovenia says it will oppose further European Union membership negotiations with Croatia because of a border dispute, effectively impeding its neighbor from joining the EU.

The two countries have argued over the drawing of sea boundaries and ownership of four villages and a hill.

Croatia is due to start another round of EU accession talks on Friday, in time to complete them next year. It …

National League Standings

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All Times EDT
East Division
W L Pct GB
Philadelphia 26 20 .565 _
Atlanta 25 22 .532 1 1/2
New York 25 23 .521 2
Florida 24 24 .500 3
Washington 24 24 .500 3
Central Division
W L Pct GB
Cincinnati 28 20 .583 _

Al-Qaida in Iraq chief may be dead: Unconfirmed reports say al-Masri killed by Sunni tribesman

BAGHDAD - Iraqi officials have received reports that the leader ofal-Qaida in Iraq was killed by Sunni tribesmen, but the chiefgovernment spokesman said Tuesday the information has not beenconfirmed.

The statement by spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh followed a welter ofreports from other Iraqi officials that Abu Ayyub al-Masri had beenkilled.

Iraqi officials have released similar reports in the past, only toacknowledge later they were inaccurate.

U.S. officials said they could not confirm the reported death.

Al-Dabbagh told Al-Arabiya that word of al-Masri's purported deathwas based on "intelligence information," adding that "DNA testsshould be done and we have …

Grant KOs Botha in 12th round for WBF heavy title

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — American Michael Grant stopped South Africa's Francois Botha in the 12th round of their heavyweight fight to claim the vacant WBF title Saturday night.

Grant dropped Botha with a right hand with 37 seconds left at Montecasino.

"I knew I had the strength to knock him out in the 12th round," Grant said.

The 43-year-old Botha dominated from the start, nearly finishing off …