USA
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah appeared ready to extend his US visit, in a sign of possible progress on a Middle East peace proposal. The delegation had been scheduled to leave Sunday, but was expected to leave today instead. The peace plan was an issue when Abdullah met with President Bush at the latter's ranch in Texas Thursday, and talks continued with administration officials over the weekend. (Story, page 2.)
It wasn't clear whether Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was discussed in the US-Saudi talks. But Sunday's New York Times reported that the Bush administration is contemplating a major air and ground invasion aimed at toppling the Iraqi leader, which would require Saudi support. Bush has no specific "war plan," the Times reported, but administration policymakers are considering a campaign early next year that would involve up to 250,000 troops, after ruling out the likelihood for success of a coup or Afghan-style campaign.
Los Angeles today marks the 10th anniversary of the US's worst urban riots. Some 55 people died during three days of looting and violence after an all-white jury acquitted four police officers in the videotaped beating of a black man, Rodney King. (Story, page 1.)
Ceremonies elsewhere in California marked the 60th anniversary of the order that sent 120,000 Japanese-Americans to internment camps during World War II. Fusako Ishizuka (above) displays a copy of her government-issue name tag during a reenactment event in Watsonville Saturday.
The US appears set to regain its seat on the UN Human Rights Commission when the group's parent body holds elections today. The US was voted off the 53-member panel last year for the first time since its founding in 1947, in what foreign diplomats attributed to a lack of American engagement on such issues as international weapons and climate-control treaties.
Three people were killed when rival motorcycle gangs clashed at a casino in Laughlin, Nev. At least 12 others were hurt in the fighting Saturday between dozens of Hells Angels and Mongols members. They were participating in the 20th annual River Run, a biker festival. One person was arrested and 200 were being questioned by police.
Ruth Handler, who died Saturday in Los Angeles, created the Barbie doll and co-founded toymaker Mattel Inc. More than 1 billion of the dolls, named for Handler's daughter, Barbara, have been sold since its introduction in 1959.
