National News: AP-5thNewsMinute

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r h AP-5thNewsMinute     04-09 0268
^AP-5th NewsMinute<
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^Attack in Baghdad...Commander grilling...Torch arrives<
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     BAGHDAD (AP) _ There‘s heightened security in Baghdad, including
a ban on cars, because of today‘s anniversary of the fall of Saddam
Hussein five years ago. Baghdad‘s Green Zone has again come under
fire. Black smoke billowed from the enclave that houses government
offices and the U.S. Embassy.
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     CAPITOL HILL (AP) _ The top American general in Iraq faces more
grilling by lawmakers in Washington today. General David Petraeus
(peh-TRAY‘-uhs) is backing a pause in troop reductions. Democrats,
unable to stop the war, are backing legislation that would require
Iraq to foot more of the bill through its oil profits.
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     MARION, Ill. (AP) _ An eight-month-old ban on major surgery at
the Veterans Affairs hospital in Marion, Illinois, will continue
indefinitely. But the VA is planning to resume minor outpatient
procedures there next month. Surgery was halted following a string
of deaths blamed on substandard care.
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     DALLAS (AP) _ American Airlines is warning of more travel
disruptions today. It‘s continuing government-ordered inspections
of the wiring on about 300 of its planes. American indicates it
will spring for hotels for people it can‘t put on other flights.
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     SAN FRANCISCO (AP) _ Human rights activists are calling for
peaceful protests today in San Francisco against China‘s human
rights record. The Olympic torch is in town for the only U.S. relay
on its round-the-world odyssey to the Beijing games. Ugly
disruptions in London and Paris have eclipsed the Chinese theme of
harmony.
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     (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

     AP-NY-04-09-08 0444EDT<