2A - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, September 9, 1998 Fed officials speak with Northwest, pilots MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The White House yesterday dispatched two of its big guns to Minnesota to help get Northwest Airlines and its striking pilots back to the bargaining table. White House spokesperson Barry Toiv said deputy counsel Bruce Lindsey and Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater would meet first with the federal mediator who has been working with the two sides. Lindsey, known as "the enforcer" on Capitol Hill, and Slater will remain in Minnesota "as long as they can be useful there. 'They are primari- ly there to assess the situation," Toiv said. Operating as White House deputy counsel, Lindsey has been thrown into some of the administration's toughest battles. He was Clinton's representative in negotiations for a national tobacco deal and for settlement of strikes by baseball players and American Airlines pilots. Clinton halted the American strike just minutes after it began last Michigan! year. As the federal mediator prepared to meet with Lindsey and Slater, Northwest said it issued temporary lay- off notices yesterday to 567 part-time reservation agents, boosting to about 28,300 the number of non-striking employees who have been laid off since the strike began. "We continue to evaluate our staffing levels in light of the pilots' union strike," said Dwayne Tucker, Northwest vice president-human resources. Yesterday was the third day of talks aimed at resumption of negotiations. Northwest and the pilots met separately with a mediator Saturday and Sunday in Chicago. Security was tight at the suburban hotel used as a meeting site. A blue screen and a large plant blocked the hallway leading to the area where talks were being held. In its 11th day, the strike by Northwest's 6,100 pilots is the longest airline strike since 1989, when President Bush refused to step into a machinists' strike that led to the col- lapse of Eastern Airlines. The dispute centers on pay and job security. Clinton is under pressure from some politicians and business leaders to order .D It's important to let the negotiation process continue." - Jim Manley Spokesperson for Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) AROUND THE NATION Wall Street reacts to Greenspan speech WASHINGTON - Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan, demonstrating anew the impact of his words, ignited the biggest one-day point surge in Wall Street history by suggesting he would consider cutting interest rates if America's "oasis of prosperity" is further threatened by global economic troubles. Greenspan didn't specify any time frame for action in his speech Friday, but tlI mere suggestion the Fed is now considering rate cuts was all investors needed to hear. The Dow Jones industrial average was up more than 300 points within an hour of the opening bell yesterday and ended the day 380.53 points higher, a record sin- gle-day gain that surpassed the 337-point improvement after last October's 554- point plunge. The Wall Street rally yesterday was a replay of strong gains Monday in many Asian and European markets when New York markets were closed because of Labor Day. But economists urged some caution in the midst of the euphoria, contending that investors may be letting their hopes get ahead of Greenspan's actual words. "Greenspan was telling the world that he stands ready to ease, but he hasrl made up his mind yet that such a move will be necessary," said Mark Zandi, econ- omist at Regional Financial Associates in West Chester, Pa. Northwest pilots back to work for 60 days while a Presidential Emergency Board looks at solutions to the dispute. However, pilots could resume their strike at the end of the 60-day period and only Congress then could order them back to work. Clinton has said he hopes the parties can reach agreement without interven- tion. Congress has so far stayed out of the strike. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. Paul Wellstone (D-Minn.) have threatened to filibuster a non-binding Senate resolution that urges Clinton to intervene in the strike. "Despite the dif- ficulties that the strike may be posing for those in the Midwest and elsewhere, the fact is it's important to let the negotiating process continue," Kennedy spokesper- son Jim Manley said yesterday. Majority Leader Trent Lott, a co- G 8.s24 /min. for all your instate calls! 8.94 /min. for all out-of-state calls! Relax..youl never have to choose another long distance provider again. America's Co-op allows you to start at these low rates and then go even lower! Just think, no monthly service fee, call any time you want an the possibility of lower- ing your rates even more by referring some friends and family to the Co-op. :America s Co-op also has FREE 1-800 numbers, a 14.94 calling card and a program that painlessly raises money for your business or organization. -~Info via Fax-On-demand: atxecz949-450-0770 box 9203 Voice mail: 930-1837 Email: greatrates@telecom-consultants.com " Friendly 4 Helpful " Affordable " Available Anytime (at your campus bookstre) www.wizpower com /Mr r The search for something fresh led us here where we were overwhelmed by the urge to acquire a fresh cut. T . Z * V i. . a$ vt 4AW a/V 717 sponsor of the measure, has yet to bring it to the floor for a vote. Northwest has canceled all flights through Friday. All flights originating in Europe and Asia were canceled through Sunday. Meanwhile, two feeder carriers that discontinued Northwest Airlink ser- vice when the strike began were under Transportation Department orders to reinstate service yesterday to 17 towns that have no other scheduled air service. Northwest was ordered to provide the necessary ground support for Mesaba Airlines and Express Airlines I. Northwest issued a statement yester- day saying it would do everything it could, "within the constraints of our current pilot strike," to provide the ground support but could not guarantee how long the support would remain available. Brazilian tanker explosion kils53 SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) - A tanker truck flipped and exploded yes- terday on a Brazilian highway, igniting two buses returning from a religious fes- tival, firefighters said. At least 53 people were killed and dozens more injured. The crash took place just before 3 a.m. on the Anhanguera Highway near Araras, 110 miles northwest of Sao Paulo. "The tanker truck lost control and flipped," Araras fire official Wilson Lima said. He said a liquor truck rammed it from behind, and fuel the tanker was carrying spilled onto the highway. The buses were in the pool of liquid when it burst into flames, Lima said. The tanker was carrying thousands of gallons of fuel. "It was horrible. People were scream- ing, their bodies on fire, and trying des- perately to escape through the win- dows," Priscila Cordeiro, one of the sur- vivors told TV Globo network. "None of us could do anything to help. We would have died if we tried." Joao Mesquita managed to save him- self and his 2-year-old son, but his wife died in the flames. "It all happened very quickly," he said. "The fire destroyed everything within minutes." Earlier in the day, the Araras fire department placed the death toll at 57, but revised the count after receiving a report from the city morgue. Images filmed by an amateur camera- man and aired by TV Globo showed the vehicles completely engulfed by flames. Firefighters quoted by the network said pieces of aluminum from the buses had welded together. The four vehicles were reduced to twisted and charred metal, and a long stretch of the highway's median strip was blackened. A row of coffins was placed on the road. Lima said 39 people were hospital- was blackened. A row of coffins was placed on the road. Lima said 39 people were hospital- ized, but most were released. The buses were heading to Anapolis with pilgrims returning from Aparecida do Norte, a town 110 miles northeast of Sao Paulo that huses the basilica of Our Lady Revealed, Brazil's patron saint., China leads world * executions BEIJING (AP) - China executed more people last year than the rest of the world combined, despite an overall drop in the number of death sentences Chinese officials carried out, Amnesty International said in a report yesterday. China sentenced to death at least 3,152 people and executed at least 1,876 in 1997, the report said. Six die in Colorado teens' killing spree AURORA, Colo. -- Two teen-agers carrying shotguns and wearing ban- danas over their faces allegedly killed five people in two homes a few blocks apart Monday. Then one of the boys apparently killed the other, police said. The surviving suspect, a 17-year-old whose name was not released by police, was booked yesterday on six counts of first-degree murder. All six victims and the 17-year-old boy knew each other. But police were unsure what triggered the killing spree, one of the worst ever in this Denver suburb. "The motive is really the $64,000 question," police spokesperson Bob Stef said. "We don't know if it was out of anger, revenge, involving someone else." Neighbors called police Monday afternoon after hearing shots and screams at a two-story blue home with white shutters. Inside, police found the bodies of Penny MedIa, Greg Medla, believed to be her son; and his girl- friend, Marissa Avalos. Peggy MedIa's 6-year-old girl and 9-year-old-boy were not hurt. Witnesses told officers that Michael Martinez, and another teen-age b strode down the street, walked into the home and opened fire. Court upholds McVeig conviction DENVER -- A federal appeals court on yesterday upheld the conviction of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, who claimed testimony from victims' relatives produced a verdict a4 sentence based on emotion rather than reason. The appeals court also rejected eight other avenues of appeal, including pretri- al publicity, juror misconduct and barred testimony that others may have carried the worst bombing on American soil. McVeigh was convicted of murder, conspiracy and weapons-related charges in the April 19, 1995, bombing of th Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. AROUND THE WORLD :. Russian political standoff intensifies MOSCOW - Boris Yeltsin hesitated yesterday over ramming through his unpopular choice for prime minister, while opposition and religious leaders warned that the political standoff could spark civil war in Russia. The nation's top clergy expressed fears of unrest, praying publicly before Russia's holiest icon for divine protec- tion against "misfortunes, sorrows and internecine war." Yeltsin conferred with top aides at his country home amid growing spec- ulation that he may choose a compro- mise candidate to stave off a show- down with the Communist-dominat- ed lower house of parliament, the State Duma. Up to now, Yeltsin had insisted that acting Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin was his only choice, but the Duma on Monday rejected Chernomyrdin for a second time. Yeltsin, who is known for trampling over his political opponents, has compromised before in the face of popular anger, which has been build- ing rapidly. The president has one more chance to win parliamentary approval for 10 prime ministerial pick. If the Duma refuses to confirm the candidate, Yeltsin must dissolve the legislature and call parliamentary elections within three months. Afghanistan houses embassy bomber KABUL, Afghanistan - Osama b Laden, enemy No. 1 in the United States, has a home in Afghanistan as long as he wants it- even if his pres- ence invites another barrage of U.S. Tomahawk missiles. A top Taliban official, Abdul Sattar Paktis, speaks of the man accused of masterminding bombings at U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania as an old friend and honored guest. "He is our guest and we will nev force him out," he said in an intervie Monday. -- Compiled from Daily wire reports. The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the university of Michigan. Subscriptions for fall term, starting in September, via U.S. mail are $85. Winter term (January through April) is $95, yearlong (September through April) is $165. On-campus su scriptions for fall term are $35. Subscriptions must be prepaid. The Michigan Daily is a member of the Associated Press and the Associated Collegiate Press. ADDRESS: The Michigan Daily, 420 Maynard St., Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1327. PHONE NUMBERS (All area code 313): News 76-DAILY; Arts 763-0379; Sports 647-3336; Opinion 764-0552; Circulation 764-0558; Classified advertising 764-0557; Display advertising 764-0554; Billing 764-0550. E-mail letters to the editor to daily.etters@umich.edu. World Wide Web: http://www.pub.umich.edu/daily/. NEWS Janet Adamny, Managing Editor EDITORS: Marla Hackett. Heather Kamins, Jeffrey Kosseff, Chris Metinko, STAFF: Melissa Andrzejak. Reilly Brennan. Adam Cohen, Gerard Cohen-Vngnaud. Nikita Easley. Rachel Edelman. Margene Enksen, Trevor Gardner. Rachel Groman, Erin Holmes. Steve Horwitz. William Nash. Lee Palmer, Amit Pandya. Katie Plona, Susan T. Port. ElIana Raik, Josh Rosenblatt, Melanie Sampson, Killy Scheer, Nika Schulte, Mike Spahn, Jason Stoffer, Sarah Welsh, Heather Wiggin, Jennifer Yachnin, Adam Z uwerink. CALENDAR: Katie Plona. EDITORIAL Jack Schiflaci, Ed ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Sarah Lockyer. David Wallace. STAFF: Beth Bernstein, Jeff Eldridge. Lea Frost, Kaamran Hafeez, Eric Hochstadt, Scott Hunter. Jason Korb, Yuki Kuniyuki, Sarah Lemire, Laurie Mayk, James Miller, Abby Moses, Aaron Rich, Peter Romer-Fnedman, Stephen Sarkozy, Megan Schimpf, Wajahat Syed, John Targowski SPORTS Jin Rose, Managing Editor EDITORS: Josh Kleinbaum, Sharat Raju, Pranay Reddy, Mark Snyder. STAFF: TJ. Berka, Josh Borkin, Evan Braunstein. Dave DenHerder. Chris Duprey. Jordan Field, Mark Francescutti, Rick Freeman, Rick Harpster, Andy Latack, B.J. Luria, Kevin Rosenfeld, Tracy Sandier, Nita Srivastava, Uma Subramanian, Jacob Wheeler Jon Zemke. ARTS Kristin Long, Christopher Tkaczyk, Editors WEEKEND. ETC. EDITORS: Jessica Eaton, Will Weissert SUB-EDITORS Brian Cohen (Music. Anna Kovalszki (Fe/Performing Arts). Joshua Pederson (Film). Corinne Schneider (Books), Michael Galloway (N/New Media). STAFF: Joanne Anabjar, Amy Barber. Matthew Barrett. Caryn Burtt. Chris Cousino, Gabe Fajuri. Laura Flyer, Geordy Gantsoudes, Jewel Gopwani, Cadt Hall, Marquina Iliev. Maicie Jones, Valerie Lapinski. Bryan Lark. Jie Lin. James Miller, Kern Murphy, Aaron Rich, Deveron Q. Sanders, Gabrielle Schafer, Cara Spindler. JuQuan Williams, Curtis Zimmerman. PHOTO Margaret Myers, Warren Zinn, Ed STAFF: Louis Brown, Joy Jacobs, Jessica Johnson. Dana Linnane. Matt Madill, Daniel O'Donnell Nathan Ruffer. Adriana Yugovich. ONLINE STAFF: Mark Francescutti. Marquina Iliev, Elizabeth Lucas. GRAPHICS Jonathan Wetz, Editor STAFF: Alex Hogg, Vicky Lasky, Michelle McCombs, Jordan Young. BUSNESSSTFF- lu Sih Bsns Mngr , , .,