2 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, February 11, 2004 NATION/WORLD Truck bomb kills up to 53 Iraqis NEWS IN BRIEF HEADLINES FROM AROUND THEWORLD ISKANDARIYAH, Iraq (AP) - A suicide bomber blew up a truckload of explosives yesterday outside a police station south of Baghdad, killing up to 53 people and wounding scores - including would-be Iraqi recruits lined up to apply for jobs. The blast in this predominantly Shi- ite Muslim city followed the disclosure Monday of a letter from an anti-Amer- ican operative to al-Qaida's leadership asking for help in launching attacks against the Shiites to undermine the U.S.-run coalition and the future Iraqi government. Many angry townspeople blamed the Americans for the blast, and Iraqi police had to fire weapons in the air to disperse dozens of Iraqis who stormed the shattered remains of the station hours after the explosion. "This missile was fired from a U.S. aircraft," said Hadi Mohy Ali, 60. "The Americans want to tear our unity apart." No U.S. or other coalition forces were hurt, said Lt. Col. Dan Williams, a military spokesman in Baghdad. It was at least the eighth vehicle bombing in Iraq this year and followed warnings from occupation officials that insurgents would step up attacks against Iraqis who work with the U.S.- led coalition, especially ahead of the planned June 30 transfer of sovereign- ty to a provisional Iraqi government. However, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt said it was unclear whether the bomb- ing here was the work of a suicide driver or whether the vehicle was parked and then detonated. Casualty figures varied. The U.S. military command reported 35 dead and 75 wounded but said those figures could be low since Iraqi authorities were han- dling the investigation. The Iraqi Interior Ministry said 40 to 50 people were killed and up to 100 wounded, including four policemen. However, a local hospital director, Razaq Jabbar, put the number at 53 "It was the day for applying for new recruits.... There were tens of them waiting outside the police station:' - Wisam Abdul-Karim Iraqi policeman dead and 60 wounded - all believed to be Iraqis. "This figure might increase," he said. "There were some body parts that haven't been identified yet. Some more bodies may be trapped under the rubble." The explosion reduced parts of the station to rubble and damaged nearby buildings. The street in front of the sta- tion was littered with the wreckage of shattered vehicles as well as pieces of glass, bricks, mangled steel and pieces of clothing. Policeman Wissam Abdul-Karim said he was standing in front of the nearby courthouse when "I heard a very strong explosion" and was thrown to the ground. "It was the day for applying for new recruits," Abdul-Karim said. "There were tens of them waiting outside the police station." Insurgents have mounted a string of car and suicide bombings in recent weeks. The deadliest so far has been in the northern city of Irbil on Feb. 1, when two suicide bombers blew them- selves up at two Kurdish party offices celebrating a Muslim holiday, killing at least 109 people. On Jan. 18, a suicide car bomb exploded near the main gate to the U.S.-led coalition's headquarters in Baghdad, killing at least 31 people. No group claimed responsibility for WASHINGTON . Bush releases National Guard records The White House, trying to end doubts about President Bush's Vietnam-era military service, released documents yesterday that it said proved he had "met his requirements" in the Texas Air National Guard. "These documents outline the days on which he was paid. That means he served," said Bush spokesman Scott McClellan. However, there were still gaps in the record. "The handful of documents released today by the White House creates more ques- tions than answers," said Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe. McAuliffe had helped reignite the story earlier this month when he charged Bush had gone "AWOL." With Vietnam War veteran John Kerry emerging as the Democratic presidential front-runner, Democrats have been trying to stoke long- standing questions about Bush's service in the Guard during the war. Bush joined in 1968, and spent most of his service time based near Houston. But in May 1972 he requested and received a temporary assignment with the Alabama National Guard so he could serve as political director on the Senate campaign of Winton "Red" Blount, a family friend. Bush says he recalls showing up for drills in Alabama, but his supporters have struggled to prove it. WASHINGTON Sept. 11 commission to receive more access The federal commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks will get greater access to classified intelligence briefings prepared for President Bush under an agreement announced yesterday with the White House. The 10-member, bipartisan panel had been barred from reviewing notes taken by three commissioners and the commission's executive director, Philip Zelikow, who reviewed the data in December but couldn't take the summaries with them. Under the agreement, the entire commission was allowed to read versions of the summaries that were edited by the White House. Commissioners reviewed the materials in a daylong meeting yesterday and said the information provided a better understanding of what the government knew prior to Sept. 11. The panel now is seeking additional interviews with several officials, including National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. "The report we have today raised some questions," said former New Jersey Gov. Thomas Kean, chairman of the commission. "There are questions that go to what happened, the history of al-Qaida and the history of the Clinton and Bush admin- istrations." Iraqi family members cry yesterday as they try to identify the dead at a hospital in Iskandariyah, Iraq. A truck bomb exploded outside the police station as dozens of would-be police recruits lined up to apply for jobs. 4 yesterday's bombing, but Kimmitt said the attack "does show many" of al- Qaida's "fingerprints," including the size of the bomb - which he estimat- ed at 500 pounds - and the large number of civilian casualties. In Baghdad, however, Iraqi police Lt. Gen. Ahmed Kadhum Ibrahim said the engine number of the pickup indicated it once belonged to an intelligence offi- cer in Saddam Hussein's regime. On Monday, U.S. officials said a letter seized last month from an al- Qaida courier asked the terrorist lead- ership to help foment civil war between Shiite and Sunni Muslims to undermine the coalition and the future Iraqi leadership. The purported author of the letter was Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Palestin- ian-Jordanian suspected of al-Qaida links and believed at large in Iraq. The author boasted of having organized 25 suicide attacks in this country. , tram Bikini Waxing " Full Leg Waxing (Brazilian waxing available) Facials CLOSE TO CAMPUS WITH PLENTY OF FREE PARKING. To make an appointnent call: 913-5557 . 'ne a 'it French legislature approves school head scarf ban DOVER, Delp New cases of bird flu reported in Delaware Officials responded to a new discov- ery of bird flu yesterday by ordering a quarantine of 80 farms and the slaugh- ter of 72,000 more chickens. The. swift action was aimed at averting more bans on U.S. exports. The second case of disease was found in a commercial flock of roaster- type chickens in northern Sussex Coun- ty, at least five miles away from the farm where the first flock tested posi- tive last week. The chickens at the second farm were killed yesterday afternoon, said Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse. Perdue Farms said it had destroyed the 72,000 chickens to prevent the spread of the disease. The company said the flock was believed to have been infected by a nearby flock of chickens that was raised for the New York City live markets. house for a historic session today in which lawmakers will take up a constitu- tional amendment to ban gay marriage. The gay-marriage issue has created an unprecedented spectacle at the Capi- tol. As many as 4,000 spectators and 300 media members are expected to attend the start of the constitutional convention, and a furious lobbying effort is already under way. Christian conservatives used a dolly to haul in more than 18,000 petitions signed by citizens from across the country urg- ing lawmakers to pass the amendment. NEW YORK Atkins receives flak over his own weight The debate over Dr. Robert Atkins' popular high-fat, low-carb diet flared posthumously yesterday when it was learned that Atkins himself was a bloat- ed 258 pounds at his death. A city medical examiner's report filed after Atkins' 2003 death from a fall showed the six-foot doctor was at a weight normally considered obese. A physicians group that is highly critical of the diet released details of the report, claiming the Atkins diet led to weight and heart troubles for its 72-year-old creator. Atkins's allies immediately disputed that. - Compiled from Daily wire reports I :irlior If ills lfair & Rode Salon (full service Salon) " 2391; S. State FRSHM N, SOPHOMORS + Want to work during Spring/Summer/Fall Semesters? The Michigan Daily will give you the opportunity to gain the following business experiences: " Sell Advertising to Local and National Businesses o Manage your own account Territory * Work in a team-oriented environment " Earn Commission-based pay Please pick up application at THE MICHIGAN DAILY Student Publications Building PARIS (AP) - France took a deci- sive step yesterday toward banning Islamic head scarves in public schools, with lawmakers overwhelmingly back- ing the government's drive to preserve French secular traditions from Muslim fundamentalism. The ban on religious attire in class- rooms, which also includes Jewish skull- caps and large Christian crosses, was approved 494-36 despite protests and criticism from around the world. The measure goes early next month to the Senate, where there is little opposition. The ban was expected to take effect in September. Applying the law could be the real test: Critics say it's too vague and will inflame anti-French feelings among the nation's large Mus- lim minority. But the bill got far more than the 288 votes needed to pass in the 577-seat National Assembly - a measure of its popularity within France, demonstrated repeatedly in public opinion polls. The Republic and secularism are strengthened," said Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, hailing "the mag- nitude of this vote." French leaders hope the law will quell debate over head scarves that has divided France since 1989, when two young girls were expelled from their school in Creil, outside Paris, for wear- ing the head coverings. Scores more have been expelled since then. The bill stipulates that "in schools, junior high schools and high schools, signs and dress that conspicuously show the religious affiliation of stu- dents are forbidden." It would not apply to students in private schools or to French schools in other countries. Sanctions for refusing to remove offending apparel would range from a warning to temporary suspension to expulsion. The government argues that a law is needed to protect France's sec- ular traditions and to ward off rising Islamic fundamentalism. "This law is for us, indispensable," said Martine David, a Socialist law- maker. Teachers "need a clear judicial framework." whatever appropriate BOSTON religious symbols they Interest groups gather wish." for gay marriage vote - Lord Greville Janner vice president, World Jewish Congress Parliament's majority party, Presi- dent Jacques Chirac's Union for a Pop- ular Movement, agreed tomorrow to a last-minute amendment by the Social- ists that calls for a re-evaluation of the law a year after it takes effect. Lawmakers want the option, if nec- essary, of being able to alter the bill's language if it proves to be vague, ambiguous or too difficult to apply. The governing party also added an amendment to ensure mediation takes place before any sanctions are imposed -- another Socialist suggestion that helped the bill sail through with its enormous margin of victory. France has been widely condemned in the Arab and Muslim world for the planned ban. Thousands of angry pro- testers from Beirut to Baghdad have held street demonstrations. Even non-Muslims entered the debate - many on the side of opponents. Lord Greville Janner, vice president of the World Jewish Congress, said yesterday's parliament vote was "a sad decision.". "In a multicultural society, citizens should be free to wear whatever appro- priate religious symbols they wish," he said in a statement. The issue has also proven sharply divisive among Muslims in France - at 5 million, Western Europe's largest Muslim community. Many believe that banning head scarves is a way to exclude Muslim girls from public schools and further ostracize their community. Gay-rights activists, conservative lead- ers and media from around the globe will converge on the Massachusetts State- WWW.MiCHIGANDAILY.COM The Michigan Daily (ISSN 0745-967) is published Monday through Friday during the fall and winter terms by students at the University of Michigan. One copy is available free of charge to all readers. Additional copies may be picked up at the Daily's office for $2. Subscriptions for fall term, starting in September, via U.S. mail are $105. Winter term (January through April) is $110, yearlong (September through April) is $190. University affiliates are subject to a reduced subscription rate. On-campus subscriptions for fall term are $35. Subscrip- tions 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. E-mail letters to the editor to etters@michigandaily.com. 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Lee, Louie Meizlish, Ari Paul, Zac Peskowitz, Hussain Rahim "In a multicultural society, citizens should be free to wear tor tor 0 0 6 I a SPORTSyGennaro Filice, Managing Editor 764.8585, sports~m~ch~gandaly com SENIOR EDITORS: Chris Burke, Daniel Bremmer, Dan Rosen, Jim Weber NIGHT EDITORS: Josh Holman, Bob Hunt, Megan Kolodgy, Shared Mattu, Ellen Mcoarrity, Brian Schick STAFF: Beth Adelson, Jeremy Antar, Eric Ambinder, Kyle Carpenter, Waldemar Centeno, Eric Chan, James V. Dowd, Cabe Edelson, Ian Herbert, Brad Johnson, Jamie Josephson, Melanie Kebler, Phil Kofahl, Courtney Lewis, Julie Master, J. Brady McCollough, Michael Nisson, Kyle ONeill, Jate Rosenwasser, Steven Shears, Naweed Sitora, Matt Singer, Ryan Sosin, Anne Ulible, Matt venegoni ARTSyJason Roberts, Managing Editor 763.0379, artspage~mchgandally com EDITORS: Adam Rottenberg, Alex Wolsky SENIOR EDITOR, WEEKEND MAGAZINE: Niamh Slevin EDITORS, WEEKEND MAGAZINE: Sravya Chirumamilia, Sean Dailey SUB-EDITORS: Andrew M. 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