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Pirates caught redhanded by one of Her Majesty’s warships after trying to hijack a cargo ship off Somalia made the grave mistake of opening fire on two Royal Navy assault craft packed with commandos armed with machineguns and SA80 rifles. In the ensuing gunfight, two Somali pirates in a Yemeni-registered fishing dhow were killed, and a third pirate, believed to be a Yemeni, suffered injuries and subsequently died. It was the first time the Royal Navy had been engaged in a fatal shoot-out on the high seas in living memory.

Somalia Calls on Islamists to Surrender Islamic forces retreat in Somalia; government calls on them to lay down their weapons (AP) Islamic fighters retreated Tuesday as Somali government and Ethiopian troops advanced on three fronts in a decisive turn in the battle for control of this Horn of Africa nation. Somalia's internationally backed government called on the Council of Islamic Courts to surrender and promised amnesty if they lay down their weapons, spokesman Abdirahman Dinari said from Baidoa, the seat of the interim administration. Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, whose military openly joined the war Sunday after weeks of quietly...

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VP Cheney Predicts on NBCNEWS TODAY SHOW Monday: Election Results Will 52% Bush, 47% Kerry...

Russian vow 'a threat to everyone' Sep 8 2004 Russia's threat to target "terrorists anywhere" is a danger to Britain, Europe and the rest of the world, a top Chechen separatist based in the UK has warned. Akhmed Zakayev said the vow meant Russia may try to assassinate Chechens wherever they are, regardless of international boundaries. And he warned that sent out a "very disturbing signal to all civilised countries". Mr Zakayev, an envoy for Chechen separatist leader Aslan Maskhadov, also rejected claims by Russia that he should face a renewed extradition attempt following the Beslan school massacre. The separatist,...

The last few months I've seen an increasing trend for FReepers to start going for each others jugular. Sometimes we forget (I've certainly done it myself) that in the grand scheme of things, we are on the same team. We may disagree on priorities or how far we are willing to go, but we have enough enemy in the left without creating more amongst ourselves. We can disagree but be civil to each other. We can debate nuance, but not believe that our personal positions are more important than the health of the whole. Let's argue vigorously but remind ourselves...

<p>WASHINGTON (AP) - As the new chairman of the House Resources Committee, California Rep. Richard Pombo is taking on anyone in his way, from environmental groups he's long battled to fellow Republicans who opposed his ascension to the job.</p> <p>The 42-year-old rancher from Tracy, chosen for the post over more senior lawmakers, has quickly banished thoughts he would moderate his staunch opposition to government programs and environmentalists to reflect his new prominence and a redrawn district that includes a politically moderate portion of the San Francisco Bay area.</p>