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BY ANDREW PARSONS
The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan has ordered troops not to retaliate for the death of two American soldiers. The two were killed yesterday in riots over the burning of Qurans at a U.S. air base in Bahgram. President Obama apologized for the burnings but protests
continue, leaving at least 7 dead.
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Today, leaders from about 60 nations met in Tunisia and called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to immediately end the violence in his country and to allow humanitarian aid into areas hit by his regime´s crackdown.
BY MACKENZIE ISSLER
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was at the meeting, which is being called “The Friends of Syria.”
Clinton describe Assad´s crackdown as QUOTE an affront to the international community, a threat to regional security and a grave violation of universal human rights.
The group vowed to step up ties with the Syrian National Council, an opposition umbrella group. It also asked the United Nations to begin planning a civilian peacekeeping mission, however Russia and China resisted such calls.
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Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney outlined his economic plan in Detroit today, just days before Michigan´s primary. Among his new ideas were tax cuts and changes in social security. He also criticized the president´s economic record.
“Now everywhere I´ve gone in this campaign I´ve met Americans who were suffering as a result of the Obama economy,” the candidate said. “You can see it in their faces and you can hear it in their voices. They´re anxious, they´re scared about the future.”
Michigan is Romney´s home state but polls show him in a tight race there with former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum. Voters go to the polls on Tuesday.
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Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez flew to Cuba today for surgery to remove a potentially cancerous growth. This will be his second cancer-related operation. Chavez spoke on Venezuelan state TV for four hours yesterday, assuring the country he is healthy. The firey President is up for re-election this year and says he will see his campaign through.
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Republican lawmakers in New Hampshire are pushing legislation to overturn a 12-year old law requiring health insurance companies to provide contraception to women – even if they insure Catholic organizations. State House Speaker William O’Brien says the measure promotes religious freedom.
“The Obama administration is trying to divide this country and to divide women against Catholics,” O’Brien said. “The amendment before you, however, is a way of guaranteeing religious freedom by ensuring that we are not forcing employers to purchase health care coverage that violates their belief.”
New Hampshire Democrats say that the move is an election year ploy since the original law was passed by a Republican legislature.
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Sales of new homes dropped last month but the Commerce Department says that the despite the dip, housing market is growing. The department released new numbers on last year´s sales – showing a ten percent increase at the last quarter of 2011.
Today, leaders from about 60 nations met in Tunisia and called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to immediately end the violence in his country and to allow humanitarian aid into areas hit by his regime´s crackdown. Mackenzie Issler reports.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton was at the meeting, which is being called “The Friends of Syria.”
Clinton describe Assad´s crackdown as QUOTE an affront to the international community, a threat to regional security and a grave violation of universal human rights.
The group vowed to step up ties with the Syrian National Council, an opposition umbrella group. It also asked the United Nations to begin planning a civilian peacekeeping mission, however Russia and China resisted such calls.
