Hingis edges Seles, keeps streak alive

Top-seeded Martina Hingis, the world's No. 1-ranked women'splayer, displayed another dimension of her growing game in beatingfourth-seeded Monica Seles 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) for the Family Circlechampionship Sunday in Hilton Head Island, S.C.

A week after destroying Seles 6-2, 6-1 in 44 minutes to win theLipton Championship in Key Biscayne, Fla., Hingis needed more thantwo hours to notch her sixth title this year. Her streak of 31victories is tied for sixth-best all time, but it looked in dangerwhen she trailed 5-0 after only 14 minutes.

"I was just hoping she didn't do the same score to me as I didto her," Hingis said. "I liked last week a lot better."Seles, who …

Hopman Cup tennis results

PERTH, Australia (AP) — Results Saturday at the Hopman Cup mixed teams tennis tournament at Burswood Dome (matches are best-of three; women's singles, men's singles, mixed doubles):

France 2, …

Celtics handle Kobe onslaught and lead Lakers 3-2

It's looking a lot like 2008 again, with Paul Pierce carrying the Boston Celtics to victory in the NBA finals and leading them to the brink of yet another title.

Pierce scored 27 points _ his best performance of this year's finals _ and the Celtics withstood 38 points from Kobe Bryant to beat the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers 92-86 on Sunday night and take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Game 6 is Tuesday night in Los Angeles, and a victory then or in Game 7 in L.A. on Thursday would give the Celtics a record 18th NBA title.

The Celtics have never blown a 3-2 lead in the NBA finals.

"It was our biggest game of …

MAIL

FILE UNDER: OUR BAD

Editor's Note: Last week, a slightly different version of this letter in our mail section generated a supernova of confused reader response the likes of which we haven't seen in years. We were content at first to sit back and laugh at everyone, but then we noticed something. Due to a slight slip of the finger-you know how close "R" and "9" are on the keyboard-the license plate number we printed was, how you say ... totally wrong. D'oh! Here's the correct version. Sorry, Ro. And everyone who checked with the Department of Motor Vehicles and then wrote letters to the editor answering Ro's letter, revise them and send them again next week.

Last week, as I …

Finding her place

When Roshan Jamal came to Canada in the 1970s, she longed for an inclusive Muslim community like the ones she grew up with in India and Africa. While Toronto did have a small Muslim population at the time, it wasn't a good fit culturally for Jamal and her family.

"I didn't have a place where I felt I belonged," says the 60-year-old CA, who searched for a mosque where men and women were treated equally. "I didn't know where we could go."

So when a local philanthropist approached Jamal in 2002 with an offer to head up a new Islamic centre that would stress gender equality and provide a forum for open dialogue, the then-partner at RSM Richter in Toronto knew it was an …

Top US Mideast diplomat quits government

The top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East will step down from his post and move to the private sector at the end of the week, as President-elect Barack Obama's transition team weighs possible successors, State Department officials said Wednesday.

David Welch, a career diplomat and assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, has told his staff his last day on the job will be Friday, the officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity before a formal announcement by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, expected Thursday.

Welch is the first of the department's assistant secretaries to leave since Obama's election last month.

…

Yule lights charge up family

Dwane Thomas jumps into Christmas with both boots on, bravelydonating his whole electric bill to the spirit of the holiday.

Each year Thomas, a vice president of a wholesale electricalsupply company, builds a panoply of lights and figurines at hisNaperville home.

Then on weekends he joins the outdoor display, dressed in aSanta suit.

Transferred frequently around the country, the 38-year-oldThomas, his wife and two children brought family traditions ofholiday displays with them when they moved to Naperville four yearsago.

"It's a very homey, cozy feeling," explained his wife, Cheryl,of decorations that inside include 12 Christmas trees, four of …

Craig Reconsiders Decision to Resign

BOISE, Idaho - Sen. Larry Craig is reconsidering his decision to resign after his arrest in a Minnesota airport sex sting and may still fight for his Senate seat, his spokesman said Tuesday evening.

"It's not such a foregone conclusion anymore, that the only thing he could do was resign," said Sidney Smith, Craig's spokesman in Idaho's capital.

"We're still preparing as if Senator Craig will resign Sept. 30, but the outcome of the legal case in Minnesota and the ethics investigation will have an impact on whether we're able to stay in the fight - and stay in the Senate."

Craig, a Republican who has represented Idaho in Congress for 27 years, announced …

Italy's electoral referendum fails to reach quorum

A referendum that would have changed Italy's electoral law by giving more power to large political parties has failed to reach the necessary quorum.

The Interior Ministry said Monday that only 21 percent of eligible voters had cast ballots over two days. In Italy 50 percent plus one must turn out for a referendum to be valid.

In Italy, a country with many political parties, few rarely win 50 percent of the vote or more in a national election.

For that reason, parties often band together in coalitions, and the winning one receives a majority premium to control about 55 percent of seats in …

ISSUE: DOCTOR'S PAY

"The major problem of the health-care industry is that it isfueled by greed," says South Sider Linda Anderson. "I believe thatthe majority of students who go to medical school go not because theywant to save lives, but because they want to get rich."

For that reason, Anderson and other letter writers advocatedputting an immediate cap on doctors' fees. She said the idea came toher after her daughter, who was 4 at the time, fell off a couch anddislocated her finger. The bills added up to $4,000.

"I didn't mind paying for the operation," she said, "but I wasupset by the fact that I had to pay (the doctor) $1,100 for a30-second job that didn't even work."

…

Spanish Football Results

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Results from the fifth round of Spain's first-division football league (home teams listed first):

Saturday's Games

Athletic Bilbao 1, Villarreal 1

Sevilla 1, Valencia 0

Real Madrid 6, Rayo Vallecano 2

Barcelona 5, Atletico Madrid 0

Sunday's Games

Mallorca 2, Real Sociedad 1

Levante 3, Espanyol 1

Granada 1, Osasuna 1

Sporting Gijon 0, Racing Santander 0

Zaragoza 0, …

Bush, lawmakers: Job losses argue for US auto help

President George W. Bush and congressional leaders seized on the latest grim unemployment data Friday to try to fire up lukewarm support among lawmakers for bailing out U.S. automakers. But they clashed anew over terms of the rescue plan and the source of any aid.

As the Big Three auto chiefs pressed their case for $34 billion in a second day of hearings, Bush said at the White House that the loss of 533,000 jobs in November was even more reason to help the companies. The worsening U.S. auto sales slump claimed another 2,000 workers, as General Motors Corp. announced layoffs at three more car factories.

Bush said he was worried about the viability of the …

London braces for G-20 meet disruption, protests

Police say they face an unprecedented challenge at next month's G-20 summit in London.

The April 2 meeting will bring President Barack Obama and a score of world leaders to the city, as well as thousands of protesters angry at the global recession.

Senior police officer Commander Bob Broadhurst says protesters are intent on shutting down London's financial core.

The London Chamber of Commerce has suggested finance workers consider wearing casual clothing to avoid demonstrators' ire.

Protesters on Monday accused police of exaggerating the potential for violence. Anti-war, anti-globalization and environmental groups plan to hold peaceful rallies at locations including the U.S. Embassy and the Bank of England.

Hostage: I talked him out of killing me: WWII veteran tried to save lawyer, had 'long' talk with gunman

As attorney Michael R. McKenna lay bleeding on the floor of hisoffice Friday, his client Morris J. Danzig was hunched over McKenna,trying to save his life.

Danzig's own life hung in the balance, too. He was being heldhostage by Joe Jackson, the man who had just gone on a rampage inthe West Loop law firm. Jackson stood inches from Danzig for thebetter part of an hour, sometimes pointing the same gun at Danzig'shead that he'd already used to shoot four people, police said.

Danzig -- a spry, shrewd 81-year-old World War II veteran --tried to stop McKenna's bleeding by compressing the wound first witha handkerchief and later with a woman's white coat. He also tried tokeep Jackson talking in hope of preventing more bloodshed.

"He came behind me, and that's where the standoff was," Danzigsaid in a Sunday night interview with the Chicago Sun-Times at hisLincolnshire home. "He was right behind me, right next to me."

"I had a conversation with him -- a long one. He was going toshoot me, and I talked him out of it."

Danzig refused to elaborate about his conversation with Jackson,59, and declined to describe McKenna's wound or his last momentsalive.

"I prefer the less said, the easier it will be for his family. Itwas quite bloody. I don't want to go into detail."

However, Danzig offered an insider's perspective of what happenedFriday in the 38th-floor law offices of Wood Phillips, where McKennarented office space. Armed with a gun, knife and hammer, Jacksonstormed the law firm, killing three and wounding a fourth before aChicago SWAT officer shot him dead.

Danzig arrived at the law office about 1 p.m. to go over workMcKenna was doing on a patent Danzig shared with others. Most of thetime, Danzig was reading paperwork alone in a conference room nearthe front desk.

McKenna was back in the conference room with Danzig shortly after3 p.m. when McKenna was called out of the room by his assistant,Ruth Zak Leib. Moments later, Danzig heard a gun go off on the otherside of the wall.

"He got shot. I did not see it. I heard it. I stood up, and I sawhim on the floor."

Danzig's military instincts kicked in. In WWII, he was a U.S.Navy pharmacist mate, second class, attached to the 22nd Marines,First Battalion, C Company. He was severely wounded in the Pacificin 1945.

After seeing McKenna, Danzig got on the floor with his lawyer andimmediately began shouting for people to bring him towels oranything else he could use to stop the bleeding. All Danzig had onhim was a handkerchief.

"The next person I saw was a young lady who gave me her jacket,"Danzig said.

As Danzig was trying to help McKenna, he heard more shots.

"The shooting was quick. When I went to McKenna's aid, I heard atleast three other shots. Very shortly thereafter, Jackson was behindme."

Danzig praised Chicago Police, who he said were on the scenequickly. A negotiator was talking to Jackson, along with Danzig, forthe better part of the crisis.

Danzig said he was within a foot of Jackson when the SWATofficer's bullets pierced Jackson's face and chest. Then, "the SWATteam came in there instantly and pulled me out."

A retired corporate executive, Danzig downplayed his role in thestandoff.

"My sympathy goes out to [McKenna's family] and all of the othercasualties."

Davis Cup Results

Marat Safin, Russia, def. Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic, 6-7 (5), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Radek Stepanek, Czech Republic, def. Igor Andreev, Russia, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Doubles

Nikolay Davydenko and Igor Andreev, Russia, def. Radek Stepanek and Pavel Vizner, Czech Republic, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.

Reverse Singles

Nikolay Davydenko, Russia, def. Tomas Berdych, Czech Republic, 6-3, 2-6, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 1-2, retired.

Lukas Dlouhy, Czech Republic, def. Marat Safin, Russia, 6-3, 6-3.

Germany 1, Spain 4

At Bremen, Germany

Singles

Rafael Nadal, Spain, def. Nicolas Kiefer, Germany, 7-6 (5), 6-0, 6-3.

David Ferrer, Spain, def. Philipp Kohlschreiber, Germany, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.

Doubles

Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco, Spain, def. Philipp Kohlschreiber and Philipp Petzschner, Germany, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (1), 6-4, 2-6, 12-10.

Reverse Singles

Fernando Verdasco, Spain, def. Michael Berrer, Germany, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.

Nicolas Kiefer, Germany, def. Feliciano Lopez, Spain, 6-4, 7-6 (2).

Argentina 4, Sweden 1

At Buenos Aires, Argentina

Singles

David Nalbandian, Argentina, def. Thomas Johansson, Sweden, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2.

Robin Soderling, Sweden, def. Jose Acasuso, Argentina, 6-0, 6-4, 6-1.

Doubles

David Nalbandian and Guillermo Canas, Argentina, def. Jonas Bjorkman and Robert Lindstedt, Sweden, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.

Reverse Singles

David Nalbandian, Argentina, def. Robin Soderling, Sweden, 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 6-4, 9-7.

Juan Monaco, Argentina, def. Thomas Johansson, Sweden, 6-3, 6-3.

United States 4, France 1

At Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Singles

Andy Roddick, United States, def. Michael Llodra, France, 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5).

James Blake, United States, def. Paul-Henri Mathieu, France, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

Doubles

Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra, France, def. Mike and Bob Bryan, United States, 6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.

Reverse Singles

Andy Roddick, United States. def. Paul-Henri Mathieu, France, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2.

James Blake, United States, def. Paul-Henri Mathieu, France, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

___

ASIA-OCEANIA ZONE

Group One

Second Round

Australia 5, Thailand 0

At Townsville, Australia

Singles

Chris Guccione, Australia, def. Danai Udomchoke, Thailand, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (6), 4-6, 7-6 (6), 7-5.

Lleyton Hewitt, Australia, def. Kirati Siributwong, Thailand, 6-0, 6-0, 6-1.

Doubles

Lleyton Hewitt and Paul Hanley, Australia, def. Weerapat Doakmaiklee and Kirati Siributwong, Thailand, 6-3, 6-1, 6-0.

Reverse Singles

Peter Luczak, Australia, def. Danai Udomchoke, Thailand, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

Chris Guccione, Australia, def. Weerapat Doakmaiklee, Thailand, 6-2, 7-6 (1).

India 3, Japan 2

At New Delhi

Rohan Bopanna, India, def. Kei Nishikori, Japan, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3.

Prakash Amritraj, India, def. Go Soeda, Japan, 4-6, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, 8-6.

Doubles

Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, India, def. Takao Suzuki and Satoshi Iwabuchi, Japan, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Reverse Singles

Kei Nishikori, Japan, def. Mahesh Bhupathi, India, 7-5, 6-1.

Satoshi Iwabuchi, Japan, def. Leander Paes, India, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

First Round

Playoffs

Philippines 2, Uzbekistan 3

At Manila, Philippines

Singles

Dennis Istomin, Uzbekistan, def. Patrick John Tierro, Philippines, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.

Cecil Mamiit, Philippines, def. Farrukh Dustov 5-7, 6-3, 4-5, retired.

Doubles

Farrukh Dustov and Denis Istomin, Uzbekistan, def. Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino, Philippines, 7-6 (10), 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (4).

Reverse Singles

Dennis Istomin, Uzbekistan, def. Cecil Mamiit, Philippines, 6-3, 6-0, 6-4.

Eric Taino, Philippines, def. Vaja Uzakov, Uzbekistan, 6-4, 6-4.

Kazakhstan 2, Taiwan 3

At Almaty, Kazakhstan

Singles

Yen-Hsun Lu, Taiwan, def. Alexey Kedryuk, Kazakhstan, 6-3, 7-5, 6-2.

Yuriy Schukin, Kazakhstan, def. Ti Chen, Taiwan, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Doubles

Alexey Kedryuk and Yuriy Schukin, Kazakhstan, def. Ti Chen and Yen-Hsun Lu, Taiwan, 6-2, 6-3, 6-7 (2), 7-5.

Sunday

Reverse Singles

Yen-Hsun Lu, Taiwan, def. Yuriy Schukin, Kazakhstan, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.

Ti Chen, Taiwan, def. Alexey Kedryuk, Kazakhstan, 7-6 (8), 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4).

Group Two

Second Round

Indonesia 2, China 3

At Jakarta, Indonesia

Singles

Bai Yan, China, def. Ayrton Wibowo, Indonesia, 6-3, 6-1, 7-5.

Li Zhe, China, def. Christopher Rungkat, Indonesia, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1.

Doubles

Ketut Nesa Arta and Aditya Hari Sasongko, Indonesia, def. Mao Xin Gong and Li Zhe, China, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, 9-7.

Reverse Singles

Bai Yan, China, def. Christopher Rungkat, Indonesia, 6-1, 6-4, 1-6, 6-0.

Aditya Hari Sasongko, Indonesia, def. Gao Wan, China, 6-4, 7-6(5).

Kuwait 0, New Zealand 5

At Kuwait City

Singles

Daniel King-Turner, New Zealand, def. Ahmad Rabie, Kuwait, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.

Jose Statham, New Zealand, def. Mohammad Ghareeb, Kuwait, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.

Doubles

Daniel King-Turner and G.D. Jones, New Zealand, def. Mohammad Ghareeb and Moahmmad Siddiq, Kuwait, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4.

Reverse Singles

Mark Neilsen, New Zealand, def. Ali Ismaeel, Kuwait, 6-4, 6-2.

Jose Statham, New Zealand, def. Ahmad Rabie, Kuwait, 6-1, 6-1.

Playoffs

Hong Kong 3, Lebanon 2

At Hong Kong

Singles

Yu Hiu-tung, Hong Kong, def. Jicham Zaatini, Lebanon, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (2), 6-7 (1), 6-0.

Karim Alayly, Lebanon, def. Michael Lai, Hong Kong, 6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 3-6, 9-7.

Doubles

Hussein Badreddine and Jicham Zaatini, Lebanon, def. Adrian Montesinos and Henry So, Hong Kong, 6-7 (4), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7), 6-4.

Reverse Singles

Yu Hiu-tung, Hong Kong, def. Karim Alayly, Lebanon, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3.

Michael Lai, Hong Kong, def. Ibrahim Abou Chahine, Lebanon, 6-1, 6-1, 6-2.

Oman 3, Pacific Oceania 2

At Muscat, Oman

Singles

Khalid Al Nabhani, Oman, def. Michael Leong, Pacific Oceania, 6-1, 7-6, 6-4.

Mohammed Al Nabhani, Oman, def. Juan Sebastien Langton, Pacific Oceania, 7-5, 6-2, 4-6, 4-6, 6-2.

Doubles

Khalid Al Nabhani and Mohammed Al Nabhani, Oman, def. Brett Baudinet and Cyril Jacobe, Pacific Oceania, 7-6 (3), 5-7, 3-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4.

Group Three

At Tehran, Iran

Pool A

Wednesday

Pakistan 3, United Arab Emirates 0

Aqeel Khan, Pakistan, def. Hamad Abbas Janahi, United Arab Emirates, 6-1, 6-1.

Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, Pakistan, df. Mahmond-Nader Al Baloushi, United Arab Emirates, 6-3, 6-3.

Mohammadi Jibran Ahmed and Asim Shafik, Pakistan, def. Khaled Al Hassani and Faisal Bastaki, United Arab Emirates, 6-1, 6-1.

Syria 2, Vietnam 1

Romain Radwan, Syria, def. Do Minh-Quan, Vietnam, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5).

Issam Tawil, Syria, def. Ngo Quang-Huy, Vietnam, 7-5, 6-2.

Le Quoc-Khanh and Tran Thanh-Hoang, Vietnam, def. Hayan Marouf and Majdi Salim, Syria, 6-4, 7-5.

Thursday

Pakistan 3, Vietnam 0

Aqeel Khan, Pakistan, def. Do Minh-Quan, Vietnam, 6-2, 6-3.

Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, Pakistan, def. Ngo Quang-Huy, Vietnam, 6-2, 6-4.

Mohammadi Jibran Ahmed and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, Pakistan, def. Do Minh-Quan and Le Quoc-Khanh, Vietnam, 6-2, 6-3.

Syria 3, United Arab Emirates 0

Romain Radwan, Syria, def. Hamad Abbas Janahi, United Arab Emirates, 6-2, 6-1.

Issam Tawil, Syria, def. Mahmoud-Nader Al Baloushi, United Arab Emirates, 6-4, 6-2.

Hayan Marouf and Majdi Salim, Syria, def. Mahmoud-Nader Al Baloushi and Hamad Abbas Janahi, United Arab Emirtates, 6-2, 6-3.

Friday

Pakistan 3, Syria 0

Aqeel Khan, Pakistan, def. Romain Radwan, Syria, 6-2, 6-1.

Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, Pakistan, def. Issam Tawil, Syria, 6-1, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4).

Aqeel Khan and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, Pakistan, def. Hayan Marouf and Majdi Salim, Syria, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

Vietnam 3, United Arab Emirates 0

Do Minh-Quan, Vietnam, def. Hamad Abbas Janahi, United Arab Emirates, 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-4.

Ngo Quang-Huy, Vietnam, def. Mahmoud-Nader Al Baloushi, United Arab Emirates, 7-6 (1), 6-2.

Do Minh-Quan and Le Quoc-Khanh, Vietnam, def. Mahmoud-Nader Al Baloushi and Hamad Abbas Janahi, United Arab Emirates, 6-0, 6-3.

FINAL STANDINGS: 1, Pakistan, 3-0. 2, Syria, 2-1. 3, Vietnam, 1-2. 4, United Arab Emirates, 0-3.

Pool B

Wednesday

Malaysia 2, Sri Lanka 1

Si Yew-Ming, Malaysia, def. Rajeev Rajapakse, Sri Lanka, 6-2, 7-5.

Selvam Veerasingham, Malaysia, def. Harshana Godamanne, Sri Lanka, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Harshana Godamanne and Rajeev Rajapakse, Sri Lanka, def. Adam Jaya and Si Yew-Ming, Malaysia, 6-3, 7-6 (5).

Iran 3, Tajikistan 0

Rouzbeh Kamran, Iran, def. Sergey Makashin, Tajikistan, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Benjamin Ebrahimzadeh, Iran, def. Anvar Rakhmatov, Tajikistan, 6-3, 6-0.

Benjamin Ebrahimzadeh and Rouzbeh Kamram, Iran, def. Anvar Rakhmatov and Mirkhusein Yakhyaev, Tajikistan, 6-4, 6-1.

Thursday

Iran 2, Sri Lanka 1

Rouzbeh Kamran, Iran, def. Rajeev Rajapakse, Sri Lanka, 6-1, 7-5.

Benjamin Ebrahimzadeh, Iran, def. Harshana Godamanne, Sri Lanka, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Harshana Godamanne and Rajeev Rajapakse, Sri Lanka, def. Rouzbeh Kamran and Omid Souri, Iran, 7-5, 6-1.

Malaysia 2, Tajikistan 1

Sergey Makashin, Tajikistan, def. Adam Jaya, Malaysia, 6-3, 6-3.

Si Yew-Ming, Malaysia, def. Anvar Rakhmatov, Tajikistan, 6-2, 6-4.

Si Yew-Ming and Selvam Veerasingam, Malaysia, def. Sergey Makashin and Mirkhusein Yakhyaev, Tajikistan, 7-5, 6-4.

Friday

Sri Lanka 2, Tajikistan 1

Rajeev Rajapakse, Sri Lanka, def. Mirkhusein Yakhyaev, Tajikistan, 6-2, 6-0.

Harshana Godamanne, Sri Lanka, def. Sergey Makashin, Tajikistan, 6-1, 6-0.

Sergey Makashin and Mirkhusein Yakhyaev, Tajikistan, def. Harshana Godamanne and Rajeev Rajapakse, Sri Lanka, 7-6 (4), 6-4.

Malaysia 2, Iran 1

Si Yew-Ming, Malaysia, def. Rouzbeh Kamran, Iran, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7).

Benjamin Ebrahimzadeh, Iran, def. Selvam Veerasingam, Malaysia, 7-6 (4), 6-1.

Adam Jaya and Si Yew-Ming, Malaysia, def. Benjamin Ebrahimzadeh and Rouzbeh Kamran, Iran, 7-6 (4), 6-2.

First-Fourth Playoffs

Round Robin

Saturday

Aqeel Khan, Pakistan, def. Rouzbeh Kamran, Iran, 6-1, 6-3.

Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, Pakistan, def. Benjamin Ebrahimzadeh, Iran, 6-2, 7-6 (1).

Aqeel Khan and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, Pakistan, def. Rouzbeh Kamran and Omid Souri, Iran, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1.

Malaysia 3, Syria 0

Si Yew-Ming, Malaysia, def. Romain Radwan, Syria, 7-6 (6), 6-2.

Selvam Veerasingham, Malaysia, def. Issam Tawil, Syria, 6-4, 6-4.

Adam Jaya and Razlan Rawi, Malaysia, def. Hayan Marouf and Majdi Salim, Syria, 6-4, 7-6 (6).

Sunday

Pakistan 3, Malaysia 0

Aqeel Khan, Pakistan, def. Adam Jaya, Malaysia, 7-6 (5), 6-0.

Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, Pakistan, def. Razlan Rawi, Malaysia, 6-4, 6-0.

Mohammadi Jibran Ahmed and Asim Shafik, Pakistan, def. Razlan Rawi and Si Yew-Ming, Malaysia, 7-6 (3), 6-3.

Syria 2, Iran 1

Romain Radwan, Syria, def. Omid Souri, Iran, 6-3, 6-4.

Rouzbeh Kamran, Iran, def. Issam Tawil, Syria, 6-2, 7-5.

Hayan Marouf and Majdi Salim, Syria, def. Benjamin Ebrahimzadeh and Rouzbeh Kamran, Iran, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6.

Fifth-Eighth Playoff

Saturday

Sri Lanka 3, United Arab Emirates 0

Rajeev Rajapakse, Sri Lanka, def. Faisal Bastaki, United Arab Emirates, 6-3, 6-1.

Harshana Godamanne, Sri Lanka, def. Hamad Abbas Janahi, United Arab Emirates, 6-1, 6-0.

Harshana Godamanne and Rajeev Rajapakse, Sri Lanka, def. Khaled Al Hassani and Faisal Bastaki, United Arab Emirates, 6-2, 6-1.

Tajikistan 3, Vietnam 0

Sergey Makashin, Tajikistan, def. Do Minh-Quan, Vietnam, 6-2, 6-0.

Anvar Rakhmatov, Tajikistan, def. Ngo Quang-Huy, Vietnam, 6-4, 7-6 (4).

Sergey Makashin and Mansur Yakhyaev, Tajikistan, 6-4, 7-6 (6).

Sunday

Sri Lanka 3, Vietnam 0

Rajeev Rajapakse, Sri Lanka, def. Do Minh-Quan, Vietnam, 6-3, 7-5.

Harshana Godamanne, Sri Lanka, def. Ngo Quang-Huy, Vietnam, 6-4, 6-3.

Harshana Godamanne and Rajeev Rajapakse, Sri Lanka, def. Le Quoc-Khanh and Tran Thanh-Hoang, Vietnam, 6-1, 6-2.

FINAL PLACINGS: 1, Pakistan. 2, Malaysia. 3, Syria. 4, Iran. 5, Sri Lanka. 6, Tajikistan. 7, Vietnam. 8, United Arab Emirates.

Group Four

At Negara, Brunei

Pool A

Wednesday

Singapore 2, Myanmar 1

Latt Zaw-Zaw, Myanmar, def. Stanley Armando, Singapore, 6-4, 7-6 (3).

Min-Sylvester Wee, Singapore, def. Min Min, Myanmar, 6-4, 6-4.

Daniel Heryanta Dewandaka and Min-Sylvester Wee, Singapore, def. Latt Zaw-Zaw and Win Khin-Maung, Myanmar, 6-3, 6-2.

Bahrain 3, Brunei 0

Hasan Abdul-Nabi, Bahrain, def. Asher Khan, Brunei, 6-0, 6-2.

Khaled Al Thawadi, Bahrain, def. Muhaimin Haji Awang, Brunei, 6-2, 6-0.

Khaled Al Thawadi and Abdulla Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed, Bahrain, def. Abdul Hamizan Abdul Hamid and Muhaimin Haji Awang, Brunei, 6-0, 6-1.

Thursday

Singapore 3, Iraq 0

Stanley Armando, Singapore, def. Ali Khairi Hashim, Iraq, 6-3, 6-1.

Min-Sylvester Wee, Singapore, def. Akram Abdalkarem, Iraq, 7-5, 6-2.

Daniel Heryanta Dewandaka and Min-Sylvester Wee, Singapore, def. Akram Abdalkarem and Ali Khairi Hashim, Iraq, 6-0, 6-2.

Myanmar 3, Brunei 0

Latt Zaw-Zaw, Myanmar, def. Nurul Mohammed Hanadi bin Hambali, 6-0, 6-0.

Phyo Min Thar, Myanmar, def. Asher Khan, Brunei, 6-0, 6-0.

Min Min and Khin-Maung Win, Myanmar, def. Abdul Hamizan Abdul Hamid and Muhaimin Haji Awang, Brunei, 6-2, 6-0.

Friday

Myanmar 2, Bahrain 1

Latt Zaw-Zaw, Myanmar, def. Hasan Abdul-Nabi, Bahrain, 6-2, 6-1.

Khaled Al Thawadi, Bahrain, def. Min Min, Malaysia, 6-2, 6-2.

Latt Zaw-Zaw and Win Khin-Maung, Malaysia, def. Khaled Al Thawadi and Abdulla Mohamed Ahmed Mohamed, Bahrain, 6-2, 6-4.

Iraq 3, Brunei 0

Ali Khairi Hashim, Iraq, def. Asher Khan, Brunei, 6-3, 6-1.

Akram Abdalkarem, Iraq, def. Muhaimin Haji Awang, Brunei, 6-0, 6-0.

Adram Abdalkarem and Ali Khairi Hashim, Iraq, def. Abdul Hamizan Abdul Hamid and Muhaimin Haji Awang, Brunei, 6-1, 6-0.

Saturday

Singapore 2, Bahrain 1

Hasan Abdul-Nabi, Brunei, def. Stanley Armando, Singapore, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

Min-Sylvester Wee, Singapore, def. Khaled Al Thawadi, Bahrain, 6-3, 7-6 (5).

Daniel Heryanta Dewandaka and Min-Sylvester Wee, Singapore, def. Hasan Abdul-Nabi and Khaled Al Thawadi, Bahrain, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3.

Myanmar 2, Iraq 1

Latt Zaw-Zaw, Myanmar, def. Ali Khairi Hashim, Iraq, 6-0, 6-2.

Akram Abdalkarem, Iraq, def. Phyo Min Thar, Myanmar, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Latt Zaw-Zaw and Win Khin-Maung, Myanmar, def. Akram Abdalkarem and Ali Khairi Hashim, Iraq, 6-1, 6-2.

Sunday

Singapore 3, Brunei 0

Tan Jun-Yang, Singapore, def. Abdul Hamizan Abdul Hamid, Brunei, 6-2, 6-2.

Min-Sylvester Wee, Singapore, def. Asher Khan, Brunei, 6-1, 6-1.

Tan Jun-Yang and Min-Sylvester Wee, Singapore, def. Abdul Hamizan Abdul Hamid and Muhaimin Haji Awang, Brunei, 6-1, 6-1.

FINAL STANDINGS: 1, Singapore, 4-0. 2, Myanmar, 3-1. 3 (tie), Bahrain and Iraq, 1-2. 5, Brunei, 0-4.

Pool B

Wednesday

Saudi Arabia 3, Mongolia 0

Fahad Al Saad, Saudi Arabia, def. Duure nbayar Erdenebayar, Mongolia, 6-0, 6-0.

Saleh Alrajeh, Saudi Arabia, def. Urnukh Baasanjav, Mongolia, 6-0, 6-1.

Badar Al Megayel and Omar Al Thagib, Saudi Arabia, def. Margadmun Munkhbayar and Orgil Tsogt, Mongolia, 6-0, 6-0.

Bangladesh 2, Turkmenistan 1

Shibu Lal, Bangladesh, Bangladesh, def. Myalikkuli Mamedkuliyev, Turkmenistan, 7-6 (4), 6-0.

Sree-Amol Roy, Bangladesh, def. Amankuli Begenjov, Turkmenistan, 6-4, 6-3.

Dovran Chagylov and Myalikkuli Mamedkuliyev, Turkmenistan, def. Shibu Lal and Sree-Amol Roy, Bangladesh, 5-7, 7-5, 7-5.

Jordan 3, Qatar 0

Khaled Naffa, Jordan, def. Mousa Zayed, Qatar, 6-1, 6-2.

Fabio Badra, Jordan, def. Abdulla Al Haji, Qatar, 6-4, 6-4.

Khaled Naffa and Tareq Talal Shkakwa, Jordan, def. Hamad Al-Mulla and Mousa Zayed, Qatar, 6-0, 6-1.

Thursday

Saudi Arabia 3, Turkmenistan 0

Fahad Al Saad, Saudi Arabia, def. Myalikkuli Mamedkuliyev, Turkmenistan, 6-3, 6-3.

Saleh Alrajeh, Saudi Arabia, def. Amankuli Begenjov, Turkmenistan, 6-1, 6-4.

Badar Al Megayel and Saleh Alrajeh, Saudi Arabia, def. Dovran Chagylov and Myalikkuli Mamedkuliyev, Turkmenistan, 6-2, 6-2.

Bangladesh 2, Jordan 1

Khaled Naffa, Jordan, def. Shibu Lal, Bangladesh, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

Sree-Amol Roy, Bangladesh, def. Fabio Badra, Jordan, 6-2, 6-0.

Ranjam Ram and Sree-Amol Roy, Bangladesh, def. Khaled Naffa and Tareq Talal Shkakwa, Jordan, 6-4, 6-4.

Mongolia 2, Qatar 1

Duurenbayar Erdenebayar, Mongolia, 6-3, 6-3.

Abdulla Al Haji, Qatar, def. Urnukh Baasanjav, Mongolia, 6-4, 6-2.

Urnukh Baasanjav and Duurenbayar Erdenebayar, Mongolia, def. Abdulla Al Haji and Mousa Zayed, Qatar, 6-2, 6-4.

Friday

Saudi Arabia 3, Qatar 0

Omar Al Thagib, Saudi Arabia, def. Hamad Al-Mulla, Qatar, 6-0, 6-1.

Fahad Al Saad, Saudi Arabia, def. Abdulla Al Haji, Qatar, 6-3, 6-1.

Badar Al Megayel and Saleh Alrajeh, Saudi Arabia, def. Hamad Al-Mulla and Mousa Zayed, Qatar, 6-2, 6-4.

Bangladesh 3, Mongolia 0

Shibu Lal, Bangladesh, def. Orgil Tsogt, Mongolia, 6-0, 6-2.

Sree-Amol Roy, Bangladesh, def. Duurenbayar Erdenebayar, Mongolia, 6-3, 6-0.

Ranjam Ram and Sree-Amol Roy, Bangladesh, def. Urnukh Baasanjav and Margadmun Munkhbayar, Mongolia, 6-0, 6-0.

Jordan 2, Turkmenistan 1

Myalikkuli Mamedkuliyev, Turkmenistan, def. Tareq Talal Shkakwa, Jordan, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5).

Fabio Badra, Jordan, def. Amankuli Begenjov, Turkmenistan, 7-5, 6-4.

Fabio Badra and Khaled Naffa, Jordan, def. Dovran Chagylov and Myalikkuli Mamedkuliyev, Turkmenistan, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5.

Saturday

Saudi Arabia 3, Bangladesh 0

Fahad Al Saad, Saudi Arabia, def. Shibu Lal, Bangladesh, 6-4, 6-1.

Saleh Alrajeh, Saudi Arabia, def. Sree-Amol Roy, Bangladesh, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1.

Badar Al Megayel and Fahad Al Saad, Saudi Arabia, def. Ranjan Ram and Sree-Amol Roy, Bangladesh, 6-4, 6-4.

Turkmenistan 2, Qatar 1

Myalikkuli Mamedkuliyev, Turkmenistan, def. Hamad Al-Mulla, Qatar, 6-2, 6-3.

Amankuli Begenjov, Turkmenistan, def. Mousa Zayed, Qatar, 6-2, 6-4.

Hamad Al-Mulla and Mousa Zayed, Qatar, def. Amankuli Begenjov and Evgeniy Jirnov, Turkmenistan, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Jordan 2, Mongolia 1

Duurenbayar Erdenebayar, Mongolia, def. Khaled Naffa, Jordan, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-1.

Fabio Badra, Jordan, def. Urnukh Baasanjav, Mongolia, 6-2, 6-2.

Fabio Badra and Khaled Naffa, Jordan, def. Urnukh Baasanjav and Duurenbayar Erdenebayar, Mongolia, 6-4, 6-2.

Sunday

Saudi Arabia 3, Jordan 0

Omar Al Thagib, Saudi Arabia, def. Tareq Talal Shkakwa, Jordan, 6-2, 6-1.

Fahad Al Saad, Saudi Arabia, def. Fabio Badra, Jordan, 6-2, 7-6 (5).

Badar Al Megayel and Saleh Alrajeh, Saudi Arabia, def. Mohammed Adas and Tareq Talal Shkakwa, Jordan, 6-0, 6-4.

Bangladesh 3, Qatar 0

Shibu Lal, Bangladesh, def. Hamad Al-Mulla, Qatar, 6-1, 6-1.

Sree-Amol Roy, Bangladesh, def. Mousa Zayed, Qatar, 6-2, 6-0.

Shibu Lal and Ranjan Ram, Bangladesh, def. Hamad Al-Mulla and Mousa Zayed, Qatar, 6-1, 6-4.

Turkmenistan 2, Mongolia 1

Myalikkuli Mamedkuliyev, Turkmenistan, def. Duurenbayar Erdenebayar, Mongolia, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

Amankuli Begenjov, Turkmenistan, def. Urnukh Baasanjav, Mongolia, 6-1, 6-1.

Dovran Chagylov and Myalikkuli Mamedkuliyev, Turkmenistan, def. Urnukh Baasanjav and Duurenbayar Erdenebayar, Mongolia, 6-0, 6-0.

FINAL STANDINGS: 1, Saudi Arabia, 5-0. 2, Bangladesh, 4-1. 3, Jordan, 3-2. 4, Turkmenistan, 2-3. 5, Mongolia, 1-4. 6, Qatar, 0-5.

___

MORE

Karr lucky to have case in Colorado

DENVER -- It's unclear whether John Mark Karr will have a legal"dream team" to defend himself against murder charges in the slayingof JonBenet Ramsey. But he will probably receive a skilled attorneyeven if he cannot hire his own.

Unlike in many states, Colorado's public defender system is wellfunded and well respected for its work on complicated cases involvingDNA evidence. Legal experts say any attorney considering an offer ofrepresenting Karr for free in hopes of cashing in on the publicityshould think hard.

"This is a case that is going to eat up your life," veterandefense attorney Jeralyn Merritt said.

PUBLIC DEFENDERS WELL-SUITED

There always will be lawyers willing to set aside their other workand personal time to represent a high-profile defendant withpublicity as their only compensation, said Larry Pozner, pastpresident of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

"The irony is the public defenders are completely suited to knockthe stuffing out of this case," he said. "In a first-degree murdercase, you could spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to hire alawyer as good as the public defenders are likely to be."

It was unclear Tuesday who might represent Karr in Colorado.

He had a public defender with him during Tuesday's hearing in LosAngeles.

Otters make the trip east

NARBERTH were unable to play their rearranged fixture at home toLlangennech in division one west of the Swalec National League lastweekend because of a frozen pitch.

On Saturday, the Otters will be away to Bridgend Athletic.

Whitland will be without a fixture as their scheduled opponents,Felinfoel, are playing a Swalec Cup match that day against Newport.

Whitland Wanderers are at Dunvant in the Carmarthen Tyre ServicesWest Wales Premier League and Narberth Athletic are home to Loughor.

US Fed has auctioned another $20B in funds to commercial banks to combat credit crunch

The Federal Reserve, working to combat the effects of a severe credit crunch, announced Friday it had auctioned another $20 billion (euro13.9 billion) in funds to commercial banks at an interest rate of 4.67 percent.

The central bank said it had received bids for $57.7 billion (euro40.13 billion) worth of loans, nearly three times the amount being offered, indicating continued strong interest in the Fed's new approach to providing money to cash-strapped banks.

It was the second of four planned auctions. The first auction, on Monday, of $20 billion (euro13.9 billion) resulted in loans being awarded at an interest rate of 4.65 percent. Two more auctions will occur in early January.

There were 93 bidders seeking $63.6 billion (euro44.23 billion) at the first auction and 73 at the second.

The new auction process was announced by the Fed last week in a coordinated action with central banks around the world trying to address a global credit crunch.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues decided to try the new process because their efforts to inject funds into the banking system through the Fed's discount window, which makes direct loans to banks, had proven less successful than Fed officials had hoped.

Many banks had avoided using the Fed's discount window out of concern that investors would see the move as an indication of underlying problems at their financial institutions.

The auction process was developed as a second way to get money into the banking system with the hopes that it would not carry the stigma of the discount window.

The Fed said Friday that it would announce on Jan. 4 the sizes of the next two auctions which will be held Jan. 14 and Jan. 28. Officials have said the Fed will evaluate the interest in the auctions after the initial four and determine whether more auctions will be scheduled.

The new auction results cover short-term loans for 35 days.

The global credit crisis has made banks reluctant to lend to each other even as the Fed has been lowering its federal funds rate, the interest that banks charge each other for overnight loans.

The rate currently stands at 4.25 percent, a full percentage point lower than it was in September when the Fed began slashing rates in the wake of a severe credit squeeze that had roiled global markets in August.

The 4.67 percent rate for the second $20 billion in funds and the 4.65 percent rate for the first auction means that banks who are using the auction process to get needed reserves are getting them at a rate slightly below the 4.75 percent rate they could get in direct loans through the discount window.

The Fed cut both the federal funds rate and the discount rate by a quarter-point at its last meeting on Dec. 11, disappointing investors who had hoped for a bigger half-point reduction in the funds rate.

Many economists believe the Fed will keep cutting rates with three more quarter-point reductions expected in the funds rate at the Fed's first three meetings of the new year.

Analysts believe that a serious slowdown in overall economic growth will force the Fed to continue cutting rates even though some Fed officials have expressed worries that the rate cuts could exacerbate inflation pressures, which have flared up again, reflecting a renewed surge in oil prices.

US missile strike kills 3 in northwest Pakistan

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) — A U.S. missile strike killed three suspected militants in a Pakistani tribal region near the Afghan border on Friday, a reminder of the weapons at American disposal at a time of intense strain with Islamabad, two Pakistan officials said.

Stepping up the tempo of the missile strikes is seen as one possible American option if Pakistan does not act on Washington's stepped up demands to attack Afghan militants sheltering on the Pakistani side of the border.

Last week, U.S. officials accused Pakistan's spy agency of assisting the Haqqani militant faction in attacks on Western targets in Afghanistan, the most serious allegation yet of Pakistani duplicity in the 10-year war.

The drone-fired missiles hit a vehicle near the Angore Adda border town of South Waziristan, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The victims were associates of Maulvi Nazir, a prominent militant commander in the region, according to the officials.

South Waziristan was the main sanctuary for the Pakistani and foreign militants until the military launched an offensive there in 2009. The region has also witnessed scores of American drone attacks.

The missile attacks are seen at the most effective weapon Washington has at hitting al-Qaida and Afghan militants like the Haqqanis in the northwest. There were more than 100 such attacks last year; this year there have been around 50.

Most have hit targets in neighboring North Waziristan, considering the main militant sanctuary and the base of the Haqqani network. The Pakistani army has refused to launch an operation in North Waziristan despite U.S. demands, leading to speculation that Washington may consider more unilateral options.

Sending ground troops in could risk a confrontation with Pakistani soldiers and lead to a rupture in the alliance.

Drone strikes are unpopular, but have been tolerated by the Pakistani army.

African News; United Nations to visit Somalia

The United Nations said on Wednesday a U.N. team would visit Somalia this month to assess the security of its staff and operations in the lawless Horn of Africa country.

A U.N. statement said the January 15-24 tour by a seven member team would assess security for personnel, the need for access to airports and seaports and review safety guarantees for U.N. staff made by various groups in authority.

Somalia has been in the grip of rival warlords since it descended into chaos after the ousting of former dictator Mohammed Siad Barre in 1991.

A U.N. official said the visit was the world body's biggest Somalia security review for several years but had nothing to do with possible U.S. action there in the war on terrorism and was planned before the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

Somalia, named as one of the countries the United States could target in a widening war on terror, is seen by many analysts as an attractive base for terrorists seeking secrecy because it is a lawless patchwork of fiefdoms ruled by rival militias.

The U.N. official said, without elaborating, the United Nations had "many" officials, both Somalis and expatriates, working in Somalia on medical, social and humanitarian projects.

For most of the past eight years no expatriate U.N. staff have been based in the capital Mogadishu, generally considered to be the most dangerous part of the country, although they have occasionally visited the city for short periods.

Somali gunmen kidnapped nine Westerners and a Somali aid worker in March 2001 after an attack by militiamen loyal to warlord Muse Sudi Yalahow on the Mogadishu compound of the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontiers.

All were eventually released.

Associates of Muse Sudi said the seizures took place to show the international community that Somalia's Transitional National Government (TNG) was not in control of the capital.

Muse Sudi belongs to an Ethiopian-backed group of warlords who say that the TNG, which controls only part of Mogadishu and only limited areas of the countryside, harbors militants allied to Saudi-born Osama bin Laden, blamed by Washington for the September attacks.

Rwandan president, optimistic after Angola meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, said on Wednesday he was upbeat about reviving ties between Angola and Rwanda, backers of opposing sides in the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Speaking after a two-day visit to Luanda at the invitation of Angolan President Jose Edouardo dos Santos, Kagame said the aim of the trip had been to look at ways to get bilateral relations back to pre-1998 levels and to discuss the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"In my judgment the discussion was very good, the results were very good," Kagame told reporters at Kigali's Kanombe airport. "We were very well received and we had very frank and cordial discussions, I believe with good results, but we have to keep working together."

Dos Santos was also positive after the meeting.

"We are ready to make our contribution to finding a common denominator which will allow discrepancies which still exist to be overcome, and with a view to speeding up implementation of the Lusaka accord," he was quoted as saying by the Portuguese news agency Lusa.

A regional security source who had said Congolese President Joseph Kabila was in Luanda later said this was false.

Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe have backed the embattled Congolese government in Congo's civil war which erupted in 1998, while Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda have supported rebels fighting in the remote east of the vast country.

A peace deal signed in Lusaka in 1999 called for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Congo. Both Angola and Rwanda have declared themselves committed to doing so.

But he cautioned that actions were more important than words.

"I think reaching agreements, in terms of statements and other things, is one thing," he said. "It's another to ensure that what you agreed is actually put into implementation."

Region in recent years have been successfully adhered to.

The war in Congo is already believed to have killed up to two million people, mostly through starvation and disease.

IN OTHER AFRICAN NEWS:

Zimbabwe army delivers blow to Mugabe rival

Zimbabwe's military and security chiefs dealt a blow on Wednesday to President Robert Mugabe's leading opponent in March elections, saying they would only back leaders who fought in the liberation wars against white rule.

"We wish to make it very clear to all Zimbabwean citizens that the security organizations will only stand in support of those political leaders that will pursue Zimbabwean values, traditions and beliefs for thousands of lives lost in pursuit of Zimbabwe's hard-won independence," Zimbabwe defense forces commander General Vitalis Zvinavashe said in a statement.

Mugabe has said that opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who is expected to pose the biggest challenge to Mugabe's two decades in power, did not fight in the liberation wars and has branded Tsvangirai a traitor.

"We would therefore not accept, let alone support or salute anyone with a different agenda that threatens the very existence of our sovereignty, our country and our people," Zvinavashe said.

Article copyright REAL TIMES Inc.

Morales, Real Salt Lake blank Galaxy 1-0

Javier Morales scored in the 80th minute to lift Real Salt Lake to a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday night, stopping the Galaxy's record-tying 12-game unbeaten run to start the Major League Soccer season.

In a rematch of last season's MLS Cup title game that Real Salt Lake won on penalty kicks, Morales took a misplaced back pass that deflected off the Galaxy's Michael Stephens near the top of the penalty box, turned and fired past goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts for the winner.

The Galaxy immediately argued for an offside call as Morales streaked across the field waving his jersey in celebration.

But it never came, and Real Salt Lake extended its home unbeaten streak to a franchise-record 16 regular-season games.

The defending champs also extended their unbeaten run this season to seven games, and improved to 7-3-2 on the season.

The Galaxy fell to 10-1-2, and had their 15-game regular-season unbeaten streak snapped.

The two highest-scoring teams in the league failed to produce many quality chances, but Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando made a spectacular diving stop as the game entered stoppage time to preserve the victory.

Nets selling tickets for 2012 season in Brooklyn

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (AP) — The New Jersey Nets have started selling their premium season tickets for their inaugural NBA season at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn in 2012-13.

Nets chief executive officer Brett Yormark said the team has offered current season tickets holders the opportunity to buy its top ticket package, which is being called "All Access" season tickets. The offers were mailed recently.

The packages will cover 4,000 club and courtside seats in the area. Yormark said that all of the top-of-the-line All Access seats have been sold. He did not say how much they cost.

The remaining premium seats range in price from $99 to $1,500 per seat.

Season ticket holders in these premium locations will get a pass, which will allow the holder to buy tickets before the general public to non-Nets events at the Barclays Center, and also get unlimited food at designated clubs and all fixed concession stands during games.

Other benefits with the pass include a private entrance, dedicated VIP speed lines, concierge service and early access into the arena.

"We always promised anyone that was buying in New Jersey would have the right to first buy Brooklyn," Yormark said, adding the general public would be offered the chance to buy remaining premium seating in June.

Prices for the All Access premium season tickets will remain flat during the three-year required commitment. Non-premium seats probably will go on sale in the fall, Yormark said.

The Nets also announced that 2,000 tickets will be priced at $15 and under for each game, and an allotment of tickets for all events at the Barclays Center will be made available to the community, which was committed to in the Community Benefits Agreement of 2005.

Fifty percent of all season tickets will be priced at $55 or less per game, and lower level season tickets start at $65. There will be no personal seat licenses.

"Our number one priority in pricing our tickets was to ensure that Nets games are accessible to everyone," Yormark said.

The Barclays Center will have more than 200 events annually, including concerts, boxing, professional tennis, college basketball and hockey, and family shows.

Agent: Byron Scott accepts Cavs' job

Byron Scott has accepted Cleveland's coaching job, his agent told The Associated Press.

Brian McInerney said in an e-mail that the sides are working through some final details, but that Scott has agreed to become Cleveland's next coach _ with or without free agent LeBron James. The team is expected to announce Scott's hiring later Thursday, just as James hits the market and begins hearing offers from other teams.

Scott previously coached in New Jersey and New Orleans. The 49-year-old won three NBA titles as a player and took the Nets to two finals as a coach.

The Cavs have been looking for a coach since Mike Brown was fired May 24, ending a five-year run with the club.

Los Angeles Lakers assistant Brian Shaw appeared to be the favorite to become Cleveland's coach after an impressive two-day meeting with the club earlier this week. As of Tuesday, Shaw was reported to be assembling a staff to bring to Cleveland.

But despite the Cavaliers seemingly moving toward a deal with Shaw _ to the point where McInerney sent out a congratulatory e-mail to Shaw through several news outlets _ general manager Chris Grant reopened talks with Scott on Wednesday.

Scott's dream has been to coach the Lakers, but with Phil Jackson possibly returning to the champions he has decided to take on the Cavs, who could be better positioned to re-sign James with Scott on the sideline.

James has said he would like to play for a former NBA player, and Scott's resume includes 14 pro seasons _ 11 with the Lakers _ and three titles. He was a teammate of Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on L.A.'s famed "Showtime" teams under coach Pat Riley and later with Kobe Bryant. He knows what it takes to win it all.

As a coach, Scott led some lesser-talented Nets teams to the finals and had a solid relationship with star Jason Kidd that unraveled toward the end of the point guard's time in New Jersey. In New Orleans, Scott took the Hornets on a surprising run to the Western Conference finals and was close with guard Chris Paul, who is James' best friend in the league.

The Cavs' coaching search was a winding one.

The team had an unsuccessful pursuit of Michigan State's Tom Izzo, who rejected a reported $30 million to stay with the Spartans. Cleveland had several discussions with Scott, who flew himself to Michigan and met with owner Dan Gilbert on Father's Day.

Shaw emerged as a leading candidate but then something pushed the Cavs back to Scott, landing him just in time to make an impression on James, who will hear presentations from the Nets and New York Knicks on the first day of free agency.

Correction: Giants Fan Attacked

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In a story May 16 about the San Francisco Giants fan beaten outside Dodger Stadium, The Associated Press reported erroneously that the Dodgers initially pledged $25,000 to the man's medical care. The donation was pledged as a reward for aiding in the capture of his attackers, and was increased by $100,000 on May 17.

Scottish Soccer Results

Results Sunday in Scottish soccer (home teams listed first):

Premier League

Inverness 3, Celtic 2

Penguins-Hurricanes Sums

Pittsburgh	0 0 3—3
Carolina	1 2 2—5

First Period_1, Carolina, Skinner 7 (Jokinen, Kaberle), 1:22. Penalties_Asham, Pit, major (fighting), 4:05; Allen, Car, major (fighting), 4:05; Dalpe, Car (boarding), 9:32; Malkin, Pit (roughing), 10:55; Neal, Pit (roughing), 10:55; Harrison, Car (roughing), 10:55; Dwyer, Car (roughing), 10:55; Jo.Staal, Pit (tripping), 17:08; McBain, Car (tripping), 17:17.

Second Period_2, Carolina, Ruutu 5 (Skinner, Jokinen), 15:51. 3, Carolina, Ruutu 6 (Skinner), 19:03. Penalties_Niskanen, Pit (high-sticking), 1:29; Harrison, Car (interference), 3:44; Brent, Car (tripping), 4:17.

Third Period_4, Pittsburgh, Jo.Staal 7 (Malkin, Neal), 1:40. 5, Pittsburgh, Jo.Staal 8 (Cooke, Orpik), 4:43 (sh). 6, Pittsburgh, Kunitz 6 (Dupuis), 12:18. 7, Carolina, E.Staal 4 (Gleason, LaRose), 15:26. 8, Carolina, LaRose 5 (E.Staal, Harrison), 17:30. Penalties_Asham, Pit (slashing), 4:31; Orpik, Pit (tripping), 10:04; LaRose, Car (hooking), 19:30.

Shots on Goal_Pittsburgh 10-13-17_40. Carolina 5-8-13_26.

Power-play opportunities_Pittsburgh 0 of 5; Carolina 0 of 4.

Goalies_Pittsburgh, Johnson 1-2-2 (26 shots-21 saves). Carolina, Ward 6-6-2 (40-37).

A_16,260 (18,680). T_2:33.

Referees_Dan O'Rourke, Mike Leggo. Linesmen_Jean Morin, Tim Nowak.

China stocks rise on economic revival hopes

Chinese shares rose for a third day Tuesday as investors saw higher wholesale prices as a sign the economy might be nearing the bottom of its slump.

The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index jumped 1.8 percent, or 40.45 points, to close at 2265.16. The Shenzhen Composite Index for China's smaller second exchange rose 2.6 percent to 714.67.

Investors were encouraged that government data released Tuesday showed wholesale prices rising in January compared with December, which suggested demand was rising, said Chen Huiqin, an analyst for Huatai Securities in the eastern city of Nanjing. That was even though the data showed wholesale prices fell by 3.3 percent in January from a year earlier.

"Expectations that the economy is warming are there, so investors are very excited," Chen said.

Nonferrous metals extended gains as a backlog of inventory shrank, possibly due to stronger demand fueled by a government economic stimulus package that includes higher spending on construction.

Jiangxi Copper Ltd., the country's second-biggest metal producer, soared by the daily limit of 10 percent for the third day to 18.41 yuan. Yunnan Tin Co. increased 6.3 percent to 17.03 yuan.

Real estate stocks rose after news reports the government is seeking to aid the industry. China Vanke Ltd., the country's biggest developer, added 3 percent to 8.14 yuan, and COFCO Property (Group) Co. climbed 4.3 percent to 6.5 yuan.

Tourism-related shares rose as travel-related companies reported higher-than-expected revenues from the recent Lunar New Year holidays.

Shanghai Jin Jiang International Industrial Investment Co., a leading hotel operator, and Beijing Capital Tourism Ltd. both soared by 10 percent. Jin Jiang ended at 11.67 yuan, while Capital Tourism closed at 17.47 yuan.

In currency markets, China's yuan strengthened to 6.8323 to the U.S. dollar, up from Monday's close of 6.83791.

Thompson, Sooners Rally Past Red Raiders

NORMAN, Okla. - Chris Brown started out three spots behind Adrian Peterson on Oklahoma's depth chart at running back. He never thought he'd be the key to a big win down the stretch. Brown, the fourth-string tailback, ran for two fourth-quarter scores and Paul Thompson threw for a career-high 309 yards and two touchdowns as the No. 17 Sooners rallied to beat Texas Tech 34-24 on Saturday night.

"The things we've gone through, whoever's in there we're going to win with them," Thompson said. "That's our mind-set. We've got confidence. If something happens no one's freaking out."

With their top two tailbacks injured, the Sooners' 15-game streak with a 100-yard rusher - the …

Humidity Surge Reduces Fire Hazard in Arizona's Ventana Canyon Area.

By Thomas Stauffer, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jul. 8--A dramatic surge in humidity alleviated concerns on the southern edge of the 82,000-acre Aspen Fire and allowed evacuees to return to their digs in Ventana Canyon Monday evening.

After humidity climbed to 32 percent in the desert scrub above Loews Ventana Canyon Resort early Monday morning, fire officials opted for an air assault on the fire's southern edge instead of the massive back burn they had planned Sunday night.

"There are a lot of different things going on, and it's all coming together and looking real good," said Pruett Small, operations section chief for the fire in the Catalina Mountains, north of Tucson. "Anything that's active is well, well away from homes."

Containment of the fire's perimeter jumped to 70 percent, with 893 firefighters now working the blaze at a cost of $12.2 million, Small said. Firefighters still need to scratch more than 30 miles of fire line and burn fuel away from it along the southern and western perimeter of the fire, he said.

Dan Oltrogge, incident commander of the Aspen Fire, repeatedly assured about 150 Foothills residents at a Monday night meeting at Catalina Foothills High School that their homes no longer were in jeopardy.

"The fire environment is a dynamic environment. We're feeling comfortable now that we can get folks back in their homes," he said.

Three hotshot crews will hike into Romero Canyon to begin scratching fire lines and burning out fuel today, while three other hotshot crews will be flown by helicopter into Ventana Canyon to do the same, Small said.

The most active part of the Aspen Fire lies near Window Rock on the fire's west end, about three miles from where the elite hotshot crews will be working, he said.

"If we can get that side where it's the most steep and where the heavier fuel is, we think we're going to be well on our way to wrapping this up," Small said. "We're going to be here for a bunch of days, but if we can get that tough area taken care of, that will make us feel a whole lot better."

By 4 p.m. Monday, the threat to homes between the Sabino Canyon visitors center and Ventana Canyon had all but vanished.

The surge in humidity had fire officials s...uinting Monday morning to find evidence of the blaze that had threatened Foothills residents Sunday, said Kent Romney, a fire information officer.

"The fire didn't just lay down but actually went out in ...uite a few places," he said. "We went from a panicky (Sunday) afternoon with the threat of thunderstorm winds to a much more confident attitude and a different strategy today."

Loren Jensen Carter, who lives near Kolb Road and Sunrise Drive, said at Monday's meeting that it was ironic when she returned from the Summerhaven parade on Friday and found her whole yard was gray. On Sunday, she booked a storage locker and got together her photo albums and heirlooms.

Jensen Carter said she has not heard any answers that make her comfortable about the pillars of smoke behind her home. She's still prepared to evacuate.

"I'm a docent at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and I'm aware of the impact on our environment," she said. "I'm devastated and heartbroken. Nobody knows what the runoff is going to do to these areas. I have a lot of sadness."

Guests of the resort and 25 homeowners who heeded the voluntary evacuation were allowed to return at 6 p.m. Monday, said Deputy Steve Easton of the Pima County Sheriff's Department.

"Fire crews in that area told us that fire danger and their need to remain in the area had been alleviated," Easton said.

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort will reopen its golf courses, spa, restaurants and hotel at 7 this morning.

Kimberly Sundt, director of public relations for the resort, said 260 people from 130 rooms were evacuated, and all spent Sunday and Monday nights at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa.

Gov. Janet Napolitano, in Tucson to get an update and tour the fire scene Monday, promised to encourage the state Department of Insurance to overcome any bureaucratic delays to the cleanup of Mount Lemmon fire damage.

Pima County risk manager Dave Parker told Napolitano the coming monsoon raises two threats, erosion and the runoff of the layer of ash covering the mountains, and that "every building footprint has the potential for hazardous runoff."

Emergency Services Director Dennis Douglas also provided an updated toll of buildings lost to the fire: 340 homes and businesses in Summerhaven, 11 cabins in Soldier Camp, six cabins in Willow Canyon and three cabins and an outbuilding at the Girl Scout Camp.

Napolitano declined to predict when the White House will declare the fire a federal disaster but said she was confident the Bush administration will indeed do so.

"It's not a matter of if, but when," she said.

Firefighting efforts are costing about $750,000 a day, Oltrogge told Napolitano. Operating just one Type I helicopter -- an Erickson S-64 Aircrane -- costs $7,200 an hour, he said.

Air operations are typically the most expensive part of fighting a fire, exceeding even personnel costs, said Dick Fleishman, fire information officer.

Insect collector Peter Hubbell, who lives on the West Side, attended the meeting because he doesn't think the Aspen Fire should have happened in the first place.

A lot of his potential specimens were burned in the fire, he said. The Coronado National Forest should not have been open because it was so dry, he said.

"The forests all through Southern Arizona should be closed until it rains. It's the prudent thing to do," Hubbell said.

The forecast for today calls for higher temperatures and milder northwest winds of 5 to 10 mph, with occasional gusts to 20 mph, said meteorologist Tom Evans of the National Weather Service in Tucson.

Stephanie Innes, Joe Burchell and C.J. Karamargin contributed to this story.

To see more of The Arizona Daily Star, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.azstarnet.com

(c) 2003, The Arizona Daily Star. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

Humidity Surge Reduces Fire Hazard in Arizona's Ventana Canyon Area.

By Thomas Stauffer, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jul. 8--A dramatic surge in humidity alleviated concerns on the southern edge of the 82,000-acre Aspen Fire and allowed evacuees to return to their digs in Ventana Canyon Monday evening.

After humidity climbed to 32 percent in the desert scrub above Loews Ventana Canyon Resort early Monday morning, fire officials opted for an air assault on the fire's southern edge instead of the massive back burn they had planned Sunday night.

"There are a lot of different things going on, and it's all coming together and looking real good," said Pruett Small, operations section chief for the fire in the Catalina Mountains, north of Tucson. "Anything that's active is well, well away from homes."

Containment of the fire's perimeter jumped to 70 percent, with 893 firefighters now working the blaze at a cost of $12.2 million, Small said. Firefighters still need to scratch more than 30 miles of fire line and burn fuel away from it along the southern and western perimeter of the fire, he said.

Dan Oltrogge, incident commander of the Aspen Fire, repeatedly assured about 150 Foothills residents at a Monday night meeting at Catalina Foothills High School that their homes no longer were in jeopardy.

"The fire environment is a dynamic environment. We're feeling comfortable now that we can get folks back in their homes," he said.

Three hotshot crews will hike into Romero Canyon to begin scratching fire lines and burning out fuel today, while three other hotshot crews will be flown by helicopter into Ventana Canyon to do the same, Small said.

The most active part of the Aspen Fire lies near Window Rock on the fire's west end, about three miles from where the elite hotshot crews will be working, he said.

"If we can get that side where it's the most steep and where the heavier fuel is, we think we're going to be well on our way to wrapping this up," Small said. "We're going to be here for a bunch of days, but if we can get that tough area taken care of, that will make us feel a whole lot better."

By 4 p.m. Monday, the threat to homes between the Sabino Canyon visitors center and Ventana Canyon had all but vanished.

The surge in humidity had fire officials s...uinting Monday morning to find evidence of the blaze that had threatened Foothills residents Sunday, said Kent Romney, a fire information officer.

"The fire didn't just lay down but actually went out in ...uite a few places," he said. "We went from a panicky (Sunday) afternoon with the threat of thunderstorm winds to a much more confident attitude and a different strategy today."

Loren Jensen Carter, who lives near Kolb Road and Sunrise Drive, said at Monday's meeting that it was ironic when she returned from the Summerhaven parade on Friday and found her whole yard was gray. On Sunday, she booked a storage locker and got together her photo albums and heirlooms.

Jensen Carter said she has not heard any answers that make her comfortable about the pillars of smoke behind her home. She's still prepared to evacuate.

"I'm a docent at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and I'm aware of the impact on our environment," she said. "I'm devastated and heartbroken. Nobody knows what the runoff is going to do to these areas. I have a lot of sadness."

Guests of the resort and 25 homeowners who heeded the voluntary evacuation were allowed to return at 6 p.m. Monday, said Deputy Steve Easton of the Pima County Sheriff's Department.

"Fire crews in that area told us that fire danger and their need to remain in the area had been alleviated," Easton said.

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort will reopen its golf courses, spa, restaurants and hotel at 7 this morning.

Kimberly Sundt, director of public relations for the resort, said 260 people from 130 rooms were evacuated, and all spent Sunday and Monday nights at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa.

Gov. Janet Napolitano, in Tucson to get an update and tour the fire scene Monday, promised to encourage the state Department of Insurance to overcome any bureaucratic delays to the cleanup of Mount Lemmon fire damage.

Pima County risk manager Dave Parker told Napolitano the coming monsoon raises two threats, erosion and the runoff of the layer of ash covering the mountains, and that "every building footprint has the potential for hazardous runoff."

Emergency Services Director Dennis Douglas also provided an updated toll of buildings lost to the fire: 340 homes and businesses in Summerhaven, 11 cabins in Soldier Camp, six cabins in Willow Canyon and three cabins and an outbuilding at the Girl Scout Camp.

Napolitano declined to predict when the White House will declare the fire a federal disaster but said she was confident the Bush administration will indeed do so.

"It's not a matter of if, but when," she said.

Firefighting efforts are costing about $750,000 a day, Oltrogge told Napolitano. Operating just one Type I helicopter -- an Erickson S-64 Aircrane -- costs $7,200 an hour, he said.

Air operations are typically the most expensive part of fighting a fire, exceeding even personnel costs, said Dick Fleishman, fire information officer.

Insect collector Peter Hubbell, who lives on the West Side, attended the meeting because he doesn't think the Aspen Fire should have happened in the first place.

A lot of his potential specimens were burned in the fire, he said. The Coronado National Forest should not have been open because it was so dry, he said.

"The forests all through Southern Arizona should be closed until it rains. It's the prudent thing to do," Hubbell said.

The forecast for today calls for higher temperatures and milder northwest winds of 5 to 10 mph, with occasional gusts to 20 mph, said meteorologist Tom Evans of the National Weather Service in Tucson.

Stephanie Innes, Joe Burchell and C.J. Karamargin contributed to this story.

To see more of The Arizona Daily Star, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.azstarnet.com

(c) 2003, The Arizona Daily Star. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

Humidity Surge Reduces Fire Hazard in Arizona's Ventana Canyon Area.

By Thomas Stauffer, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jul. 8--A dramatic surge in humidity alleviated concerns on the southern edge of the 82,000-acre Aspen Fire and allowed evacuees to return to their digs in Ventana Canyon Monday evening.

After humidity climbed to 32 percent in the desert scrub above Loews Ventana Canyon Resort early Monday morning, fire officials opted for an air assault on the fire's southern edge instead of the massive back burn they had planned Sunday night.

"There are a lot of different things going on, and it's all coming together and looking real good," said Pruett Small, operations section chief for the fire in the Catalina Mountains, north of Tucson. "Anything that's active is well, well away from homes."

Containment of the fire's perimeter jumped to 70 percent, with 893 firefighters now working the blaze at a cost of $12.2 million, Small said. Firefighters still need to scratch more than 30 miles of fire line and burn fuel away from it along the southern and western perimeter of the fire, he said.

Dan Oltrogge, incident commander of the Aspen Fire, repeatedly assured about 150 Foothills residents at a Monday night meeting at Catalina Foothills High School that their homes no longer were in jeopardy.

"The fire environment is a dynamic environment. We're feeling comfortable now that we can get folks back in their homes," he said.

Three hotshot crews will hike into Romero Canyon to begin scratching fire lines and burning out fuel today, while three other hotshot crews will be flown by helicopter into Ventana Canyon to do the same, Small said.

The most active part of the Aspen Fire lies near Window Rock on the fire's west end, about three miles from where the elite hotshot crews will be working, he said.

"If we can get that side where it's the most steep and where the heavier fuel is, we think we're going to be well on our way to wrapping this up," Small said. "We're going to be here for a bunch of days, but if we can get that tough area taken care of, that will make us feel a whole lot better."

By 4 p.m. Monday, the threat to homes between the Sabino Canyon visitors center and Ventana Canyon had all but vanished.

The surge in humidity had fire officials s...uinting Monday morning to find evidence of the blaze that had threatened Foothills residents Sunday, said Kent Romney, a fire information officer.

"The fire didn't just lay down but actually went out in ...uite a few places," he said. "We went from a panicky (Sunday) afternoon with the threat of thunderstorm winds to a much more confident attitude and a different strategy today."

Loren Jensen Carter, who lives near Kolb Road and Sunrise Drive, said at Monday's meeting that it was ironic when she returned from the Summerhaven parade on Friday and found her whole yard was gray. On Sunday, she booked a storage locker and got together her photo albums and heirlooms.

Jensen Carter said she has not heard any answers that make her comfortable about the pillars of smoke behind her home. She's still prepared to evacuate.

"I'm a docent at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and I'm aware of the impact on our environment," she said. "I'm devastated and heartbroken. Nobody knows what the runoff is going to do to these areas. I have a lot of sadness."

Guests of the resort and 25 homeowners who heeded the voluntary evacuation were allowed to return at 6 p.m. Monday, said Deputy Steve Easton of the Pima County Sheriff's Department.

"Fire crews in that area told us that fire danger and their need to remain in the area had been alleviated," Easton said.

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort will reopen its golf courses, spa, restaurants and hotel at 7 this morning.

Kimberly Sundt, director of public relations for the resort, said 260 people from 130 rooms were evacuated, and all spent Sunday and Monday nights at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa.

Gov. Janet Napolitano, in Tucson to get an update and tour the fire scene Monday, promised to encourage the state Department of Insurance to overcome any bureaucratic delays to the cleanup of Mount Lemmon fire damage.

Pima County risk manager Dave Parker told Napolitano the coming monsoon raises two threats, erosion and the runoff of the layer of ash covering the mountains, and that "every building footprint has the potential for hazardous runoff."

Emergency Services Director Dennis Douglas also provided an updated toll of buildings lost to the fire: 340 homes and businesses in Summerhaven, 11 cabins in Soldier Camp, six cabins in Willow Canyon and three cabins and an outbuilding at the Girl Scout Camp.

Napolitano declined to predict when the White House will declare the fire a federal disaster but said she was confident the Bush administration will indeed do so.

"It's not a matter of if, but when," she said.

Firefighting efforts are costing about $750,000 a day, Oltrogge told Napolitano. Operating just one Type I helicopter -- an Erickson S-64 Aircrane -- costs $7,200 an hour, he said.

Air operations are typically the most expensive part of fighting a fire, exceeding even personnel costs, said Dick Fleishman, fire information officer.

Insect collector Peter Hubbell, who lives on the West Side, attended the meeting because he doesn't think the Aspen Fire should have happened in the first place.

A lot of his potential specimens were burned in the fire, he said. The Coronado National Forest should not have been open because it was so dry, he said.

"The forests all through Southern Arizona should be closed until it rains. It's the prudent thing to do," Hubbell said.

The forecast for today calls for higher temperatures and milder northwest winds of 5 to 10 mph, with occasional gusts to 20 mph, said meteorologist Tom Evans of the National Weather Service in Tucson.

Stephanie Innes, Joe Burchell and C.J. Karamargin contributed to this story.

To see more of The Arizona Daily Star, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.azstarnet.com

(c) 2003, The Arizona Daily Star. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

Humidity Surge Reduces Fire Hazard in Arizona's Ventana Canyon Area.

By Thomas Stauffer, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jul. 8--A dramatic surge in humidity alleviated concerns on the southern edge of the 82,000-acre Aspen Fire and allowed evacuees to return to their digs in Ventana Canyon Monday evening.

After humidity climbed to 32 percent in the desert scrub above Loews Ventana Canyon Resort early Monday morning, fire officials opted for an air assault on the fire's southern edge instead of the massive back burn they had planned Sunday night.

"There are a lot of different things going on, and it's all coming together and looking real good," said Pruett Small, operations section chief for the fire in the Catalina Mountains, north of Tucson. "Anything that's active is well, well away from homes."

Containment of the fire's perimeter jumped to 70 percent, with 893 firefighters now working the blaze at a cost of $12.2 million, Small said. Firefighters still need to scratch more than 30 miles of fire line and burn fuel away from it along the southern and western perimeter of the fire, he said.

Dan Oltrogge, incident commander of the Aspen Fire, repeatedly assured about 150 Foothills residents at a Monday night meeting at Catalina Foothills High School that their homes no longer were in jeopardy.

"The fire environment is a dynamic environment. We're feeling comfortable now that we can get folks back in their homes," he said.

Three hotshot crews will hike into Romero Canyon to begin scratching fire lines and burning out fuel today, while three other hotshot crews will be flown by helicopter into Ventana Canyon to do the same, Small said.

The most active part of the Aspen Fire lies near Window Rock on the fire's west end, about three miles from where the elite hotshot crews will be working, he said.

"If we can get that side where it's the most steep and where the heavier fuel is, we think we're going to be well on our way to wrapping this up," Small said. "We're going to be here for a bunch of days, but if we can get that tough area taken care of, that will make us feel a whole lot better."

By 4 p.m. Monday, the threat to homes between the Sabino Canyon visitors center and Ventana Canyon had all but vanished.

The surge in humidity had fire officials s...uinting Monday morning to find evidence of the blaze that had threatened Foothills residents Sunday, said Kent Romney, a fire information officer.

"The fire didn't just lay down but actually went out in ...uite a few places," he said. "We went from a panicky (Sunday) afternoon with the threat of thunderstorm winds to a much more confident attitude and a different strategy today."

Loren Jensen Carter, who lives near Kolb Road and Sunrise Drive, said at Monday's meeting that it was ironic when she returned from the Summerhaven parade on Friday and found her whole yard was gray. On Sunday, she booked a storage locker and got together her photo albums and heirlooms.

Jensen Carter said she has not heard any answers that make her comfortable about the pillars of smoke behind her home. She's still prepared to evacuate.

"I'm a docent at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and I'm aware of the impact on our environment," she said. "I'm devastated and heartbroken. Nobody knows what the runoff is going to do to these areas. I have a lot of sadness."

Guests of the resort and 25 homeowners who heeded the voluntary evacuation were allowed to return at 6 p.m. Monday, said Deputy Steve Easton of the Pima County Sheriff's Department.

"Fire crews in that area told us that fire danger and their need to remain in the area had been alleviated," Easton said.

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort will reopen its golf courses, spa, restaurants and hotel at 7 this morning.

Kimberly Sundt, director of public relations for the resort, said 260 people from 130 rooms were evacuated, and all spent Sunday and Monday nights at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa.

Gov. Janet Napolitano, in Tucson to get an update and tour the fire scene Monday, promised to encourage the state Department of Insurance to overcome any bureaucratic delays to the cleanup of Mount Lemmon fire damage.

Pima County risk manager Dave Parker told Napolitano the coming monsoon raises two threats, erosion and the runoff of the layer of ash covering the mountains, and that "every building footprint has the potential for hazardous runoff."

Emergency Services Director Dennis Douglas also provided an updated toll of buildings lost to the fire: 340 homes and businesses in Summerhaven, 11 cabins in Soldier Camp, six cabins in Willow Canyon and three cabins and an outbuilding at the Girl Scout Camp.

Napolitano declined to predict when the White House will declare the fire a federal disaster but said she was confident the Bush administration will indeed do so.

"It's not a matter of if, but when," she said.

Firefighting efforts are costing about $750,000 a day, Oltrogge told Napolitano. Operating just one Type I helicopter -- an Erickson S-64 Aircrane -- costs $7,200 an hour, he said.

Air operations are typically the most expensive part of fighting a fire, exceeding even personnel costs, said Dick Fleishman, fire information officer.

Insect collector Peter Hubbell, who lives on the West Side, attended the meeting because he doesn't think the Aspen Fire should have happened in the first place.

A lot of his potential specimens were burned in the fire, he said. The Coronado National Forest should not have been open because it was so dry, he said.

"The forests all through Southern Arizona should be closed until it rains. It's the prudent thing to do," Hubbell said.

The forecast for today calls for higher temperatures and milder northwest winds of 5 to 10 mph, with occasional gusts to 20 mph, said meteorologist Tom Evans of the National Weather Service in Tucson.

Stephanie Innes, Joe Burchell and C.J. Karamargin contributed to this story.

To see more of The Arizona Daily Star, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.azstarnet.com

(c) 2003, The Arizona Daily Star. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

Humidity Surge Reduces Fire Hazard in Arizona's Ventana Canyon Area.

By Thomas Stauffer, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jul. 8--A dramatic surge in humidity alleviated concerns on the southern edge of the 82,000-acre Aspen Fire and allowed evacuees to return to their digs in Ventana Canyon Monday evening.

After humidity climbed to 32 percent in the desert scrub above Loews Ventana Canyon Resort early Monday morning, fire officials opted for an air assault on the fire's southern edge instead of the massive back burn they had planned Sunday night.

"There are a lot of different things going on, and it's all coming together and looking real good," said Pruett Small, operations section chief for the fire in the Catalina Mountains, north of Tucson. "Anything that's active is well, well away from homes."

Containment of the fire's perimeter jumped to 70 percent, with 893 firefighters now working the blaze at a cost of $12.2 million, Small said. Firefighters still need to scratch more than 30 miles of fire line and burn fuel away from it along the southern and western perimeter of the fire, he said.

Dan Oltrogge, incident commander of the Aspen Fire, repeatedly assured about 150 Foothills residents at a Monday night meeting at Catalina Foothills High School that their homes no longer were in jeopardy.

"The fire environment is a dynamic environment. We're feeling comfortable now that we can get folks back in their homes," he said.

Three hotshot crews will hike into Romero Canyon to begin scratching fire lines and burning out fuel today, while three other hotshot crews will be flown by helicopter into Ventana Canyon to do the same, Small said.

The most active part of the Aspen Fire lies near Window Rock on the fire's west end, about three miles from where the elite hotshot crews will be working, he said.

"If we can get that side where it's the most steep and where the heavier fuel is, we think we're going to be well on our way to wrapping this up," Small said. "We're going to be here for a bunch of days, but if we can get that tough area taken care of, that will make us feel a whole lot better."

By 4 p.m. Monday, the threat to homes between the Sabino Canyon visitors center and Ventana Canyon had all but vanished.

The surge in humidity had fire officials s...uinting Monday morning to find evidence of the blaze that had threatened Foothills residents Sunday, said Kent Romney, a fire information officer.

"The fire didn't just lay down but actually went out in ...uite a few places," he said. "We went from a panicky (Sunday) afternoon with the threat of thunderstorm winds to a much more confident attitude and a different strategy today."

Loren Jensen Carter, who lives near Kolb Road and Sunrise Drive, said at Monday's meeting that it was ironic when she returned from the Summerhaven parade on Friday and found her whole yard was gray. On Sunday, she booked a storage locker and got together her photo albums and heirlooms.

Jensen Carter said she has not heard any answers that make her comfortable about the pillars of smoke behind her home. She's still prepared to evacuate.

"I'm a docent at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and I'm aware of the impact on our environment," she said. "I'm devastated and heartbroken. Nobody knows what the runoff is going to do to these areas. I have a lot of sadness."

Guests of the resort and 25 homeowners who heeded the voluntary evacuation were allowed to return at 6 p.m. Monday, said Deputy Steve Easton of the Pima County Sheriff's Department.

"Fire crews in that area told us that fire danger and their need to remain in the area had been alleviated," Easton said.

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort will reopen its golf courses, spa, restaurants and hotel at 7 this morning.

Kimberly Sundt, director of public relations for the resort, said 260 people from 130 rooms were evacuated, and all spent Sunday and Monday nights at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa.

Gov. Janet Napolitano, in Tucson to get an update and tour the fire scene Monday, promised to encourage the state Department of Insurance to overcome any bureaucratic delays to the cleanup of Mount Lemmon fire damage.

Pima County risk manager Dave Parker told Napolitano the coming monsoon raises two threats, erosion and the runoff of the layer of ash covering the mountains, and that "every building footprint has the potential for hazardous runoff."

Emergency Services Director Dennis Douglas also provided an updated toll of buildings lost to the fire: 340 homes and businesses in Summerhaven, 11 cabins in Soldier Camp, six cabins in Willow Canyon and three cabins and an outbuilding at the Girl Scout Camp.

Napolitano declined to predict when the White House will declare the fire a federal disaster but said she was confident the Bush administration will indeed do so.

"It's not a matter of if, but when," she said.

Firefighting efforts are costing about $750,000 a day, Oltrogge told Napolitano. Operating just one Type I helicopter -- an Erickson S-64 Aircrane -- costs $7,200 an hour, he said.

Air operations are typically the most expensive part of fighting a fire, exceeding even personnel costs, said Dick Fleishman, fire information officer.

Insect collector Peter Hubbell, who lives on the West Side, attended the meeting because he doesn't think the Aspen Fire should have happened in the first place.

A lot of his potential specimens were burned in the fire, he said. The Coronado National Forest should not have been open because it was so dry, he said.

"The forests all through Southern Arizona should be closed until it rains. It's the prudent thing to do," Hubbell said.

The forecast for today calls for higher temperatures and milder northwest winds of 5 to 10 mph, with occasional gusts to 20 mph, said meteorologist Tom Evans of the National Weather Service in Tucson.

Stephanie Innes, Joe Burchell and C.J. Karamargin contributed to this story.

To see more of The Arizona Daily Star, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.azstarnet.com

(c) 2003, The Arizona Daily Star. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

Humidity Surge Reduces Fire Hazard in Arizona's Ventana Canyon Area.

By Thomas Stauffer, The Arizona Daily Star, Tucson Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Jul. 8--A dramatic surge in humidity alleviated concerns on the southern edge of the 82,000-acre Aspen Fire and allowed evacuees to return to their digs in Ventana Canyon Monday evening.

After humidity climbed to 32 percent in the desert scrub above Loews Ventana Canyon Resort early Monday morning, fire officials opted for an air assault on the fire's southern edge instead of the massive back burn they had planned Sunday night.

"There are a lot of different things going on, and it's all coming together and looking real good," said Pruett Small, operations section chief for the fire in the Catalina Mountains, north of Tucson. "Anything that's active is well, well away from homes."

Containment of the fire's perimeter jumped to 70 percent, with 893 firefighters now working the blaze at a cost of $12.2 million, Small said. Firefighters still need to scratch more than 30 miles of fire line and burn fuel away from it along the southern and western perimeter of the fire, he said.

Dan Oltrogge, incident commander of the Aspen Fire, repeatedly assured about 150 Foothills residents at a Monday night meeting at Catalina Foothills High School that their homes no longer were in jeopardy.

"The fire environment is a dynamic environment. We're feeling comfortable now that we can get folks back in their homes," he said.

Three hotshot crews will hike into Romero Canyon to begin scratching fire lines and burning out fuel today, while three other hotshot crews will be flown by helicopter into Ventana Canyon to do the same, Small said.

The most active part of the Aspen Fire lies near Window Rock on the fire's west end, about three miles from where the elite hotshot crews will be working, he said.

"If we can get that side where it's the most steep and where the heavier fuel is, we think we're going to be well on our way to wrapping this up," Small said. "We're going to be here for a bunch of days, but if we can get that tough area taken care of, that will make us feel a whole lot better."

By 4 p.m. Monday, the threat to homes between the Sabino Canyon visitors center and Ventana Canyon had all but vanished.

The surge in humidity had fire officials s...uinting Monday morning to find evidence of the blaze that had threatened Foothills residents Sunday, said Kent Romney, a fire information officer.

"The fire didn't just lay down but actually went out in ...uite a few places," he said. "We went from a panicky (Sunday) afternoon with the threat of thunderstorm winds to a much more confident attitude and a different strategy today."

Loren Jensen Carter, who lives near Kolb Road and Sunrise Drive, said at Monday's meeting that it was ironic when she returned from the Summerhaven parade on Friday and found her whole yard was gray. On Sunday, she booked a storage locker and got together her photo albums and heirlooms.

Jensen Carter said she has not heard any answers that make her comfortable about the pillars of smoke behind her home. She's still prepared to evacuate.

"I'm a docent at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, and I'm aware of the impact on our environment," she said. "I'm devastated and heartbroken. Nobody knows what the runoff is going to do to these areas. I have a lot of sadness."

Guests of the resort and 25 homeowners who heeded the voluntary evacuation were allowed to return at 6 p.m. Monday, said Deputy Steve Easton of the Pima County Sheriff's Department.

"Fire crews in that area told us that fire danger and their need to remain in the area had been alleviated," Easton said.

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort will reopen its golf courses, spa, restaurants and hotel at 7 this morning.

Kimberly Sundt, director of public relations for the resort, said 260 people from 130 rooms were evacuated, and all spent Sunday and Monday nights at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa.

Gov. Janet Napolitano, in Tucson to get an update and tour the fire scene Monday, promised to encourage the state Department of Insurance to overcome any bureaucratic delays to the cleanup of Mount Lemmon fire damage.

Pima County risk manager Dave Parker told Napolitano the coming monsoon raises two threats, erosion and the runoff of the layer of ash covering the mountains, and that "every building footprint has the potential for hazardous runoff."

Emergency Services Director Dennis Douglas also provided an updated toll of buildings lost to the fire: 340 homes and businesses in Summerhaven, 11 cabins in Soldier Camp, six cabins in Willow Canyon and three cabins and an outbuilding at the Girl Scout Camp.

Napolitano declined to predict when the White House will declare the fire a federal disaster but said she was confident the Bush administration will indeed do so.

"It's not a matter of if, but when," she said.

Firefighting efforts are costing about $750,000 a day, Oltrogge told Napolitano. Operating just one Type I helicopter -- an Erickson S-64 Aircrane -- costs $7,200 an hour, he said.

Air operations are typically the most expensive part of fighting a fire, exceeding even personnel costs, said Dick Fleishman, fire information officer.

Insect collector Peter Hubbell, who lives on the West Side, attended the meeting because he doesn't think the Aspen Fire should have happened in the first place.

A lot of his potential specimens were burned in the fire, he said. The Coronado National Forest should not have been open because it was so dry, he said.

"The forests all through Southern Arizona should be closed until it rains. It's the prudent thing to do," Hubbell said.

The forecast for today calls for higher temperatures and milder northwest winds of 5 to 10 mph, with occasional gusts to 20 mph, said meteorologist Tom Evans of the National Weather Service in Tucson.

Stephanie Innes, Joe Burchell and C.J. Karamargin contributed to this story.

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(c) 2003, The Arizona Daily Star. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.