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WASHINGTON (AP) — The brutal success of an al-Qaida splinter group that taken control of two major Iraqi cities and other towns and territories has sparked security changes at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. The latest is the town of Fal Afar. The State Department says some of the 5,000 staffers have been moved to areas controlled by Kurds or the Shiite majority. The military says about 100 troops will join the embassy security effort.
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) — The White House says President Barack Obama is being updated on the violent insurgency in Iraq. Obama told his national security team to come up with options for U.S. assistance to help combat the insurgency. He said he'll be reviewing a wide range of options, but he has ruled out the possibility of sending in American ground troops. He's returning after a four-day weekend to California.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenyan authorities blame al-Shabab, Somalia's al-Qaida-linked terror group for an attack on a coastal town that left at least 48 people dead. Dozens of extremists opened fire on residents, many of whom had been watching World Cup matches on TV. The U.S., U.K., France, Australia, and Canada have all recently upgraded their terror threat warnings for Kenya.
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Pakistani war planes have strafed militant targets in North Waziristan, killing about ten militants. Two intelligence officials say the airstrikes struck an area early Monday near the southern border with South Waziristan, a neighboring tribal region. The region is used as a base from which to attack the rest of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — The deadline has passed for Ukraine to settle its dispute with Russia over gas supplies. It had until 9 a.m. Kiev time today pay overdue gas bills and to reach an agreement on gas prices. Russia had demanded $1.95 billion. Failure to pay could result in Moscow cutting off supplies.
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