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BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq's top Shiite cleric is applying even more pressure Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani called on the country's politicians to agree on the next prime minister and other top leaders by the time the new legislature meets on Tuesday. Al-Maliki is blamed in part for the Sunni revolt spearheaded by an extremist group. In Washington, a defense official says armed drones are in operation near Baghdad to conduct surveillance and to protect U.S. interests.
WASHINGTON (AP) — After two decades of stalling, the U.S. has announced its intention to join an international treaty banning land mines. Human rights advocates applauded the progress, but said the Obama administration should immediately commit to a ban and begin destroying its stockpile. Republicans accused the president of disregarding military leaders who wanted to maintain land mines in the U.S. arsenal.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A Border Patrol union official says a Mexican law enforcement helicopter fired two shots at U.S. border agents after crossing into Arizona. The Border Patrol says the aircraft crossed about 100 yards into U.S. territory. Mexican authorities denied shooting at agents and say they were under attack during a mission to find smugglers on the border. No agents were injured.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia jury has returned a $55 million verdict against Honda for a rollover accident that left a driver paralyzed. Lawyers for Carlos Martinez argued a faulty seat belt design in his Acura Integra caused the injuries he suffered in 2010. Honda says it will appeal the verdict.
MIAMI (AP) — A vote count problem in Florida is changing the order of finish in a beauty pageant. Officials of the Miss Florida Organization named a new Miss Florida after discovering a tabulation error in the judging. As a result, Elizabeth Fechtel, who won the crown last Saturday, is now the runner up. The woman who had come in second -- Victoria Cowen -- is now the new Miss Florida.
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