President Bush says the United States is committed to a long-term struggle against tyranny around the world. In his annual State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol, the president said this country remains on the offensive against terrorists in Iraq, Afghanistan and other world trouble spots. Speaking to the full Congress and other top officials (early Wednesday, Universal Time), and to millions more Americans watching his speech at home, President Bush said U.S. efforts around the world are spurring "a new chapter in the story of self-government."
Iraqi court officials say today's (Wednesday's) resumption of hearings in the trial of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein has been delayed. They say the delay was "due to procedural issues," but did not elaborate. Defense lawyers said earlier they would not attend the court until the newly appointed chief judge (Raouf Abdel Rahman) resigned. The head of the defense legal team (Khalil Dulaimi) accused the new chief judge, a Kurd, of being biased against his client.
Suspected Maoist rebels in Nepal have killed 20 police and soldiers in overnight attacks before today's anniversary of King Gyanendra's seizure of absolute power. At least 143 police officers are missing. Authorities say Maoist rebels attacked an army camp, police station and government buildings in a town about 300 kilometers west of Kathmandu.
A Cambodian union leader has returned to the country four months after the prime minister filed criminal defamation charges against him. Chea Mony, president of Cambodia's Free Trade Union of Workers, said he is not afraid to face the court after returning today (Wednesday). Prime Minister Hun Sen claims Chea Mony and other opponents made comments that implied Cambodian land was ceded to Vietnam when a border agreement was signed in October.
Civil rights advocates, politicians and religious leaders are paying tribute to the widow of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., Coretta Scott King, following her death early Tuesday. Mrs. King's family said she died in her sleep at an alternative medicine clinic in Mexico. Doctors say the 78-year-old was battling ovarian cancer when she arrived in Mexico Thursday, and ultimately died of respiratory failure. Her body was returned to the United States earlier Tuesday.
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