LA Times News

LA Times News

Libya officials put a spin on conflict

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 07:10 PM PDT

Moammar Kadafi's government alleges a mounting civilian toll and massive damage amid a punishing NATO-led bombing campaign. Foreign journalists learn that what officials say happened may not necessarily be the case.

Amid intensified NATO-led bombing of Libya's capital, the government is alleging mounting civilian casualties and massive damage to homes and civilian infrastructure, though foreign journalists see limited evidence of such devastation.

Leftist's victory rattles Peruvian stock market

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 06:03 PM PDT

After his narrow win, Ollanta Humala seeks to reassure the business class, but his previous pledge to work for better distribution of the nation's silver and gold wealth sends the market down more than 12%.

The narrow victory of leftist nationalist Ollanta Humala in Peru's contentious presidential election triggered serious jitters throughout the Peruvian stock market and business establishment Monday but also words of conciliation from some of the president-elect's most implacable enemies.

5 U.S. soldiers, 14 Iraqis killed in separate attacks

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 03:51 PM PDT

The rocket attack on U.S. soldiers at a base in east Baghdad is the deadliest of the year, increasing concerns about more violence before the drawdown by year-end. The Iraqi deaths come in a car bombing in Tikrit.

Five American soldiers were killed Monday in a rocket attack in Baghdad, the military said. It was the deadliest attack this year against U.S. forces here and underscored the dangers American troops still face as they prepare to withdraw by the end of 2011.

Pakistan journalists walk razor's edge

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 05:11 PM PDT

Reporters often put themselves in harm's way as they try to dig up the truth about Islamic militant groups, shadowy intelligence agencies and the possible links between the two. One reporter recently ended up dead; another has a harrowing tale.

The men in police commando uniforms sat silent, recalled investigative journalist Umar Cheema, as he nervously repeated that he was a reporter and he wanted to see their supervisor.

Syria reports 'massacre' of security forces

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 03:06 PM PDT

State TV says armed groups used human shields and killed 120 members of the nation's security forces, but no sources are cited and no footage shown.

Syrian state television claimed Monday that 120 members of the nation's security forces were killed by armed groups in recent days in a report that said the government was prepared to "deal firmly and sternly" with any such attacks against its rule.

Focus shifts to sprouts in E.coli outbreak

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 02:54 AM PDT

Sprouts have been implicated in previous E. coli outbreaks, particularly one in 1996 in Japan, where tainted radish sprouts killed 12 people and reportedly sickened more than 12,000.

Consumers were awaiting the release of official test results Monday that will most likely confirm that vegetable sprouts from an organic farm in northern Germany caused the terrifying E. coli outbreak in Europe that has killed 22 people and sickened more than 2,200.

Libya rebels want U.S. recognition to help pay bills

Posted: 05 Jun 2011 09:04 PM PDT

The rebel ambassador seeks diplomatic recognition for the Transitional National Council to bolster its standing and possibly allow it to use frozen Libyan assets. Until then, the council is broke.

As fellow rebels back in Libya plot fresh attacks against embattled leader Moammar Kadafi, the chief of the Libyan insurgency's American outpost sits in a tiny, borrowed Washington office and faces a more immediate question: Who will pay the bills?