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Police closing in on reporter’s kidnappers BY KATHY GANNON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS KARACHI, Pakistan - Authorities know the identity of reporter Daniel Pearl’s kidnap pers and are “very close to resolv ' ing the c^se,” a top police official said Tuesday. Sources said three men had been arrested for send ing last week’s e-mails that con tained photographs of Pearl. Mukhtar Ahmed Sheikh, in charge of police here in Sindh province, refused to say who was behind the kidnapping. Pearl, 38, was last seen Jan. 23 on his way to meet a Muslim fundamentalist contact at a Karachi restaurant. However, a U.S. State Department official said Tuesday that Pakistani police are looking for Sheik Omar Saeed in connection with the kidnapping. Saeed was one of three men freed by India on Dec. 31,1999 to end a hijacking of an Indian Airlines flight to Kandahar, Afghanistan. Authorities said the hijackers were acting in support of militants in Kashmir—Indian ter ritory disputed by Pakistan. The Washington official, speak ing on condition of anonymity, said that Pearl was supposed to be meeting with Saeed at the time of his kidnapping. * “The fact is we know who has done it,” Sheikh told The Associated Press. He said officials are drawing nearer to resolving the kidnapping. Sheikh said he believed Pearl was still alive, adding, “there are so many things I cannot talk about.” Although Sheikh gave no de tails of any progress, other sources close to the investigation said Karachi police have arrested three jnen — identified only as Suleiman, Fawad and Adeel — be lieved to have sent two e-mails that included pictures of Pearl. Those e-mails, sent last week, are believed to be the only genuine communications from the kid nappers. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity. STATE Archaeologist asks for suit’s dismissal CHARLESTON (AP) - Underwater archaeologist E. Lee Spence has asked a federal court to dismiss a defamation suit against him, saying he has a free speech right to say he found the Confederate subma rine H.L. Hunley. Last fall, shipwreck expert and novelist Clive Cussler sued Spence on behalf of the National Underwater and Marine Agency that Cussler founded. The suit contends Spence’s claim to have found the sub in jures the reputation of the agency 1 and the divers Cussler hired who are credited with finding the sub off Charleston in 1995. The hand-cranked sub, be lieved to be the first sub in his tory to sink an enemy warship, sank in 1864 after sinking a Union blockade ship. It was raised in 2000 and is now at a conservation lab. The state has officially given credit for the discovery to Cussler. In his response to the law suit, Spence also contends Cussler is a recognized public figure. In defamation cases, pub lic figures must prove malice showing that a defendant made a statement with deliberate and reckless disregard for the truth. WOMEN’S HEALTH: South Carolina women need a state office focused on their health needs, but the budget crunch makes that unlikely, according to a report from the Governor’s Commission on Women. McCAIN TO SPEAK: U S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, will deliver the commencement speech at The Citadel on May 11. NATION House schedules vote on finance bill WASHINGTON (AP) - House Republican leaders agreed Tuesday to allow a vote next week on the most significant changes in campaign spending law in a quarter-century. House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., said the House will devote next Tuesday and Wednesday to the legislation that would limit campaign spending and advertising and require more disclosure of campaign contributors. He said he had made the deci sion after consulting with House Majority Leader Dick Armey, R Texas, and the Democratic leader, Dick Gephardt of Missouri. “I expect there will be a vigorous debate on this issue that will reflect well on the House of Representatives,” Hastert said. “We look forward to a fair debate and are hopeful that re form legislation will once again pass the House,” said Katie Levinson, spokeswoman for Rep. Christopher Shays, R Conn., who has joined with Rep. Marty Meehan, D-Mass., to introduce the leading cam paign finance bill. The Shays-Meehan bill is backed by most Democrats and a minority of Republicans, but is opposed by GOP leaders and many in the Republican ranks, who see it as an unconstitutional abridgment of free speech rights. President Bush is against a central goal of the Shays Meehan bill, to ban the flow of unregulated soft money to the national parties, but has made clear to Republicans that they cannot count on him vetoing the legislation if it gets to his desk. j WORLD Iraq ready to talk with U.N. again UNITED NATIONS (AP)-Iraq is prepared to resume dialogue with the United Nations, but the world organization did not indicate whether Saddam Hussein’s government is will ing to discuss the return of U.N. weapons inspectors. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Tuesday there was nothing to talk about unless Iraq agrees to the inspectors’ return. Amr Mousa, the secretary general of the Arab League who recently visited the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, told U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan , that Iraq would restart talks without any special conditions, the United Nations said in a statement Monday. Annan said he was prepared to receive a delegation from Iraq. Iraq has been under U.N. sanctions since it invaded Kuwait in 1990. The sanctions cannot be lifted unless U.N in spectors verify that Baghdad has dismantled its weapons of mass destruction. Powell said Iraq’s overture should be limited to letting the inspectors back in. TRAIN COLLISION: A com muter train collided with a freight train in South Africa on ( Tuesday, killing 18 people and injuring about 100 others. AID CONSIDERED: A delega tion from the Bush administra tion is meeting with the presi dent of Colombia as Washington considers expanding military aid by $98 million to help protect an oil pipeline from guerrilla vi olence. FOODS Looking for great tasting frozen food convenience for those Busy microwave lifestyles? We carry vegan and vegetarian entrees, burritos, alternative meat products, breakfast foods, and darn it we have Pizza! Too busy to nm the microwave? Pick up tasty foods from the deli, ready to eat. We are a frill service natural foods grocery store and deli. Lots of supplements, health care products and gift items. Rosewood XVMARKET • c 2803 Rosewood Dr. Columbia, SC 29202 Deli: 256-6410 Store: 765-1083 M-Sat.: 9-9 Sun: 10-6 Assembly Street 15 Q> * South Harden J3 £ ___ South Maple Street ★ 2803 Rosewood Dr. www. rosewoodmarket. com I - — — - —J 1 1 ' 1 111,1 —1 ' 1 — Traveling together has never been better p Right now is the best time to take a trip on Amtrak? With service to over 500 cities and towns, Amtrak offers a perfect getaway for you and your friend, satisfaction guaranteed. Just reserve one ticket for yourself, travel anytime between January 9 and February 28, 2002, and your companion travels for free—but act now, because reservations for this special offer ends February 21, 2002. even more savings use your Student Advantage* Card and save 15% on the coach fare on the first fare. In fact, with Student Advantage you can save 15% on coach fares all year long! To join Student Advantage 77-2JOINSA or visit www.studentadvantage.com. information about the Buy-One-Get-One-Free offer just mention code H207 when you call your or 1-800-USA-RAIL. Or take the fastest route to your ticket when you visit www.amtrak.com. Buy-One-Get-One FREE! Sfff®5 r Student Advantage Members get I 15% off the regular coach fare, r the second person is FREE. r Offer valid for purchase 1/28)2-2/21/02 for travel 1/9832-2728802. Minimum 7-day I advance reservations required, including those designated as unreserved trains Purchase P required within 3 days of reservation. Fares are non-refundabte once purchased. Offer L not valid on Acela Express’”. Metroliner", Auto Train*, joint AmtrakWIA* Rait service ■ to Ontario and 7000-8999 series Thruyvay service Offer also not valid for local travel F within the Northeast Corridor on Friday or Sunday between 1 la m -11p.m. on Acela ■ Regional* trains. Blackouts apply on all trains for 2/158)2-2/18/02 and, on the Crescent. P City of New Orleans and Sunset Limited only for the following additional dates L 1/31/02-2/4/02 and 2/7/02-2/13/02 Not valid with any other discounts, fares orders or ■ promotions. Fare passenger and companion must travel together on the identical r itinerary. Other restrictions and exchange fees may apply. P TRAVEL AGENTS: access your GOS for complete details: G/PRO/WTR; Sabre: r Y/PRO/WTR. Attach coupon to auditors coupon; K electronically reporting, attach to ■ agent coupon. All Travel Agents and Amtrak Ticketing Agents please return the ■ coupon to: Amtrak Customer Segmentation, 10 G Street NE. Washington, DC 20002. L arc # 8 554 270 oooo 2071 Mention Code: H207 L Amtrak* is a registered service mark of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation. » 7 Non-Student Advantage Members buy regular coach fare, the second person is FREE. Name:_________________ Address:_j_ - City:. ..u_ State:__ Zip: ___ ’ 1 [DISCOUNT PRICES 1217 Augusta Rd. #1 Ctnn West Columbia. SC 29073 n ' 739-1319 M-Th 9am - 7pm RTy-v-rtvt F-Sat 9am - 8pm Few*? «nXs{°) > Lowest Prices on beer & wine > 18 pack Bud only *10.89 > Lowest prices on all your party needs We have been a Gamecock scholarship donor for the past 10 years. If you are under the age 21, it is against the law to buy alcoholic beverage. All ABC regulations enforced. t Over 2,000 Pieces to Choose from " Light-Up, Gold, All gauges * Restrictions apply. 2700 BROAD RIVER RD. 798-2639 ^i§r_ Directions: across the Gervais St. Bridge - Left at Second Light ® If you are under the age of 21, t» ia^tgaJnat the law i MMPMI rT__ t> buy akohollc kjfcmfc*. All ABC rttpibtloai enfo^rd.