Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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European nations reject purported truce offer from Osama bin Laden BY JILL LAWLESS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LONDON — Key European na tions, including Iraq war oppo nents Germany and France, vig orously rejected a truce offer pur portedly from Osama bin Laden Thursday, saying there could be no negotiating with his al-Qaida terrorist network. a. Many saw the audio-taped offer i^as an attempt to drive a wedge be tween the United States and its European allies, and one analyst said it might contain a message to militants to hold back on attacks against Europe. The tape was broadcast on Arab TV stations. “I am offering a truce to European countries,” the speak er on the tape said. “Its core is our commitment to cease operations against any country which does not carry out an onslaught against Muslims or interfere in their af Fairs.” In Italy, a nation shocked by the killing of an Italian civilian captured by militants in Iraq, Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said it was “unthinkable that we nay open a negotiation with bin Laden, everybody understands :his.” French President Jacques Lhirac, one of the firmest oppo lents of the Iraq war, was equally Dlunt: “No dealings are possible Dvith terrorists.” Secretary of State Colin Powell :old Polish television that “this is i time for all of us to be ever more •esolute and say to Osama bin -.aden, ‘No, we will not listen to my of these demands. You are the Dne who is wrong. You are the one vho must be brought to justice.’” The tape — broadcast on the Dan-Arab television stations Al lazeera and Al-Arabiya — is the irst attributed to bin Laden since January. The message said “the door to a truce is open for three months,” but the time frame could be ex tended. “The truce will begin when the last soldier leaves our countries,” the speaker said with out elaborating. The CIA said the tape was likely an authentic recording of bin Laden, who is believed to be hid ing in the mountains along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Charles Heyman, an analyst at Jane’s Defense Weekly, said the tape was “a not very subtle at tempt to break whatever coalition there is and to destabilize the sit uation in Iraq.” Several European governments strongly opposed to the Iraq war quickly rejected the offer. Chirac, speaking in Algeria, said terror ism “is a barbarous act that at tacks innocent people.” “One cannot lean on religion or any other motivation to perpetrate terrorist acts,” said Chirac, whose country has troops in Afghanistan but not in Iraq. But Spain’s incoming Socialist government — which promised to pull all 1,300 Spanish troops out of Iraq — also denounced the taped message. “What we want is peace, democ racy and freedom,” said incoming Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos. Analysts said the tape was an attempt to encourage Europeans to pressure their governments to stop supporting U.S. military op erations in Muslim nations. It also could be a message to al Qaida sympathizers to stop European operations, to avoid gal vanizing support for President Bush’s war on terrorism, said Montasser el-Zayat, an Egyptian lawyer who defends Islamic radi cals. McDonald’s launches adult Happy Meals BY DAVE CARPENTER ■^THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CHICAGO - Coming soon to a McDonald’s near you: Adult Happy Meals, featuring salad, bot tled water, pedometer and a little bit of advice: walk more. The hamburger giant outlined plans Thursday to introduce the “Go Active!” meals for grown-ups at all 13,500 of its U.S. restaurants May 6 along with other steps de signed to make its fare more healthy. A target of obesity lawsuits and a magnet for criticism that fast food is unhealthy, McDonald’s Corp. also launched a marketing blitz to address health issues head-on and tout new diet-conscious options at its outlets. The company said that in June it will roll out healthier choices in its Happy Meals for children na tionwide, such as the option to substitute apple slices and juice for fries and a soft drink. It. also will distribute brochures telling customers how to modify their McDonald’s or ders for lower fat, calories and carbohydrates, such as by skip ping the cheese or bun. The pro motion has been employed at its New York-region restaurants since January. Also new will be low-fat salad dressing, a fourth variety of salad and nutrition information on Happy Meal packages starting in test markets. The company said the steps come in response to a call by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services this year for the private sector to help fight obe sity. HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson lauded McDonald’s for promoting balanced eating and ex ercise and committing to “taking a lead role by helping educate its customers on this seriously im portant health issue.” The announcement and a pre sentation by McDonald’s execu tives at the National Press Club in Washington signaled the compa ny’s biggest public-relations push yet on the obesity and diet con cerns that are forcing sweeping changes in the U.S. food and restaurant industries. The fast food industry has been under pressure from consumer groups and the government to give more nutritional information and promote healthier eating. McDonald’s introduced entree sal ads in the United States about a year ago, as did competitors, and has been moving to add some healthier options to its restaurants worldwide. Blaming McDonald’s for Americans’ rising obesity and physical inactivity is “not reflec tive of reality,” Mike Roberts, president of the company’s U.S. op erations, said in an interview. “But it’s part of what we’re deal ing with as a country right now, and we’ve got to lead” by provid ing lots of choices and educating consumers about them, he said. “We’re very concerned about our customers’ well-being.” Governor asks for counsel to prevent gay union BY JENNIFER PETER ^THE ASSOCIATED PRESS W) „ BOSTON — Gov. Mitt Romney said Thursday he will seek emer gency legislation aimed at fore stalling gay marriages, which are scheduled to become legal in Massachusetts on May 17. The legislation would allow Romney to appoint a special coun sel who would ask the state’s high est court to delay its ruling on gay marriage. The governor said it would allow him “to protect the in tegrity of the constitutional pro cess.” “Fundamentally, I believe this is a decision which is so important it should be made by the people,” ^Romney said. “I would like the Jk-ight to be able to represent the "'people and my own office before the courts in Massachusetts.” Last month Democratic Attorney General Thomas Reillv rejected the Republican gover nor’s request to seek a stay from the Supreme Judicial Court until November 2006, when voters may have a chance to weigh in on a constitutional amendment ban ning gay marriage and legalizing ^ civil unions. The man Romney hopes to tap as special counsel is retired state Supreme Judicial Court Justice Joseph R. Nolan, who has called the court’s November ruling le galizing gay marriage an “abomi nation.” The attorney general, as the state’s chief legal officer, deter ^mines legal policy for the com P monwealth. “This would be an unprece dented intrusion on the attorney general’s authority,” said attorney Robert Sherman, who served as counsel to former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger. Any legislation to stop gay mar riage would likely face an uphill battle in the state Senate, where 22 of the 40 members last month voted against the constitutional amendment. It passed anyway be cause there were enough votes among House members. young, ) iime: we’ll pay you $50 to travel abroad!* t* TRAVEL CUTS littleas$75aday! See the world your way receive $50 cash back when you book by March 31! 800-592-CUTS (2887) _ www.travelcuts.com WE DELIVER! Campus & Downtown 252-7229 $2.00 OFF i Any Food Purchase of $10 or more With this coupon. Not valid with any other. 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