Bush heading to NATO...Rice in Jerusalem...Koreas bicker over attacks

Washington (AP) President Bush heads to Europe tomorrow to take part in his final NATO summit. Bush wants to expand the organization by adding three Balkan countries and he wants to put Ukraine and Georgia on track for eventual membership. Beefing up the NATO force in Afghanistan is high on the agenda.

BAGHDAD (AP) Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has acknowledged that he may have miscalculated by failing to anticipate the fiercely violent backlash from Shiite militia groups to the offensive he launched last week. Militia leader Muqtada al-Sadr is calling on his fighters to defy the government order to lay down weapons.

JERUSALEM (AP) Aides to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice say Israel is pledging to remove 50 roadblocks in the West Bank to improve everyday life for Palestinians. Rice is in the Middle East meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders and has been pressing for "meaningful" compromises.

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Democrats in the Lone Star state today resume tabulating the results of the March 4th presidential caucuses. Barack Obama has a strong lead over Hillary CLinton in the race for more Texas delegates. Clinton won the state's primary, but Obama could end up with more delegates.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) It's a war of words between North and South Korea about nuclear strikes. The South's new military chief told lawmakers last week that South Korea would attack a suspected North Korean nuclear site if it tried to launch a nuclear attack.

The North, demanding an apology, threatens an "advanced" pre-emptive strike that it says would leave everything in ashes.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 03-30-08 0655CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list