Security Council: End the violence...U.S.: it's Hamas' fault

UNITED NATIONS (AP) The U.N. Security council statement on Israeli-Palestinian violence doesn't specifically mention Hamas militant rocket attacks or Israeli retaliation. The council this morning is calling for an end to the violence and expressing its concern about the escalation.

CRAWFORD, Texas (AP) The U.S. says the latest Israeli-Palestinian violence in Gaza is Hamas' fault for breaking a cease-fire and attacking Israel with rockets. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe calls the militant Hamas leaders of Gaza "thugs."


PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) Police in northwest Pakistan say a suicide car bomber pretending to need help with his vehicle killed 26 people at a polling station in northwest Pakistan. Several others have been wounded. The Pakistani Army has waged an offensive against militants in the area that dates back to 2007.

MONTROSE, Calif. (AP) Police in California used a robot to approach a second car rented by a man who police say donned a Santa suit and killed nine people at a family Christmas party. Police say the bomb squad did not find any explosives in that vehicle. The other car rented by Bruce Pardo was rigged to blow up, and did, but no one was hurt.

UNDATED (AP) All of northern Illinois is on the alert for rising water, the result of a summerlike Midwest storm that brought hail, high wind and even funnel clouds along with warm temperatures. That's helping melt snow and ice, creating a flood threat.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 12-28-08 0443CST | save this article / add to your favorites list