Iran arrests...Critics, Obama weigh-in...Haitian voter apathy

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) A struggle among Iran's ruling clerics has burst into the open with the arrest of five relatives of former President Hashemi Rafsanjani, including his daughter. State media say they've now all been released. Sunday was generally quiet in the streets of Tehran following days of post-election protests that the government says left 17 dead.

Washington (AP) Washington critics of President Barack Obama's response to Iran's political unrest have aired their calls for a tougher stance on the Sunday talk shows. But Obama tells CBS he doesn't want the U.S. to be a foil for those inside Iran who he says would love to make the United States the issue.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) Haitians fed up with their nation's chronic poverty and unresponsive leadership largely stayed away from the polls in Sunday's run-off elections for the Haitian Senate. The mostly empty ballot boxes could damage efforts for Democratic and economic reform.

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) Four former high-ranking executives of the Church of Scientology say its leader hit his subordinates numerous times and set an example for physical violence among the tightly controlled management team. Their account is published in The St. Petersburg Times. The church denies the allegations.

LOS ANGELES (AP) The Sandra Bullock flick, "The Proposal," has raked-in $34.1 million to open as the weekend's No. 1 movie and the season's biggest romantic comedy. It took over the top spot from "The Hangover," which slipped to second place with $26.9 million. The animated adventure "Up" was No. 3.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 06-21-09 2049CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list