Afghan runoff surprise...Six homicides...Obama campaigning

KABUL (AP) Former Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah has decided to withdraw from next weekend's runoff election against President Hamid Karzai. The surprise announcement came today after last-minute talks led by the U.S. and the United nations failed to produce a power-sharing agreement acceptable to Karzai. Abdullah says he couldn't accept a runoff run by the same officials who managed a fraud-marred vote in August.

CLEVELAND (AP) A coroner says six badly decomposed bodies found at the Cleveland home of a convicted rapist were all female homicide victims. At least five of the victims apparently had been strangled. Police found the first two bodies Thursday night when they went to arrest the suspect on rape and felonious assault charges.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) A day after suspending her campaign for Congress, a New York Republican is endorsing her Democratic rival, not the Conservative Party candidate favored by fellow Republicans.

State Assemblywoman Dierdre Scozzafava (skoh-zuh-FAH'-vuh) says Democrat Bill Owens is the best of the remaining candidates to build on the legacy of the previous holder of the 23rd Congressional District seat, Republican John McHugh.

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) President Barack Obama is in New Jersey this afternoon, campaigning on behalf of Gov. John Corzine. Obama calls Corzine "one of the best partners" he has in the White House.

There are two governor's races to be decided in Tuesday's election.

The other is in Virginia.

LOS ANGELES (AP) Sony is extending the run of "Michael Jackson's This Is It," which had been planned for just a two week stay in theaters. It's the number one movie this week, earning more than $21 million. That brings its five days worldwide total to $101 million.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-01-09 1539CST | save this article / add to your favorites list