Archive of stories

4-22-2001 ^Bush, Fox and Chretien _ the Three Amigos _ work to cement ties< ^By ANDREW SELSKY= ^Associated Press Writer=    QUEBEC (AP) _ Their nations bound together in a free-trade accord, the leaders of the United States, Mexico and Canada are being dubbed "the Three Amigos."    The schmoozing between President Bush, Mexican President Vicente Fox and Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien came during the Summit of the Americas, in which 34 heads of state agreed to forge a free-trade accord extending from Argentina to Alaska.    They held their own mini-summit on Sunday afternoon, meeting over lunch to discuss their continental relationship. Before entering the talks, the trio grinned and clasped their six hands together in unity.    Chretien turned to photographers and cracked: "I have to keep these two guys ..."    "Intact," Bush chimed in.    "Strong," concluded Chretien, who dubbed the threesome "the Three Amigos" at a

3-14-2004 ^AP Enterprise: Moroccan suspect in Madrid bombing is tied to Sept. 11 suspect, court document shows< ^By ANDREW SELSKY= ^Associated Press Writer=    MADRID, Spain (AP) _ One of the three Moroccans arrested in the Madrid train bombings was a follower of a suspected al-Qaida member jailed in Spain for allegedly helping plan the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States, according to court documents reviewed by The Associated Press.    It was the latest suggestion that Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist group may have been involved in the bombings.    A Sept. 17, 2003 indictment calls Jamal Zougam, 30, a "follower" of Imad Yarkas, the alleged leader of Spain's al-Qaida cell who was jailed for allegedly helping plan the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington. Yarkas, whose alias is Abu Dahdah, remains in Spanish custody.    The indictment targets Yarkas and 34 others, including bin Laden, for terrorist activities connected to al-Qaida. Zoug

3-16-2004 ^Six Moroccans suspected of involvement in Madrid train bombing< ^By ANDREW SELSKY= ^Associated Press Writer=    MADRID, Spain (AP) _ Police reportedly now suspect at least six Moroccans took part in the Madrid train bombings, and the United States is assisting a growing international investigation that is increasingly focused on Islamic militants possibly linked to al-Qaida.    A 45-year-old woman died of her injuries Tuesday, raising the death toll from Thursday's bombings to 201. Of the more than 1,600 wounded, eight are in critical condition.    Cardinal Antonio Rouco Varela led a Mass at Madrid's cathedral Tuesday night remembering the victims of the bloodiest terrorist attack in Spain's history.    "The tragic attacks of March 11 have sunk us all into deep pain," intoned Varela, a huge black ribbon hanging from a wall above the altar. "To kill your own kind, to kill a brother, is to attack God himself."    The main suspect in

3-19-2004 ^Spaniards see red upon hearing top U.S. defense official's comments on bullfighting and Iraq< ^By ANDREW SELSKY= ^Associated Press Writer=    MADRID, Spain (AP) _ From a fire station to a Madrid bar brimming with bullfighting paraphernalia, Spaniards said Friday they were offended by a senior Pentagon official's remark that bullfighting shows they are a brave people and they shouldn't run in the face of terrorism.    They saw the comment by Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz as narrow-minded and promoting a stereotype.    "This is an ignorant comment," snapped Madrid firefighter Juan Carlos Yunquera, sitting on a bench outside his firehouse. "For a top official, it shows he doesn't know what he's talking about."    Yunquera, who heard the American official's remarks on the radio, pointed out that Spaniards overwhelmingly opposed the war in Iraq, even as Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar joined President Bush's &qu

6-20-1994 EDITOR'S NOTE - Indians in South America continue taking reservation land to which they feel entitled from settlers. In Colombia, the Zenu tribe is continuing despite the bloodiest attack on Indian leaders in the country's modern history. One government official said those who ambushed five men expected to kill the Indian movement by killing its leaders.    By ANDREW SELSKY- Associated Press Writer-    SAN ANDRES DE SOTAVENTO, Colombia (AP) - The three Indians - friends who grew up on the same reservation and ascended to top national posts - were barreling down a gravel road when they drove straight into an ambush.    A fusillade of bullets erupted out of the night on March 26, riddling the Indians' red pickup with some 60 holes.    The three men - leaders of the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia and a tribal chief who also served as alternate Senator - didn't have a chance. Their driver died alongside them.    Settlers are suspected in the b

11-6-1994 ^Colombian Program Trains Animals for Return to the Wild ^By ANDREW SELSKY ^Associated Press Writer    BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) _ Alerted by the flapping of wings, the jungle cat spotted its prey and pounced.    A swipe of a furry, clawed paw across the neck and the bird was dead. The margay, a small tiger-like cat native to Latin America, clamped the game hen in its jaws and padded deeper into its cage.    "He's learning well," naturalist Fernando Londono murmured approvingly as the margay deftly ripped away feathers and sank fangs into hot flesh.    The margay is an honor student at a center run by the London-based World Society for the Protection of Animals that trains animals to return to the wild.    The animals come from lawmen who raid gangs involved in the illicit trade of live wild animals. It has become a $10 billion-a-year business worldwide - third only to the trafficking of drugs and arms.    Traffickers can buy a macaw for $100 in South Amer