Slocum denies Woods with brave last hole putt

(CNN) -- Heath Slocum holed a 20-foot par putt on the final hole to deny a clutch of golf's elite the chance of a playoff at The Barclays and win the first of the PGA Tour's FedEx playoff series.














Slocum was claiming his third victory on
the PGA Tour in the United States.

Slocum held off world number one Tiger Woods and three-time major winners Ernie Els of South Africa and Ireland's Padraig Harrington as well as Steve Stricker, who is second on the FedEx Cup points list.

United States star Slocum shot a four-under 67 in Sunday's final round at Liberty National in New Jersey for a nine-under total of 275.

Woods and Harrington also came out of the chasing pack to card 67s, while Els shot a superb five-under 66 and Stricker carded 69.

The illustrious quartet shared second on eight-under 276.

The unlikely victory has lifted Slocum to third on the FedEx Cup points list to third behind Woods and Stricker.

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Slocum, who pocketed $1.35 million for his third PGA Tour victory, was not even certain he would be included in the field for the tournament.

"I was sweating it out last week not knowing if I'd even be here. I found out late Sunday and I came in with the attitude that I've got nothing to lose and I'll let it hang out and play the best I can," he told reporters.

United States pair Paul Goydos and Steve Marino had shared the lead on eight-under overnight, but both fell away dramatically.

Goydos carded a 75 to tie for ninth on 279, while Marino fared even worse with a 77 to be back in a tie for 15th.

Woods, who started the day four-under, bogeyed the fourth, but then made three birdies in four holes to move strongly into contention.

Further birdies at the 14th and 16th saw him improve to eight-under, but he wasted birdie opportunities on the 17th from 20-feet and on the last from just seven-feet to make further progress.

The miss on the final hole was uncharacteristic and Woods said his putting had cost him victory.

"I hit the ball well all week and to putt as poorly as I did all week and still have a chance on the last hole, says something about my ball-striking. Unfortunately I didn't make enough putts on these greens all week," he said.

The top 100 in the FedEx points list now qualify for the Deutsche Bank Championship which starts on Thursday, the second of three playoff events.

Source: CNN

E-mails show kidnap victim worked at suspect's business

ANTIOCH, California (CNN) -- Customers of the printing company knew her as "Allissa."














Jaycee Dugard was kidnapped at 11 and
kept hidden for 18 years in a backyard
compound, authorities say.

They spoke to her about graphic design, business cards and fliers, and describe her as professional, polite and responsive.

"She was always good at getting us what we wanted," said Ben Daughdrill, who used to own a junk hauling business. "You got the feeling she was doing all the work."

But "Allissa," authorities say, was really Jaycee Dugard, kidnapped 18 years ago from her home in South Lake Tahoe, California.

Her identity was discovered earlier this week and her alleged kidnappers -- 58-year-old Phillip Garrido, a registered sex offender, and his 55-year-old wife Nancy -- were arrested.

They face 29 felony charges, including rape and kidnapping, and both have pleaded not guilty.

Authorities said the Garridos held Dugard -- and the two daughters she had by Phillip Garrido -- in sheds in their backyard.

Garrido's business, "Printing for Less," catered to small businesses. He ran it out of his home in Antioch, east of San Francisco. His customers say he did good work and had much lower prices than competition.

CNN obtained e-mails written by "Allissa" to Daughdrill. The e-mails came from a Yahoo account set up by Phillip Garrido and in his name, but Daughdrill said they came from "Allissa" because the two were either on the phone or had just finished a conversation when they arrived. In them, Dugard uses short, compact answers and lowercase letters. The e-mails also have a typo or two.

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"i will take a look at the price sheet and send you over a copy of the revised brochure tomorrow," she wrote in an e-mail written on May 7, 2007. "as to the pictures sorry ... but we don't have a digital camera ... hopefully you can find a way to get me those pictures you want so i can add them to them brochure. i can get the brochures to you pretty fast within the week of final approval of the brochures. How many are you going to order and do you want them on glossy or matte paper, thick or thin?"

In another e-mail, this one from January 21, 2008, Dugard wrote, "heres the business cards in jpeg format let me know if you need anything else thank you."

While authorities say they are still trying to sort out the conditions in which Dugard was held captive, it's clear she was an integral part of Garrido's business.

Daughdrill told CNN he met Dugard in person on two occasions. "Nothing stood out," he said when "Allissa" emerged from the house and gave him his print orders.

"Obviously there was some brainwashing going on. That's all I can think," he said. " She had access to a phone and a computer, so obviously something went on that no one knows about."

Three northern California law enforcement agencies have joined the investigation of Phillip Garrido, saying he may be responsible for other crimes.

Source: CNN

Police: 'No known suspects' in 8 Georgia deaths

(CNN) -- Authorities believe at least one person not in custody may have information about the deaths of eight people in a Georgia mobile home, Glynn County Police Chief Matt Doering said Sunday.













Seven people were found dead Saturday
at a residence in a mobile home park in
Brunswick, Georgia.

"I'm confident to say that there's somebody, at least an individual, that we would like to know about that's not at the scene," whether or not they were directly involved in the case, Doering said.

Seven people were found dead Saturday at a residence in the New Hope mobile home park in Brunswick, Georgia. Two others were hospitalized in critical condition, and one of them died Sunday, authorities said.

Police have "no known suspects," Doering told reporters Sunday afternoon. "We are not looking for any known suspects. That doesn't say that there are no suspects. They're just not known to us."

One person, 22-year-old Guy Heinze Jr., was arrested Saturday night, Doering said. Heinze is related to one of the victims, he said, and was the one who called 911. He told police he discovered the bodies when he arrived home.

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Heinze was being held on suspicion of having a controlled substance and marijuana, as well as evidence tampering and making false statements to a police officer, Doering said. He told reporters Heinze has been cooperative.

"We're still looking for anybody and everybody that may be related to this," he said. "That naturally includes [Heinze]. Of course we're looking at him." He stopped short, however, of calling Heinze a suspect in the deaths.

Autopsies on the victims were taking place Sunday in Savannah, Georgia, Doering said. Police have tentative identifications for the victims, who ranged from children to adults in their mid-40s, he said.

Police have been called to the home before, Doering said, but would not say why.

Doering remained tight-lipped Sunday about many aspects of the case, refusing to say how the victims died or to give a breakdown of male and female victims. All nine victims lived in the mobile home, he said, and police do not believe any of them conducted the assault.

He said police are making progress, and have narrowed down the timeline for when the deaths occurred.

Brunswick is about 300 miles southeast of Atlanta, on the Georgia coast.

Volunteers conducted an extended search of the area around the mobile home, but nothing was found, Doering said.

Meanwhile, police removed additional evidence from the mobile home. Authorities are examining surveillance video from nearby areas, but are not aware of any surveillance system in the mobile home park, he said.

"There is cause for concern," Doering said. "We just simply don't have a whole lot to go on, and I'm not going to sit there and tell everybody not to be cautious, because people need to be."

Source: CNN

Thousands call for Turing apology

Alan Turing is said to be the
founder of computer science

Thousands of people have signed a Downing Street petition calling for a posthumous government apology to World War II code breaker Alan Turing.

Writer Ian McEwan has just backed the campaign, which already has the support of scientist Richard Dawkins.

In 1952 Turing was prosecuted under the gross indecency act after admitting to a sexual relationship with a man. Two years later he killed himself.

The petition was the idea of computer scientist John Graham-Cumming.

He is seeking an apology for the way the young mathematician was treated after his conviction. He has also written to the Queen to ask for a posthumous knighthood to be awarded to the British mathematician.

Alan Turing was given experimental chemical castration as a "treatment" and his security privileges were removed, meaning he could not continue work for the UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).

"This added insult and humiliation ultimately drove him to suicide," said gay-rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who also backs the campaign. "With Turing's death, Britain and the world lost one of its finest intellectual minds. A government apology and posthumous pardon are long overdue."

National legacy

Alan Turing is most famous for his code-breaking work at Bletchley Park during WWII, helping to create the Bombe that cracked messages enciphered with the German Enigma machines.

However he also made significant contributions to the emerging fields artificial intelligence and computing.

In 1936 he established the conceptual and philosophical basis for the rise of computers in a seminal paper called "On Computable Numbers", whilst in 1950 he devised a test to measure the intelligence of a machine. Today it is known as the Turing Test.

After the war he worked at many institution including the University of Manchester, where he worked on the Manchester Mark 1, one of the first recognisable modern computers.

There is a memorial statue of him in Manchester's Sackville Gardens which was unveiled in 2001.

"I kept reading about potential funding cuts at Bletchley Park and I suddenly felt really mad about it," said Mr Graham-Cumming.

"I felt Turing was getting overlooked as being a British genius and that there was a blindspot in the public eye about an important man."

He has so far collected more than 5,500 signatures.

He admits that an official apology to Alan Turing is "unlikely", as Mr Turing has no known surviving family, but he says that the real aim of the petition is symbolic.

"The most important thing to me is that people hear about Alan Turing and realise his incredible impact on the modern world, and how terrible the impact of prejudice was on him," he said.

Source: BBC

Iran's parliament begins cabinet debates

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (on screen) addresses the parliament in Tehran on August 30, 2009. Iran's parliament began a three-day session on August 30. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appealed to the parliament to approve his new cabinet ahead of the vote of confidence on September 2. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz

TEHRAN, Aug. 30 (Xinhua) -- Iran's parliament on Sunday morning began debates over the new cabinet proposed by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, local English-language Press TV reported.

During the three-day debates, the cabinet nominees must brief the parliament on their proposed plans for the next four years.

Meanwhile, Ahmadinejad delivered a speech in defense of his chosen candidates and explained his agenda in the next four years, said the report.

"In the new government we are prepared to serve people with all our might," Ahmadinejad said, "I'm certain the parliament is going to support us."

"All members of my team have clean and clear records, and are highly-educated and efficient," he added.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks to lawmakers at the Iranian parliament in Tehran August 30, 2009. Iran's parliament began a three-day session starting from August 30. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appealed to the parliament to approve his new cabinet ahead of the vote of confidence on September 2. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz

On foreign polices, Ahmadinejad said that standing up against "global arrogance" would be also on the agenda and the government would work to improve Iran's relations with foreign states, except the Israeli regime.

He also said that his cabinet would try to reduce the export of oil and gas and privatize electricity and water.

Regarding the three female nominees, he said that "their presence would boost the confidence of Iranian women" and vowed to provide grounds for more active participation of women in politics and other social arenas.

According to Press TV, Ahmadinejad on Friday urges lawmakers to pass their judgment based on a general trust in the nominees.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (bottom) addresses the parliament in Tehran on August 30, 2009. Iran's parliament began a three-day session on Sunday to debate and vote on Ahmadinejad's proposed new cabinet following his disputed re-election in June. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)

"It is my humble, brotherly demand from Majlis (parliament) to trust their friend and brother and leave the issue of cabinet's efficiency to the president, (they should only) examine the general competence (of the ministers)," he said in a pre-sermon speech to Friday prayer's worshippers in Tehran University.

Ahmadinejad has submitted a list of his 21 cabinet nominees including three women to the parliament.

To take office, the potential ministers will have to gain the parliament's vote of confidence by winning the approval of the majority of the attending representatives.

In case some candidates are rejected by the parliament, the president must introduce new nominees within 15 days.

Source: Chineview

DJ AM autopsy inconclusive; more tests planned

By JENNIFER PELTZ, Associated Press Writer Jennifer Peltz, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 23 mins ago

NEW YORK – Authorities will need to conduct toxicology tests, expected to take weeks, to determine what killed celebrity disc jockey DJ AM, a medical examiner's office spokeswoman said Saturday.

An autopsy Saturday of the 36-year-old was inconclusive, said the spokeswoman, Ellen Borakove.

A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that police found a crack pipe and prescription pills in the apartment where they discovered DJ AM's body Friday evening. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the investigation was ongoing.

DJ AM, whose real name was Adam Goldstein, had openly discussed past addictions to crack cocaine, Ecstasy and other drugs. In October, MTV was to debut his reality show, "Gone Too Far," in which he and concerned families staged interventions for drug abusers. MTV hasn't said whether Goldstein's show will air.

In an interview with the AP last month, he said the show provided a "terrifying" reminder of his own addiction.

"I have to constantly remind myself why I'm here and remember what it was like," he said.

Goldstein rose to fame several years ago as a deejay known for his mashups — blends of at least two songs. He performed in clubs, on concert stages and at exclusive Hollywood parties. His personal life also garnered attention, as he dated actress-singer Mandy Moore and reality TV star Nicole Richie, the daughter of singer Lionel Richie.

Goldstein was critically hurt in a plane crash last September in Columbia, S.C., that killed four people. He was flying in a Learjet after a performance with Travis Barker, a drummer for the pop-punk band Blink-182 and Goldstein's partner in the duo TRVSDJ-AM.

Barker and Goldstein were burned. Goldstein had to get skin graft surgery but resumed performing about a month later.

He told the AP he felt blessed to have survived but was still shaken by the crash.

"I guess I get why they call it 'post-trauma,' because it was very tough. I have really bad days, and I have really OK days," he said.

His body was found after a friend called police to say he was unable to get into the home in New York City's trendy SoHo neighborhood. Paramedics had to break down the door before they found him, shirtless and wearing sweatpants, in his bed around 5:20 p.m. on Friday, the law enforcement official said.

There was no evidence of foul play.

(YAHOO)

I Lay My Love On You

As Kennedy laid to rest, a papal prayer request is revealed

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Shortly before his death, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy wrote a letter to Pope Benedict XVI asking for the pontiff to pray for him as he struggled with an aggressive form of brain cancer, it was revealed at his graveside service Saturday evening.













The funeral procession of Sen. Edward Kennedy crosses the Potomac headed for Arlington National Cemetery.

Kennedy, the youngest and last-surviving brother of a heralded Kennedy generation, was laid to rest on a hillside at Arlington National Cemetery alongside his slain brothers, the late President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy -- both assassinated more than four decades ago.

Cardinal Theodore McCarrick read a recent letter from Kennedy to the pope at the private burial ceremony in Arlington, Virginia.

"I am writing with deep humility to ask that you pray for me as my own health declines," McCarrick said, quoting from Kennedy's letter.

"I was diagnosed with brain cancer more than a year ago, and although I continue treatment the disease is taking its toll on me. I am 77 years old, and preparing for the next passage of life," the cardinal read. Read excerpts from Kennedy's letter to pontiff

The burial service at dusk followed a eulogy by President Barack Obama in Massachusetts, a brief prayer service outside the U.S. Capitol and a procession through the crowd-lined street of Washington's streets.

Among the congressional colleagues greeting the Kennedy family at the Capitol was 91-year-old Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia, who has been out of the spotlight lately because of deteriorating health.

Many who had gathered at the Capitol were visibly emotional and wiping tears from their eyes. Some held framed photos of Kennedy, and many held American flags that they waved during a singing of "America the Beautiful."

The Rev. Daniel Coughlin -- chaplain of the House of Representatives -- said a prayer and addressed the family.

"Here we are to pray with you, offer sympathy and thank you," he said. "Thank you for sharing the senator."

Coughlin also noted that Kennedy's hopes were "unquenchable, full of immortality."

As Kennedy's widow, Vicki, went back into the car, she waved to the crowd and mouthed, "Thank you" as the crowd erupted into applause.

The late senator's son, U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, addressed those on the steps, saying how his father "knew that he was only great because he had great people supporting him."

"He would be very proud to see you all out here today paying a final respect and tribute to his memory," he said.

Earlier Saturday at the funeral in Boston, Massachusetts, Obama hailed Kennedy as "a champion for those who had none; the soul of the Democratic Party; and the lion of the U.S. Senate."

"He was given the gift of time that his brothers were not, and he used that gift to touch as many lives and right as many wrongs as the years would allow," the president said.

"We can still hear his voice bellowing through the Senate chamber, face reddened, fist pounding the podium, a veritable force of nature, in support of health care or workers' rights or civil rights," Obama said, calling Kennedy "the greatest legislator of our time." Watch President Obama's full eulogy »

Kennedy's son Ted Jr. delivered a tender, personal remembrance of his larger-than-life father. He said his father "never stopped trying to right wrongs."

Kennedy lived up to the ideals of three older brothers, all of whom died young -- Joseph in World War II, President John and Sen. Robert assassinated -- his son said.

A Celebration of Life

CNN covers the life and death of Sen.
Ted Kennedy, including the funeral
and burial Saturday.
CNN and CNN.com; Sat.

see full schedule »

"He answered Uncle Joe's call to patriotism, Uncle Jack's call to public service and Bobby's determination to seek a newer world.

"Unlike them, he lived to be a grandfather, and knowing what my cousins have been through, I feel grateful that I have had my father as long as I did," Ted Jr. said.

"My father was not perfect, but he believed in redemption," he said.

And he said Kennedy had made light of his failure to become president, despite the weight of expectations on him as a Kennedy.

"I don't mind not being president, I just mind that someone else is," he quoted his father as saying, closing his remembrance with a line from Kennedy's famous 1980 concession speech that ended his presidential ambitions: "The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream will never die." Watch as Ted Kennedy Jr. recalls his dad's help when he lost his leg as a boy »

The funeral began with a hearse bearing Kennedy's body through Boston rain from the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library to Mission Church. A military honor guard carried the coffin through a sea of black umbrellas into the church. Watch as military honor guard carries Kennedy's casket »

People lined the streets of Boston cheering for Kennedy as the service began, despite the rain. Local bars and restaurants were packed with people watching the live coverage on television inside.

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Former presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter also came to honor the late legislator, known as the lion of the Senate.

Vicki Kennedy accepted condolences from each of the current and former presidents before Holy Communion.

The program concluded with an undated quote from Kennedy: "For all my years in public life, I have believed that America must sail toward the shores of liberty and justice for all. There is no end to that journey, only the next great voyage. We know the future will outlast all of us, but I believe that all of us will live on in the future we make."

Many of Kennedy's fellow senators past and present came to say a final farewell.

Other mourners included Vice President Joe Biden and former Vice Presidents Al Gore and Dan Quayle, all veterans of the Senate, where Kennedy served for 47 years. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, CIA chief Leon Panetta, and several Cabinet members also turned out to pay their respects. Watch as Mass for Kennedy begins »

Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential candidate, chatted with Sen. Chris Dodd, a Connecticut Democrat, in the pews before the ceremony began.

Honorary pallbearers at the service included Dodd, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts -- his party's 2004 presidential candidate -- and long-time Massachusetts Rep. Ed Markey, also a Democrat.

The actual pallbearers were Kennedy children, nieces and nephews.

World-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma performed two pieces during the service, and was joined by the tenor Placido Domingo for one of them.

At the graveside service were a number of family members, as well as Vice President Joe Biden.

Kennedy's grave is 95 feet south of his brother Robert's, which is just steps away from the burial site of another brother, former President John F. Kennedy.

A single white, wooden cross will be placed at the head of the grave and a marble footmarker put in place. The footmarker reads: "Edward Moore Kennedy 1932-2009." The setup is identical to Robert Kennedy's grave, Arlington cemetery spokeswoman Kaitlin Horst told CNN.

Kennedy, the patriarch of America's leading Democratic family for more than 40 years, died at the age of 77 on Tuesday, 15 months after being diagnosed with brain cancer

Source: CNN

Opposing groups protest outside abortion doctor's clinic

BELLEVUE, Nebraska (CNN) -- A woman walked slowly toward the door of the abortion clinic when a nearby protester screamed, "Don't kill your baby!"













About 100 women's rights supporters were on hand Saturday outside an abortion clinic in Bellevue, Nebraska.

But the shouts on this day were drowned out by women's rights groups who gathered at the Abortion & Contraception Clinic of Nebraska in Bellevue, just south of Omaha.

"Welcome! Welcome! This clinic stays open," abortion supporters chanted in unison, their voices rising every time anti-abortion activists tried to shout at patients arriving at the clinic.

Anti-abortion groups, led by Operation Rescue, and supporters of abortion rights rallied Saturday outside the clinic operated by LeRoy Carhart, one of the nation's few remaining doctors who perform late-term abortions. Carhart was best friends with George Tiller, one of the world's most well-known doctors performing abortions.

Tiller was shot in the head at point-blank range on May 31 as services began at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kansas. Scott Roeder, a 51-year-old anti-abortion activist, is charged in Tiller's killing. He has pleaded not guilty.

The rally in Bellevue came nearly three months to the day after Tiller's killing. A massive police presence, including heavily armed rapid-response teams, monitored the demonstrators. Streets were blocked off, and police kept both sides separated with buffer zones in between.

Abortion rights supporters outnumbered their opponents nearly 2 to 1.

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Operation Rescue drove in two of their so-called Truth Trucks, delivery trucks with giant billboards of dismembered fetuses on the sides. The vehicles parked in a designated area outside the clinic to gasps from the women's rights groups. Police used sniffer dogs to make sure the vehicles did not have any explosives before allowing them to park.

Megan Belleavia called the trucks abortion "pornography" that shouldn't be allowed. "You can't stand out in the street corner and show pictures of a bare-breasted woman without getting in trouble, so why should they be able to show that?" she said.

About 50 anti-abortion demonstrators prayed near the trucks, asking God to forgive what was happening inside the clinic. One woman held a sign that said, " I like to listen to my Mommy's voice." About 10 people stood with red tape over their mouths, with the word "Life" written across it.

Mike Whitaker said the tape symbolized "the silent cry that the babies have when they're actually being killed in there."

As he spoke, about a dozen abortion-rights supporters stood on the clinic property, their backs to those who oppose abortions. "A woman has a right to choose," they sang.

"A lot of towns will have things that stick out, positive things. This is something that's really a negative, a huge negative, for the city to have an abortion clinic here," said Whitaker, a 30-year resident of Bellevue.

Whitaker said he comes nearly every Saturday to pray for Carhart and those inside.

Larry Donlan of Rescue the Heartland said, "What we're doing today is what we do every day that this killing center is open. We're here to give assistance to mothers and pray for the dead and the wounded," Donlan said.

In all, about 100 women's rights supporters were on hand, spread out over the clinic property and near its entrance. Dozens gathered along a main street holding signs that read "Dr. Carhart is a hero" and "Keep abortion legal." When passing cars honked at them, they responded with loud hurrahs.

Michelle Fadeley drove from the Chicago area to support Carhart. "Someone who is willing to put his own life on the line to save thousands of other women's lives is truly a hero," said Fadeley, who works for a local Illinois chapter of the National Organization for Women.

Anthony Hardwick of Omaha clutched a sign that read "Women are not an incubator."

"What it means to me is that women are not solely for the purpose of procreation. They're not little vessels for men to plant their seeds in," he said.

Supporters of women's rights groups spread the word ahead of Saturday's demonstration that Operation Rescue was coming to protest outside Carhart's clinic. In the wake of the killing of Tiller, they said they wanted to show up in large numbers; supporters from at least 16 states were present Saturday.

Troy Newman, the president of Operation Rescue, was unfazed by it all. He has pledged to try to shut down Carhart's clinic.

Operation Rescue and other anti-abortion groups have asked Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning to investigate the clinic, alleging it has "an unacceptable safety risk to women."

Bruning has referred the matter to the state Department of Health and Human Services. A spokeswoman for the health department would only say they're looking into the matter and that Carhart's clinic has been in compliance with the law in previous inspections over the last decade.

"This is the beginning, not the end," Newman said outside the clinic. "All these NOW women will go home tomorrow, but we're going to be embedded here in the community."

Inside, Carhart continued to perform abortions


Source: CNN

Excerpts from Kennedy's letter to Pope Benedict XVI

(CNN) -- Shortly before he died from brain cancer, Sen. Ted Kennedy wrote a letter to Pope Benedict XVI. President Obama delivered the letter to the pontiff during his visit to the Vatican in July.

The following are excerpts from the letter as read by Cardinal Theodore McCarrick at Kennedy's private burial service Saturday in Arlington National Cemetery:

"Most Holy Father, I asked President Obama to personally hand-deliver this letter to you. As a man of deep faith himself, he understands how important my Catholic faith is to me, and I am so deeply grateful to him. I hope this letter finds you in good health.

"I pray that you have all of God's blessings as you lead our Church and inspire our world during these challenging times. I am writing with deep humility to ask that you pray for me as my own health declines. I was diagnosed with brain cancer more than a year ago, and although I continue treatment the disease is taking its toll on me. I am 77 years old, and preparing for the next passage of life. Watch mourners pay final respect to Kennedy »

"I have been blessed to be part of a wonderful family. Both of my parents, particularly my mother, kept our Catholic faith at the center of our lives. That gift of faith has sustained and nurtured, and provided solace to me in the darkest hours.

"I know that I have been an imperfect human being, but with the help of my faith I have tried to right my path. I want you to know Your Holiness that in my nearly 50 years of elective office, I have done my best to champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity. I have worked to welcome the immigrant, to fight discrimination, and expand access to health care and education. I have opposed the death penalty, and fought to end war. Those are the issues that have motivated me and been the focus of my work as a United States Senator.

class="cnnStoryElementBox">

Don't Miss

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• Ted Kennedy called a man of quiet faith
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• Edward Kennedy: 1932-2009

"I also want you to know that even though I am ill, I am committed to do everything I can to achieve access to health care for everyone in my country. This has been the political cause of my life. I believe in a conscience protection for Catholics in the health field, and I'll continue to advocate for it as my colleagues in the Senate and I work to develop an overall national health policy that guarantees health care for everyone.

"I have always tried to be a faithful Catholic Your Holiness. And though I have fallen short through human failings, I have never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings of my faith. I continue to pray for God's blessings on you and on our Church, and would be most thankful for your prayers for me." Watch how faith played role in Kennedy's life »

Two weeks later, Kennedy received a response from the Vatican. McCarrick read the response in part, as follows:

"The Holy Father has read the letter which you entrusted to President Obama, who kindly presented it to him during their recent meeting. He was saddened to know of your illness, and asked me to assure you of his concern and his spiritual closeness. He is particularly grateful for your promise of prayers for him, for the needs of our universal church.

"His Holiness prays that in the days ahead, you may be sustained in faith and hope, and granted the precious grace of joyful surrender to the will of God, our merciful father. He invokes upon you the consolation and peace promised by the risen savior to all who share in his sufferings, and trust in his promise of eternal life.

"Commending you and the members of your family to the loving intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Father cordially imparts his apostolic blessing as a pledge of wisdom, comfort, and strength in the Lord."


Source: CNN

Pakistan blast 'kills 14 cadets'

The attack targeted recruits at a
police station in the town of Mingora

A suspected suicide bomb attack in Pakistan's north-western Swat valley has killed at least 14 police recruits and injured others, officials say.

Disguised as a recruit, the suspected bomber walked into a police base where the cadets were being trained.

No-one has claimed the attack - the deadliest since the recent Pakistani army offensive there which officials said had driven out Taliban militants.

The Taliban have threatened to avenge the killing of their leader this month.

Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a US drone attack.

See a map of the region

Some two million people were displaced from the Swat valley when the three-month-long conflict was at its height. Isolated skirmishes continue. Residents began returning home last month.

Big blast

The explosion targeted recruits for a community police force as they trained in Mingora, the valley's main town, provincial information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain said.

Reports from the area say there was a big blast followed by bursts of gunfire. A local hospital official said 14 bodies in police uniforms had been brought in.

Television footage from the scene showed bodies being recovered from outside the police base, which has been the target of previous attacks.

Security forces in Mingora were put on high alert and nearby shops and markets closed for business, officials said.

Responsibility for the latest bombing has not yet been claimed but BBC's Orla Guerin in Islamabad says suspicion is likely to fall on the Taliban, after new leader Hakimullah Mehsud vowed revenge for the death of his predecessor.

The attack came a day after the army said it had destroyed a major training camp for suicide bombers in the area.

After the blast, a local official said occasional incidents were to be expected but it was believed that the Taliban's back had been broken during the army's offensive.

Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani condemned the killings and ordered an inquiry into the attack, adding that the government was determined to carry on the fight against militancy.

"We will not allow the enemies of the country to succeed in their evil designs," he said in a statement.

On Thursday, 22 border guards were killed in a suicide bomb attack at a checkpoint in the Khyber Pass, on Pakistan's border with Afghanistan.


Source: Bbc

Taiwan risks row over Dalai Lama

Taiwan has approved a visit by the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, in a move that could anger China.
President Ma Ying-jeou has agreed to a request from the opposition to invite the Dalai Lama next week, to comfort victims of deadly Typhoon Morakot.
China usually voices anger at nations that welcome the Dalai Lama, whom it views as a dangerous separatist.
This trip is particularly controversial given that Beijing considers Taiwan to be part of its territory.
But correspondents say China's criticism may be more muted than might otherwise have been expected because officials in Beijing are wary of playing into the hands of Taiwan's pro-independence opposition.
Praying for the dead
Under Taiwan's previous administration, the Dalai Lama visited the island several times - most recently in 2001.
But President Ma, who came to power in 2008, is much closer to China than his predecessor Chen Shui-bian
Last year he refused to grant permission for a visit by the Dalai Lama, saying the timing was not right as his government was working to improve relations with Beijing.
But the typhoon and its aftermath have left Mr Ma in a difficult position.
An estimated 500 people were killed by severe flooding and mudslides caused by the typhoon - the worst Taiwan has suffered for 50 years - and Mr Ma's administration has been criticised for its slow and inefficient response.
His popularity has plunged to a record low of 20% over his handling of the disaster.
According to the BBC's Cindy Sui in Taipei, the president needed to give the green light to the Dalai Lama's visit because he could not afford to hurt his and his party's image any further.
So after a five-hour meeting with security officials, he chose to allow the trip.
"We've... decided to let the Dalai Lama visit as he is coming here to pray for the dead victims, as well as the survivors," Mr Ma told reporters.
The Tibetan spiritual leader is due to arrive on 31 August and to stay for four days, with the focus of his trip being entirely to comfort those affected by the typhoon.
The Dalai Lama has long been eager to visit Taiwan, and is looking forward to the trip, his aide told Reuters news agency.
Taiwan is home to a large exiled Tibetan community, and millions of Taiwanese are Buddhists.
Chinese reaction
Such a visit would normally trigger loud protests from Beijing, which considers Taiwan, along with Tibet, as an inseparable part of China.
But it is unclear whether Beijing will react so strongly this time.
The Chinese government considers Mr Ma's administration far easier to deal with than the island's previous pro-independence leadership.
Correspondents say that if Chinese officials were to harshly criticise the visit, they might play into the hands of Taiwan's opposition by reducing Mr Ma's popularity even further.
A spokesman for Taiwan's Presidential Office refused to say whether Beijing had yet been informed of the decision, but he said "cross-strait relations will not be negatively affected by allowing the Dalai Lama to visit."

Source: BBC

Comedy awards line-up announced

The nominees for this year's Edinburgh Fringe comedy award have been unveiled.
The prize, formerly known as the Perriers and the If.commedies, is without a sponsor for the first time in its 29-year history.
More than 350 shows were eligible for the award, with the short-list including Tom Wrigglesworth, Tim Key, Russell Kane and Idiots of Ants.
The other nominees for the awards - this year called The Eddies - are John Bishop and Jon Richardson.
The winner of the prize, which will be announced on Saturday, is awarded to the best performer doing a run at the Edinburgh Fringe.
"Star" names, who have already had TV series or can perform in a 500-seat venue under their own name, are not eligible.
The award was first made in 1981 to a Cambridge Footlights cast which included Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Tony Slattery and Emma Thompson - all future comedy stars.
Its golden age came in the early 90s when it was won by Frank Skinner, Steve Coogan and Lee Evans.
The comedy awards also gives a prize to the best newcomer.
This year's nominees for that prize are:
Carl Donnelly - Relax Everyone, it's Carl Donnelly
Jack Whitehall - Nearly Rebellious
Jonny Sweet - Mostly About Arthur
Kevin Bridges - An Hour To Sing For Your Soul
Pete Johansson - Naked Pictures of My Life


Source: BBC

Frenchman 'flees Somali captors'

A French security adviser seized by Islamist militants in Somalia has escaped his captors, officials say.
The Frenchman, who was kidnapped from a hotel in Mogadishu along with a colleague last month, reportedly killed three militants as he fled.
French foreign ministry officials confirmed that he had escaped but denied there had been any violence.
They also said the second hostage was still being held. An earlier report that said he was free was retracted .

The pair were part of a team who are in the country to train forces for the UN-backed interim government - who are battling Islamist rebels for control of the country

Ransom denial
A spokesman for the interim government, Abdulkadir Hussein Wehliye, said the escaped Frenchman was in the presidential palace and "in a good mood".
A government military official, Farhan Asanyo, said the man had approached government soldiers early on Wednesday, identified himself and said he had escaped.
"The man told them that he was one of the French officials held by militants," Mr Asanyo said.

"He said he escaped after killing three of his captors, and we sent him to the presidential palace."
However, witnesses suggested that the rebels had allowed the Frenchman to go free, prompting speculation that a ransom might have been paid.
France's foreign ministry denied reports of any money changing hands or of violence taking place.
"The hostage held by Hizbul-Islam was able to escape his kidnappers," spokesman Eric Chevallier told reporters.
"Despite certain allegations and rumours, this happened without violence and France did not pay a ransom."
Hours after the first hostage was released, French news agency AFP reported that Somali Information Minister Dahir Mohamud Gele had said the second hostage was also free.
But AFP later retracted the report, after Mr Gele confirmed only one hostage was free.
Mr Chevallier reiterated that the second hostage was still being held.
Foreign reinforcements
The BBC's Mohammed Olad Hassan, in Mogadishu, says the two French captives were being held by different factions.
While fighters from the Hizbul-Islam group were holding the man whose release has been confirmed, their allies from al-Shabab were thought to be holding the other man.
The two groups control much of southern Somalia, but analysts say al-Shabab is known for being the more radical of the two groups.
Al-Shabab fighters care little for their public image and they have carried out killings on camera.
Both groups are said to have links to al-Qaeda and have been reinforced by foreign fighters.
Somalia has not had a functioning central government since 1991.
Moderate Islamist Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed was sworn in as president in January after UN-brokered peace talks.
He promised to introduce Sharia law but the hardliners accuse him of being a Western stooge.

Karzai edges ahead in Afghan poll

Initial counting from Afghanistan's presidential election shows incumbent Hamid Karzai with a slight lead.
With 10% of the ballots counted, the election commission said Mr Karzai had 212,927 votes, compared to 202,889 for ex-Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah.
However, there remain many allegations of fraud, and the commission is investigating almost 800 complaints.
Final results are not expected for several weeks. A candidate needs more than 50% of votes to avoid a run-off.
'Too early to call'
The Independent Election Commission said that so far 524,444 valid votes had been counted, with Mr Karzai on 40.6% and Mr Abdullah on 38.7%.
ANALYSIS

Martin PatienceBBC News, Kabul
The results have been compiled from polling stations across the country, but are not necessarily indicative of the national picture.
They do seem to be suggesting a closer race than expected, but people will be asking where these votes came from. Many seem to be from the north, where Mr Abdullah would expect to pick up ballots.
A spokesman for the election commission was at pains to stress that this was only a partial result - 10% of the total vote. These figures also suggest that voter turnout was about 35% - less than half that of the first presidential race in 2004.
There have been widespread allegations of fraud and Western officials say that for this vote to be credible these must be thoroughly investigated.
Ramazan Bashardost has 53,740 votes so far and Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai is fourth on 15,143.
Only 2% of votes in Kandahar province have been counted and none in Helmand. Mr Karzai is expected to do well in both southern provinces.
The commission says it will release more results over the next few days.
Before the announcement of the first results, Mr Abdullah called on Afghans to react calmly.
"I'm urging Afghans... to be patient and to show responsibility. I think that the people don't want to resort to violence," he said.
Washington's special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, Richard Holbrooke, said on Tuesday the initial results were not conclusive.
"You don't call it with 10%... it's too early to call," he said.
The BBC's Ian Pannell in Kabul says any preliminary claims about the result must be viewed with caution in the light of the allegations of fraud, corruption and ballot-stuffing and concerns about low voter turnout, especially in the south.

Other leading candidates:
Ramazan Bashardost 53,740 (10.2%)
Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai 15,143 (2.9%)
Winning candidate needs more than 50% of votes to avoid a run-off
The election commission is also being urged to wait until the official adjudicators, the Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC), completes its investigation.
There are almost 800 complaints of fraud and irregularities and, out of these, 54 are considered to be very serious.
Mr Abdullah has said that he has evidence that voting was widely rigged in favour of Mr Karzai. Mr Abdullah said he had submitted the allegations to the ECC.
Another leading presidential candidate, Mirwais Yasini, told the BBC that workers from his campaign discovered about 800 ballots with ticks next to his name thst he believes had been discarded from the ballot box.
The evidence has been handed to the ECC.
Afghan and Western officials have declared last Thursday's poll a success, despite concerns about the turnout, especially in the insurgency-wracked south.
The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force said there were more than 400 insurgent attacks on election day, which would make it one of the most violent days in Afghanistan since 2001.
Mr Holbrooke said on Sunday that allegations of fraud were to be expected.

Source: Bbc

Crumblers: Find another way to relax

BEIJING, Aug. 22 -- The pace of life and the competitive nature of modern society brings its pressures. People find different ways to release the strain. Some have developed a strange and perhaps annoying habit.

Some people enjoy crumbling food in the supermarket, and use it as an effective way of unloading the pressure of work and life.
Supermarkets are supposed to be a place for shopping but some are here for a different reason.
A supermarket salesperson said, "Some people crumble the food, such as biscuits, into pieces. We find so much crumbled food that we can fill a big case everyday."
Experts say most of these people are white collar workers in big and medium sized cities, a group that most frequently faces the competitive pressures of modern times.
But their method of relieving stress has triggered criticism from supermarkets and other customers.
A customer said, "One should adjust to relieve pressure, not to do things like this. This behavior harms themselves and others."
The concern about crumblers is justified. Psychologists say the behavior could develop into criminal activities that would hurt others. They suggest the crumblers make a change before it is too late.
Mr. Ma, director of Beijing Yanyuanbosi Pschology Center, said, "They can find some better ways to release pressure, such as jogging, music, or going to bars."
So crumblers be warned. It's time to find another way to relax and abandon the harmful behavior.


Source: Chinaview

Nine Inch Nails digs "Downward" at farewell NY gig

By Jonathan Cohen
NEW YORK (Billboard) - Nine Inch Nails fans in New York got more than they bargained for Sunday, when the rock band played its 1994 classic "The Downward Spiral" in its entirety for the first time ever.
The Trent Reznor-led act, on a "Wave Goodbye" tour of small venues, had the 1,000-strong crowd at Webster Hall drenched in sweat within minutes of launching into the punishing rock of "Mr. Self Destruct."
It was soon clear that the band was plowing through "Downward" in sequence." Reznor later told the audience, "I've always wanted to play that whole record, and this seemed like the time to do it."
The "Downward" sequence of course featured Nine Inch Nails' iconic single "Closer," which wasn't played the night before during the band's stop at the 550-capacity Bowery Ballroom, and finished with the hushed "Hurt," which became known to an entirely different audience thanks to Johnny Cash's memorable 2002 cover version.
Once "Downward" was completed, NIN played 10 more songs without an encore, including "Suck," "The Hand That Feeds" and its breakthrough 1989 hit, "Head Like a Hole."
The NIN farewell tour continues Tuesday and Wednesday at New York's Terminal 5, and wraps September 6 at Los Angeles' Echoplex. The band had originally planned to bow out of live performances after a summer tour with Jane's Addiction, but Reznor said that since "we had to rush through sets due to a limited allotted set length and many shows were in daylight, it just didn't feel right to end NIN that way."
Reznor has not given specific details about what he plans to do following the tour's conclusion.

(Reuters)

Liverpool 1 - 3 Aston Villa

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard shows his frustration at Anfield

Aston Villa produced an outstanding defensive display to secure their first win against Liverpool in eight years as Rafael Benitez's side continued their stuttering start to the new Premier League campaign.

Villa had been heavily criticised after losing their opening home game to Wigan Athletic and slumping to defeat in the Europa League against Rapid Vienna - but they answered all the questions in emphatic fashion at Anfield.

Liverpool faded after a bright start, and have now lost as many league games as they did last season following losses against Spurs and now Villa.

Anfield was left frustrated as Liverpool wasted the opportunities that came their way, but ultimately they were reduced to running up blind alleys, and out of ideas, in the face of Villa's resilience.

Villa were set on their way after 34 minutes when Lucas deflected Ashley Young's free-kick into his own net, and they grabbed a second on the stroke of half-time when Curtis Davies headed in Nicky Shorey's corner at the near post.

Liverpool surged forward after the break, but met a white wall of resistance as Villa defended their precious lead, with Carlos Cuellar outstanding and goalkeeper Brad Friedel a commanding presence.

Fernando Torres gave Liverpool hope with a close-range strike after 72 minutes, but any hopes of a dramatic revival ended three minutes later when Steven Gerrard brought down Nigel Reo-Coker and Young scored from the spot.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill was elated - and rightly so as his side got their season up and running with a landmark victory.

For Liverpool, they will now they simply have to produce better - and more creative - performances as they chase their first title in 20 years.

Liverpool were almost ahead inside the first 30 seconds when Yossi Benayoun beat Friedel to Torres' lofted pass but his header fell inches wide.

Villa survived an even bigger scare after eight minutes when Torres' miscue fell invitingly into the path of Gerrard six yards out, but Friedel struck out a leg and diverted his effort over the bar when a goal seemed certain.

O'Neill's side then produced some stern resistance, with Torres growing increasingly frustrated at what he saw as the over-physical treatment being meted out by the Villa rearguard.

Villa slowly worked their way into the game - but it was still against the run of play when they went ahead in fortuitous fashion after 34 minutes as Lucas unwittingly headed Young's routine free-kick past a stranded Pepe Reina.

And they delivered another counter-punch seconds before half-time, in what Liverpool clearly felt were contentious circumstances.

Keeper Reina was so infuriated by referee Martin Atkinson's decision to award a corner when Steve Sidwell's shot was adjudged to have deflected off Martin Skrtel that he lashed the ball away in disgust and was given a yellow card.

Liverpool felt insult was added to injury when Davies stole in ahead of Torres and Jamie Carragher at the near post to head Villa's second.

The Kop urged Liverpool forward as they predictably lay siege to Villa's goal after the break - and Friedel was the hero with a magnificent diving save to turn away Gerrard's rising drive.

And as the pressure mounted, with Dirk Kuyt heading against the post after Carragher flicked on Gerrard's cross, Torres threw Liverpool a lifeline with 18 minutes remaining as he steered in a simple finish following good work from Emiliano Insua.

Hope was revived inside Anfield, but snuffed out inside three minutes when Gerrard's badly-mistimed tackle on Reo-Coker resulted in an inevitable penalty, which Young dispatched calmly.

It was the decisive blow and Villa held out in relative comfort, with Liverpool resigned to a damaging defeat long before the final whistle.

Source: BBC

Report: Swine flu could cause up to 90,000 U.S. deaths

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The H1N1 flu virus could cause up to 90,000 U.S. deaths, mainly among children and young adults, if it resurges this fall as expected, according to a report released Monday by a presidential advisory panel.

The report urges speedier production of the H1N1 vaccine and the availability of some doses by September.

The H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu virus, could infect between 30 percent and 50 percent of the American population during the fall and winter and lead to as many as 1.8 million U.S. hospital admissions, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology reported.

The report says 30,000 to 90,000 deaths are projected as part of a "plausible scenario" involving large outbreaks at schools, inadequate antiviral supplies and the virus peaking before vaccinations have time to be effective.

Up to 40,000 U.S. deaths are linked to seasonal flu each year, with most of the fatalities occurring among people over 65. With seasonal flu and H1N1, this fall is expected to bring more influenza deaths and place "enormous stress" on intensive care units nationwide, which normally operate near capacity, the report says.

An H1N1 resurgence may happen as early as September, at the beginning of the school year, and infections may peak in mid-October, according to the report. However, the H1N1 vaccine isn't expected to be available until mid-October, and even then it will take several weeks for vaccinated individuals to develop immunity, the report says.

The potential "mismatch in timing" could significantly diminish the usefulness of the H1N1 vaccine, the report says.

"Even with the best efforts, this will cause some illness, some severe illness and unfortunately, some deaths," Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Monday.

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"But a lot so far has gone remarkably right," Frieden said. "There's a vaccine well on its way to being distributed, diagnostic tests available in well over 100 laboratories, treatments pre-positioned around the country ... and guidance issued for health care providers, schools, businesses and other communities."

Among the report's recommendations are for government agencies to:

• Prepare several "planning scenarios" to determine demand for supplies and care.

• Set up surveillance systems to track information about influenza-like illnesses.

• Develop plans to protect the public's most vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

• Speed up the production of the H1N1 vaccine and have an initial batch -- enough to vaccinate up to 40 million people, especially those who are at risk of serious disease -- by mid-September.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the government's preparation and guidance for the public was based on the need to strike a balance "on a continuum of being paralyzed with fear versus complacency."

So far, clinical trials for the H1N1 vaccine have not indicated adverse side effects beyond what are experienced with the seasonal flu vaccine, Sebelius said.

However, there would be no formal decision to launch a vaccination campaign until those trials were complete, she said. That decision would be hers, she said, and she emphasized that any vaccination program would be strictly voluntary.

Pregnant women, health care workers and parents or guardians of infants under 6 months of age are among the most vulnerable segments of the population, Sebelius has said.

Adults under the age of 65 with an underlying health condition -- such as asthma -- are also considered to be more at risk from the H1N1 virus.

H1N1 preparation guidelines for the nation's businesses and school systems were released three weeks ago. The plans are available at the Web site www.flu.gov.

The H1N1 vaccine would require two shots, the second three weeks after the first. Immunity to the virus would not kick in until two weeks after the second shot.

The World Health Organization declared the H1N1 virus a global pandemic on June 11. More than 1,490 people around the world have died from the virus since it emerged this spring, a WHO official said last week.

Source: CNN

Shots exchanged over Gaza border

A Palestinian man has been killed and an Israeli soldier injured in exchanges of fire over the Israel-Gaza border.

The dead man was one of two farmers fired at across the border, said Gaza medical officials. But Israel said the men had been acting suspiciously.

Later, at least two mortar shells were fired into Israel, landing on a beach and injuring an Israeli soldier.

The area has been largely quiet since the end of Israel's offensive into Gaza at the start of the year.

An Israeli military spokeswoman said soldiers fired on the Palestinian men after they had ignored "the usual warnings" to move away from the border, killing one and injuring at least one more.

She said an injured man had been given medical treatment by the Israeli army.

Shortly afterwards, at least two rockets were fired from northern Gaza, landing on a beach in Israel which was then evacuated.

Attacks by Gaza-based Palestinian militants have dropped in recent months, with two rockets and a mortar falling in Israel in July, and two rockets in June.

The Israeli military says about 700 rockets and mortars have been fired into Israel since the start of the year - which includes most of Israel's 22-day military offensive in December and January.

Israel says the operation and its intensive blockade of Gaza are aimed at ending rocket fire and weakening the Hamas movement, which controls the enclave.

Source: BBC

US launches probe into CIA abuses

A special US prosecutor has been appointed to investigate allegations of abuse of terror suspects.

The announcement of John Durham's selection came as a report was published detailing the allegations of abuse by CIA agents.

Agents threatened to kill a key terror suspect's children and sexually assault another's mother, it is claimed.

The report was made in 2004 but only a heavily censored version appeared and a judge ordered fuller disclosure.

The justice department is reported to be reopening about a dozen prisoner abuse cases.

Also on Monday, President Barack Obama approved a new elite team to question terror suspects.

Republican anger

Mr Durham, who is already investigating the destruction of videotapes of CIA interrogations, was picked by US Attorney General Eric Holder.

Mr Holder said: "I fully realise that my decision to commence this preliminary review will be controversial

"In this case, given all of the information currently available, it is clear to me that this review is the only responsible course of action for me to take."

Special prosecutors in the US are independent figures appointed to investigate the possible wrongdoing of government officials or agencies.

Senior Republicans have already expressed anger at the decision.

Nine signatories of a letter to Mr Holder said they were "deeply disappointed" at a decision that "could have a chilling effect on the work of the intelligence community

'Aggressive'

The declassified document released by the justice department said that one agent told key terror suspect Khalid Sheikh Mohammed that "we're going to kill your children" if there were further attacks on the US.

Another agent allegedly told Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, a suspect in the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000, that his mother would be sexually assaulted in front of him. The agent has denied the allegation.

In other incidents involving Mr Nashiri, he was allegedly threatened with an unloaded gun and had a power drill held near him which was repeatedly turned on and off.

Another incident involved an agent pinching an artery in a detainee's neck. As the man was passing out, the agent shook him awake, then repeated the action twice.

Ahead of the document's release, CIA Director Leon Panetta wrote on the agency's website that the report was "in many ways an old story" and that he would make "no judgments on the accuracy of the report or the various views expressed about it".

He said it was clear that the CIA had "obtained intelligence from high-value detainees when inside information on al-Qaeda was in short supply".

Mr Panetta said the CIA had been "aggressive" in seeking regular legal advice from the department of justice on its techniques.

He said his primary concern was "to stand up for those officers who did what their country asked and who followed the legal guidance they were given. That is the president's position, too."

But Mr Panetta also said: "This agency made no excuses for behaviour, however rare, that went beyond the formal guidelines on counter-terrorism."

Earlier on Monday, deputy White House press secretary Bill Burton confirmed there would be a new interrogation team for key terror suspects.

Correspondents say Mr Obama was concerned at the number of different agencies involved and he wanted to bring them together.

The new team will be called the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group.

Source: BBC