Casualties in Pakistan caused by car bombing
A car bomb killed 80 and wounded 200 in Pakistanís city of Peshawar on Wednesday. Militants suspected that this and other attacks from this month are aimed at deterring the public backing for an army offensive against al-Qaeda and Taliban close to the Afghan border.† Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was three hoursí drive away in Islamabad when the blast took place.† On the plane, she told reporters that she was pleased with the new anti-Taliban offensive in South Waziristan, noting the promise of better relations between Pakistan and the United States.
British couple missing; pirates questioned
A British couple, Paul and Rachel Chandler, ages 58 and 55, was allegedly kidnapped by Somali pirates while sailing from the island nation of Seychelles. The couple vanished after their distress signal from their boat, the Lynn Rival, was picked up Friday by officials.† A Somali pirate spokesman, identifying himself as Farah Abdi, originally told the New York Times the captives were safe and that ransom demands would be held when their ship safely arrived at their shores. Abdi gave a second call a few hours later, stating his ship was under attack from forces he was unable to identify.† Private vessels have been hijacked by Somali pirates on three other reported occasions, including one from last April.