• Abbas dissolves Palestinian government
What's next?

GAZA CITY - A beleaguered Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas declared a state of emergency and disbanded the Hamas-led unity government after the Islamic militant group vanquished its Fatah rivals and effectively took control of the Gaza Strip on Thursday.

how can this be happening?

why are these people smiling?

• Key senators to revive immigration bill
Compromise sought

WASHINGTON - Senate leaders agreed Thursday night to revive stalled immigration legislation, capping a furious weeklong rescue attempt that drew President Bush's personal involvement. "The leaders have agreed on a way forward," said Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV.

the problem is in making it comprehensive. better to deal with the 2 aspects separately: first plug the leak, then clean up the spill.

• Curfew in Baghdad empties streets
Sunni mosques attacked

A citywide clampdown emptied Baghdad's streets of all vehicles Thursday in attempts to hold off what authorities dread: a storm of Shiite attacks in revenge for the bombing of one of their main shrines. The tactic appeared to keep a lid on widespread violence, but extremists fired shells into the city's protected Green Zone during a visit by the State Department's No. 2 official.

• Marine accused of murder defends actions at Haditha

CAMP PENDLETON, CA - A Marine facing murder charges in a squad action that killed 24 Iraqi civilians told a military court Thursday that one of the men he shot was pointing a weapon at him and that no Iraqis were executed.

1 AK-47, 24 dead civilians. sounds reasonable. kill'em all & let god sort'em out....

• Sen. Reid causes stir with criticism of US generals

WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid caused a stir Thursday when he said Gen. Peter Pace failed in his job of providing Congress a candid assessment on the Iraq war and that he was concerned Gen. David Petraeus might be guilty of the same.

showing some backbone gets predictable attacks. stand firm, harry!