Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 2

The Arizona Republic A2 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2001 12 NEWS America on Alert As major events unfold, stay, with 12 News and NBC for the latest breaking developments throughout the day. AIRPORT Stalled work ON ARIZONA'S HOME PAGE Select the right college football teams in U-Pick U-Win and you could win tickets to this year's Fiesta Bowl. Register for free at coIleges.azcentral.com. azfcerrbcicom I Arizona suspect 'lead instmctoiv' prosecutors say Held in London on U.S. warrant other airport operations.

The airport won't proceed immediately with a recently approved $118.4 million purchase of more than 1,000 homes west of the airport as expected, officials said. Also, the airport postponed Friday all pending and future sale agreements with property owners tn 400 acres just north of Sky Harbor, being cleared for future air-cargo operations, parking and aircraft maintenance. Roughly 61 percent of the 125 homes and 256 businesses between 24th and 44th streets north of the airport have been bought, Land Development Administrator Cindy Lizarraga said. "There is no urgency to expand now," Lizarraga said. "We're optimistic the airline industry will rebound, but we don't know how long it will take." Reach the reporter at elvia.diazarizonarepublic.com or (602) 444-8948.

rn A i 1 From rage Al pansion to cope with growing demands on the airport, which has become one of the busiest in the world. Phoenix, which manages the airport, had projected before Sept. 11 that the number of passengers passing through Sky Harbor each year would soar to 45 million in five years. But the current financial uncertainty faced by airlines, which contribute much of Sky Harbor's revenues, prompted officials to review whether the airport can afford a far-reaching expansion anytime soon. "We will take a hard look at the economy before moving forward," Phoenix Council-woman Peggy Bilsten said.

"We need to be fiscally conservative." It will take a few weeks to determine the airport's budget shortfall, though officials are already noticing a 50 percent drop in parking revenues and money from NEWS Associated Press Here's the guest lineup for Sunday's TV news shows, with VCR Plus codes in parentheses! ABC's This Week With Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts, 8:30 a.m., Channel 15 (KNXV), (81059) Gen. Henry Shelton, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Saudi Ambassador Prince Bandar bin Sultan; former Afghan King Mohammad Za-hir Shah; Rep. Dana Rohra-bacher, R-Calif. NBC's Meet the Press, 7 a.m., Channel 12 (KPNX), (37130) Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld; Sen. Joseph Biden, Rep.

Henry Hyde, R-Ill. i CNN's Late Edition With Wolf Blitzer, 9 a.m. (437092) White House chief of staff Police escort ex-Valley resident Lotfi Raissi outside a London court Friday. A prosecutor alleged that Raissi was the chief instructor of four terrorist pilots involved in the Sept. 11 attacks.

Friday by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Sambir. said Raissi was wanted in the United States on suspicion of giving false information in an application for a pilot's license. The prosecutors acknowledged that this was a "holding charge" while investigators gather evidence for more serious charges, including conspiracy to commit murder.

Raissi was arrested Sept. 23 at a flat near London Heathrow Airport. During a court session there Thursday, Sambir told the judge, "He was a lead instructor of four of the pilots that were responsible for the The one that we are concerned about is the one that went into the Pentagon." Raissi put in hours of practice sessions in 1999 at a Sawyer Aviation flight simulator in Phoenix along with Hani Han-jour, a part-time Valley resident -who was among five terrorists in the Pentagon crash. "I remember Raissi's name very well, and I remember Hani Hanjour's name, signing in on the simulator," said Sylvia Stinson, former chief flight instructor for Sawyer. "These guys came in at all hours to use our simulator.

We had given them about an hour of instruction 30 they could do it themselves." In Phoenix, federal prosecutors filed a criminal complaint Friday in U.S. District Court for Arizona, alleging that Raissi fraudulently obtained an FAA medical certificate when he failed to disclose a ony conviction in England, and failed to reveal a previous knee Staff and wire reports LONDON An Arizona njan who was arrested in Britain was the lead flight instructor for four of the hijackers involved in the suicide attacks in the United States, including the man believed to have flown the plane into the Pentagon, prosecutors alleged Friday. At an extradition hearing, a British prosecutor portrayed Lofti Raissi, 27, as a kind of overseer or enforcer who made arrangements for the hijackers. But authorities gave no specifics. In a worldwide investigation in which hundreds of people have been detained, Raissi is the first person to be "accused publicly of helping the hijackers prepare the Sept.

11 attacks. "We say that he was there (in Arizona) to ensure that (terrorist) pilots were capable and trained for this purpose," prosecutor Arvinda Sambir said. Sambir said Raissi was the "lead instructor" for four of the 19 hijackers and was closely involved with those on the airliner that crashed into the Pentagon. Raissi, who was detained last week under a British antiterrorism law, was formally arrested on an international warrant issued in the United States. Officials have 60 days to make a case for extradition.

The 27-year-old Raissi, who lived in the Valley, has denied any role in the suicide missions launched earlier this month. But he now faces extradition from Great Britain, and criminal charges in Arizona filed surgery on his medical certificate. Raissi qualified for a U.S. pilot's license in 1997. According to a District Court affidavit filed by FBI Agent Michael Grabber, Raissi renewed his FAA medical certification in Phoenix just three months ago, on June 19.

Grabber alleges that Raissi did not disclose a knee operation done two years ago by Dr. Philip Bowman, who could not be reached for comment. The affidavit says Raissi also" concealed his conviction for theft eight years ago in Great Britain, where he used the alias Vincent FaBrice; his identity was established by a fingerprint match. Raissi and his wife, Sonia, were living in a flat near Heathrow Airport when they were arrested. He told journalists! he had been in England for the past 18 months.

ALMANAC U.S. 'In hot pursuit' of bin Laden's group Associated Press But, in addition to a Phoenix address at the Wickertree Apartments on North 23rd Avenue, court records show he was here as recently as June 18, when he got a speeding ticket in Yavapai County for traveling faster than 85 mph. Just five days later, according to Sambir, Raissi flew from Las Vegas to Phoenix with Hanjour. U.S. officials have identified 29-year-old Hanjour as the hijacker who steered American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon on Sept.

11. The prosecutor said Raissi visited the United States several times in June and July and on June 23 traveled to Las Vegas with his wife before flying on to Arizona with Hanjour. Las Vegas was a meeting point for some of the hijackers over the summer. Reporter Dennis Wagner contributed to this article. likely accelerate once hostilities begin.

"This is the beginning of the aid, not the end," one official said. The United States has been the largest provider of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, roughly $170 million this year. But the Taliban have ended air flights in and out of the country, crippling aid organizations, and have harassed aid workers, many of whom have fled Afghanistan. Spa In Arizona SMs' 52495, 3,995 Spa with Gazebo Retail $6,780 21 Jets 5-7 Person Spa wCover Includes: Gazebo, Spa, Bar Steps Factory Showroom 210 N. 24th St.

Beween Van Bumn i Washington 602-220101 1-800-343-3321 Call lor hours Scottsdak Outlet l3S37I.Tatom 59th Glendale SE corner TatumThundettinS 6C2-7S3-7S79 Call lor hours SALE ENDS 6PM MONDAY 10101 K3C(TinZST ir prnLfiFni over the world to be able to put an end to this horrible scourge of international terrorism." Bush also announced Friday the release of $25 million in emergency food and medical aid for the refugees flowing out of Afghanistan and into Pakistan. That aid, officials said, is intended to help alleviate the suffering and to signal to Pakistan that the United States will not leave it to handle alone the flood of refugees that will SHOWS Andrew Card; Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee; retired Gen. George Joulwan, former NATO supreme commander. Fox News Sunday Channel 10 (KSAZ), (81363) Attorney General John Ashcroft; Sen.

Charles Schumer, Sen. Chuck Hagel, Haron Amin, special representative for the Afghan United Front; Pakistani Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi; former Rep. Lee Hamilton, former CIA Director Robert Gates; former Labor Secretary Robert Reich "Jack Kemp, co-director of Empower America; retired Gen. Wesley Clark, former NATO supreme commander; retired Air Force Gen. Donald Shepperd; Peterergenf CNN terrorism expert.

CORRECTION A story on Page C8 Thursday incorrectly listed the host organization that will be helping hunters sight-in their firearms next month at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, 4044 W. Black Canyon Phoenix. The Hassayampa Rod and Gun Club will be the host organization. CORRECTIONS POLICY The Arizona Republic corrects errors fully and promptly. To report an error in the news columns, phone the Republic at (602) 444-8143.

To report an error on the Opinions pages, phone the Editor of the Editorial Pages Keven Ann Willey at (602) 444-8499. Or send a message to Correction anzonarepublic.com. HOW TO REACH US Newsroom: (602)444-8235 Editorial page: (602) 444-8499 Reader (602) 444-8912 Metro, Business, Sportt, Features (602)444-8222 Photo: Photo (602) 444-8025 azcentral.com:. (602) 444-8400 Back (602)444-8537 Newspaper in Education (602)444-8846 (602) 444-7090 other departments: (602) 444-8000 MAIL RATES (Payable in advance) In Arizona: Daily 4 Sunday $90.35 (quarterly Daily only $54.60 (quarterly) Sunday only $35.75 (quarterly) Call (602) 444-8503 to subscribe or for mail rates outside Arizona. Periodical postage paid at Phoenix, Ariz.

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THOUGHT OF THE DAY "If you want work well done, select a busy man the other kind has not time." Elbert Hubbard, American author and publisher (1856-1915). TODAY'S CHUCKLE Humans are the lowest-cost computing system capable of being mass-produced by unskilled labor. CLOCKS COUNTERS 83 years ago: In 1918, Allied forces scored a decisive breakthrough of the Hindenburg Line during World War I. 13 years ago: In 1988, the space shuttle Discovery blasted off from Cape Canav- eral, marking America return to manned space flight after the Challenger disaster. 29: Dairy products account for about 29 Of all food con- sumed in the United States.

NEWS TIPS a Have a news tip or a good story idea? Give us a call at (602) 444-2466 and leave a voice mail, with as much in- formation as possible. Relax Everyday in Your Own Safe, Therapeutic, Private, Hot Tub! "The Taliban do not represent the Afghan people, who never elected or chose the Taliban faction," said a document prepared by officials of the National Security Council and the State Department. "We do not want to choose who rules Afghanistan," the guidance document continued, "but we will assist those who seek a peaceful, economically developing Afghanistan, free of terrorism." The deliberately vague reference to what groups the White House supports to replace the Taliban leaves open the question of whether Bush intends to provide aid to the Northern Alliance, which has been conducting a somewhat stalemated war against the Taliban for years, or seek to restore the 86-year-old exiled king, Muhammad Zahir Shah. He may choose both options. There is concern in the White House that too heavy a tilt toward the Northern Alliance would anger Pakistan, a critical but unstable U.S.

ally that is hostile to the Northern Alliance. While some in the administration argue that the king, who has lived in Italy for more than a quarter-century, would serve as a unifying force among Afghanistan's fractious tribes, he might also be regarded as a hapless puppet. But with such a scenario still long on the horizon, Bush used his appearance with King Abdullah to underscore that the U.S.-led campaign is aimed at terrorists, not Muslims. "The Muslim faith is based upon peace and love and compassion, the exact opposite of the teachings of the al-Qaida organization, which is based upon evil and hate and destruction," Bush said. The king endorsed Bush's portrayal of the terrorists in remarks that could prove helpful the administration strives to enlist Islamic nations in the campaign against terrorism.

"What these people stand for is completely against all the principles that Arabs and Muslims believe in," King Abdullah said. "This is a fight against evil, and the majority of Arabs and Muslims will band together with our colleagues all From Page Al about it, we're in hot pursuit. We're going to enforce the doctrine. We're going to be diligent and patient and determined to bring people to justice and to rout out terrorist activity around the world." Senior U.S. officials, speaking on the condition that they not be identified, confirmed that U.S.

and British commandos have been gathering intelligence inside Afghanistan as a possible prelude to reprisals threatened by Bush for the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. The officials commented in the wake of a Friday report in USA Today that said three-'to five-member commando teams have been inside Afghanistan for the past two weeks trying to locate Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind of the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil. The disclosure came as the administration continued preparations for military actions while counseling Americans to be patient. A TimeCNN poll released Friday, showed that 47 percent of those surveyed wanted armed retaliation within three months.

Only 27 percent were willing to wait longer, according to the poll. Amid a flurry of diplomatic activity between Pakistan and Afghanistan's Taliban-led regime, Bush said the United States would not back away from the ultimatum he issued during a televised address to Congress on Sept. 20. The president took the hard line shortly after Taliban leader Mullah Mohammed O-mar rejected a bid by a Pakistani delegation of religious and government leaders for the Afghan regime to turn over bin Laden. "There is no negotiations with the Taliban.

They heard what I said. And now they can act," Bush declared. Bush's statement Friday came as the White House, for the first time since the military planning began, gave a specific description of the administration's political goals in Afghanistan and left little doubt that one objective is the forcible removal of the radical Islamic Taliban government. The 1 Selling Built-in Look at the Above Ground Price! 8x10' Low Profile Comes with Step, Cover, Tile Stucco $5495X9 includes delivery Retail $7495X0 I tj The Arizona Republic 1 V' (ISSN 0892-8711) (USPS 030-920) Published daily by Phoenix Newspapers 200 E. Van Buren Phoenix, AZ 85004 P.O.

Box 1950, Phoenix, AZ 85001 Telephone (602) 444-8000 MEMBER: AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS Vol. 112, No. 134 Saturday, September 29, 2001 ADVERTISING STANDARDS Merchandise or service advertised in The Republic is expected to be accurately described and readily available at the advertised prices. Deceptive or misleading advertising is never knowingly accepted. Complaints regarding advertising should be directed in writing to The Arizona Republic, Advertising Department, or the Better Business Bureau, 4428 N.

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