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THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC A2 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2008 Today's Mews Briefing Hamas militants counter attempt by Egypt to close border breach RAFAH, Gaza Strip Hamas militants on Friday hauled away metal spikes that Egyptian soldiers had placed at sections of the Gaza-Egyptian border, defying attempts to reseal the frontier and stop the influx of blockade-weary Gazans. The border wall has been unsealed since Jan. 23 when a gap was blasted through. Detroit mayor says sex scandal hasn't intruded on city operations DETROIT Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick said i Friday that a text-messaging sex scandal involving i him and a former aide has hurt the city's image but has not interfered with its daily operations. It was the first time he had talked to the media since the Detroit Free Press broke the story last week.

Russia divulges arrangement to close plutonium reactors ahead of schedule WASHINGTON Two of Russia's plutonium-pro-ducing reactors may be closed six months ahead of schedule this summer, a milestone in U.S. nuclear non-proliferation efforts, a senior Energy Department official said Friday. The official said that the director of Russia's nuclear agency told Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman on Friday that it was realistic to shut down the two reactors in the Siberian town of Seversk soon. The Valley's news source The Arizona Republic, 12 News and azcentral.com often collaborate on news-gathering efforts to increase the value of news and information in print, on TV and online. Prayer Lord, we give thanks for nature's peace.

Amen. Thought of the day "Mediocrity can talk; but it is for genius to observe." Benjamin Disraeli, British prime minister (1804-1881) Today's chuckle Homesickness: what you feel about 10 minutes after signing the papers for the new house. Clocks Counters 160 years ago: In 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the Mexican-American War, was signed. 60 years ago: In 1948, President Truman sent to Congress a ten-point civil-rights program calling for measures against lynching, poll taxes and job discrimination. I Death toll climbs in Kenya 1 amid election dispute despite I talk of sides ending violence i NAIROBI, Kenya Kenya's rival sides i said Friday that they had agreed to take 4 action to end monthlong violence from a disputed presidential election, but the death toll mounted when police i fired on mobs setting homes and businesses ablaze.

At least 17 people were reported killed. Mediator Kofi Annan, i a former U.N. secretary-general, said I the sides agreed to address within a week a way to solve the political crisis, i Both sides called for illegal militias to be disbanded. i Plane crashes in XC. fog I leaving all 6 on board dead MOUNT AIRY, N.C.

A twin-en-i gine plane crashed Friday as it tried to land amid low fog at the small i Mount Airy airport in northwestern North Carolina, killing all six people on board, officials said. The plane had taken off in Cedartown, Ga and the passengers were on their way to Primland, a hunting and golf resort in Meadows of Dan, Va. Colombian drug lord found dead CARACAS, Venezuela One of Colombia's most-wanted drug lords has been found slain in Venezuela, a top Colombian counter-drug official said Friday. Fingerprints of the man found shot to death in the Venezuelan city of Merida on Wednesday matched those of Wilber Varela, whose alias was US. denies Guantanamo detainee has AIDS, reports no cases there SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico No Guantanamo Bay prisoners have AIDS or the virus that causes the disease, the military said Friday.

Libyan detainee Abdul Hamid Abdul Salam Al-Ghizzawi said in a January letter to his 1 lawyer that doctors at the U.S. prison had diagnosed him with AIDS. U.S. climate overtures praised The Arizona Republic (ISSN 0892-8711) (USPS 030-920) Published daily by Phoenix Newspapers Inc. 200 E.

Van Buren Phoenix, AZ 85004, P.O. Box 1950, Phoenix, AZ 85001 Phone 602-444-8000 Member: Audit Bureau of Circulations Vol.118, No. 260 Saturday, February 2, 2008 How to reach circulation To subscribe, call 602-444-1000. For customer service, missed papers or other issues, call 602-444-1000. Toll free number outside metro Phoenix, 1-800-332-6733.

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Complaints regarding advertising should be directed in writing to The Arizona Republic, Advertising Department, or the Better Business Bureau, 4428 N. 12th Phoenix 85t)14. 1 A ntA Price $199' MmMmStm Regular Price i ii i KEEP IN TUNE WITH NEWS ON THE ENVIRONMENT We know being green is important to you. That's why we offer daily environmental news here and online at greenjzcentral.com. Find more in our environment pages Friday and Saturday in Valley State.

anything to do with Natalee Hollo-way's disappearance, saying he lied when he told someone privately he was involved. Aruban prosecutors announced Thursday that they were reopening their investigation into the disappearance of the Alabama teenager after seeing secretly taped material from a Dutch journalist. Van der Sloot was interviewed by the respected Dutch television show Pauw St Witte-man following reports that crime reporter Peter R. De Vries had captured him making statements about the case. Wire services '( 1 SfA Regular Price $13! n.tir Drifa KilliM 1-n: Regular MP Ni Ml Ii I Is.

I 1 umt4' If) fauttm News of the DENVER Federal protection urged for Gunnison's prairie dog The Gunnison's prairie dog qualifies for federal protection as an endangered species at higher elevations of two states, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said Friday. But the agency's regional office said the animal can't be officially listed now because other species have higher priority. The agency said the species in central and south-central Colorado and north-central New Mexico are most at risk. Populations at lower ele WASHINGTON U.S.

missile-defense plan wins support from Poland Poland's foreign minister said Friday that his country had agreed in principle to a missile-defense system proposed by the U.S. after receiving assurances that Washington would help with other defense needs. Radoslow "Radek" Sikorski said that talks moved forward after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the State Department and that Polish officials planned to "intensify our dialogue" on the A i 'I a op, fft WW bi WV to as ergy-efficient technologies, ways rich countries could help developing countries and countering deforestation. Delegates said the U.S.

showed a new flexibility since earlier climate-change meetings, and that they were able to talk about their differences. "We're happy the position of the United States is changing," said Brice LaLonde, France's climate-change ambassador. LaLonde pointed to bills in Congress addressing climate change and the Bush administration's move to host the Hawaii meeting as evidence for a shift for Washington. said. The gunman opened fire at 2:20 a.m., Israeli Ambassador Boaz Bizmuth told Israel Radio.

A Mauritanian government spokesman, Aziz Ould Dahi, confirmed the attack and said three people were wounded. Mauritania is one of the few Arab League nations with diplomatic ties with Israel. THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS Dutch student denies role in case of missing teen Dutch student Joran van'der Sloot denied Friday that he had MEWS SHOWS Here's the guest lineup for Sunday's TV news shows, with VCR Plus codes. NBC's Meet the Press 7 a.m., Channel 12 (KPNX)-11690 Republican strategists Mary Ma-talin and Mike Murphy; Democratic strategists Bob Shrum and James Carville. Fox News Sunday 7 a.m., Channel 10 (KSAZ) 18222 John McCain, GOP presidential candidate, and Hillary Clinton, Democratic presidential candidate.

ABC's This Week 8 a.m., Channel 15 (KNXV) 55777 Hillary Clinton, Democratic presidential candidate, and Mitt Rom-ney, GOP presidential candidate. CNN's Late Edition 9 a.m. 358339 Mike Huckabee and Mitt Rom-ney, GOP presidential candidates; Ralph Nader, consumer advocate and former presidential candidate. CBS' Face the Nation 9:30 a.m., Channel 5 (KPHO) 70715 John McCain, GOP presidential candidate, and Barack Obama, Democratic presidential Associated Press HONOLULU A meeting of delegates from the nations that emit the most pollutants ended without concrete targets for slashing greenhouse-gas emissions, but participants praised what they saw as a new willingness by the United States to discuss solutions. Delegates from 16 nations, plus the European Union and the United Nations, gathered in Hawaii this week to discuss what should be included in a blueprint for combating climate change.

Among the topics were en others, the military said. The blast inside the bus occurred at 7 a.m. in Dambulla, a town about 90 miles northeast of the capital, Colombo, said military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara, blaming separatist Tamil Tiger rebels. NOUAKCHOTT, MAURITANIA Israeli Embassy is target of gunfire; 3 people hurt At least one gunman opened fire on the Israeli Embassy in Mauritania early Friday, setting off a gun battle with guards that wounded three people, Israeli and Mauritanian officials CORRECTIONS CLARIFICATIONS "The matchup," Jan.

21, Arizona's Super Bowl, F3 The New England Patriots defeated the New York Giants on Dec. 29, 2007, in East Rutherford, N.J. The site of the game was incorrect. "Down by 9 at half, Duke rallies to top Maryland," Jan. 28, Sports, C6 Florida defeated Vanderbilt in men's college basketball to improve its record to 18-3.

The Florida record was incorrect in a Top 25 roundup. "Lowell Observatory's Star Tales," Jan.27,A30 A portion of the "Space Station Watch" report was cut off. "600 attend Fushek services," Jan. 1, Valley State, B1 Dale Fushek remains a monsig-nor with the Catholic Church, even though he has been suspended. A story identified him as a former monsignor.

"For freeway drivers, 2008 is the big year," Jan. A regular lane will be added to the eastbound 202 between Arizona 51 and Scottsdale Road. Two regular lanes will be added to east-bound 202 between Scottsdale Road and the 101 interchange. environment from wire reports vations, in Arizona and Utah and elsewhere'in Colorado and New Mexico, don't warrant protection. PORTLAND, ORE.

U.S. judge again extends deadline for salmon plan U.S. District Judge James Redden has postponed for a second time a deadline for a plan that meets his standards for balancing operations of Columbia Basin dams with threatened or endangered fish runs. On Tuesday, he extended it May 5. Wire services project despite opposition from Russia and a majority of Poles.

The Bush administration has proposed placing missile inter-, ceptors in Poland and radar installations in the Czech Republic to deter possible missile attacks from "rogue" states such Iran. COLOMBO, SRI LANKA Civilian bus is bombed, leaving 20 dead, 35 hurt A bomb tore through a packed bus carrying civilians today in central Sri Lanka, killing 20 people and wounding 35 i 275b S. MARKET SI. I1Y lilt NiVV sASl-N VIUA.f MM I iKO 237.5700 I I Ml I I i in U.rJWJ I I 'I lj The Largest Selection of Stools Dinettes in Arizona CL'HOME IIVIKC At HOME rr-i Uww Hftft jtmu IiJi 1 I The Arizona Republic endeavors to correct errors fully and promptly. We encourage readers to bring mistakes to our attention.

To report an error, call the Republic at 602-444-NEWS (6397). To report an error on the Opinions pages, phone Editor of the Editorial Pages Phil Boas at 602-444-8499. Or send a message to I J- ft554ji- Jims rmr-i MWaau i i ''i i.