Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania • 9

The Indiana Gazette WORLD Thursday, October 30, 2003 Page 9 U.S. scaling down Mideast mediating role By KARIN LAUB Associated Press Writer JERUSALEM Call us when you're serious about disarming militants that's the message Palestinians are getting from U.S. mediators who have scaled back their presence in the region. The apparent disengagement comes amid a deadlock in the U.S.-led "road map" peace plan, Washington's growing troubles in Iraq, and the distractions of the U.S. presidential election campaign.

Israeli and Palestinian critics warn that reduced U.S. involvement will likely lead to more bloodshed, further harm America's image in the Arab world, and in the end bring on another round of U.S. mediation. With the sides here so far apart on the issues, many previous peace moves have required active U.S. mediation or pressure to move forward.

But an ambitious effort by the former Clinton administration to broker a comprehensive peace set- clement collapsed three years ago, and the Bush administration was initially reluctant to involve itself, fearing a quagmire. In the wake of the Iraq war, however, the United States hoped that showing a renewed commitment to resolving the alestinian conflict would help repair its badly damaged image in the Arab world. After a flurry of activity, capped by a June visit by President Bush to the region to launch the road map, the United States has scaled down its efforts amid continuing violence and disagreements that have stalled the plan. A turning point was the Sept. 6 resignation of reform-minded but ineffectual Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.

In line with U.S. expectations, Abbas tried to wrest control of the security forces from Yasser Arafat, but was instead outfoxed by the veteran leader. Abbas' resignation created turmoil, and his successor, Ahmed Qureia, has been unable to form a stable government. The United States says it is reserving judgment on Qureia- who is seen as more accommodating to Arafat than Abbas until he puts together; a Cabinet and takes control of question is forming a government that is committed and has the resources to act against terror," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Tuesday. A Palestinian bombing attack on a U.S.

convoy in Gaza earlier this month may have reinforced that view. Three American security guards were killed, and FBI investigators were stoned by an angry crowd at the scene. Conservatives choose possible successor By ED JOHNSON Associated Press Writer LONDON Lawmakers in Britain's opposition Conservative Party have rallied around an articulate former Cabinet minister as a possible successor to their ousted leader as they seek a "political heavyweight" who can hold his own against Tony Blair. The Tories voted no confidence Wednesday in lain Duncan Smith, removing him from the helm of the once mighty party after he failed to improve his party's poll ratings in two years, even when Blair was on the ropes over the unpopular war in Iraq. Former Home Secretary Michael Howard emerged as a favorite to replace Duncan Smith after senior party figures David Davis and Tim Yeo said they would not seek the leadership and would support Howard.

Davis, a former party chairman, said he hoped the Conservatives could avoid "splits and divisions" and unite around Howard. Factionalism has riven the party since Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's 11-year rule ended in 1990. After losing Wednesday's vote of confidence, Duncan' Smith said he would step aside when a successor is chosen and pledged Paul McCartney and Heather Mills outside McCartney's London home. (AP file photo) McCartney's wife gives birth to girl LONDON (AP) Paul McCartney's wife Heather Mills has given birth to a girl, the couple said today. Beatrice, the couple's first child, was born Tuesday at a London hospital and weighed 7 pounds, her parents said in a statement.

"She is a little beauty. We couldn't be prouder," the 61- year-old former Beatle McCartney and Mills, 35, said, adding that they were "ecstatic." A spokeswoman for the Hospital of St. John and St. Elizabeth said Beatrice Milly McCartney was born three weeks premature and delivered by Caesarean section. Spokeswoman Claire Hornick said the baby and mother were doing "very well," and added that Mills and McCartney were still in the hospital today.

The Daily Mirror newspaper had reported earlier today that the child was a boy. McCartney has three adult children Stella, Mary and James, and a stepdaughter, Heather, from his marriage to first wife Linda McCartney, who died in 1998 from breast cancer. The baby was named after Mills' late mother Beatrice and McCartney's aunt Milly, Hornick said. Mills, a former model who lost a leg in a motorcycle accident and raises money for children disabled in war, married McCartney at an Irish castle in June 2002. Earlier this year, she expressed fears she would never have a child because of a series of health problems.

Lawless countryside Liberian fighters wreak havoc despite peace deal By JONATHAN PAYE-LAYLEH Associated Press Writer TOTOTA, Liberia Liberia's civil war is officially over, but outside the capital, it doesn't look much like peace: Rebels are looting, pro-government militias are raping, and civilians are being forced to till fields to feed hungry fighters, residents say. Despite an August peace deal and an expanding peacekeeping mission slated to become the United Nations' largest, hundreds of thousands of civilians are still holed up in displaced camps afraid to return home. "If you venture into places that are not under United Nations peacekeepers, you do so a at your own risk," said 37-year-old Pastor Aaron Sao, who fled the central village of Gbarnga in August during battles between rebels R.D. ENTERLINE PIANOS SALES SERVICE NEW USED 1936 RENTAL PLAN LOW PRICES 622 MAPLE INDIANA (724) 349-4620 A The difference you've been waiting for. CustomLASIK is a newly FDA approved choice in vision correction.

In CustomLASIK, wavefront technology provides an additional level of precise data about your eye. A device called a wavefront analyzer measures the way light travels through your eye and compares it to the way light travels through an eye with perfect vision. This device then creates a 3-D wavefront map that is unique in the same way that your DNA is unique to you. Your wavefront map provides a detailed diagram of your vision that allows your doctor to customize the LASIK procedure to your individual eyes. Many patients who were not candidates for conventional LASIK can now be treated with CustomLASIK.

Come to our free seminar to learn if CustomLASIK is right for you. FREE CustomLASIK SEMINAR Wednesday, November 5th at 7pm To schedule your reservation, call Nadine at 724.465.6232 Affiliate Drs. Charles Tarnoff Keith Hilliard 120 South Seventh Street TLO Indiana, PA Laser Eye Centers 15701 and pro-government forces. The U.N. peacekeeping mission, now numbering 4,500 troops, is expected to grow to 15,000 over the next few months.

So far only a few hundred soldiers have been deployed to key trouble spots outside the capital, Monrovia. Rebel and government forces signed a peace deal Aug. 18 ending three years of bloody war -a week after warlord-turned-president Charles Taylor departed for exile in Nigeria. Monrovia businessman Gyude Bryant took over a transitional administration Oct. 14 that's expected to arrange elections in late 2005.

But for now, the rest of Liberia remains effectively lawless in the hands of rampaging rebels and militiamen who supported Taylor's ousted government. "We need food, but what we need most is security to enable us to return home," Sao said, showing a team of reporters around Totota on Tuesday. The government estimates some 1 million Liberians have been displaced by the war, which began in 1999 when rebels took up arms against Taylor. Around 250,000 people are living, in makeshift camps; the rest living with friends, relatives or anyone who will give them shelter. In Gbarnga, 100 miles northeast of the capital, rebels have carried out massive looting sprees, stealing roofs and doors from houses and buildings, residents say.

Eric Quellemi, living in a displaced camp to the southwest in Salala, recently made a brief trip back to Gbarnga to check on his home. Little was left. SMITH HOWARD to give the new leader his "absolute loyalty." Liam Fox, the opposition party's spokesman on health i issues, said Howard would announce his intention to run in the leadership election today. "He is a man of enormous experience. He is a political heavyweight.

We certainly know that he can land a few blows on Tony Blair," Fox said. Howard is "capable of persuading anybody that he could be the next prime minister of this country," said home affairs spokesman Oliver Letwin. Although Howard quickly emerged as a consensus candidate, nominations do not close until Nov. 6, giving other leadership hopefuls a week to decide whether to throw their hats into the ring. If that happens, Tory lawmakers will hold a series of ballots until only two candidates Tired of automated tech support and answering machines with your Internet service? Indiana Connect has live technicians 7 days a week.

Call Today! Indiana Connect, Inc. 724-463-9444 NO Busy Signals NO Disconnects Accounts as low as $14 per month Visit us on line: www.indianaconnect.com Open 7 days a week 8 am 10 pm certain restrictions apply SEASONS CHANGE. QUALITY DOESN'T. UNTIL April Troy-Bift 8526 26" Clearing Width 8.5 HP Troy-Bilt 4-cycle $30 Electric Start Ail Wheel Drive $999 FOR 034 90 Troy-Bilt DAYS; CS4265 6.5 HP 885 OHV Engine 3" chipping capacity 12:1 debris collection $18 $599 Debnar's Poois Spas Lawn Garden 1429 Rte 22 Hwy West Blairsville (724) 459-7460 Whitey Cub Cadet OTROY-BILT GREAT BRANDS, GREAT PRICES. TRACTORS STARTING AT $999.

hare pio 7004, a on you on he te woll do ad 190 te co on you tea sale te prica be a on you am 64 coll At bi a 50 D. a clintel all or end: 04 Am awwass id an be at on pre pit, sac ret include a a I hew an a puta SCHOOL NEWS PAGES, FRIDAYS. INSTALLED FOR THE otters eek incredible this HOLIDAYS! DE Al Ansoth. CRUSHRESISTER A DISCOVER Carpets IIII CATERENCE QUALITY SINCE 1922- All of the year! Premium Lowest prices attress Sets installed Hundreds over of colors, heavy styles; padding! all All Karastan Area Rugs $50 to $200 off! up to off this week! FURNITURE CARPETING DRAPERIES -DECORATING '1 ROUTE 30, ROUTE 86, PLUMVILLE EAST OF NORTH OF INDIANA PHONE 724-634-5182 PHONE 724-397-5511 Mon. Tues.

Wad. Fri. 9 No 5.30 Open Mon. Tues. Wed.

Fri, 9to 5:30 Thursday to 0. Saturday 9 to 5 Thursday 9 to 9 Saturday 9 10 Sunday 1pm. to 5pm. DISCOVER THE DIFFERENCE.ITS QUALITY!.