The Burlington Free Press from Burlington, Vermont • Page 13

The Burlington Free Press Saturday, May 10, 2003 13A Saudis seek 19 terror plotters POLICE: Union chief resigns from city force By Douglas Jehl N.Y. Times News Service WASHINGTON After a shootout in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, and the discovery of a major arms cache there, Saudi authorities are pursuing 19 Islamic militants with ties to al-Qaida who now appear to have been planning a substantial terrorist attack, Saudi and U.S. officials said on Friday. In an indication of how seriously the threat is being taken in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi government has been objective would have been a U.S. target in the Saudi kingdom.

"Tremendous damage could have been done," a senior Saudi official said on Friday of the plot, which was uncovered beginning Tuesday night after a raid on a home in Riyadh. Among the weapons seized were 800 pounds of advanced explosives along with hand grenades, assault rifles, ammunition, disguises and tens of thousands of dollars in cash, the Saudi government has said. 9 H. IRAQ: U.S., allies seek occupier status -iirrr-iriiiM-BiMn irr tttm Continued from Page 1A of the state's public record law that permits agencies to withhold records "maintained to hire, evaluate, promote or discipline any employee of a public agency," said for more than a month that she could not comment on the circumstances of Mullins' resignation. Friday, however, after learning that Mullins had spoken publicly about his resignation, she commented more openly on the case.

"After a thorough internal investigation," she said, "James Mullins was found by the police department to have violated written procedures related to the screening of vehicles at (the Mr. Mullins failed to screen and search vehicles as required and also falsified a departmental log regarding his actions. "Further," Ennis said, "the department found that Mr. Mullins was not truthful about his actions when he was questioned during the investigation. Therefore, I notified (him) that I was recommending the termination of his employment to the Police Commission as required by the city charter.

"That disciplinary hearing before the scheduled for the evening of May 5," Ennis continued. "Mr. Mullins submitted a letter of resignation from the police department on the afternoon of May 5." She declined comment about Ahonen. Police Commission Chairman Jerome O'Neill said airport security wasn't compromised by the two officers. "The Police Commission has the opportunity to know and understand what the facts are in a situation like this and wouldn't for a moment tolerate a cover-up," he said.

"I leave the decision whether airport security was compromised up to the "I got so many calls for my Bernese Mountain Dog. Pull my ad out soon!" -Barbara H. from Burlington MURAD SEZER, The Associated Press U.S. Army Pvt. Marshall Kemper of Cocoa, Fla.

(right), sits on a tank as he stands guard in front of a mosque In Baghdad, Iraq, on Friday. Continued from Page 1A want to leave Iraq as soon as it is possible to ensure stability and normal arrangements for a new country." The plan's centerpiece is the lifting of oil and trade sanctions imposed on Iraq after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait and the phasing out of the oil-for-food humanitarian program. "The situation has now dramatically altered and a way has to be found, first of all to disentangle and to disengage the United Nations from many of the resolutions that were passed under entirely different circumstances," Ne-groponte said. Negroponte and Green-stock called the atmosphere during Friday's initial council discussion "constructive." Experts from the 15 council nations are to meet Monday to clarify legal implications of the draft. The council is to start debate Wednesday.

Secretary of State Colin Powell said he expected debate would not drag on as prewar deliberations did. "It's a resolution that will serve the Iraqi people," he said Friday in Washington, "There is a sense of urgency in order to get the U.N. to act so we can chief," he added, "but I have no reason to believe security was compromised." Mullins said the departmental scrutiny of his conduct grew out of his duties as union president. Over the years, his involvement in contract negotiations had "cost the city a lot of money," he said. "We're involved in protracted contract negotiations now, (and) we're going to arbitration," he said.

"Do you think any of that could be a motive?" Ahonen acknowledged last month that he had "broken (departmental) regulations. "I'm being punished for it and take responsibility for it," he said, "but I didn't break the law. I made a mistake and I'm paying for it. That's all." Mullins, 42, said he would continue as union president after his resignation. "I'm still president," he said.

"I'm working out of my house to coordinate all the union activities and contract negotiations. "For the good of the union I appointed Cliff Robinson chief negotiator, but my term has 18 more months," he continued. "You don't have to be an employee to be union president." Robinson, also assigned to the airport, said Mullins would be missed at work. "He was the most knowledgeable officer in the department on airport operations," he said. "He trained new officers.

He was the goto guy." Mullins said he had no bitterness toward the police department in the aftermath of the investigation. "I feel I've been treated fairly by everyone there," he said. "I have nothing but good things to say about the Burlington Police Depart-ment." Contact John Briggs at 660-1863 or jbriggsbfp.burlingtonfree press.com OFF all Champion products NOW through May 11. $1,399 Shaker Side Chair '199 at sit s- The raid came several days after the State Department, on May 1, issued an extraordinarily specific warning about possible terrorist attacks in the kingdom, saying the United States had received intelligence reports indicating that militants "may be in the final phases of planning attacks" on U.S. interests in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi government is offering a reward of up to $80,000 for information leading to the capture of the suspects. a mm 4vmww That could trigger opposition from council members who want a major U.N. role in creating an interim Iraqi government and view the U.S. proposal as not offering the "vital role" that President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair promised the world body. The draft calls on Annan to appoint a U.N.

special coordinator to work with U.S. and British authorities and the Iraqi people. That coordinator also would promote delivery of humanitarian aid, the return of refugees, reconstruction, human rights, legal and judicial reform, and rebuilding of an Iraqi police force. Clancy said. "It's never going to be a Middlebury or a Bennington or a UVM.

It's always going to be a ragtag-and-bob-tail kind of place, because that's what our students want." Contact Brent Hallenbeck at 660-1844 or bhallenbbfp.burling-tonfreepress.com ill HiJlSlfr iiSftltili iVi'Sii -iffetigiiii' '-liJ3i' Anna Black Clog 300 reg $49.99 NNK SALE $29.99 Mom on Sale tool ZU OFF OF all HIKERS tram Ht-Tec, Columbia AT Vasque, Tecnica Salamon, Garmont i nn Certificate 1 LIBRARY: Burlington College scraps expansion plan nition of occupier status should please the council members. "That establishes the basis for a clear political discussion as to what happens next," he said. The draft calls for transferring control of Iraq's oil revenues from the United Nations to the U.S.-led coalition. Russia has proposed that U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan maintain control over the oil money until a legitimate Iraqi government is formed.

The draft says the money would finance the country's reconstruction, with international oversight. But it envisions only a limited, largely advisory role for the United Nations. which the nonprofit school sometimes fails to do. While Clancy wants the college to build a more stable financial foundation, she also wants Burlington College to" remain an affordable, approachable alternative; "It's a place where people can feel comfortable. It's not fountains and ivy walls," 1 55 GAL I TANK I DIXHCOD IW1 REPTILES Cheek 'tm tut The Blue Mai I Dorset St.

So. Burl I ADVANTAGE I 860-1714 THE unusually open in discussing it, even making public the names and photographs of the wanted men in the country's newspapers and television broadcasts this week. With the militants still at large three days after a raid in Riyadh, Saudi and U.S. officials said they could not or would not say what they thought the target of a planned attack might have been. But they said they regarded the group as having been planning significant operation whose most likely start to get the (Iraqi) economy going again." Diplomats predict tough negotiations ahead.

But there is little enthusiasm for a replay of the bitterness in the council that proceeded the war, and U.S. diplomats stressed the proposal is not a "take it or leave it" plan. At a summit with the Polish president, Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder two of the most vehement anti-war leaders took a moderate tone, saying they were committed to "constructive negotiations" over the U.S. draft. "We are ready for pragmatic solutions," Schroeder said.

The draft notes that Washington and London sent a letter to the council president Thursday recognizing their responsibilities and obligations under international law "as occupying powers." The letter marks the first time the United States has referred to its role in Iraq as an "occupying power," a status governed by the Geneva Conventions that details wide-ranging responsibilities for the Iraqi people. Washington had called itself a force." Greenstock said the recog- raising efforts designed to build their endowments. Burlington College is raising full-time tuition 8 percent from $6,075 to $6,560 this fall semester and has cut its course offerings by 10 percent. Clancy said the college will try to improve its financial footing with an upcoming fund-raising campaign and a newly hired director of development to oversee its money drive. "I really believe there is a guiding spirit that runs this place," Clancy said, "That doesn't mean the guiding spirit can't use some help." There is good news for the college.

Applications for next year are up 5 percent from the same point last year, and enrollment could climb from 280 full- and part-time students to 290, said Kathy FitzGerald Collins, director of admissions and public relations. This year's graduating class of 98 students is the largest in college history. College Readers expect to finish the year with a budget surplus, l.iaj III, lift ill (SPECIAL PRICES r- ON SPLASH ISUPERPOOLS. A CDCrlAI Dl HOTSPRING SPAS 15 OFF Mil UlUUUdlU you'll love vnu'll InvA Softs wim! NO INTEREST, NO PAYMENTS Pools Spas 'til Labor Day! WITH APPROVED CREDIT WILUSTON, T. 2, EAST Of TAFT CORNERS.

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That struggle contributed to the decision to cancel the library deal. "The college has always been fragile. We are tuition-driven with no endowment," said Barbara Scheuer, chairwoman of the college's board of trustees. The 30-year-old college overlooking Lake Champlain has an endowment of about $150,000. Scheuer noted that small colleges across the country are facing rough economic times.

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