The Herald from Jasper, Indiana • 19

THE HERALD MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2009 NATION WORLD PACE 19 US helicopters crash in Iraq; 4 troops killed By KIM GAMEL Associated Press Writer cludes the oil-rich disputed city of Kirkuk. Iraqi officials said the crash site was located about 20 miles west of Kirkuk, which is about 180 miles north of Baghdad. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not supposed to release the information. Maj. Derrick Cheng, a spokesman for U.S.

forces in northern Iraq, said all the dead were Americans. He declined to give more details. The deaths raised to at least 4,236 the number of U.S. service members who have died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count. The number of Americans killed in Iraq has dropped significantly with an overall decline in violence in the country Today's crash was the deadliest single incident for U.S.

troops since Sept. 18, when seven American soldiers were killed in a helicopter crash in the southern desert west of Basra. The US. military relies heavily on helicopters and other aircraft to ferry troops, dignitaries and supplies to avoid the threat of am paign violations ranging from putting posters outside allocated locations and defaming rivals. He expressed concern that was only a preview for likely conflicts and claims of fraud after the vote.

"I think that this issue will get worse after the results are declared," he said at a news conference. "I do not expect that the losers in the elections will congratulate the winners." "They will not miss any chance to question the integrity of the results. But practically speaking, we have taken all necessary' measures to combat fraud," he said. bushes and roadside bombs in Iraq. At least 70 U.S.

helicopters have gone down since the war started in March 2003, according to military figures. Of those, 36 were confirmed to have been shot down. Iraqi electoral officials, meanwhile, geared up for Saturday's provincial elections the first nationwide vote in more than three years. A spokesman for Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission, Qassim al-Aboudi, said the panel had punished more than 69 parties or coalitions for 180 cam BAGHDAD Two U.S. helicopters crashed today in northern Iraq, killing four American troops, the U.S.

military said, in the deadliest single incident for U.S. forces in more than four months. The military said the crash "does not appear to be by enemy action." No precise location was given for the 2:15 a.m. crash, but a military spokesman said it occurred in Tamim province, which in Indonesians witness solar eclipse today Pope to visit Africa By The Associated Press AARON FAVIL ASSOCIATED PRESS The moon cast a shadow at the sun during a partial solar eclipse today at Manila's bay in the Philippines. By ZAKKI HAKIM Associated Press Writer ANYER, Indonesia Indonesians were among the few worldwide to witness an eclipse of the sun today, some cheering and banging on drums as the moon slowly crossed its path, blocking out everything but a thin, blazing rim of fire.

Dozens gathered in the western coastal town of Anyer to see the spectacle, which peaked at 4:40 p.m. and lasted for about four minutes. "I'm old, but I stiU think this is magical," said Roanna Makmur, 66, who drove several hours with eight friends to witness the sight, known as an annular eclipse, because it does not completely black out the sun. "I can't help but feel the greatness of God," she said, as fellow onlookers applauded and then fell silent. "Anyone who passed up this opportunity, really missed out." Annular eclipses, which are considered far less important to astronomers than total eclipses of the sun, occur about 66 times a century and can only be viewed by people in the narrow band along its path.

Aside from several regions in Indonesia from Sumatra island in the west to Kalimantan in the east only villagers on a tiny South Pacific island group known as the Cocos could see today's eclipse, said Jay Pasachoff, professor of astronomy at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass. He is also a chair of the International Astronomical Union's Working Group on Eclipses. But a partial eclipse with coverage ranging from 1 percent to 84 percent of the sun's diameter was visible in the southern third of Africa, in southeastern India, and Southeast Asia, as well as the western part of Australia. Hundreds turned out in Indonesia's Samarinda, the capital of East Kalimantan province, where more than 90 percent of the VATICAN CITY Pope Benedict XVI will meet with Muslim representatives and women's rights advocates when he travels to Cameroon and Angola in March on his first papal trip to Africa, the Vatican said Monday. The 81-year-old pope will travel to the two countries March 17 to 23, a Vatican statement said.

Benedict said months ago that he intended to go to Cameroon as part of preparations for an October 2009 bishops' meeting at the Vatican dealing with Africa. He said he would go from there to Angola to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in that country. According to the papal program released by the Vatican, Benedict will meet with local bishops, other Christians and Muslim representatives during the Cameroon leg. In Angola, he will meet with Catholic movements promoting women's rights. Benedict also will visit with the presidents of both countries.

sun's diameter was covered. Some ignored danger warnings and looked directly at the sun. Others wore sunglasses to protect their eyes or looked at its reflection in buckets of water. "We are so happy we were able to see this," said Fauziah Su-laiman, a mother of two, who was standing outside her house. "It's great for the children, especially after learning about it in school." The last total eclipse of the sun was Aug.

1, 2008, and was visible in Canada, across northern Greenland, the Arctic, central Russia, Mongolia and China. The next total eclipse will be July 22. It will be visible in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, China and some Japanese islands. On the Net: http:eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov0H0Hf Bonnie MQR FOR LESS -mm 1 SANDWICH BREAD PEPSI-COLA 3 PRODUCTS 09 24 oz. loaf HOT DOG HAMBURGER BUNS 311 12 pk.

12 oz. cans OO0 pkg. PEPSI COLA Betty Crocker CAKE MIXES $4 39 2 liter bottle 99' Box ftlt(tTiaiiiatiraiiMWMBiiiiitJmiini1 AQUAFINA WATER $C49 94 nk 1fiQn7 hnttlPR al-Maliki expects faster withdrawal BAGHDAD The Iraqi prime minister says he expects the U.S. to withdraw its troops faster than the three-year timeline laid down in the U.S.-lraq security agreement. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told a political rally today that he expects the dates for the U.S.

departure "will be brought forward compared with the dates set down in the agreement." As a result, al-Maliki says the Iraqi security forces must be beefed up. EU ministers discuss detainees BRUSSELS, Belgium European Union leaders said today they were willing to take in prisoners being released from the U.S. detention camp at Guantanamo Bay but stressed that American authorities must show ex-inmates pose no security threat before they can be resettled. Foreign ministers from the 27-nation bloc discussed the fate of up to 60 Guantanamo inmates who, if freed, cannot be returned to their homelands because they would face abuse, imprisonment or death. The prisoners come from Azerbaijan, Algeria, Afghanistan, Chad, China, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

The EU's foreign and security chief, Javier Solana, said Europeans wanted to help on humanitarian grounds. But he said no EU state could act until the new U.S. administration of President Barack Obama gets its Guantanamo case files in order and can demonstrate that prisoners do not pose credible security risks. NATO, Russia talk supply routes BRUSSELS, Belgium NATO and Russia discussed new supply routes for alliance troops in Afghanistan in a meeting today that helped to mend ties suspended after Russia's August war with Georgia. NATO is urgently seeking an alternative line through Russia to supply the 62,000 Western troops currently in Afghanistan and the 30,000 reinforcements U.S.

President Barack Obama intends to deploy this year. Existing routes through Pakistan are becoming precarious amid deteno rating security. President Dmitry Medvedev has said his government is ready to allow the United States and others to cross Russian territory with cargo intended for coalition forces in Afghanistan. Boneless Chuck BANANAS AVOCADOS I Value Time Mullen ARM 9 A SALTINE FRENCH ROAST BAC0N CRACKERS DRESSING $249 $189 Jjjjj gg $2" lb. 11b.

pkg. "TT lb. Teach 1 lb. Pkg. 16 oz.

bottle Family Pak Frrmilv Pk Vine Ripe Florida Busch Light Faygo TOMATOES STRAWBERRIES SOFT CHICKEN i JHL DRINKS BREASTS fef JrHL $059 $4 99 $-159 QQ0 $4 99 $1 4" lb. lb. lb. 1 1 lb. pkg.

30 pk. 12 oz. cans 12 pk. 12 oz. cans BarS Land 0' Frost Dole Russet Swiss Miss ShurFine wifnpik Premium COLESLAW POTATOES HOT COCOA 'VEGETABLES WIENERS SLICED MEATS SALAD MIX MIX gg'JIS, 79 $349 1 19 99 49 12 oz.

pkg. 16 oz. pkg, 1 lb. pkg. 10 lb.

bag L10 Ct. 1 oz. Pkgs. 1 5 oz. Can From AP.