NEWS BRIEFS
BERLIN
German president to atone for Nazi massacre on trip to Italian village
Associated Press
In a long-delayed act of reconciliation, Germany's president begins a trip to Italy today to commemorate the victims of a World War II massacre that has come to symbolize Nazi atrocities in that country.
President Johannes Rau's gesture this week coincides with new attempts by prosecutors to track down those who committed war crimes in occupied Italy. Rau will be the first postwar German leader to visit Marzabotto, one of several mountain villages southwest of Bologna where Nazi SS troops who claimed they were pursuing resistance fighters killed more than 700 people between Sept. 28 and Oct. 1 of 1944. Women and children were among the victims.
Accompanied by Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, Rau plans to lay a wreath and give a speech Wednesday in front of the village church where the Nazis shot some of their victims. A number of survivors are expected to attend.
"This is about our common future, but also our common past," Rau's spokesman Klaus Schrotthofer said Friday. "The fact that both presidents can personally recall that era adds to the event's authenticity."
Though he has little political power compared with the chancellor, Rau, 71, is often viewed as the representative of Germany's conscience. He has long taken a personal interest in the Marzabotto massacre, Schrotthofer said.
SOMERSET, Ky.
Sheriff killed by sniper's bullet at political rally after giving campaign speech
Associated Press
A rural sheriff who had just given a campaign speech at a political rally and fish fry was killed by a sniper, and a suspect then fled on a motorcycle belonging to one of the victim's election opponents.
The motorcyclist was charged in the slaying yesterday. Authorities said they were investigating whether he knew the owner of the vehicle, although they said the latter was not a suspect.
"The senseless murder or assassination of our sheriff, who always had a smile on his face and dedication in his heart, is devastating to the community," former county attorney Fred Neikirk said.
Sheriff Sam Catron was killed by a single rifle bullet Saturday evening as he was leaving the rally at Shopville, a small town about 70 miles south of Lexington among Pulaski County's rolling farmland and wooded hills.
State Police Capt. Paul Hays said the shot came from "a considerable distance." Police said a rifle was found but would not give details about the weapon.
Hays would not comment on a possible motive.
MEXICO CITY
Former Mexico City mayor sworn in as head of Mexico's largest leftist party
Associated Press
Promising to win over even her harshest critics, the highest-ranking female politician in Mexican history was sworn in as head of this country's largest leftist party yesterday.
During a raucous ceremony at the Mexican capital's Revolution Monument, Rosario Robles promised to reunite the Democratic Revolution Party. Her comments came a little less than a month after a chaotic internal election to choose the party's president was marred by low turnout and widespread allegations of fraud.
"We can do what no other political party can," Robles told thousands of cheering supporters. "We will continue to raise our voice and speak out against others, particularly those legislators who have been incapable of addressing national concerns."
Robles made history when she became acting Mexico City mayor in 1999 and 2000 after former Mayor Cuauhtemoc Cardenas resigned to run for president. That remains the most prominent post ever held by a female politician in Mexico.
During internal voting in all 30 states and Mexico City on March 17, Robles easily defeated the other major candidate to head the party, outspoken Sen. Jesus Ortega.
But voting was canceled in two states after ballot boxes were stolen, misplaced, burned or delivered late. Elsewhere, people allegedly supporting Ortega hijacked a collection of ballot boxes and refused to release them.
