ZAMBOANGA, Philippines
Muslim rebels release all remaining hostages
Associated Press
Eighty-nine hostages - most still in the nightclothes they were wearing when seized - were freed yesterday by Muslim rebels in a deal with the government to end the two-day standoff.
For releasing their captives, the rebels loyal to a renegade local governor were allowed to move to another guerrilla camp 40 miles away and - at least temporarily - avoid prosecution.
"As of this time, we will not file criminal charges," said military spokesman Brig. Gen. Edilberto Adan. "It's up to the police, really."
In return, Julhambri Misuari, a leader of a rebel faction of the separatist Moro National Liberation Front, said: "We will not be pursued and we will commit no trouble."
Misuari is the nephew of Nur Misuari, the southern governor being investigated by Malaysian authorities for possible connections to Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic rebel group linked to the al-Qaida terrorist group.
Misuari was arrested Saturday in Malaysian waters as he tried to flee a manhunt in the Philippines. Misuari, who lost the MNLF leadership earlier this year and was about to lose the governor's post, has been accused of fomenting an attack last week on an army base in order to disrupt elections for his successor.
Rebels loyal to the governor initially took 118 hostages, including entire families, creeping into their homes while they slept and dragging them away early Tuesday to a compound. They then threatened to kill them.
Negotiations to end the standoff dragged on past midnight in a house near the hilly park outside Zamboanga in the southern Philippines.
AUSTIN, TEXAS
Car hops bundle up and traffic slides as snow and ice signal winter
Associated Press
Motorists slid on ice-coated highways in Texas and Oklahoma yesterday and homeless shelters had trouble keeping up with demand for warm clothing as the southern plains got their first snowstorm of the season.
The storm was blamed for hundreds of traffic accidents, with one fatality in Oklahoma. One day earlier, the upper Midwest was surprised by a separate storm that produced up to 29 inches of snow and was blamed for five deaths.
Nine inches of snow had fallen by afternoon at Aspermont, Texas, about 100 miles northwest of Abilene, and Lubbock and Wichita Falls both reported several inches. Ice coated bridges in other cities in the Panhandle and west Texas.
Two to 3 inches of snow accumulated in Oklahoma, where many schools closed, nonessential state employees were told to go home two hours early and churches called off evening services.
"We've been long overdue for cold weather," said National Weather Service meteorologist Lonnie King in Fort Worth. "This happens in Texas every winter - maybe not quite this radical, but it happens."
After temperatures in the 60s and 70s last weekend, yesterday's early afternoon temperature was only 22 in Oklahoma City, where Criston Sells, a carhop for Coit's Root-Beer Drive In, bundled up in two jackets and a hooded sweat shirt as she carried burgers and hot dogs to customers.
"That wind just goes right through me," she said.
Homeless shelters and agencies that provide clothes and food were busier than usual. The Hope Center in Edmond, Okla., was running out of warm clothing, said assistant director Liese Canfield.
NEW ORLEANS
Louisiana Supreme Court suspends judge involved in
Associated Press
A judge who shoved another justice into a table during a dispute over whether one should hire a congressman's sister-in-law was suspended yesterday by the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Judge Charles R. Jones was suspended without pay from the 4th Circuit Court of Appeal for 30 days. The state Judiciary Commission, which investigated the Jan. 31 altercation, had recommended a 90-day suspension.
Jones left court yesterday and was not available for comment.
According to the commission, Judge Steve Plotkin wound up on the floor bleeding after arguing with Jones about the proposed hiring of Vanessa Green, the sister-in-law of Democratic Rep. William Jefferson.
The commission said Jones, who is black, wanted to hire Green, a black attorney, for a court staff job without advertising the job or interviewing anyone else.
Plotkin, who is white, was among other judges who insisted on using a court committee to advertise the job and interview other candidates. The decision was given to a committee of Jones, Plotkin and Judge Miriam Waltzer, who is white.
After advertisements were run, the committee narrowed the applicants to six, including Green, who ended up taking another job. Jones accused the other two committee members of manipulating the process.
His attorney has said Jones' anger was fueled by his passionate commitment to making sure black people get a fair chance.
