Amid Iraqi opposition, Turkish lawmakers approve of sending peacekeepers ANKARA, Turkey (October 7, 7:16 p.m. ADT) - Parliament voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to give the government permission to send Turkish peacekeepers to Iraq, but members of Iraq's interim council opposed the move, a sign of the problems Washington faces as it tries to assemble a peacekeeping force. U.N. Security Council split on Iraq resolution Three U.S. soldiers killed in central Iraq

Today in history On Oct. 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire erupted while another deadly blaze broke out in Peshtigo, Wis. • More history and birthdays

Pakistan says second missile test in a week successful
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (October 7, 8:24 p.m. ADT) - Pakistan on Tuesday test fired a medium-range, nuclear-capable missile, the army said. It was the second such test in less than a week.

Press visiting Guantanamo restricted from discussing recent detentions
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (October 7, 3:31 p.m. ADT) - U.S. military officials imposed strict reporting limits Tuesday on the first journalists to go to the U.S.-run detention camp for terror suspects since the arrests of a Muslim army chaplain and two interpreters.

China reportedly plans manned space flight for midmonth
BEIJING (October 7, 7:43 p.m. ADT) - China will launch its first human being into space on Oct. 15 in a flight that will last about 90 minutes and will orbit the Earth once, a major Chinese Web site reported, quoting a top government rocketry official.

Two Colombian mayors assassinated
BOGOTA, Colombia (October 7, 6:52 p.m. ADT) - Leftist guerrillas assassinated two town mayors in southeastern Colombia after they met with rebels in a mountain hideout, authorities said Tuesday, while the army suffered a double blow to its reputation.

Indiana senator meets democracy activist in Cuba
HAVANA (October 7, 5:33 p.m. ADT) - Sen. Evan Bayh visited one of Cuba's leading democracy activists and applauded his reform efforts Tuesday, during a visit to the communist-run island.

Austrians rooting for Schwarzenegger in California recall
GRAZ, Austria (October 7, 5:06 p.m. ADT) - Hundreds of partygoers in Arnold Schwarzenegger's home region packed into a bar to cheer on their native son and await news of whether he would become California's next governor.

Tribal fighters massacre dozens in Congo
KIGALI, Rwanda (October 7, 10:06 a.m. ADT) - Dozens of tribal fighters attacked a village in northeastern Congo, killing at least 65 people, mainly children, and setting huts on fire, U.N. officials said Tuesday.

U.N. Security Council split on Iraq resolution
UNITED NATIONS (October 7, 3:32 p.m. ADT) - The United States sent mixed signals Tuesday on the future of a new Iraq resolution that has divided the U.N. Security Council, saying it wants a vote by an Oct. 23 donors conference but also raising the possibility of a delay.

Fugitive detained after USS Cole attack back in Yemeni custody
SAN`A, Yemen (October 7, 2:39 p.m. ADT) - A suspected al-Qaida militant accused in the terrorist bombing of the USS Cole has been re-arrested, police said Tuesday.

Security Council expected to OK expanded NATO force in Afghanistan
UNITED NATIONS (October 7, 5:50 p.m. ADT) - The United States expects the U.N. Security Council to approve a resolution this month that would expand the NATO-led force in Afghanistan, U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said Tuesday.

Southeast Asian nations sign historic accord
BALI, Indonesia (October 7, 9:54 a.m. ADT) - Ten Southeast Asian nations signed an ambitious accord Tuesday establishing a Europe-like economic community by 2020 in a region where democracies neighbor dictatorships and First World economies abut financial basket cases.

Former Argentine officers detained in Dirty War investigation
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (October 7, 1:34 p.m. ADT) - Three former army officers were detained Tuesday in Argentina's investigation of atrocities committed during its 1976-83 military dictatorship.

Tropical Storm Olaf strikes Mexican coast
PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico (October 7, 12:14 p.m. ADT) - Tropical Storm Olaf came ashore Tuesday just south of Puerto Vallarta and skirted north along the coast, pounding the popular resort with rain but sparing it major damage.

Euro bills may replace some coins, ECB says
BERLIN (October 7, 11:08 a.m. ADT) - The European Central Bank said Tuesday it will consider replacing one and two euro coins with new bills after Italy and Austria called for the kind of small-denomination notes familiar in their countries before the new currency's launch.

Violence erupts amid burial of Pakistani politician
JHANG, Pakistan (October 7, 10:46 a.m. ADT) - Rioters attacked police and burned Shiite Muslim mosques in several Pakistani cities Tuesday demanding revenge as a hardline Sunni Muslim politician was buried a day after he was gunned down in the capital.

Arafat swears in new Palestinian Cabinet
RAMALLAH, West Bank (October 7, 8:01 a.m. ADT) - Yasser Arafat swore in new Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and a skeleton emergency Cabinet on Tuesday in a move likely to make it more difficult for Israel to carry out its threat to "remove" the Palestinian leader.

Lack of evidence ends Steve Biko murder case
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (October 7, 10:04 a.m. ADT) - The five policemen who were accused of killing anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko in 1977 won't be prosecuted because of insufficient evidence, justice ministry officials said Tuesday.

Pope appears more alert during Pompeii visit
POMPEII, Italy (October 7, 10:01 a.m. ADT) - Pope John Paul II traveled Tuesday to a shrine near the ruins of ancient Pompeii, appearing alert, waving to crowds and asking the faithful to pray for him "today and always."

North Korea excludes Japan from nuke talks
SEOUL, South Korea (October 7, 2:15 a.m. ADT) - North Korea said Tuesday it will not allow Japan to participate in any future talks aimed at resolving a standoff over the North's nuclear programs, saying Tokyo was not a trustworthy dialogue partner.

German steel workers stage walkouts
BERLIN (October 7, 5:45 a.m. ADT) - Thousands of steel workers in northwestern Germany staged short walkouts Tuesday as the country's biggest industrial union, IG Metall, stepped up the pressure in pay negotiations set to resume next week.

Sharon says Israel will strike at enemies
JERUSALEM (October 7, 5:29 a.m. ADT) - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, in his first public comments since an Israeli air strike against Syria, said Tuesday that his nation would not hesitate to strike at its enemies wherever they were.

Three U.S. soldiers killed in central Iraq
BAGHDAD, Iraq (October 7, 7:07 a.m. ADT) - Roadside bombings in central Iraq killed three U.S. soldiers and an Iraqi interpreter and wounded six other service members, the U.S. military said Tuesday. They were the first reported deaths of American soldiers by hostile fire in Iraq since Friday.

Bush says Israeli strike in Syria 'essential'
WASHINGTON (October 7, 8:42 a.m. ADT) - President Bush on Tuesday said that Israel's air strike in Syria was part of an "essential" campaign to defend the country, and drew a parallel between U.S. policy on terrorism and the actions being taken by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Trio shares Nobel Prize in physics
STOCKHOLM, Sweden (October 7, 8:35 a.m. ADT) - Two American citizens and a Russian won the 2003 Nobel Prize in physics for their work in the bizarre field of quantum physics, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said Tuesday.