Freedom Lawyers of America

Afghanistan: Taliban take control of district Houston Chronicle"Taliban fighters overran the administration offices and police station of a remote district in southern Afghanistan and in a separate attack captured the police chief, district chief and 11 police officers, Afghan officials confirmed Saturday. The attacks were a humiliating blow to the government as it is struggling to contain a resurgent rebellion. The police chief and district chief of Mian-e-Shin district, in mountainous Kandahar province, were missing Friday morning after an ambush on their way to the district center, said Gen. Hamed Muslim, commander of the Afghan National Army in southern Afghanistan.The Taliban probably are now in control of the area, he said." (06/19/05)

Vote-rigging feared in Iran election Indianapolis Star"The front-runner in Iran's presidential runoff sought to rally moderates Sunday by warning that his hard-line opponent would run a totalitarian regime. The statement from the campaign manager for Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani came amid suspicions the powerful Revolutionary Guard would rig the runoff vote for conservatives. Rafsanjani's campaign manager, Mohammed Baghir Nowbakht, said Friday's runoff was crucial because hard-liners would not tolerate differences of opinions if elected and would run a 'totalitarian' regime." (06/19/05)