Bush to visit Sept. 11 memorial this week

President Bush, facing criticism from victims' relatives for using images of the destroyed World Trade Center in campaign ads, will visit a Sept. 11 memorial in New York this week. Bush plans to tour the memorial Thursday in Long Island's Nassau County. A news conference Friday by Peaceful Tomorrows, a group of victims' relatives, was arranged by MoveOn.org, a liberal group that has been running ads critical of Bush. The relatives questioned the use of the images showing firefighters at ground zero and the removal of victims' remains. The Bush administration also arranged appearances on broadcast television Thursday for former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and others to defend the ads.

Troops in Mideast include sex criminals, group says

WASHINGTON -- There are at least two serial sex offenders among the U.S. troops in the Middle East, an advocacy group has told the Pentagon. The Miles Foundation, a support group for military sexual assault victims, said 83 servicewomen stationed in the Middle East have reported being raped or assaulted in the last 18 months. In at least two cases, multiple victims reported having been attacked by the same soldier, said Christine Hansen, executive director of the Connecticut-based group. The foundation said Friday it has reported the cases to commanders and formal reports have been filed. Pentagon spokesmen said they were unaware of the group's complaint.

Rovers roll toward new Mars sites Saturday

The Mars rovers moved toward new rocks to drill on Saturday, a day after the Spirit rover found geological evidence that the dusty Red Planet had a wet past. The Opportunity rover prepared for another drilling job as Spirit -- positioned halfway around the planet -- rolled slowly toward the rim of a crater called "Bonneville." NASA's $280 million rover mission was designed to seek geological clues on whether ancient Mars had enough water to potentially have supported life, and both rovers have now found evidence of past water activity on the planet.

Illinois to pay wrongfully convicted former inmates

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- More than $1 million is going to nine wrongfully convicted former inmates pardoned by former Gov. George Ryan under a law signed by Gov. Rod Blagojevich Friday. Two of the inmates he pardoned at the time on the grounds of innocence will receive the most money. Madison Hobley, who was sentenced to death for setting a 1987 fire that killed his wife, son and five others in Chicago, will receive $161,000. Leroy Orange will receive $160,000. He had been convicted of fatally stabbing three adults and a child in Chicago in 1984. The day before the House passed the bill in early February, he was charged with selling crack cocaine.

Ashcroft still in hospital, awaiting test results

WASHINGTON -- Attorney General John Ashcroft remained hospitalized Saturday in an intensive care unit for treatment of a severe case of gallstone pancreatitis, a serious and painful abdominal illness. Justice Department spokesman Mark Corallo said Ashcroft was being treated with antibiotics and painkillers. Corallo said there has been no change in his condition. Doctors were still evaluating the attorney general and awaiting results of tests before deciding on their next steps, which could include surgery. Pancreatitis is treated with antibiotics and fasting, and often clears up after a week or so. But in some cases, surgery is required. In extreme cases, it can kill.

-- From wire reports