Congress debates rights of Gitmo terror suspects

WASHINGTON -- A senior Republican, Sen. Arlen Specter, urged Congress on Wednesday to clarify prisoners' rights at Guantanamo Bay, decrying a "crazy quilt" of legal decisions about the military's handling of suspected terrorists. Other Republicans on Specter's Judiciary Committee were divided over whether the Bush administration's practices were satisfactory. The Senate panel convened to wade into the complicated system in place to detain, interrogate and, if warranted, prosecute foreigners suspected of having links to Afghanistan's ousted Taliban regime or the al-Qaida terror network.

7.2-magnitude quake tests West Coast safety

CRESCENT CITY, Calif. -- Coastal dwellers in far northern California and southern Oregon knew to take it seriously when tsunami sirens sounded after a 7.2-magnitude offshore earthquake, and thousands of people were safely evacuated within minutes. And while there were no destructive waves after Tuesday night's temblor, experts Wednesday praised the decision to announce a tsunami warning for the entire West Coast. Emergency managers in coastal communities said the warning gave them a chance to test out their systems, and see what needs fixing should true disaster strike.

House votes to limit Patriot Act library rules

WASHINGTON -- In a slap at President Bush, lawmakers voted Wednesday to block the Justice Department and the FBI from using the Patriot Act to peek at library records and bookstore sales slips. The House voted 238-187 despite a veto threat from Bush to block the part of the anti-terrorism law that allows the government to investigate the reading habits of terror suspects. The House narrowed the proposal this year to permit the government to continue to seek out records of Internet use at libraries.

Harrier jet with bombs crashes in Arizona city

YUMA, Ariz. -- A Marine Harrier jet carrying four 500-pound bombs crashed Wednesday in a residential neighborhood, forcing the evacuation of 1,300 people. There were no reports of injuries and the pilot ejected safely, authorities said. The jet was coming in for a landing at Marine Corps Air Station-Yuma when it crashed in the back yard of a home about a mile from the base, a Marine spokesman said.

-- From wire reports