Nation briefs 7/26/06

Teen confesses to Ind. highway sniper attacks

SEYMOUR, Ind. -- A 17-year-old confessed Tuesday to committing a series of highway shootings that killed one man, wounded another and damaged at least four vehicles, authorities said. Zachariah Blanton was arrested earlier in the day and was jailed in Jackson County. He faced preliminary charges of murder, attempted murder and criminal recklessness, prosecutor Stephen Pierson said. Blanton, of Gaston, admitted to the sniper shootings during questioning by investigators, state police superintendent Paul Whitesell said.

Cruise line: Ship tilt caused by human error

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Human error caused a cruise ship to abruptly tilt at sea last week, sending furniture and debris flying about the boat and injuring 240 passengers, a cruise line official said. Though federal investigations continue, Princess Cruises president Alan Buckelow wrote in a letter to passengers that "the incident was due to human error and the appropriate personnel changes have been made." No further specifics were given. The letter said it would be "inappropriate for us to comment in any detail" until the results of all investigations were published. The letter was posted on the company's Web site. Phone calls to the company seeking additional comment were not immediately returned.

Bail denied at hearing for 'Mafia cops'

NEW YORK -- Two decorated former police detectives, bidding for freedom just weeks after their convictions for facilitating eight mob murders were overturned, were instead sent back to prison Tuesday. Louis Eppolito and Stephen Caracappa were denied bail by the same federal judge who overturned their racketeering murder convictions last month and granted them a new trial on money laundering and drug charges. "The defendants are dangerous criminals with no degree of credibility," U.S. District Court Judge Jack B. Weinstein said in denying the men bail while they await retrial. The two ex-detectives sat stoically as the judge handed down his decision. Weinstein, in a June 30 ruling, said he agreed with an April jury verdict finding the so-called "Mafia Cops" responsible for the eight murders in the 1980s and other crimes -- but he said he was compelled to set aside the verdict because the statute of limitations for the racketeering murder counts had passed.

Protesters, Congo riot police clash before vote

KINSHASA, Congo -- Thousands of opposition supporters clashed with riot police Tuesday, burning President Joseph Kabila's campaign posters before historic weekend elections meant to bring lasting peace to Congo. Security forces swung batons and fired tear gas at protesters, who threw Molotov cocktails and chunks of masonry in the streets of the capital, Kinshasa. There was no immediate word on injuries. Young people made up most of the seething 4,000-person crowd in an outlying slum. One onlooker said they were outraged by their poverty after years of war and corrupt rule that has hobbled their nation.

-- From wire reports