Nation digest 12/06/03

Northeast hit by snow; up to 18 inches forecast

The Northeast's first major storm of the season closed schools, made a mess on highways and triggered a rush on snow blowers and shovels. The snow was blamed for at least three traffic deaths. Forecasters said the system threatened to deliver an even heavier blow over the weekend, with up to 18 inches of snow forecast in parts of New England.

Expert: Rep in crash may have had low blood sugar

FLANDREAU, S.D. -- Rep. Bill Janklow appears to have had low blood sugar before his deadly collision with a motorcyclist in August, a doctor testified Friday during the congressman's manslaughter trial. Janklow's attorney hopes to prove that his diabetes was at fault when the congressman sped through a stop sign. Prosecutors argue that Janklow made a conscious decision to speed and ignore the stop sign. Testimony in the case was set to continue today.

Cult expert testifies in Malvo sniper trial

CHESAPEAKE, Va. -- Lee Boyd Malvo could have been vulnerable to brainwashing by sniper mastermind John Allen Muhammad because of a fractured childhood in which his mother often dropped out of his life, a cult expert testified Friday. Psychologist and former cult member Paul Martin, who has never interviewed Muhammad or Malvo, offered general testimony on how brainwashing occurs and answered hypothetical questions about Malvo. He did not give an opinion on whether Malvo was brainwashed.

Ex-secretary of state named as Iraq debt envoy

WASHINGTON -- President Bush on Friday named former Secretary of State James A. Baker III to be his envoy in seeking an international deal to lower and refinance Iraq's staggering foreign debt. The country owes an estimated $125 billion. Administration officials argue that major debt relief is needed for Iraq's economy to get back on its feet.

Iraq to create tribunal for crimes against humanity

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Saddam Hussein and hundreds of his aides could go on trial for crimes against humanity and genocide in an Iraqi-led tribunal that will be established in the coming days, Iraqi and American officials told The Associated Press on Friday. The law creating the tribunal -- which could be passed as early as Sunday -- calls for Iraqi judges to hear cases presented by Iraqi lawyers, with international experts serving only as advisers, one member of Iraq's Governing Council said.

Bomb on Russian commuter train kills 42

YESSENTUKI, Russia -- A shrapnel-filled bomb believed strapped to a suicide attacker ripped apart a commuter train Friday near Chechnya, killing 42 people and wounding nearly 200. The blast was the latest in a series of bombings and other attacks that have killed more than 275 people in and around the rebellious region of Chechnya and in Moscow in the past year.

Two shootings added to Ohio highway probe

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Two more shootings have occurred in the Columbus area since a woman was killed as she traveled to a doctor's appointment, bringing the number of cases under investigation to 14, authorities said Friday. One of the shootings was at a car on Sunday; the other shooting was at a house sometime between Sunday and Monday. No one was injured. The bullet from the house came from the same gun as four other shootings that have been definitely linked by ballistics tests.

Austrian unions start anti-carol campaign

VIENNA, Austria -- For whatever reason, Austria -- known worldwide for its magically festive Christmas traditions -- is in a Grinchy state of mind. Just in time for this weekend's season-opening St. Nikolaus holiday, labor unions are pressing stores to stop the incessant playing of carols, denouncing the practice as "psychological terrorism" that grates the ears of shop employees. Gottfried Rieser, a leader of the campaign, wants shops to limit carol playing to 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. to give workers a break.

-- From wire reports