Nation digest 9a 9/17

Amid heroism, mischief, deceit and fraud arise

NEW YORK -- Only hours after the World Trade Center was obliterated by terrorism, they were there.

One claimed her husband was a police officer who was sending distress signals from underneath the rubble. Another donned an "ATF" hat and demanded access to ground zero. Others appeared with dogs they said were trained to search for bodies, or hit up the elderly for donations.

All were frauds.

By the weekend, Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik was so fed up with unauthorized forays into lower Manhattan that he cautioned New Yorkers, "If you're not here as a worker at ground zero, you will be arrested for trespassing."

India hands U.S. videos, maps, data on Taliban

NEW DELHI, India -- Maps, phone transcripts, video and photographs -- including one of former President Clinton that was used for target practice -- show how Islamic militant leaders run training camps across Pakistan and in southern Afghanistan, India says.

India has given FBI investigators documents from its store of intelligence on suspected terrorist camps, a collection culled over four years, officials said Sunday.

A top Indian intelligence official reported the secret documents were evidence Islamic militants -- including Osama bin Laden, the main suspect in the U.S. attacks -- finance guerrilla groups and training camps.

Muslim scholars debate legitimacy of bombings

CAIRO, Egypt -- The terror attacks in New York and Washington have lent new urgency to a debate among Islamic scholars about whether their religion sanctions suicide bombings.

Some clerics unreservedly support them while others are flatly opposed. In between are those who justify suicide bombings by Palestinian groups under Israeli rule, but condemn the attacks in the United States.

The Palestinian militants say their attacks in Israel are part of "jihad," an Arabic word that literally means to struggle for the cause of religion.

For a Muslim, the struggle involves striving to be a better person, donating money to the poor, fulfilling obligations toward the faith and, finally, engaging in combat in defense of Islam.

Philippines troops nab rebel chief Abu Sayyaf

ZAMBOANGA, Philippines -- Government troops in the Philippines have captured three Abu Sayyaf guerrillas, including an officer in charge of the Muslim separatist group's communications, military officials said Sunday.

In addition to holding hostages, including Americans, the Abu Sayyaf has links to exiled Saudi millionaire Osama bin Laden, the military has said. Bin Laden, who is believed to be in Afghanistan, is a prime suspect in last week's terror attacks in the United States.

The three rebels were captured Saturday on the southern island of Basilan, where government troops have waged a massive offensive to destroy the rebel force and rescue their hostages.

N.Y., Jerusalem mayors share pain in phone call

NEW YORK -- A message of solidarity came Sunday from one city that has endured many terrorist attacks to another city that is struggling to hold its head up after a nearly unbearable one.

New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani spoke by telephone with Jerusalem's Mayor Ehud Olmert. They shared words of encouragement after a week of unrelenting pain in New York.

"All of the people of New York City appreciate the support that we have in our sister city of Jerusalem," Giuliani said, speaking on a cell phone from the city's emergency command center.

Giuliani said the people of Jerusalem voted to rename Jaffa Street -- the scene of several terrorist attacks -- in honor of New York.

Both men have seen the people of their cities look to them for answers and assistance in the face of tragedy.

-- From wire reports