Nation/world digest 12/16/03

Family recognizes claim of Thurmond's daughter

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- The late Sen. Strom Thurmond's family on Monday said it acknowledges a woman's claim that she is his illegitimate mixed-race daughter. Essie Mae Washington-Williams' attorney said the statement brought her "a sigh of relief." The family's attorney refused to give details or answer questions, including whether the family was verifying the claims of Washington-Williams, a 78-year-old retired teacher who lives in Los Angeles.

Retired judges selected to hear Moore appeal

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Seven retired judges were selected in a lottery Monday to hear Roy Moore's appeal of his ouster as chief justice in his Ten Commandments monument case. All eight Supreme Court justices disqualified themselves from hearing the appeal because of their earlier involvement in the monument case. Moore was ousted by the Court of the Judiciary on Nov. 13.

Afghan women complain of leadership voting

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Afghanistan's constitutional council hit its first controversy Monday, with women delegates denouncing their colleagues for trying to shut them out of leadership positions. After much wrangling, one woman was granted a deputy chairman's position. Women's rights are a hot-button issue for the council, which began Sunday. Some 500 delegates are meeting to hammer out a new charter ahead of June elections.

Turkish bomber confesses to al-Qaida training

ANKARA, Turkey -- A Turkish man suspected of preparing the truck bombs that killed 62 people in Istanbul last month confessed he had explosives training at an al-Qaida terrorist camp in Afghanistan, an intelligence official said Monday. Fevzi Yitiz also received Osama bin Laden's blessing for the attacks, said the official. A Turkish court on Sunday filed charges against Yitiz for his alleged involvement in the bombings.

Court to hear privacy fight over energy records

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court said Monday it will hear Vice President Dick Cheney's argument for keeping private the details of closed-door White House strategy sessions that produced the administration's energy policy. A lower federal judge had ordered the White House and other government agencies to turn over records that Judicial Watch and the Sierra Club could then use to press their case.

Colin Powell undergoes prostate cancer surgery

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of State Colin Powell underwent surgery for prostate cancer Monday at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The State Department said the surgery lasted about two hours and that the secretary's prostate was removed. Powell was expected to be hospitalized for several days, then go home to recuperate.

-- From wire reports

Nurse claims killing dozens of patients

SOMERVILLE, N.J. -- A former nurse told prosecutors that he killed 30 to 40 patients since 1987 at hospitals in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Charles Cullen, 43, has been charged with one count of murder and attempted murder, but investigators are examining records at 10 hospitals where he worked in attempt to document his claims. Cullen, 43, told investigators that he performed mercy killings.