Nine bombs explode in Ethiopian capital

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia -- Nine bombs exploded across Ethiopia's capital Friday, killing four people and wounding dozens in what police said was a coordinated attempt to discredit the government. No group immediately took responsibility for the blasts, which focused on government-owned companies and public transportation. But the bombings could point to growing militant opposition to the government.

Former Qwest exec ignored NSA request

WASHINGTON -- Telecommunications giant Qwest refused to provide the government with access to telephone records of its 15 million customers after deciding the request violated privacy law, a lawyer for a former company executive said Friday. The attorney for former Qwest CEO Joseph Nacchio said the government approached the company in the fall of 2001 seeking access to the phone records of customers, with neither a warrant nor approval from a special court established to handle surveillance matters. On Friday, CIA nominee Michael Hayden defended the secret surveillance programs he oversaw as National Security Agency director as lawful, but declined to comment on the phone-calls database or specific operations.

Moussaoui appeals judgment and sentence

WASHINGTON -- Convicted Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui appealed the life sentence he got this month and the denial of his request for a new trial. In a one-paragraph notice of appeal, his court-appointed lawyers said Friday he wanted the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review the final judgment and sentence he received May 4 and Judge Leonie Brinkema's denial of his request to withdraw his guilty plea and go to trial on the original charges.

Small plane crashes beside Georgia house

CUMMING, Ga. -- A small plane crashed beside a house Friday morning, killing the two passengers onboard, authorities said. Forsyth County Sheriff's Department spokesman Capt. Frank Huggins said both victims were older males and one was a former commercial pilot. The victims likely were killed instantly, he said. The plane "nose-dived into a backyard and then flipped over on the side yard of an adjacent home," Huggins said. Forsyth County fire chief Danny Bowman said there was no one inside the house, which sustained no damage.

-- From wire reports