Pope visits Switzerland, says he's not giving up

BERN, Switzerland -- A frail Pope John Paul II made his first foreign trip in nine months Saturday by visiting Switzerland, calling it his "duty" to keep traveling. He told young people he had no intention of giving up the papacy. The pontiff spoke to a rally of 13,000 Swiss Roman Catholic youths, his hands trembling but his voice clear. "It's wonderful to be able to offer oneself until the end for the cause of the kingdom of God," he told the rally.

Michigan mayor officiates at 'weddings'

FERNDALE, Mich. -- The mayor of this Detroit suburb officiated at the mass wedding of nearly a dozen gay couples outside city hall on Saturday in a symbolic demonstration of support for legalizing same-sex marriage in Michigan. Although the ceremony carried no legal weight, the 11 couples who exchanged vows and rings left feeling married. The Rev. Mark Bidwell, pastor of Metropolitan Community Church, joined Porter in performing the marriage ceremonies. However, no marriage licenses were issued because only the county can issue them.

U.S. troops kill eight Taliban in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan -- U.S. troops and warplanes attacked Taliban rebels besieging a remote checkpoint in southern Afghanistan, an Afghan official said Saturday. Eight militants were killed. American forces also skirmished with guerrillas who attacked them with rockets near the country's eastern border, the U.S. military said. "Coalition planes bombed the area, and after a four-hour gunfight, the Taliban pulled back into the mountains," provincial military commander Naimatullah Khan said. "Eight of them were killed. We've gathered up their bodies and guns."

-- From wire reports