World briefs 4/4

Catholic bishop: Church must restore trust

The president of the U.S. Roman Catholic bishops' conference said Wednesday molestation scandals involving priests will end only when church leaders take definitive steps to restore parishioners' trust.

Bishop Wilton Gregory gave few specifics, but left the door open to asking the Vatican to approve a binding sex abuse policy for American clergy.

"There's a possibility that we might propose some action that would need validation by the Holy See," said Gregory, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The conference serves as the church's national voice on social and religious issues, implementing policies set in Rome. As president, Gregory can influence -- but cannot decide -- what actions the bishops take.

Bush, TV characters kick off literacy effort

WASHINGTON -- When Theo and Cleo Lion complained, "We got W trouble," they were not bemoaning the fact that President Bush didn't stick around to hear what they had to say.

The characters from the children's TV show "Between the Lions" were explaining, through song, children's struggle with a tricky consonant as they learn to read.

The lions -- along with Elmo, Mister Rogers and singing Vowelles in bright feather boas -- joined Bush Wednesday in the East Room of the White House to kick off a national PBS "designated reader" campaign promoting literacy among young children. First lady Laura Bush is an honorary chairwoman of the effort.

Father, son of reputed drug kingpin indicted

MIAMI -- Federal prosecutors have indicted the father and son of a reputed cocaine kingpin after the alleged kingpin rejected a plea bargain deal requiring maximum prison terms.

Defense attorneys accused prosecutors Wednesday of trying to blackmail Sal Magluta by threatening his family.

"This is dirty pool," said Ed Shohat, attorney for Magluta's father, Manuel. "We hope they don't indict the dog and the parrot tomorrow."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan declined comment after bond was set at $600,000 each for Manuel Magluta, 80, and his grandson Christian Magluta, a 28-year-old law school student.

Both are charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice.

Senator proposes bioterrorism hub at CDC

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Max Cleland and a former Home Depot CEO acted Wednesday to bolster the clout and funding of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as it prepares for another possible bioterrorism attack.

In a separate announcement, Home Depot co-founder and former CEO Bernard Marcus -- a longtime CDC booster -- pledged $3.9 million to help equip a 24-hour emergency response hub the facility established on a temporary basis about six months ago amid the anthrax scare.

Ukrainian police arrest robbers of German bank

KIEV, Ukraine -- Three armed men who robbed a bank in Germany and took two female employees hostage were arrested in Ukraine on Wednesday after a two-day police chase that spanned 990 miles through Germany, Poland and Ukraine.

The three were arrested and their hostage released near the western Ukrainian town of Rivne, about 200 miles west of Kiev. The other hostage had escaped earlier, during a refueling stop near the southeastern Polish city of Lublin.

German Ambassador Dietmar Stuedemann said the hostage freed Wednesday, 26-year-old Kerstin Gerke, was unharmed.

-- From wire reports