World briefs 9/3/06

Iran offers to support Lebanon cease-fire

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran offered to help support the cease-fire in Lebanon in talks Saturday with U.N Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and insisted that diplomacy is the only way to resolve Tehran's nuclear dispute with the West. The tone from Annan's first meetings in Tehran was positive. Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, described his talks with the U.N. chief as "constructive" and said "both sides agreed that problems should be solved through negotiations."

Hurricane John weakens, pounds southern Baja

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico -- John weakened to a tropical storm Saturday just hours after it hit land as a hurricane in the southern part of Mexico's Baja California peninsula, ripping roofs from shacks and knocking out power. John was a Category 2 storm with 100 mph winds when it struck land Friday night, but it had slipped to Category 1 status with winds near 85 mph by Saturday morning. By Saturday afternoon it weakened to a tropical storm and the winds dropped to 65 mph by evening.

Al-Qaida video features alleged American terrorist

CAIRO, Egypt -- An American thought to be an al-Qaida activist appeared in a videotape Saturday and called on his countrymen to convert to Islam and for U.S. soldiers to switch sides in the Iraq and Afghan wars. The 48-minute video, posted on an Islamic militant Web site, had footage of al-Qaida's No. 2 leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, and of Adam Yehiye Gadahn, a 28-year-old American who the FBI believes attended al-Qaida training camps in Pakistan. Gadahn delivered a lecture on Islam and the "errors" in Christianity and Judaism. He also said the United States is losing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

-- From wire reports