A U.S. military helicopter crashed in bad weather in Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing 16 people, including four U.S. crew members in the deadliest military crash since the U.S.-led offensive began in 2001.
An Afghan official said all the dead, including the four crew, appeared to be American. Two more people were listed as missing.
PRINCE RAINIER DIES: Prince Rainier III of Monaco died Wednesday, leaving the throne to Prince Albert II, his only son with actress Grace Kelly. In power for 56 of his 81 years, Rainier was Europe’s longest-reigning monarch.
SAUDIS KILL MOST WANTED SUSPECT: Saudi security forces killed most-wanted Islamic militant Abdul-Rahman Mohammed Mohammed Yazji on Wednesday, the Interior Ministry said. Yazji is No. 25 on the country’s list of 26 most-wanted terrorists.
QUEEN SHOW CRITICIZED: Rockers Queen went on with a gig in Rome on Monday despite a plea to cancel out of respect for Pope John Paul II. Before the show, Guido Bertolaso, overseeing the pope’s funeral, said it would be “in very bad taste.” Queen said the show took place “after consultation with local authorities,” and the band observed a minute’s silence.
IRA ASKED TO DISARM: In an unusually direct appeal, Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams asked the Irish Republican Army on Wednesday to abandon its 35-year “armed struggle” in Northern Ireland and rely on politics to advance its goals.
“GANDHI” FOR PALESTINIANS: Actor Ben Kingsley and U.S. philanthropists unveiled an Arabic version of the film “Gandhi” on Wednesday, hoping to bring the Indian revolutionary’s message of non-violent resistance to Palestinians. The 1983 Oscar-winning film was dubbed into Arabic by 129 Palestinian actors.
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Compiled from news services and edited by Patrick Olsen (polsen@tribune.com) and Martin Gee (mtgee@tribune.com)
