by
I'm Marcelle Hopkins.
In Saudi Arabia today, guards thwarted an attempted suicide-bomb attack at the world's largest oil processing facility. When two cars tried to drive through the gates of the facility, guards shot at the cars, detonating the bombs inside. The attackers were killed and two guards were critically injured. Saudi Arabia's oil minister said the attack did not disrupt operations at the plant. But, oil prices have jumped by $2 a barrel on world markets.
Iraq's most influential Shiite leader has called for unity among Sunnis and Shiites. Abdul Aziz al-Hakim appealed for calm after two days of bloodshed following the bombing of a holy Shiite shrine in Samara. This latest wave of violence has killed 130 people since Wednesday. Iraqi leaders put Baghdad and other parts of the country under a daytime curfew today, ordering residents to stay indoors and not to go out to Friday prayers.
Philippines President Gloria MOK-uh-puh-GAL-uh Arroyo has declared a state of emergency after what she called an attempted coup today. In Manila, police used water cannons to disperse 5,000 protesters demanding the resignation of President Arroyo because of alleged vote-rigging, corruption and human rights abuses. The clashes erupted on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the ousting of former dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
In other Philippine news, rescue workers have called off the search for survivors in the village buried by a landslide a week ago. The official death toll is 132, but more than 1000 people are believed to be dead.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced that three locations in New York City have tested positive for Anthrax. The sites were used by Vado Diomande, who contracted inhalation Anthrax from untreated goat skins he used to make drums. The 44-year-old dancer and drummer from Ivory Coast is in stable condition at a Pennsylvania hospital.
Two women and two young girls died in a fire in a four-story Brooklyn apartment building today. One of the women died when she jumped from a window to escape the flames. Witnesses say several children were thrown from windows on the lower floors and caught safely by people below. A fire department spokesman says the fire in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, is considered suspicious and under investigation for possible arson.
At the Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, California skier Julia Manusco has won the gold medal in the giant slalom event. The 21 year old took two runs in snowy, foggy weather today to beat out the Finnish and Swedish silver and bronze winners. Manusco's is the second U.S. gold medal in Alpine skiing at the Turin Games, and the first for the women's team.
Marcelle Hopkins, Columbia Radio News.