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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, March 21, 2009

Iraqis protest on war anniversary

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Former Puerto Rican Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila yesterday was cleared of all charges in his corruption trial, including conspiracy and lying to the FBI.

BRENNAN LINSLEY | Associated Press

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BAGHDAD — American flags were set on fire yesterday to chants of "no, no for occupation" as followers of an anti-U.S. Shiite cleric marked the sixth anniversary of the Iraq war.

In five other Iraqi cities, supporters of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr either marched or stood in protest after prayers to demand the release of their allies detained at Iraqi and U.S.-run prisons.

The protests came as a suicide bomber in Fallujah killed an Iraqi police officer and five other people, including civilians, in an attempted attack on the home of the local leader of Sunni security volunteers who turned against al-Qaida.

SEARCH DOG SENT FOR TEEN'S BODY

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Natalee Holloway's father flew a search dog and handler to Aruba to search for the missing teen's body yesterday, although prosecutors said they have no new leads in the case.

Ann Angela, a spokeswoman for the Aruba Prosecutors' Office, said the dog is searching a small reservoir in northwestern Aruba that witnesses have previously identified as a location where Holloway's remains might be found.

Holloway, from Mountain Brook, Ala., disappeared in May 2005 in the Aruban capital Oranjestad.

MEXICO ARRESTS ALLEGED HIT MAN

MEXICO CITY — The Mexican army arrested an alleged drug trafficker suspected of organizing an attack on a U.S. consulate as well as the killing of several soldiers in retaliation for a government crackdown, President Felipe Calderon said yesterday.

Calderon said alleged Gulf cartel hit man Sigifrido Najera Talamantes was captured in the northern city of Saltillo, Coahuila, earlier in the day.

Najera Talamantes is suspected in an Oct. 12 attack in which one man opened fire on the U.S. consulate in the northern city of Monterrey and another man threw a grenade that failed to explode.

REWARD FOR TIPS ON TOILET VANDALS

SAN FRANCISCO — The Clorox Company is offering a $5,000 reward and a year's supply of toilet cleaning products for tips leading to the arrest of San Francisco's notorious portable potty pyromaniac.

The Oakland-based chemical company says it plans to deploy a "potty patrol" team in the city Tuesday to make residents aware of its offer marrying marketing and community service.

Since November, more than two dozen construction site toilets have been set on fire in the city.