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6A – Daily News – Monday, December 20, 2010 WORLD BRIEFING UN Security Council meets on Korea tensions UNITED NATIONS (AP) — World powers try- ing to defuse tensions between North and South Korea met in an emergency session of the U.N. Security Council on Sunday, but dis- agreed over whether the North should be singled out for criticism over two dead- ly attacks this year that have helped send relations to their lowest point in decades. China and Russia, the countries with the closest North Korea ties, have expressed concern about the South Korean military’s plans to conduct one-day, live-fire drills by Tuesday on the same front-line island the North shelled last month as the South con- ducted a similar exercise. The United States supports South Korea, a staunch ally, and says any country has a right to train for self- defense. The North warned of a ‘‘catastrophe’’ if South Korea goes ahead with the drills. The reclusive com- munist government in Pyongyang said it would strike back harder than it did last month, when two South Korean marines and two civilians were killed on Yeonpyeong Island. South Korea says the drills are routine, defensive in nature and should not be considered threatening. Thousands try to storm govt building in Belarus MINSK, Belarus (AP) — Thousands of opposition supporters in Belarus tried to storm the main govern- ment building to protest what they claim was large- scale vote-rigging in Sun- day’s presidential election, but they were driven back and beaten by riot police. Auxiliary A member of CHW St. Elizabeth Community Hospital St. Elizabeth Hospital Affordable Unique Gift Items Christmas Ornaments Gift Shop See’s Candy for all occasions available year round 530.529.8002 redbluff.mercy.org 2550 Sister Mary Columba Dr., Red Bluff, CA 96080 Mon.-Fri. 8am-4pm Saturday, 10:30am-3pm Sunday, 12pm-4pm Dozens of protesters were injured in clashes with the police, left bruised and bloody after being beaten with clubs. An Associated Press reporter at the scene also was struck on the head, back and arm. Up to 40,000 opposition activists rallied in central Minsk to call for longtime authoritarian leader Alexan- der Lukashenko to step down. It was the largest opposition rally since mass street protests against Lukashenko in 1996, but it was over within hours. By late Sunday, police had cleared Independence Square of all demonstrators. Protesters broke win- dows and glass doors of the government building, which also houses the Cen- tral Election Commission, but they were repelled by riot police waiting inside. Hundreds more riot police and Interior Ministry troops then arrived in trucks and sent most of the demonstra- tors fleeing. Some tried to hide in the courtyards of nearby apartment buildings, but were bludgeoned by troops waiting inside the courtyards. Few had expected tens of thousands to join the elec- tion-night protest, which Lukashenko had made clear would be dispersed by force. The question remained of whether the opposition had the momen- tum to maintain pressure on Lukashenko or whether Sunday’s violence would effectively put an end to the opposition’s hopes. Senate GOP leader to oppose nuclear treaty WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate’s Republican leader said Sunday he would oppose a nuclear arms treaty with Russia, complicating President Barack Obama’s drive to secure a foreign policy vic- tory in the final days of the postelection Congress. Senior Democrats still expressed confidence the Senate would ratify the accord by year’s end. The White House and Democrats are determined to win approval of the land- mark treaty before January, when Republicans increase their numbers in the Senate, dimming its outlook. Dur- ing a rare Sunday debate in the Senate, Democrats beat back a GOP amendment to change the treaty, which would have effectively killed it. PUMPKINLAND Chocolate Company Complete line of Sweets & Holiday Candy made by the Chocolatier. Gift Trays & Gift Boxes Complete selection of dark and milk chocolates including sugar free Stocking Stuffers 12000 Hwy. 99E (5 miles South of Red Bluff) 530 527-3026 Open: Sun-Thurs 9am-6pm Fri & Sat 9am-8pm Hours earlier, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., dealt a blow to the administration’s hopes for strong bipartisan support, criticizing the treaty’s verifi- cation system and express- ing concern that the pact would limit U.S. missile defense options even though Obama insisted Sat- urday that the treaty impos- es no restrictions on missile defense. ‘‘Rushing it right before Christmas strikes me as try- ing to jam us,’’ McConnell said on CNN’s ‘‘State of the Union.’’ ‘‘I think that was not the best way to get the support of people like me.’’ While McConnell’s opposition did not come as a surprise, it unnerved the treaty’s backers, who won- dered how hard he would work to defeat the accord. Treaties require a two-thirds majority of those voting in the Senate, and Republican votes are critical to 22755 Antelope Blvd. Red Bluff, CA 96080 (530) 527-9166 Transition Open Mon. thru Sat. 10am – 6pm Put us on your Christmas List! Gift Certificates Available Stocking Stuffers Also Carrying Used Equipment & Trays Retirement Sale Now thru Dec. 31st 10% - 40% off on all HF Inventory Socks-Yarn-Wheels Looms-Accessories Patagonia clothing 623 Main St. Obama’s success in getting the landmark agreement. After repeal of gay ban, Pentagon faces questions WASHINGTON (AP) — The debate over gays in the military has been set- tled with a historic decision to allow them to serve openly, but big questions lie ahead about how and when the change will take place, how troops will accept it and whether it will hamper the U.S. military effort in Afghanistan and Iraq. President Barack Obama is expected to sign into law this week the leg- islation that passed the Senate on Saturday, an act some believe will carry social implications as pro- found as President Harry S. Truman’s 1948 executive order on racial equality in the military. The new law probably won’t go into practice for months. Obama and his top advisers must first certify that repealing the 1993 ban on gays serving openly will not damage U.S. troops’ ability to fight. That ban, known as ‘‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’’ has allowed gays to serve, but only if they kept quiet about their sexual ori- entation.