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6A Daily News – Wednesday, September 21, 2011 WORLD BRIEFING Attacker with kills former Afghan president KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A suicide attacker with a bomb in his turban posed as a Taliban peace envoy and assassinated a former Afghan president who for the past year headed a government council seeking a political settle- ment with the insurgents. Tuesday's attack, carried out in former President Burhanuddin Rabbani's Kabul home, dealt a harsh blow to attempts at ending a decade of war. The killing of Rab- bani, an ethnic Tajik and one of the wise old men of Afghan poli- tics, will blunt efforts to keep in check the regional and ethnic rivalries that help feed the insur- gency. President Hamid Karzai cut short a visit to the United Nations and called on Afghans to remain unified in the face of Rabbani's ''martyrdom.'' An emergency Cabinet meeting was called for Wednesday. The attack came days after a daytime assault by insurgents on the U.S. Embassy and NATO headquarters that deepened a sense of insecurity in the capital. IMF says global economy in dangerous phase WASHINGTON (AP) — The world economy has entered a ''dangerous new phase,'' according to the chief econo- mist of the International Mone- tary Fund. As a result, the inter- SC Ice Cream PS Gelato & More! Wraps & Salads Drive thru window Now Serving Sandwiches, 905 Walnut St., Red Bluff 528-1698 11am-9pm 7 days http://www.facebook.com/scoopsofredbluff facebook.com/scoopsofredbluff national lending organization has sharply downgraded its eco- nomic outlook for the United States and Europe through the end of next year. The IMF expects the U.S. economy to grow just 1.5 per- cent this year and 1.8 percent in 2012. That's down from its June forecast of 2.5 percent in 2011 and 2.7 percent next year. To achieve even that still-low level of growth, the U.S. econo- my would need to expand at a much faster rate in the second half of the year than its 0.7 per- cent annual pace in the first six months. Most economists expect growth of between 1.5 percent and 2 percent in the final two quarters. Though an improve- ment, it wouldn't be enough to lower the unemployment rate. The rate has been 9 percent or higher in all but two months since the recession officially ended more than two years ago. ''The global economy has entered a dangerous new phase,'' said Olivier Blanchard, the IMF's chief economist. ''The recovery has weakened considerably. Strong policies are needed to improve the out- look and reduce the risks.'' Republican presidential candidates assail Obama NEW YORK (AP) — Rick Perry, Mitt Romney and their GOP presidential rivals slammed President Barack Obama's Mid- dle East policies Tuesday while •Weight Loss • Kickboxing • Muscle Tone • Boot Camps • Strength Training & Sport Specific Training J J & No Gym, No Problem! We come to you! or email: in.homefitness@yahoo.com Call Jacob (530) 529-0095 275 C St. / Tehama In Home Fitness emphatically declaring their own- support for Israel as the United Nations considered a bid for Palestinian statehood. Republican front-runner Perry, the Texas governor, denounced the president's Israel policy as ''misguided and dan- gerous,'' speaking to supporters in New York as the Obama administration worked a few miles away to thwart a U.N. vote to grant formal recognition to the Palestinian Authority. Perry also accused Obama of appeasement, as did Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, who assailed the president from the Midwest. Perry's chief rival for the nom- ination, former Massachusetts Gov. Romney, issued a statement accusing Obama of ''throwing Israel under the bus.'' The Republican campaigns have similar goals: establish con- trasts with Obama on an issue where he's struggled; chip away at American Jews' support for Democrats and prove their con- servative, pro-Israel bona fides with the evangelical voters who will play a significant role in the GOP presidential primaries. Defense officials hail end of 'don't ask, don't tell' WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military passed a historic milestone Tuesday with the repeal of the ban on gays serving openly in uniform, ending a prohibition that President Barack Obama said had forced gay and lesbian service members to ''lie about who they are.'' of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retiring Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said that with the new law allowing gays to serve openly, the military is a stronger, more tolerant force with greater character and honor. Libyans describe Defense Secretary Leon Panet- ta pledged not to allow other issues of equal opportunity, such as allowing women to serve in combat roles, to be ignored or set aside. ''I am committed to removing all of the barriers that would pre- vent Americans from serving their country and from rising to the highest level of responsibility that their talents and capabilities war- rant,'' Panetta told a Pentagon news conference. ''These are men and women who put their lives on the line in the defense of this coun- try, and that's what should matter the most.'' Repeal of the 18-year-old legal provision — commonly known as ''don't ask, don't tell,'' under which gays can serve as long as they don't openly acknowledge their sexual orientation — took effect Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. EDT. Appearing with Panetta for what was probably his final news Pentagon conference as chairman Thank You for Supporting the state of siege SIRTE, Libya (AP) — Fami- lies in pickup trucks stacked with mattresses and jugs of water fled Moammar Gadhafi's hometown of Sirte Tuesday ahead of an expected new push by revolutionary forces to seize the city, as the anti-Gadhafi forces claimed progress in the battle for a city in the remote southern desert. A commander of new gov- ernment's forces said late Tues- day they were in control of most of the Gadhafi desert stronghold of Sabha after a day of fighting. The commander, Bashir Ahwaz, said most of the tribesmen loyal to Gadhafi fled the city instead of putting up a fight, but three of his men and 19 pro-Gadhafi tribesmen were killed. He said it would take another week for his forces to take con- trol of all of Libya's southern desert and its borders with Alge- ria and Niger. Several groups of officials from Gadhafi's regime, as well as one of the outsted dic- tator's sons, have fled to Niger. Earlier, residents fleeing Sirte said they had been living under a state of siege with Gad- hafi's forces preventing them from leaving, while living con- ditions deteriorated and the city came under constant rocket fire and NATO bombardment. Jr. Livestock Auction Sept, 24th • 10:00 am Champions 1pm Sale of See you there! COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened 30K, 60K, 90K SERVICES AT LOWER PRICES Smog Check starting at $ (most cars and pick-ups) 2595 + cert. Pass or FREE retest 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St.