JIM LEHRER: The U.S. offered today to take part in nuclear
talks with Iran
for the first time. Secretary of State Rice said the U.S.
will join Britain, Germany and France at the negotiating table. But
first, Iran
must halt any activities that could lead to a nuclear weapon.
Rice announced the policy shift at the State Department, and
she spelled out Iran's
options.
CONDOLEEZZA RICE, U.S. Secretary of State: Our choice is to
provide an atmosphere in which Iran
comes back to negotiations and we solve this by a negotiated track. We're
trying to give that the very best chance. Or, if Iran
is not prepared to do this through a negotiated track, to bring isolation on Iran so that Iran realizes it doesn't have any
other option. Those are the two choices.
JIM LEHRER: Later, Rice told the NewsHour the U.S.
wants to clarify where things stand and soon. She said, "It's important
that we know whether or not there is truly a negotiating option."
In response, Iran
insisted it will not stop enriching uranium. Its official news agency called
the U.S.
offer "a propaganda move." We'll have that interview with Secretary
Rice right after this news summary.
The prime minister of Iraq
declared a state of emergency today in Basra.
Growing violence in the southern port city has threatened the country's vital
oil exports.
Today, during a visit to Basra, Prime Minister al-Maliki vowed to use
"an iron fist" on Shiite gangs. He ordered more troops into the
streets.
Elsewhere, violence killed at least 14 more Iraqis; another
19 bodies were found in Baghdad.
U.S.
forces in Iraq
acknowledged today they killed two Iraqi women on Tuesday. They fired on a car
that failed to stop at an observation post near Baghdad. Iraqi officials said one of the
women was speeding to a hospital to give birth.
And in Samarra, the U.S. military
denied Iraqi claims that American troops killed three unarmed civilians this
month. It said the Iraqis were insurgents.
President Bush spoke out today about allegations that U.S.
Marines murdered Iraqis in Haditha. Witnesses claim the Marines killed two
dozen civilians there last November. The president was asked about the reports
today during a White House event.
GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States: I am troubled by the
initial news stories. I am mindful that there is a thorough investigation going
on. If, in fact, the -- you know, the laws were broken, there'll be punishment.
Nobody is more concerned about these allegations than the
Marine Corps. The Marine Corps is full of men and women who are honorable
people, who understand rules of war.
JIM LEHRER: The Marines initially reported the Iraqi deaths
were caused by a roadside bomb.
But today The New York Times reported a U.S. military
investigator concluded back in February the victims were shot to death. The
military is now conducting investigations into the killings and a possible
cover-up.
Afghan lawmakers urged their government today to prosecute U.S. soldiers
in a fatal road accident. A U.S.
military truck went out of control in Kabul
on Monday, killing five Afghans. Rioting broke out, and 20 more people were
killed. Hospitals said most of the riot victims were shot.
But today, a U.S. Army spokesman gave this assessment.
COL. TOM COLLINS, Coalition Spokesman: Our initial
investigation -- and, again, I want to underscore this is very early in the
process -- shows that fire came from the crowd and our soldiers used their
weapons to defend themselves.
JIM LEHRER: The colonel said officials are still
investigating whether the troops fired into the crowd.
To the south today, hundreds of Taliban members briefly took
over a police district headquarters. It was the latest in a wave of violence in
that region.
The death toll from the earthquake in Indonesia
climbed above 6,200 today. Officials said there's little hope of finding more
survivors. The quake rocked the island
of Java last Saturday.
Today, U.N. officials said the crisis is easing, as
international disaster aid continues to arrive. A key airport has reopened,
allowing greater access to relief teams.
On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average
gained more than 73 points to close at 11,168. The Nasdaq rose 14 points to
close above 2,178.
