JIM LEHRER: President Bush today named Robert Zoellick to head the World Bank. He's a former U.S. trade representative and deputy secretary of state. If the bank's board approves, Zoellick will succeed Paul Wolfowitz. He resigned under fire after authorizing a pay raise for a bank employee romantically involved with him. We'll have more on this story right after the news summary.
Seven NATO soldiers, including five Americans, were killed in Afghanistan today when their transport helicopter went down. Initial reports indicated it was shot down in Helmand province. The Taliban claimed responsibility.
And the U.S. military confirmed enemy fire brought down a helicopter in Iraq on Monday. Two U.S. troops died in that crash. Several others were killed by roadside bombs as they rushed to the scene. Two more American soldiers were killed in Iraq today in a roadside bombing.
And Iraqi and U.S. forces searched for five Britons. They were kidnapped yesterday from the Iraqi finance ministry. Today, in Baghdad, troops combed the Sadr City area. It's dominated by a Shiite militia, the Mahdi Army. We have a report narrated by Bill Neely of Independent Television News.
BILL NEELY, ITV News Correspondent: Baghdad's streets are being searched, but there's no sign of the five men and silence from their captors. A hunt is on, too, in the backstreets of Baghdad's main Shia suburb, Sadr City.
American troops raided overnight using stun grenades and vehicles to break down walls. They arrested six people, but none in connection with the kidnapping. Two people were killed in the raids, an approach British officials might not welcome.
At the scene of the kidnapping today, few clues to answer the key questions: Who kidnapped the men? And what do they want? Iraq's foreign minister says the culprits are most likely a Shia militia.
It was an open, brazen kidnapping, at least 40 armed men arriving in 19 four-wheel-drive vehicles and sealing off streets. The convoy would have passed through multiple checkpoints, the number of police vehicles and uniforms ensuring they were just waved through. The police are Shia-dominated.
As for why the Mahdi Army might do this, they're under attack. Their Basra leader, Abu Qadir, was killed in a joint British-Iraqi operation last week. Across Baghdad, day and night, British special forces have begun work. A hostage rescue team is now in place; diplomats are digging, but it may be a long search in the darkest of places.
JIM LEHRER: There was also word today two Iraqi employees at the U.S. embassy in Baghdad are missing, and U.S. officials said it's believed they were kidnapped. Elsewhere, a mortar attack in Fallujah killed at least nine Iraqis and wounded 15 others.
And Prime Minister Maliki and the country's two vice presidents spoke by video conference with President Bush. Iraqi President Talabani will meet with Mr. Bush at the White House tomorrow.
The U.N. Security Council approved setting up a tribunal today in the murder of a former Lebanese prime minister. Rafik Hariri was killed in a Beirut bombing in 2005. Syria was widely blamed, but denied any role. Today's resolution will establish an international court, unless the Lebanese parliament sets up its own tribunal by June 10th.
Russia accused the United States today of sparking a new arms race. The foreign minister insisted again a missile defense system in Eastern Europe would be a threat to Russia. U.S. officials say it's designed to protect against Iran and North Korea. Russian President Putin is expected to raise the issue with President Bush in early July, at Kennebunkport, Maine; the meeting was announced today.
On Wall Street today, stocks rallied on new optimism about interest rates and corporate profits. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained more than 111 points to close at 13,633. The Nasdaq rose 20 points to close at 2,592.
