U.S. goes deep into Taliban territory

KHAKERAN VALLEY, Afghanistan — U.S. troops pushed far into a Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan's Khakeran Valley yesterday, seeking to reassert control after a spate of attacks raised fears the war here is worsening.

Up to 300 insurgents are suspected to be holed up in the valley. Troops skimmed low over the desert in a convoy of two CH-47 Chinook helicopters, a Blackhawk and two Apache attack choppers.

"The enemy has been using the Khakeran Valley as a sanctuary," said Lt. Luke Langer, a platoon leader in the 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade.

Some 465 suspected insurgents have been reported killed since March, when snows melted on mountain tracks used by the rebels. In the same period, 29 U.S. troops, 38 Afghan troops and 125 civilians have been killed.

U.S., Canada, Mexico pledge coordination

TORONTO — The United States, Canada and Mexico pledged yesterday to shore up security by integrating their terrorist watchlists and strengthening joint protection of borders and bridges.

At the same time, they promised to expand what is already the world's largest trading partnership by developing a single program to facilitate the free flow of people and goods across their shared borders.

"We are three countries, three friends living in the same neighborhood, so we have a common interest in our mutual security and our mutual prosperity," Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said.

Italy may seek CIA-led kidnappers

ROME — Italy plans to seek the extradition of 13 CIA-led agents for the abduction of a radical Muslim cleric who was flown to Egypt and said he was tortured in prison there, a judicial source said yesterday.

The source, who declined to be named, said Italian prosecutors were considering treating the agents as common fugitives and issuing an international request for their extradition to Italy.

Milan Judge Chiara Nobili issued domestic arrest warrants last week for 10 men and three women, all believed to be U.S. citizens, a source said.

Prosecutors have linked all 13 to the Feb. 17, 2003, abduction of imam Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, also known as Abu Omar, an Italian resident who was under investigation for terrorism when he disappeared.

Magistrate acquits 3 in hotel bombing

NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya's latest attempt to convict suspects in an al-Qaida-linked hotel bombing that killed 15 people ended with acquittals yesterday — raising questions about the readiness of Kenyan prosecutors to handle such cases.

After two years and scores of witnesses, prosecutors have failed to convict in three terrorism cases: the November 2002 hotel bombing, the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombing that killed 219 people, including 12 Americans; and an alleged 2003 plot against the rebuilt embassy.

Kenyan prosecutors lack the specialized training to handle such cases, said Philip Kichana, former head of the Kenya chapter of the International Commission of Jurists.

In his ruling, Nairobi Chief Magistrate Aggrey Muchelule said prosecution evidence was not strong enough to connect Kubwa Mohammed Seif, Said Saggar Ahmed and Salmin Mohammed Khamis to either the bombing of the Israeli-owned Paradise Hotel in Kikambala, 12 miles north of Mombasa, or the attempt to shoot down a chartered Israeli plane at the nearby airport.

Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terror network claimed responsibility for both the bombing and the attempt against the plane.

The government has not said whether it will appeal any of the cases.