Rice challenges Clinton on Osama Bin Laden
\nNEW YORK -- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice challenged former President Clinton's claim that he did more than many of his conservative critics to pursue Osama bin Laden, and she accused President Bush's predecessor of leaving no comprehensive plan to fight al-Qaida. \n"What we did in the eight months was at least as aggressive as what the Clinton administration did in the preceding years," Rice said Monday. \nThe New York Post published Rice's comments Tuesday, after Clinton appeared on "Fox News Sunday" in a combative interview in which he defended his handling of the threat posed by bin Laden and said he "worked hard" to have the al-Qaida leader killed.
Romania and Bulgaria to join EU
\nSTRASBOURG, France -- The European Commission recommended Tuesday that Bulgaria and Romania join the European Union next year -- but under some of the harshest terms ever faced by new members. Both nations had made enough progress for entry after seven years of membership talks, the commission said in a report. But it proposed close monitoring of justice and home affairs, food safety and the disbursement of EU subsidies, saying a significant chunk of expected economic aid will be made conditional on the completion of further reforms.
Jury deadlocked in Junior Gotti's trial
\nNEW YORK -- A jury deliberating the fate of John "Junior" Gotti at his third racketeering trial told the judge Tuesday it was unable to agree on a verdict. The judge asked the jury to try again. If convicted, Gotti could face up to 30 years in prison. He is free on $7 million bail.
