World briefs 9/5/06

Man opens fire on tourists in Jordan, killing one

AMMAN, Jordan -- A gunman opened fire on Western tourists at Roman ruins in the heart of Jordan's capital Monday, killing a British man and wounding six people before being overpowered. Police said the attacker came from the same area as the slain leader of al-Qaida in Iraq. The attack at an ancient amphitheater came despite a heavy clampdown on security in this key U.S. ally since a string of deadly bombings at hotels last November that al Qaida in Iraq claimed to have staged. Police were trying to determine if the alleged gunman, Nabeel Ahmed Issa Jaourah, was enticed by Islamic militants or a terror group to carry out the shooting, said a Jordanian security official, who agreed to discuss the investigation only if not quoted by name.

Bush touts emerging energy technologies

PINEY POINT, Md. -- President Bush said Monday the economy is growing steadily and jobs are plentiful, but America must work harder to break its dependency on foreign oil. Making a Labor Day appearance at Maryland's Paul Hall Center for Training and Education, which offers vocational training to Seafarers International Union members, Bush said "dependence on foreign oil jeopardizes our ability to grow." Bush also said he is interested in new technology that advances that produce battery-operated cars and allows people to fuel their vehicles with ethanol, particularly in Farm Belt states. And he made a fresh push for greater development of nuclear energy.

Official: Candles caused Chicago fire that killed 6

CHICAGO -- Candles used for light in an apartment without electricity probably caused a fire that killed six children inside, a fire department official said Monday as fire investigators continued sifting through debris. The fire, the city's deadliest in years, has been classified as accidental but the Chicago Police Department also was investigating, which is a standard when there are deaths, Officer Marcel Bright said. A preliminary investigation shows the Sunday morning blaze "was caused by candles" in the three-bedroom apartment on the city's North Side, Fire Cmdr. Will Knight said.

Mexico to get final ruling in presidential race

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico at last will have a final decision today on its disputed July 2 presidential race, with the nation's top electoral court expected to declare ruling party candidate Felipe Calderon president-elect. But the long-awaited ruling by the Federal Electoral Tribunal -- which comes two months, three days, and tens of thousands of pages of legal challenges after voters cast their ballots -- is unlikely to end potentially explosive uncertainty or close the growing political divide gripping the country. Most court rulings so far have favored Calderon, who has a 240,000-vote advantage over leftist rival Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

-- From wire reports

Major disarmament plan for gangs begins in Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti -- Haiti's government and U.N. peacekeepers will launch a major campaign seeking to persuade hundreds of gangsters to disarm with promises of money, food and job training, but top gang leaders will not be eligible, the U.N. envoy said Monday. In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, special U.N. envoy Edmond Mulet said officials will begin airing radio and television ads in coming days to inform the public about the disarmament plan. The move represents the most sweeping effort to persuade well-armed gangsters to lay down their weapons and rejoin society since U.N. troops arrived in the troubled Caribbean nation two years ago to restore order following a February 2004 revolt.

-- From wire reports