Hurricane weakens after slamming Mexican coast

MAZATLAN, Mexico -- Hurricane Lane slammed into a sparsely populated stretch of Mexico's Pacific coast south of the city of Culiacan on Saturday after battering the resort of Mazatlan with strong winds and rain. The storm, which hit land at Category 3 strength, was then downgraded to a Category 1 by the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Previous projections had Lane heading toward the Baja California peninsula, but the hurricane took an unexpected turn toward the mainland.

Guard to stay in Big Easy through December

NEW ORLEANS-- National Guard troops and state police will patrol the city through December, Gov. Kathleen Blanco said Saturday at a summit of law enforcement officials and crime experts called to address a spate of killings.

N. Korea's No. 2 leader blasts the United States

HAVANA -- North Korea's No. 2 leader blamed the lack of world peace on the United States at the Nonaligned Summit on Saturday. Parliament leader Kim Yong Nam said desires for peace by the 118 countries in the Nonaligned Movement were "confronted with grave challenges owing to the high-handed acts and unilateralism of the superpower, which denies countries and nations the independent choice of development." The meeting has brought together some of the staunchest U.S. foes, including the presidents of Iran, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

Iraqi prime minister appeals for reconciliation

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- After a one-day lull, bloodshed surged again in the capital Saturday, with at least 17 people dead in attacks and 27 probable victims of sectarian killings found dumped in the streets as Iraq's prime minister launched a fresh appeal for reconciliation. Violence has escalated sharply in Baghdad over the past week. Saturday's toll raised the city's violent deaths to more than 180 just since Wednesday.

-- From wire reports