■ United States
Senate confirms Hayden
The US Senate on Friday, with broad bipartisan support, confirmed Air Force General Michael Hayden as the new director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Senators approved the nomination of Hayden by a vote of 78 to 15, The support was much broader than anticipated when President George W Bush appointed Hayden to fill the vacancy. Hayden, who is serving as deputy to US intelligence chief John Negroponte, headed the National Security Agency when a controversial surveillance programme was put ir, objections from opposition Democrats and some Republicans over the programme never became an issue during the confirmation process.
■ United States
Zoellick to step down
Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick intends to resign after barely 15 months in the job, aides said on Wednesday. From his first days at the State Department, Zoellick has chafed at his subordinate position, frequently remarking that he was finding the adjustment difficult after running his own office during four years as US trade representative, which is a Cabinet position. Aides noted that Zoellick could still change his mind. He has told associates he would like to be treasury secretary and would stay in the administration if given that job.
■ United States
Hoffa search slows
FBI teams on Thursday sifted by hand through dirt from a chest-deep hole in the ground in an intense search for the body of labor leader Jimmy Hoffa three decades after his disappearance. Investigators worked by hand to sort through soil under the foundation of a barn and could be seen photographing and videotaping potential evidence on the Hidden Dreams Farm in Milford Town, near Detroit. The investigation was triggered by a tip from Donovan Wells, 75, a federal prisoner serving time for marijuana trafficking who lived on the farm at the time of Hoffa's disappearance.
■ United States
Defendant attacks lawyer
A man charged with murder in Massachusetts was so angry with his lawyer's performance he attacked the attorney in court, trying to strangle him as a shocked judge looked on, Boston radio reported on Wednesday. "I think he just didn't like the way some of the rulings the judge was making was going yesterday morning," attorney Bruce Carroll told WBZ Radio of the Tuesday morning attack by defendant John Gomes in Boston's Suffolk Superior Court. Several officers intervened before the 1.8m, 113kg Gomes was separated from Carroll, the radio reported.
■ Peru
Politician's caravan attacked
Two people were wounded by gunshots and another three injured by blows in a confusing incident on Thursday in Cuzco as the campaign caravan of ex-president Alan Garcia was heading to the city's airport, police said. Leaders of Garcia's Aprista party accused supporters Ollanta Humala, his opponent in next month's presidential runoff, of attacking the caravan. Garcia was not hurt and continued on to the airport to take a flight back to Lima. Cuzco police chief Jairo Vazquez told reporters that the only details he could confirm were that two people had been wounded by gunshots and three others injured from blows. Vazquez said one of the wounded said he was a Humala supporter. According to polls, Garcia has a lead of at least 10 percentage points.
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