In brief: Sarkozy warns Israel against strike on Iran

Paris – French President Nicolas Sarkozy put his reputation as a stalwart friend of Israel on the line Wednesday, warning that military action was no way to deal with nuclear-minded Iran at a dinner hosted by France’s main Jewish group.

In the wake of new U.S. concerns that Israel might strike Iran’s nuclear facilities this spring, Sarkozy reiterated his ironclad commitment to Israel’s security but emphasized “the solution is never military.”

“The solution is political, the solution is diplomatic, the solution is in sanctions,” Sarkozy said, referring to a string of U.N. sanctions over Iran’s nuclear program, which the West fears mask designs to build weapons.

Tehran, whose Islamist leaders have called for Israel’s destruction, insists its nuclear program is peaceful and aimed at generating electricity and civilian-sector projects.

Sarkozy said Israel needs a peaceful Palestinian state as its neighbor, and pointed to France’s historic rivalry with Germany – turned into a crucial European alliance today – as a possible model for Palestinians and Israelis.

Dog bites news anchor doing story on rescue

Denver – An 85-pound Argentine mastiff dog dramatically rescued a day earlier from an icy lake was impounded Wednesday after viciously biting a Denver television news anchor on her face during a live in-studio segment.

Kyle Dyer was conducting an interview on the rescue of Gladiator Maximus, also known as Max, after the dog fell into a frigid Lakewood lake Tuesday while chasing a coyote. The live segment was aimed at reuniting firefighter Tyler Sugaski, who rescued the animal, and Michael Robinson, the dog’s owner.

According to KUSA-TV, firefighters, paramedics and animal control were called to the station after the attack.

The station later showed video of Dyer petting the dog, but stopped before the attack occurred and said they would not rebroadcast it. Other video posted online showed the dog lunging at Dyer and viciously biting her face.

Meghan Hughes, spokeswoman for the Denver Environmental Health department, said Robinson, 39, of Lakewood was cited with failure to have his dog on a leash, allowing a dog to bite and failure to have a vaccinated dog.

Hughes said the dog is being quarantined until a judge can hold a hearing on the charges.