Afghan clerics call for end to violence

Afghanistan’s top Islamic organization called today for an end to violent protests against drawings of the Prophet Muhammad, as police shot dead two protesters to stop an angry crowd from marching on a U.S. military base in the southern part of the country.

Fourteen people were wounded in the clash in Qalat city, including ten protesters and four Afghan security forces who were struck by flying rocks.

The clash came a day after international peacekeepers exchanged fire with protesters in a northern Afghan city, leaving three demonstrators dead.

As a third day of bloody unrest began across the country, members of Afghanistan’s Ulama Council, the country’s top Islamic clerics’ organization, went on radio and television to appeal for calm.

“Islam says it’s all right to demonstrate but not to resort to violence. This must stop,” senior cleric Mohammed Usman told the Associated Press. “We condemn the cartoons but this does not justify violence.”

London

Islamic militant guilty in hate case

Britain’s best-known Islamic militant, Abu Hamza al Masri, was found guilty of encouraging murder and fomenting racial hatred Tuesday and sentenced to seven years in prison.

The imam of North London’s Finsbury Park Mosque from 1997 to 2003, Masri led a radical congregation that included convicted “shoe bomber” Richard Reid and Zacarias Moussaoui, who is facing trial in the United States in connection with the Sept. 11 conspiracy.

Masri, 48, also is wanted by the United States on terrorism charges. They include accusations that he helped arrange the abduction of foreign tourists in Yemen in 1998 and participated in a 1999 plan to open a terrorist training camp in Bly, Ore.

After serving time in Britain, he would probably face extradition to the United States.

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Haiti’s election has huge turnout

Haitians wearied by spiraling unrest and gang violence turned out in huge numbers Tuesday to choose a new president and parliament.

Scuffles broke out and polling stations opened hours late Tuesday as masses of Haitians waited – sometimes in mile-long lines – to vote under the protection of U.N. peacekeepers.

Rene Preval, a 63-year-old former president backed by many poor Haitians, is the front-runner, according to pre-election polls.

Polls closed late Tuesday – nearly four hours later than scheduled. The nation’s electoral council said early results would not be available until late today.

Boligee, Ala.

Fires destroy more Baptist churches

Fires damaged or destroyed four more Baptist churches across the Alabama countryside Tuesday, less than a week after a string of five blazes that were ruled arson.

“I’m not prepared to talk about the evidence yet … but common sense tells you there is a clear indication these fires are going to be linked,” FBI acting assistant director Chip Burrus told the Associated Press.

Tuesday’s fires took place at churches off rural roads, about 10 to 20 miles apart. They were in a cluster of three counties.