- A senior Shiite Muslim cleric said U.S. forces in Iraq could end up virtual "hostages in Iran's hands" if the United States attacks Iran.

Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, former spiritual guide to Hezbollah and still influential with many militants, said Tuesday that President George W. Bush's war on terror has encouraged extremists, not curbed them and has deepened Arab animosity toward the United States.

"The American people must realize that their administration is not fighting terrorism but rather is causing it," Fadlallah said, speaking at a mosque in the Hezbollah stronghold South Beirut where his home and office were levelled by Israeli warplanes during last year's summer war with Israel. Read more

Israeli warplanes frequently fly over Lebanese airspace in what Israel says are reconnaissance missions, but this was the first time the Lebanese army has fired on the aircraft since an Aug. 14, 2006, cease-fire ended a monthlong war between Israeli and Hezbollah guerrillas.

Lebanese soldiers opened up with machine guns and light anti-aircraft weapons mounted on armored vehicles at two planes that flew by just east of Marjayoun town near the border at midmorning, a Lebanese security official said. Read more

Three parliamentarians from the two rival camps, all speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation and in the absence of a formal announcement, said the postponement aimed at allowing space for political and mediation initiatives to bear fruit.

The parliament was set to meet Tuesday to try again to choose a successor to pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, who steps down Nov. 24, after an opposition boycott prevented an election during the Sept. 25 session. Read more

Brazil's Supreme Court denied a Lebanese request to extradite a fugitive banker accused of a multimillion-dollar bank fraud and wanted for questioning in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister ... via Press of Atlantic City