Afghanistan

U.S. soldier shot in drive-by

A gunman opened fire Wednesday on a group of U.S. troops shopping on a busy street in Kandahar, wounding one American and an Afghan before escaping, the U.S. military and witnesses said.

Afghan officials blamed the shooting on Taliban or al-Qaida fugitives and said they feared more attacks.

Witnesses said the Americans, who were wearing civilian clothes, were at a gun shop when the shots were fired. The Americans thought a firecracker had exploded until they noticed one of their group was bleeding, said Maj. Ralph Mills, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Fla.

The wounded American, whose name was not released, was taken to the U.S. military hospital at Kandahar airport, where he was reported in stable condition.

Florida

Radar capability to detect biological attacks tested

A crop duster sprayed alcohol into the Atlantic on Wednesday off Key West to test whether radar systems can detect chemical and biological attacks, Army researchers said.

Army engineers want to know whether long-range radar used for weather forecasts can distinguish between rain clouds and chemical weapons like anthrax, which could be released into the air.

The four days of tests were to conclude today with the spraying of a water-polyglycol mixture that mimics a nerve agent. Army engineers have also dropped clay dust and powdered egg whites to simulate chemical and biological agents.

Paris

5 arrested in shoe bomb case

Police and security agents on Wednesday questioned five Pakistanis suspected of providing logistical support to Richard C. Reid before he boarded a Paris-Miami flight with explosives-laden shoes, judicial officials said.

The five were arrested Wednesday morning.

They are suspected of possibly housing and feeding Reid, 28, during his stay in Paris, as well as lending him mobile phones and escorting him around the city.

Saudi Arabia

Second station broadcasts latest bin Laden videotape

Images of Osama bin Laden allegedly filmed in December and shots of Muslim fighters killed by American bombs were broadcast Wednesday across the Middle East on a Saudi-owned satellite station that says it received an al-Qaida videotape.

The tape, televised by the Middle East Broadcast Corp., could be a copy of one previewed Tuesday on Al-Jazeera. Both tapes are compilations of various clips.

MBC Chief Editor Nakhle al-Haj said the tape obtained by his station “best shows al-Qaida’s involvement in masterminding the Sept. 11 attacks.” Al-Haj wouldn’t say when or how the tape was obtained.

In clips MBC said were taken in December, bin Laden appeared in good health wearing a brown gown and a white headscarf. He is heard saying the Sept. 11 attacks cost the United States $1 trillion, describing the 19 hijackers as “our brothers, the martyrs” and calling the attacks the “blessed operations.”