Iran: Saudi, Iranian officials seek Iraq’s compliance

Key Iranian and Saudi officials Saturday said they could not support a U.S. military strike against Iraq and would, instead, encourage Saddam Hussein to comply with U.N. resolutions.

“All the countries of the world, especially neighbors of Iraq, should make plans to encourage Iraq to observe the resolutions of the U.N. in order to remove any ground and possibility for aggression against Iraq,” President Mohammad Khatami told Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, during his one-day stop in Tehran.

Iranian state radio said Prince Saud and his Iranian counterpart, Kamal Kharrazi, voiced opposition to “any U.S. military attack on Iraq or any other Muslim or Arab countries.”

Washington has called for toppling Saddam, whom it accuses of stockpiling weapons of mass destruction.

Las Vegas: Suspect shot, killed after robbery in casino

A suspect in a robbery was shot and killed by a security guard in a Las Vegas casino after firing shots into a crowd of gamblers and injuring a casino worker.

Police said the suspect, who was not immediately identified, robbed a change carousel at the Boulder Station Hotel-Casino, a popular off-Strip casino, while brandishing a pistol about 11 p.m. Friday.

After fleeing the casino, the man turned around and returned, firing his weapon indiscriminately through the crowded casino, police said.

A casino security officer then fired shots at the suspect. The suspect was taken to a hospital, where he died.

Oregon: Firefighters register success in Illinois Valley

Firefighters said Saturday they were making good progress at keeping a 188,000-acre wildfire away from homes in the Illinois Valley after completing six miles of a backfire during the night.

About 17,000 residents of the valley in southwestern Oregon had been warned that they could be told to evacuate with only 30 minutes’ notice, although the immediate threat had lessened slightly, fire officials said. Nearly 1,000 people had left in the past week.

The fire was about 5 percent contained Saturday, said Gil Knight, fire spokesman. “We’re having excellent success,” he said.

Afghanistan: U.S. soldier faces charges for assault on detainee

A U.S. soldier was charged with assault for striking an Afghan detainee, a U.S. military spokesman said Saturday.

On July 22, a private first class was seen striking the detainee in the back of the head with the butt of his M-4 carbine, said Col. Roger King, spokesman. The soldier was from the 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, based in Fort Bragg, N.C., but was not further identified.

If found guilty, the soldier could face reduction in rank, forfeiture of a salary, extra duty and other restrictions.