Washington: IRS details overdue taxes from federal workers, retirees

Federal employees and retirees owe more than $2.5 billion in back taxes but actually are more conscientious taxpayers than Americans overall, the Internal Revenue Service says.

As of October 2001, just over 2.8 percent of federal employees and retirees, or about 244,000, had balances due on past income taxes but had not agreed to an installment plan with the IRS.

For the population as a whole, that percentage was 5.2 percent.

Employees of the Defense Department had by far the biggest outstanding tax bill at $205.6 million. In addition, more than 110,000 retired military personnel owed more than $1 billion, including those who had installment agreements to pay off their bills.

London: Labor members consider challenge against Blair

Lawmakers in Britain’s ruling Labor Party are plotting to challenge Prime Minister Tony Blair’s leadership to protest his governing style and his support for possible U.S. action against Iraq, a legislator said Saturday.

Labor left-winger Jeremy Corbyn said lawmakers had discussed fielding a candidate to challenge Blair for the party leadership. Although it was unlikely such a plot would succeed, it would reflect growing unrest within the party, he said.

“There is disquiet … about issues of foreign policy,” Corbyn said.

If Blair lost a challenge to his party leadership, tradition dictates that he would step down as prime minister.

New York: Trade center wreckage yields remains of 12 victims

Remains of at least 12 more people, including five firefighters, have been removed from debris at the World Trade Center site, officials said Saturday.

The remains were found late Friday and Saturday in the tightly compacted rubble from the south tower.

Firefighters and rescue workers saluted Saturday as six flag-draped stretchers were escorted from the site.

None of the victims was immediately identified.

The firefighters were among 343 missing in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. The remains of about 160 have been recovered and identified.

Bosnia-Herzegovina: Report: Al-Qaida planned attack on U.S. Embassy

Al-Qaida terrorists planned a devastating attack on Americans in Sarajevo after meeting in Bulgaria to identify European targets, a high-ranking Bosnian official said Saturday.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that intelligence reports on the meeting in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, prompted a special government session Thursday night to discuss threats against the U.S. Embassy and embassies of European countries. He did not name the countries.

At the Sofia meeting, members of al-Qaida decided that “in Sarajevo something will happen to Americans similar to New York last September,” said the official.