Washington, D.C.: Temporary spending measure gets president’s signature

President Bush signed a temporary spending bill Friday that allows the federal government to continue spending for another week at current levels because most budget measures remain snarled in Congress.

A $10.5 billion military construction Congress cleared Thursday was the first of 13 annual spending bills lawmakers have completed for the budget year that began Oct. 1.

The House this week easily approved a compromise $355.4 billion defense bill delivering most of the money Bush wants to bolster the Pentagon’s battle against terrorism and Senate action was expected next week. But GOP leaders failed in their effort to put off Congress’ fight over the rest of the budget until after next month’s midterm elections.

Bills financing all other federal agencies remain unfinished.

This is the third such temporary measure enacted since the fiscal year began.

Lebanon: 22 suspects charged with planning terrorist acts

Lebanese prosecutors have charged 22 suspected al-Qaida members with planning to carry out terrorist acts, judicial officials said Friday.

The chief military prosecutor, Riyad Talieh, said the 22 included a Saudi and two Lebanese who had confessed to belonging to Osama bin Laden’s terror network. The rest are at large and include nationals from Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Turkey and the Palestinian territories, judicial officials said.

The 22 are accused of planning “to set up a terrorist organization with the aim of committing crimes against people, harm the state and carry out terrorist acts.” They also used forged passports, according to the officials.

If convicted, the suspects face a maximum of 15 years in prison with hard labor. Lebanon has repeatedly said it would support the United States in its war on terror.

Oregon: U.S.: Alleged terror cell considered attacking schools

One of six people indicted last week on terrorism charges considered attacking synagogues or schools on American soil, prosecutors said.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Charles Gorder told journalists he was ready to play recordings of Jeffrey Leon Battle making violent anti-American and pro-Taliban comments.

Battle’s attorney, Kristen Winemiller, did not immediately return a message for comment Friday. Battle has a pretrial hearing Tuesday.

Gorder said a witness wore a wire during conversations with Battle last spring and recorded menacing comments.