Iraq

Bomb kills U.S. civilian

An American civilian defense contractor died Tuesday north of Tikrit when a bomb exploded under his car in an area U.S. officials believe is rife with Saddam Hussein loyalists.

The contractor was an employee of Houston-based Kellogg, Brown and Root. Two soldiers who were part of the military police convoy escorting the contractor also were injured.

Kellogg, Brown and Root is a subsidiary of Halliburton, the Texas energy firm formerly run by Vice President Cheney.

Alabama

Weapons burning delayed

The Army’s plan to burn more than 2,200 tons of aging chemical weapons in the middle of an Alabama town was put on hold Tuesday after opponents of the plan, who have fought it for years, asked a federal judge to intervene.

The incineration had been scheduled to begin today in Anniston, but U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson scheduled a hearing Friday in Washington on opponents’ request for an injunction.

Incineration foes say it would be catastrophic to burn nerve agents GB, VX and mustard in Anniston, within a few miles of homes, schools and businesses.

“The bottom line is that this administration invaded another country, put our soldiers at risk, and got almost 200 of them killed so far on the rationale that we were at risk from weapons of mass destruction,” said Craig Williams of the Chemical Weapons Working Group. “But we have citizens in this country who are at risk today from our own weapons of mass destruction.”

Canada

Wildfires still spreading

Gusting winds from approaching thunderstorms Tuesday spread some wildfires in western Canada.

More than 300 fires burning in British Columbia and others in Alberta have forced the evacuation of 11,000 people. Army soldiers have joined the firefighters and volunteers digging break lines, dumping water and taking other measures to bring the blazes under control.

No deaths have been reported, but flames have torched dozens of homes and businesses in some British Columbia communities.

British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell visited the small community of Louis Creek and came back with a dismal report.

“There are virtually no structures left standing,” Campbell told a news conference Tuesday. “It’s devastated. It’s like the life has been sucked out of it.”