London

Poll finds U.S. arrogant, threat to world peace

A sampling of public opinion in 11 nations finds many see the United States as an arrogant superpower that poses a greater danger to world peace than North Korea.

President Bush failed to impress 58 percent of those questioned by pollsters for a British Broadcasting Corp. broadcast Tuesday night. They said they had a fairly unfavorable or very unfavorable view of the U.S. president.

The poll questioned 11,000 people in May and June in 11 nations: Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, France, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Russia, South Korea and the United States.

Sixty-five percent overall — and a majority in every country, including the United States — said America was arrogant. Forty-seven percent said America was friendly, and 33 percent find the United States antagonistic.

Maryland

Police chief who led sniper investigation quits

Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose, who led the three-week hunt for the Washington-area sniper, resigned Wednesday after a clash with county politicians over his upcoming book on the investigation.

Moose said in a statement that he had worked to make the county a “safe and secure place to live” but that it was time “to move on and explore other paths in life.”

In March, the county ethics commission ordered him to drop the book project and barred him serving as a consultant on a movie about the sniper case, saying a county employee may not profit on the side from his official duties.

The book, “Three Weeks in October,” is scheduled for release in October.

Jerusalem

Suicide bombing injures 1

A suicide bomber blew himself up at an Israeli village in the Jordan River valley early today, police said, killing himself and wounding an Israeli.

The bomber entered a grocery in the village of Sde Trumot and exploded, killing himself and wounding the owner, they said.

The bombing came as Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas was having a series of meetings in Gaza City with the leaders of violent Palestinian groups, trying to persuade them to stop attacks against Israelis. No agreements have been reached.

Phoenix

Bishop’s resignation accepted

A year ago, Phoenix Bishop Thomas O’Brien vowed to “do anything” to restore trust in the Roman Catholic Church. His actions since then have done the opposite.

On Wednesday, just over two weeks after he admitted sheltering alleged molester priests, the bishop resigned in disgrace following his arrest in a fatal hit-and-run accident.

The Vatican accepted O’Brien’s resignation and appointed Santa Fe, N.M., Archbishop Michael Sheehan as interim administrator of the diocese in addition to his regular duties.

When O’Brien was arrested in a weekend hit-and-run, the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests made an immediate link with the abuse crisis. “He once again ignored the victim and drove away,” said Paul Pfaffenberger, of the group’s Phoenix chapter.