Virginia

Sniper trial jury to continue deliberations Monday

Jurors in the murder trial of sniper suspect John Allen Muhammad began deliberations Friday but went home for the weekend after meeting for about four hours.

The jury sent one question to Prince William Circuit Judge LeRoy F. Millette Jr., asking if they could have a tape recorder to review evidence on a 911 tape. Millette granted the request, but a tape player could not be found by the time the jury went home at 1 p.m.

Several 911 phone calls were played during four weeks of testimony, including panicked calls made by victims, their relatives and witnesses.

Virginia

9-11 suspect loses right to represent himself

A federal judge Friday revoked the right of al-Qaida defendant Zacarias Moussaoui to represent himself in the only U.S. case arising from the Sept. 11 attacks.

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema said Moussaoui’s latest motions “include contemptuous language that would never be tolerated from an attorney and will no longer be tolerated from this defendant.”

The judge had warned Moussaoui last week that she would revoke his self-representation if he filed “further frivolous, scandalous, disrespectful or repetitive pleadings” or violated any court orders. She has repeatedly told him not to try to use his motions to contact al-Qaida sympathizers from his isolated quarters in the Alexandria Detention Center.

Toronto

Martin secures leadership of Canadian Liberal Party

Paul Martin completed his 13-year ascent to the top of Canadian politics Friday, claiming the leadership of the governing Liberal Party to guarantee he will succeed the retiring Jean Chretien as prime minister.

His lone opponent for Liberal leader conceded Martin’s victory in a morning speech at the party’s convention, leaving only the formal announcement later Friday that fulfills a dream the 65-year-old Martin shared with his late father — also a longtime Liberal Cabinet minister.

Martin spent nine years as Chretien’s finance minister.

Afghanistan

U.S. soldier killed by bomb

A U.S. special operations soldier was killed Friday when his vehicle struck an explosive device in Afghanistan, U.S. Central Command said.

The soldier died in the incident near Asadabad, in Kunar province, where U.S.-led coalition forces launched a large operation a week ago.

The name of the soldier was withheld pending notification of his family.

Also Friday, the U.S. military said suspected Taliban and al-Qaida insurgents fired two rockets at a coalition base in the tense eastern border region of Paktia province, but there were no reports of casualties.