Briefly

Vatican City

Pope expected to challenge Bush

With a shared devotion to religion but radically divergent views on the war in Iraq, President Bush will meet Pope John Paul II today for a summit Vatican watchers say is likely to be contentious and politically risky for both sides.

The meeting is unusual because the Holy See generally declines visits by presidents during election years.

But as an outspoken critic of U.S. actions in Iraq, the pope is likely to use the opportunity to challenge Bush on a number of issues, say Vatican watchers. Those topics include the U.S. decision to go to war last year without the support of the United Nations, the abuse by American soldiers of Iraqis at Baghdad’s Abu Ghraib prison and U.S. policies in the Middle East.

Washington

Democrats launch prison-abuse probe

Senior House Democrats, stymied in their efforts to investigate abuse of Iraqi prisoners formally, accused their Republican colleagues Thursday of being more interested in protecting the White House during an election year than in getting to the bottom of the scandal.

Rep. Henry A. Waxman, D-Calif, and five other ranking House Democrats launched their own investigation with a request to the White House for documents related to the scandal.

But the minority Democrats, lacking subpoena power, cannot compel Pentagon officials to show up at hearings or turn over documents without the consent of the Republican majority.