Paris

French lawyer says he will defend Saddam Hussein

A French lawyer, known for defending terrorists and a Nazi leader, said Saturday he would defend Saddam Hussein.

Jacques Verges told France-Inter radio he had received a letter from Saddam’s family requesting him to defend the former Iraqi leader in court.

U.S. officials have said they would bring Saddam to trial for alleged crimes against Iraqi people. But the location of any trial and its format and date have not yet been decided.

Saddam is being held by U.S. forces at an undisclosed location.

Verges has defended Venezuelan terrorist Carlos the Jackal, whose real name is Ilich Ramirez. He gained international notoriety during the Cold War for staging a string of deadly bombings, assassinations and hostage seizures.

Los Angeles

NASA tests unmanned jet that could reach 5,000 mph

Three years after its first test flight ended in an explosion, NASA on Saturday successfully launched an experimental jet designed to reach speeds approaching 5,000 mph.

The unpiloted X-43A made a 10-second powered flight, then went through some twists and turns during a six-minute glide before plunging into the Pacific Ocean about 400 miles off the California coast.

“Everything worked according to plan. It’s been wonderful,” NASA spokeswoman Leslie Williams said. “I actually thought it was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. We’ve been waiting a few years.”

Afghanistan

President says elections delayed until September

Afghanistan’s landmark national elections, which were scheduled for June, will be delayed until September, President Hamid Karzai said Sunday.

Karzai said the delay was needed to allow the United Nations to have both presidential and parliamentary elections at the same time.

“We are ready to manage both elections, for the parliament and presidency, in September,” Karzai said at a news conference at his palace in the Afghan capital.

Officials had warned repeatedly that the country’s first post-Taliban elections might be delayed because of logistical problems and security fears.

So far, only 1.5 million of an estimated 10.5 million eligible voters have been registered for the elections.