Washington

White House: Democrats should limit requests

The White House on Monday warned Democrats not to make extensive requests for Supreme Court nominee John Roberts’ legal writings in previous Republican administrations, saying many such documents are “out of bounds.”

Separately, the Supreme Court nominee waved off questions about whether he was a member of a conservative legal organization. Roberts, on his fourth day paying courtesy calls on senators, hasn’t answered questions since President Bush announced him – as is typical for nominees – and one Democratic senator said the matter wouldn’t affect the confirmation.

With Bush’s first chance to shape the Supreme Court at stake, the White House is hoping to avoid the kind of showdown with Democrats over document requests that has stymied Senate confirmation of some of the president’s other high-profile nominees. Asked repeatedly to say whether the administration was open to making Roberts’ writings as a former administration lawyer available, White House press secretary Scott McClellan avoided saying “no” outright.

Aruba

Reward for missing teen raised to $1 million

Aruban authorities have dispatched a prosecutor to consult with the FBI and brought in experts from the Netherlands as they investigate the disappearance of an Alabama teenager, the Aruban prosecutor’s office said Monday.

Aruba has agreed to show transcripts of interrogations to the FBI, which is acting in an advisory role in disappearance of Natalee Holloway, in a sign of increased cooperation that drew praise from the family of the teen.

No one has been charged in the case. Joran van der Sloot, a 17-year-old son of a judge in training on the island, has been detained as a suspect.

Four experts from the Netherlands came to the Dutch Caribbean island to assist with interrogations, while members of the team investigating the Holloway case traveled to the FBI crime lab, the Public Prosecutor’s office of Aruba said.

Holloway, 18, disappeared May 30, hours before she was to catch a return flight to Mountain Brook, Alabama, at the end of a trip with 124 classmates.

Her mother, Beth Holloway Twitty, said the reward for information leading to her safe return had been increased to $1 million, from $200,000.

Rome

Court issues warrants for purported CIA agents

In a further strain on Italian-U.S. relations, an appeals court in Milan issued arrest warrants Monday for six more purported CIA operatives accused of helping plan the 2003 kidnapping of a radical Egyptian Muslim cleric, a court official said.

Last month, a lower court issued warrants for 13 alleged CIA operatives but turned down requests to arrest another six.

Prosecutor Armando Spataro appealed that ruling last week, and a three-judge panel in Milan overturned that decision Monday, the court official said on condition of anonymity because the announcement usually comes from the court first.

Osama Moustafa Hassan Nasr, known as Abu Omar, was allegedly snatched from a Milan street on Feb. 17, 2003; taken to a joint U.S.-Italian air base in Aviano; and then flown to Ramstein Air Base in Germany and then to Egypt, where he reportedly was tortured.

The operation purportedly was part of the CIA’s “extraordinary rendition” program, in which terror suspects are transferred to third countries without court approval, subjecting them to possible ill treatment.

Philippines

President shrugs off impeachment complaint

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo shrugged off an impeachment complaint filed hours before her state of the nation address Monday, declining to even mention the crisis as she called for overhauling the Philippines’ unstable democracy.

With opposition lawmakers boycotting her speech and 25,000 protesters outside demanding her resignation, Arroyo said Congress should quickly come up with constitutional amendments to end the U.S.-style presidency and switch to a parliamentary form of government.

“Ours is a country divided,” said Arroyo, who has come under pressure to quit with nearly five years left in her term over allegations that she rigged last year’s election.

“The system clearly needs fundamental change – and the sooner, the better.”

Changing to a parliamentary system – where lawmakers can vote out a sitting government instead of resorting to popular revolts such as those that have forced out two leaders since 1986 – could cut Arroyo’s term short, since a successful referendum on the changes likely would be followed by fresh elections.