State Department opens inquiry into Libya attack

washington

state opens inquiry into libya attack

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is pledging a full and open inquiry into the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, amid demands from Congress for speedy answers to questions about the security of the mission and concerns that the FBI investigation into the incident has been delayed. An independent five-member board appointed by Clinton will begin this week looking at whether security at the consulate was adequate and whether proper procedures were followed before, during and immediately after the attack that killed the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other Americans on the 11th anniversary of 9/11. Clinton promised "a process that's as transparent as possible" though she stressed "it will take time."

chicago

Rep. Jackson will stay on ballot

Alderman Sandi Jackson indicated Wednesday that voters might not see or hear from Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. before the Nov. 6 election, but said he would remain on the ballot with "no last-minute switcheroos." The veteran congressman has been on medical leave from Congress for nearly four months as he seeks treatment for bipolar disorder. His wife said Jackson is recuperating at the family's Washington home and seeing doctors two to three times a week. But she could not say when he would return to public life, saying his doctors would determine that.

vatican city

Man ends protest atop St. Peter's

An Italian man gave up his protest atop the St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday evening, after more than 24 hours perched on the 426-foot dome to demonstrate against government reforms. Two firefighters helped pull Marcello De Finizio inside the basilica a full day after he eluded Vatican security to scale the dome and unfurl a banner reading: "Help! Enough Monti!" — referring to President Mario Monti, the architect of Italy's economic reforms.

washington

Book: Obama saw trial for bin Laden

A new book says President Barack Obama hoped to put Osama bin Laden on trial if he had surrendered during a U.S. raid. In a book on the raid that killed bin Laden, author Mark Bowden quotes Obama as saying he thought he could make a strong political argument for giving bin Laden the full rights of a criminal defendant, to show U.S. justice applies even to him. In the book, purchased by the Associated Press, Bowden says Obama said he expected the terror leader to go down fighting. The Finish is due out Oct. 16.

Times wires