Mubarak vows democratic reforms in “modern” Egypt
Cairo – President Hosni Mubarak pledged Sunday to follow up his victory in Egypt’s first presidential elections with further democratic reforms in the Arab world’s largest country.
Mubarak, who won Wednesday’s multiple-candidate election with 88 percent of the vote, had previously been re-elected in four consecutive referendums in which he was the sole candidate during his 24 years in power.
In his first comments since the election, Mubarak thanked Egyptians for awarding him his fifth six-year term as president since succeeding Anwar Sadat, who was assassinated by Islamic militants in 1981.
“With all determination and persistence, I will work on creating a modern society for free citizens in a democratic country,” Mubarak told hundreds of cheering members of his ruling National Democratic Party.
Mubarak renewed promises of his three-week election campaign to amend Egypt’s constitution to give more powers to the parliament and reduce those held by the president’s office.
The 77-year-old Mubarak also pledged to further civil liberties and make it possible for more political parties to form while improving the quality of life for Egyptians and providing 4 million new job opportunities.
MINNEAPOLIS
Northwest, mechanics walk away pactless
Talks between Northwest Airlines Corp. and its striking mechanics ended early Sunday with no agreement and no clear plans to continue negotiations, officials said.
Union negotiators “are returning to their homes, and we do not have an agreement,” negotiations spokesman Jeff Mathews said.
“Additional talks for today are not scheduled,” Northwest spokesman Kurt Ebenhoch said.
Northwest is seeking $1.1 billion in annual labor-cost savings and has said rising fuel prices mean it will probably raise that target. The company is in talks with all of its workers.
A spokesman for the Northwest mechanics said Saturday he doubts a deal will be reached any time soon to end the three- week walkout.
“I think it would be a miracle for us to reach an agreement during this round of bargaining,” said Steve MacFarlane, assistant national director of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association.
LOS ANGELES
Average gas price tops $3 for first time
Damage to Gulf Coast refineries and pipelines by Hurricane Katrina pushed retail gas prices to historic highs in the past two weeks, with self-serve regular averaging more than $3 a gallon for the first time ever, according to a nationwide survey released Sunday.
The weighted average price for all three grades surged more than 38 cents to nearly $3.04 a gallon between Aug. 26 and Sept. 9, said Trilby Lundberg, who publishes the semimonthly Lundberg Survey of 7,000 gas stations around the country.
Self-serve regular averaged $3.01 a gallon nationwide, according to the survey. Midgrade was pegged at about $3.11, while premium grade was at nearly $3.21.
“That’s all thanks to Katrina,” Lundberg said.
BUFFALO, N.Y.
Boy, adult pal charged in slaying of mom
Police charged a 15-year-old boy with second-degree murder in the death of his mother, whose body parts were found last month in a suitcase in a canal.
Angel Rosa was charged as an adult in the death of Madeline Irene, 46. Investigators said Rosa gave his mother pills and then strangled her.
Police also charged Edwin Gimenez, 50, with kidnapping and sodomizing Rosa and another child.
Police say the arrests are linked.
“Gimenez says the kid did it, and the 15-year-old says Gimenez told him to do it,” said investigator Anthony Barba. “Gimenez says he only helped with the disposal of the body.”
Police Commissioner Rocco Diina said Gimenez befriended Rosa and the other child about a year ago and wielded “tremendous” influence over them.
