Former Democratic chief supports US stance on Iran

Former Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean gave the Obama administration high marks Thursday for its arms-length response to the disputed presidential election in Iran.

"For the United States to overtly interfere with this would be a big mistake," Dean said in a nationally broadcast interview.

The former Vermont governor said whatever moral support the U.S. can give to opposition forces in the Persian Gulf nation must be carefully measured. "Our government is doing exactly the right thing," Dean said on NBC's "Today" show.

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley on Wednesday disputed an allegation by the Iranian …

Dow Tacks On Another 15

NEW YORK Blue-chip stocks extended their winning streak to afourth session Tuesday, buoyed by gains in banking shares and recordearnings by Merrill Lynch & Co., the nation's largest brokeragehouse.

The Dow Jones industrial average ended 15.94 points higher at3,444.03. The index has gained more than 91 points since the startof the rally last Wednesday.

Over all, advances led declines 1,247 to 716 on New York StockExchange volume of more than 286 million shares.

Meanwhile, the Dow transportation average again moved intorecord territory, rising 11.68 points to a new high for the secondstraight day to 1,660.52.

Within bank stocks, J.P. Morgan …

Moldova's communists request election recount

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — Moldova's Communist Party asked the Constitutional Court on Monday for a recount in the national election, alleging errors in vote counting.

The Communists won 42 seats in the Nov. 28 election. A three-party, pro-European alliance won 59 seats, but fell two short of the 61 needed to elect a new president. That has left the election outcome inconclusive and led to political tensions in the former Soviet republic.

Communist Party leader President Vladimir Voronin claimed that there were "massive irregularities," such as multiple voting, but international and domestic observers have called the ballot fair and free.

Prime Minister Vlad Filat of the …

Taliban-linked group to meet with UN

Representatives of a militant group linked to an infamous Afghan warlord are hoping to convince U.N. officials Thursday that it's the right time for a peace deal with insurgents.

Mohammad Daoud Abedi, a spokesman for the Hizb-i-Islami faction, said Wednesday night that the United Nations asked the delegation for a meeting, which follows talks that the Taliban-linked group had with President Hamid Karzai earlier this week.

He said the group also plans to speak with representatives from the European Union, but an official at the EU office said he had no knowledge of any meeting with the delegation.

Talk about possible reconciliation with insurgent …

[ MY TWO CENTS ]

"If John Kerry does not change his tune and vow to grant immunityand to end this waste of American lives in Iraq, I will waste my …

St. Paul banker reigns as King Boreas

John Bennett, senior vice president af University Bank, St. Paul, Minn., was selected as the St. Paul Winter Carnival's 68th King Boreas. The position is awarded each year to a nominee whose dedication to community service and proven leadership exemplifies their passionate commitment to St. Paul. Officials said Bennett was unanimously suggested by every board member of the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation. Bennett is actively involved in more than 17 community organizations serving the families of …

Court: US govt can't block detainee photos release

An appeals court says the federal government must release 20 photographs of U.S. soldiers and detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan that were demanded by a civil rights group seeking to expose abuse.

The federal appeals court in New York on Monday rejected the government's claim that …