News digest: Oct. 10, 2001

The day's events | Losses

THE DAY'S EVENTS

• The Organization for the Islamic Conference, a group of 56 Islamic countries, issued a statement warning the United States not to extend military action outside of Afghanistan, but did not criticize the strikes targeting Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda terrorist network.

• Administration officials urged television outlets to exercise caution in airing pre-recorded or pre-taped messages from bin Laden and his associates. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said those messages could contain signals for new attacks.

• The stock market staged a broad rally today, as investors showed signs of confidence about the ongoing U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan. The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 188 points, while the Nasdaq jumped 60 points.

• American warplanes continued airstrikes against Afghanistan for the fourth straight day, focusing on the nation's two largest cities, Kabul and Kandahar.

• President Bush visited FBI headquarters and unveiled a "most wanted" list of terrorists including Osama bin Laden and 21 others.

• On Tuesday a spokesman for the Al Qaeda terrorist network appealed to all Muslims to join forces for a "jihad" against the United States and its interests worldwide. Sulaiman Abu Gheith also praised the September 11 terrorists for doing a "good deed" by bringing terror into the United States.

• In a Tuesday news conference, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the airstrikes against Afghanistan have been successful enough in damaging Afghan air defenses that U.S.-led forces can safely carry out attacks day and night. Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said more than 80 percent of targets in Afghanistan have been damaged or destroyed in the airstrikes that began on Sunday.

• The Taliban arrested a French journalist in Afghanistan and charged him with spying. If convicted, he could face a death sentence.

• British Prime Minister Tony Blair travelled to Oman to meet with the country's leader, Sultan Qaboos. His trip was part of an effort to strengthen support for the military action in Afghanistan.