News digest: Oct. 15, 2001

THE DAY'S EVENTS

• The office of Senate Majority Leader Thomas Dashle received and opened a letter containing anthrax today in the Hart Building in Washington D.C. The office was quarantined, staff are being tested, and the antibiotic Cipro is being administered. Mail delivery to Senate offices and tours of the Capitol were halted.

• Secretary of State Colin Powell visits Pakistan and India over the next two days. Powell meets with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf today to discuss a range of issues, including tensions over Kashmir. India and Pakistan exchanged fire in Kashmir today. Anti-American demonstrations, common in Pakistan since the bombing began, continued and all Islamic parties called for a general strike today.

• The U.S. bombing campaign of Afghanistan entered its second week as planes stepped up their runs to include daytime raids. Planes targeted the capital Kabul and the southern cities of Kandahar and Jalalabad. The Taliban claim that about 200 civilians were killed in the village of Koram, but no independent verification is available.

• Laboratories across the country continue to test individuals and mail for anthrax contamination. In New York, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani reports that three people -- a police officer and two lab technicians -- investigating the anthrax case at NBC news have been exposed to anthrax spores, but do not have the disease. In Florida, one person has died and two are confirmed to have anthrax. In Nevada, four Microsoft employees escaped infection after handling an envelope containing anthrax. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson said "this is terrorism of some sort" but it is unclear whether it is the work of Osama bin Laden.

• President Bush yesterday rejected the Taliban's offer to turn Osama bin Laden over to a third country if the U.S. halts its bombing and supplies evidence of Osama bin Laden's guilt. Said Bush: "When I said 'no negotiations,' I meant 'no negotiations.'"

• At least 18 people were killed in Nigeria over the weekend in anti-U.S. riots and demonstrations. More violence was reported today.