Gwinnett Daily Post

War crimes warrant sought for Gadhafi

TRIPOLI, Libya -- The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor sought arrest warrants Monday for Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, his son and the country's intelligence chief for authorizing the killing of civilians in a crackdown on anti-government rebels.

Gadhafi's government denied the allegations.

The call for the inquest was the first such action in the Netherlands-based court linked to the Arab uprisings. It opened another potential front against Gadhafi's regime even as the autocratic leader stands firm against widening NATO airstrikes and rebels with growing international backing.

The international warrants could further isolate Gadhafi and his inner circle and potentially complicate the options for a negotiated settlement. But they also could harden Gadhafi's resolve to stand and fight, since the legal action has been seen in Libya as giving NATO more justification.

4 soldiers die in Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Four American soldiers serving with NATO forces in Afghanistan died Monday in an explosion in the country's south, NATO and a defense department official said, bringing home the human cost of the U.S.-led push into Taliban strongholds.

The official said they were hit by an improvised explosive device. He spoke on condition of anonymity because relatives of those killed were still being notified. The latest deaths make a total of 16 NATO service members killed so far this month, and 167 so far this year.

The latest casualties came as the second-ranking U.S. general in Afghanistan said Monday it was too early to tell if the killing of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in neighboring Pakistan will have an impact on the Afghan war effort.

Missile attacks kill militants

DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan -- Pakistan intelligence officials said two American missile attacks close to the border with Afghanistan have killed seven suspected militants.

The attacks on Monday came soon after U.S. Sen. John Kerry concluded talks in Islamabad on how to salvage a relationship brought to a low point over the unilateral raid on Osama bin Laden on May 2.