The White House has refused to confirm a report that it is close to a decision to shut down the prison at Guantanamo Bay. The Associated Press had reported that the Bush administration was close to a decision to shut down the prison and move detainees to military prisons on …

Lebanese troops said they had largely defeated Islamist rebels in a northern refugee camp, but continued their siege amid sporadic shelling and gunfire.

BAQUBA, Iraq (Reuters) – Thousands of U.S. soldiers on the offensive north of Baghdad are facing fierce resistance from hundreds of al Qaeda militants who are ready to fight to the death, an American general said on Friday.