Multinational and Iraqi forces have begun a manpower-intensive operation in Baghdad to create security in the Iraqi capital. The security crackdown includes searching cars at frequent checkpoints and controlling roads throughout the city. Seventy-five thousand military and police personnel will be posted in the city.

An Islamic cleric tied to the 2002 Bali bombings was freed from an Indonesia prison yesterday after serving two years for approving the attack.

In the West Bank city of Ramallah yesterday dozens of government workers, mostly thought to be Fatah activists, stormed the Palestinian Parliament demanding wages, which the Hamas-controlled government has not been able to provide since taking office three months ago. The United States and Europe have cut off most aid to Hamas because it continues to support the destruction of Israel.

Also in the Middle East, an Israeli air strike killed 2 militants and 9 civilians near a Palestinian refugee camp. Tensions are already high between Israeli forces and Palestinian civilians after the Israeli government denied responsibility for an explosion that killed civilians on a Gaza beach Friday.

Possible juror corruption in the trial of David Safavian has put deliberations on hold after it was learned one female juror told her fellow jurors that she had spoken with her father about information relevant to the case.

Party turncoat Jim Webb won the Democratic nomination to run against Sen. George Allen (R-VA) yesterday. Webb was Undersecretary of the Navy during the Reagan administration and switched parties over the Iraq war.