Japanese government officials are trying to determine if a preemptive strike on North Korean missile sites would violate its constitution, which excludes military force as a means of settling international disputes. The reported interest in setting up the legal basis for an attack is especially significant as the UN Security Council deliberates over a response to North Korea’s missile launches last week.

A wave of vicious sectarian violence swept through Baghdad over the weekend and through Monday. Shiite militants killed dozens of Sunnis in the streets of the capital. Several car bombings occurred near a Shiite mosque and in Shiite neighborhoods, apparently in retaliation. Over 60 people were killed in the attacks, and at least 50 wounded.

Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-MI), Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, believes that the Bush administration may have broken the law by hiding intelligence gathering programs from the legislative branch. “I want to set the standard there that it is not optional for this president or any president…to keep the intelligence committees fully informed of what they are doing,” Hoekstra said on Fox News Sunday.

A building on Manhattan’s Upper East Side collapsed in flames this morning after an explosion. Early media reports have said that the building housed a beauty salon and doctor’s office. White House spokesman Tony Snow said there is no suspicion of terrorism.

Russian news agencies are reporting that Chechen warlord and rebel leader Shmail Basayev was killed by Russian special forces in the North Caucasus. Basayev had claimed responsibility for planning the Beslan school massacre in September 2004 and has been linked to many others attacks.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert dismissed criticism from the international community for Israeli incursions in the Gaza strip meant to free a kidnapped soldier and end Palestinian rocket fire coming from the area

Saddam Hussein and attorneys defending him for alleged crimes against humanity are boycotting his trial as it nears its end. Final arguments for the defense of two lower-level officials were heard today. The defense’s closing argument for Hussein will likely be heard later in the week, though with Monday’s boycott it seems unlikely that Hussein will be present for it.