State
Gov. Richardson declines bid to run for president
WASHINGTON (AP) - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson told "Meet the Press" host Tim Russert he won't accept a nomination to be the Democratic vice presidential candidate.
"I love being governor. I love being in New Mexico. It's good to see you here in Washington, but as soon as I leave here, I'm heading back," Richardson said on the NBC Sunday talk show.
Richardson, who was sworn in as governor in January, said he won't appear on the Democratic national ticket in 2004.
Boxer Johnny Tapia, wife to buy historic restaurant
CORRALES, N.M. (AP) - Five-time world champion IBF boxer Johnny Tapia, getting into the restaurant business, will soon learn whether an eatery by any other name will taste as good.
Tapia and his wife, Teresa, said they are buying the historic Rancho de Corrales restaurant and eventually plan to rename it, incorporating Tapia's name in some way.
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Tapia hasn't settled on the new name yet. And the featherweight who in January lay comatose for 36 hours says he's also not sure if he'll get back into the ring.
International
U.S. to maintain bases in Persian Gulf countries
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The United States wants to keep using military bases in friendly Persian Gulf countries, including a high-tech command center in Qatar where planners directed the war in Iraq, U.S. officials said Sunday.
Officials are considering moving the air operations center at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, which ran the Iraq air war.
S. Korean officials stonewalled by N. Korea
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - South Korea demanded Sunday that North Korea abandon any atomic weapons development, but Northern negotiators in Pyongyang stonewalled the nuclear discussion, calling it a matter between North Korea and the United States.
Chief North Korean delegate Kim Ryong Song refused to confirm a claim made during talks last week with U.S. and Chinese officials in Beijing that North Korea is making nuclear weapons, and instead sought to steer Sunday's Cabinet-level talks toward inter-Korean economic projects, Seoul officials said.
U.N. weapons' Iraqi chief liaison surrenders to U.S.
BAIJI, Iraq (AP) - The Iraqi chief liaison to U.N. weapons inspectors surrendered to U.S. forces Sunday, as American troops reported finding a metal drum that preliminary tests indicated could contain chemicals used to disable and kill.
Lt. Gen. Hossam Mohammed Amin - No. 49 on the U.S. list of the 55 most-wanted figures from the regime of Saddam Hussein, the six of clubs in the deck of fugitive playing cards - was taken into custody in Baghdad.
