World/Nation Briefs January 10, 2012

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - One town is buried in snow. Another is iced in. This year's winter is being meaner than usual for at least two Alaska communities.

Now, residents are looking for outside help.

Dozens of National Guard members are helping the fishing town of Cordova dig out from mountains of snow that collapsed roofs, triggered avalanches and trapped some people in homes.

By one count, more than 10 feet of snow has fallen in the town of 2,000 in the last few weeks.

With high winds, more snow and possibly rain in the forecast, responders and local volunteers Monday were trying to shovel out buildings considered most at risk.

Almost 700 miles to the northwest, the old gold rush town of Nome is iced-in, awaiting the arrival of a Russian tanker that's barely inching along in its mission to deliver fuel.

A Coast Guard vessel is cutting a path in the thick ice of the Bering Sea, but ship crews are encountering challenges that are sometimes forcing the vessels to come to a complete stop.

All of it means that the town could potentially face a fuel shortage.

Rivals pounce as Romney brags about firing folks

NASHUA, N.H. - Republican front-runner Mitt Romney stumbled down the homestretch of the New Hampshire primary on Monday, declaring, "I like being able to fire people who provide services to me" as his rivals intensified already fierce criticism.

"Gov. Romney enjoys firing people. I enjoy creating jobs," said former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who has staked his candidacy on a strong showing in Tuesday's primary and has shown signs of gaining ground in recent polls.

Adding insult to any injury, Texas Gov. Rick Perry posted a ringtone to his campaign website that consisted of Romney saying, "I like being able to fire people," over and over.

Romney is the odds-on favorite in New Hampshire, and Huntsman as well as other Republicans who are contesting the state have generally been content to vie for second place in hopes of emerging as his main rival in the South Carolina primary on Jan. 21.

"Second place would be a dream come true," said former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, as he raced through a final full New Hampshire campaign day that began before sunrise and stretched for more than 14 hours. The former Pennsylvania senator finished a surprising second in last week's Iowa caucuses, but without money for television ads he has appeared to struggle as he seeks to convert that into momentum.

Daley leaving as White House chief of staff

WASHINGTON - In a jolt to the White House, President Barack Obama announced Monday that chief of staff William Daley was quitting and heading home, capping a short and rocky tenure that had been expected to last until Election Day. Obama budget chief Jack Lew, a figure long familiar with Washington's ways, will take over one of the most consuming jobs in America.

Daley's run as Obama's chief manager and gatekeeper lasted only a year. It was filled with consequential moments for the White House, like the killing of al-Qaida terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, but also stumbles with Congress and grumbles that Daley was not the right choice to coordinate an intense operation of ideas, offices and egos.

Obama said he reluctantly accepted the news and at first refused to accept Daley's post-holidays resignation letter last week.

Daley did not waver, expressing to his boss a desire to get back to his family in Chicago, where Daleys have dominated city politics for decades. But he offered no explanation on Monday about what accelerated his decision; he had committed to Obama that he would stay on through the election.

Ahmadinejad seeks out Chavez as tension grows

CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez defended his close ally Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday, saying Iran is facing "U.S. warmongering threats" amid tensions over its nuclear program.

The two leaders met in Caracas on the first leg of a four-nation tour that will also take Ahmadinejad to Nicaragua, Cuba and Ecuador.

"We are very worried," Chavez said of pressures being put on Iran by the United States and its allies, which he accused of being a threat to peace.

"They present us as aggressors," Chavez said as he received Ahmadinejad at the presidential palace.

"Iran hasn't invaded anyone," he added. "Who has dropped thousands and thousands of bombs ... including atomic bombs?"

- The Associated Press