World / Nation briefs January 15, 2012
<p>Operator Alison Walker watches miniature cars move along the roads in Chris Burden's latest kinetic sculpture, "Metropolis II," at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in Los Angeles, Wednesday.</p>
Santorum backed by social conservatives
MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. - Rick Santorum's quest to emerge as the chief alternative to Mitt Romney received a boost Saturday from a group of evangelical leaders and social conservatives who voted to back his candidacy in a last-ditch effort to stop the GOP front-runner's march to the nomination.
About three-quarters of some 150 pastors and Christian conservative political organizers meeting in Texas sided with Santorum over a home-state favorite, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich - an outcome that illustrated continuing divisions within the ranks of conservatives who make up the base of the GOP.
The gathering also reflected the lingering dissatisfaction with Romney over abortion rights and other issues, and the belief of conservatives that they need to unite behind one contender before the Jan. 21 South Carolina primary if they are to derail the former Massachusetts governor. Romney leads narrowly in polls here after victories in Iowa and New Hampshire.
Muhammad Ali cheered at 70th birthday bash
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Muhammad Ali soaked in familiar cheers and chants along with a rendition of "Happy Birthday" on Saturday night as friends and admirers celebrated the boxing champ's coming 70th birthday at a party in his Kentucky hometown.
As party-goers mingled in a lobby of the Muhammad Ali Center before the party, Ali walked slowly to a second-floor balcony overlooking them. The crowd immediately began to clap, then broke into chants of "Ali! Ali!" followed by singing as Ali watched for about two minutes.
The three-time world heavyweight champion, who is battling Parkinson's disease, leaned against a rail and raised his right hand to wave to the crowd. Ali walked on his own but was at times assisted by his wife, Lonnie, and his sister-in-law. After the brief appearance, Ali went to his party.
Bomb kills at least 53 Shiite pilgrims in Iraq
ZUBAIR, Iraq - A bomb tore through a procession of Shiite pilgrims heading toward a largely Sunni town in southern Iraq on Saturday, killing at least 53 people in the latest sign of a power struggle between rival Muslim sects that has escalated since the American military withdrawal.
Fears of more bloodshed have risen in recent weeks, with the U.S. no longer enjoying the leverage it once had to encourage the two sides to work together to rein in extremists. Most of the latest attacks appear to be aimed at Iraq's majority Shiites, suggesting Sunni insurgents seeking to undermine the Shiite-dominated government are to blame.
Saturday's blast happened on the last of the 40 days of Arbaeen, when hundreds of thousands of Shiite pilgrims travel to the Iraqi city of Karbala and other holy sites.
5.7-magnitude quake hits Philippines
MANILA, Philippines - A moderate earthquake roused people from sleep but caused no injuries or damage in the northern Philippines early Sunday, officials said.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the magnitude-5.7 earthquake hit the Babuyan Islands region off the country's mountainous north. Philippine officials placed its magnitude at 5.5.
- The Associated Press