NPR 2009-08-16

A suicide bomber 1 triggered a powerful blast outside NATO headquarters in Afghanistan's capital today. At least seven people were killed and nearly 100 others were injured. The Taliban is claiming responsibility for the attack. NPR's Jackie Northam reports from Kabul.

Senior Afghan police officials say the suicide bomber, carrying some 600 pounds of explosives in his car, managed to pass three checkpoints leading up to NATO headquarters. Afghan security officials finally stopped the vehicle at the main NATO gate, that's when the bomb was detonated. Among the injured are small children who normally sell gum and other treats to Westerners going in and out of the military headquarters. A Taliban spokesman told Reuters news agency that the target had been the US embassy, located next to NATO headquarters. There have been an increasing number of attacks in the past few months here in Kabul. This is the most serious one since February and comes just five days before Afghanistan's presidential election. Security in Kabul and most other parts of the country has increased over the past few weeks. Jackie Northam, NPR News, Kabul.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is calling on Iran to release several Americans who've been detained or have gone missing there in recent months. Her statement came days after an American graduate student who was held in Iran returned to Los Angeles. NPR's Allison Keyes has the story.

Clinton says Iran should immediately release Iranian-American scholar Kian Tajbakhsh and let him leave Iran to continue his academic pursuits. Clinton also calls on Iran's government to grant diplomatic access to the three American hikers detained last month and asks they be released without further delay. The hikers have said they entered Iran by mistake while hiking to Iraq. Clinton also says that US remains 2 concerned about Robert Levinson, a retired 3 FBI agent missing since March of 2007. Allison Keyes, NPR News, Washington.

President Obama says it's time, in his words, to lower our voices and listen to one another about differences over health care overhaul 4. "I know there's been a lot of attention paid to some of the town hall meetings that are going on around the country, especially those where tempers have flared 5. You know how TV loves a ruckus. But what you haven't seen-because it's not as exciting – are the many constructive 6 meetings going on all over the country where Americans are airing their hopes and concerns about this very important issue." Mr. Obama speaking in his weekly radio and Internet address today.

The president leaves another town hall meeting on health care this evening in about an hour in Grand Junction 7, Colorado. Mr. Obama and his family spent today visiting Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming where they made a stop at Old Faithful to watch the geyser erupt....Tomorrow the first family will visit the Grand Canyon 8 in Arizona.

This is NPR News from Washington.

Democratic Senator Jim Webb of Virginia has met with the top military ruler in Myanmar and was also allowed to confer with opposition 9 leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Webb says Myanmar's rulers have agreed to release an American, who was sentenced to hard labor 10 there. NPR's Michael Sullivan reports from Bangkok.

Senator Webb met with Myanmar's reclusive Senior General Than Shwe in Myanmar's jungle capital Naypyitaw, and came away from that meeting with the release of the American John Yettaw, who was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison for swimming to the home of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and staying there for two nights in May. Suu Kyi received a term of 18-month house arrest. She has spent 14 of the past 20 years in detention 11. Senator Webb was also able to meet with Suu Kyi for more than an hour today. A statement released by his office says that meeting was an opportunity for Webb to convey his deep respect for the sacrifices that she has made on behalf of democracy. The statement also says Senator Webb asked Myanmar's generals to release Suu Kyi. The Senator will be bringing John Yettaw out of Myanmar to Bangkok on Sunday. Michael Sullivan, NPR News.

Hundreds of firefighters are battling a stubborn wildfire in California's Santa Cruz Mountains. The blaze has charred 12 more than 6,800 acres of land so far. And about 2,400 residents of the area are under mandatory 13 evacuation orders. Cal. Fire Spokesman John Buchanan says hot gusty 14 winds are just part of the challenge facing fire crews. "Not only the winds but it’s the terrain 15. There are some really steep terrains 16 here. In some places, it is almost like 200 feet straight down from the road. So, just hiking down and getting handcarts and stuff down there is just treacherous 17. Buchanan says the blaze is about 30% contained.