NPR 2011-06-20

From NPR News in Washington, I'm Nora Raum.

The Libyan government claims that NATO warplanes are targeting civilians 2. Officials there say an air strike in Tripoli today killed nine civilians, including two young children. The Libyan foreign minister called for a Jihad against the West. Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said that means Libya is seeking help in defending itself.

"We will not support any terrorist acts anywhere in the world, but we are asking the Muslim nations, all free nations in the West and Africa, Asia, Latin America to stand tall against this crime being committed against us because we all have moral responsibilities, and we would be held responsible before the eyes of God and the eyes of future generations."

NATO has maintained it tries to avoid civilian 1 deaths.

Syrian troops are reported to be clamping down in the region where civilians have been fleeing into neighboring Turkey. NPR's Peter Kenyon is in southwestern Turkey. He spent most of the morning on the so-called smuggler's trails that cross the mountains between the two countries.

I met a man who arrived yesterday from the Syrian village of Badama. He was very flattered it was stormed by the Syrian military. He said he saw tanks and heavy weapons. He saw houses being fired on. Badama is not a hotbed of anti-regime activism, but it is very strategically located. It's very close to the Turkish border, and it's the easiest way for displaced Syrians to reach Turkey. And what that means is now with the army part there, A: It's very difficult for Syrians fleeing other villages to use that route to get to the Turkish border; and B: It's harder for food and medicine and other supplies to come through that route as well.

NPR's Peter Kenyon reporting from southwestern Turkey.

Greece's embattled prime minister is calling on Greeks to rally around his unpopular austerity package. NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports.

Papandreou has been under assault — street protests and a revolt within his own party that led to a government reshuffle. Hard-line socialists 3 objected to a package of new tax hikes, privatizations and spending cuts. Appealing Sunday for a confidence vote from parliament for his new crisis cabinet, Papandreou said national divisions are not helping 4 the country survive. The new government hopes to win approval of the new austerity measures by the end of the month, a condition set by the European Union and IMF to secure the next installment 5 of a 155-billion-dollar bailout agreed last year. Papandreou also proposed a referendum that would amend 6 the constitution, introducing labor 7 market flexibility 8 and making it easier to prosecute 9 corrupt 10 politicians. Sylvia Poggioli, NPR News, Athens.

Economic problems prompted anti-government demonstrations 11 in Spain today. Thousands of people turned out to protest the lack of jobs. Spain has the highest unemployment rate in the euro zone — 21.3%.

This is NPR News from Washington.

Lawmakers appear no closer to an agreement on how to raise the debt ceiling. NPR's Allison Keyes reports one top Republican says they may need to adopt a short-term solution if they can't agree on a substantial plan.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says the talks about the debt ceiling present an opportunity, telling CBS's "Face the Nation", "We're hoping with the debt ceiling discussions, we can begin to address deficit 12 and debt." McConnell also says if lawmakers can't agree on a substantial plan now, they'll end up with a short-term proposal over a few months. Democratic New York Senator Charles Schumer says deficit reduction is necessary but tells CBS it isn't enough to get the economy growing.

"There hasn't been enough focus on jobs and job creation."

Schumer says for every trillion dollars the government cuts from the deficit, it should seek to create a million jobs. Allison Keyes, NPR News, Washington.

Music lovers gathered at a legendary 13 club in Asbury Park, New Jersey 14 today to mourn the death of Clarence Clemons. He was known as The Big Man, not just for his physical size but his booming saxophone in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Clemons told the Associated Press in 2009 his sax is how he communicates.

"The horn is just an extension of myself. It allows you to listen to me, or to see me, you know, or to feel me. You know, if I didn't have the horn, I would, you know, know that I just would love a bass 15 without the horn."

Springsteen called him "my great friend and partner." Clemons died last night from complications of a stroke he suffered about a week ago. Clarence Clemons was 69.

I'm Nora Raum, NPR News in Washington.