Nation & World Briefly

Cain accuser alleged several harassment incidents, lawyer says

WASHINGTON (AP) - One of Herman Cain's accusers alleged "several incidents of sexual harassment" in a formal complaint more than a decade ago, her lawyer disclosed Friday a fresh allegation that could complicate the Republican presidential hopeful's determined bid to lay the politically explosive controversy to rest

The lawyer, Joel Bennett, said his client - married then and now - accepted a financial settlement in leaving her job at the National Restaurant Association shortly after lodging the complaint against Cain, who was then the trade group's head Bennett did not name the woman, who he said had decided not "to relive the specifics" of the incidents in a public forum

Cain, who tried to return to normal campaigning Friday, has repeatedly denied ever sexually harassing anyone His spokesman, J.D. Gordon, said in response to Bennett's comments, ""We're looking to put this issue behind us and focus on the real issues, which are fixing this broken economy, putting Americans back to work and strengthening national security"

Apart from disclosing that his client alleged more than one incident, Bennett's remarks added little of substance to a controversy that erupted nearly a week ago

"She made a complaint in good faith about a series of inappropriate behaviors and unwanted advances from the CEO" of the restaurant organization, he said

Top US general fired for critical remarks about Karzai government

WASHINGTON (AP) - The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan has fired a senior officer from his job as the No. 2 general in charge of training for making disparaging remarks about Afghan President Hamid Karzai and his government.

Gen. John Allen said Maj. Gen. Peter Fuller has been relieved of his duties as deputy commander for the Afghan training mission.

In a recent interview with the website Politico, Fuller characterized Afghan leaders as erratic, ungrateful and isolated from reality. The interview quotes him as saying Afghan leaders don't fully recognize America's sacrifices on their country's behalf.

Allen said the unfortunate comments don't represent the solid U.S. relationship with the Afghan government.

There was no indication whether Fuller will be reassigned or if he would retire.

Syria peace plan unravels as regime fires on protests; at least 15 killed

BEIRUT (AP) - A Syrian peace plan brokered by the Arab League unraveled Friday as security forces killed 15 people, opening fire on thousands of protesters who denounced President Bashar Assad and said he never intended to hold up his end of the deal to end the violence.

The bloodshed, only two days after Syria agreed to the deal, suggests Damascus is unwilling - or unable - to put a swift end to a crackdown that already has killed 3,000 people since the uprising began in March.

"This regime is not serious about ending its brutal crackdown," said Mustafa Osso, a Syria-based human rights lawyer. "Today was a real test for the intentions of the regime and the answer is clear to everyone who wants to see."

The crisis in Syria has burned for nearly eight months despite widespread condemnation and international sanctions aimed at chipping away at the ailing economy and isolating Assad and his tight circle of relatives and advisers. The protesters have grown increasingly frustrated with the limits of their peaceful movement, and there are signs of a growing armed rebellion in some areas.

Some protesters even are calling for the kind of foreign military action that helped topple Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

Book offers personal look at Gabrielle Giffords' recovery

PHOENIX (AP) - When President George H.W. Bush came to visit her in the hospital, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords could say only "Wow!" and another word she had been uttering frequently at the time, "chicken."

Months later, when she was shown photos of famous people to see if she recognized faces, Giffords looked at Arnold Schwarzenegger and replied, more or less accurately: "Messin' around. Babies."

These and other details emerge in a new book written by Giffords' husband that offers the most personal look yet at her slow, agonizing recovery after being shot in the head at point-blank range.

The memoir, titled "Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope," describes Giffords' efforts over the past 10 months to relearn how to walk and talk, and her painful discovery that six people were killed in the Jan. 8 attack outside a Tucson grocery store.

The Associated Press purchased an advance copy of the book, which is set for release Nov. 15.