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Fighting in Lebanon moves out of Beirut

BEIRUT - Fighting between pro- and anti-government factions jumped to Lebanon's north Monday, but a grim calm hung over the nearly empty streets of Beirut, a capital crippled by roadblocks, suspicion and fear.

As black-clad Shiite militants of Hezbollah carried their latest dead to burial, so did the families and friends of civilians caught in the middle of combat that has routed Sunni factions supporting the western-allied government from Muslim west Beirut.

More than 50 people were confirmed dead since fighting erupted Wednesday, first in Beirut, then in the mountains overlooking the city and on Monday in the northern city of Tripoli. It is the worst sectarian violence to wrack Lebanon since a 15-year civil war ended in 1990.

Dry weather sparks wildfires in Florida

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Dry, windy weather fuelled several wildfires on Florida's central Atlantic coast Monday, destroying at least three homes and driving hundreds of residents away as the governor declared a state of emergency.

The largest fire, a 1,200-hectare blaze in Brevard County, destroyed at least two homes, including the house Butch Vanfleet built in 1980 and tried in vain to protect with a garden hose.

Vanfleet, 59, said the fire had reached the doorstep of the house in Malabar when he and his family fled Sunday evening. All that stood Monday was the chimney and a stone wall.

Fragile peace deal signed in Iraq

BAGHDAD - Iraq's main Shiite political bloc and supporters of firebrand cleric Muqtada al-Sadr signed a fragile ceasefire in Baghdad's Sadr City on Monday, hoping to end seven weeks of fighting that has left hundreds dead.

But the U.S. military has alleged that most Shiite extremists fighting Iraqi and U.S. forces in the teeming slum have splintered away from al-Sadr's Mahdi Army, and that the cleric's level of influence on those rogue groups is unclear. Many are thought to be trained and armed by Iranian forces. Iran denies the allegations.

Al-Sadr's representatives and the rival United Iraqi Alliance agreed to institute the four-day ceasefire starting on Sunday, but talks over the details of the truce were not finished until a day later.

Man held without bail in sex-abuse case

NEWARK, N.J. - A small-time actor who allegedly travelled to Thailand to have sex with underage boys is being held without bail in New Jersey.

A federal judge has decided that Wayne Nelson Corliss is a flight risk and a danger to the community.

Corliss was arrested Thursday at his home in Union City, New Jersey, after an international manhunt.

Interpol released photos of him last week and asked for the public's help in identifying him. He is charged with producing child pornography.

Authorities say agents discovered numerous images on several computer hard drives and that Corliss told authorities he had sex with three boys in Thailand six years ago.

The 58-year-old Corliss worked painting faces at children's parties and used to dress up as Santa Claus.

Source: The Associated Press