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Tortured Canadian can't sue United States

WASHINGTON - An American federal court has ruled that Canada's Maher Arar can't sue the U.S. government for sending him to Syria seven years ago, where he was tortured amid post-9-11 suspicions he was an al-Qaida terrorist.

Arar, an Ottawa telecommunications engineer, was the victim of what's known as "extraordinary rendition-" a much-maligned American policy of knowingly sending terrorism suspects to other countries that practise torture.

The 12-member appeals court panel, which once included newly minted Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, ruled by a 7-4 vote on Monday that Arar couldn't sue since Congress has yet to authorize any such lawsuits.

Maria LaHood, a senior staff attorney at the Center for Constitutional Rights, which represented Arar, said an appeal to the Supreme Court was likely.

In a statement issued through LaHood's organization, Arar said the ruling and other recent court decisions show that "the court system in the United States has become more or less a tool that the executive branch can easily manipulate through unfounded allegations and fear mongering."

British MP applauds decision about his case

TORONTO - A controversial British MP denied entry into Canada on the grounds he supported a terrorist group welcomed a court decision to hear his case, saying Monday he would like to testify in person.

In a statement from London, George Galloway called the decision by the Federal Court to review the ban a substantial win.

"I'm really pleased that the first step in the eventual victory has been achieved," Galloway said.

Galloway was to make a four-city speaking tour in March but was denied entry to Canada. The case sparked an uproar about freedom of speech. The outspoken MP strenuously denied supporting terrorism.

U.S. says it won't change deal with Iran

MARRAKECH, Morocco - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the offer of Iran to exchange its low-enriched uranium by having it shipped to Russia will not be altered, despite Iranian efforts to seek a modified deal.

Clinton addressed the issue at a news conference in which she called this a pivotal moment for Iran.

She said that Iranian acceptance of the deal would indicate Iran doesn't want to be isolated from the world community. But she said Iran already has agreed to the deal in principle and that "we are not altering it."

Astronaut goes extra mile to study flu

LONGUEUIL, Que, - A Canadian astronaut is making an out-of-this-world contribution to help doctors on Earth deal with viruses such as H1N1.

Bob Thirsk, from his current home on the International Space Station, is conducting an experiment on changes in the body's immune system.

Despite that experiment, the space station may be the safest place possible to avoid swine flu. Thirsk said astronauts are quarantined for one week before they take off for a visit to the orbiting lab.

Sources: The Canadian Press, The Associated Press