Chile agreement expands free-trade in Americas
The US Senate easily approved a new free trade agreement with Chile Thursday, a major step forward in the United States' goal of eliminating trade barriers throughout the Americas.

Senators also signed off on a free-trade pact with Singapore, a coup for the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., which has been salivating for the chance to resume selling chewing gum in that city state.

Demonstrating its traditional friendliness toward trade deals, the Republican-led Senate voted 66-31 to make Chile the first South American nation to enjoy a free-trade agreement with the United States. The Senate approved the Singapore pact 66-32.

The GOP-controlled House passed identical legislation last week. President Bush now is expected to sign the two bills into law within the next few weeks.

The two free-trade agreements, argued Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, will be "good for American markets, American businesses and American workers."

Democrats voiced concerns about provisions that would allow 1,400 workers from Chile and 5,400 from Singapore to come into the United States annually, arguing the bills mixed trade with immigration policy.

When signed by the president, these bills will bring to six the number of countries enjoying free-trade agreements with the United States.

Canada and Mexico already have that status under the North American Free Trade Agreement, while the United States also has agreements with Israel and Jordan.

The administration is currently holding talks with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Nicaragua with the hope of agreeing to terms for a new U.S.-Central American Free Trade Agreement by the end of the year.

Trade negotiators are slated to provide an update Friday.

Peru still looking forward to Fujimori's extradition: FM 
Peruvian Foreign Minister Allan Wagner said Friday that his government is still looking forward to the extradition of former president Alberto Fujimori, dismissing reports that Japan has rejected Peru's request for the extradition. 

Reports said that a Japanese official reiterated on Thursday that Japan would not extradite Fujimori, who holds dual citizenship of Japan and Peru. 

"The remarks of the Japanese official mean, in general, Japanese law does not allow the extradition of the citizens of Japan," said Wagner, adding that such comments had been distorted by the press. 

"The Peruvian government hopes Japan ... to proceed with the extradition of Mr. Fujimori," Wagner said. 

A 700-page extradition request was submitted to the Japanese Foreign Ministry by Peruvian Ambassador to Japan Luis J. Macchiavello on Thursday. 

After 10 years in office, Fujimori fled to Japan, his parents' country in November 2000. 

Although the Peruvian government has charged Fujimori with abandonment of office, embezzlement of public funds, homicide and violation of citizens' communications privacy, Thursday's extradition request applies only to the murder charges. 

On Thursday, Fujimori, 65, denied all charges, saying that "there is not a single line of proof" in the extradition request presented by Peru. 

US releases pictures showing Saddam's possible new looks
The US Central Command released five digitally enhanced pictures of Saddam Hussein showing his new appearances if he is in disguise. 

The pictures, made by the Pentagon, show Saddam's different looks, with a beard, white hair, gray hair, a trimmed mustache and one with a traditional Arab headress. 

Central Command spokesman Ryan Fitzgerald said that the military began from Thursday to distribute the pictures to US troops in Iraq searching for Saddam. 



He said the pictures would help the troops recognize Saddam if he tries to change his appearance to elude capture. 

Fitzgerald said the bodies of Saddam's sons Uday and Qusay showed that they had been trying to alter their appearances through growing different beards and other means, so Saddam may also follow suit. 

The US Central Command posted the digitally altered photographson its website. 

Since Uday and Qusay were killed in a raid on July 22, US troops in Iraq have intensified their hunt for Saddam Hussein. 

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Central Intelligence Agency also has made separate images depicting what Saddam might look like after three months on the run.