BISHOP' 4 OTHERS SEIZED BY LIBYANS

Libyan Revolutionary Guards have seized a Roman Catholicbishop, a nun and three Franciscan friars, the Italian ForeignMinistry and church sources said yesterday.

The gunmen of Libyan leader Moammar Khadafy's militia burst intoa house in the port of Benghazi and arrested Monsignor GiovanniMartinelli and the others Thursday when the bishop was on a pastoralvisit to the city, the sources said.

The nun also is Italian. The Franciscans are a Pole, a Filipinoand a Maltese. It was not known why they were arrested, or whetherthe detentions were linked to Libyan preparations for a possible U.S.attack.

Martinelli, 43, is the apostolic vicar of Tripoli, the …

Text of Bush News Conference Thursday

Text of President Bush's remarks on Thursday, as transcribed by CQ Transcriptions.

BUSH: Good morning. Thank you.

Yesterday, America lost an extraordinary first lady and a fine Texan, Lady Bird Johnson. She brought grace to the White House and beauty to our country.

On behalf of the American people, Laura and I send our condolences to her daughters, Lynda and Luci, and we offer our prayers to the Johnson family.

Before I answer some of your questions, today I'd like to provide the American people with an update on the situation in Iraq.

Since America began military operations in Iraq, the conflict there has gone through four major phases.

…

UK court sentences serial rapist to life

A British man who may be behind dozens of sex attacks has been jailed for life.

Kirk Reid, 44, must serve a minimum of 7 1/2 years for more than two dozen attacks on women. But London police are investigating whether he is responsible for a further 71 attacks.

Judge Shani Barnes on Thursday called the attacks "utterly terrifying and humiliating" for the …

British Toad Patrols Hustle To Rescue Mating Migrants

CHARLTON KINGS, England When night descends in a spring mist,Sandra and Tony Jeans sense love and danger in the air. They marchwith buckets and flashlights to the busy A40 highway. Their mission:Rescue toads from the perils of desire.

Each spring, the Jeanses and hundreds of other volunteer toadpatrollers across Britain carry amorous toads that are in thebesotted throes of an annual mating migration across dangerous roads,so the toads are not flattened.

For growing numbers of British wildlife enthusiasts, this isserious and increasingly futile work.

"OK, it's not the prettiest of things, and it's always been castin the bad role in the fairy stories . . . …

Mets' LF Bay back in NY for tests on rib muscle

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) — Mets left fielder Jason Bay had tests on his strained rib cage Wednesday in New York, and the team planned to wait until he returned to camp to decide whether he will start the season on the disabled list.

Bay felt discomfort on his left side Tuesday and was pulled from the lineup. He went to New York on Wednesday morning for tests and was scheduled to get back at night.

The Mets open the regular season on Friday night at Florida. The team told outfielder Lucas Duda he will make the 25-man roster if Bay needs to go on the disabled list.

Rosters must be set by 11 a.m. Thursday. If Bay goes on the DL, the move could be backdated so that he's …

Paul Tracy trying anything to find a ride in IRL

Paul Tracy is doing anything he can to land a ride in the Indy Racing League.

He's calling other teams, shopping his services, even checking with the man who cost him an Indianapolis 500 win.

Tony George, the IRL founder and now owner of Vision Racing, said Tuesday that Tracy's business manager called Monday seeking help in finding Tracy a ride this season.

"I'd like to see Paul here at Indy," George said. "If it would be with Vision Racing, that would be great. If it's with another team, that would be great. It is kind of unfortunate, some would say a travesty that he's not here today."

The mere thought of pairing …

Pop goes modern art in Warhol print exhibit

Images by the artist known as the the Prince of Pop are showcasedin "The Prints of Andy Warhol (From A to B and Back Again)," a newexhibit at the Bachman Gallery at the Center for Visual andPerforming Arts in Munster.

"Through his work, Warhol mirrored back to us the banality andartificiality of pop culture, as well as our preoccupation withcelebrity and consumerism," said Ruth Crnkovich, director ofexhibitions for the Northern Indiana Arts Association.

Warhol (1928-1987) was most famous for his commercial screenprintsof movie stars, advertisements and comic characters. A 1964lithograph of actress Elizabeth Taylor is one of Warhol's earliestimages in the exhibit. The …