National and International News-Saturday, Dec.2nd

HAVANA (AP) - Many Cubans are hoping Fidel Castro makes an appearance this morning at a parade capping off a week of birthday celebrations. Havana's Plaza of the Revolution will be jammed with citizens, soldiers and military gear at a parade marking 50 years since Castro and other rebels came ashore before the revolution.

CHICAGO (AP) - A wintry storm is to blame for airport delays and treacherous road conditions across the Midwest. Hundreds of thousands have been left without electricity and there have been at least nine storm-related deaths. Some areas are under more than a foot of snow.

LONDON (AP) - Doctors are carrying out more tests on an Italian security expert and friend of poisoned ex-Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko. The Italian man tested positive for traces of the same radioactive substance found in the former K-G-B agent who died November 23rd.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Tribal leaders have passed a resolution to keep protesters off their North Dakota reservation. The protesters planned to demonstrate at a funeral for a soldier killed in Afghanistan. The group says soldier deaths are God's way of punishing America's tolerance of homosexuals.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - U-S military officials say coalition forces have started an offensive operation in an Iraqi province rife with insurgent fighting. Police report 36 suspected militants have been detained. And outside Baghdad, at least 20 are dead after a truck crashed into a bus stop.