National and International News - Saturday May 19

BAGHDAD (AP) - One of three mortar rounds or rockets fired into Baghdad's Green Zone today hit the British Embassy compound as outgoing British leader Tony Blair was paying an unannounced visit to Iraq. It's not known if he was there at the time. Blair is using his final visit to try to persuade Iraqi leaders to work harder toward a more inclusive government.

WHITE HOUSE (AP) - The White House says President Bush will strongly support a new compromise on immigration legislation. He'll kick it off with his weekly radio address today. The compromise faces an uncertain future in Congress, with lawmakers on both sides panning parts of it.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The administration says its willing to consider benchmarks for the Iraqi government but not troop withdrawal language in a bill to fund the Iraq war. Congressional Democrats offered to let President Bush waive any withdrawal timetable but say the White House turned them down.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - A suicide bombing in northern Afghanistan has killed at least eight people including three German soldiers. The explosion went off near the soldiers in a crowded market where they were shopping. A gunbattle with allied forces near the capital, Kabul, left 20 militants dead.

UNDATED (AP) - A cold front expected this weekend threatens to undo some of the progress made on a wildfire burning across hundreds of square miles in southern Georgia and northern Florida. It's about 70 percent contained but a Florida forestry spokesman fears the fire will spread this weekend.

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) - Today is a big day for Tour de France cycling winner Floyd Landis in his effort to overturn charges he illegally used synthetic testosterone. Landis is to testify at an arbitration hearing in California. Another cyclist told the panel it's easy to use the substance and not get caught.

CANUTE, Okla. (AP) - The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the seven victims of a highway crash may have been illegal immigrants. Police suspect the driver of an S-U-V fell asleep at the wheel and the vehicle went airborne, hitting an embankment. Authorities have asked Mexico to help identify the victims.

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) - A Canadian Air Force pilot has been killed while rehearsing for an air show with the Snowbirds flight demonstration team in Montana. The Canadian team's performance this weekend at an Air Force Base open house has been canceled. An investigation is under way.

SEATTLE (AP) - Federal authorities in Washington state say a man faked his veteran's status to try to gain prominence in the anti-war movement. He claimed to have committed war crimes in Iraq. But his service record shows he never made it past Army basic training and never went to Iraq. Jesse Macbeth is also accused of collecting benefits from the V-A.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - With the Olympics coming up in 2008, host China is planning to be represented at the New Year's Rose Parade. It's a first for Beijing. A formal announcement regarding China's Olympic-themed float is scheduled for Monday at Tournament of Roses headquarters in Pasadena, California.

LITTLE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) - The Air Force has opened an investigation into a 27-square-mile wildfire in New Jersey that may have been caused by a flare dropped from a jet during bomber training. A huge wildfire burning across the Georgia-Florida state line is 70-percent contained.

CROMWELL, Ky. (AP) - It was good enough for the queen but apparently not for federal inspectors, who shut down a Perdue chicken processing plant in western Kentucky. The inspectors cited concerns about safety and wholesomeness of the product. The plant provided the chicken breasts served at a meal for Queen Elizabeth at the Kentucky Derby.