In historic transfer of power, Afghanistan inaugurates new president

Ashraf Ghani was inaugurated Monday as president of Afghanistan, succeeding President Hamid Karzai and marking the first peaceful transition of power in the nation's history.

"I am your leader, but I am no better than you," Ghani said in his first address as president, quoting Islam's first caliph, Abu Bakr Seddiq. "I err; hold me to account."

Ghani thanked Karzai for his role in the transition – including helping to broker a compromise ending a disputed runoff election – and for respecting Afghanistan's constitution during his 13 years as president.

"Our people have shown that they desire peace and order," Karzai said at a ceremony at the presidential palace in Kabul.

Ghani, a former Afghan finance minister and World Bank official, was administered the oath of office by the chief justice of the Afghan supreme court. Ghani then led his two vice presidents, Abdul Rashid Dostum and Sarwar Danesh, in their oaths of office.

As president, Ghani will head a government of national unity, which will see Abdullah Abdullah, his rival in the controversial election, take the new post of chief executive. Ghani said the unity government would be one of "representation" and thanked Abdullah for joining in the leadership.

Following the oaths of office, Ghani signed an executive order naming Abdullah as chief executive and Ahmad Zia Massoud as special representative to the presidency. Massoud is the brother of slain former militia commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, who fought the Taliban and was close to Abdullah.

Until Monday morning it remained unclear whether Abdullah would participate in the inauguration. Members of his team were reportedly angered by the Ghani campaign's decision last week to release results of the runoff election, which Abdullah maintains was marred by widespread fraud. The results, following a United Nations-supervised audit of all 8 million ballots, showed Ghani winning 55% of the vote.

Mohammad Khan and Mohammad Mohaqeq, who will take on the roles of deputies to the chief executive, were also sworn in by Ghani.

President Obama dispatched a delegation headed by John Podesta, his special counselor, to the inauguration. Other dignitaries attending included India's foreign minister, the president of Pakistan and representatives from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Maldives and China.

Latifi is a Times special correspondent.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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In historic transfer of power, Afghanistan inaugurates new president

Ashraf Ghani was inaugurated Monday as president of Afghanistan, succeeding President Hamid Karzai and marking the first peaceful transition of power in the nation's history.

"I am your leader, but I am no better than you," Ghani said in his first address as president, quoting Islam's first caliph, Abu Bakr Seddiq. "I err; hold me to account."

Ghani thanked Karzai for his role in the transition – including helping to broker a compromise ending a disputed runoff election – and for respecting Afghanistan's constitution during his 13 years as president.

"Our people have shown that they desire peace and order," Karzai said at a ceremony at the presidential palace in Kabul.

Ghani, a former Afghan finance minister and World Bank official, was administered the oath of office by the chief justice of the Afghan supreme court. Ghani then led his two vice presidents, Abdul Rashid Dostum and Sarwar Danesh, in their oaths of office.

As president, Ghani will head a government of national unity, which will see Abdullah Abdullah, his rival in the controversial election, take the new post of chief executive. Ghani said the unity government would be one of "representation" and thanked Abdullah for joining in the leadership.

Following the oaths of office, Ghani signed an executive order naming Abdullah as chief executive and Ahmad Zia Massoud as special representative to the presidency. Massoud is the brother of slain former militia commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, who fought the Taliban and was close to Abdullah.

Until Monday morning it remained unclear whether Abdullah would participate in the inauguration. Members of his team were reportedly angered by the Ghani campaign's decision last week to release results of the runoff election, which Abdullah maintains was marred by widespread fraud. The results, following a United Nations-supervised audit of all 8 million ballots, showed Ghani winning 55% of the vote.

Mohammad Khan and Mohammad Mohaqeq, who will take on the roles of deputies to the chief executive, were also sworn in by Ghani.

President Obama dispatched a delegation headed by John Podesta, his special counselor, to the inauguration. Other dignitaries attending included India's foreign minister, the president of Pakistan and representatives from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Maldives and China.

Latifi is a Times special correspondent.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

16.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

In historic transfer of power, Afghanistan inaugurates new president

Ashraf Ghani was inaugurated Monday as president of Afghanistan, succeeding President Hamid Karzai and marking the first peaceful transition of power in the nation's history.

"I am your leader, but I am no better than you," Ghani said in his first address as president, quoting Islam's first caliph, Abu Bakr Seddiq. "I err; hold me to account."

Ghani thanked Karzai for his role in the transition – including helping to broker a compromise ending a disputed runoff election – and for respecting Afghanistan's constitution during his 13 years as president.

"Our people have shown that they desire peace and order," Karzai said at a ceremony at the presidential palace in Kabul.

Ghani, a former Afghan finance minister and World Bank official, was administered the oath of office by the chief justice of the Afghan supreme court. Ghani then led his two vice presidents, Abdul Rashid Dostum and Sarwar Danesh, in their oaths of office.

As president, Ghani will head a government of national unity, which will see Abdullah Abdullah, his rival in the controversial election, take the new post of chief executive. Ghani said the unity government would be one of "representation" and thanked Abdullah for joining in the leadership.

Following the oaths of office, Ghani signed an executive order naming Abdullah as chief executive and Ahmad Zia Massoud as special representative to the presidency. Massoud is the brother of slain former militia commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, who fought the Taliban and was close to Abdullah.

Until Monday morning it remained unclear whether Abdullah would participate in the inauguration. Members of his team were reportedly angered by the Ghani campaign's decision last week to release results of the runoff election, which Abdullah maintains was marred by widespread fraud. The results, following a United Nations-supervised audit of all 8 million ballots, showed Ghani winning 55% of the vote.

Mohammad Khan and Mohammad Mohaqeq, who will take on the roles of deputies to the chief executive, were also sworn in by Ghani.

President Obama dispatched a delegation headed by John Podesta, his special counselor, to the inauguration. Other dignitaries attending included India's foreign minister, the president of Pakistan and representatives from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, the Maldives and China.

Latifi is a Times special correspondent.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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There's progress, but also more work ahead, as USC beats Oregon State

It wasn't a rollicking return to the offensive style and pace USC showed Trojans fans in the season opener.

There were lapses on special teams and defense and too many penalties.

But USC made big plays when it needed them most Saturday night against Oregon State.

The No. 18 Trojans bounced back from their loss at Boston College two weeks ago with a 35-10 victory at the Coliseum that answered some questions but left others still dogging them.

"We're not perfect and we have plenty of room for improvement," Coach Steve Sarkisian said. "We'll enjoy this, but it's not the end-all, be all."

Quarterback Cody Kessler passed for two touchdowns, including a Hail Mary to receiver Darreus Rogers at the end of the first half, as the Trojans improved their record to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the Pac-12 Conference.

Su'a Cravens returned an interception for a touchdown, tailback Justin Davis scored twice and tailback Javorius Allen also rushed for a touchdown, and the defense once again did not give up a touchdown pass.

Sarkisian, under fire after the Boston College debacle, would have been facing a crisis if the Trojans lost at home to Oregon State for the first time since 1960.

Instead, USC will prepare for next week's Pac-12 South game against Arizona State with confidence rather than the uncertainty that surrounded the program the last two weeks.

"After what they had to hear about the last two weeks," Sarkisian said of the defense, "I'm really proud of what they did."

The 37-31 defeat at Boston College — in which the Trojans surrendered 452 yards rushing — did not look any better when the Eagles lost to Colorado State on Saturday.

But the Trojans can finally put the loss behind them after an impressive defensive effort in which they gave up only 58 yards rushing, 181 yards total and did not allow an offensive touchdown against the previously unbeaten Beavers (3-1).

Despite hurting itself with 14 penalties for 124 yards, USC outgained Oregon State, 461-181, and mostly neutralized senior quarterback Sean Mannion.

Mannion and receiver Richard Mullaney burned USC cornerbacks several times, but Mannion completed only 15 of 32 passes for 123 yards and had two intercepted.

Cravens, who moved from safety to linebacker for the game, returned a first-quarter interception 31 yards for a 7-0 lead.

"We knew they wanted to get the ball out to the flats to their big tight ends," Cravens said. "I just made a play on the ball."

In the second quarter, freshman cornerback Adoree' Jackson tipped a pass in the end zone and sophomore safety Leon McQuay III intercepted it to end a threat and protect a 14-10 lead.

USC also showed some signs of evolving on offense.

Sarkisian said after the Boston College loss that he might have been too stubborn to run the ball and that he would consider using the pass to set up the run.

He did that against Oregon State, the Trojans throwing numerous first-down passes against a defense that had not given up a touchdown pass and ranked first nationally in pass-efficiency defense. Nine players caught passes for the Trojans.

Kessler completed 17 of 22 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. He finished 24 for 32 for 261 yards and has yet to have a pass intercepted.

"I think we bounced back amazing — not only the pass game but the run game," Kessler said.

USC, which rushed for 20 yards against Boston College, gained 200 against Oregon State. Allen, who rushed for only 31 yards against B.C., gained 115 yards in 20 carries.

USC led, 21-10, at halftime, on Cravens' interception return, Kessler's short touchdown pass to Davis and Kessler's 48-yard heave to Rogers on the final play of the second quarter.

Cravens' touchdown gave the Trojans a 7-0 first-quarter lead, but it didn't last long.

On the ensuing kickoff, Oregon State's Ryan Murphy caught the ball at the three-yard line, broke to his left and then outran the Trojans down the sideline in front of the Beavers' bench to tie the score.

A field goal by Trevor Romaine gave the Beavers their first, and only, lead, 10-7 early in the second quarter.

The Trojans came back and finally put together a scoring drive.

Freshman tight end Bryce Dixon's 31-yard reception was the key play in a 65-yard march that ended with Kessler's nine-yard touchdown pass to Davis for a 14-10 lead.

The tip by Jackson and interception by McQuay set the stage for the biggest play of the game.

USC's final possession stalled at Oregon State's 48, and it looked like the Trojans would take a four-point lead to the locker room at halftime.

But Sarkisian let the clock run down to one second and then called time out.

On fourth down, Kessler took the snap, moved to his right and then launched a pass toward the right corner of the end zone.

Rogers out-jumped several teammates and defenders, made the catch and landed on the one-yard line, before turning and crossing the goal line for a 21-10 lead.

"I was just thinking in my head, 'Don't throw it out of the end zone. Don't throw it out of bounds,'" Kessler said.

Allen's 17-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter gave USC more than enough, and Davis later added a 21-yard scoring run.

gary.klein@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimesklein

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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There's progress, but also more work ahead, as USC beats Oregon State

It wasn't a rollicking return to the offensive style and pace USC showed Trojans fans in the season opener.

There were lapses on special teams and defense and too many penalties.

But USC made big plays when it needed them most Saturday night against Oregon State.

The No. 18 Trojans bounced back from their loss at Boston College two weeks ago with a 35-10 victory at the Coliseum that answered some questions but left others still dogging them.

"We're not perfect and we have plenty of room for improvement," Coach Steve Sarkisian said. "We'll enjoy this, but it's not the end-all, be all."

Quarterback Cody Kessler passed for two touchdowns, including a Hail Mary to receiver Darreus Rogers at the end of the first half, as the Trojans improved their record to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the Pac-12 Conference.

Su'a Cravens returned an interception for a touchdown, tailback Justin Davis scored twice and tailback Javorius Allen also rushed for a touchdown, and the defense once again did not give up a touchdown pass.

Sarkisian, under fire after the Boston College debacle, would have been facing a crisis if the Trojans lost at home to Oregon State for the first time since 1960.

Instead, USC will prepare for next week's Pac-12 South game against Arizona State with confidence rather than the uncertainty that surrounded the program the last two weeks.

"After what they had to hear about the last two weeks," Sarkisian said of the defense, "I'm really proud of what they did."

The 37-31 defeat at Boston College — in which the Trojans surrendered 452 yards rushing — did not look any better when the Eagles lost to Colorado State on Saturday.

But the Trojans can finally put the loss behind them after an impressive defensive effort in which they gave up only 58 yards rushing, 181 yards total and did not allow an offensive touchdown against the previously unbeaten Beavers (3-1).

Despite hurting itself with 14 penalties for 124 yards, USC outgained Oregon State, 461-181, and mostly neutralized senior quarterback Sean Mannion.

Mannion and receiver Richard Mullaney burned USC cornerbacks several times, but Mannion completed only 15 of 32 passes for 123 yards and had two intercepted.

Cravens, who moved from safety to linebacker for the game, returned a first-quarter interception 31 yards for a 7-0 lead.

"We knew they wanted to get the ball out to the flats to their big tight ends," Cravens said. "I just made a play on the ball."

In the second quarter, freshman cornerback Adoree' Jackson tipped a pass in the end zone and sophomore safety Leon McQuay III intercepted it to end a threat and protect a 14-10 lead.

USC also showed some signs of evolving on offense.

Sarkisian said after the Boston College loss that he might have been too stubborn to run the ball and that he would consider using the pass to set up the run.

He did that against Oregon State, the Trojans throwing numerous first-down passes against a defense that had not given up a touchdown pass and ranked first nationally in pass-efficiency defense. Nine players caught passes for the Trojans.

Kessler completed 17 of 22 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. He finished 24 for 32 for 261 yards and has yet to have a pass intercepted.

"I think we bounced back amazing — not only the pass game but the run game," Kessler said.

USC, which rushed for 20 yards against Boston College, gained 200 against Oregon State. Allen, who rushed for only 31 yards against B.C., gained 115 yards in 20 carries.

USC led, 21-10, at halftime, on Cravens' interception return, Kessler's short touchdown pass to Davis and Kessler's 48-yard heave to Rogers on the final play of the second quarter.

Cravens' touchdown gave the Trojans a 7-0 first-quarter lead, but it didn't last long.

On the ensuing kickoff, Oregon State's Ryan Murphy caught the ball at the three-yard line, broke to his left and then outran the Trojans down the sideline in front of the Beavers' bench to tie the score.

A field goal by Trevor Romaine gave the Beavers their first, and only, lead, 10-7 early in the second quarter.

The Trojans came back and finally put together a scoring drive.

Freshman tight end Bryce Dixon's 31-yard reception was the key play in a 65-yard march that ended with Kessler's nine-yard touchdown pass to Davis for a 14-10 lead.

The tip by Jackson and interception by McQuay set the stage for the biggest play of the game.

USC's final possession stalled at Oregon State's 48, and it looked like the Trojans would take a four-point lead to the locker room at halftime.

But Sarkisian let the clock run down to one second and then called time out.

On fourth down, Kessler took the snap, moved to his right and then launched a pass toward the right corner of the end zone.

Rogers out-jumped several teammates and defenders, made the catch and landed on the one-yard line, before turning and crossing the goal line for a 21-10 lead.

"I was just thinking in my head, 'Don't throw it out of the end zone. Don't throw it out of bounds,'" Kessler said.

Allen's 17-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter gave USC more than enough, and Davis later added a 21-yard scoring run.

gary.klein@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimesklein

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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There's progress, but also more work ahead, as USC beats Oregon State

It wasn't a rollicking return to the offensive style and pace USC showed Trojans fans in the season opener.

There were lapses on special teams and defense and too many penalties.

But USC made big plays when it needed them most Saturday night against Oregon State.

The No. 18 Trojans bounced back from their loss at Boston College two weeks ago with a 35-10 victory at the Coliseum that answered some questions but left others still dogging them.

"We're not perfect and we have plenty of room for improvement," Coach Steve Sarkisian said. "We'll enjoy this, but it's not the end-all, be all."

Quarterback Cody Kessler passed for two touchdowns, including a Hail Mary to receiver Darreus Rogers at the end of the first half, as the Trojans improved their record to 3-1 overall and 2-0 in the Pac-12 Conference.

Su'a Cravens returned an interception for a touchdown, tailback Justin Davis scored twice and tailback Javorius Allen also rushed for a touchdown, and the defense once again did not give up a touchdown pass.

Sarkisian, under fire after the Boston College debacle, would have been facing a crisis if the Trojans lost at home to Oregon State for the first time since 1960.

Instead, USC will prepare for next week's Pac-12 South game against Arizona State with confidence rather than the uncertainty that surrounded the program the last two weeks.

"After what they had to hear about the last two weeks," Sarkisian said of the defense, "I'm really proud of what they did."

The 37-31 defeat at Boston College — in which the Trojans surrendered 452 yards rushing — did not look any better when the Eagles lost to Colorado State on Saturday.

But the Trojans can finally put the loss behind them after an impressive defensive effort in which they gave up only 58 yards rushing, 181 yards total and did not allow an offensive touchdown against the previously unbeaten Beavers (3-1).

Despite hurting itself with 14 penalties for 124 yards, USC outgained Oregon State, 461-181, and mostly neutralized senior quarterback Sean Mannion.

Mannion and receiver Richard Mullaney burned USC cornerbacks several times, but Mannion completed only 15 of 32 passes for 123 yards and had two intercepted.

Cravens, who moved from safety to linebacker for the game, returned a first-quarter interception 31 yards for a 7-0 lead.

"We knew they wanted to get the ball out to the flats to their big tight ends," Cravens said. "I just made a play on the ball."

In the second quarter, freshman cornerback Adoree' Jackson tipped a pass in the end zone and sophomore safety Leon McQuay III intercepted it to end a threat and protect a 14-10 lead.

USC also showed some signs of evolving on offense.

Sarkisian said after the Boston College loss that he might have been too stubborn to run the ball and that he would consider using the pass to set up the run.

He did that against Oregon State, the Trojans throwing numerous first-down passes against a defense that had not given up a touchdown pass and ranked first nationally in pass-efficiency defense. Nine players caught passes for the Trojans.

Kessler completed 17 of 22 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. He finished 24 for 32 for 261 yards and has yet to have a pass intercepted.

"I think we bounced back amazing — not only the pass game but the run game," Kessler said.

USC, which rushed for 20 yards against Boston College, gained 200 against Oregon State. Allen, who rushed for only 31 yards against B.C., gained 115 yards in 20 carries.

USC led, 21-10, at halftime, on Cravens' interception return, Kessler's short touchdown pass to Davis and Kessler's 48-yard heave to Rogers on the final play of the second quarter.

Cravens' touchdown gave the Trojans a 7-0 first-quarter lead, but it didn't last long.

On the ensuing kickoff, Oregon State's Ryan Murphy caught the ball at the three-yard line, broke to his left and then outran the Trojans down the sideline in front of the Beavers' bench to tie the score.

A field goal by Trevor Romaine gave the Beavers their first, and only, lead, 10-7 early in the second quarter.

The Trojans came back and finally put together a scoring drive.

Freshman tight end Bryce Dixon's 31-yard reception was the key play in a 65-yard march that ended with Kessler's nine-yard touchdown pass to Davis for a 14-10 lead.

The tip by Jackson and interception by McQuay set the stage for the biggest play of the game.

USC's final possession stalled at Oregon State's 48, and it looked like the Trojans would take a four-point lead to the locker room at halftime.

But Sarkisian let the clock run down to one second and then called time out.

On fourth down, Kessler took the snap, moved to his right and then launched a pass toward the right corner of the end zone.

Rogers out-jumped several teammates and defenders, made the catch and landed on the one-yard line, before turning and crossing the goal line for a 21-10 lead.

"I was just thinking in my head, 'Don't throw it out of the end zone. Don't throw it out of bounds,'" Kessler said.

Allen's 17-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter gave USC more than enough, and Davis later added a 21-yard scoring run.

gary.klein@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimesklein

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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Football: Serra makes a splash in Mission League opener

There were some who doubted whether or not Gardena Serra could actually play with the likes of the many formidable opponents in the re-aligned, seven-team Mission League. Chances are, those skeptics were nearly turned into believers on Friday night.

The Cavaliers made a statement against visiting Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. They led by double digits for a majority of the game, in fact. And the end result was a rather impressive 28-23 victory in an all-important league opener that proved some naysayers wrong.

"We heard the things said about us. Did it bother me, or, my teammates? I'm not sure. Everyone has an opinion, I can respect that. Still, we had something to prove," said Serra's John Houston Jr., a 6-foot-3, 218-pound senior and one of the nation's premier linebacker prospects.

With Houston leading the the way on defense, and fellow well-known upperclassmen such as Stanley "Scrappy" Norman and Rasheem Green doing their respective jobs, Serra (4-1, 1-0) made things difficult on the Knights (3-1, 0-1).

"Anyone who thought that we were not up for the challenge in league, think again," Norman said. "It's about taking things to the next level and tonight was the first step. We had enough of the talk. It was time to go out and show what we can do."

In other league action Friday night, West Hills Chaminade defeated Los Angeles Loyola, 24-7, and Encino Crespi defeated La Puente Bishop Amat, 32-21, in an overtime thriller. Mission Hills Alemany did not play. Serra travels to Bishop Amat next week.

Sean Ceglinsky has covered sports in the Southland for the better part of the past 15-plus years. Follow him on Twitter: @SeanCeglinsky

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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Football: Serra makes a splash in Mission League opener

There were some who doubted whether or not Gardena Serra could actually play with the likes of the many formidable opponents in the re-aligned, seven-team Mission League. Chances are, those skeptics were nearly turned into believers on Friday night.

The Cavaliers made a statement against visiting Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. They led by double digits for a majority of the game, in fact. And the end result was a rather impressive 28-23 victory in an all-important league opener that proved some naysayers wrong.

"We heard the things said about us. Did it bother me, or, my teammates? I'm not sure. Everyone has an opinion, I can respect that. Still, we had something to prove," said Serra's John Houston Jr., a 6-foot-3, 218-pound senior and one of the nation's premier linebacker prospects.

With Houston leading the the way on defense, and fellow well-known upperclassmen such as Stanley "Scrappy" Norman and Rasheem Green doing their respective jobs, Serra (4-1, 1-0) made things difficult on the Knights (3-1, 0-1).

"Anyone who thought that we were not up for the challenge in league, think again," Norman said. "It's about taking things to the next level and tonight was the first step. We had enough of the talk. It was time to go out and show what we can do."

In other league action Friday night, West Hills Chaminade defeated Los Angeles Loyola, 24-7, and Encino Crespi defeated La Puente Bishop Amat, 32-21, in an overtime thriller. Mission Hills Alemany did not play. Serra travels to Bishop Amat next week.

Sean Ceglinsky has covered sports in the Southland for the better part of the past 15-plus years. Follow him on Twitter: @SeanCeglinsky

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

16.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Football: Serra makes a splash in Mission League opener

There were some who doubted whether or not Gardena Serra could actually play with the likes of the many formidable opponents in the re-aligned, seven-team Mission League. Chances are, those skeptics were nearly turned into believers on Friday night.

The Cavaliers made a statement against visiting Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. They led by double digits for a majority of the game, in fact. And the end result was a rather impressive 28-23 victory in an all-important league opener that proved some naysayers wrong.

"We heard the things said about us. Did it bother me, or, my teammates? I'm not sure. Everyone has an opinion, I can respect that. Still, we had something to prove," said Serra's John Houston Jr., a 6-foot-3, 218-pound senior and one of the nation's premier linebacker prospects.

With Houston leading the the way on defense, and fellow well-known upperclassmen such as Stanley "Scrappy" Norman and Rasheem Green doing their respective jobs, Serra (4-1, 1-0) made things difficult on the Knights (3-1, 0-1).

"Anyone who thought that we were not up for the challenge in league, think again," Norman said. "It's about taking things to the next level and tonight was the first step. We had enough of the talk. It was time to go out and show what we can do."

In other league action Friday night, West Hills Chaminade defeated Los Angeles Loyola, 24-7, and Encino Crespi defeated La Puente Bishop Amat, 32-21, in an overtime thriller. Mission Hills Alemany did not play. Serra travels to Bishop Amat next week.

Sean Ceglinsky has covered sports in the Southland for the better part of the past 15-plus years. Follow him on Twitter: @SeanCeglinsky

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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UCLA turns Arizona State trip into Valley of the Stun

There was a collective exhale that could be heard from UCLA fans from the desert to the sea.

Quarterback Brett Hundley looked fine. Ishmael Adams was finally able to catch his breath. The No. 11 Bruins looked more like the team everyone was expecting this season in their Pac-12 opener.

All of which came packaged in a 62-27 victory over No. 15 Arizona State at Sun Devil Stadium on Thursday.

By the time UCLA (4-0, 1-0 in Pac-12) finished dismantling Arizona State (3-1, 1-1) in the 90-degree heat, there were far fewer questions about a team that totes hefty expectations.

Important games are ahead for the Bruins. But this was a big hurdle, coming on the road against the defending Pac-12 South champions.

The Bruins prepared for the moment not knowing whether their quarterback would play. Uncertainty surrounded Hundley, who had injured his left elbow against Texas on Sept. 13.

UCLA Coach Jim Mora said he wanted to see how Hundley responded in practice after being cleared to play.

"I felt OK with it," Mora said.

The Sun Devils weren't.

The Bruins spotted Arizona State a 17-6 lead, then scored 28 consecutive points in a big-play display that had to impress the national television audience.

"I think that game kind of showed we have some grit to us," Mora said. "I have been on some teams that would have folded."

Eldridge Massington turned a short pass into an 80-yard touchdown play to cut the deficit to 17-13. The Bruins never let up.

Hundley completed 18 of 23 passes for 355 yards and four touchdowns. Jordan Payton had five catches for 151 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown catch.

More important, Hundley displayed that hippy-hippy shake as a runner that gives opposing defensive coordinators night terrors.

"The first series, Brett seemed tight to me," Mora said. "Then he just relaxed and played fearless."

Hundley tried to be careful, getting out of bounds when he could and hitting the turf a few times. But he remained a reckless runner. Hundley hurdled one would-be tackler on a six-yard gain in the first half.

He was just getting started.

Potential tacklers were left waving at air on his 21-yard run to the three-yard line later in the half. He then danced and spun his way for 22 yards to the one in the third quarter.

Both drives ended in touchdowns.

Hundley finished with 72 yards rushing and scored the Bruins' coup de grace with a one-yard run with 4:29 left.

"We've seen Brett do some amazing things," receiver Thomas Duarte said. "I just think that's another one of his games. Just to see him out there, doing his thing, jumping over guys, taking hits, that inspires the team."

UCLA finished with 580 yards. Arizona State had 626 yards but could not keep pace on the scoreboard, not with quarterback Taylor Kelly sidelined with a foot injury.

Mike Bercovici subbed for Kelly and had some quality moments. He completed 42 of 68 passes for 488 yards and three touchdowns. He also had two passes intercepted.

Going into this game, the Sun Devils had only one turnover this season, a fumble. They gave the ball away four times Thursday, leading to 17 UCLA points.

The Bruins didn't need the help. UCLA had eight plays of 40 or more yards, four of which went for touchdowns. Adams had three of the big plays.

"I don't know if there's a better guy to have the ball in his hands," Mora said.

Adams provided the backbreaker with Arizona State driving for a tying or go-ahead score late in the first half. He picked off a pass and went 95 yards for a touchdown. Instead of trailing, the Bruins had a 27-17 halftime lead.

By the time Adams' evening was done, he had to feel like he'd been at the Olympic Trials. After Arizona State cut the lead to 34-20 in the third quarter, he fielded a kickoff in the end zone and left the Arizona State coverage team choking on his vapor trail. Officially, it was a 100-yard return that left Adams on his back, breathing heavily.

UCLA fans, meanwhile, could breathe easier.

Follow Chris Foster on Twitter: @cfosterlatimes

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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UCLA turns Arizona State trip into Valley of the Stun

There was a collective exhale that could be heard from UCLA fans from the desert to the sea.

Quarterback Brett Hundley looked fine. Ishmael Adams was finally able to catch his breath. The No. 11 Bruins looked more like the team everyone was expecting this season in their Pac-12 opener.

All of which came packaged in a 62-27 victory over No. 15 Arizona State at Sun Devil Stadium on Thursday.

By the time UCLA (4-0, 1-0 in Pac-12) finished dismantling Arizona State (3-1, 1-1) in the 90-degree heat, there were far fewer questions about a team that totes hefty expectations.

Important games are ahead for the Bruins. But this was a big hurdle, coming on the road against the defending Pac-12 South champions.

The Bruins prepared for the moment not knowing whether their quarterback would play. Uncertainty surrounded Hundley, who had injured his left elbow against Texas on Sept. 13.

UCLA Coach Jim Mora said he wanted to see how Hundley responded in practice after being cleared to play.

"I felt OK with it," Mora said.

The Sun Devils weren't.

The Bruins spotted Arizona State a 17-6 lead, then scored 28 consecutive points in a big-play display that had to impress the national television audience.

"I think that game kind of showed we have some grit to us," Mora said. "I have been on some teams that would have folded."

Eldridge Massington turned a short pass into an 80-yard touchdown play to cut the deficit to 17-13. The Bruins never let up.

Hundley completed 18 of 23 passes for 355 yards and four touchdowns. Jordan Payton had five catches for 151 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown catch.

More important, Hundley displayed that hippy-hippy shake as a runner that gives opposing defensive coordinators night terrors.

"The first series, Brett seemed tight to me," Mora said. "Then he just relaxed and played fearless."

Hundley tried to be careful, getting out of bounds when he could and hitting the turf a few times. But he remained a reckless runner. Hundley hurdled one would-be tackler on a six-yard gain in the first half.

He was just getting started.

Potential tacklers were left waving at air on his 21-yard run to the three-yard line later in the half. He then danced and spun his way for 22 yards to the one in the third quarter.

Both drives ended in touchdowns.

Hundley finished with 72 yards rushing and scored the Bruins' coup de grace with a one-yard run with 4:29 left.

"We've seen Brett do some amazing things," receiver Thomas Duarte said. "I just think that's another one of his games. Just to see him out there, doing his thing, jumping over guys, taking hits, that inspires the team."

UCLA finished with 580 yards. Arizona State had 626 yards but could not keep pace on the scoreboard, not with quarterback Taylor Kelly sidelined with a foot injury.

Mike Bercovici subbed for Kelly and had some quality moments. He completed 42 of 68 passes for 488 yards and three touchdowns. He also had two passes intercepted.

Going into this game, the Sun Devils had only one turnover this season, a fumble. They gave the ball away four times Thursday, leading to 17 UCLA points.

The Bruins didn't need the help. UCLA had eight plays of 40 or more yards, four of which went for touchdowns. Adams had three of the big plays.

"I don't know if there's a better guy to have the ball in his hands," Mora said.

Adams provided the backbreaker with Arizona State driving for a tying or go-ahead score late in the first half. He picked off a pass and went 95 yards for a touchdown. Instead of trailing, the Bruins had a 27-17 halftime lead.

By the time Adams' evening was done, he had to feel like he'd been at the Olympic Trials. After Arizona State cut the lead to 34-20 in the third quarter, he fielded a kickoff in the end zone and left the Arizona State coverage team choking on his vapor trail. Officially, it was a 100-yard return that left Adams on his back, breathing heavily.

UCLA fans, meanwhile, could breathe easier.

Follow Chris Foster on Twitter: @cfosterlatimes

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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UCLA turns Arizona State trip into Valley of the Stun

There was a collective exhale that could be heard from UCLA fans from the desert to the sea.

Quarterback Brett Hundley looked fine. Ishmael Adams was finally able to catch his breath. The No. 11 Bruins looked more like the team everyone was expecting this season in their Pac-12 opener.

All of which came packaged in a 62-27 victory over No. 15 Arizona State at Sun Devil Stadium on Thursday.

By the time UCLA (4-0, 1-0 in Pac-12) finished dismantling Arizona State (3-1, 1-1) in the 90-degree heat, there were far fewer questions about a team that totes hefty expectations.

Important games are ahead for the Bruins. But this was a big hurdle, coming on the road against the defending Pac-12 South champions.

The Bruins prepared for the moment not knowing whether their quarterback would play. Uncertainty surrounded Hundley, who had injured his left elbow against Texas on Sept. 13.

UCLA Coach Jim Mora said he wanted to see how Hundley responded in practice after being cleared to play.

"I felt OK with it," Mora said.

The Sun Devils weren't.

The Bruins spotted Arizona State a 17-6 lead, then scored 28 consecutive points in a big-play display that had to impress the national television audience.

"I think that game kind of showed we have some grit to us," Mora said. "I have been on some teams that would have folded."

Eldridge Massington turned a short pass into an 80-yard touchdown play to cut the deficit to 17-13. The Bruins never let up.

Hundley completed 18 of 23 passes for 355 yards and four touchdowns. Jordan Payton had five catches for 151 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown catch.

More important, Hundley displayed that hippy-hippy shake as a runner that gives opposing defensive coordinators night terrors.

"The first series, Brett seemed tight to me," Mora said. "Then he just relaxed and played fearless."

Hundley tried to be careful, getting out of bounds when he could and hitting the turf a few times. But he remained a reckless runner. Hundley hurdled one would-be tackler on a six-yard gain in the first half.

He was just getting started.

Potential tacklers were left waving at air on his 21-yard run to the three-yard line later in the half. He then danced and spun his way for 22 yards to the one in the third quarter.

Both drives ended in touchdowns.

Hundley finished with 72 yards rushing and scored the Bruins' coup de grace with a one-yard run with 4:29 left.

"We've seen Brett do some amazing things," receiver Thomas Duarte said. "I just think that's another one of his games. Just to see him out there, doing his thing, jumping over guys, taking hits, that inspires the team."

UCLA finished with 580 yards. Arizona State had 626 yards but could not keep pace on the scoreboard, not with quarterback Taylor Kelly sidelined with a foot injury.

Mike Bercovici subbed for Kelly and had some quality moments. He completed 42 of 68 passes for 488 yards and three touchdowns. He also had two passes intercepted.

Going into this game, the Sun Devils had only one turnover this season, a fumble. They gave the ball away four times Thursday, leading to 17 UCLA points.

The Bruins didn't need the help. UCLA had eight plays of 40 or more yards, four of which went for touchdowns. Adams had three of the big plays.

"I don't know if there's a better guy to have the ball in his hands," Mora said.

Adams provided the backbreaker with Arizona State driving for a tying or go-ahead score late in the first half. He picked off a pass and went 95 yards for a touchdown. Instead of trailing, the Bruins had a 27-17 halftime lead.

By the time Adams' evening was done, he had to feel like he'd been at the Olympic Trials. After Arizona State cut the lead to 34-20 in the third quarter, he fielded a kickoff in the end zone and left the Arizona State coverage team choking on his vapor trail. Officially, it was a 100-yard return that left Adams on his back, breathing heavily.

UCLA fans, meanwhile, could breathe easier.

Follow Chris Foster on Twitter: @cfosterlatimes

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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How Clayton Kershaw and Dodgers clinched NL West over Giants

It was storybook time at Dodger Stadium, a Dodgers' dream come very much to life.

Clayton Kershaw, their leader all season, took the mound Wednesday and led the Dodgers to a 9-1 victory over the rival San Francisco Giants, leaving them National League West champions for a second consecutive year.

Kershaw was greeted by chants of "MVP" all night, climaxing what has been a magical year for the left-hander. Kershaw is not expected to pitch again until the playoffs. If so he finishes the season leading the majors in wins (21) and ERA (1.77) and the NL in strikeouts (239).

He even added to his MVP credientials Wednesday by tripling in the Dodgers' first run. Yasiel Puig's solo homer in the sixth put the Dodgers ahead 2-1.

The Dodgers are expected to have a postseason rematch with the St. Louis Cardinals in a best-of-five-games division series beginning Oct. 3.

The first two games -- and the last, if needed -- would be played at Dodger Stadium. Last October, the Cardinals defeated the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

Wednesday, though, was for celebrating 2014. There was no visiting pool to jump in, but the Dodgers rushed the field after the final out to experience a party at home.

Kershaw (21-3) appears headed for a third NL Cy Young Award and, very possibly, his first league MVP title.

Wednesday was the high point to an uneven, if still highly successful, season for the Dodgers. They never proved the super team many assumed their record payroll would provide, but nonetheless proved effective enough.

The Dodgers went in to San Francisco on July 23 with a 56-47 record, trailing the Giants by two games in the standings. They swept the three-game series and never looked back, leading the division the rest of the way.

The Giants led the Dodgers by 9½ games on June 4, and they had a record of 43-21 four days later when they began a stunning fall, going 42-52 the rest of the way.

The Dodgers were led by their starting pitching trio of Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Kershaw. They are the team strength the Dodgers will count upon to carry them in the postseason. When they start, the Dodgers are 53-25; when any other pitcher starts, they are 38-43.

Ryu is out with a sore shoulder. The Dodgers are hopeful he can return to start in the division series.

Kenley Jansen filled the closer's role as expected, which was no simple task. He was asked to be dominant every time he was handed the ball, and for the most part he was exactly that. Jansen has 44 saves, tied for the National League lead with Atlanta's Craig Kimbrel and St. Louis' Trevor Rosenthal.

However, getting the ball to Jansen has been a regular pursuit for the Holy Grail. The Dodgers are still searching and experimenting heading into October, the bullpen remaining their largest area of concern.

The team's original plan of mixing former All-Star closers Brian Wilson, Brandon League and Chris Perez as eighth-inning setup men for Jansen never really took. Only left-hander J.P. Howell has been consistently reliable.

Offensively, the Dodgers have not been the monster fans had anticipated, but they are still one of baseball's best-hitting teams. They are third in the majors in hitting (.264), tied for first in on-base percentage (.331) and sixth in slugging (.403).

They seldom had their lineup fully healthy, though it appears to be now.

The Dodgers received a pair of offensive surprises this year in Dee Gordon and Justin Turner. Neither was a lock to even make the team going into spring training.

Gordon had been shuttled all over the field as the team tried to find a role for him. But when Cuban prospect Alex Guerrero struggled defensively at second, Gordon seized the opportunity.

Gordon not only filled their need for a leadoff hitter, but he leads the majors in stolen bases (64) and triples (12), and the team in runs (90).

Turner was a non-roster invitee to spring training who caught fire in May and never cooled. He's been a utility man extraordinaire, playing every infield position while leading the team in hitting (.333). In only 282 at-bats, he has seven home runs and 41 runs batted in.

Their one consistent offensive force has been Adrian Gonzalez. The first baseman leads the majors with 112 RBIs and can expect to get a share of National League MVP votes.

After a slow start, Matt Kemp has more resembled the player who nearly won the NL MVP in 2011. Three surgeries behind him, he's hit .304 in the second half. Perhaps most encouraging for the Dodgers, he's been destroying the ball in September, with eight homers and 22 RBIs.

Shortstop Hanley Ramirez has battled various ailments over the course of the season and never really looked like the guy who led the Dodgers offensively last season. Still, even he finished well, hitting better than .400 in his last 18 games.

Carl Crawford has come alive the second half, while Juan Uribe has hit a career-high .311. Puig remains dynamic, if struggling offensively in the second half.

Are they a better team than last year? It's certain now that they will have an opportunity to find out.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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CHP agrees to settle, officer resigns in beating case

A California Highway Patrol officer caught on video repeatedly punching a woman on the 10 Freeway earlier this year has agreed to resign, the agency said late Wednesday.

The CHP announced that Officer Daniel Andrew was stepping down and that the state law enforcement agency had agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle a civil rights lawsuit brought by the woman, Marlene Pinnock, 51.

The settlement will establish a special-needs trust for Pinnock to "provide a mechanism for her long-term care," according to a statement released by CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow.

He did not elaborate.

"When this incident occurred, I promised that I would look into it and vowed a swift resolution. Today, we have worked constructively to reach a settlement agreement that is satisfactory to all parties involved," Farrow said in his statement.

Attorneys for Pinnock and Andrew could not be reached for comment late Wednesday.

The settlement comes as Los Angeles prosecutors are deciding whether to charge Andrew with a crime.

Last month, the CHP announced Andrew had been stripped of his duties and could face "potentially serious charges."

The July 1 altercation generated national attention after a video shot by a passing motorist surfaced.

It shows a uniformed CHP officer pinning the woman to the ground and repeatedly punching her, landing at least nine blows.

There has been some dispute about what prompted the altercation. The CHP has said the officer was trying to keep the woman from walking into traffic. CHP logs state she ignored commands and became "physically combative."

But Pinnock said in an interview last month that she did nothing to provoke the officer. Pinnock said she was walking to a place to sleep that night when the officer came up behind her. As Pinnock screamed, she said, he "pulled me back and threw me on the ground."

The officer "just started punching me and socking me and beating me," Pinnock said. "Blow after blow and blow after blow. He just wouldn't stop."

Pinnock was hospitalized after the incident and placed on a mental-health hold.

Andrew joined the CHP as a cadet in April 2012 and was promoted to an officer six months later, officials said.

ryan.parker@latimes.com
Twitter: @theryanparker

kate.mather@latimes.com
Twitter: @katemather

richard.winton@latimes.com
Twitter: @lacrimes

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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How Clayton Kershaw and Dodgers clinched NL West over Giants

It was storybook time at Dodger Stadium, a Dodgers' dream come very much to life.

Clayton Kershaw, their leader all season, took the mound Wednesday and led the Dodgers to a 9-1 victory over the rival San Francisco Giants, leaving them National League West champions for a second consecutive year.

Kershaw was greeted by chants of "MVP" all night, climaxing what has been a magical year for the left-hander. Kershaw is not expected to pitch again until the playoffs. If so he finishes the season leading the majors in wins (21) and ERA (1.77) and the NL in strikeouts (239).

He even added to his MVP credientials Wednesday by tripling in the Dodgers' first run. Yasiel Puig's solo homer in the sixth put the Dodgers ahead 2-1.

The Dodgers are expected to have a postseason rematch with the St. Louis Cardinals in a best-of-five-games division series beginning Oct. 3.

The first two games -- and the last, if needed -- would be played at Dodger Stadium. Last October, the Cardinals defeated the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

Wednesday, though, was for celebrating 2014. There was no visiting pool to jump in, but the Dodgers rushed the field after the final out to experience a party at home.

Kershaw (21-3) appears headed for a third NL Cy Young Award and, very possibly, his first league MVP title.

Wednesday was the high point to an uneven, if still highly successful, season for the Dodgers. They never proved the super team many assumed their record payroll would provide, but nonetheless proved effective enough.

The Dodgers went in to San Francisco on July 23 with a 56-47 record, trailing the Giants by two games in the standings. They swept the three-game series and never looked back, leading the division the rest of the way.

The Giants led the Dodgers by 9½ games on June 4, and they had a record of 43-21 four days later when they began a stunning fall, going 42-52 the rest of the way.

The Dodgers were led by their starting pitching trio of Zack Greinke, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Kershaw. They are the team strength the Dodgers will count upon to carry them in the postseason. When they start, the Dodgers are 53-25; when any other pitcher starts, they are 38-43.

Ryu is out with a sore shoulder. The Dodgers are hopeful he can return to start in the division series.

Kenley Jansen filled the closer's role as expected, which was no simple task. He was asked to be dominant every time he was handed the ball, and for the most part he was exactly that. Jansen has 44 saves, tied for the National League lead with Atlanta's Craig Kimbrel and St. Louis' Trevor Rosenthal.

However, getting the ball to Jansen has been a regular pursuit for the Holy Grail. The Dodgers are still searching and experimenting heading into October, the bullpen remaining their largest area of concern.

The team's original plan of mixing former All-Star closers Brian Wilson, Brandon League and Chris Perez as eighth-inning setup men for Jansen never really took. Only left-hander J.P. Howell has been consistently reliable.

Offensively, the Dodgers have not been the monster fans had anticipated, but they are still one of baseball's best-hitting teams. They are third in the majors in hitting (.264), tied for first in on-base percentage (.331) and sixth in slugging (.403).

They seldom had their lineup fully healthy, though it appears to be now.

The Dodgers received a pair of offensive surprises this year in Dee Gordon and Justin Turner. Neither was a lock to even make the team going into spring training.

Gordon had been shuttled all over the field as the team tried to find a role for him. But when Cuban prospect Alex Guerrero struggled defensively at second, Gordon seized the opportunity.

Gordon not only filled their need for a leadoff hitter, but he leads the majors in stolen bases (64) and triples (12), and the team in runs (90).

Turner was a non-roster invitee to spring training who caught fire in May and never cooled. He's been a utility man extraordinaire, playing every infield position while leading the team in hitting (.333). In only 282 at-bats, he has seven home runs and 41 runs batted in.

Their one consistent offensive force has been Adrian Gonzalez. The first baseman leads the majors with 112 RBIs and can expect to get a share of National League MVP votes.

After a slow start, Matt Kemp has more resembled the player who nearly won the NL MVP in 2011. Three surgeries behind him, he's hit .304 in the second half. Perhaps most encouraging for the Dodgers, he's been destroying the ball in September, with eight homers and 22 RBIs.

Shortstop Hanley Ramirez has battled various ailments over the course of the season and never really looked like the guy who led the Dodgers offensively last season. Still, even he finished well, hitting better than .400 in his last 18 games.

Carl Crawford has come alive the second half, while Juan Uribe has hit a career-high .311. Puig remains dynamic, if struggling offensively in the second half.

Are they a better team than last year? It's certain now that they will have an opportunity to find out.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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Jordan acquits radical preacher of terrorism charges

A Jordanian military court on Wednesday acquitted radical Muslim preacher Abu Qatada on terrorism charges for his role in plotting attacks against Americans and Israelis.

The ruling, handed down by civilian judges presiding over the hearings, capped a lengthy legal odyssey for the cleric known for his fiery pro-al-Qaida speeches but who in recent months emerged as a harsh critic of the Islamic State militant group.

The court ruled there was insufficient evidence against Abu Qatada and his defense lawyer, Husein Mubaidin, said he expects his client to be released within hours.

Abu Qatada, described as a onetime lieutenant to Osama bin Laden, was charged with involvement in plans to target Israeli and American tourists and Western diplomats in Jordan in 2000 — the so-called "millennium plot."

Separately, the 53-year-old preacher was acquitted in June in another case, a foiled 1999 plan to attack an American school in Amman. He had pleaded not guilty to both sets of charges in the proceedings against him.

As the ruling was announced in the Amman courtroom, Abu Qatada's relatives erupted into cheers while women wept with joy and embraced each other.

The cleric, who was inside a defendants' cage for the verdict, guarded by heavily armed riot police, was promptly taken out of the courtroom and made no remarks to media.

From his detention in Jordan, Abu Qatada recently sharply criticized Islamic State militants who have killed thousands of people, beheaded Westerners — including two American journalists — and captured large swaths of Syria and northern and western Iraq in a blitz this summer.

At a court appearance earlier this month, Abu Qatada said he is certain the Islamic State group will be vanquished, adding that "they have the ability to kill and destroy, not to build."

The West Bank-born Abu Qatada fled a Jordanian crackdown on militants, arriving in Britain on a forged passport in 1993. He was granted asylum a year later, but eventually wore out his welcome because of his suspected militant activities.

He had been convicted in absentia and sentenced to life in prison on both Jordanian charges. But on his extradition to Jordan last July, those sentences were suspended and he was ordered to stand a new trial.

Abu Qatada had questioned the impartiality of Jordan's military court, an issue that delayed his deportation from Britain for years. But last June, Britain and Jordan ratified a treaty on torture, paving the way for his extradition.

Abu Qatada's real name is Omar Mahmoud Mohammed Othman.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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Jordan acquits radical preacher of terrorism charges

A Jordanian military court on Wednesday acquitted radical Muslim preacher Abu Qatada on terrorism charges for his role in plotting attacks against Americans and Israelis.

The ruling, handed down by civilian judges presiding over the hearings, capped a lengthy legal odyssey for the cleric known for his fiery pro-al-Qaida speeches but who in recent months emerged as a harsh critic of the Islamic State militant group.

The court ruled there was insufficient evidence against Abu Qatada and his defense lawyer, Husein Mubaidin, said he expects his client to be released within hours.

Abu Qatada, described as a onetime lieutenant to Osama bin Laden, was charged with involvement in plans to target Israeli and American tourists and Western diplomats in Jordan in 2000 — the so-called "millennium plot."

Separately, the 53-year-old preacher was acquitted in June in another case, a foiled 1999 plan to attack an American school in Amman. He had pleaded not guilty to both sets of charges in the proceedings against him.

As the ruling was announced in the Amman courtroom, Abu Qatada's relatives erupted into cheers while women wept with joy and embraced each other.

The cleric, who was inside a defendants' cage for the verdict, guarded by heavily armed riot police, was promptly taken out of the courtroom and made no remarks to media.

From his detention in Jordan, Abu Qatada recently sharply criticized Islamic State militants who have killed thousands of people, beheaded Westerners — including two American journalists — and captured large swaths of Syria and northern and western Iraq in a blitz this summer.

At a court appearance earlier this month, Abu Qatada said he is certain the Islamic State group will be vanquished, adding that "they have the ability to kill and destroy, not to build."

The West Bank-born Abu Qatada fled a Jordanian crackdown on militants, arriving in Britain on a forged passport in 1993. He was granted asylum a year later, but eventually wore out his welcome because of his suspected militant activities.

He had been convicted in absentia and sentenced to life in prison on both Jordanian charges. But on his extradition to Jordan last July, those sentences were suspended and he was ordered to stand a new trial.

Abu Qatada had questioned the impartiality of Jordan's military court, an issue that delayed his deportation from Britain for years. But last June, Britain and Jordan ratified a treaty on torture, paving the way for his extradition.

Abu Qatada's real name is Omar Mahmoud Mohammed Othman.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

16.38 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jordan acquits radical preacher of terrorism charges

A Jordanian military court on Wednesday acquitted radical Muslim preacher Abu Qatada on terrorism charges for his role in plotting attacks against Americans and Israelis.

The ruling, handed down by civilian judges presiding over the hearings, capped a lengthy legal odyssey for the cleric known for his fiery pro-al-Qaida speeches but who in recent months emerged as a harsh critic of the Islamic State militant group.

The court ruled there was insufficient evidence against Abu Qatada and his defense lawyer, Husein Mubaidin, said he expects his client to be released within hours.

Abu Qatada, described as a onetime lieutenant to Osama bin Laden, was charged with involvement in plans to target Israeli and American tourists and Western diplomats in Jordan in 2000 — the so-called "millennium plot."

Separately, the 53-year-old preacher was acquitted in June in another case, a foiled 1999 plan to attack an American school in Amman. He had pleaded not guilty to both sets of charges in the proceedings against him.

As the ruling was announced in the Amman courtroom, Abu Qatada's relatives erupted into cheers while women wept with joy and embraced each other.

The cleric, who was inside a defendants' cage for the verdict, guarded by heavily armed riot police, was promptly taken out of the courtroom and made no remarks to media.

From his detention in Jordan, Abu Qatada recently sharply criticized Islamic State militants who have killed thousands of people, beheaded Westerners — including two American journalists — and captured large swaths of Syria and northern and western Iraq in a blitz this summer.

At a court appearance earlier this month, Abu Qatada said he is certain the Islamic State group will be vanquished, adding that "they have the ability to kill and destroy, not to build."

The West Bank-born Abu Qatada fled a Jordanian crackdown on militants, arriving in Britain on a forged passport in 1993. He was granted asylum a year later, but eventually wore out his welcome because of his suspected militant activities.

He had been convicted in absentia and sentenced to life in prison on both Jordanian charges. But on his extradition to Jordan last July, those sentences were suspended and he was ordered to stand a new trial.

Abu Qatada had questioned the impartiality of Jordan's military court, an issue that delayed his deportation from Britain for years. But last June, Britain and Jordan ratified a treaty on torture, paving the way for his extradition.

Abu Qatada's real name is Omar Mahmoud Mohammed Othman.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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U.S. airstrikes expand to Syrian city of Aleppo

Even as it launched sweeping new airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria, the U.S. military said Tuesday that it had expanded the campaign to the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, targeting an offshoot of Al Qaeda said to be plotting  "imminent" attacks against American and Western targets.

A total of eight U.S. air attacks carried out in Syria's largest city were aimed at the "Khorasan Group," described in a U.S. Central Command statement as an organization of Al Qaeda veterans.

The Aleppo campaign marked an expansion of the bombing effort launched initially against strongholds of Islamic State in eastern Syria, conducted by U.S. planes, drones and ships with the help of five Arab nations.

The strikes indicate that the U.S. air campaign in Syria has broader objectives than going after the Islamic State, the target of the attacks in eastern Syria.

The bombing west of Aleppo, about 100 miles northeast of the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqah, was intended "to disrupt the imminent attack plotting against the United States and Western interests conducted by a network of seasoned Al Qaeda veterans - sometimes referred to as the Khorasan Group - who have established a safe haven in Syria," the command said in a statement.

A senior military officer, briefed on the Aleppo attacks, said intelligence reports suggested the group "was nearing the execution phase of an attack in Europe or the U.S."

He said he did know more details about the attack the group was said to be preparing. 

In another development, Israeli military officials said they had shot down a Syrian aircraft that was said to be attempting to infiltrate Israeli airspace in the Golan Heights.

"The Israel Air Force retaliated by firing a Patriot anti-aircraft missile. The Syrian plane was successfully hit," the Israeli Defense Forces said in a statement.

It did not say whether the plane was a fighter jet or a drone, nor did it say whether the aircraft had approached Israeli airspace deliberately or inadvertently.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said it was the first time since 1982 that the Israeli Air Force had downed a Syrian aircraft.

Islamic State, an Al Qaeda breakaway group, has taken control of vast tracts of Syria and Iraq in recent months. Its fighters have executed hundreds of Syrian and Iraqi soldiers, beheaded two American journalists, driven thousands of ethnic Kurds from their homes and threatened to slaughter religious minorities in Iraq.

The Pentagon has launched about 190 airstrikes against the militants' positions and convoys in Iraq since Aug. 8, pushing them back from two strategic dams. The large-scale attack on Syria is a departure from those airstrikes, which chiefly targeted trucks, Humvees, checkpoints and mortar positions.

The Central Command statement Tuesday said the new airstrikes, the first to be launched in Syria, struck "training camps, an explosives and munitions production facility, a communication building and command and control facilities."

American officials have said little in public about the Khorasan Group, but privately describe it as a clandestine organization of former Al Qaeda fighters with expertise in bomb-making.

The group has been seeking "to develop external attacks, construct and test improvised explosive devices and recruit Westerners to conduct operations," said Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East.

"These strikes were undertaken only by U.S. assets," the statement said, without identifying whether they involved warplanes or cruise missiles fired from Navy ships.

The strikes against Islamic State militant strongholds involved participation or support by several Arab coalition partners, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Central Command officials said the attacks included a total of 14 strikes against Islamic State targets, using a mix of fighters, bombers, drones and Tomahawk missiles launched from ships operating in international waters in the Red Sea and North Arabian Gulf.

In addition to Raqqah, where the Islamic State has established a headquarters of sorts, the strikes "destroyed or damaged" targets near Dayr az Zawr, Al Hasakah, and Abu Kamal, U.S. officials said.

Among the facilities hit were training compounds, headquarters and command and control facilities, storage facilities, a finance center, supply trucks and armed vehicles, Central Command said.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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U.S. airstrikes expand to Syrian city of Aleppo

Even as it launched sweeping new airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria, the U.S. military said Tuesday that it had expanded the campaign to the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, targeting an offshoot of Al Qaeda said to be plotting  "imminent" attacks against American and Western targets.

A total of eight U.S. air attacks carried out in Syria's largest city were aimed at the "Khorasan Group," described in a U.S. Central Command statement as an organization of Al Qaeda veterans.

The Aleppo campaign marked an expansion of the bombing effort launched initially against strongholds of Islamic State in eastern Syria, conducted by U.S. planes, drones and ships with the help of five Arab nations.

The strikes indicate that the U.S. air campaign in Syria has broader objectives than going after the Islamic State, the target of the attacks in eastern Syria.

The bombing west of Aleppo, about 100 miles northeast of the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqah, was intended "to disrupt the imminent attack plotting against the United States and Western interests conducted by a network of seasoned Al Qaeda veterans - sometimes referred to as the Khorasan Group - who have established a safe haven in Syria," the command said in a statement.

A senior military officer, briefed on the Aleppo attacks, said intelligence reports suggested the group "was nearing the execution phase of an attack in Europe or the U.S."

He said he did know more details about the attack the group was said to be preparing. 

In another development, Israeli military officials said they had shot down a Syrian aircraft that was said to be attempting to infiltrate Israeli airspace in the Golan Heights.

"The Israel Air Force retaliated by firing a Patriot anti-aircraft missile. The Syrian plane was successfully hit," the Israeli Defense Forces said in a statement.

It did not say whether the plane was a fighter jet or a drone, nor did it say whether the aircraft had approached Israeli airspace deliberately or inadvertently.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said it was the first time since 1982 that the Israeli Air Force had downed a Syrian aircraft.

Islamic State, an Al Qaeda breakaway group, has taken control of vast tracts of Syria and Iraq in recent months. Its fighters have executed hundreds of Syrian and Iraqi soldiers, beheaded two American journalists, driven thousands of ethnic Kurds from their homes and threatened to slaughter religious minorities in Iraq.

The Pentagon has launched about 190 airstrikes against the militants' positions and convoys in Iraq since Aug. 8, pushing them back from two strategic dams. The large-scale attack on Syria is a departure from those airstrikes, which chiefly targeted trucks, Humvees, checkpoints and mortar positions.

The Central Command statement Tuesday said the new airstrikes, the first to be launched in Syria, struck "training camps, an explosives and munitions production facility, a communication building and command and control facilities."

American officials have said little in public about the Khorasan Group, but privately describe it as a clandestine organization of former Al Qaeda fighters with expertise in bomb-making.

The group has been seeking "to develop external attacks, construct and test improvised explosive devices and recruit Westerners to conduct operations," said Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East.

"These strikes were undertaken only by U.S. assets," the statement said, without identifying whether they involved warplanes or cruise missiles fired from Navy ships.

The strikes against Islamic State militant strongholds involved participation or support by several Arab coalition partners, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Central Command officials said the attacks included a total of 14 strikes against Islamic State targets, using a mix of fighters, bombers, drones and Tomahawk missiles launched from ships operating in international waters in the Red Sea and North Arabian Gulf.

In addition to Raqqah, where the Islamic State has established a headquarters of sorts, the strikes "destroyed or damaged" targets near Dayr az Zawr, Al Hasakah, and Abu Kamal, U.S. officials said.

Among the facilities hit were training compounds, headquarters and command and control facilities, storage facilities, a finance center, supply trucks and armed vehicles, Central Command said.

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U.S. airstrikes expand to Syrian city of Aleppo

Even as it launched sweeping new airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria, the U.S. military said Tuesday that it had expanded the campaign to the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, targeting an offshoot of Al Qaeda said to be plotting  "imminent" attacks against American and Western targets.

A total of eight U.S. air attacks carried out in Syria's largest city were aimed at the "Khorasan Group," described in a U.S. Central Command statement as an organization of Al Qaeda veterans.

The Aleppo campaign marked an expansion of the bombing effort launched initially against strongholds of Islamic State in eastern Syria, conducted by U.S. planes, drones and ships with the help of five Arab nations.

The strikes indicate that the U.S. air campaign in Syria has broader objectives than going after the Islamic State, the target of the attacks in eastern Syria.

The bombing west of Aleppo, about 100 miles northeast of the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqah, was intended "to disrupt the imminent attack plotting against the United States and Western interests conducted by a network of seasoned Al Qaeda veterans - sometimes referred to as the Khorasan Group - who have established a safe haven in Syria," the command said in a statement.

A senior military officer, briefed on the Aleppo attacks, said intelligence reports suggested the group "was nearing the execution phase of an attack in Europe or the U.S."

He said he did know more details about the attack the group was said to be preparing. 

In another development, Israeli military officials said they had shot down a Syrian aircraft that was said to be attempting to infiltrate Israeli airspace in the Golan Heights.

"The Israel Air Force retaliated by firing a Patriot anti-aircraft missile. The Syrian plane was successfully hit," the Israeli Defense Forces said in a statement.

It did not say whether the plane was a fighter jet or a drone, nor did it say whether the aircraft had approached Israeli airspace deliberately or inadvertently.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz said it was the first time since 1982 that the Israeli Air Force had downed a Syrian aircraft.

Islamic State, an Al Qaeda breakaway group, has taken control of vast tracts of Syria and Iraq in recent months. Its fighters have executed hundreds of Syrian and Iraqi soldiers, beheaded two American journalists, driven thousands of ethnic Kurds from their homes and threatened to slaughter religious minorities in Iraq.

The Pentagon has launched about 190 airstrikes against the militants' positions and convoys in Iraq since Aug. 8, pushing them back from two strategic dams. The large-scale attack on Syria is a departure from those airstrikes, which chiefly targeted trucks, Humvees, checkpoints and mortar positions.

The Central Command statement Tuesday said the new airstrikes, the first to be launched in Syria, struck "training camps, an explosives and munitions production facility, a communication building and command and control facilities."

American officials have said little in public about the Khorasan Group, but privately describe it as a clandestine organization of former Al Qaeda fighters with expertise in bomb-making.

The group has been seeking "to develop external attacks, construct and test improvised explosive devices and recruit Westerners to conduct operations," said Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East.

"These strikes were undertaken only by U.S. assets," the statement said, without identifying whether they involved warplanes or cruise missiles fired from Navy ships.

The strikes against Islamic State militant strongholds involved participation or support by several Arab coalition partners, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Central Command officials said the attacks included a total of 14 strikes against Islamic State targets, using a mix of fighters, bombers, drones and Tomahawk missiles launched from ships operating in international waters in the Red Sea and North Arabian Gulf.

In addition to Raqqah, where the Islamic State has established a headquarters of sorts, the strikes "destroyed or damaged" targets near Dayr az Zawr, Al Hasakah, and Abu Kamal, U.S. officials said.

Among the facilities hit were training compounds, headquarters and command and control facilities, storage facilities, a finance center, supply trucks and armed vehicles, Central Command said.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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Thousands of Syrian refugees flood Turkey

The number of Syrian refugees who have reached Turkey in the past four days after fleeing the advance of Islamic State militants now totals 130,000, Turkey's deputy prime minister said Monday.

Numan Kurtulmus said Turkey is prepared for "the worst case scenario" should more refugees stream in.

The refugees have been flooding into Turkey since Thursday, escaping an Islamic State offensive that has pushed the conflict nearly within eyeshot of the Turkish border.

The al-Qaida breakaway group, which has established an Islamic state, or caliphate, ruled by its harsh version of Islamic law in territory it captured straddling the Syria-Iraq border, has in recent days advanced into Kurdish regions of Syria that border Turkey, where fleeing refugees on Sunday reported atrocities that included stonings, beheadings and the torching of homes.

Although the numbers are high, Turkey says it is ready to react: the conflict in Syria has pushed more than a million people over the border in the past 3 1/2 years.

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Thousands of Syrian refugees flood Turkey

The number of Syrian refugees who have reached Turkey in the past four days after fleeing the advance of Islamic State militants now totals 130,000, Turkey's deputy prime minister said Monday.

Numan Kurtulmus said Turkey is prepared for "the worst case scenario" should more refugees stream in.

The refugees have been flooding into Turkey since Thursday, escaping an Islamic State offensive that has pushed the conflict nearly within eyeshot of the Turkish border.

The al-Qaida breakaway group, which has established an Islamic state, or caliphate, ruled by its harsh version of Islamic law in territory it captured straddling the Syria-Iraq border, has in recent days advanced into Kurdish regions of Syria that border Turkey, where fleeing refugees on Sunday reported atrocities that included stonings, beheadings and the torching of homes.

Although the numbers are high, Turkey says it is ready to react: the conflict in Syria has pushed more than a million people over the border in the past 3 1/2 years.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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Thousands of Syrian refugees flood Turkey

The number of Syrian refugees who have reached Turkey in the past four days after fleeing the advance of Islamic State militants now totals 130,000, Turkey's deputy prime minister said Monday.

Numan Kurtulmus said Turkey is prepared for "the worst case scenario" should more refugees stream in.

The refugees have been flooding into Turkey since Thursday, escaping an Islamic State offensive that has pushed the conflict nearly within eyeshot of the Turkish border.

The al-Qaida breakaway group, which has established an Islamic state, or caliphate, ruled by its harsh version of Islamic law in territory it captured straddling the Syria-Iraq border, has in recent days advanced into Kurdish regions of Syria that border Turkey, where fleeing refugees on Sunday reported atrocities that included stonings, beheadings and the torching of homes.

Although the numbers are high, Turkey says it is ready to react: the conflict in Syria has pushed more than a million people over the border in the past 3 1/2 years.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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Shooting shuts down I-15 near Corona, causing SigAlert

Several lanes of the 15 Freeway near Corona were closed Saturday night as authorities investigated a shooting on the interstate, authorities said.

The shooting took place near El Cerrito Road, prompting a SigAlert by the California Highway Patrol. The lanes remained closed as of 11:30 p.m., and traffic was jammed for miles. 

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department advised drivers to avoid the area Saturday night. The investigation was ongoing, the sheriff's department said in a statement. 

At least two people were injured after members of the Hells Angels and Mongols motorcycle gangs began shooting at each other at about 6:30 p.m., CBSLA reported. 

Twitter: @haileybranson

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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Shooting shuts down I-15 near Corona, causing SigAlert

Several lanes of the 15 Freeway near Corona were closed Saturday night as authorities investigated a shooting on the interstate, authorities said.

The shooting took place near El Cerrito Road, prompting a SigAlert by the California Highway Patrol. The lanes remained closed as of 11:30 p.m., and traffic was jammed for miles. 

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department advised drivers to avoid the area Saturday night. The investigation was ongoing, the sheriff's department said in a statement. 

At least two people were injured after members of the Hells Angels and Mongols motorcycle gangs began shooting at each other at about 6:30 p.m., CBSLA reported. 

Twitter: @haileybranson

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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Shooting shuts down I-15 near Corona, causing SigAlert

Several lanes of the 15 Freeway near Corona were closed Saturday night as authorities investigated a shooting on the interstate, authorities said.

The shooting took place near El Cerrito Road, prompting a SigAlert by the California Highway Patrol. The lanes remained closed as of 11:30 p.m., and traffic was jammed for miles. 

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department advised drivers to avoid the area Saturday night. The investigation was ongoing, the sheriff's department said in a statement. 

At least two people were injured after members of the Hells Angels and Mongols motorcycle gangs began shooting at each other at about 6:30 p.m., CBSLA reported. 

Twitter: @haileybranson

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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Islamic State frees 49 Turkish hostages

Turkish hostages who had been held by the Islamic State in Iraq for more than three months were released Saturday morning and brought back to Turkey, said Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

The 49 hostages, including diplomats, consular officials and their families, have been held in Mosul by the Al Qaeda breakaway group since June, when the militants seized control of the northern Iraqi city.

"They came to Turkey at 5 a.m. in the morning. We followed the developments closely all night," said Davutoglu, according to the official Anadolu news agency. "This happy development prepared us for a beautiful morning."

It is not yet clear how this could affect Turkey's potential involvement in a U.S.-led campaign to degrade and defeat the Islamic State, which has seized large swaths of Iraq and Syria. Previous attempts by the Obama administration to persuade the Turkish government to join what U.S. officials say will be a coalition of more than 40 countries have been unsuccessful. Those attempts included a visit by Secretary of State John F. Kerry last week.

If Turkey joins the coalition, U.S. fighter jets, which have launched airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq, could take off from an air base in southern Turkey, a NATO ally.

In addition to the hostages, the Islamic State controls large parts of northern Syria along the Turkish border and in the past the militants have threatened to attack Turkey if it took military action against them.

"Our hands are tied because of the hostages," a Turkish official had earlier told the Agence France-Presse news agency. Turkey "will not be involved in any armed operation but will entirely concentrate on humanitarian operations."

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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Islamic State frees 49 Turkish hostages

Turkish hostages who had been held by the Islamic State in Iraq for more than three months were released Saturday morning and brought back to Turkey, said Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

The 49 hostages, including diplomats, consular officials and their families, have been held in Mosul by the Al Qaeda breakaway group since June, when the militants seized control of the northern Iraqi city.

"They came to Turkey at 5 a.m. in the morning. We followed the developments closely all night," said Davutoglu, according to the official Anadolu news agency. "This happy development prepared us for a beautiful morning."

It is not yet clear how this could affect Turkey's potential involvement in a U.S.-led campaign to degrade and defeat the Islamic State, which has seized large swaths of Iraq and Syria. Previous attempts by the Obama administration to persuade the Turkish government to join what U.S. officials say will be a coalition of more than 40 countries have been unsuccessful. Those attempts included a visit by Secretary of State John F. Kerry last week.

If Turkey joins the coalition, U.S. fighter jets, which have launched airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq, could take off from an air base in southern Turkey, a NATO ally.

In addition to the hostages, the Islamic State controls large parts of northern Syria along the Turkish border and in the past the militants have threatened to attack Turkey if it took military action against them.

"Our hands are tied because of the hostages," a Turkish official had earlier told the Agence France-Presse news agency. Turkey "will not be involved in any armed operation but will entirely concentrate on humanitarian operations."

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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Islamic State frees 49 Turkish hostages

Turkish hostages who had been held by the Islamic State in Iraq for more than three months were released Saturday morning and brought back to Turkey, said Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

The 49 hostages, including diplomats, consular officials and their families, have been held in Mosul by the Al Qaeda breakaway group since June, when the militants seized control of the northern Iraqi city.

"They came to Turkey at 5 a.m. in the morning. We followed the developments closely all night," said Davutoglu, according to the official Anadolu news agency. "This happy development prepared us for a beautiful morning."

It is not yet clear how this could affect Turkey's potential involvement in a U.S.-led campaign to degrade and defeat the Islamic State, which has seized large swaths of Iraq and Syria. Previous attempts by the Obama administration to persuade the Turkish government to join what U.S. officials say will be a coalition of more than 40 countries have been unsuccessful. Those attempts included a visit by Secretary of State John F. Kerry last week.

If Turkey joins the coalition, U.S. fighter jets, which have launched airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq, could take off from an air base in southern Turkey, a NATO ally.

In addition to the hostages, the Islamic State controls large parts of northern Syria along the Turkish border and in the past the militants have threatened to attack Turkey if it took military action against them.

"Our hands are tied because of the hostages," a Turkish official had earlier told the Agence France-Presse news agency. Turkey "will not be involved in any armed operation but will entirely concentrate on humanitarian operations."

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

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Scotland opts to stay with Britain

Voters in Scotland have rejected independence from Britain, opting to preserve a more than 300-year-old union in a referendum Thursday that sent shock waves through Europe and opened the door to continuing political tumult in Britain.

With turnout at 84.5%  -- so closely watched that many pubs got special license to stay open all night as the returns came in — voters dealt a decisive blow to the controversial ballot measure that would have ended Scotland's union with England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The independence measure was losing Friday in all-but-final returns, with 55% against independence and 45% voting "yes."

The outcome was a blow to First Minister Alex Salmond and his Scottish National Party, which pushed for the referendum when it won a majority in the Scottish regional parliament in 2011.

"Let us not dwell on the distance we have fallen short," Salmond said in a concession speech early Friday. "A movement is abroad in Scotland that will take this nation forward, and we shall go forward as one nation."

He thanked the more than 1.5 million Scots who voted for independence, saying, "This has been a triumph for the democratic process and for participation in politics."

British Prime Minister David Cameron, who had staked much of his political capital on holding the union together, was visibly relieved at the outcome.

"It would have broken my heart to see our United Kingdom come to an end," he said Friday in an address outside his office on Downing Street in London. "Now the debate has been settled for a generation....There can be no disputes, no reruns. We have heard the settled will of the Scottish people."

He paid tribute to the pro-independence camp for a well-fought campaign. "Now is the time for our United Kingdom to come together and to move forward," he said.

Independence has been a long-cherished goal for Scottish nationalists. But though the result was not what they had hoped for, Scotland is still poised to wrest more powers from the central government in London. Hoping to win over disaffected Scots, the three main political parties in Britain promised last month to turn over more control over tax policy and public spending to the semiautonomous government in Edinburgh.

"Scotland will expect these [promises] to be honored in rapid force," Salmond said.

Cameron pledged to make good on those promises, but also said that voters in the rest of Britain would be given a similar opportunity for increased self-determination.

"Just as the people of Scotland will have more power over their affairs, so it follows that the people of England, Wales and Northern Ireland will have a bigger say over theirs," he said. "We now have a chance, a great opportunity, to change the way the British people are governed and change it for the better."

Thursday's referendum sparked intense interest, and the turnout was the highest Scotland has ever recorded. It included 16- and 17-year-olds, who were allowed to vote for the first time.

Opinion polls showed a close race leading up to the balloting. Scotland's pro-independence camp closed a gap of more than 20 percentage points in the campaign's final months.

But Scotland's pro-union "Better Together" campaign focused voters' attention on the risks of independence. Much of the debate centered on economic concerns, such as how long Scotland could depend on tax revenue from dwindling oil and gas reserves in the North Sea and questions over what currency an independent Scotland would use.

Nationalists said they wanted to keep the British pound, but the government in London consistently ruled out a currency union if voters chose to break from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 

John Curtice, a political scientist at Scotland's University of Strathclyde, said the "no" vote means the rest of Britain can breathe a sigh of relief.

"Awkward issues, such as what do we do with our nuclear weapons facility, don't have to be faced," Curtice said. "The potential damage to the UK's prestige … is removed."

Britain has a fleet of nuclear-armed submarines based 25 miles downriver from Glasgow. Salmond and his party had vowed to make Scotland free of nuclear weapons within four years of independence, and the British government could have been faced with the costly task of relocating its Trident naval base.

Some former British military chiefs had argued that even a temporary loss of Britain's nuclear weapons capability would have been destabilizing, possibly undermining the country's position in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and on the United Nations Security Council.

For Jeremy Thornton, the decision on how to vote was a difficult one.

"Up until recently I was a firm 'no' voter," he said Thursday outside his polling place in central Edinburgh. He said he initially believed that independence was too risky a proposition. But the benefits started to look appealing, he said, noting that Scotland's government would be more directly elected.

"I think you should be able to vote for the government that rules you," Thornton said.

Anna Wright said she voted no, fearing the economic risks of independence were too great. "I was wavering a little bit, because I think [it's good to] ... be able to govern yourself a bit more," she said. "But at the same time, I think Alex Salmond didn't really have the plans in place."

The referendum also attracted supporters of other separatist movements near and far. Aran Jones drove to Edinburgh from Wales to volunteer for the "yes" campaign. Marie-Jose Laforest came from Quebec, Canada. And Montse Berdura arrived from a small town near the Spanish city of Barcelona. "If Scotland gets independence, it will be easier for Catalan people to be independent," Berdura said, referring to the separatist movement in northeastern Spain's Catalonia region. 

Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a native of Scotland who remains a member of the British Parliament, has laid out a swift timetable for more devolution of authority to Scotland. However, Britain's main political parties have yet to agree on what exactly that will entail.

Vernon Bogdanor, a British constitutional expert at King's College London, says granting greater autonomy to Scotland will spark debate over whether England should also have its own parliament, as do Wales and Northern Ireland.

"It's awakening English nationalism, which has been hitherto almost nonexistent," Bogdanor said. "English [members of Parliament], pressed by their constituents, have already said, 'Well, what about England?' And there's some pressure for devolution in England."

Though Britain's opposition Labor Party welcomes Scotland's "no" vote, Michael Keating, a political scientist at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland said the referendum should be a "wake-up call" to the party. Labor holds 41 of Scotland's 59 seats in the British Parliament. "They're going to have to rethink their position in Scotland and how to get a distinctive Scottish profile," he said.

Independent or not, Scotland has been transformed by the referendum, said Keating.

"Everybody in this society has gained because we had this serious debate, which hasn't been divisive, and it involved rather intelligent discussions about very complicated issues," he said.

"There's been an extraordinary politicization of the society, so the politics between Scotland and the UK will never be the same again."

Werth is a special correspondent.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

1:36 a.m.: This story was updated with the latest turnout figure.

11:39 p.m. This story was updated with Prime Minster David Cameron's speech.

10:32 p.m.: This story was updated with First Minister Alex Salmond's concession speech.

10:23 p.m.: This story was updated with all-but-final returns.

This story was originally published at 9:58 p.m.

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Scotland opts to stay with Britain

Voters in Scotland have rejected independence from Britain, opting to preserve a more than 300-year-old union in a referendum Thursday that sent shock waves through Europe and opened the door to continuing political tumult in Britain.

With turnout at 84.5%  -- so closely watched that many pubs got special license to stay open all night as the returns came in — voters dealt a decisive blow to the controversial ballot measure that would have ended Scotland's union with England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The independence measure was losing Friday in all-but-final returns, with 55% against independence and 45% voting "yes."

The outcome was a blow to First Minister Alex Salmond and his Scottish National Party, which pushed for the referendum when it won a majority in the Scottish regional parliament in 2011.

"Let us not dwell on the distance we have fallen short," Salmond said in a concession speech early Friday. "A movement is abroad in Scotland that will take this nation forward, and we shall go forward as one nation."

He thanked the more than 1.5 million Scots who voted for independence, saying, "This has been a triumph for the democratic process and for participation in politics."

British Prime Minister David Cameron, who had staked much of his political capital on holding the union together, was visibly relieved at the outcome.

"It would have broken my heart to see our United Kingdom come to an end," he said Friday in an address outside his office on Downing Street in London. "Now the debate has been settled for a generation....There can be no disputes, no reruns. We have heard the settled will of the Scottish people."

He paid tribute to the pro-independence camp for a well-fought campaign. "Now is the time for our United Kingdom to come together and to move forward," he said.

Independence has been a long-cherished goal for Scottish nationalists. But though the result was not what they had hoped for, Scotland is still poised to wrest more powers from the central government in London. Hoping to win over disaffected Scots, the three main political parties in Britain promised last month to turn over more control over tax policy and public spending to the semiautonomous government in Edinburgh.

"Scotland will expect these [promises] to be honored in rapid force," Salmond said.

Cameron pledged to make good on those promises, but also said that voters in the rest of Britain would be given a similar opportunity for increased self-determination.

"Just as the people of Scotland will have more power over their affairs, so it follows that the people of England, Wales and Northern Ireland will have a bigger say over theirs," he said. "We now have a chance, a great opportunity, to change the way the British people are governed and change it for the better."

Thursday's referendum sparked intense interest, and the turnout was the highest Scotland has ever recorded. It included 16- and 17-year-olds, who were allowed to vote for the first time.

Opinion polls showed a close race leading up to the balloting. Scotland's pro-independence camp closed a gap of more than 20 percentage points in the campaign's final months.

But Scotland's pro-union "Better Together" campaign focused voters' attention on the risks of independence. Much of the debate centered on economic concerns, such as how long Scotland could depend on tax revenue from dwindling oil and gas reserves in the North Sea and questions over what currency an independent Scotland would use.

Nationalists said they wanted to keep the British pound, but the government in London consistently ruled out a currency union if voters chose to break from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 

John Curtice, a political scientist at Scotland's University of Strathclyde, said the "no" vote means the rest of Britain can breathe a sigh of relief.

"Awkward issues, such as what do we do with our nuclear weapons facility, don't have to be faced," Curtice said. "The potential damage to the UK's prestige … is removed."

Britain has a fleet of nuclear-armed submarines based 25 miles downriver from Glasgow. Salmond and his party had vowed to make Scotland free of nuclear weapons within four years of independence, and the British government could have been faced with the costly task of relocating its Trident naval base.

Some former British military chiefs had argued that even a temporary loss of Britain's nuclear weapons capability would have been destabilizing, possibly undermining the country's position in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and on the United Nations Security Council.

For Jeremy Thornton, the decision on how to vote was a difficult one.

"Up until recently I was a firm 'no' voter," he said Thursday outside his polling place in central Edinburgh. He said he initially believed that independence was too risky a proposition. But the benefits started to look appealing, he said, noting that Scotland's government would be more directly elected.

"I think you should be able to vote for the government that rules you," Thornton said.

Anna Wright said she voted no, fearing the economic risks of independence were too great. "I was wavering a little bit, because I think [it's good to] ... be able to govern yourself a bit more," she said. "But at the same time, I think Alex Salmond didn't really have the plans in place."

The referendum also attracted supporters of other separatist movements near and far. Aran Jones drove to Edinburgh from Wales to volunteer for the "yes" campaign. Marie-Jose Laforest came from Quebec, Canada. And Montse Berdura arrived from a small town near the Spanish city of Barcelona. "If Scotland gets independence, it will be easier for Catalan people to be independent," Berdura said, referring to the separatist movement in northeastern Spain's Catalonia region. 

Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a native of Scotland who remains a member of the British Parliament, has laid out a swift timetable for more devolution of authority to Scotland. However, Britain's main political parties have yet to agree on what exactly that will entail.

Vernon Bogdanor, a British constitutional expert at King's College London, says granting greater autonomy to Scotland will spark debate over whether England should also have its own parliament, as do Wales and Northern Ireland.

"It's awakening English nationalism, which has been hitherto almost nonexistent," Bogdanor said. "English [members of Parliament], pressed by their constituents, have already said, 'Well, what about England?' And there's some pressure for devolution in England."

Though Britain's opposition Labor Party welcomes Scotland's "no" vote, Michael Keating, a political scientist at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland said the referendum should be a "wake-up call" to the party. Labor holds 41 of Scotland's 59 seats in the British Parliament. "They're going to have to rethink their position in Scotland and how to get a distinctive Scottish profile," he said.

Independent or not, Scotland has been transformed by the referendum, said Keating.

"Everybody in this society has gained because we had this serious debate, which hasn't been divisive, and it involved rather intelligent discussions about very complicated issues," he said.

"There's been an extraordinary politicization of the society, so the politics between Scotland and the UK will never be the same again."

Werth is a special correspondent.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

1:36 a.m.: This story was updated with the latest turnout figure.

11:39 p.m. This story was updated with Prime Minster David Cameron's speech.

10:32 p.m.: This story was updated with First Minister Alex Salmond's concession speech.

10:23 p.m.: This story was updated with all-but-final returns.

This story was originally published at 9:58 p.m.

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