NPR 2008-05-19

President Bush insisted again today that a Palestinian-Israeli peace accord can be hammered out before he leaves office. Mr. Bush tried to allay 1 Palestinian concerns that he is favoring Israel in the stalled Middle East peace process. "Israel must make tough sacrifices for peace and ease the restrictions 2 on the Palestinians. Arab states, especially oil-rich nations, must seize this opportunity to invest aggressively in the Palestinian people and to move past their old resentments 3 against Israel. " Mr. Bush speaking in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt as he wrapped up his Middle East trip today.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says he does not think a Middle East peace accord is possible, unless the US does something the Bush administration opposes: opens discussions with Iran. "They've got influence around the region. And it's damaging influence. We've got to confront what they're doing, but we can't do it just through the press. At some point, we've got to have conversations with them." Obama speaking at a campaign event in Gresham, Oregon today. Obama's rival, Hillary Clinton, is campaigning in Kentucky ahead of that state's primary on Tuesday. Despite her lead in the polls there, Clinton is not taking anything for granted. From member station WKYU in Bowling 4 Green, Lisa Autry reports.

The former first lady is barnstorming the state this weekend, realizing her margin 5 of victory here on Tuesday is essential in her bid for the Democratic presidential nomination 6. The Bluegrass State has been red the past two elections. But the Hillary Clinton campaign believes she will fare well among Kentucky's blue-collar population. "It's not right all of the benefits that have happened in terms of income growth in this country over the last seven years have gone disproportionately to the wealthiest of Americans. Most middle-class families are not getting ahead. " Clinton is expected to rack up a solid victory in a state Barack Obama is barely contesting. The Illinois senator has made only one appearance in Kentucky since last year. For NPR News, I'm Lisa Autry in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Myanmar's military rulers have been refusing to answer phone calls and letters from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who wants to speed up assistance to cyclone 7 victims. So now, Ban is planning to travel to Myanmar. (As) Andrew Harding reports from Thailand.

There's a clear shift now, away from ultimatums 8 and toward some sort of compromise. Perhaps significantly, Burma's reclusive leader, General Than Shwe, finally visited the disaster zone himself today. He was shown on state television attempting to comfort survivors 9. He will be getting a visit in the next few days from the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon------an opportunity, albeit 10 a late one, for the Burmese government to change its tune 11. The BBC's Andrew Harding reporting.

This is NPR News from Washington.

Hope is dimming for finding many more survivors in the rubble 12 left by last week's earthquake in southwestern China. But one man was found alive today, and he groaned 13 as workers struggled to dig him out. The death toll 14 from the quake has now topped 32, 000. More than four million people have been left homeless.

The police chief of the border city of Juarez, Mexico near El Paso has resigned. He quit after receiving death threats from drug gangs. James Blears has the story.

Chief Guillermo Prieto has resigned. While he was in charge of public security, the drug cartels issued a list of 22 senior officers they are gunning for, including him. So far, they've murdered seven as response to the government crackdown on them. Mr. Prieto has been replaced by an army officer who's not yet been publicly named. Mexican authorities confirmed that more than a thousand people have died in drug-related violence so far this year. Mexican President Felipe Calderon sent task forces of more than 25, 000 federal police and troops to hot spots to bolster 15 beleaguered 16 law enforcement. Juarez is top of that crisis priority list. For NPR News, I'm James Blears, in Mexico City.

Prices at the gas pump have risen another 17 cents a gallon over the past two weeks. The average price, nationally now, for a gallon of self-service regular is $3. 79. Industry analyst 17 Trilby Lundberg: "$3. 79 is 61 cents higher than it was one year ago in mid-May, 2007. " Lundberg says the highest gasoline prices in the most recent survey were found in Chicago, the lowest were in Tucson, Arizona.