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Seattle Reacts To Microsoft RulingOne day after a federal judge ruled that Microsoft has monopoly power over personal computer operating systems, local supporters of the Redmond, Washington,-based software giant rallied to its defense. "We strongly disagree with the judge's findings," Gov. Gary Locke said. "Microsoft products have greatly benefited consumers." Locke, a personal friend of Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, said, "We support Microsoft and expect Microsoft ultimately will prevail in these legal proceedings." U.S. District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson ruled Friday that Microsoft's dominance in the personal computer industry hurt consumers, a decision that sent Microsoft stock prices down in after-hours trading later that evening. The judge still must rule on what antitrust laws Microsoft violated. Analysts concede Microsoft's dominance in PC operating system software, but think there's plenty of room for competition in other fields. "Clearly, if you want to be in the operating system business these days it's a challenge, particularly if you want to attack the desktop," said Scott McAdams of the Seattle investment management firm McAdams Wright Ragen. On Microsoft's sprawling campus in Redmond, a suburb of Seattle, employees did not seem overly concerned. Luis Huapaya, a software developer, said Microsoft would get revenge on the Justice Department by working hard and making better products. "We're going to try twice as hard to make better software so we'll still be the best," he said, adding that he wasn't worried about his own future. "I'm going to let Bill Gates and the company decide my fate. I trust them. ... It's not over 'til it's over." One analyst predicts that Gates will continue to resist government intervention despite the preliminary ruling. "It seems all these various antitrust actions have not toned him down. In fact, he seems to have become even more aggressive and sometimes seems to like to flaunt even more aggressive behavior in the face of government scrutiny," said Wendy Goldman Rohn, author of The Microsoft Files. Microsoft is still interested in reaching a settlement with the government, Gates said Friday, and would make its best efforts to resolve the case. |
Bombs Explode In Israel Before Peace Talks CommenceThe blasts occurred at 10:30 AM near a trash bin on a main street in Netanya, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Tel Aviv. The explosions went off the day before new peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. Israeli police said the bombing definitely was an act of terrorism and are working on the assumption it was carried out by Palestinian militants, possibly Islamic militants, opposed to the peace talks. Police said two suspects, a man and a woman, have been taken into custody but released no other details. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak issued a strong statement saying his government was "determined to smash terrorism" and expected the Palestinian Authority to "act effectively to prevent terrorists from harming the chances of progress in the peace process." There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Sunday's attack, which happened the day after the military wing of the Islamic militant group Hamas threatened to attack Israelli civilians if Israeli settlers remain in settlements in the occupied West Bank. Barak has ordered settlers to leave 12 sites by midweek or be evicted by the army. Shortly before Sunday's bombing, Barak told Army Radio: "I have always said that when we go forward, there will be attempts to torpedo the process." Hamas spiritual leader Sheik Ahmed Yassin said he could not yet say whether his group was involved in the explosion, stressing that he does not directly oversee the Hamas military wing. Hamas opposes Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's peace agreements with Israel. Israel is scheduled to hand over more West Bank land to Palestinian rule due on November 15. The two sides have set a target date of mid-February for agreement on a framework for a permanent peace agreement. |
Chechnya Appeals To Clinton To Help End Russian CampaignRussian guns shelled the outskirts of the capital Grozny and warplanes bombed areas to the south, west and east of the city forcing residents to join the thousands scrambling to leave for the relative safety of neighboring Ingushetia. "I will never go back to Chechnya, it is a damned land," said Satsita Busuyeva, 30, after she crossed the border. "Even if they pay me lots of money or if they cover the whole land with carpet, I'll never come back." Chechen President Aslan Maskhadov, a relative moderate who has little control over Chechen field commanders, wrote to Clinton for help. "We are ready for dialogue, ready to consider different ways of regulation which respect the rights of Chechens to live freely and safely," Maskhadov was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying. "The Chechen people have huge hopes that the United States will use its authority to defend human rights," he said. Russia's leadership has given no sign that it is ready to talk to Maskhadov. But its six-week-long offensive against Islamic fighters whom Moscow blames for staging bomb blasts in Russian cities has brought growing criticism from the West over civilian casualties and the refugee exodus. A correspondent for Interfax news agency in Grozny said a western suburb came under artillery fire from Russian troops on the Tersk ridge at about noon (0900 GMT) on Sunday. Russia's defense ministry in Moscow said it could neither confirm nor deny the report. A ministry spokesman said earlier aircraft had bombed Chechnya's second biggest city Gudermes and other villages to the east and south of Grozny, killing Islamic fighters. Russia's army headquarters at Mozdok, just outside the rebel region, was quoted as saying fighter planes and bombers had hit Chechnya more than 100 times in the last 24 hours. A correspondent for Russia's NTV television in Mozdok said planes had bombed the southwest outskirts of Grozny, where troops say over 2,000 guerrillas have gathered. Russian troops were shelling the Chechen stronghold of Bamut, west of Grozny. He reported that Russian warplanes were targeting positions in southern Chechnya, bombing roads leading to neighboring Georgia, where some refugees have been fleeing. |
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