National News: AP-10thNewsMinute

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r h AP-10thNewsMinute     03-27 0281
^AP-10th NewsMinute<
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^Slow economic growth...Oil prices rise...Bush talks Iraq<
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     WASHINGTON (AP) _ It looks like the economy nearly ground to a
halt in the final quarter of last year. The Commerce Department
reports that the country‘s gross domestic product increased
six-tenths of a percent from October to December. Many economists
think growth from the current quarter will be even weaker. But
personal spending rose more than expected in the fourth quarter --
and on Wall Street, stocks have opened mixed.
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     VIENNA, Austria (AP) _ An attack on a southern Iraqi oil
pipeline is partly to blame for a rise of more than a dollar in oil
prices. A bomb hit a line that‘s used to send out oil on its way
for export in the city of Basra. Lower U.S. fuel inventories are
also contributing to the price rise.
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     BAGHDAD (AP) _ Tens of thousands of Shiites have taken to the
streets of Baghdad to protest the Iraqi government‘s crackdown on
Shiite militias. The demonstrations come amid a third day of
continued violence between gunmen and Iraqi forces.
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     DAYTON, Ohio (AP) _ Iraq will be the topic of President Bush‘s
speech at the Air Force museum in Dayton, Ohio, later this hour.
The president is expected to soon endorse a plan for a pause in
troop pullbacks following removal of surge forces this summer.
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     ATLANTA (AP) _ Rapper T.I. is expected to plead guilty to
federal weapons charges in Atlanta today. T.I.‘s real name is
Clifford Harris. He was arrested last October and charged with
possession of unregistered machine guns and silencers. People
familiar with the case expect Harris to face a year in jail and
1,500 hours of community service.
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     (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

     AP-NY-03-27-08 0953EDT<