Japan quake injures hundreds

Hello! I'm Kristin Volk with a UPI top news update on this Monday, the 16 day of July 2007.

A powerful earthquake in northwest Japan today has destroyed hundreds of homes and roadways. It even sparked a fire at a nuclear power plant. At least six people are dead and hundreds are injured. The quake measured 6.8 on the Richter scale. Japan's Meteorological Agency is warning that aftershocks could continue for a week.

Four separate bomb attacks in Iraq have left at least 74 people dead today. Two bombs detonated in the predominately Kurdish city of Kirkuk while the other two blew up in Baghdad. The news comes a day after the Iraqi Interior Ministry reported that 22-bullet riddled bodies were found in Iraq's capital city.

Meanwhile, the White House is rejecting a call by leading Republicans to begin charting a new course in Iraq. Administration officials say they'll wait for a September report from the top U.S. commander. The White House says they're interesting ideas, but they're not ready to support them. The proposal is authored by senior GOP senators Richard Lugar and John Warner. It requires the administration to come up with contingency plans, such as a possible withdrawal, that could be implemented by the end of the year.

Israeli officials are discussing the possibility of releasing Palestinian prisoners. Today, the country's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Yesterday, a list of about 250 inmates who quote don't have blood on their hands was drawn up. Israeli official says this is a gesture the country is taking in hopes of changing the atmosphere with the Palestinian Authority. The agreement includes the removal of nearly 180 Palestinian militants from Israel's watch list after they signed a pledge renouncing attacks against the countries.

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