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Today’s Headlines
FL Mayor Riles Gays
Same-Sex Couples Can Wed in Iowa County
First Gay Couple Legally Married in Iowa
GOP Officials Say Craig May Resign
Hungary Condemns New Paramilitary Guard
Craig Interrogation Excerpts
Political Wives and Scandalized Husbands
Nothing in Code Matches Craig Conduct
Officer Accused Craig of Lying

BUDAPEST, Hungary, Aug. 30 (UPI)

Hungary’s Cabinet condemned the forming of a rightist paramilitary organization and told the citizens it would protect them from spreading hate and neo-Nazism.

The Hungarian government said setting up the paramilitary organization, which was formally registered as the Hungarian Guard, a private association for safeguarding the national tradition and culture, was morally and politically unacceptable, the Serbian news agency Tanjug reported Thursday.

Support for such an organization of private citizens is contrary to the principles of the Hungarian republic and norms of the European Union of which Hungary has been a member since 2004, a government statement said Wednesday.

Tibor Navracsics, parliamentary group leader of the main opposition rightist Fidesz party, told reporters in Budapest Thursday the government’s reaction to the Hungarian Guard was hysterical, the Hungarian news agency MTI said.

Hungary’s far right nationalist Party for Better Hungary, which has no links with the government, formed the Hungarian Guard Saturday in Budapest.

Hungarian leftist Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany said his government was seriously concerned about apparent neo-Nazi activities of the Guard, MTI said.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 31 (UPI)

A judge has ruled that same-sex couples can legally marry in Polk County, Iowa, the Des Moines Register reported Friday.

District Judge Robert Hanson said Thursday a state law declaring only marriage between males and females is valid, violates the due process and equal protection clauses of the Iowa Constitution.

His ruling came in a 2005 lawsuit brought by six gay and lesbian couples against Polk County Recorder Tim Brien, who no longer holds that post. Hanson ordered the current recorder to start applying state marriage rules “in a gender-neutral manner” so same-sex couples can marry.

So far, only one Polk County same-sex couple has applied for a marriage license.

Polk County Attorney John Sarcone said his office intends to appeal Hnason’s ruling, which applies only to Polk County.

County lawyers have formally requested that Hanson postpone implementing his decision until the issue is resolved by the Iowa Supreme Court, the Register said.

Iowa Gov. Chet Culver said he plans to follow the matter closely so he can determine “whether any additional legislative actions are appropriate or necessary.”

“While some Iowans may disagree on this issue, I personally believe marriage is between a man and a woman,” Culver said.

Copyright United Press International. All Rights Reserved.

 

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