The Desert Sun from Palm Springs, California • Page 15

I HE DESERT SUN WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 200" A1S WORLD Middle East peace talks set for next week in Maryland By David Jackson L'SA TODAY WASHINGTON After last-minute negotiations on key details, the Bush administration formally announced Tuesday that it will host a Middle East peace conference next week involving nearly 50 different parties with a stake in the process. President Bush will speak at the conference Tuesday at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. It "will be a launching point for negotiations leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state and the realization of Israeli-Palestinian peace," said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe. Bush also will meet Monday and Wednesday with two key principals: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The Annapolis details were finalized after days of talks over everything from who would participate to the agenda. In July, Bush had called for the global meeting. He has said he would like to see a Palestinian state by the time his presidency ends, in January 2009. Bush touched base Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah about "the process that is under way between the Israelis, Palestinians and the international community," Johndroe said. The Israelis and Palestinians are divided on such issues as borders, the status of Jerusalem and the right of Palestinian refugees to return to Israeli land.

In addition, Abbas must contend with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, which controls Gaza. Martin Indyk, a former U.S. ambassador to Israel under President Clinton and Bush, said the Palestinians are facing a civil war and that Hamas is prepared to attack Abbas for any concessions he might make at the Annapolis meeting. Olmert faces investigations into alleged corruption within his administration and his handling of the 2006 conflict between Hezbollah forces in Lebanon and the Israeli military. Bruce Riedel, a senior fellow at the Broot-ings Institution, said some Arab countries wonder about Bush's commitment to the Middle East, given the war in Iraq.

Saudi judiciary defends rape victim's sentence New Medical Breakthrough is FDA cleared, it's non-surgical, and has no documented side High success rate with even the most chronic and difficult cases! Try it yourself RISK FREE! Non-surgical spinal decompression is probably the last back iDTcC'ripp pain treatment you will ever need. Forget about drugs, surgery, riCC llldl llCdtlllClllJ i -r. feel the best way to discover how our and struggling through exercise programs. The Triton DTS unique treatment can stop your pain, is to try it machine uses powerful technology to treat: Back or Neck Pain, yourself RISK FREE. Receive your FREE Sciatica, Spinal Stenosis, Herniated or Protruding Discs, and consultation and if qualified your first two rv rv i i treatments "RISK" FREE.

Limited time offer. Degenerative Disc Disease. Website: www.mcdonaldchiro.com o- ioaa CmNowATpJJ? Spinal Decompression Centers at McDonald Chiropractic Offices in indio and Cathedral City 863-1800 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS RIYADH, Saudi Arabia The Saudi judiciary on Tuesday defended a court verdict that sentenced a 19-year-old victim of a gang rape to six months in jail and 200 lashes because she was with an unrelated male when they were attacked. The Shiite Muslim woman had initially been sentenced to 90 lashes after being convicted of violating Saudi Arabia's rigid Islamic law requiring segregation of the sexes. But in considering her appeal of the verdict, the Saudi General Court increased the punishment.

It also roughly doubled prison sentences for the seven men convicted of raping the woman, Saudi news media said last week. The reports triggered an international outcry over the Saudis punishing the victim of a terrible crime. But the Ministry of Justice stood by the verdict Tuesday, saying that "charges were proven" against the woman for having been in a car with a man who was not her relative. The ministry implied the victim's sentence was increased because she spoke out to the press. "For whoever has an objection on verdicts issued, the system al lows an appeal without resorting to the media," said the statement, which was carried on the official Saudi Press Agency.

The attack occurred in 2006. The victim says she was in a car with a male student she used to know trying to retrieve a picture of her. She says two men got into the car and drove them to a secluded area where she was raped by seven men. Her friend also was assaulted. Justice in Saudi Arabia is administered by a system of religious courts according to the kingdom's stria interpretation of Islamic law.

Judges have wide discretion in punishing criminals, rules of evidence are vague and sometimes no defense lawyer is present. The result, critics say, are sentences left to the whim of judges. A rapist, for instance, could receive anywhere from a light sentence to death. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack avoided directly criticizing the Saudi judiciary over the case, but said the verdict "causes a fair degree of surprise and astonishment." Canada's minister for women's issues, Jose Verger, has called the sentence "barbaric." uu ZW a. EV Music Player with 2GB Touch screen and full QWERTY keyboard built-in storage HTML Internet browsing Multimedia Navigator ready tJV 1 ir cnarger ana stereo neaaset m.

ft 1 Vovanw: 549.99 2-vrnritf il rafter rebate Samsung Juke: $129.99 2-yr price mail-in rebate. With new 2-yr activation. $50 mjil-in rebate. Wittiiww 2-yr acttwtkm on Matiomde CsliirgPldn. i 0 0 (Pf9 "I lost 34 pounds in just 10 weeks-and a total of 77 pound Ask me how good that feels." -Heather 0 i 7 Buy any phone $29.99 or higher after rebate GET 3 FREE Samsung $CH-u410 camera phones: $79.99 2-yr price $50 mail-in rebate with new 2-yr activation per phone.

I -srraTI ltdthr wmt frnm a fife 20 to a ftr 6jndbas maintaimd her wnpht bss jar neartf I yrars. 1' uei niiiein.ai iviuii ncnauic vviicicm mcivwviiv Do you want rapid and safe weight loss? It's time to call Lindora, California's number one medical weight loss program. Our friendly medical professionals can help you lose weight with a proven program designed to reverse insulin resistance, inflammation and other conditions caused by obesity. Start now or start after the holiday just don't Call 1.800.2 JOIN.IN Click verizonwireless.com Shop easier with extended holiday hours Call store for specific hours miss out on this amazing often PREMIUM RETAILERS Equipment prices, rebates return policy vary by location. Premium Retailers may impose additional equipment-related charges, including cancellation fees.

Lindora COMPREHENSIVE WEIGHT CONTROL Special offer expires 11302007. See clinic for details. Results may vary. "Restrictions apply. VERIZON WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS STORES Store hours: M-F 9am-9pm; Sat 9am-8pm; Sun 10am-7pm.

Hours at select stores and malls may vary. 4 QIWA 78-995 Highway 111 (760) 771-5587 palm mm Westfield Palm Desert (760) 674-1174 RANCHO MIRAGE 71-800 Highway 111 (760) 568-5542 Vernon Plus INDIO 1760) 342-3966 PALM SPRINGS (760) 320-9765 OqWR CSS C0ACHELLA (760)347 3742 PALM DESERT (760) 321-0865 VISIT THE VERIZON WIRELESS STORE INSIDE CIRCUIT CITY. STAFFED WITH VERIZON WIRELESS EMPLOYEES -EXCLUSIVE OFFERS AVAILABLE! LAQUINTA PALM DESERT Hablamosespariol BUSINESS CUSTOMERS, please call 1.866.861.5096 or click verizonwireless.commybusinessrep 2 AcMon teeline: $35 ($25 far secondary Family SlurePlin lines 2-r AjirrtsL IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION: Subject to Customer Agmt, Calling Plan, rebate form and credit approval. Up to $175 early termination feeline, up to 45Cmin after allowance S1.99MF3 (incl. Mobile Web ads).

Offers and coverage, varying by service, not available everywhere. In CA: Sales tax based on full retail price of phones. Rebate takes up to 6 weeks. Limited-time offer. While supplies lasl Shipping charges may apply.

'Actual formatted capacity is less. Network details and coverage maps at vzw.com. Voyager is a trademark of Plantronics, Inc. used under license by Verizon Wireless. 2007 Verizon Wireless.

fewest.