southern Mogadishu's Madina neighborhood after fighting broke ...

The bodies of alleged insurgent fighters lie in southern Mogadishu's Madina neighborhood after fighting broke out in the area Friday, Nov.21, 2008. Police and witnesses say at least 17 people have been killed in some of the fiercest fighting in recent weeks in the violence-wracked Somali capital. Mogadishu residents say Friday's two-hour gun battle erupted when insurgents attacked the house of a local government official in capital's south

The bodies of alleged insurgent fighters lay in southern Mogadishu's Madina neighborhood after fighting broke out in the area Friday, Nov.21, 2008. Police and witnesses say at least 17 people have been killed in some of the fiercest fighting in recent weeks in the violence-wracked Somali capital. Mogadishu residents say Friday's two-hour gun battle erupted when insurgents attacked the house of a local government official in capital's south

The body of an alleged insurgent fighter lies in southern Mogadishu's Madina neighborhood after fighting broke out in the area Friday, Nov.21, 2008. Police and witnesses say at least 17 people have been killed in some of the fiercest fighting in recent weeks in the violence-wracked Somali capital. Mogadishu residents say Friday's two-hour gun battle erupted when insurgents attacked the house of a local government official in capital's south

The body of an alleged insurgent fighters lies in southern Mogadishu's Madina neighborhood after fighting broke out in the area Friday, Nov.21, 2008. Police and witnesses say at least 17 people have been killed in some of the fiercest fighting in recent weeks in the violence-wracked Somali capital. Mogadishu residents say Friday's two-hour gun battle erupted when insurgents attacked the house of a local government official in capital's south

A Somali Government soldier in plain clothes walks past the corpse of an alleged insurgent in southern Mogadishu's Madina neighborhood after fighting broke out in the area Friday, Nov.21, 2008. Police and witnesses say at least 17 people have been killed in some of the fiercest fighting in recent weeks in the violence-wracked Somali capital. Mogadishu residents say Friday's two-hour gun battle erupted when insurgents attacked the house of a local government official in capital's south.(AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh

A Somali woman looks over at he body of an alleged insurgent fighter in southern Mogadishu's Madina neighborhood after fighting broke out in the area Friday, Nov.21, 2008. Police and witnesses say at least 17 people have been killed in some of the fiercest fighting in recent weeks in the violence-wracked Somali capital. Mogadishu residents say Friday's two-hour gun battle erupted when insurgents attacked the house of a local government official in capital's south

A wounded Somali civilain being treated by a doctor at Madina Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia, Tuesday, Dec.23, 2008, after he has was wounded in Bakara market as fighting broke out between transitional Federal government soldiers and the insurgents

A wounded Somali civilian at Madina Hospital, Mogadishu, Somalia, Tuesday, Dec.23, 2008, after he was wounded in Bakara market as fighting broke out between Transitional Federal government soldiers and the insurgents. The African Union will keep its overstretched peacekeeping force in Somalia for two more months and says it will impose sanctions on members of the country's government

Hollywood is in a doldrums, still hurting from a 100-day strike...

Jimmy Snyder, proprietor of Jimmy Coco's Mobile Tanning Pros, applies a faux tan on client Nicole Vee at his home in Los Angeles, California, U.S., on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2008. Snyder, who makes house calls throughout the Los Angeles area, is feeling more than the pinch of the yearlong U.S. recession. Hollywood is in a doldrums, still hurting from a 100-day strike by film and television writers that ended 10 months ago and worrying that the Screen Actors Guild will stage a walkout next month.

Pakistani tribesmen publicly executed two criminals accused of a series of murders and kidnappings ...

Armed Pakistani Islamic militant guards two criminals before their public execution by Islamic militants in Bara, the main town in Khyber tribal region on December 23, 2008. Pakistani tribesmen publicly executed two criminals accused of a series of murders and kidnappings for ransom in a troubled area near the Afghan border. Tribesmen blindfolded the two criminals and tied their hands behind their backs before shooting them with rifles in Bara, the main town in Khyber tribal region

Armed Pakistani Islamic militants escort two criminals before their public execution by Islamic militants in Bara, the main town in Khyber tribal region on December 23, 2008. Pakistani tribesmen publicly executed two criminals accused of a series of murders and kidnappings for ransom in a troubled area near the Afghan border. Tribesmen blindfolded the two criminals and tied their hands behind their backs before shooting them with rifles in Bara, the main town in Khyber tribal region

Armed Pakistani Islamic militants watch the public execution of two criminals in Bara, the main town in Khyber tribal region on December 23, 2008. Pakistani tribesmen publicly executed two criminals accused of a series of murders and kidnappings for ransom in a troubled area near the Afghan border. Tribesmen blindfolded the two criminals and tied their hands behind their backs before shooting them with rifles in Bara, the main town in Khyber tribal region

Armed Pakistani Islamic militants guard two criminals before their public execution by Islamic militants in Bara, the main town in Khyber tribal region on December 23, 2008. Pakistani tribesmen publicly executed two criminals accused of a series of murders and kidnappings for ransom in a troubled area near the Afghan border. Tribesmen blindfolded the two criminals and tied their hands behind their backs before shooting them with rifles in Bara, the main town in Khyber tribal region

Pakistani Islamic militants carry the body of a criminal in public after they were handed down capital punishment by Islamic militants in Bara, the main town in Khyber tribal region on December 23, 2008. Pakistani tribesmen publicly executed two criminals accused of a series of murders and kidnappings for ransom in a troubled area near the Afghan border. Tribesmen blindfolded the two criminals and tied their hands behind their backs before shooting them with rifles in Bara, the main town in Khyber tribal region


A Pakistani Islamic militant guards two criminals before their public execution by Islamic militants in Bara, the main town in Khyber tribal region on December 23, 2008. Pakistani tribesmen publicly executed two criminals accused of a series of murders and kidnappings for ransom in a troubled area near the Afghan border. Tribesmen blindfolded the two criminals and tied their hands behind their backs before shooting them with rifles in Bara, the main town in Khyber tribal region

Christmas is celebrated in Vietnam,.....

A delivery person drives a motorcycle wearing Santa Claus costume in Old Quarter neighborhood in Hanoi, Vietnam, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008. Vietnam has about 6 million Catholics, the second largest in Southeast Asia after the Philippines. Santa Claus and Christmas trees are popular in Vietnam.

A child watches a Christmas light display in Hanoi, Vietnam, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2008. Vietnam has about 6 million Catholics, the second largest in Southeast Asia after the Philippines. Santa Claus and Christmas trees are popular in Vietnam


A boy sells Christmas balloons along a street in downtown Hanoi on December 24, 2008. Christmas is celebrated in Vietnam, particually by the Catholic communittee, with at least six million believers out of a population of 86 million

Local company staff, dressed as Santa Claus, ride motorcycles in downtown Hanoi on December 24, 2008. Christmas is celebrated in Vietnam, particually by the Catholic communittee, with at least six million believers out of a population of 86 million.

Children wearing Christmas hats walk in front of Hanoi's cathedral on December 24, 2008. Christmas is celebrated in Vietnam, particually by the Catholic communittee, with at least six million believers out of a population of 86 million.

Children wearing Christmas hats walk in front of Hanoi's cathedral on December 24, 2008. Christmas is celebrated in Vietnam, particually by the Catholic communittee, with at least six million believers out of a population of 86 million.

Sandy Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii. President-elect Barack Obama is in Hawaii for Christmas....

** FILE ** In htis Aug. 14, 2008, file photo people on the beach call out to Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., as he heads back into the water while body-surfing in Honolulu, Hawaii

** FILE ** In this Aug. 14, 2008, file photo Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., body surfs at Sandy Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii. President-elect Barack Obama is in Hawaii for Christmas with family and friends

** FILE ** In this July 11, 1993, file photo President Clinton is all smiles as he walks out of the surf after an afternoon swim in the ocean off the Kahala Hilton in Honolulu.

** FILE ** In this April 23, 1984, file photo President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy take a midday break in the water at Kahala Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Carla Bruni Sarkozy during a visit to a hospital that houses a mothers' milk bank in Rio de Janeiro....

Carla Bruni (2nd-R) --pop singer, ex-model and wife of French President Nicolas Sarkozy-- visits a hospital that houses a mothers' milk bank in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Dicember 22, 2008. French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday started a two-day official visit to Brazil that will be dominated by arms deals to Latin America's reigning economic power. He is accompanied by his wife, singer and ex-model Carla Bruni, as well as five cabinet and junior ministers and around 30 French industrialists

First French Lady Carla Bruni's footwear during a visit to a hospital that houses a mothers' milk bank in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Dicember 22, 2008. French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday started a two-day official visit to Brazil that will be dominated by arms deals to Latin America's reigning economic power. He is accompanied by his wife, as well as five cabinet and junior ministers and around 30 French industrialists

First French Lady Carla Bruni Sarkozy during a visit to a hospital that houses a mothers' milk bank in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Dicember 22, 2008. French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday started a two-day official visit to Brazil that will be dominated by arms deals to Latin America's reigning economic power. He is accompanied by his wife, as well as five cabinet and junior ministers and around 30 French industrialists


French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (L) with a local girl in her lap, attends a fashion parade at the Pavao-Pavaozinho shantytown (favela) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on December 23, 2008. The show was presented by "Moda Fusion", a French-Brazilian association in which the women of the shantytown work, in the framework of the "Crianca Esperanca" programme.


French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy attends a fashion parade at the Pavao-Pavaozinho shantytown (favela) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on December 23, 2008. The show was presented by "Moda Fusion", a French-Brazilian association in which the women of the shantytown work, in the framework of the "Crianca Esperanca" programme

French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (C) attends a fashion parade with a local girl in her lap at the Pavao-Pavaozinho shantytown (favela) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on December 23, 2008. The show was presented by "Moda Fusion", a French-Brazilian association in which the women of the shantytown work, in the framework of the "Crianca Esperanca" programme

JaneFrench First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (C) helps to plant a tree at the Pavao-Pavaozinho shantytown (favela) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on December 23, 2008.

French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy (L) plants a tree during a visit to the Pavao-Pavaozinho shantytown (favela) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on December 23, 2008

-ECONOMY-FINANCE-RECESSION-SEX....Experts say growing numbers of Americans,...

A person walks past an advertisement for a website saling fetish clothing and accesories in New York, December 18, 2008. Experts say growing numbers of Americans, are defying consumer gloom to spice up their love lives, making the so-called pleasure industry one of the few retail sectors to end the year with a smile

A worker sips a coffee in front of a sex shop in New York on December 18, 2008. Experts say growing numbers of Americans, are defying consumer gloom to spice up their love lives, making the so-called pleasure industry one of the few retail sectors to end the year with a smile.

A man walks by a sex shop in New York on December 18, 2008. Experts say growing numbers of Americans, are defying consumer gloom to spice up their love lives, making the so-called pleasure industry one of the few retail sectors to end the year with a smile.

A woman walks in front of a sex shop in New York on December 18, 2008. Experts say growing numbers of Americans, are defying consumer gloom to spice up their love lives, making the so-called pleasure industry one of the few retail sectors to end the year with a smile

People walk in front of a sex shop in New York on December 18, 2008. Experts say growing numbers of Americans, are defying consumer gloom to spice up their love lives, making the so-called pleasure industry one of the few retail sectors to end the year with a smile

Guatemala's government is hoping the steep, rutted road to Cocop is a path to lasting peace

A view of the recently repaired road to Cocop, Guatemala, Tuesday, Dec 2, 2008. Guatemala's government is hoping the steep, rutted road to Cocop is a path to lasting peace. Abandoned for years, the repaired dirt roadway has restored access to an isolated valley that the army stormed in 1981, killing 79 people.

A resident walks along the repaired road to Cocop, Guatemala, Tuesday, Dec 2, 2008. Guatemala's government is hoping the steep, rutted road to Cocop is a path to lasting peace. Abandoned for years, the repaired dirt roadway has restored access to an isolated valley that the army stormed in 1981, killing 79 people.

Catarina Santiago sits outside her home in Cocop, Guatemala, Tuesday, Dec 2, 2008. Guatemala's government is hoping the steep, rutted road to Cocop is a path to lasting peace. Abandoned for years, the repaired dirt roadway has restored access to an isolated valley that the army stormed in 1981, killing 79 people.

A woman stands at her home in Cocop, Guatemala, Tuesday, Dec 2, 2008. Guatemala's government is hoping the steep, rutted road to Cocop is a path to lasting peace. Abandoned for years, the repaired dirt roadway has restored access to an isolated valley that the army stormed in 1981, killing 79 people

Harvested corn cobs are seen at a house in Cocop, Guatemala, Tuesday, Dec 2, 2008. Guatemala's government is hoping the steep, rutted road to Cocop is a path to lasting peace. Abandoned for years, the repaired dirt roadway has restored access to an isolated valley that the army stormed in 1981, killing 79 people

A house is seen in Cocop, Guatemala, Tuesday, Dec 2, 2008. Guatemala's government is hoping the steep, rutted road to Cocop is a path to lasting peace. Abandoned for years, the repaired dirt roadway has restored access to an isolated valley that the army stormed in 1981, killing 79 people.

Catalina Santiago, 46, carries firewood in Cocop, Guatemala, Tuesday, Dec 2, 2008. Guatemala's government is hoping the steep, rutted road to Cocop is a path to lasting peace. Abandoned for years, the repaired dirt roadway has restored access to an isolated valley that the army stormed in 1981, killing 79 people