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[U.S.]
Obama plans trip to Denmark to seek Olympics
Story Highlights
> Chicago, Madrid, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro are finalists to host 2016 Summer Olympics
> International Olympic Committee will vote Friday on location
> Obama trip to Denmark marks first time a U.S. president has attended IOC vote
> On one-day trip, Obama will also meet with Denmark's queen, prime minister
September 28, 2009
From Dan Lothian
CNN White House Correspondent

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Obama will travel this week to Copenhagen, Denmark, to make a big push for holding the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Chicago, Illinois, the White House said Monday.

Obama will join other administration officials and first lady Michelle Obama in pitching Chicago to the International Olympic Committee on Friday, spokesman Robert Gibbs said.

No other U.S. president has ever attended an IOC vote.

Chicago is vying for the Summer Games against Madrid, Spain; Tokyo, Japan; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Leaders from Brazil, Spain and Japan are expected to also make in-person pitches.

The United States has hosted four Summer Olympic Games. The games were held in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1904; in Los Angeles, California, in 1932 and 1984; and in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1996. The last U.S. city to host the Olympics was Salt Lake City, Utah, which was the venue for the 2002 Winter Games.

The International Olympic Committee will vote on the host city Friday in Copenhagen.

In April, the U.S. Olympic Committee chose Chicago over Los Angeles as the U.S. bid city. Earlier, three other U.S. cities were in the running: Houston, Texas; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and San Francisco, California.

Obama held an event at the White House earlier this month to rally for Chicago as the host city.

"I may live in Washington these days, but I've called Chicago home for nearly 25 years," Obama said.

"It's a city of broad shoulders, big hearts, and bold dreams. A city of legendary sports figures, legendary sports venues and legendary sports fans.

"We want these games!" Obama exclaimed, drawing applause.

While in Denmark, the president and first lady will meet with Queen Margrethe II and her husband, Prince Henrik, the White House said in a release. Obama also is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen.

Obama will leave Thursday night and return Friday afternoon, the White House said.


[World]
Zimbabwe court bars activist Mukoko's prosecution
Story Highlights
> Zimbabwe's highest court grants permanent stay of prosecution to Jestina Mukoko
> Mukoko was facing charges of plotting to topple Robert Mugabe's government
> Ruling sets precedent for other activists facing similar charges in Zimbabwe

HARARE, ZIMBABWE (CNN) -- Zimbabwe's highest court granted a permanent stay of prosecution Monday to a leading human rights activist facing charges of plotting to topple President Robert Mugabe's government.

The court said the abduction and torture in custody of Jestina Mukoko grossly violated her rights.

Mukoko, the leader of Zimbabwe Peace Project, challenged her prosecution in an appeal to the country's Supreme Court saying state security agents had abducted her from her home during a dawn raid and tortured her while holding her at secret locations for three weeks.

"The state, through its agents, violated the applicant's constitutional rights to the extent of entitling the applicant (Mukoko) a permanent stay of criminal prosecution," said Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku as he delivered the ruling in a packed Supreme Court chamber, adding that he would give full details of the reasons for the ruling later.

Monday's ruling sets a precedent for other human rights and opposition activists who face similar charges and were subjected to the same conditions. They have applied to the same court to have their charges dropped but are awaiting rulings.

Mukoko broke into tears as journalists, friends and relatives mobbed her when she was leaving the court room.

"I am so overwhelmed. I want to thank all my colleagues, in the region and internationally because they believed in me," she said. "Justice has just prevailed. I am so excited. Becoming a free person again in Zimbabwe.

"I did not have to go through what I went through. For a while I have been someone who was not free. I'm really going to enjoy this with my family. It did not make sense. I have never in my life done anything wrong, and for me to be referred to as a common criminal.... ah..." She then broke down before being whisked away by her relatives.

"I have no comment," said state prosecutor Fatima Maxwell.

But Mukoko's lawyer Harrison Nkomo said, "It is a good ruling for my client. I should congratulate the Supreme Court for capturing the law quiet clearly. She had not committed any offense.

"She would have been brought to court had the Attorney General's office applied its mind. The manner in which the state agents apprehended her show testimony to the fact that she had not done anything wrong."