Top Story USA
19 February 2007
Bahamas Minister Quits Over Anna Nicole Flap
As Photos of Shane Gibson and Anna Nicole Smith embracing each
other began to do the rounds, the Bahamas' immigration minister
resigned amid calls for him to leave. It is being speculated that
the Playboy model and actress received special treatment when
applying for permanent residency on the island.
Prime Minister Perry Christie had accepted Gibbon's resignation.
Mr Gibson apologised for any embarrassment he may have caused
the country but denied any wrong-doing. “I want to apologise
to all persons who may in any way have been offended by anything
that I have said, done or perceived to have said or done,"
Mr Gibson said on state television. "To the extent that
my beloved country has in any way suffered ... I want to apologize
to the Bahamian people as a whole."
"It was never my intention to cause any damage, hurt or
embarrassment to anyone."
But Mr Gibson said that he had not had a sexual relationship
with the 39-year-old American celebrity who died on Feb. 8 in
Hollywood, Fla.
Smith's application for residency on the island was based on
the disputed ownership of a waterfront mansion in the island
country.
Denying that he abused his ministerial office by speeding up
the process to grant Smith residency, Gibson described Smith,
the widow of Texas oil tycoon J Howard Marshall II, as a family
friend.
US troops killed in chopper crash
Eight US service members have been killed and 14 wounded in
a military helicopter crash in south-eastern Afghanistan, US-led
coalition forces say.
US Senate blocks vote on Iraq war
The US Senate has decided not to consider a resolution criticising
President George W Bush's troop build-up in Iraq.
Castro recovering says son
Cuban leader Fidel Castro's recovery from intestinal surgery
is satisfactory, his eldest son has said.
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