ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MEASURE PASSES HOUSE PANEL

KSBY, CA
Associated Press
Oct 11 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) – Defying a White House appeal, a House committee has
approved a measure labeling the World War I-era killings of Armenians
a genocide.

President Bush had asked the House to reject the measure, saying it
would damage U.S. goals in the Middle East. The genocide measure
is strongly opposed by Turkey, a key NATO ally that has supported
U.S. efforts in Iraq.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved the measure 27-21. It
now goes to the full House floor — unless Democratic leaders reverse
course and heed Bush’s warnings.

Committee Chairman Tom Lantos warns of possible fallout if the measure
passes. The Holocaust survivor had formerly backed the resolution. He
now says it could cause U.S. military personnel to pay a heavy price.

At issue is the killing of up to 1.5 million Armenians by Ottoman
Turks. Turkey insists that those killed were victims of civil war
and unrest — and that the death toll has been inflated.

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