Digest: Hundreds outside White House protest troop increase

WHITE HOUSE

Hundreds protest troop increase

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the White House on Saturday to condemn President Obama's plan to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan.

Speakers urged Americans to take to the streets in opposition to what they called the escalation of an unnecessary war that has killed soldiers and civilians.

"The message is clear: We have money for war but not for jobs," said Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio). "We have money for war but not for health care. We have money for war but not for education. . . . We have money for war but not for peace."

The rally was a fraction of the size of similar gatherings against the Iraq War. Organized by a group called End U.S. Wars, it was billed as the first formal protest since the troop increase was announced nearly two weeks ago.

-- Sandhya Somashekhar

TEXAS

Mayoral race in Houston is close

Early returns indicated a close race Saturday between Houston's former city attorney and the city controller who would be Houston's first openly gay mayor.

With 52 percent of precincts reporting, Controller Annise Parker held 53 percent of the vote to Gene Locke's 47 percent.

The election battle leading up to Saturday's balloting was marked by fierce campaigning and anti-gay rhetoric. If Parker wins, Houston will become the largest U.S. city to have an openly gay mayor.

-- Associated Press