World/nation briefs

Inscription to be erased from King memorialAn inscription on the memorial honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. that set off a controversy will be removed. Since the memorial was opened in August 2011, critics have contended that the paraphrased quote -- "I was a drum major for peace, justice and righteousness" -- misrepresents King's words. The removal, announced by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, involves removing the quote entirely by carving scratch marks over it to blend in with the rest of the structure.

Lieberman urges compromise in finaleRetiring Sen. Joe Lieberman used his final Senate floor speech to urge Congress to put partisan rancor aside to break Washington's gridlock. "It requires reaching across the aisle and finding partners from the opposite party," said Lieberman, 70. "That is what is desperately needed in Washington now." The Democrat turned independent from Connecticut is leaving the Senate in January after 24 years.

'Fast and Furious' gun buyer sentencedA federal judge sentenced a Phoenix man to nearly five years in prison for buying firearms for a Mexican drug cartel, triggering a chain of events that included the death of a Border Patrol agent and the unraveling of the failed federal gun-tracking operation called "Fast and Furious." Jaime Avila, 25, was a "straw purchaser" of the firearms for the cartel, and his purchases included two rifles found at the scene of the death of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, who died two years ago this week in the desert south of Tucson.

Chavez deputy warns of difficult days aheadPresident Hugo Chavez is facing a "complex" recuperation after six hours of surgery for cancer, said Vice President Nicolas Maduro. He warned Venezuelans to prepare for "difficult" days ahead.

Bosnian Serb commander guilty of genocideA former commander of the Bosnian Serb army, Zdravko Tolimir, was convicted of genocide and sentenced to life in prison for his role in the killings of thousands of prisoners near the town of Srebrenica in July 1995. Judges at the U.N. tribunal in The Hague, voting 2-1, said Tolimir, 64, had been found guilty because as the army's head of intelligence he not only knew of the plans to commit "horrific mass murder" of Bosnian Muslim prisoners but also played a pivotal role in the crime.

Police: Jimmy Savile is suspect in 199 crimesLate BBC entertainer Jimmy Savile is a suspect in 199 crimes recorded so far, including dozens of cases of rape, British police said. They described the level of sexual abuse allegations against Savile as "unprecedented in the U.K." The accusations against Savile, who died last year at age 84, grew after five women said during a TV program broadcast in October that they had been sexually abused by the entertainer. The claims triggered a scandal that rocked the BBC, which has been accused of failing to report allegations against Savile while making shows praising him.