The Pentagon announced Thursday it is sending a military team from Southern Command of up to four people to go to Haiti within the next two days. The U.S. is also withdrawing dozens of Peace Corps personnel attached to the embassy and encouraged other Americans to leave the island. Haiti has suffered nearly two weeks of violence after gangs and leaders of the 1991 coup staged an armed uprising against the elected government of President Aristide. A spokesperson from Southern Command said the military team is going to advise the U.S. embassy on security issues–not to assist the Haitian government. The U.S. has so far rejected pleas from the Aristide government for help to end the violence. Washington is also sending representatives to join an international delegation of senior envoys to press Aristide to reach a political compromise with his foes. On Thursday Aristide said “I am ready to give my life if that is what it takes to defend my country.” Meanwhile Guy Philippe, a former Haitian police chief who now commands the rebels, vowed his forces would take Aristide’s palace if he does not soon resign.

A group of scientists including 20 Nobel laureates have signed a petition condemning the White House for putting political pressure on governmental scientists. According to the scientists, the White House censors and suppresses reports by its own scientists, stacks advisory committees and disbands government panels.

In business news former Enron C.E.O. Jeffrey Skilling handed himself over to federal officials. He plead not guilty to all charges against him.

The U.S. military announced Thursday that it will release five British citizens and a Danish citizen who have been held on Guantanamo Bay for two years.

The Guardian of London is reporting the British government is preparing to drop its case against Katherine Gun. Gun is the 29-year-old employee who leaked information to the press about how the US and Britian were spying on diplomats at the United Nations in the lead up to a vote on Iraq.

The city of San Francisco has filed a lawsuit against the state of California charging the state’s laws that bar gay marriage violate language in the state constitution that forbids discrimination.