Thousands Rally For Trayvon, US Solider Faces Charges Today

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. soldier accused of gunning down Afghan civilians, including women and nine children, is expected to be charged with 17 counts of murder today. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales will appear in a military court at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where he's being held.

SANFORD, Fla. (AP) — Some of the thousands who rallied in Sanford, Fla. last night carried signs that said "Justice for Trayvon." They say they want the neighborhood watch volunteer who chased down and shot the unarmed teen arrested. Civil rights leader Al Sharpton lead the rally for 17-year-old Trayvon Martin and said, "We cannot allow a precedent when a man can just kill one of us ... and then walk out with the murder weapon."

NEW YORK (AP) — Documents show undercover officers for the NYPD attended meetings of liberal political organizations and kept intelligence files on activists who planned protests around the country. Police had said that spying on groups like anti-war organizations was necessary leading up to New York's 2004 Republican National Convention. But documents obtained by The Associated Press show that the police department's intelligence unit continued to keep close watch on political groups in 2008, long after the convention.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama leaves for Seoul, South Korea, later today for an international summit on keeping nuclear weapons material out of the hands of terrorists. Nearly 60 world leaders are expected to attend the gathering Monday and Tuesday. Obama also plans to stop at the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea and to visit some of the approximately U.S. troops stationed near there.

ROME (AP) — Pope Benedict is using a cane, apparently for the first time in public. The pope, who's headed to Mexico and Cuba, walked up stairs to an Alitalia plane at Rome's airport with the help of a black cane. Papal aides say the pope started using the cane about two months ago and uses it because it makes him feel more secure. He turns 85 next month.