WASHINGTON

Shooters in police uniforms kill American in Afghanistan

In the latest likely case of an insider attack, an American service member was killed and several others injured Monday when individuals dressed in Afghan police uniforms turned their guns on them in southern Afghanistan, U.S. officials said.

Jamie Graybeal, a spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, confirmed the death and said that the three Afghan shooters fled and are being sought. Although they were wearing police uniforms, it was not yet certain if they were actually Afghan police or were just wearing the clothing.

Other U.S. officials said that nine U.S. troops were injured in the shooting, mostly with fairly minor wounds. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an investigation.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska

Militia leader, one member convicted in murder plot

A jury Monday convicted the leader of an Alaska militia group of nine of the 11 counts against him in a federal conspiracy case, including the most serious charge of plotting to kill government employees.

Jurors deliberated for more than two full days before returning a verdict against 28-year-old Schaeffer Cox, head of the Fairbanks-based Alaska Peacemakers Militia.

They also convicted militia member Lonnie Vernon, 56, of conspiracy to murder but deadlocked on the same charge against a third member, Coleman Barney, 37.

Prosecutors had argued that Cox, Vernon and Barney had intended to kill federal officials as they armed themselves for an FBI hit squad they thought might attack Cox at public appearances he made.

Defense attorneys say allegations of a murder plan were created by the government to silence Cox, who made speeches they acknowledged were offensive but protected by free speech language in the U.S. Constitution.

Sentencing is set for Sept. 14.

BEIJING

Man under arrest for fraud claimed he bought U.S. bank

In a China awash with fake iPhones, pirated DVDs and knockoff Louis Vuitton bags, rice trader Lin Chunping took fakery to a whole new level: He invented a U.S. bank and claimed he bought it.

The little-known businessman shot to fame in January when state media reported that he had taken over Delaware-based Atlantic Bank. State media called his business experience “legendary.”

The only thing that may have been legendary is Lin’s audacity. Not only did he not buy Atlantic Bank in Delaware for $60 million as he claimed, but there is no Atlantic Bank in that state.

Lin, 41, is under arrest in connect an unrelated fraud and has been forced to give up his municipal-level appointment to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the government’s top advisory body.