Around the World

The throne now goes to Prince Albert II, Rainier's only son with actress Grace Kelly.

In power for 56 of his 81 years, Rainier was the only ruler many of Monaco's 32,000 residents had ever known. A veritable father-figure, he dragged Monaco into the modern age while preserving much of its Mediterranean charm and royal trappings.

Before age slowed him, Rainier poured his energies into public works, earning the name "the builder prince." He put Monaco - which is smaller than New York's Central Park - on the world map with his April 18, 1956, marriage to Kelly, who gave up Hollywood fame to become Princess Grace.

Helicopter crash in Afghanistan kills nine

KABUL, Afghanistan - A U.S. military helicopter crashed in bad weather in southeast Afghanistan on Wednesday, killing at least nine people, including four American crew members, the military said.

An Afghan police official said the death toll could be higher, and that all aboard appeared to be American, but the U.S. military would not confirm that or give the nationalities of the passengers.

Bad weather appeared to have caused the crash of the Chinook helicopter near Ghazni city, 80 miles southwest of the capital, Kabul, military spokeswoman Lt. Cindy Moore said.

Yushchenko asks Congress for help

WASHINGTON - Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko asked Congress to help the former Soviet republic make democratic progress by supporting its entrance into international organizations including NATO and ending Cold War-era trade restrictions.

"Please make this step toward Ukraine. Please tear down this wall," he said Wednesday, echoing President Reagan's 1987 call for Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev to reunite Germany.