Somali warlord Colonel Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, slated to appear with former Senator Slade Gorton at a September banquet in Seattle ["Somali Warlord Heads to Seattle," Sandeep Kaushik, Sept 19], has instead surfaced in Great Britain, where he is undergoing medical treatment for liver problems, according to reliable sources. Sources say a sudden deterioration of his medical condition prompted him to risk visiting Britain, where commentators speculated that Yusuf might be arrested for the recent slaying of a British citizen by his forces in Somalia. So far he has not faced legal consequences there, despite the fact that opponents of the warlord rallied in London on September 26 and presented a petition at the prime minister's residence appealing for Yusuf's arrest. Yusuf's American supporters insist the warlord will still visit the U.S. and meet with officials; the State Department declined comment. SANDEEP KAUSHIK

Arrest in Rapper Murder

The alleged killer of Phillip Tyrone Griffin, A.K.A. Priceless Game, the aspiring rapper gunned down in the International District ["Game Over," Sandeep Kaushik, Sept 12], was arrested by Seattle police on September 24. Tony Pharr, 29, served time with Griffin in 2000 at the Washington Corrections Center at Shelton, where, Pharr admitted to investigators, he had argued with Griffin.

At first denying involvement in the slaying, Pharr later told police he randomly encountered the victim just after midnight, August 13, for the first time since prison. Pharr initially claimed that Griffin was threatening and reached menacingly for a backpack, prompting Pharr to draw a .38 caliber revolver and shoot Griffin in the chest. Later, Pharr contended the gun discharged accidentally. Witnesses, however, told police that Griffin was backing away from Pharr with his hands in his pockets when shot. Pharr stands charged of second-degree murder and remains incarcerated in lieu of bail, set at $1 million. SANDEEP KAUSHIK

#53 The Sky Phantom

Is someone sabotaging the Seattle Center monorail? Or is it mere coincidence that five weeks before a vote on a citywide monorail system, the 40-year-old monorail had its third (!) breakdown in 10 days on October 1 (this time due to a flat tire)? Operations Manager Matt Abbey says the other stalls were "freak events." Sure they were.... NANCY DREW