The rare military statement by the Syrian Armed Forces was read out on Wednesday on state TV.

In it, the army says it's restored "peace and security" in the embattled Qusair near the Lebanese border after a three-week battle with opposition fighters.

The statement says the army cleared Qusair and surrounding villages in western Syria of "terrorists" the regime's term for rebels who are fighting to topple Assad's government.

It says a "large number (of rebels) have been killed, others surrendered and the rest escaped" following a decisive push into the town late Tuesday.

Civil rights attorney Connie Rice reviewed the lengthy examination and says it concludes Dorner's allegations of racism and bias were unfounded.

The LAPD won't comment until the findings' expected public release by the city Police Commission this month.

Chief Charlie Beck ordered the review in February while Dorner was on the run. The former officer had posted an online manifesto vowing warfare against the department, officers and their families, in retaliation for what he called his unfair firing in 2008.

Authorities say Dorner killed four people, including two law enforcement officers, during a rampage that ended with his death from an apparently self-inflicted gunshot in a burning cabin.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Gilead Sciences Inc said on Monday that U.S. health rejected two of its HIV drugs as standalone therapies, citing deficiencies in documentation and validation of certain quality testing procedures.

Gilead said it is working with U.S. Food and Drug Administration to address the questions raised in the rejection letter in order to prove the application forward.

The company is seeking approval for its drug elvitegravir for people with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, who have already been treated with other products. The drug blocks the enzyme integrase which is needed for the HIV virus to replicate.

Gilead is also seeking approval of cobicistat, a drug that does not itself fight the virus but boosts the function of other HIV medicines.

Both drugs are already contained in Gilead's once-daily single-tablet HIV treatment Stribild, which combines four different medications and was approved in the United States last August.

Analysts on average expect elvitegravir, if eventually approved, to generate annual sales of about $300 million by 2016 according to Thomson Reuters data. They expect sales of cobicistat of roughly $242 million over the same period.

Overall, Gilead's portfolio of antiviral drugs generated sales in 2012 of $8.14 billion.

HIV treatment typically involves the use of multiple drugs designed to attack the virus from different angles. Gilead licensed elvitegravir from Japan Tobacco Inc in 2005 and has the right to market it anywhere except Japan.

Elvitegravir works in a similar manner to Merck & Co's drug Isentress, also known as raltegravir. Isentress is typically given twice a day. Elvitegravir only needs to be taken once a day, but it's action needs to be boosted by cobicistat or an alternative drug that delays the metabolism of elvitegravir.

Gilead has given a number of Indian generic drugmakers, including Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd rights to make generic versions of elvitegravir and other HIV drugs to be sold in developing countries.

(Reporting By Toni Clarke in Washington; editing by Sofina Mirza-Reid)

By Martyn Herman

PARIS, June 2 (Reuters) - Once is commendable, twice is extraordinary but winning from a two set-deficit for the third round in succession at a grand slam tournament like claycourt warrior Tommy Robredo did at the French Open on Sunday stretches the boundaries of credibility.

Especially considering last year the Spaniard could hardly run, needed leg surgery and had fallen to 471 in the rankings.

The 31-year-old looked down and out when he trailed fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro by two sets and 4-1 in the third but produced another Houdini-esque escape and fought back to claim an emotional 6-7(5) 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory.

After a shattered Almagro dumped a backhand volley into the net, Robredo collapsed to the court and could not stop the tears flowing as the enormity of his feat sunk in.

In the second round Robredo gave Dutchman Igor Sijsling a two-set lead and he was at it again against Frenchman Gael Monfils in round three, storming back to win in five after saving four match points.

On Sunday it was 11th seed Almagro's turn to suffer at the hands of the comeback king as Robredo became the first player to overturn three successive two-set deficits since Frenchman Henri Cochet showed a fondness for lost causes at Wimbledon in 1927.

"It's funny, because the last three, four years I couldn't even run that much," Robredo, who needed surgery to repair his continually-tearing left hamstring last year, told reporters.

"And I love to run.

"Before the match I was tired, I was in pain everywhere and I was hoping to try and win the first set because if not I knew it was going to be tough for me," he added.

"But I lost the first, I lost the second, and I had pain in my arm and couldn't even hold the racket a couple of games.

"Then suddenly I recovered. He was 4-1-up (in the third). Maybe he had a little bit of doubt at that moment. Then I just pushed hard and I won the third. Then I was just dreaming and dreaming to try to do it again, and I did it."

BIG HOLE

Former world number five Robredo, who faces another formidable Spaniard next in the form of fourth seed David Ferrer, said he "couldn't care less" about emulating Cochet but was emotional because of his recent injury woes.

"I'm not thinking about history," he said.

"I have been crying a lot lately. Today my emotions were so strong they were overpowering.

"To come up against Nico and turn it around, that was incredible. I'm so happy."

Once Almagro edged the first set he looked like overpowering the rather old-fashioned-looking Robredo with his punishing groundstrokes. He had only dropped one set against Robredo in five meetings and he was in total control.

He was wrong. Robredo loves nothing more than digging a hole and then clambering out.

From 4-1 down in the third set Robredo's classical single-handed backhand began to click and he started taking risks, taking the fight to his opponent.

Suddenly it was Almagro who was being stretched in the baseline rallies and the momentum swung.

Having levelled the match at two sets all, Robredo fell a break behind in the decider but produced one final burst to seal another improbable victory.

"It's still difficult for me to come up with an explanation what happened," Almagro said. "I think Tommy produced a remarkable, admirable game."

Ferrer said he had no doubt he was in for a fight when the pair meet in the next round.

"Tommy is back," Ferrer, who has surpassed Robredo in Spain's claycourt pecking order, said. "He had a difficult year. It was difficult for him to gather his strengths together again but he's done that. And he's one of the best players on clay."

Robredo's comeback also caught the eye of Roger Federer.

"I know how it is to come back from two sets to love, and that is a big deal," the Swiss second seed said after his fourth-round victory over Gilles Simon.

"So the combo of him doing that three times consecutively at probably his most favourite tournament in the world, yeah it's an amazing achievement. I couldn't be happier for the guy." (Editing by Clare Fallon and Sonia Oxley)

Arianna Huffington

Below you can find some of the notable comments made Sunday on "This Week with George Stephanopoulos." Our powerhouse roundtable guests included former deputy chief of staff and senior adviser to President George W. Bush Karl Rove, Bloomberg TV contributor and former Obama White House senior adviser David Plouffe, editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Media Group Arianna Huffington, PBS' "Washington Week" moderator and managing editor Gwen Ifill, Wall Street Journal editorial page editor Paul Gigot, ABC News global affairs anchor Christiane Amanpour, TIME International editor Bobby Ghosh and vice president of new initiatives at the Woodrow Wilson CenterAaron David Miller.

Huffington says Rep. Bachmann, a 'colorful distraction,' can continue to 'grandstand' outside of Congress

HUFFINGTON: But what is interesting, is that basically, like Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann was a sort of colorful distraction. She had no legislative record. She didn't really do anything in the House that she cannot do outside the House. A lot of her career was based on grandstanding. So she can continue doing that.

Christiane Amanpour on Syria's Civil War, considers it a 'huge humanitarian catastrophe'

AMANPOUR: A year ago, President Clinton, former President Clinton, a year ago, when there were 10,000 dead in Syria, said that the longer we leave this, the worse it will be and the more bad actors will come in.

Now, 80,000 people dead. In one year that's 70,000 people who've been killed. There is a huge humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Syria beyond our eyes, because we can see it. And this is what is happening right now. And the bad actors are in there, both on the rebels' side and Assad's side, Hezbollah and Iran.

Huffington outraged by 'gulag' like system of detention and deportation

HUFFINGTON: But also we need some accountability, David, because right now, this goes right against what the - what the president professes to believe in, that detention and deportation system, it is an absolute nightmare for families. It's a bit like a gulag.

Gigot finds the link between IRS and Holder scandals, it's 'coercive power of the state'

GIGOT: The common theme here - the common theme here between the IRS scandals and the Holder problems is the coercive power of the state. That is - the president has been trying to redefine government in a benign way, expanded it and say, you know what, it's really good for you. Well, sometimes it can be but often, it comes with a punch in the jaw. It comes with coercive power. That's what happened in both of these cases.

Somehow I managed to misplace your cookbooklet. I have read that there is now a set of two of them. Would you please give me the ordering instructions? Thanks, Abby! -- JEAN IN RICHLAND, WASH.

DEAR JEAN: I get a lot of letters like yours and I'm glad to oblige. Once you start looking at "Cookbooklet II" you will see that a sweet tooth runs in my family. Many readers have told me the dessert recipes in my cookbooklets are great for entertaining, and actually save calories because they are divided among a greater number of people. The raw apple cake with caramel glaze serves 16! My booklets are sold as a set and can be ordered by sending your name and address, plus check or money order for $14 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby -- Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Shipping and handling are included in the price. Remember, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away," and this recipe requires five or six of them. (Think of the fiber!)

My cookbooklet set contains more than 100 tasty recipes for soups, salads, appetizers, main courses and desserts that can be used when friends and families get together to celebrate holidays and special occasions.

I have been told by some readers that they have been used as the basis for Dear Abby-themed dinner parties. (The place cards were decorated with hearts and flowers, and the centerpiece was a "bouquet" of envelopes addressed to me.)

P.S. Your husband sounds like a sweetheart. My mother once said the secret to a lasting marriage is a husband who lasts, so feed him well and he will.

DEAR ABBY: I work in a skilled-care facility. I am also preparing for law school. Today one of my co-workers humiliated me in the presence of others by asking if I have been gaining weight. I giggled and said, "Probably."

She proceeded to say that I have gained "a lot" of weight in my "fat face" and told me to get on the scale so she could see how much. I told her it's none of her business.

She has done this to me and other co-workers before. Our supervisor likes her and doesn't reprimand her. How should I handle this? -- GETTING IMPATIENT IN ILLINOIS

DEAR GETTING IMPATIENT: Handle it by ignoring this unpleasant person and avoiding her whenever possible. So should any other co-worker she has offended. Any time she attempts to embarrass any of you, it should be reported to your supervisor's supervisor -- individually or en masse -- because the failure to act on your concerns is allowing a hostile work environment to exist.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby ator P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

The announcement came less than a week after Kerry urged Israel to avoid "provocative" actions during a visit to the region. A U.S. State Department spokeswoman described the move as "counterproductive."

Palestinian officials immediately accused Israel of undermining the U.S. mediation efforts.

The issue of Jewish settlements has been at the heart of a nearly five-year impasse in peace efforts. Negotiations broke down in late 2008 and have remained stalled since then.

The Palestinians say they will not return to negotiations until Israel stops building settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas they claim for a future state. Israel, which captured both areas in the 1967 Mideast war, says talks should resume without any conditions.

Israel has tried to differentiate between settlements in the West Bank, which is not part of Israel, and east Jerusalem, which it annexed and claims as part of its capital. But the international community, including the U.S., does not recognize the annexation and considers both territories to be occupied.

Housing Ministry spokesman Ariel Rosenberg said the latest construction, in the Ramot area of east Jerusalem, was approved by the government long ago but in recent days, the ministry accepted a bid by a company to build the 300 housing units. He said the ministry had solicited the bids last year. Construction is expected to begin within a few months.

Ramot is a sprawling development that lies mostly in territory Israel seized in 1967. Israel considers it a neighborhood of its capital.

More than 500,000 Israelis now live in settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem. The Palestinians say continued construction is a sign of bad faith and makes it increasingly difficult to partition the land between Israel and a future Palestinian state.

Palestinian official Saeb Erekat described the construction plans as "systematic destruction" of Kerry's efforts by Israeli hardliners. The Housing Ministry is headed by the "Jewish Home," a hardline party with close ties to the Jewish settler movement.

"They are settlers, working for settlers," Erekat said.

Government spokesman Ofir Gendelman accused Palestinians of making excuses to avoid peace talks.

"It is a tactic to avoid negotiations," Gendelman said. "We are calling on Palestinians to return to direct negotiations immediately in order to discuss all outstanding issues," he said.

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki chided Israel for the move.

"Israelis must recognize that continued construction in East Jerusalem is counterproductive to the cause of peace and that an independent Palestine must be viable, with real borders that have to be drawn," she said.

"We're at a pivotal time," Psaki told reporters. "We need to focus on each side making tough choices in order to move a process or the possibility of negotiations forward. And that's what our focus is on."

Aides to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas say Kerry hopes to present a formal plan to resume long-stalled negotiations in coming weeks.

During his visit last week, Kerry said it was impossible to expect Israel to halt all settlement construction. But he urged restraint and called on both sides to avoid any moves that could undermine his efforts.

Since taking office early this year, Kerry has devoted significant efforts to restarting peace talks. He has visited the region four times, most recently last week, in search of a formula acceptable to both sides.

Abbas' aides said the president was under pressure to accept some construction in Jewish settlements in blocs, particularly in those expected to lie on the Israeli side of a future border.

___

Associated Press writer Bradley Klapper in Washington contributed to this report.

The senator is Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, a moderate with serious energy-policy chops: He is the top Republican on the Senate panel that funds the Energy Department and represents a state that's home to a major Energy Department research lab, Oak Ridge.

The speech, which he'll deliver at the Oak Ridge facility, is in keeping with views Alexander has long espoused. But it's in stark contrast to the energy and climate positions taken by his party's leaders since 2010. After the tea party helped fuel the Republican takeover of the House, denying the science of climate change went from a fringe to a mainstream Republican view, and the House even passed a bill declaring that climate change was a hoax. Super PACs such as Americans for Prosperity, which has ties to the oil conglomerate Koch Industries, targeted Republicans who acknowledged climate change and supported renewable energy. During the 2012 presidential campaign, every Republican candidate but one, Jon Huntsman, questioned or denied the science concluding that carbon pollution causes global warming.

Alexander's speech highlights the widening schism on energy and climate change between moderates like himself and party leaders like Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, often named as a likely 2016 presidential candidate. At a speech in March, Rubio said, "The people who are actually closed-minded in American politics are the people who love to preach about the certainty of science with regards to our climate but ignore the absolute fact that science has proven that life begins at conception." Alexander himself has acknowledged the dividelast year, he stepped down after five years as the chairman of the Republican conference, criticizing the party's increasing ideological partisanship.

Republican strategists say they'll be paying close attention.

"Lamar is a pretty interesting guy. Given his swingy nature, lots of people are going to pay attention to what he is saying," said Mike McKenna, an energy lobbyist and strategist who helped craft House Republicans' energy messaging.

Since 2010, many formerly moderate Republicans have shifted far to the right on energy and climate positions, in part to avoid attacks from groups such as Americans for Prosperity ahead of reelection campaigns. But although Alexander is up for reelection next year, he is not backing down from his long-held energy positions. The former Tennessee governor is not facing a primary challenger and is expected to maintain a comfortable lead over Democratic challenger Larry Crim.

Five years ago, Alexander gave a similar energy speech at Oak Ridge, laying out seven "grand challenges" on energy, including finding ways to promote plug-in electric vehicles, capture and use carbon emissions, help solar become cost-competitive, safely manage nuclear waste, make biofuels competitive with gasoline, make new buildings green buildings, and create energy from fusion. At the time, those goals were well in line with the views of the GOP's presidential candidate, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.

Alexander's speech will provide a progress report on those goalsand propose a plan for a Republican energy future.

The speech will directly acknowledge climate change and the need to reduce carbon pollution. "While the United States has made more gains in reducing the use of carbon than any other industrial country, the National Academies of the U.S. and 12 other countries have warned that human activity has contributed significantly to climate change and global warming," Alexander will say, according to prepared remarks.

He'll then lay out "four grand principles" to "help the United States end an obsession with taxpayer subsidies and strategies for expensive energy and instead focus on doubling research and allowing marketplace solutions to create an abundance of clean, cheap, reliable energy."

His four principles are: cheaper, not more expensive energy; clean, not just renewable energy; research and development, not government mandates; and a free market, not government, picking winners and losers.

More specifically, he'll praise the U.S. boom in development of natural gas, a source of electricity that produces half the carbon pollution of coal. While he'll acknowledge the role renewable-energy sources such as solar play in the nation's energy mix, he'll also push for development of low-carbon electricity sources such as nuclear and hydropower. He'll praise the work done by the Energy Department lab ARPA-E, which researches high-risk, high-reward breakthrough clean-energy technologiesa move that comes on the heels of a GOP campaign railing against President Obama for the bankruptcy of the solar company Solyndra, which took $500 million in an Energy Department loan guarantee.

In addition, Alexander will call for an end to government subsidies on wind energy, a policy he's long opposed. The proposals hardly line up exactly with President Obama's green agenda, but with their clear focus on low-carbon energy, they are a far cry from the stance of many in the GOP.

"I've been fascinated with the progress we've made on the seven grand challenges I suggested five years ago," Alexander will say. "Perhaps by focusing on these four principles, we can capitalize on this progress toward cheap, clean, reliable energy."

Still, Republicans say that a voice like Alexander's will have serious heft as the GOP reckons with its energy and climate future.

"Lamar is a strong and credible voice for Republicans on energy issues," said Republican strategist Mark McKinnon. "He has standing to make the case."