INTERNATIONALAfghan leader takes control of vote fraud panel to prevent corruptionKABUL (AP) — Afghanistan’s president has taken control of a formerly independent body that monitors election fraud, raising concern Tuesday that he’s reneging on promises to clean up corruption and cronyism — a pillar of the Obama administration’s plan to erode support for the Taliban.—Senior al-Qaida leader in Yemen threatens new attacks on USCAIRO (AP) — A senior operative of the al-Qaida network in Yemen — the group that claimed responsibility for the failed Christmas Day attack on an American passenger jet over Detroit — has threatened more attacks on the United States.The U.S. has become increasingly worried about militants based in Yemen since al-Qaida groups there and in Saudi Arabia merged last year to become al-Qaida in the Arabian. —STATE/LOCALLouisiana woman pleads guilty to selling children for bird, moneyNEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Louisiana woman has pleaded guilty to selling two children for a cockatoo and $175 in what her attorney called an attempt to do a good thing that went wrong.”It was a really clumsy attempt at an adoption proceeding,” said Steve Sikich, attorney for Donna Louise Greenwell of Pitkin. Greenwell, 53, was sentenced Monday to 15 months of hard labor on each of two criminal counts: sale of a minor. The sentences are to run concurrently.The case centered on a 5-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl in Greenwell’s custody.Investigators said she called Paul J. Romero, 46, and Brandy Lynn Romero, 27, of Evangeline Parish early last year after seeing a flyer they posted offering a cockatoo for sale, and offered to deliver the children for about $2,000. —Louisiana man sentenced to four years for stomping deathDURANT, Okla. (AP) — A pipeline worker has been formally sentenced to four years in prison for the stomping death of his friend.Don Mancil of Pitkin, La., was sentenced Monday based on a prison term recommendation from the jury that convicted him of first-degree manslaughter.—R&B superstar Alicia Keys added to Essence Fest 2010 lineup NEW ORLEANS (AP) — R&B superstar Alicia Keys has been added to the headline roster for this year’s Essence Music Festival in New Orleans.Keys will join Mary J. Blige, Gladys Knight, Jill Scott, Earth, Wind and Fire and others performing at the Louisiana Superdome July 2-4.The festival began in 1995 to mark the 25th anniversary of Essence magazine.