Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Hearing on Trips by Farrakhan Disrupted

With hundreds of Louis Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam followers lined up outside a congressional hearing room, Rep. Bob Barr (R-Ga.) said he thought Farrakhan violated federal laws when he visited Libya and Iraq in January. As the House International Relations subcommittee hearing opened, Leonard Farrakhan Muhammad, the chief of staff of the Nation of Islam, stood up and asked, “Can I ask a question?” He was ruled out of order. In another incident, a woman who shouted was removed by Capitol police. After the hearing, a man said subcommittee Chairman Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) had promised that Nation of Islam officials would be allowed to speak after other witnesses. A committee aide said they were told only that they could submit a statement. Farrakhan traveled to Libya, Iraq, Iran and Sudan, all on the U.S. list of nations that support terrorism.