Obama announces Friday afternoon news conference

[August 09, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama says he'll hold a news conference Friday afternoon at the White House.

Obama will answer reporters' questions in the midst of a terror alert that led the government to close nearly two dozen embassies and consulates in the Middle East and North Africa.

And just this week, Obama canceled a one-on-one summit next month in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin (POO'-tihn), in part because of Russia's decision to grant asylum to National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden.

The news conference scheduled for 3 p.m. EDT also comes a day before Obama leaves Washington for a nine-day vacation on Martha's Vineyard, Mass.

Obama made the announcement Thursday as he wrapped up an Oval Office meeting with the prime minister of Greece.

[Associated Press]

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