DAN EGGEN

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Chicago jury acquits two in terror charges

A federal jury in Chicago acquitted two men Thursday of charges that they were part of a long-running conspiracy to finance Hamas activities in Israel - marking the latest defeat for the Justice Department in cases involving support for radical Palestinian groups.Abdelhaleem Ashqar, 48, a former Howard University professor from suburban Washington, and Muhammad Salah, 53, a former grocer from suburban Chicago, were found not guilty of racketeering conspiracy.