CHICAGO (Reuters) – Departing U.S. prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, known for being tough on corrupt politicians, ruled out running for political office himself on Thursday, but said public service is “in my blood.”

“I’m not wired for campaigns or running for elective office,” Fitzgerald, 51, said the day after he announced he would leave his post as the top Justice Department official in the Northern District of Illinois after 11 years.

“I love public service. I don’t know what I’m going to do next. But public service is in my blood,” Fitzgerald said at a news conference.

He prosecuted several high-profile terrorism cases in Chicago and as an assistant U.S. attorney in New York, where he began his career nearly 24 years ago after graduating from Harvard Law School.

He led the 2007 prosecution of Lewis “Scooter” Libby, the chief of staff and national security adviser to former Vice President Dick Cheney. Libby was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice involving the leak of a CIA agent’s name. Republican President George W. Bush commuted Libby’s 30-month sentence.

Fitzgerald’s name has been tossed around, mostly in media circles, as possibly the next director of the FBI, or even as the next commissioner of Major League Baseball.

He poured tepid water on those possibilities, saying he had no discussions with President Barack Obama’s administration and had no reason to think he was on any short list for such jobs.

CHICAGO (Reuters) – The NATO summit ended without major violence between police and protesters, winning praise for Chicago Police Chief Garry McCarthy and helping erase bad memories of the bloody street battles here during the 1968 Democratic convention.

Ever since anti-Vietnam protesters were beaten in what a commission later called a “police riot” in 1968, Chicago has tried to live down its reputation for police brutality.

But experts said NATO summit protesters angry about the war in Afghanistan got to have their say, while the Chicago police were restrained, and always seemed to be one step ahead of the demonstrators.

“My analysis is there was … free speech, and in response to that there was appropriate law enforcement. There may have been some things at the margins,” said Harvey Grossman, head of the American Civil Liberties Union in Chicago, which sent observers to accompany most of the protests.

Over a week of daily rallies and marches, police made fewer than 100 arrests, most charged with minor infractions and released within hours. Roughly two dozen protesters were injured Sunday following the largest demonstration of the week.

On Sunday, the barrel-chested, mustachioed McCarthy paced up and down behind the lines of helmeted, baton-wielding officers as they advanced on protesters who ignored orders to disperse.

He lifted up an officer who had fallen, and helped corral a protester, and received congratulatory fist-bumps from his men. Messages passed along from officer to officer were “remember your training,” and “work as a team.”

CHICAGO, May 20 (Reuters) – Two more men have been arrested in Chicago for threatening behavior before a NATO summit, bringing to five the number of people charged with terrorism-related activities or possessing explosive devices in the days leading up to the meeting of the military alliance.

Chicago resident Sebastian Senakiewicz, 24, was accused of falsely making a terrorist threat, and Mark Neiweem, 28, also of Chicago, was charged with attempted possession of explosives or incendiary devices.

At a hearing on Sunday, Senakiewicz’s bail was set at $750,000 and Neiweem’s at $500,000.

Senakiewicz’s arrest came a day after prosecutors said three men were caught in the act of making Molotov cocktails, which they had discussed using against President Barack Obama’s campaign headquarters in Chicago, as well as Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s home, several area financial institutions and four police stations.

Molotov cocktails are a crude bomb made of a bottle filled with a flammable liquid such as gasoline and usually fitted with a wick that is ignited and thrown.

Charging documents for Senakiewicz and Neiweem released on Sunday make no mention of a connection to the earlier arrests, but attorneys speaking on behalf of the two said they believe the same police informants are involved in all of the cases.

Earlier, when asked if the two Chicago men charged were related to the earlier arrests, authorities had said they learned about them during the probe of the three others.

CHICAGO (Reuters) – One man was arrested on terrorism-related charges and another for possession of explosives, bringing to five the number of people arrested ahead of the NATO summit on Sunday in an alleged plot to target U.S. President Barack re-election headquarters.

Chicago residents Sebastian Senakiewicz, 24, and Mark Neiweem, 28, were charged as part of the investigation that led to the arrest of three self-described anarchists on terrorism-related charges.

Senakiewicz was accused of falsely making a terrorist threat and Neiweem was charged with attempted possession of explosives or incendiary devices. Both will have a hearing to set bail on Sunday.

Senakiewicz’ arrest came a day after prosecutors said three men were caught in the act of making Molotov cocktails, which they had discussed using against the Obama campaign headquarters, as well as Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s home, several area financial institutions and four police stations.

Molotov cocktails are a crude bomb made of a bottle filled with a flammable liquid such as gasoline and usually fitted with a wick that is ignited and hurled.

Asked if the two Chicago men charged were related to the earlier arrests, authorities said they learned about them during the probe of the three others.

The three men charged previously were listed as Brian Church, 22, of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Jared Chase, 27, of Keene, New Hampshire, and Brent Betterly, 24, from Massachusetts. Each is being held on $1.5 million bail.

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Hundreds of demonstrators staged raucous protests against Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s budget cuts and other economic issues on the eve of the NATO summit, but police said there were few arrests and only minor clashes.

The crowds were in the hundreds on Saturday, down from an estimated 2,500 people on Friday at Daley Plaza, named for longtime Mayor Richard J. Daley, who headed the city during bloody clashes between police and anti-Vietnam War protesters at the 1968 Democratic convention.

The violence that was anticipated before the NATO summit never materialized, although the biggest rally was expected on Sunday. Chicago police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said late on Saturday there had been 18 arrests during the week.

One protester was taken to a hospital after a group of people swarmed on a police vehicle and slashed a tire, McCarthy said. Local media showed video of the man in front of the vehicle trying to stop it but it was unclear if he was run over.

Another protester spray-painted an “A” for anarchy on the door of a Verizon Wireless store.

Saturday’s marches began early, with an estimated 500 people protesting outside Emanuel’s home to criticize cuts in city mental health services.

McCarthy said protesters were “making noise and disrupting some people’s lives,” but that overall, events were going well.

CHICAGO, May 19 (Reuters) – Hundreds of demonstrators protested peacefully on Saturday on the eve of the NATO summit in Chicago, gathering outside Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s home to criticize cuts in mental health services before moving downtown under the close eye of police.

An estimated 500 demonstrators participated in the march to Emanuel’s home, police said. There were also several smaller rallies.

The gatherings were much smaller than one attracting some 2,500 people on Friday at Daley Plaza, named for longtime Mayor Richard J. Daley, who headed the city during bloody clashes between police and anti-Vietnam War protesters at the 1968 Democratic convention.

The biggest rally during the NATO summit is expected to be on Sunday near the convention center where world leaders will gather.

Fears that violence would erupt have so far proved unfounded. Chicago police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said 14 arrests had been made in connection with protests in the past week.

McCarthy spoke before a Reuters reporter witnessed the detention of a man who gave his name as Taylor Hall, 23, from Pittsburgh. Police said he shoved an officer with a bicycle.

There has been little destruction of property. One protester spray-painted an “A” for anarchy on the door of a Verizon Wireless store.

CHICAGO, May 19 (Reuters) – About 500 demonstrators gathered outside the home of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Saturday to protest the recent closure of mental health clinics as part of a series of rallies and marches timed to coincide with a NATO summit here.

But the protest was much smaller than one attended by an estimated 2,500 people at a downtown plaza on Friday. The biggest rally is expected to be on Sunday near the convention center where world leaders will gather.

Fears that violence would erupt have so far proved unfounded although the big rally was still to come on Sunday. Chicago police superintendent Garry McCarthy said 14 arrests had been made in connection with protests in the past week.

McCarthy said protesters were “making noise and disrupting some people’s lives” but overall events were going well.

While the city of Chicago had not granted a permit for Saturday’s protest, police allowed hundreds of people to return for an impromptu rally at the plaza where they gathered on Friday.

Again on Saturday, the protests stressed economic and social service issues rather than international questions such as the war in Afghanistan expected to be discussed by world leaders at the NATO summit.

Many of the protesters are from the anti-Wall Street Occupy movement that started in New York last fall, which says 1 percent of the U.S. population holds too much of the nation’s wealth.

CHICAGO (Reuters) – Around 500 demonstrators gathered outside the home of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Saturday to protest the recent closure of mental health clinics as part of a series of rallies and marches timed to coincide with a NATO summit here.

But the protest was much smaller than one attended by an estimated 2,500 people at a downtown plaza on Friday. The biggest rally is expected to be on Sunday near the convention centre where world leaders will gather.

The protest on Saturday began as a group of around 50 people, including some former patients of six city-run mental health clinics that closed at the end of April to save $2.3 million as part of a drive to eliminate the city’s $650 million budget deficit.

“He (Emanuel) hasn’t talked to us once, not once since he’s been in office,” said Marti Luckett, 60, a patient at one of the shuttered clinics who is bipolar and suffers from depression. “We want him to show up.”

“I think President (Barack) Obama should be calling Rahm Emanuel and say ‘shame on you,’” added Luckett, a petite woman with reddish hair.

Chicago has closed half of the dozen city-run mental health clinics because of budget cuts. The city says patients should be able to receive care at the remaining clinics or some run by outside groups.

“The administration is committed to promoting the health and wellness of Chicagoans in every neighbourhood,” a spokeswoman for the city said.

CHICAGO (Reuters) – A group of around 50 demonstrators descended on the home of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Saturday to protest the recent closure of mental health clinics as part of a series of rallies and marches timed to coincide with a NATO summit here.

The protest on Chicago’s north side included some former patients of six city-run mental health clinics that closed at the end of April to save $2.3 million as part of a drive to eliminate the city’s $650 million budget deficit.

“He (Emanuel) hasn’t talked to us once, not once since he’s been in office,” said Marti Luckett, 60, a patient at one of the shuttered clinics who is bipolar and suffers from depression. “We want him to show up.”

“I think President (Barack) Obama should be calling Rahm Emanuel and say ‘shame on you,’” added Luckett, a petite woman with reddish hair.

Small groups of protesters, some carrying signs that read “food not bombs” or “seize the peace,” accompanied former patients of the clinics dressed in green hospital smocks going door to door to talk to residents in Emanuel’s neighborhood.

At the mayor’s home protesters reached were greeted by around 30 police officers who were in a relaxed mood on a warm, sunny day but told protesters to keep moving.

Less than a block from the mayor’s home Colette Kelsey, 39, and Doug Anderson, 43, were among the few residents who opened their doors to protesters.

CHICAGO (Reuters) – The FBI said on Thursday there was “absolutely no indication” of a terror attack threat in Chicago, although the city was considered a potential target even before President Barack Obama and other leaders meet for this weekend’s NATO summit.

FBI agent Ross Rice said the agency will be on heightened alert in Chicago, with extra agents brought in to react if its intelligence network sniffs out a plot. The FBI has agents in 70 countries, gathering intelligence.

“Several international terrorist groups have elevated Chicago in their mind to their No. 1 target for terrorist attack,” Rice said in an interview at the U.S. government’s nerve center inside a non-descript suburban Chicago office complex. Reporters were asked to keep the location secret.

“But there’s absolutely no indication that we’ve developed that any group or organization has a plan afoot to disrupt the summit this week,” Rice said.

Rice cited the October 2010 plot in which two Chicago-bound cargo planes contained bombs concealed in printer cartridges that originated in Yemen. The intercepted packages were addressed to Jewish synagogues in Chicago, but were believed to be designed to go off while the planes were over the city.

An army of police, FBI and Secret Service agents will blanket the center of America’s third-largest city for the two-day summit. Any incident including a terror plot, a protest run amok or a traffic accident will be communicated to the Multi-Agency Communications Center, or MACC, officials said.

A separate group will man the government’s Joint Information Center to answer questions from the media.