Last Updated: 31 Dicember, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New York steps up security for New Year celebrations
New York is getting ready for a massive New Year's Eve party and security is tighter than ever. As a crystal ball drops to signal midnight in Times Square, the skies above New York and some other US cities will be patrolled by war planes as part of the increased vigilance for terrorist attacks. Police are randomly checking vehicles at various checkpoints. Despite the measures, the message from New York mayor Michael Bloomberg is that people should have a good time. "I urge everyone to leave the worrying to the professionals, that's what the security levels are for, they are for professionals," he said. "The rest of us, let's go to Times Square, it's going to be a fantastic night, a great beginning to a wonderful 2004." According to the Department of Homeland Security, the terrorist threat to the US is greater than at any time since the September 11 attacks. Ten days ago the US raised its terror alert to "orange level", the second highest. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Debate spreads over US "sky marshals" plan
Swedish aviation authorities say if there were a serious threat to a flight they would prefer to cancel it rather than allow armed sky marshals aboard. While they have already discussed precautions with US officials, there has been a frosty reception elsewhere to American demands that foreign airlines put armed guards on some flights to the US. France and Britain have recently put guards on some airliners, but many European pilots are opposed to guns on planes. Jim McAuslan of the British Airline Pilots Association said: "We believe we may have minimised one risk, the risk of terrorism, and increased another risk, the risk of flight safety." Aviation security has come under intense scrutiny since the September 11 attacks in the US. Global airlines body IATA says that, in general, governments should foot the bill if they force carriers to have armed marshals on board. Without addressing the cost issue, US Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge says the US could supply the guards if asked. If airlines do not comply, their planes could be turned back or refused landing. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Car bomb threat at German military hospital
There has been a high-level security alert outside a military hospital in Hamburg in Germany. Police and soldiers sealed off access roads to the complex after receiving warnings that Islamic militants planned a car bomb attack. Authorities say the information about a risk appeared to be credible. State interior minister Dirk Nockemann said in light of the potential of a threat they had to take any information seriously. "This concerns not only the Hamburg hospital, but also relates to American facilities in the city of Frankfurt," he said. Officials say those suspected of plotting car bombings were connected to the Ansar al-Islam group. Hamburg came under the spotlight after September 11 because three of the 19 suicide hijackers had lived and studied in the city. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Letter-bomb campaign against EU organs
Bombs are targetting Europe's institutions through the post. The fourth letter bomb in four days has found its way to Eurojust, the Hague-based organised crime-busters bureau. It did not go off. A spokeswoman for Dutch investigators could only reveal that this peice of mail had come from Bologna in Italy, but that it was too soon to confirm whether it had come from the same source as the others. The Netherlands', Italian and German authorities are pooling resources. The first explosive package arrived on Saturday. The President of the European Commission narrowly escaped harm when he opened one at his home in Bologna and it burst into flame. Romano Prodi got a warning three days before Christmas when rubbish bins near his flat blew up. Two bombs were intercepted on Monday. One was addressed to European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet in Frankfurt. German federal prosecutors suspected an Italian anarchist group sent it. They said they were treating the case as attempted murder. It is believed that most of the devices, possibly all of them, were sent from Bologna, northern Italy. Bologna's chief attorney also blamed anarchists - 'against any form of centralised power,' he said, in these cases European. Monday's second bomb went to the joint EU police agency Europol headquarters in The Hague, addressed to the director Juergen Storbeck. Europol handles criminal intelligence. Clues point to the involvement of an Italian anarchist federation with cells in Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland and Greece. European police in Bosnia have also received suspect mail. European Union headquarters in Brussels has tightened security. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Disgraced Parmalat founder stays in jail
A judge has ordered the founder of the Italian food group Parmalat to remain in jail while inquiries continue into claims of massive fraud at the company. Prosecutors, who have questioned Calisto Tanzi for a third day, are now turning their attention to his family, including a son and brother. The businessman has admitted that he diverted some 500 million euros from the publicly listed company into firms controlled by relatives. He has also told investigators there is a hole of about 8 billion euros in Parmalat's accounts. The dairy company is now under the control of government-appointed administrator Enrico Bondi. He has promised farmers they will still get paid for their produce despite the crisis. The rescue team has been granted bankruptcy protection from creditors, giving it two years to work out how the company can be saved. The US Securities and Exchange Commission has already said it is suing Parmalat. It claims investors had been mislead in what it describes as "one of the largest and brazen corporate financial frauds in history". ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iranian officials suggest earthquake may have killed 50,000
Tens of thousands of Iranians have spent their fifth night in a row huddled against the cold. They were left homeless by Friday's earthquake that may have killed 50,000 people, according to a senior Interior Ministry official. Residents in the city of Bam, 1,000 kilometres southeast of Tehran, say some children who survived the quake have since died because of the cold. Aid agencies are appealing for warm clothing and blankets. Washington, which broke ties with Tehran shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution, has already sent eight planeloads of emergency supplies. Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi welcomed the help. He has appealed for donor countries to send pre-fabricated and temporary housing for survivors. While food distribution is underway, relief workers say the population needs large cans to store drinking water. The government says 80 per cent of Bam's largely mud-brick buildings have been destroyed. Rescue teams have now abandoned the hunt for survivors beneath the rubble. Iran's President Mohammed Khatami says the ancient city will be rebuilt, but only after seismological studies have been carried out to decide which areas are suitable for construction. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hamas militant targeted in Isreali strike
An Israeli military helicopter has fired two missiles at a car in the Gaza Strip in the second such attack in five days. The target was reportedly one of two passengers, Jamal al-Jarah, a senior member of Hamas' military wing. Palestinian security sources said he was not harmed but eleven passers-by were injured, two seriously. Israel has not carried out helicopter attacks against Hamas militants since October 20, when members of the group's armed wing were killed in their car in Gaza City. Israel's military chief, Moshe Yaalon, has said the group appears to have halted attacks inside Israel. After Tuesday's missile strike, an army spokesman said "senior Hamas terrorists" were targeted in the city's Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood. Hamas, which has carried out dozens of suicide bombings in Israel since a Palestinian uprising began in 2000, has vowed to continue what it calls its campaign of resistance. Last Thursday, Israeli missiles killed two commanders of the armed wing of another Palestinian group, Islamic Jihad, and three civilians. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 30 Dicember, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parmalat founder admits he diverted funds
There is a shock admission from the founder of the Italian food giant Parmalat which has been shaken by a massive fraud scandal. A lawyer representing Calisto Tanzi says his client has admitted to police that he diverted about 500 million euros of company funds. Tanzi, who resigned two weeks ago as Parmalat's chairman and chief executive, was arrested over the weekend. Prosecutors said he and 20 others were being questioned over claims that more than 800 million euros had been embezzled. Investigating judges allege Tanzi played a key role in covering up a financial crisis, allowing the company to return repeatedly to the market for fresh funds. It is thought Parmalat now owes between 10 and 13 billion euros. The US Securities and Exchange Commission has announced it is filing a lawsuit against the company, accusing it of misleading investors. The dairy giant employs 36,000 workers around the world and is currently being run by a government-appointed commissioner. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New letter bomb: ECB president Trichet targeted
A suspected letter bomb has been sent to the president of the European Central Bank. Jean-Claude Trichet is the latest prominent symbol of the EU to be targeted in what looks increasingly like an organized campaign. The letter, never actually handled by Trichet, was discovered in the post room of the ECB headquarters in Frankfurt. Later, another suspected letter bomb surfaced at the Dutch headquarters of Europol, the European Union's police agency. It was deactivated before it could do any damage. A week ago, two small home-made bombs exploded in rubbish bins near the home of European Commission President Romano Prodi in Bologna. Then on Saturday, a parcel blew up in his hands. The letter addressed to Jean-Claude Trichet was apparently sent from the Italian city. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Focus in Iran turns to helping quake survivors
With the rescue stage winding down, the focus now is on helping those who survived. That is the word from authorities in Iran after Friday's devastating earthquake that killed up to 30,000 people. With little hope that more survivors can still be found under the rubble in the ancient city of Bam, the attention is turning towards helping the tens of thousands left homeless. Officials say they have recovered and buried 25,000 victims, mostly in makeshift graves. The search and rescue teams from 28 countries have begun packing up, but they say they are on standby if word comes through of any signs of life under the ruins. The quake was the world's deadliest in more than a decade. A US military plane was the first to arrive with assistance, despite the fact that President Bush earlier accused Tehran of being part of what he called an "axis of evil". The country's president Mohammed Khatami has visited the scene of the destruction, amid growing criticism that his government had done little to enforce building standards. He told reporters there is a lot of work ahead, but the priority now is to resettle people and look after the injured. Overseas aid has poured in after the President appealed for help from anywhere except Israel. In 1990, Iran rejected outside assistance after a quake that killed 36,000. The government is vowing to rebuild Bam. The city's historical buildings were preserved as national treasures, but now there is nothing but rubble and dust. The question over what to build in their place will have to wait though, while efforts focus on restoring basic housing and public amenities. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Portugal charges ten over child sex abuse scandal
Portuguese prosecutors have charged ten people with sexually abusing children in state-run homes. It comes over a year after allegations that children from the Casa Pia homes in the capital Lisbon were the victims of a paedophile ring. Staff at the organisation's ten homes have said they think more than 100 boys and girls currently with them may have been abused. Attorney General Jose Souto Moura said the ten had been indicted on charges of organising prostitution, sexual abuse of minors, sexual abuse of people in care, rape, sexual relations with adolescents, and possession and use of illegal weapons. No trial date has been set. The investigation began in November 2002 after reports that a worker at Casa Pia, Carlos Silvino, had helped wealthy alleged paedophiles meet youngsters in his care since 1975. Silvino is already facing trial for abusing children including a boy with mental disabilities. Among those just charged are television presenter Carlos Cruz, and the former employment minister in the last Socialist government, Paulo Pedroso, who spent more than four months in custody before being released in October. Portugal's former ambassador to South Africa, Jorge Ritto, is another of the ten allegedly involved in the paedophile ring, as is Manuel Abrantes, the deputy director of Casa Pia. The case has been described by the Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio as a "national disgrace".
Nationalists triumph in Serbia's elections
Hardline radicals have been celebrating in Serbia after coming out on top in Sunday's general election. The ultra-nationalists, led by jailed war crimes suspect Vojislav Seselj, have become the biggest group in parliament. Acting leader Tomislav Nikolic dedicated the win to those awaiting trial at the Hague tribunal. The Radicals however don't have enough seats to form an administration which is why they have asked unlikely bedfellows, the reform-minded moderate nationalists of former Yugoslav President Vojislav Kostunica, to join them in government. He has already pledged never to join forces with his ultra-nationalist rivals. Analysts believe he may instead link up with other reformist parties which would mean putting aside differences in a united stand against the hardliners. Whatever happens, the poll result is a blow for those who toppled Slobodan Milosevic from power in 2000. Like Seselj, he too is in the Hague accused of war crimes. And he too figured in the ballot - heading the candidate list of Serbia's Socialists who have kept their place in parliament. On the streets of Belgrade, there was a mixed reaction to the poll results. One man said the outcome should be accepted as it reflected the will of the people. But an outraged woman complained that the people of Serbia did not know what was best for them and called for another bombing campaign against the country. European Union heavyweights France and Britain meanwhile have made it clear that they expect Serbia to continue on the reform path. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 29 Dicember, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Serb nationalist hardliners win parliamentary poll
Serbia's election is over and it is celebration time for the ultranationalists, who are set to become the largest party in parliament. According to initial projections, the Radical Party has fallen short of a majority, but the result is still a slap in the face for reformers and Western governments. The Radicals are being fronted by Tomislav Nikolic because their leader, Vojislav Seselj, is behind bars at the war crimes court in The Hague. The Radicals' strong showing is a measure of just how disappointed many Serbs are with three years of Western-style economic reforms in the impoverished Balkan state. The party has also ridden a wave of popular disgust with vicious infighting among the reformers. Nevertheless, ex-President Vojislav Kostunica's Democratic Party of Serbia could still keep the radicals out by forming a coalition with two other pro-Western groups. That would involve the liberal G17 Plus party of Miroljub Labus, and the Democratic Party headed by the outgoing Prime Minister Zoran Zivkovic. Slobodan Milosevic's Socialists are deciding whether to allocate him a seat in the new parliament - though, like his ally Seselj, he is unlikely to be able to use it. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Times runs out for Iran earthquake victims
With 22,000 people already confirmed dead, 70 per cent of the city of Bam destroyed, 100 per cent of many surrounding villages flattened, 100,000 people homeless, 30,000 injured, the statistics emerging from the Iranian earthquake are staggering. On the ground though, the figures mean nothing - the race to save even one more life is all that matters. But international rescue workers, experienced in such situations, say there is virtually no hope left. The mud brick constructions laid to waste by Friday's quake left few air pockets for anyone to survive in. And there is another race on - that of burying the thousands of bodies before deadly epidemics add to the horror here. There is no time for the normal ritual of washing bodies. Instead mechanical diggers have been brought in to help hollow out mass graves. Corpses, often wrapped just in blankets, are sprayed with disinfectant and then covered over with little ceremony. Aid is beginning to reach the people of Bam but some of it is being looted by armed gangs. Makeshift hospitals treat the injured, including around 1,000 people pulled alive from the rubble over the weekend. But the scale of the disaster is such it is proving almost impossible to coordinate aid efforts. The United Nations say tents, blankets and gas stoves are what is needed most now. The work of search and rescue teams is almost over. This evening a decision will be made on whether there is any point in them continuing their efforts. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Russian Communist chief pulls out of presidential race
Russia's Communist Party has picked a relative unknown to challenge incumbent Vladimir Putin in the presidential election next March. At a closed congress on Sunday the communists chose Nikolai Kharitonov who has targeted the farming vote during his decade in parliament. The party performed poorly under the leadership of Gennady Zyuganov in parliamentary elections this month- it won barely half the votes it received four years ago, polling just 12.7 percent of the vote, and coming a distant second behind the pro-Putin United Russia party. Despite Putin's popularity rating of around 75 per cent, Kharitonov says he could attract more than a third of Russia's 110 million registered voters. The communists originally debated not fielding a candidate for the poll - a tactic adopted by two small liberal parties: Yabloko and the Union of Right-Wing Forces. Nonetheless Putin faces no serious challengers now - nationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky has also announced he is not running. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parmalat chief charged and remanded in custody
The founder of scandal-hit Italian firm, Parmalat, is to remain in custody and faces another day of tough questioning after being formally charged. Calisto Tanzi is accused of market rigging and false auditing in the country's biggest corporate crisis in more than a decade. A further 20 current and former executives are also being investigated for fraud. Trading in Parmalat shares has been suspended. The food and dairy product firm has been forced into insolvency and a government-appointed rescue administrator is now running the show. Investigators said people questioned last week described a complex network of offshore shell companies that have been masking massive losses for years, overseen by senior executives. The Parmalat black hole could exceed 10 billion euros. The future for the firm's 35,000 employees in 30 countries remains uncertain. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Berger clinches Guatemala presidency
A right-wing businessman has won Guatemala's presidential election. Oscar Berger, who is backed by the country's banking and landowning elite, garnered 56 percent of the vote with results in from most polling stations. He pledged to build a country attractive to foreign investment while not forgetting health and education. His main rival, Alvaro Colom, styled himself the "candidate of the poor" in the poverty-stricken Central American nation. He has taken a tough line on prosecuting ex-military leaders blamed for atrocities during Guatemala's 36-year civil war. The first round of voting last month was marred by violence, with around two dozen election-related murders taking place. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italy probes "terrorism" behind Prodi parcel bomb
Italy launched an anti-terrorist investigation on Sunday after the president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, opened a letter bomb sent to his home in the central Italian city of Bologna. Prodi has dismissed claims by the Italian opposition that his security was not taken seriously enough by authorities. On Saturday he escaped unharmed after opening a parcel containing a book, which burst into flames in his Bologna apartment. Prodi said he opened the parcel, addressed to his wife, carefully after "recent warnings"- a reference to two home-made bombs that exploded in rubbish bins near the apartment a week ago. Attending church in Bologna on Sunday, he insisted he had been given adequate protection from the security services. He said he had asked the authorities to reduce it but they refused. Prodi has received messages of support from senior figures including French President Jacques Chirac and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Many expect Prodi, a former premier himself, to lead the centre-left challenge to Berlusconi in Italy's next general election in 2006. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Storms strike parts of Europe
Stormy weather has lashed parts of Europe. In eastern Germany, gusts of wind reached more than 120 kilometres and hour. Weather forecasters have urged people to watch out for falling trees and damage to buildings. Meanwhile the north of Italy was hit by heavy snow. There was misery at Malpensa airport in Milan, where nearly half of all flights had to be cancelled, leaving thousands stranded during the busy holiday season. Strong winds have also lashed France's Atlantic coast, claiming the life of a British sailor. Several people were injured on roads inland when their car rammed into a fallen tree. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 28 Dicember, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iran earthquake survivors suffer second night of misery
It has been another cold and miserable night for the survivors of the Iran earthquake. With the city of Bam reduced to ruins, there is nowhere for them to find shelter - no escape from the horror that engulfed them, destroyed their homes and killed their loved ones. The quake, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, struck early Friday morning, killing at least 20, possibly 40,000 people. Some 30,000 more were injured as their homes turned to rubble - there is a desperate shortage of medical help for them. As the living weep for the dead, the search for survivors goes on locals using whatever means they can. The cemetries cannot cope with the number of bodies that have to be buried before disease breaks out. Mechanical diggers have had to brought in to keep up with the demand for graves. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EC chief in parcel bomb attack
Serious security concerns have emerged over European Commission President Romano Prodi after he opened a parcel bomb sent to his Italian home in Bologna. He was lucky to escape injury. It is though anarchists who planted bombs in rubbish bins near Prodi's home last week could be behind the attack. He told reporters: "I was opening my mail from the last few days. I held the parcel at a safe distance - it's a precation I've taken since I first received threats. When I opened the packet I found a book by D'Annunzio, ironically called 'Pleasure'. "There was a hole with powder in it which burst into a flame. It burned a carpet and some furniture. But I was not harmed in any way." Italian politicians across the spectrum have condemned the attack, and both the prime minister and the president phoned Prodi to see if he was alright. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ultra-nationalists poised for gains in Serbia poll
Serbia is voting today in a parliamentary election that looks set to strengthen the position of resurgent ultra-nationalists. Some 6.5 million Serbs are eligible to cast ballots with first results due this evening. If the analysts are proved right, the Radical Party could emerge as the biggest single winner. Tomislav Nikolic is standing in for party leader, Vojislav Seselj who is behind bars at the Hague facing war crimes charges. A stronger nationalist presence spells trouble for the fragile Yugoslav Republic banner that unites Serbia and Montenegro. In order to prevent that, reformist parties like the Democratic Party of Serbia led by former Yugoslav president, Vojislav Kostunica, will have to heal their rifts. Boris Tadic heads the Democratic Party, the largest partner in the outgoing coalition. Tadic took over from Prime Minister Zoran Djindic who was murdered in March. The two parties worked closely with G17 Plus, a pressure group that became a political party a year ago, to reform post-Milosevic Serbia. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iraqi civilians, foreign soldiers die in guerilla attacks in Kerbala
It has been officially confirmed by Bulgaria that four of its soldiers were killed and another 27 were wounded in attacks in the southern Iraqi city of Kerbala. Two Thai soldiers and several Iraqi civilians and police were killed, and scores of Iraqis were wounded. The Polish commander of a multi-national force said the attackers in Kerbala used mortars and machine-guns against two bases and the town hall; The drivers of four cars packed with explosives were shot dead before they could reach their targets. Kerbala has been relatively quiet since the end of major combat in Iraq. The city 110km from Baghdad is populated mainly by Shiites, who were repressed by Saddam; many of them favoured regime change. This is the most serious attack on coalition troops since last month's strike in Nassiriya which killed 19 Italians. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Parmalat founder detained in Milan
The founder of scandal-hit Italian firm Parmalat has been detained in Milan. Calisto Tanzi is being held as part of a probe into suspected fraud at the multinational food group. He is one of around 20 people facing possible charges. An Italian court took some of the heat off Parmalat on Saturday by declaring it officially insolvent. That means it will be able to continue day-to-day operations while a new administration drafts a recovery plan. It also means hard-hit dairy producers can now be paid. Investigators believe up to ten billion euros may mave disappeared from company accounts thorugh a worldwide series of false billings over many years. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IAEA head sees nuke-free Libya
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has arrived in Tripoli to begin close talks on Libya's nuclear facilities but he does not think it has been even close to building an atomic bomb. Mohamed ElBaradei said there were no signs it had enriched uranium -- a first step towards having such a device. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said earlier this month the oil-rich state of 5.5 million people was abandoning its nuclear bomb plans. In return for greater international acceptance of the
until recently ostracised country, condemned for encouraging terrorism,
Gaddafi has promised to let U.N. experts assess and dismantle banned
weapons projects. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Israeli-Palestinian polar mission to spread peace
It has been dubbed "Breaking the Ice" - a title appropriate in both the literal and metaphorical sense. A group of four Israelis and four Palestinians are setting off to climb a summit in the antartic together, to prove the two communities can find common ground. Expedition leader, Doron Erel, explained: "It's a peace mission. I'm not naive, I know we are not going to change the world or bring peace but this is something that we know how to do and I think it's very symbolic." Ziad Darwish, a Palestinian journalist, added: "By this expedition we are drawing attention of the whole world that the two people, the Israeli people as well as the Palestinian people, can make peace by themselves before the leaders can sit down together and make peace." The team hope to show that despite their political and religious differences, they can live and work together in pursuit of a shared goal. As they try and scale a previously unclimbed peak in Antartica, they will have to rely on each other for survival. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Last Updated: 27 Dicember, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iran flies quake victims out of overwhelmed Bam
Officials in Iran have set up an 'aerial bridge' out of Bam, to transport victims of the earthquake to hospital in capital Tehran and other large cities by plane. At least 25,000 people are thought to have been killed in the disaster, which struck the ancient Silk Road city before dawn on Friday, and more than 50,000 have been injured. Two of the city's hospitals collapsed and the remaining ones are full. The wounded are also being taken to neighbouring towns although the surrounding roads have been damaged by the tremor, making travelling difficult. A massive international aid effort is now underway with the United States, European Union countries, Russia, Japan and Turkey among those helping. Bam is about 1,000 kilometres southeast of the capital Tehran and was a popular tourist spot with dozens of historic buildings. But up to 70 per cent of the city was levelled by the quake, which measured 6.3 on the Richter scale. Survivors have been digging with their hands to find anyone buried alive and witnesses told of corpses being bundled into cars while relatives mourned openly next bodies wrapped in blankets. The city of 200,000 in the Kerman province has been left without water, power or fuel with night temperatures below freezing. Some people have accused the government of doing nothing to help them. Quakes are a regular occurrence in Iran, which is crossed by major faultlines in the earth's structure. In June last year a tremor of 6.3 on the Richter scale hit the north of the country, killing around 230 people. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- World answers Iranian president's call for help
Around 50 British volunteers are among the international rescue effort flying to Iran to search for survivors after a personal appeal from the country's president. Rescue specialists, firefighters, sniffer dogs, doctors, paramedics and engineers are on their way. They are carrying equipment including thermal imaging cameras and devices that can detect the breathing of people under collapsed buildings. Officials say the first 24 hours after the quake are crucial in efforts to find survivors. People are still being pulled from the rubble but Iran has said the disaster is too severe for it to cope with alone. Meanwhile, an aircraft flew out of Germany's Frankfurt airport last night with 40 rescue workers, 14 sniffer dogs and equipment on board. This dog handler says she expects the worst: "We will see a lot of panic, chaos and grief and a lot of hope. Hope is the worst to cope with sometimes as people believe as long as the dogs are still there, their loved ones stand a chance and it is awful when medical staff start to pull off the dogs." Experts say rescuers have 48 hours from the time of a quake before hopes startfading for those still trapped in the rubble. However one of the first tasks for rescuers will be getting to Bam on roads severely damaged in the earthquake. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lebanese grieve for loved ones on doomed Benin flight
Heartbreak has hit Lebanon as news sinks in that most of the passengers from the doomed flight from Benin to Beirut did not survive the crash. It is the worst air disaster involving Lebanese nationals in decades and has plunged whole villages into mourning. Many inhabitants had emigrated to the west African country to find work.At least 113 people were killed and 22 have survived.The Boeing 727 was taking off from Cotonou airport when it clipped a building at the end of the runway, exploded and slammed into the Atlantic. Rescuers worked throughout the night with a tractor and steel cords to try to lift parts of the wreckage out of the water, but efforts were hampered this morning by high seas. Fishermen and divers have been bringing bodies to the shore. Police have begun an inquiry into the crash. According to airport officials, the plane had problems with its undercarriage. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Boxing Day hunts spark protests
Traditionally it's the biggest day in the hunting calender. But the Boxing Day fox hunts in Britain are fast becoming a traditional outing for sabateurs too. Demonstrators waving placards confronted hunters across the country, repeating calls for the sport to be banned. Opponents insist its a barbaric pastime that has no place in modern society. Protester Barry Brookes explains: "This should be stopped because I go out with the hunt quite regularly as an observer and I see the most appalling acts of cruelty all in the name of sport. It should be stopped." But attempts to ban or even regulate fox hunting have failed so far, due either to a lack of space on the busy parliamentary timetable or because peers in the House of Lords have blocked legislation. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The EU has hailed the Mars Express mission as a major achievement for Europe, downplaying disappointment over the failure to make contact with the Beagle probe on the Martian surface. Beagle lead scientist Professor Colin Pillinger said: "We will hang on testing and waiting and checking with Beagle 2 until Mars Express is able to look for us and that won't happen until January 4." Two attempts to locate the probe have failed. A giant telescope will try again Friday evening. Pillinger added: "It's like sending someone a love letter. You know they've got it, and you're waiting for their response." Unfortunately the Red Planet has a history of wrecking such love affairs. Out of 11 previous probes dropped on its surface, only three have survived. But even in the worst case scenario, Mars Express's ultra-sophisticated technology should still pick up vital clues as to whether life exists on the planet. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 26 Dicember, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- An explosion at a natural gas well in southern China has killed some 200 people
Poisonous fumes extended over 25 square kilometres after an accident during the night at a well being drilled in a remote mountainous area. The China Daily newspaper said many villagers were intoxicated in their sleep. The disaster struck about 340km northeast of Chongqing city. About 41,000 people were evacuated from communities surrounding the accident zone. The well is owned by China's National Petroleum Corporation. In freezing temperatures, eighty-two separate rescue teams checked for survivors. They were able to work only after the gas was set ablaze. An official said bodies were found in homes, by the roadside or in a valley. Farm animals exposed to a high concentration of natural gas and sulphurated hydrogen were also killed. The gas is reported to have sealed people's eyes shut. Nearly 10,000 are suffering from eye problems. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At least 18 people have survived an airliner crash in Benin
In the West African nation of Benin, at least 18 people have survived an airliner crash, which has claimed the lives of at least 90 passengers. A Boeing 727 bound for Lebanon plunged into the sea moments after takeoff from Cotonou. Relatives and others quickly dived into the ocean to try to free passengers trapped in the fuselage. The exact number of people on board is not yet clear, but the aircraft had a capacity to carry about 140. Officials say the plane, owned by the company UTA, crashed into a building at the end of the runway and then exploded over the ocean. In Beirut, people waited anxiously for news about their relatives. The airliner had been carrying members of the long-standing Lebanese communities in West Africa. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Isreal: 5 people dead and 16 wounded in a suicide bomb attack near Tel Aviv
A suicide bomb attack has shattered more than two months of relative calm that had earlier prompted new efforts to revive Middle East peace talks. A Palestinian has killed himself and four other people at a bus stop near Tel Aviv. 16 others have been wounded. The militant Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine has claimed responsibility for the bombing. The group is vowing that it's the first in a series of retaliation attacks. The suicide bombing in Tel Aviv came minutes after Israeli helicopter gunships were used to kill a military chief of the Islamic jihad group in Gaza. Three by standers including a 15 year old, also died in the strike on two vehicles. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prospects for the British bid to find life on Mars are looking increasingly gloomy
The Jodrell Bank telescope scanned the planet for two hours late on Christmas Day but failed to pick up a signal, raising fears that the probe had suffered the same fate as so many craft before, ending up as scrap metal on the bleak Martian terrain. Beagle 2's latest failure to make contact capped a dismal day for the mission's scientists. British astronomer Heather Cooper says it's not clear why Beagle's quiet. Scientists were hoping to hear the probe broadcasting its signature tune - composed by pop group Blur, but instead there was silence. The probe is packed with state-of-the-art scientific instruments designed to take rock samples to look for signs of life. It's thought Beagle 2 could have been blown off course or worse still disintegrated on landing. The mission will make a further attempt to trace it on Friday evening. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 25 Dicember, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iraq: Missile strikes against Western targets in Baghdad
In Iraq, missile strikes have been reported against the coalition headquarters in Baghdad, a hotel used by Westerners and an apartment block. So far there is no word on casualties. The strikes come only hours after other fatal, Christmas Eve attacks. Three U.S. soldiers died in a bomb blast north of the capital and a suicide car bomber killed himself and four other people in northern Iraq. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Air France flights to US cancelled over terror threat
French authorities have taken no chances after receiving what is thought to be a credible warning of a terrorism threat. Half a dozen Air France Christmas flights between Paris and Los Angeles have been cancelled, affecting about two thousand passengers. Reports say US intelligence found the name of at least one person suspected of having links to militant groups on a passenger list. French officials say some people had been prevented from boarding aircraft, but there have been no arrests so far. Passenger lists on all US bound international flights are cross-referenced with a list of people considered to be suspicious. It is reported the name of at least one of these people had appeared on the Air France list, but media reports about the cancellations may have alerted them to avoid going to the airport. The latest news comes three days after Washington raised its terror alert to the second highest level, warning that September-11 style attacks could be in the planning. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Isreal: Christmas mass without Arafat in Bethlehem
Christmas eve mass has taken place at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. For the third year in a row, however, Israel imposed a ban on the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Bethlehem, which is in the West Bank, is encircled by the Israeli army, although the blockade was relaxed to allow Christian Palestinians and foreigners attend celebrations. The number of people taking part in the festivities is a far cry from the thousands of pilgrims who would have once packed Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Police in Spain foil bomb attack in capital
Spanish police say they have foiled an attempted terrorist attack at a Madrid train station - on the eve of Christmas day. Basque separatists were apparently planning to blow up a train - if successful, it would have caused chaos on one of the busiest travel days of the year. Two suspected members of armed Basque group ETA have been arrested. The train was travelling to the capital when it was stopped and evacuated around 100 kilometres from its departure station - San Sebastian in the north. A 25-kilogram-bomb was placed on the train, another was seized beforehand. ETA has killed more than 800 people in its decades old campaign for an independent Basque state. Four years ago Spanish police prevented another Christmas bomb attempt, when they stopped a van packed with a tonne of explosives heading for Madrid. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- US warns more mad cow cases are possible
As beef importers around the world reel from the news of America's first case of mad cow disease, the US has admitted there could be more. At the epicentre of the global shockwave is a farm in the north-western state of Washington, where an animal tested positive for the deadly illness. The government says any other cases would be small in number, but that may not reassure foreign buyers and fast food chains, as market leader McDonald's took a battering on Wall Street. Top importer Japan lost no time in suspending US beef. Tokyo estimates it has enough meat for about a month and a half. It could also look to Australia as an alternative source. South Korea, another big buyer, has also slapped a temporary ban. Marinated beef and ribs are among the nation's most popular dishes. Russia, Mexico and Chile are among a growing list of countries to shun American beef. The European Union has said it is watching developments closely but does not see any reason to tighten protective measures that have been in force for years. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 24 Dicember, 2003
Biondi called in to rescue Parmalat
Just how could a manufacturer of long life milk run up debts of 7 billion euros? And how can it possibly earn the money back. Veteran turnaround expert Enrico Biondi will be taking on his toughest ever challenge, if, as expected, he accepts the task of answering these questions as emergency commissioner of scandal hit Italian dairy products company Parmalat later today. The job's been created thanks to special measures pushed through by industry minister Antonio Marzano. Under the bankruptcy plan, Parmalat will be given two years protection from its creditors - breathing space that Marzano said was being given in the hope of saving the livelihood of some 35 000 employees in 30 different countries. The Italian government has also asked the EU for permission to give emergency aid to dairy farmers - Parmalat alone buys some 8 per cent of Italian milk production. But hard on the heels of the rescuers are coming the prosecutors - a complicated web of fraud and deception has already been uncovered and the Bank of America has filed a criminal complaint. The role of auditors Grant Thornton is also under scrutiny in what is Europe's biggest-ever corporate accounting scandal. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Isreali-Palestinian conflict overshadows Bethlehem celebrations
Behind the Christmas festivities lurks a conflict that will not go away. Israel has banned Yasser Arafat from travelling the 20 kilometres to Bethlehem, the traditional birthplace of Jesus. Curfew restrictions are apparently being eased though for Palestinian Christians and tourists in Bethlehem. But since the start of the uprising security fears have kept many visitors away. That is bad news for the economy, which relies heavily on tourism. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- US reports first case of BSE
The first case of mad cow disease in the United States has been reported. A dairy Holstein cow in Mabton, Washington tested positive for BSE on December the 9th, the US Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman said. The share prices of beef industry related companies plummeted on the news, while Japan and Korea lead a wave of countries to announce import bans. Veneman though said the risk to human health was minimal. "At this time of year, many Americans are making plans for the holidays. We see no need for people to alter those plans or eating habits or do anything but to have a happy and healthy holiday season." Samples from the infected animal are being sent to labs in Britain to confirm the diagnosis. Meanwhile the farm where the animal was found has been quarantined. But despite these precautions the news is expected to hit the US cattle farmers hard, with consumers likely to shy away from buying meat on health grounds. The Canadian beef industry has lost an estimated 2 billion euros since it's first case of mad cow disease was reported in May. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 23 Dicember, 2003
Deadly quake shakes California
A powerful earthquake has shaken central California and killed at least two people. Two women died after a building collapsed in the town of Paso Robles, one of the areas hardest hit by the quake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale. The epicentre was located near San Simeon, and was felt from San Francisco to Los Angeles. It is one of the largest to hit the seismically active state in recent years. It cut electric power to tens of thousands of people, but officials say the damage would have been far greater had it struck a more heavily populated area. There have been dozens of aftershocks, but experts say it is unlikely they will exceed the force of the initial earthquake. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cabinet considers options in Parmalat affair
The crisis surrounding Italian food giant Parmalat could enter a decisive phase today when the Italian government decides what action to take over the company's financial woes. The dairy group is facing collapse over a hole in its finances which some reports suggest could be as much ten billion euros. Parmalat's founder Calisto Tanzi and three former finance directors are among those targeted in a criminal probe into alleged false accounting. The company's dealings are being investigated by tribunals in Milan and Parma. The affair came to a head last week when the Bank of America declared as false a document showing one of Parmalat's units held four billion euros in an account in the Caymen islands. It has been compared to the Enron scandal in the US and it could have serious implications for the Italian government. Parmalat is the country's biggest food company and employs 35,000 people worldwide. Markets have already felt the shockwaves. Shares in Parmalat have slumped to a tenth of their face value. Italian banks which made loans to the firm have also seen their share prices fall. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Isreal: arrests in Egypt minister assault in Jerusalem
Seven people have been arrested in connection with an assault on Egypt's foreign minister in Jerusalem. Ahmed Maher was rushed to hospital after he was jostled and possibly hit by what has been described as a group of radical Muslims as he went to pray at the al-Aqsa mosque. The mob accused the minister of being a traitor and a collaborator and hurled shoes at him, a traditional muslim insult. Maher complained of breathing problems and was examined in hospital before boarding a flight back to Cairo. The politician had been holding talks with Israeli leaders on Middle East peace efforts. Experts say the incident highlights continued radical Islamic anger at Egypt after it became the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel nearly 25 years ago. Meanwhile, two Palestinians have been killed in a gun battle with Israeli soldiers in Gaza, in the Palestinian Authority. Palestinian witnesses say fighting broke out after several tanks entered a refugee camp in the Rafah area. The Israeli military says it was trying to find and destroy smuggling tunnels allegedly used to bring in explosives from Egypt. The incursion occurred hours after two Israeli army officers were killed in an ambush in central Gaza. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 22 Dicember, 2003
Bounced opposition threaten election boycott
They may not be able to agree about many things, but Yabloko has joined fellow business-minded reform party the SPS in calling for a boycott of next March'sRussian presidential vote.Yabloko's Grigory Yavlinsky put his finger on their worries. "The party believes that in Russia's political situation free competitive elections are impossible. There's insufficient justice or legal controls, no politically influential mass media ... and it's also impossible to organise independent financing", he said. Both Yabloko and Boris Nemtzov's SPS were wiped out of parliament in this month's general election. The Communists, who remain but with their vote in free-fall, are "considering" a boycott as an effective protest after being the first to suggest one. A presidential vote is invalid if turnout falls below 50 percent. Turnout in the pariamentary vote two weeks ago failed to hit 60. President Putin has already condemned a boycott as "cowardly", and a "stupid and harmful stunt". ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Breakthrough on Red Brigades for Italian police
Italian police say they have made a significant breakthrough in their inquiry into the assassination of two government advisors. They say the discovery of a hideout in Rome, allegedly belonging to the Red Brigades guerilla group has uncovered important evidence. Among the items found were 100kg of explosives, police uniforms, masks of Prime Minister Berlusconi and equipment for making false government documents. Contact books with names and phone numbers have also been uncovered. Anti-terrorist police have carried out numerous raids in Rome, buoyed by a string of arrests that took place in October. The Red Brigades claimed responsibility for the 1999 killing of Massimo D'Antona and the killing last year of Marco Biagi, both economists and government advisors on labour reform. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 21 Dicember, 2003
.Libya's weapons announcement welcomed
Libya's decision to abandon its weapons of mass destruction
programme has been welcomed in Europe as a major step towards the
country's reintegration into the international community. "I'm delighted for Libya, for the United States, for the UK and for the peace of the world that Colonel Gadaffi and his government have shown such statesmanship and courage in coming forward with the statement they made yesterday." France also reacted positively but indicated Libya would have to do more before normal relations could be resumed. Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said Libya was now on the road to rejoining the international community. However, he urged Tripoli to honour its pledges of compensation for the UTA airliner bombing without delay. This and the Lockerbie bombing were the most serious of a series of anti-western attacks which earned Libya international isolation. The families of Lockerbie victims will be marking the 15th anniversary of the atrocity this weekend. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2003: a very good year says Berlusconi
Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has said he is satisfied with the results of his country's EU presidency in his end of year address. The announcement came after European Union leaders failed last week to agree on a new constitution for an enlarged bloc. "The six months of Italy's EU presidency have ended in a total success with far better results than what was expected," said Berlusconi. "We've also strengthened relations between the European Union and the United States." On the question of Iraq, Berlusconi said it was important to keep up the peace effort: "I think that as the sixth economic power in the West, Italy must take its part of responsibility. We must stay in Iraq to fulfill our role with the aim of a democratic Iraq." Berlusconi also criticized Italy's adoption of the euro which he said was decided before his government took power, saying the single currency's strength against the dollar was bad for European exports. Ireland takes over the bloc's presidency on the first of January. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italian government pledges to save Parmalat
Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi has announced his government will intervene to save food giant Parmalat. The news follows a revelation the group has a four billion hole in its accounts after a document that said the company had the money stashed away in the Cayman Islands was declared false. An investigation into suspected fraud at the firm has been launched. Parmalat, Italy's largest food firm, employs nearly 35,000 people across 30countries. Its already battered shared slumped a further 66 percent yesterday, leaving the group with barely a tenth of the stockmarket value it had just over a week ago. If it turns out Parmalat does not have the cash to meet its debts, this could become one of Europe's biggest ever corporate bond defaults. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 young people die in Belgian bus crash
Investigators in Belgium are trying to establish the cause of a bus crash which claimed up to 11 lives and injured 37 others. The coach was carrying 49 mostly young people from a range of nationalities. It is believed most of those who died were Russian. The accident happened on a motorway between Paris and Brussels at a border crossing near Hensies. Witnesses say the bus swerved across the road before crashing into a barrier and bursting into flames. There were two drivers on the bus - one died in the accident and the other was injured. Authorities are hoping he can shed some light on the cause. Those survivors not being treated in hospital are being looked after by local authorities. One official said the first thing the young people wanted to do was to telephone their families and tell them they were alright. They were then seen by a psychiatric counsellor. Later, the police interviewed them to find out what they knew about what happened. Among those trying to offer comfort to the group was Belgium's Crown Prince Philippe. It is understood those travelling on the bus were from mostly eastern European countries. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Decision on who will host ITER postponed to February
A decision on who will be chosen to host ITER, a new five-billion euro project for a thermonuclear reactor, has been postponed at least until mid-February. France and Japan had been expecting an answer by Saturday. The two venues in contention are Cadarache in southern France and Rokkasho-mura in Japan. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor is the most ambitious project of its kind since the launch of the International Space Station. Its aim is to reproduce what goes on inside the Sun, otherwise known as nuclear fusion, to produce cleaner, cheaper and more abundant energy. But it is a long-term undertaking which could take up to a decade to build, with experts saying it might take up to 20 years to get results. Advocates of fusion power, however, point out that there
is an almost limitless supply of deuterium, the form of hydrogen needed
to make it function, as it can be derived from seawater. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 20 Dicember, 2003
Libya to abandon banned weapons, Bush applauds
Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gadhafi has admitted his country was developingweapons of mass destruction, but says it will now abandon the secret programmes. He says he will allow unconditional inspections. US President George W. Bush immediately praised Libya for taking "essential steps" on the weapons programmes. Perhaps with an eye on North Korea and Iran, Bush said he hoped other leaders would find an example in Libya's announcement. Bush revealed: "Talks that led to this announcement began almost nine months ago when Prime Minister Tony Blair and I were contacted by personal envoys of Colonel Gadhafi. He communicated his willingness to make a decisive change in the policy of his government." Blair has called Tripoli's unexpected move "historic" and "courageous",contrasting it with Iraq's defiance over weapons of mass destruction.The British premier said, "Libya's actions entitle it to rejoin the international community. I have spoken to Colonel Gadhafi to say that, as the process of disarmament goes forward I look forward to developing a productive relationship with him and with Libya." Libya's gesture in mid-March, just before the Iraq invasion, led to visits to weapons sites in October and early December. British officials say that a team of inspectors was shown "significant quantities of chemical agent" and that Libya acknowledged it was trying to develop a nuclear weapon. UN sanctions against Libya were lifted earlier this year after Tripoli accepted responsibility for the 1988 Lockerbie airliner bombing. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Americans are on the run everywhere - in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Palestine and on the Arabian peninsula." Those were the words of Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahri. He was speaking on a tape aired by Arabic television channel Al-Jazeera. The recording was timed to coincide with the second anniversary of the battle of Tora Bora in Afghanistan, where the Taliban regime made its last stand.Al-Zawahri said his group would continue to pursue America on home soil. In the US, terrorist threats have set off pre-Christmas jitters. In Washington, the White House spokesman Scott McClellan said warnings had been sent to security personnel around the country urging extra vigilance during the holiday season. Five people were killed by anthrax-laced letters sent to government officials and media outlets in the autumn of 2001. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twin Towers replacement unveiled
After months of feuding between the two architects involved, the design for the new building which will stand on the site of the World Trade Centre has been unveiled. Freedom Tower will be the world's tallest structure, standing 541 metres. It will include 72 storeys of office space and be topped by a gigantic spire. But even before work begins on the site the building is already a source of controversy. Daniel Libeskind was the architect chosen by the agency in charge of redeveloping Lower Manhattan. His colleague was David Childs, appointed by the leaseholder of the area. Their efforts to reach a compromise over the design were described as contentious. There is no doubt the end product is innovative - among its features will be turbines intended to catch the Manhatten wind. But some relatives of September 11th victims believe
the Twin Towers site should be treated as a mass grave and left vacant.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 19 Dicember, 2003
Russian President to run for second term
Vladimir Putin surprised no-one when he announced he would run for a second term as Russian President next March. Riding high in opinion polls and buoyed by the crushing victory of his allies in parliamentary elections earlier this month, Putin confirmed he would stand during a TV phone-in: " I was planning to make my intentions clear in the next few days. The presidential campaign has just begun and I know a lot of people want to know if I'll run. My answer is yes - I will - and I'll be making an official announcement to that effect soon." But the opposition Communists, who were badly mauled in the elections, have hinted they might boycott the presidential poll and thus sabotage the 50 percent turnout needed to make it valid. The two main liberal parties have echoed Communist accusations that the parliamentary campaign was marred by media bias. But their failure to win any seats means their attacks are unlikely to worry the Russian President. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Isreal: more bloodshed in Nablus
Palestinian sources now say four people have been killed in the West Bank city of Nablus during a raid by the Israeli army. The army says fierce gun battles erupted in the Old Town after an armed man opened fire on them from the rooftops, and was joined by two others. Three weapons were found at the scene. The fourth man, allegedly a member of Islamic Jihad, was killed while trying to place a bomb in a plastic bag near soldiers in an alleyway. Troops also captured a suicide bomber who was allegedly en route to Israel. For the last two days Israeli paratroopers have been sweeping Nablus and the nearby Balata refugee camp following reports militants were preparing suicide bombings, according to an army commander. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Isreali PM to reveal controversial plan for settlements
Israel's prime minister is due to give a controversial speech outlining plans to uproot some Jewish settlements. Ariel Sharon is due to reveal the details at the annual security conference in Israel. The move is likely to prove unpopular on both sides of the conflict but he is facing considerable international and domestic pressure to end three years of fighting with Palestinians. Nabil Shaath, Palestinian foreign minister, said: "The territory of the West Bank and Gaza, including Jerusalem - the capital of the Palestinian independent state, are Palestinian territories, and nothing Sharon can do will have any validity in affecting its status or its future". As part of the US-backed 'road map' to peace, Palestinians will have an independent state by 2005, but they fear Sharon's unilateral move will leave them with a fraction of the land they desire. There are an estimated 400,000 settlers in the West Bank and Gaza. On Thursday, several began to rebuild an outpost in Havat Shaked, after Israeli border police demolished it just days ago. Scuffles broke out between the settlers and the officers, who said the building was illegal. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 18 Dicember, 2003
Headscarf speech stirs France
There have been strong reactions to a speech by French leader Jacques Chirac in which he called for a law banning the wearing of Islamic headscarves and other religious symbols in state schools. Protests from Muslims in France and elsewhere followed. Some however, like Dalil Boubakeur of the French Council of the Muslim Faith, are supportive of the president's position. "It was a very sensible and wise speech," he said, after listening to the address at the Elysee Palace. "I hope my community will react with the same wisdom and responsibility." In the televised address, watched with interest by many of France's five million Muslims, the president voiced support for a ban on the grounds that it would help protect the country's secular principles. But some Muslims are alarmed at the prospect and believe such a measure would deprive people of their personal liberties. A ban would extend to other religious symbols including Jewish skull-caps and large Christian crosses but interest has largely focused on the veil. The issue has also stirred debate on the role of Muslim women in French society. Opinion polls show a ban on headscarves in schools is backed by a large majority of French citizens. President Chirac has urged parliament to pass such a law before the next school year starts in September. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fears CJD could be spread by blood transfusions
A British patient who died from the human form of mad cow disease may have been the first in the world to have caught it from a blood transfusion. The person received donor blood during an operation in 1997 and died from variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease this year. Health Secretary John Reid said the donor, although clear of CJD at the time, developed and died from it two years later. He added that it was possible but not proven that the disease was transmitted via blood transfusion. There is no treatment for CJD, which causes massive brain damage and normally kills within months of being detected. Other people have received blood from donors who went on to develop CJD but, so far, none of them have shown signs of the disease themselves. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iraq: US troops crackdown in Saddam stronghold
US forces have swept into the town of Samarra, in the so-called Sunni "triangle" of northern and central Iraq that is a hotbed of support for Saddam Hussein. The offensive was part of a major crackdown on the violence and instability that has gripped the country following the capture of its ousted leader. But as troops moved in, arresting a number of people, trouble flared elsewhere with the American military saying it killed three attackers as they tried to mount a drive-by shooting in the northern city of Mosul. The US-backed Iraqi Governing Council said Saddam was being held in the Baghdad area and would face a public trial over his three decades of iron rule. Meanwhile, the US president's view that the one-time strongman should be executed has stirred unease in Europe. "This is a disgusting tyrant who deserves justice, the ultimate justice, but that will be decided not by the president of the United States but by the citizens of Iraq," he said. Capital punishment is outlawed in Europe - putting key US allies Britain, Spain and Italy in an uncomfortable position. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 17 Dicember, 2003
Iraq: demonstrations turn violent as Saddam supporters take to streets
Saddam Hussein's capture has ignited a wave of support in Iraq. Throughout the country, loyalists have poured on to the streets to voice their opposition at his detention. Several of the protests have turned violent. In Ramadi and Falluja, hundreds of protesters have been gathering. Witnesses say three Iraqis were killed after firing on US forces. Ramadi, Baghdad and Tikrit, where Saddam was born, form part of the so-called Sunni triangle - an area known for its loyalty to the former Iraqi leader. Three US soldiers were injured in his hometown by a roadside bomb. In Mosul, in the north of the country, around a thousand students took to the streets in support of Saddam. He is now being interrrogated by the US at a secret location. But in Basra it was a different story. Hundreds of people marched through the southern city calling for the death penalty for Saddam. Meanwhile, US Soldiers killed 11 Iraqis in the town of Samarra, 100 kilometres north of Baghdad after an attempted ambush. The outburst of violence has dampened hopes that Saddam's capture would bring more security to the country. During a visit to Iraq, America's Joint Chief of Staffs, General Richard Myers, delivered the news that US troops will have to remain there for several years. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iraq: Saddam likely to face justice at home
There seems little doubt that Saddam Hussein will face justice in his own country, but it is less clear who exactly will judge him and what the outcome will be. Question marks remains over the role of foreign jurors, the Iraqi diaspora and possible cases from countries who suffered from the former leader's aggression. Iran and Israel have both said they want to be involved. The death penalty could be contentious - United Nations boss Kofi Annan opposes it and Britain has ruled out any role in a trial leading to Saddam's execution. Washington says it is a matter for Iraqis, as did Germany's Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer. Following talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, he commented: "Saddam Hussein has committed the most severe crimes against the Iraqi people and I think it would be understandable if he would be tried in Iraq but this is not our decision." A new Iraqi war crimes court set up under the US-apppointed Governing Council will not be ready to try Saddam for months. Any decision to execute him will be in the hands of a transitional government due to be formed next year. Legal watchdogs are concerned the trial may not meet
international standards. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saddam seizure heralds new beginning for Iraqis: Annan
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has told the Security Council that Saddam's capture offers Iraqis the chance to take control of their destiny. He called for a transparent political process involving all segments of Iraqi society leading to a handover of power as soon as possible. "The task of restoring the effective exercise of sovereignty to Iraqis in the form of a provisional government is urgent," he said. The Security Council was also set to hear from Iraqi's interim foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari. He is due to present a timetable for restoring sovereignty. Annan said he would not send his staff back to Baghdad until the security situation improved. The UN compound there was bombed in August. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Double whammy for Berlusconi as media law rejected
Italian supremo Silvio Berlusconi faced a new setback after the country's president rejected a bill relaxing limits on media ownership. Critics had described the would-be law as tailor made for the media tycoon-turned-politician. It is estimated Berlusconi influences some 95 per cent of Italian TV through his political office and business interests. President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi refused to sign the bill late yesterday, sending it back to parliament, which can now either amend it or vote on it again without making any changes. If it passes a second time, Ciampi would have to sign it into law. Berlusconi brushed off the setback: "I did not participate in the creation of the bill and will continue to play no part in its progress. But if you ask me for my opinion on it I haven't read the technical remarks of the presidential advisors and I won't be reading them either." Ciampi held back the media bill - known as the Gasparri law after Communications Minister Maurizio Gasparri - saying it failed to guarantee plurality in the media and could lead to monopolies, especially within advertising. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last Updated: 16 Dicember, 2003
Italian president vetoes media bill
In a shock move, Italy's president has rejected a media bill that critics say was tailor-made for the business empire controlled by the country's other main political figure - the Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Carlo Azeglio Ciampi has sent the bill, which would relax limits on media ownership, back to parliament. It is a bitter blow for those who say the law breathes fresh life into Italy's rigid media market. Opponents of the bill, however, argue that it would enable Silvio Berlusconi to strengthen his grip on the media. Through his political office and his business interests, Berlusconi already has direct and indirect influence over an estimated 95 percent of Italian TV. Paolo Gentiloni of the opposition Margherita party welcomed the president's decision. His group has been arguing that the law is unconstitutional and does not conform to European norms. But, after a meeting with Ciampi, Berlusconi was keen to show that he was taking the decision in his stride. He told reporters that parliament would re-examine the law to see if the modifications that the president wants, should be made. Controversially, the bill lifts a restriction on one person owning more than two national TV channels. If it comes into law, in its existing form, Silvio Berlusconi's media empire could escape having to transfer one of its channels from the terrestrial network onto satellite by the end of the year. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iraq: Debate over fate of saddam
After the capture of Saddam Hussein, there is now debate about a future trialand whether or not he should face the death penalty. The one certainty at the moment, as far as the US is concerned, is that only Washington and Iraq will work on the arrangements for a trial. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said that any court trying the former dictator had to meet international norms and standards. He also made it clear that he is against the death penalty. US President Bush is promising a fair and public trial and says the Iraqis themselves will decide Saddam's fate. "Of course we want the world to say he got a fair trial," he said. "Because whatever justice is meted out, (it) needs to stand (up to) international scrutiny. I have got my own personal views of how he ought to be treated but I'm not an Iraqi citizen. It's going to be up to Iraqis to make those decisions." The head of Iraq's governing council has confirmed that Saddam faces execution. Britain, Washington's closest ally in the invasion of Iraq, has already said it will play no part in a trial that might lead to the death penalty. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 15 Dicember, 2003
Iraq: attention turns to unanswered questions
With the dramatic capture of a bearded, docile Saddam Hussein, questions now turn to: what does he know? And what will the Americans do with him? After pictures of his hiding place and medical examination were beamed around the world, the fugitive Iraqi dictator faced his first round of interrogation by his American captors. Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld gave an insight into those first hours in an interview saying that Saddam had been uncooperative but compliant. The ousted leader was facing his interrogators just as Paul Bremer, the US administrator in Iraq, was unveiling the news in a manner that would make Hollywood proud. "Ladies and Gentlemen, we got him!" Bremer announced amid much jubilation. Saddam Hussein, seized after an eight-month manhunt, was found with a cache of 750,000 US dollars. But the Iraqi dictator was not found with any other riches, such as information as to the location of the much sought-after weapons of mass destruction. According to US magazine reports, he told his captors that they never existed. The next question still unresolved is whether he will
stand trial in an American, international or an Iraqi war crimes court.
Rumsfeld said it was too soon to make snap decisions about Saddam's
fate, except that he would be accorded the protections of the Geneva
Convention. Today, however, US forces patrolling the streets of Tikrit
were revelling in its relative quietness. Under a rising sun, one
soldier spray-painted the words in Arabic "A New Day for Iraq".
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Iraqis celebrate long-awaited capture of dictator
In the Sadr City district of Baghdad, people were out dancing on the streets on Sunday night, celebrating the news of Saddam Hussein's capture. Many fired their guns or honked their car horns. The poor, mainly Shi'ite area in the capital has been a hotbed of agitation against US-led occupying forces. Celebrations were more muted elsewhere. But the joy was unmistakable in the northern city of Suleimaniyah, in the part of Iraq's Kurdish region that has been outside Saddam's control since the 1991 Gulf War. Despite living under the protection of foreign forces, the population has longed for the capture of the man who, for many Kurds, symbolised oppression. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has salvaged his ambitious plans to cut taxes and welfare spending after marathon talks with opposition leaders, which ended early Monday morning. Schroeder secured his long sought-after deal after agreeing to halve planned tax cuts to 7.8 billion euros. "All in all, we consider this result is naturally not all that we could have wished for," a tired but relieved Schroeder told reporters earlier this morning. "But it's really an absolutely respectable result that we can accept and that in current conditions can help our country further." For the past nine months, conservative leaders have blocked Schroeder's so-called Agenda 2010 reform program seen as crucial in reviving Germany's stagnant economy. The breakthrough came when Schroeder agreed to pull back on tax cuts and impose tougher labour reforms. His welfare measures were left largely intact. Even if only a partial victory for Schroeder, the deal marks a turning point in Germany's bid to reform its welfare system and haul itself out of three years of economic doldrums. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Northern Cyprus vote ends in dead heat
A landmark poll in Turkish northern Cyprus appears to have ended in a dead heat between rival blocs. According to preliminary results, a pro-reunification opposition bloc led by Mehmet Ali Talat had won as many parliamentary seats as government parties supporting Turkish Cypriot president Rauf Denktash. Talat had hoped for a clear majority in the poll which was seen as a referendum on UN plans to reunify the Turkish north with the Greek south. But a dead heat will also be a blow to Denktash who has steadfastly opposed the UN initiative claiming it would strip Turkish Cypriots of their rights. The elections had been closely watched by Europe and the Greek south in the hope it would lead to an end to nearly three decades of partition of the Mediterranean island, which joins the EU next year. The EU has warned Turkey that its own accession ambitions
would be dealt a serious blow if Denktash continues to block the UN
plan. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Archivio Iraq: Bush's re-election boosted by Saddam capture
With less than a year before American presidential elections, George W.Bush couldn't have hoped for better news than the capture of his Ace of Spades. The arrest of Saddam Hussein is likely to boost Bush's popularity ratings which had flagged in the bloody aftermath of the Iraqi occupation. But Bush's tone when he addressed the American people on Saturday his tone was hardly triumphant: "The capture of Saddam Hussein does not mean the end of violence in Iraq. We still face terrorists who would rather go on killing the innocent than accept the rise of liberty in the heart of the Middle East. Such men are a direct threat to the American people, and they will be defeated." According to recent polls, more Americans disapprove of the Bush Administration's handling of the Iraqi occupation than approve, and highlights the dangers Iraq poses for the US president's re-election chances next November. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Iraq: US Democrats react to Saddam's capture
Americans began to learn of the success of "Operation Red Dawn" just before sunrise in the United States. Before long the news, flashed onto screens in Times Square in New York, had injected a dramatic twist into the 2004 White House race. Howard Dean, the front-runner for the Democrats' presidential nomination, has stood out by opposing the US-led invasion. Like other Democrats hoping to challenge president Bush next year, he welcomed the arrest of Saddam Hussein. He said on Sunday: "This is a real opportunity to internationalise the effort in Iraq and I urge the president to use this extraordinary opportunity to reach out to the United Nations and to NATO and to other countries to bring in troops from other countries to relieve our troops so we may begin to bring ours home." Senator Joe Liebermann is one of four Democrat hopefuls who backed the war. He is now claiming that his stance has been vindicated: "This man Saddam Hussein, this evil man, has to face the death penalty. The international tribunal in the Hague cannot order the death penalty." The fight for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination begins in earnest with the Iowa caucuses on January 19. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The French Foreign Minister Dominique Villepin gave Paris' reaction
"This is something encouraging for the international community, that gives it the chance to unite," he said. "Today the way is clear for reconstruction in Iraq. It's up to us to get in behind those efforts." He also said that other countries in the region can
help in the reintegration of Iraq, and the United Nations must have
a role in guaranteeing that correct systems are placed in the country."
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Last Updated: 13 Dicember, 2003
Compromise sought at crucial EU enlargement summit
The fate of the European Union's first constitution hangs in the balance at a decisive summit in Brussels. Italy, presiding over the EU until January, has prepared the way for possible failure. It is testing out each country to see how much it will compromise. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said: "If negotiations can't be concluded by Sunday morning, it would be better to continue talking than to make a bad deal." On Thursday Berlusconi said it would take a miracle for an agreement to be reached. Some might call the attendance of Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller miraculous, as he suffered a fractured spine when his helicopter had to make an emergency landing last week. But the leaders of the EU's 15 current and 10 future members know time is against them. They raced through the regular summit agenda in the first session, anxious to free up time to focus on the new charter, which was drafted over 17 months by a special convention. Diplomats say failure could paralyse the EU as it prepares to expand in May to include Poland and seven other ex-communist eastern states, plus Cyprus and Malta. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 12 Dicember, 2003
Iraq: European leaders up the stakes on eve of key summit
European leaders have upped the ante ahead of a landmark summit likely to be dominated by the divisive issue of voting rights in an enlarged union.Poland has threatened to veto a new EU constitution, and Germany has declared it would prefer a delay to a bad deal. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who will chairs the summit in Brussels, said: "We have to find a solution which is acceptable to all sides. These two countries, Poland and Spain, must not lose out to other big countries like Britain, France, Italy and Germany." Stark differences have emerged between close allies France and Germany, who want an overhaul of voting rights to reflect population size, and Poland and Spain, who say that would be unfair to countries with smaller populations. Madrid and Warsaw want to maintain the status quo under the Nice treaty. Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski discussed the issues with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Berlin. He said: "I can say we're entering the European Union on the basis of the Nice Treaty. Poland held a referendum on membership on that basis. We don't see any reason to change the Nice agreement before it has come into effect." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Countries excluded from Iraq's reconstruction hit back
Washington has defended its decision to ban companies from countries who opposed the Iraq war from bidding for reconstruction projects. The move has re-ignited bitter trans-Atlantic tensions. The projects in Iraq are worth $18.6 billion. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said it was natural they would be awarded to US allies. "We are talking about US taxpayer dollars here and I think it is appropriate and reasonable to expect that the Iraqi people and those countries who have been working with the United States and contributing forces to the efforts in Iraq would be the ones that would be eligible for the prime contracts," he said. Germany, which for more than a century built much of modern Iraq, said it was stunned. Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said: "From our side, all I can say is that we noted the reports today with astonishment and we will be speaking about it with the American side." France and the European Commission say they will investigate whether the US is breaking international trade rules. The US cited national security concerns for its decision but some analysts say the real reason is to punish the opponents of the war. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A long-awaited commission on church-state relations in France has recommended banning all conspicuous religious symbols from public schools. The report by the Stasi commission advised the government to stand firm against militant Islamists who critics say are trying to undermine the country's strictly secular education system. But it also urged respect for spiritual diversity, saying discreet symbols such as a small cross or Star of David were acceptable. And the commission suggested adding Jewish and Muslim holy days to a list of school holidays. The report weighs in on an increasingly heated national debate about multiculturalism and comes just days before President Chirac announces whether he will seek a law banning the Islamic headscarf. Religious leaders have urged him not to ask for an outright ban. They are worried that schools could be just the beginning, with the commission proposing a voluntary code of conduct for private companies to limit religious symbols in the workplace. France's Muslim and Jewish minorities are the largest of their kind in western Europe. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Italian Senate passes controversial reproduction bill
Italy's Senate has passed a controversial law on reproductive rights. The bill has been approved by both houses of parliament and will now return to the lower house to be rubber-stamped. Some left-wing opposition senators in this staunchly Roman Catholic country crossed party lines to back the bill drawn up by the governing centre-right coalition. The new law will restrict assisted fertilisation to heterosexual couples who are married or can provide evidence of a "stable" relationship. They will not be able to use the sperm or eggs of a donor, or resort to surrogate motherhood. Embryos resulting from artificial insemination cannot be frozen or used for research purposes. The bill's backers say it protects the embryo. Critics have denounced the law as "medieval" saying it could be the first step towards making abortion illegal, a possibility some of its supporters accept. Doctors will only be allowed to create up to three embryos during each attempt at insemination whereas some specialists say three times as many embryos are needed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ferrarri versus Eurofighter in Tuscany
The creme de la creme of Formula One against the best of areonautics: Michael Schumacher has been racing his Ferrari F2003-GA against the Italian Air Force's Eurofighter Typhoon. They covered three different distances: 600, 900 and 1,200 metres. As predicted, Ferrari won the shorter distance race thanks to its excellent acceleration. However, the jet's brute force won it the two following races. The plane had to avoid taking off and stay on the ground, which took extra control since it normally only takes five seconds before it rises into the air. The event, which took place at Baccarini military airport in Grosseto in Tuscany, attracted tens of thousands of spectators and was broadcast live on Italian television. It was not the first time a race car was up against a plane: in 1931, Tazio Nuvolari, the best racing driver of his day, drove his Alfa Romeo faster than the Caproni CA100. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last Updated: 11 Dicember, 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Countries excluded from Iraq's reconstruction hit back
Washington has defended its decision to ban companies from countries who opposed the Iraq war from bidding for reconstruction projects. The move has re-ignited bitter trans-Atlantic tensions. The projects in Iraq are worth $18.6 billion. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said it was natural they would be awarded to US allies. "We are talking about US taxpayer dollars here and I think it is appropriate and reasonable to expect that the Iraqi people and those countries who have been working with the United States and contributing forces to the efforts in Iraq would be the ones that would be eligible for the prime contracts," he said. Germany, which for more than a century built much of modern Iraq, said it was stunned. Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said: "From our side, all I can say is that we noted the reports today with astonishment and we will be speaking about it with the American side." France and the European Commission say they will investigate whether the US is breaking international trade rules. The US cited national security concerns for its decision but some analysts say the real reason is to punish the opponents of the war. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Poland may veto EU charter
Can Silvio Berlusconi save Europe's controversial new constitution? As Poland says it may veto the charter in a bitter row over voting rights, the Italian Prime Minister claims he has a compromise deal tucked up his sleeve. Berlusconi is staying tight-lipped over just what he will pull out of the hat at a crucial European Union summit starting on Friday but unless it appeases angry Poland and Spain, it is unlikely to be successful. There has already been plenty of talking in a bid to settle squabbles but with time running out, tension remains high. Spain and Poland are clinging to the complex voting system agreed three years ago - which gave them almost as many votes as Germany, although it has twice their population. Now Madrid and Warsaw face the prospect of their voting rights being downgraded but they are not willing to give up without a fight. The new convention is designed to ensure the EU can function smoothly when it increases from 15 to 25 member states in May 2004. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Swiss right-wing leader voted into cabinet
The face of Swiss politics has changed for the first time in four decades. But hundreds of people who do not welcome the news took to the streets of Berne in protest. Opponents of Christoph Blocher, the right-wing leader of the Swiss People's Party, or SVP, gathered in the capital to demonstrate against his election to the cabinet. The promotion follows October's elections when Blocher's party topped the polls. The SVP was previously the smallest party and was given just one cabinet seat, while the other three parties in the coalition had two seats each. But following the success of the SVP, the party demanded a second cabinet seat and threatened to leave the government and go into opposition if Blocher was not elected. On Wednesday, upper and lower house representatives voted Blocher in, unseating the justice minister of the centrist Christian Democrats. Speaking after the result, Blocher said: "I am in favour of a free Switzerland, an independent and liberal country. I believe that a country like this will have a great future. This is our vision at a moment when other countries are trying to merge." The billionaire industrialist has been a key figure in Swiss politics for 20 years. He is known for his outspoken views on asylum seekers and immigrants and he is opposed to joining the European Union. If he takes over as justice minister, he will be in charge of asylum and immigration policies. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nobel prize winners pick up awards in Oslo and Stockholm
Celebrations have been taking place in Oslo in honour of the first Muslim woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. And as Iranian lawyer Shirin Ebadi took top billing in the world's media, awards were also being picked up in Stockholm by laureates honoured for their work in other areas. Among them, reclusive South African novelist J.M. Coetzee, he stepped out of the shadows to take a bow and receive his Nobel Prize for literature. Awards for physics, economics, medicine and chemistry were also handed out in Stockholm. The formal ceremony was followed by a banquet, attended by a host of VIPs. Sweden's royal family played a key part in proceedings. The 2003 Nobel "season" has now come to an end - although speculation is sure to start soon over who next year's winners might be. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 10 Dicember, 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Day of anti-US attacks in Iraq
The number of US soldiers injured in a suicide bomb attack near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul has risen to at least 41. Three Iraqis were also hurt when the bomber drove into an American military base early this morning, ignoring soldiers' orders to stop. There was another suicide bomb assault on a US military field hospital north of the capital Baghdad. A man detonated a device strapped to his back, killing himself, but failed to cause much damage. Some soldiers were slightly wounded. Elsewhere near the city of Fallujah, military officials say an American helicopter made a controlled landing. A photographer reportedly saw the aircraft in flames. There were no injuries. The violence has also spread among Iraqi groups fighting for positions in post-Saddam Iraq. Early on Tuesday morning a car bomb went off in the grounds of a Sunni mosque, killing at least three people. Local residents say it is an attempt at intimidation by the Shi'ites, whose leaders have largely opted to work with the US occupiers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Italian constitutional court opens probe into Berlusconi law
Italy's constitutional court has opened its investigation into a controversial immunity law that protects Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from prosecution. Judges in Milan were forced to suspend a corruption case against Berlusconi in June after parliament adopted the law. They asked the constitutional court to arbitrate. A verdict is likely next month. During today's proceedings in Rome, Berlusconi's defence
lawyer argued that the law is not unconstitutional. Gaetano Pecorella
said: Berlusconi was on trial for allegedly trying to bribe judges to stop a business rival taking over a state-owned food company in the 1980's. The immunity bill which protects him while he is in office provoked uproar this summer. Critics called it self-serving but Berlusconi says he is the victim of a political vendetta by left-wing judges. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last Updated: 9 Dicember, 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monitors slam Russian election
One thing is in no doubt after Russia's parliamentary election - Vladimir Putin's political allies have scored an overwhelming victory. But was the poll free and fair? The president certainly thinks so, hailing the exercise as a step forward for democracy. It is a view not shared however by Western observers, with Europe's rights and democracy watchdog, the OSCE, critical of an election it says was "overwhelmingly distorted" by pro-government bias. In Russia too, the ballot was branded a "shameful farce" by the heavily-defeated Communists whose leader, Gennady Zyuganov, has accused the Kremlin of fixing the result and manipulating the media to promote the pro-Putin lobby. A look at the way the 450-seat Duma divides up, based on final preliminary results, demonstrates the dominance of the main presidential loyalists. The party in question, United Russia, has 222 seats to its credit. There are 38 seats for the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democrats who back the Kremlin on key issues. It can also count on support from the newly-created Motherland bloc, which picked up 37 seats. The Communists have 53 seats. And making victory all the sweeter for Vladimir Putin, there is the verdict of the experts who say the result effectively guarantees him a second term in office in next spring's presidential poll. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No decision on import of controversial GM maize
European Union food experts have failed to reach agreement on a proposal that would allow the import of genetically modified maize. The decision is now in the hands of EU farm ministers who have three months to debate the plan put forward by the European Commission. The proposal is a test case for the bloc's five-year unofficial ban on new bio-tech products. The United States, Canada and Argentina have challenged the ban, saying it is illegal. Farmers in the US say it is costing them millions of dollars a year in lost sales. Six EU members voted in favour including Britain, Spain and Ireland. Germany, Italy and Belgium abstained and six voted against, including France. Environmentalists have hailed the outcome as a success. A yes vote could set a precedent, opening the European market to bio-tech imports. If ministers fail to reach an agreement, the Commission may rubber stamp its own proposal. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last Updated: 8 Dicember, 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Putin party heads for triumph in Russia poll
The political party supporting President Vladimir Putin has surged into the lead in Russia's parliamentary election. With more than two thirds of votes counted, the pro-Kremlin United Russia party is winning easily twice as many votes as the communists. The fourth election since the Soviet Union collapsed looks set to hand Putin greater powers to drive economic reform, crack down on corruption and rein in the business elite in a country craving stability. There are 450 seats in the State Duma lower house, contested nationally by 23 parties. Recent figures show United Russia well in the lead. But the Communists have moved into second place by the narrowest of margins, closely followed by the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia. Critics of the expected pro-Kremlin victory say a strong Putin majority in the Duma will help ex-KGB hardliners who want to revive authoritarianism. One of the surprises of the night though has been the gains by the Motherland National Patriotic Union, created less than four months ago. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Black day for communists in russian elections
Russia's Communist party has suffered heavy losses in the parliamentary elections, a far cry from 1999 when it came in first place and garnered 24 per cent of the vote. Reacting to early exit polls, party chief Gennady Zyuganov denounced the election as a shameful farce and claimed it had been riddled by cheating. He claims the vote had nothing to do with the country's interests and went further: "You are all participating here in a revolting spectacle which for some reason is called an election." The communists earlier expected to win the support of nearly 40 per cent of the electorate, although opinion polls had shown its support was far lower. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Motherland party does well in Russian polls
Russia's Motherland Party, which mixes socialism and nationalism, has picked up the votes of thousands of disaffected communists. Early results show Motherland might take some eight percent of the votes, putting it in fourth place in the Duma. One of the party's demands has been to force the country's business leaders to pay rent for the natural resources they are accused of exploiting. The pioneer of reforms in Russia, Anatoly Chubais, who heads the Union of Rightist Forces, says the success of the Motherland party is dangerous for the country, a danger they will fight. Among those who may lose out are smaller opposition
groups like the liberal Yabloko party, led by economist Grigory Yavlinsky.
Some opinion polls suggest it is in danger of falling short of the
five percent barrier needed to be represented in the lower parliament
or Duma. Yavlinsky told a TV interviewer that over the past four years
politics has disappeared off the agenda, and there is now no public
debate, with people losing interest in talking about politics and
its implications. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mugabe jumps... after he is pushed from Commonwealth boat
Zimbabwe's decided to leave the Commonwealth but only after it extended the suspension imposed after last year's widely-criticised election there. President Robert Mugabe is accused of rigging his re-election and persecuting his opponents. But he told the Commonwealth, Harare did not accept the action taken against it and would quit the group. Zimbabwe's information minister said the decision proved beyond doubt that what he described as "racist leaders in Britain and Australia" had taken over the organisation. The four-day Commonwealth summit was dominated by talks on Zimbabwe, with Britain in particular pressing to keep Mugabe out. Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien told the meeting it's not a long-term solution: "The suspension remains but everybody wants to work to reconciliation as quickly as possible, because the situation leads to a very complicated economic situation in Zimbabwe." Mugabe insists he won last year's election fairly and says Western governments - principally Britain - have sabotaged Zimbabwe's economy in punishment for his redistribution of white-owned farms to landless blacks. But while Mugabe seems to have isolated himself further, the Commonwealth may also have waved goodbye to at least a degree of influence in Zimbabwe. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Berlusconi and Schroeder talk European Constitution
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has declared himself 5 per cent more positive over the success of key European constitution talks next week. His measured optimism follows a meeting with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Berlin. The two leaders declared they would not give way on the issue of voting rights in an expanded European Union. Schroeder praised Berlusconi who is head of the EU rotating presidency for his work on the Constitution. "The Italian presidency has succeeded in getting agreement in a large number of areas. This is a positive result that should not be brought into question at the European Council meeting in Brussels". Agreement on a final Constitution has been hampered by the voting rights issue. Spain and new entrant Poland are holding out for a deal giving them almost the same weight as France and Germany despite their smaller populations. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Iraq bomb kills US soldier
US nerves are frayed in the Iraqi city of Mosul after a bomb attack left one soldier dead and wounded two. A roadside explosive was detonated as a three-vehicle convoy drove past in what's becoming an increasingly common guerilla tactic. The attack comes a day after US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld visited Iraq, he said security was improving. Meanwhile the Commander of US forces in Iraq estimates violence against American troops will intensify in the months to come. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Isreal: Middle East truce talks fail in Cairo
Kickstarting the stalled Middle East peace process was the aim of crunch talks in Cairo, with Egypt eager to broker a breakthrough deal. But its efforts to convince Palestinian militants to agree to a truce have floundered after a senior Hamas official announced that Hamas and four other Palestinian groups have rejected a new comprehensive ceasefire. Earlier, there had been talk of a conditional truce, with word that suicide bombings in Israel would be halted. But Israeli officials rejected the reported deal, which did not include ending attacks on Israeli soldiers or Jewish settlers on occupied land - describing it as a "halfway measure." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Netherlands celebrates royal birth
In the Netherlands, the wife of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander has given birth to a baby girl, who is now second in line to the Dutch throne. Queen Beatrix paid a visit to her son and Princess Maxima at a hospital in the Hague, as royal celebrations got underway. As yet though, the name of the newborn has not been publicly released. "This makes me very happy," said one man who went to the hospital, "especially that it's a girl. It's something fantastic, a feeling I can't put in words. I think it's wonderful for Maxima, who's really likeable." Willem Alexander married Argentinian born Maxima in February last year in a ceremony surrounded by controversy. The bride's father was banned from the wedding after revelations he was a minister in Argentina's military dictatorship in the late 70s. That does not seem to have spoilt traditional celebrations, however, over the birth. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 7 Dicember, 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Voting starts in Russian elections
After all the campaigning, Russians finally have the chance to vote today in their parliamentary elections. Polling stations in the far-eastern Arctic region of Chukotka were the first to open. Then voting swept towards the west, as the sun rose across the country's 11 time zones. In the port city of Vladivostok, residents queued to vote in the first heavy snowfall of the year. In these elections, 110 million Russians are eligible to take part. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Massive protest against Berlusconi's pension reforms
Organisers of a march and rally in Rome claim more than a million people took part. But police put the figure at a quarter of that at the most. Either way it sent a potent message to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi about his retirement shake-up proposals. "I'm a 77 year old farm worker," said one protestor. "I must continue to work because this rascal Berlusconi misled the voters. He promised us a million jobs and he gives us nothing. I earn 400 euros a month which gets you half what you got when we had the lira. I'd like to see Berlusconi living on 400 euros a month." The pension reforms would prevent people retiring before they have made 40 years contributions or reached a minimum age of 65 for men and 60 for women. Unions dispute government claims that the changes are needed to stave off a crisis in the pensions system because of Italy's aging population and low birth rate. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rumsfeld visits troops in Iraq
US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has said American forces hunting Saddam Hussein have no chance of "stumbling across" the ousted Iraqi leader. He made the comment during a visit to Kirkuk in the north of the country to assess the progress of US operations against presumed pro-Saddam guerrillas. Rumsfeld was told by the area's commander that extra American troops were not needed. In scenes reminiscent of President Bush's recent surprise visit to Baghdad Rumsfeld shared a meal with soldiers at the base. It was the Defence Secretary's third visit to Iraq since major combat was declared over. It came amid mounting domestic and foreign criticism over Washington's running of post war Iraq. But Rumsfeld defended the Pentagon's handling of the security situation. He said Washington wanted to accelerate the recruitment and training of Iraqi forces to the point were they could eventually take over from the Americans. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Isreal: alternative Middle East peace plan receives a cautious welcome
The co-authors of an alternative peace plan for the Middle East have received encouragement from UN secretary General Kofi Annan. Yossi Beilin and Yasser Abed Rabbo former ministers in the Israeli and Palestinian governments devised the Geneva Accord. But US Secretary of State Colin Powell echoed Annan's words reminding them that the official US-backed road map remains the key mechanism to resolve the conflict. "I had a chance to describe to them the primacy of the road map as the document that the sides agree upon at this moment, and it is still there, and I think it is still the basis to go forward." The US President has endorsed Powell's meeting with Rabbo and Beilin, but as Israel dismisses the unofficial plan, the move has added fuel to a rare public spat between the Jewish state and its chief ally Washington. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spain celebrates 25th anniversary of Constitution
Spain is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Constitution. The royal family and all the country's political parties were represented at the official ceremony in Madrid with one notable exception. Basque President Juan Jose Ibarretxe who is pushing for a referendum on the region's links to Spain was absent. The Spanish government has begun judicial moves which would make the referundum illegal. King Juan Carlos alluded to the nation's indivisibility in his speech in parliament. "The 1978 Constitution was born from an exemplary and complex transition period. The Spanish people's faith and enthusiasm propelled this collective effort to win back freedom and democracy. It allowed the population to overcome rancour and internal divisions and to affirm the spirit of reconciliation thus sealing Spain's spirit of solidarity as a diverse and tolerant nation." A new poll shows that 25 years on, two thirds of Spaniards approve of the Constitution, and see it as a good instrument for co-existence. Back in 1978 it was overwhelmingly endorsed by Spain's 25 million voters. It marks one of the most important periods in the nation's history heralding a new era of democracy after almost 40 years of dictatorial rule under General Franco. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ireland takes Miss World title
Ireland has taken the crown at the Miss World pageant. 19-year-old winner Rosanna Davison is the daughter of the rock star Chris de Burgh. It was also a big day for China, which hosted the contest - the first time ever such an event has been organised in the country. Beauty pageants were banned here when the communists came to power in 1949, with officials slamming the events as expressions of decadence. Now it is big business, with fashion shows and catwalks all the rage. Miss China came third in this contest, while Miss Canada was runner-up. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 6 Dicember, 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Putin says train bombing was intended to disrupt election
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said an apparent suicide bombing on a commuter train, which has killed at least 40 people and injured more than 150 others, was intended to disrupt this weekend's elections. The justice minister says the attack in the Northern Caucusus bore the hallmarks of Chechen militants who have been fighting Russian forces for a decade. The blast, before 8 a.m. local time, tore through the second carriage of the train just outside the southern town of Yessentuki. It was packed with students and workers heading for morning shifts. It is believed 31 people were killed on the spot while the other victims died after being taken to a nearby hospital. It was the second such attack in three months on the same rail line linking spa towns in the region, which lies near Chechnya. In September, an explosion on a train in the Stavropol area killed six people, with police saying at the time that it was not the work of Chechen rebels. The director of Russia's FSB counter-intelligence agency told President Putin that three women and one man carried out Friday's attack. Speaking on television, Putin claimed: "The criminal act which was committed today was an attempt to destabilise the situation in the country on the eve of parliamentary elections. I am sure the criminals will get nothing out of this, Russians themselves will not allow it. But the criminal act shows that international terrorists who have issued a challenge to many countries represent a serious threat to our own country as well." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Campaigning ends in Russia
Friday's bomb attack notwithstanding, the Russian electorate is being urged by authorities to take part in this Sunday's parliamentary ballot. Campaigning has drawn to a close. Candidates can do no more to influence the outcome. The indicators have all been pointing to victory for the pro-Kremlin United Russia party. Polls gave it a 6 or 7 point lead over the Communists, the main opposition in the Duma, who won 113 of the 450 seats in the Duma in the last election in 1999. It is thought Communist leader Genady Zyuganov can still count on his traditional support base of the elderly and rural populations. But President Vladimir Putin's endorsement of United Russia could cost the Communists dear. United Russia could also draw support from the ultra-nationalist LPDR which won 17 seats last time around. The influence of the liberal parties Yabloko and the Union of Right Forces is expected to diminish. Some analysts believe both parties may fail to get the five per cent of the vote required to win seats. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bosnian Serb gets 20 years for Sarajevo siege
A former Bosnian Serb general has been jailed for 20 years for commanding forces which terrorised civilians during the siege of Sarajevo in the 1992-95 Bosnian war. Stanislav Galic is the first person to be tried by the UN tribunal in The Hague exclusively in connection with the siege of the Bosnian capital. Prosecutors said Bosnian Serb forces had plunged the city into a "medieval hell." Residents of the multi-ethnic capital were subjected to regular sniper and shell fire between September 1992 and August 1994. The siege claimed 10,500 lives- most victims were Muslims. Sarajevo's main market was hit twice. The second shelling, in the last months of the conflict, killed 66 people and prompted the first NATO air strikes against Bosnian Serb positions. Those who remember the event say Galic's sentence is too lenient. One woman said: "It's really too small. So many people were killed. The Hague Tribunal's become a kind of joke." Another said, "I would give him the death penalty, at least life imprisonment." But another shopper expressed a sense of relief: "I survived all that but my brother was killed. He was a civilian victim shot by a sniper. For me the judges made the right decision." Galic was convicted of murder, inhumane acts and violence intended to spread terror among civilians. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Prisoners evacuated from jail in France
The flood crisis in France is easing but many areas are still affected by high water levels. In the town of Arles nearly 200 high security convicts had to be moved after the Rhone burst its banks swamping the facility. Waters had crept up nearly 2 metres in some parts of the jail. The prisoner transfer took place amid tight security. It is not only inmates who have been affected. One elderly person has been found dead in a flooded home. Hundreds of people in the town of Arles spent the night in temporary accommodation and with waters still one metre high many may have to do the same again tonight. South East France has been battered by three days of incessant rain and high winds forcing some 15 thousand people from their homes. A let-up in the weather is allowing some evacuated inhabitants to return and assess the damage. President Jacques Chirac has earmarked 12 million euros in aid for the stricken region. Seven people have died because of the bad weather. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Market blast kills US soldier and Iraqis
One American soldier and at least three Iraqis have been killed in a bomb attack on a crowded market place in Baghdad. Thirteen others were said to have been wounded. A senior Iraq police officer said a US military convoy was passing through the area when the device was detonated. It happened close to a mosque in the south of the city. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Warnings to the West in new al Qaeda video
A new purported al Qaeda training video has been posted on a website previously used by the terrorist network. The tape claims to show training inside Saudi Arabia and issues warnings of further attacks on the West and the Saudi royal family. One man's face is visible on the recording and appears to be that of Abdel Al-Otaibe who was killed by Saudi security forces days before the November bombings in Riyadh. Some experts say the group appears to be practicing an entry drill consistent with the deadly blasts in the Saudi capital. The video also contains what US counter terrorist experts believe may be new footage of the September 11 attacks shot from across the East river in Brooklyn. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 5 Dicember, 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Trade conflict averted, Bush lifts steel tariffs
U.S. President George Bush has scrapped tariffs on imported steel, ducking retaliation from key trade partners, most notably the European Union. The statement read out at the White House was pitched positively. Bush is hoping to be re-elected next year. The raised tariffs had been imposed in March 2002. This ended them 16 months ahead of the plan, said to have been successful in allowing restructuring. The up to thirty percent tariffs to protect the then shakey US steel industry from imports had affected many countries. In Brussels, the EU's top trade official Pascal Lamy welcomed the Americans' backing down. "We will now dismantle the system of sanctions which Europe would have launched this December the 15th, if the US president had not taken this decision." The Bush administration said the move was based on analysis that the tariffs were no longer needed rather than on a World Trade Organization ruling that they were illegal. The EU was set to slap duties on some 2 billion euros of politically sensitive U.S. exports if the tariffs were not lifted. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Powell urges greater Nato role in Iraq
The ongoing dispute between the US and the EU over European defence has surfaced again at a meeting of Nato foreign ministers in Brussels. Washington has restated its opposition to proposals for an EU military planning capability. But US Secretary of State Colin Powell urged his European partners to consider a more prominent role for the alliance in Iraq. "What strikes me today is that as we discussed about the possibility of NATO taking an enhanced role in Iraq, not a single member spoke against it or talked about reasons not to do it," he said. Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini indicated that the EU would push ahead with its defence plans. He said he was optimistic for the future. He added that thanks to sincere dialogue the aims to create a new Europe and the project for European defence, which is to be included in a new constitution for Europe, are a step closer to reality. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 4 Dicember, 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Killer floods continue to lash southern France
Five people dead and 10,000 evacuated - the latest toll from the floods, which have brought disaster to parts of France. The situation has prompted a visit by President Chirac and two cabinet ministers. Montpellier has been in the eye of the storm overnight and is practically cut off from the rest of France. Marseille, the country's second city, has also been badly hit. The latest victim was a man found dead in tree branches. In Givors, near Lyon, a truck driver had a lucky escape when a bridge collapsed. He said: "I reached the bridge and saw what was happening and I jumped out." People hunkered down for another night of misery in schools, gyms, and public buildings. The rains are starting to ease but many families will not be home and dry for a while. Meanwhile stormy winds and monster waves have been lashing the south coast. At Hyeres bay, a decommissioned aircraft carrier broke from its moorings. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Outcry over Italy's new media law
Hundreds of people have protested in Rome against a controversial new media law which is causing uproar. All eyes are now on President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, Italy's supreme political arbiter, who has a month to decide whether he will approve the bill. The law, which eases limits on media ownership, was passed by the Senate on Tuesday. It expands the advertising market and paves the way for part-privatisation of state broadcaster RAI. The government argues the package will breathe fresh
life into Italy's rigid media market. Opponents say it is tailor-made
for prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's media empire, the most powerful
in Italy. Analysts, however, expect Ciampi to sign the law - a rejection
could further poison Italy's already troubled political waters. Through
his political office and his business interests, Berlusconi has direct
or indirect influence over an estimated 95 percent of Italian television.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dispute threatens future of Italy's National Alliance Party
Five thousand members of Italy's National Alliance party have agreed they will continue to support the party, despite an internal dispute. But the group, representing the traditional far right, will call for the party to convene in order to question the leadership of Gianfranco Fini, who is moving more to the centre. During a meeting in Rome, one member said: "Fini made his career and money thanks to Mussolini, now he's going against everything. He's a coward!" Another said: "We are not fascists but we don't want to be anti-fascist either". The opposition members are unconnected to Alessandra Mussolini, who last week abandoned the National Alliance to form her own party. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fini rids Italy's National Alliance of Mussolini legacy
Regardless of the backlash at home Gianfranco Fini, leader of the National Alliance party, has decided to get rid of the legacy of Mussolini once and for all. He used his recent visit to Israel to symbolically cut the National Alliance's ties to fascism, despite fears it might upset large swathes of the Italian electorate: "We must turn the page on a shameful period of our country's history. We must do it to understand how Italians in 1938 did nothing against the infamous racial laws drawn up by the fascists which allowed thousands of Jews to be deported." Fini's condemnation of fascism as an "absolute evil", did not sit too well with Alessandra Mussolini, the dictator's grand-daughter. Last week she decided to quit the right-wing party to form a new political entity, a move Fini described as unnecessary: "I don't think Italy needs a new party. I wish Alessandra Mussolini good luck, but I'd like to say to all National Alliance supporters there hasn't been and there won't be any change in direction. We've already had that back in 95. We're still on the same road, either people accept it and move with us or they don't." The big change Fini was referring to was the formation of the National Alliance back in 1995. The party rose from the ashes of the Italian Social Movement - a party which ten years earlier had declared Mussolini the man of the 20th century. But since taking up the reins of power, Fini's always strived to move his party and himself towards the centre of right-wing politics. As deputy prime minister, he has sought to take advantage at every opportunity. He may have fallen out of favour with nostalgic Italians because of what he said in Israel, but he is certain to have won more friends and support for his effort to increase the influence of Italy's third largest party. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Isreal: Tensions rise over unofficial Middle East peace plan
Relations between America and Israel are being tested amid signs the new unofficial peace plan for the Middle East is making progress. Speaking in Tunisia, US Secretary of State Colin Powell acknowledged Israel's discontent over his plans to meet the Palestinian co-authors of the Geneva accord: "As the American Secretary of State I have an obligation to the American people and the President and to colleagues in the administration to listen to individuals who have interesting ideas. This in no way undercuts our strong support for the state of Israel, this in no way undercuts our support for the road map." The plan calls for the establishment of a Palestinian State, the dismantling of most Jewish settlements and shared sovereignty over Jerusalem - going further than the official 'road map' to peace. Meanwhile, Palestinians in the Gaza attacked former Palestinian Minister Hassan Asfour on his return from Egypt. They mistakenly believed he had been in Switzerland for the launch of the Geneva Accord. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eating man like taking communion: "Rotenburg cannibal"
A German cannibal has told a flabbergasted courtroom that eating his victim was like taking communion in church. Armin Meiwes, a computer repair man, offered a graphic account of the killing at the start of his murder trial in Kassel. He told judges of how he kept the skull and plastic bags of flesh in his freezer, defrosting and eating them bit by bit. Meiwes said thousands of people were looking to eat humans or be eaten through internet sites. The story has gripped the country and the world's media has gathered for the trial. The victim apparently had fantasies of being eaten since he was a child. Prosecutors concede he consented, but argue he was incapable of rational thought and want a life sentence. The defence is seeking a conviction for illegal euthanasia, which carries a maximum sentence of five years. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ New Yorkers get into Christmas spirit
Thousands of New Yorkers got into the Christmas Spirit
at the traditional turning on of the lights at the Rockefeller Centre.
This year more than 25,000 light bulbs are decorating the tree - topped
with a massive star. One New Yorker said: "I think once in your
lifetime you have got to live this experience. It's mesmerising when
the lights are turned on." The tradition dates back to the 1930s
when workers building the Centre placed a small evergreen on the construction
site. The largest tree in its history was more than 30 metres high.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 3 Dicember, 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iraq: US denies capture of top Saddam aide
The US has denied it's captured one of the most wanted men in Iraq. There have been reports that Izzat Ibrahim, one of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein's top lieutenants, has either been killed or seized. A member of the Iraqi Governing Council said troops have been taking part in a raid close to Kirkuk, a city around 250 kilometres north of Baghdad, but the US military has been adamant the rumours are unfounded and said he had definitely not been captured. Washington has accused Ibrahim of being directly involved in attacks on US troops and have put a 10 million dollar price on his head. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iraq: Saddam's right-hand man
Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the King of Clubs in the deck of cards is number six on the US list of former regime loyalists. A friend of Saddam Hussein's since childhood, Ibrahim was one of his closest and most trusted associates. For several months, US military leaders have suspected Ibrahim of being the mastermind behind the insurgency around Samarra and Tikrit. Two weeks ago, his home in Tikrit was destroyed by US ground-to-ground missiles. There was no indication anyone was inside at the time of the strike. A few days later his wife and daughter were arrested along with the son of his physician. Ibrahim was one of the key plotters who carried out the coup that brought the Baath party to power in 1968. In later years, he served as the Iraqi leader's number two or vice-chairman of the Revolution Command Council. At the height of his power he was known as Saddam's enforcer. He was deputy commander of the armed forces and held a senior post on the committee responsible for northern Iraq when chemical weapons were used in 1988 to kill thousands of Iraqi Kurds. Ibrahim will be well remembered for issuing a chilling threat to Kurds before the 1991 Gulf War broke out. He reportedly warned them that "if you have forgotten Halabja, I would like to remind you that we are ready to repeat the operation." The fact that he survived several of Saddam's regime purges is evidence of how highly regarded he was. Sources say he remained in favour because he never showed any lust for power. Diagnosed with leukaemia several years ago, his subsequent recovery enabled him to pursue a challenging domestic and foreign work schedule. He travelled abroad often and survived an assassination attempt in 1998. A year later, he avoided arrest in Austria for suspected crimes against humanity. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spain mourns its dead amid questions over why they were targetted
Spain is holding a day of national mourning for the seven intelligence agents murdered in Iraq over the weekend. The King and Queen of Spain comforted relatives at the funerals, which took place at the National Intelligence Centre headquarters, near Madrid. The men lost their lives when their unmarked convoy was shot upon south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. But questions remain over what exactly happened and the government is under pressure to explain why these agents were singled out for attack. Spain's defence minister said initial indications suggest the group had been followed for some days before being ambushed It has prompted a fresh wave of public and political opinion against the presence of Spanish troops in Iraq. At the moment 1,300 are stationed in the country. The Prime Minister, Jose Maria Aznar, has also attended the funerals. Afterwards he was due to address parliament on the country's future role in Iraq, causing controversy as some politicians claimed it was in poor taste to conduct the debate on the same day as the funerals. It is expected the Prime Minister will insist Spain remains in Iraq despite the weekend's bloodshed. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 2 Dicember, 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Isreal: Alternative peace initiative launched in Geneva
For some they are essential players in the push to revive Middle East peace talks. For others they are traitors. Now self-proclaimed Palestinian and Israeli moderates have launched a new peace plan in Geneva. Former US President Jimmy Carter was among those speaking at the ceremony. He said "There remains one basic choice for the Israelis: "Do we want peace with all our neighbours or do we want to retain our settlements throughout the occupied territories?" And it is of equal importance that the Palestinians renounce violence against Israeli citizens in exchange for the commitments of this Geneva initiative. The world community is eager to support the positive responses. " The "Geneva Initiative" was co-authored by former Israeli government minister Yossi Beilin, an architect of the 1993 Oslo peace accords, and former Palestinian minister Yasser Abed Rabbo. The plan seems to be gaining ground in Israel. A new poll shows 31.2 percent approve it, compared with 25 percent in October. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Isreal: Six-year old child killed in Middle East violence
In sharp contrast with the Middle East peace efforts in Geneva, there has been further violence on the ground. At least four Palestinians including a boy of six have been killed. Israeli forces blew up a five-storey building, which they claimed was an arms factory in a major raid on the West Bank city of Ramallah earlier. Another was bulldozed. A wide house-to-house search was also launched for militants suspected of involvement in attacks against Israelis. In Hebron, troops blew up the house of a Hamas militant killed four months ago by Israeli soldiers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- US allege Iraqi ambushers were trying to steal cash
Iraqi militants who ambushed a US convoy were attempting to seize new Iraqi banknotes. That is according to the US military, which said it killed more than 50 people in Samarra when their convoy was attacked. But that figure is under question, police and locals in the city say the soldiers fired randomly killing eight or nine people, including civilians caught up in the clash. The clashes happened in Samarra, which is around 120 kilometres north of Baghdad within the so-called "Sunni Triangle" - the heartland of Saddam Hussein loyalists. The US military was escorting a vehicle, which was delivering new Iraqi dinars to several banks in the area when it came under attack. It claims some of the Iraqis were wearing the uniform of the Fedayeen, a militia loyal to the ousted president. A spokesman from the Iraqi Governing Council said: "I think that the American response was a little too much, but on the other hand I believe it was necessary under such circumstances." The US said the attacks were coordinated. They came at the end of the deadliest month for the US and its allies since the war began. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated: 1 Dicember, 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nation mourns Spaniards killed in Iraq
Spain is mourning the deaths of its seven intelligence agents killed in Iraq. The attack, the dealiest on Spanish personnel so far, has shocked the nation and rekindled doubts about the role of Spanish troops in the country. Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is the leader of the opposition socialists. The party was against the US-led war. Speaking in Madrid, he said: "Today is above all a day of pain and mourning, for the whole country and for us, the Socialists. I want to express my most sincere condolences and support to the families of the dead. I also pledge my complete solidarity with the armed forces." The tragedy made the headlines in Spain's newspapers. Left-leaning 'El Pais' said the country had paid a high price. El Mundo said the deaths require explanations and reflection. That has been the reaction from the majority of Spaniards. In a recent poll, around two thirds of the population said they were unhappy with their troops presence in Iraq. It is opposition that is likely to rise in the light of this attack.
First Japanese die in Iraq
Tokyo has said it is determined to help rebuild Iraq, despite the killing of two Japanese diplomats. The men died in an ambush as they made their way to a conference on the reconstruction of northern Iraq. They are the first Japanese to die since the US-led war began in March. It comes as Japan, one of Washington's closest allies in Asia, deliberates over whether to send troops to Iraq. The attack happened close to Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, about 175 kilometres north of the capital Baghdad. Yoriko Kawaguchi is Japan's Foreign Minister. Speaking at a news conference, she said: "There will be no wavering in our country's stance to actively carry out reconstruction aid for Iraq without giving in to terrorism." Japan has passed a special law to enable it to send troops to the country but they will be limited to just reconstruction and humanitarian work.
Isreal: Palestinians try to block new peace plan
"No to treason" was the cry of Palestinian protesters as they tried to block the way of a group of delegates leaving the Gaza Strip. The Palestinians under siege were on their way to Switzerland for Monday's gala launch of a symbolic peace deal with Israel. The unofficial plan - known as the Geneva Accords - is the fruit of secret talks between former ministers on both sides of the Middle East conflict - and it aims to break the deadlock surrounding the US-backed plan known as the "road map." Like that initiative, it envisages a Palestinian state but it goes further. Palestinian refugees would, in effect, lose their claim to return to Israel while it also mandates the removal of most Jewish settlements and calls for Jerusalem to be split into two capitals. Ariel Sharon is staunchly opposed to the project describing as "traitors" those Israelis who negotiated the deal. The Israeli Prime Minister was meeting US envoy William Burns today and was urging Washington and the whole international community not to support the Geneva Accords. William Burns is fresh from a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie in Jordan, where he is said to have pledged that the US would go on trying to steer peace-making back on track. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
