Last Updated, 31 Dicember, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unprecedented aid effort in Asia
What is expected to be the world's largest ever relief effort is finally gaining momentum. Box by box, supplies are arriving in some of the hardest hit areas of Asia after the deadly tsunamis claimed over 125,000 lives. An estimated 370 million euros has been pledged worldwide. The largest single donation is Britain's 70 million euros. But aid agencies warn the sheer scale of the disaster is yet to be fully understood. That is a sentiment shared by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. "This is an unprecedented global catastrophe and it requires an unprecedented global response," he said. "Over the past few days it has registered deeply in the conscience and consciousness of the world as we seek to grasp the speed, the force and magnitude with which it happened." Planning for future aid and reconstruction is also getting underway. Indonesia says it is organising a tsunami summit for January 6, bringing together representatives from Asia, the US and Australasia. A UN donors' conference has been scheduled for January 11. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Long wait for Thai dead to be identified
At least half the dead and missing in Thailand are foreign tourists. For their families back home the agony is set to continue as identifying bodies could take weeks or even months. The hot weather means that remains being salvaged are virtually unrecognisable. As a result, tissue samples, DNA and even dental records will have to be used. "There are some landmarks which can be used relatively reliably, like tattoos or personal belongings if eventually found," said volunteer doctor Luba Matic. "But a majority of cases fall in a grey area which we sometimes have a hard time to distinguish, sometimes even between genders, because the stage of decomposition is so advanced that a lot of landmarks are lost," he added. Some 5,000 foreign tourists are still listed as missing, including 2,500 Swedes and over 1,000 Germans. Some 29 Britons have been confirmed dead, but that number is expected to rise. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Europe digs deep for tidal wave victims
Appalled and moved by the shocking images on their television screens, many Europeans are digging deep in to their pockets to help victims of the Asian tsunami disaster. In Finland, charity collectors have taken donations of at least three million euros. Many cities are giving money from New Year's Eve firework parties to the relief effort. In France, the money is also pouring in. South East Asia - particularly Thailand - is a popular and familiar destination with many Europeans. In Lyon, one woman who was making a donation said she had been shocked by the images she had seen. One French charity said it had received more donations in a day than it had in the entire previous year. In Britain, some 29 million euros has been raised by the public. Officials say some 14 million euros alone was given in one night. But while relief effort organisers say they are impressed with people's generosity, they warn the need for aid will continue in some countries for years to come. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Argentina nightclub blaze claims 169 lives
At least 169 people have died in a nightclub fire in Argentina. A further 375 were injured in what is being described as one of the country's worst ever disasters. According to local media, thousands may have been inside the building in Buenos Aires, listening to a band, when the blaze broke out. It is thought to have been caused by a flare being fired into the club's ceiling, sending burning debris onto the crowd and triggering a stampede. It was not immediately clear if fire exits and doors were unblocked. Parents rushed to the scene, desperate to find their sons and daughters amid the chaos. Children as young as 10 were among the victims. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Basque 'nation within nation' plan wins approval
A Basque proposal for virtual independence from Spain has unexpectedly won approval in the regional parliament. Politicians have voted by 39 to 35 to accept what is being referred to as 'free association' between the Basque country and Spain. The project is known as the Ibarretxe Plan, after the head of the region's government, Juan José Ibarretxe. He championed it as a means to end the Basque separatist group ETA's campaign of bombings and shootings that has killed about 850 people since 1968. After the vote he said he would call the prime minister to request negotiations to ease the passage of his proposal. But the approval puts the regional government on a collision course with Spain's ruling Socialist and main opposition Popular Party. In Madrid, the deputy head of the ruling socialists was adamant. She said there was nothing new in the Ibarrexte plan - that it was unconstitutional and therefore should not be approved. The opposition was even more outspoken. Angela Cebes said that those who had got the most out of the approval were ETA: "Institutionally they have gained what they have been killing for for years - a radical nationalist project that splits Spain and fractures and isolates the Basque country," he said. The plan will now pass to the national parliament where it is almost certain to be rejected. But the fact that the proposal will even be debated in Madrid is a symbolic victory for Ibarrexte. |
Last Updated, 30 Dicember, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- More than 80,000 killed by tsunami
At least 80,000 people have died as a result of the Asian tidal wave, but the true scale of the disaster may not be known for days. As the world dispatches emergency supplies and rescue teams, and pledges tens of millions of euros in aid, the spectre of disease haunts survivors. It has been estimated the final death toll could exceed 100,000, making the catastrophe the worst of its kind in recorded history. Sunday's monster tidal wave was triggered by a an underwater earthquake in the Indian ocean measuring nearly 9 on the Richter scale. Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and southern India face gigantic death tolls. East Africa was also hit. Thousands of tourists escaping the winter for their Christmas break are missing. The Red Cross has set up a website - www.familylinks.icrc.org -for families looking for information about relatives. Survivors face the most gut-wrenching ordeal of all: identifying the bodies of loved ones - a task made difficult by the corpses' exposure to the sea and blazing sun. Many foreigners have left stricken areas, but others remain, clutching at any straw of information to help them find relatives. Sniffer dogs have gone into action to try to find survivors and locate bodies trapped in the rubble. A few cases of diarrhoea and dysentery have already been reported in Kerala in southern India. Doctors are worried that unsafe drinking water and flooding would facilitate the rapid spread of any epidemic. That is the nightmare scenario across the disaster zone, and officials have warned tens of thousands could die if it becomes reality. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saudi police kill suspected terrorists
Saudi security forces have killed seven militants thought to be linked to a double car bombing in the capital. They were shot dead in a house in northern Riyadh where they had taken refuge after a police chase. Extremists targeted the interior ministry and a centre for special emergency forces. Authorities say both appeared to be suicide attacks. In the first strike, the driver tried to ram his vehicle into the heavily protected government compound but it exploded outside the gates. Several people are said to have been injured. In the other bombing, the militant also attempted to force his car into the complex but failed to reach his objective. According to reports, a "number" of people were wounded. The attacks raised fears of political instability in OPEC's largest producer and sent shudders through global oil markets. They are the second major strikes this month and, like previous bombings, bear the hallmarks of Al Qaeda. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yushchenko backs controversial politician for PM
A controversial figure in Ukraine's opposition, Yulia Timoshenko, could be the country's next prime minister. The former deputy prime minister is reported to have the backing of Viktor Yushchenko, the pro-Western candidate who has been declared the winner of the repeated presidential election. But she is yet to be officially nominated. The 44-year-old is one of Yushchenko's closest allies and is well known for her outspokenness. Although popular, Timoshenko could prove dangerous to Yushchenko as she is currently being investigated by Interpol. It is looking into allegations she was involved in a bribery scandal. Meanwhile, the current pro-Russian prime minister, Viktor Yanukovych, has reiterated his feelings that the re-run of the presidential election was flawed and said he will not step down, even though international observers hailed it a fair vote. It came as opposition supporters forced Ukraine's cabinet to abandon a meeting, after Yushchenko blasted it as illegal. Yanukovych, who has lodged complaints with the Supreme court, looks increasingly weak following his failure to prevent the blockade. He is expected to exhaust all legal possibilities before accepting defeat. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 29 Dicember, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tsunami death toll tops 25.000
With every passing hour, the scarcely believable horror of Sunday's devastastingtsunami in the Indian Ocean continues to unfold. The official death toll now stands at more than twenty-five thousand and seems certain to rise much higher. At the moment, Sri Lanka has suffered the highest death toll. Indonesia's vice president, however, has said that twenty-five thousand people may have lost their lives in his country alone. As the search goes on to locate thousands of people still unaccounted for, a growing catalogue of tales of horror are emerging, often captured on holidaymakers' amateur videos. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. Bin Laden urges Iraqis to shun "infidel" elections
A cassette attributed to Osama Bin Laden has called on Iraqis to boycott the elections scheduled for January 30. The audio tape broadcast on Qatar's al-Jazeera television channel said anyone taking part in the vote would be an "infidel." US intelligence officials have concluded the new tape is probably genuine. While Bin Laden has few followers in Iraq, the message adds to the intimidation against voters which was cited by the leading Sunni political movement, the Iraqi Islamic Party, as its main reason for pulling out of the election. The recording also reportedly backs Jordanian-born militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi as the leader of the al-Qaeda network in Iraq. His group has claimed responsibility for many bombings in Iraq and the murders of hostages including American contractor Nicholas Berg. Al-Zarqawi has previously professed his hatred towards Iraq's Shi'ite majority. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 28 Dicember, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- French researchers make blood cell breakthrough
A scientific breakthrough at the University of Paris has led to hopes that mass-produced red blood cells could help alleviate shortages of donated blood. For the first time researchers have developed a way to produce large numbers of cells. The three-stage process involves combining stem cells with another group called stromal cells and then adding a growth factor to stimulate them. The French team headed by Professor Luc Douay devised a technique using mouse cells. Professor Douay said: "All the cells will be produced at the same time and will have a shelf life of four months, whereas when you take blood from a donor you get young red blood cells and old ones, and the average life is just three weeks." The Paris researchers say the stem cells could be harvested from the blood of the person receiving the transfusion, meaning there is no risk of rejection. The technique may also work with blood from umbilical cords. However, there is no talk of replacing blood donations. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 27 Dicember, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Asia quake and tsunami toll likely to rise dramatically
There are scenes of death and devastation across southern Asia as the search goes on for people still missing after a massive quake and subsequent tsunamis. At least 23,000 people are now known to have died. A nine-magnitude earthquake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra - the world's biggest quake in more than 40 years - is what triggered the tidal waves that left a trail of destruction. Massive walls of water hit the coastlines of many countries without warning, leaving millions homeless and scores of people missing. Rescuers say the death toll is likely to rise dramatically, as many remote islands and areas are still to be reached. The number of people injured is impossible to count, but officials say it is likely to be in the tens of thousands. Worst affected countries were Sri Lanka, India, Indonesia and Thailand. Many of the dead were foreign tourists who had packed resort beaches for the Christmas holidays. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yushchenko wins Ukraine's election re-run
Hailing the start of what appears to be a new chapter in Ukrainian politics, there were jubilant scenes in Kiev's Independence Square, as opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko claimed victory in the re-run of the country's presidential election. With more than 90 percent of the ballot counted, the opposition leader has 54 percent of the vote, compared to 42 percent scored by his pro-Russian rival Viktor Yanukovich. "For 14 years we were independent but not free," he told the crowd in the capital of the ex-Soviet state. "For 14 years we had the tyranny of Kuchma and Yanukovich. Today, in Ukraine, we can say that all that is in the past." "Now, ahead of us, we have a free and independent Ukraine." The celebrations involving thousands of opposition supporters, sporting their distinctive orange colours, follow an electoral marathon that began on October 31st when the first round of voting was held to replace outgoing President Leonid Kuchma. The Supreme Court annulled last month's second round on the grounds of cheating. The re-run culminated in these images of joy from those Yushchenko supporters who saw themselves as ready to stand up and be counted in their protest for a free and fair election. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Suicide bomb attack hits IRAQ 's Shi'ite party headquarters
A suicide car bomb outside the main office of Iraq's main Shi'ite Muslim political party appears to have been an assassination attempt ahead of elections there in five week's time. The bomb went off outside the main office of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, one of the top groups contesting the January 30 election. Thirteen people were killed in the blast and around 50 wounded when the bomb ripped through the building. The party's headquarters is also home to party leader Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, who is thought to have been the intended target for the attack. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Europe shivers as snow falls
Most of Europe is under a great slab of white cloud as the week starts with snowfalls around the continent, from Spain and France to Italy. In Spain, the main north-south artery and road links with Portugal have been cut, stranding thousands in their cars. The army has been called out to help with exceptionally heavy blizzards. It gave Spain a white Christmas but more snow on Sunday worsened the situation. Cortina in Italy celebrated extra snowfall to bank up the slopes for its skiers. Avalanche warnings are high and in the south there are gale warnings and the River Sarno near Naples has burst its banks. French upland regions from the Alps to the Pyrenees to the Massif Centrale to the Ardennes have been hit by major falls making driving difficult, with heavy lorries banned on some stretches. Border regions are particularly badly affected. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 26 Dicember, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Asian quake kills thousands
Sunday, December 26, 2004 CNN) -- The world's most powerful earthquake in 40 years triggered massive tidal waves that slammed into villages and seaside resorts across Asia on Sunday, killing thousands across five countries. The quake, near the Indonesian island of Sumatra, triggered giant waves -- or tsunami -- that swept across the region. Over 1,700 people in Sri Lanka were killed after tidal waves battered the country's eastern coast, according to Colombo police. Authorities fear the death toll there could rise. At least 1,000 Indians were killed in India as a result of tidal waves which flooded the southern coast, Interior Minister Shivraj Patil said. Thai authorities say nearly 250 have been killed as a result of tsunamis. Eyewitnesses in the eastern Sri Lankan port city of Trincomalee reported waves as high as 40 feet, hitting inland as far as half a mile (1 km). In addition, up to 200 fishermen are missing at sea off the coast of India, officials have told reporters. Flash flooding in Indonesia has claimed almost 100 lives, and many more deaths are feared in Thailand after huge waves hit the popular tourist resort of Phuket. Government officials say Thailand's toll is already above 50. At least 14 people are missing in Phuket, where witnesses described "walls of water" as high as 30 feet (10 meters), flooding the streets, absorbing taxi cabs and other vehicles. One witness said Laguna Beach, where many of the island's major resort hotels are located, was "completely gone." Thailand's government has evacuated 10,000 people from southern Thailand and declared a state of emergency. The death toll Six deaths were also reported from Malaysia's Penang island. The reports suggest the likely total death toll in the region is likely to exceed 1,000. The quake prompted a series of powerful aftershocks and tidal waves in Sri Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia's Sumatra Island, according to the U.S. Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center. The death toll has reached 94 in Indonesia's Aceh province after flooding from the earthquake hit the region, hospital and local officials told AP. Malaysia's official Bernama news agency said a tsunami that struck Penang island killed six people. The initial quake, measuring 8.5 in magnitude, struck off the western coast of Sumatra around 7 a.m. local time (7 p.m. ET) and was followed by at least six moderate to strong aftershocks in the following hours. The 8.5 quake is the strongest temblor to hit since 1965, according to geophysicist Julie Martinez with the NEIC, which monitors worldwide earthquakes. In Indonesia's restive Aceh province, early radio reports said nine people died in a flash flood following the earthquake. "I saw four bodies of kids and five bodies of adults," one resident identified as Mustofa told El Shinta radio, agencies reported. But the toll quickly rose during the day to be near 100. CNN correspondent Aneesh Raman in Bangkok said eye-witnesses spoke of a "wall of water" bearing down on the beachfronts of the popular resort of Phuket as at least two waves struck. Raman said Thai officials were evacuating 10,000 people from the area, and there reportedly was "untold devastation". In India, dead and missing were reported from three coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh state, Chief Secretary Mohan Kanda told reporters. Te Indian prime minister's office told CNN that the toll was at least 100, while Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran said the figure was at least 300. He said the missing fishermen were out in the sea when the tidal wave hit the area. "I have alerted the administration in nine of Andhra Pradesh's 23 districts," Kanda said, AP reported. Thousands of people fled their homes in the Aceh provincial capital Banda Aceh when the tremor struck, the official Antara news agency said. Residents in North Sumatra's capital, Medan, reported a strong tremor that caused panic among residents. "It was quite strong. We ran out of our houses but we're now back inside," said one resident. The tremor could be felt as far away as India, 1,400 kilometers from the quake center. An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale rattled Indonesia's eastern Papua province in November, killing 29 people in the coastal town of Nabire. Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,000 islands, lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire where plate boundaries intersect and volcanoes regularly erupt. CNN Correspondents Aneesh Raman in Bangkok and Suhasini Haidar in New Delhi contributed to this report ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ukraine tries to elect a president - again This time round, will it be free and fair?
That is the question being asked as Ukrainians go to the polls today, for a re-run of last month's rigged presidential election. Some 12,000 international observers are monitoring proceedings. But their efforts have been complicated by an eve of poll decision taken by the country's Constitutional Court. It has overturned a reform that was intended to cut fraud. Home voting was limited following the November 21 poll, which was annulled on the grounds of cheating - the opposition arguing that mobile ballot boxes had been a key source of vote-rigging. Now, however, in a move believed to benefit Viktor Yanukovich, declared winner of the last disputed election, legal authorities have restored the right to vote to a wide range of people unable to get to an official polling station. The move may mark a small victory for the Yanukovich camp but the prime minister's supporters know that their man remains the underdog in this election race. Trailing in the polls, he claims his victory last month was illegally taken from him and he accuses his opponents of trying to seize power in a foreign-backed "orange coup." The Western-leaning leader of Ukraine's opposition is hotly-tipped to win the repeat ballot. Viktor Yushchenko's face still bears the marks of dioxin poisoning that he blames on the authorities. He has promoted an image of the ex-Soviet state gradually integrating with Europe although he continues to describe Russia as a "strategic partner." With the final countdown on to polling, a festive party for children was held in the square in Kiev that has become home to thousands of orange-brandishing opposition supporters. They believe that soon they will have something else to celebrate - the election of Viktor Yushchenko as president of Ukraine. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Turkish shipping magnate seized in IRAQ
One of Turkey's richest businessmen is in the hands of Iraqi kidnappers. Shipping magnate Kahraman Sadikoglu has appeared in footage shot by his captors who are said to be demanding a 25 million dollar ransom. He is believed to have been seized several days ago in southern Iraq with three other people. He said on the tape that he was being treated well. NATO country Turkey shares a border with Iraq and has co-operated with the US in the region, although relations were strained when Ankara refused to let American troops invade its neighbour by crossing Turkish soil. Kahraman Sadikoglu's company last year won a major contract to remove sunken ships from Umm Qasr in southern Iraq. He has now offered to withdraw the firm from the country. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 25 Dicember, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Putin fronts up to more than 700 journalists
Defending and explaining - the Russian president has fronted up to reporters in Moscow for his traditional end of year media conference. In front of almost 700 journalists invited to the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin answered questions about the oil giant Yukos, the crisis in Ukraine, andpolitical change in other former soviet nations. He strongly defended the state's takeover of the stricken oil giant Yukos's main production unit. He said: "In my opinion everything was done within the framework of market rules. Like I told you at the press conference in Germany all state companies which are 100 per cent owned by the state can, like any other company, participate in this kind of auction. They just exercised their own right". Putin was asked for his reaction to comments from Ukraine's opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko that his first visit, if elected president, will be to Moscow. "We will welcome whatever decision is made and we are going to work with the new president of Ukraine. "But we want to emphasise that we hope that in Yushchenko's team there are not going to be people who build up their political ambition on the basis of anti-russian slogans or zionist slogans," he said. Russian media later corrected Putin's last words, replacing zionist with anti-semitic. Another journalist called on the president to comment on the political changes in former soviet states. "Of course we need to pay attention, to help democratic processes, but if people choose to go down the road of permanent revolution, nothing good will come of that for the nations concerned. That would result in eternal conflict for the whole ex-USSR territory. Doing that would lead to very serious problems." President Putin also again ruled out running for a third term in the Kremlin, promising to organise presidential elections in 2008 in what he called a "proper democratic way". ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Election will not change Ukraine/Russia relations: Lavrov
Russia has said the outcome of Ukraine's re-run presidential election will not affect relations between the two countries. That was the message given to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Konstantin Grishchenko in a meeting in Moscow with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov. "We hear a lot of provocative statements from here and from there. Today, we agreed that this has nothing to do with our strategic partnership, which doesn't depend on a political state of affairs but is based on the closest ties of our people and satisfies our mutual interests," said Lavrov. The previous presidential vote was annulled by the Ukranian Supreme Court because it was found to be rigged. The December 26th ballot pits the western leaning opposition leader, Viktor Yuschenko against the pro-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Yanokovich. Both candidates have been out on the streets campaiging to the end. About 12,000 monitors are due to watch over the vote. The Organisation for Security and Co-operration in Europe said the November poll was deeply flawed. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 24 Dicember, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Palestinian muncipial vote for first time in three decades
Palestinians have been voting in municipal elections for the first time in nearly 30 years. The poll has been viewed as a warm up to January's presidential ballot to choose a successor to Yasser Arafat. Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie was among the first to vote, he said it was a crucial step towards establishing a Palestinian state. The municipal vote will likely prove a test of strength between the dominant Fatah movement and the militant group Hamas. Soon after casting his ballot Qurie made for a cabinet meeting and sparked controversy with his criticisms of the British Prime Minister's proposed Middle East summit. Though he said the conference would help the peace process, he added that its focus on Palestinian reform was unnecessary. He suggested its premis was insulting, stating that they did not need lessons in negotiating skills nor require political rehabilitation. Those comments have pointed to a possible division within the new Palestinian leadership. On Wednesday, Mahmoud Abbas who is seen as the front runner for the presidency welcomed the meeting. Tony Blair has said it will focus on Palestinian political, economic and security reform. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. First steps back into Fallujah for families
After weeks living with family, friends, or under cnavas some 2000 Iraqis returned to Fallujah on Thursday, the first refugees to be allowed back into the former city of 300 000. They and most of the population fled a US-led invasion of the city in November to flush out anti-government rebels. They have found their former home in ruins. Family heads were allowed back into the south western Andalus district to decide if the area was safe enough to bring back their families, but if the devastation that was visible all around was in one of the districts the leastaffected by the fighting, what might the ones were resistance was stiff look like? Moreover, getting in was not easy. One man was angry he did not have the necessary ID; "With the chaos what chance is there of that" he cried. Fallujah remains dangerous. Gunfire can still be heard from time to time. Most of the south is sealed off, and only five checkpoints in the north have opened to let people in. In addition, there are unexploded munitions and booby traps to contend with. "I found my house, but it was in such a state I could only save this bedcover" says a man as he clutched the slim pickings from what was once his home. New identity cards will be issued, improving security, and compensation has been promised, but with no power or water those pledges impress people less than the seeming inability of the government to restore services and a little normality to this once bustling city, that today is more like a ghost town. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 23 Dicember, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Security stepped up in Spain over Christmas
Security is being stepped up across Spain over the Christmas period. For the first time emergency measures are being taken across the country to counter the threat of a terrorist attack. More than 65,000 members of the security forces will be involved in the operation drawing personnel from the army, airforce and the police. The measures are expected to be in force until January 8 Special patrols have been set up. Check points have been put in place around the capital and other cities. The country remains highly sensitive to the threat of the terrorist attack since March 11 train bombings which killed 191 people, one of whom was a pregnant woman. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 22 Dicember, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- French journalists held hostage in Iraq released
There is official confirmation that two French journalists who have been held hostage in Iraq for the past four months have been released. Christian Chesnot and George Malbrunot are reported to have been handed by their captors to the French embassy in Baghdad. The pair were kidnapped along with their Syrian driver in August as they travelled towards Najaf. The driver was rescued last month when US marines were attempting to drive rebels out of Fallujah. The French Foreign Ministry says the reporters are expected to return to France some time on Wednesday. Yesterday, French journalists were out on the streets of Paris, trying to keep the fate of the pair at the forefront of peoples' minds. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. Surprise visit to Baghdad by British Prime Minister
The British Prime Minister has today made a surprise first visit to Baghdad. Tony Blair today met the Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, in a show of support for elections due next month. Blair flew from Baghdad airport to Allawi's city-centre offices in a military helicopter under heavy guard. Later he spoke to a media conference, saying that he hoped elections would go ahead as planned. He said: "There are people dying in Iraq, but the reason people are dying is because of the terrorism and the intimidation and the people who are deliberately killing anyone trying to make their country better. What should our response be as an international community? Our response should be to stand alongside the democrats, who are the people who have got the courage to see this through and help them see it through. I've got no doubt at all that this is the right thing for us to do." ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 21 Dicember, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ukraine presidential rivals clash in TV debate
Thousands of Ukrainians have been glued to the TV to watch the clash between the nation's rival presidential candidates. Those who were expecting a heated exchange were not disappointed. But the head to head is not expected to have changed many voters minds ahead of Sunday's re-run vote. Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich was named winner of last month's election but his victory was declared illegal because of fraud. He faced opposition leader Viktor Yuschenko in yesterday's debate. Yanukovich attempted to distance himself from the controversial poll: "I want to apologise to all of you for the improprieties in this election campaign. I want there to be no bad will after this vote." For his part Yuschenko accused his opponent of stealing three million votes. It is an election that has been plagued by scandal, not least by the confirmation that Yuschenko's mystery illness was caused ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 20 Dicember, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Likud and Labour struggle to find coalition deal
The Likud party of Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon and the Labour opposition are still haggling over power-sharing in a coalition government. A deal is crucial for Sharon's plan to withdraw 8,000 Jewish settlers, and troops protecting them, from the occupied Gaza Strip. It could also help Sharon avoid a snap election. He lost his parliamentary majority when he fired cabinet members from the Shinui party who voted against the budget. Labour has threatened to delay entry into the coalition unless its leader Shimon Peres is appointed second deputy premier at the same time the party's eight new ministers are sworn in. The constitution allows for a single deputy. The post is currently held by Likud's Ehud Olmert and he is refusing to budge, claiming he has the backing of Sharon. Fearing a Likud-Labour coalition is a foregone conclusion, a major organisation representing Jewish settlers yesterday repeated threats to resist a Gaza evacuation. The Yesha Council urged its supporters to engage in non-violent civil disobedience. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pressure on CDU Secretary over scandal
A second leader of Germany's opposition Christian Democrats is coming under increasing pressure to stand down over a financial scandal. Germany papers have claimed that Laurenz Meyer has been receiving a salary from power company RWE while holding the post of CDU General Secretary. It is also reported he received reduced electricity bills. Meyer denies having done anything wrong. He said he was entitled to benefits from RWE as he once worked for one of its subsidiaries. CDU leader Angela Merkel is expected to make a decision on Meyer's future in the coming days. Party Vice Chairman Christian Wulff says Merkel would be collecting all the facts first and then making a decision with the help of what he called "outsiders." "It's the right way to proceed," he said. Political analyst Hans Herbert Von Arnim believes Meyer
has to go. "I think Angela Merkel has to take the consequences,
firstly because of what's already come out. He only revealed his side
in bits and pieces and only admitted to what the press knew anyway,"
he said. Another leading CDU member was forced to resign last week
after similar revelations. The ruling Social Democrats have called
for tougher rules on politicians income. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 19 Dicember, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Black Sunday for IRAQi Shi'ites
Sunday saw Iraq's worst bombings in nearly six months: suicide bombers struck in the twin holy Shi'ite cites of Najaf and Kerbala, killing at least 62 and wounding nearly 130. Three electoral officers were also dragged from their car and killed in Baghdad. Busy bus stations were the targets in what seemed to be co-ordinated attacks six weeks ahead of Iraq's historic democratic election, but the explosions were also close to Shi'ite holy shrines at the Imam Ali and Imam Hussein mosques. Shi'ite leaders called on their people not to retaliate in kind for the attacks. In Najaf at least 48 died and 90 were injured when a car bomb was detonated in a packed crowd. The Kerbala bomb was the city's second in five days, killing 14 and wounding 39. 12 people had already died in Kerbala on Wednesday in what appeared to be an attempt of the life of Shi'ite cleric Abdul Mehdi al-Kerbali. The Shi'ites have organised a powerful block that will contest the elections which militants have vowed to disrupt. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 18 Dicember, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Breakthrough means Turkey-EU talks can begin
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan can go home a happy man: Four decades after it first entered into association with the EU, terms have been agreed under which Ankara will start full membership talks with the European Union next October. The deal in Brussels was reached after tough negotiations with the 25-nation bloc, which insisted Turkey must move towards normalising relations with Cyprus. Coinciding with this, a general election has just been announced in the Turkish Cypriot enclave to take place in February. The EU backed-off a little from the hyper-sensitive question of Ankara recognising the Greek Cypriot authorities in Nicosia. The European Union agreed yesterday on an offer to open accession negotiations on October 3 next year but it has been made clear that Turkey will be expected to sign an accord which would indirectly give the Republic of Cyprus - an EU member state - recognition before Ankara can start its membership talks. A demand to have the deal initialled during these talks was dropped. Bulgaria and Romania have also made strides: they will sign an accession treaty with the EU in April, with a view to becoming new members in 2007 if they pursue reforms. For Croatia membership talks will begin in April next year, provided the former Yugoslav republic fully co-operates with the UN war crimes tribunal. Zagreb had been hoping for an unconditional date but EU officials want to keep up the pressure in the hunt for a fugitive former general, indicted by the court. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hard bargaining and a long road ahaed for Turkey
The journey on the road from Ankara to Brussels is proving more difficult than many Turks would have hoped. Obstacles still lie in the way but at least the first step has been taken. The fact that Turkey was willing to make concessions on issues of such fundamental importance is a measure of the country's determination to join the EU. It is a process that began 40 years ago with the signing of an association agreement with the EU's predecessor. That relationship will now be extended to the ten new member states who joined in May, including Cyprus. This was a measure Greek Cypriots had insisted on. They view it as recognition of statehood and crucial to any efforts to reach a final reconciliation between the two sides. For Turkey, it was the most painful concession to make. The prize is a fixed date for the start of accession talks: October 3 next year. The process will be open-ended but there is no certainty about when negotiations will conclude and no guarantees that the outcome will be the one the Turks want. The EU also claims the right to halt the negotiations if Turkey does not continue down the path to reform. Turkey has accepted, in principle, conditions not applied to previous candidates. These were intended to address concerns in the bloc about security and the cost of integrating such a vast and largely agriculutural country. Some states have expressed fears about a wave of poor immigrants. Prime Minister Erdogan lobbied hard against conditions Turkey considered discriminatory, such as a possible permanent emergency brake on the movement of labour. The final document did mention the possibility of derogations from the EU treaty or permanent safeguard clauses. But it spelled out this was not the same as permanent restrictions on freedom of movement. In the end it was a hard-struck bargain, throwing light on just how fraught the process of integrating Turkey into the EU family will be. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 17 Dicember, 2004 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other EU-hopefuls given dates
You could be forgiven for thinking that Turkey is the only candidate country under discussion at the landmark EU summit in Brussels. After all, Ankara's European ambitions are dominating media attention. Other nations, however, are also pursuing their bids to join the club. And, in a draft statement, key dates have been given for them to put in their diaries. For Croatia, it is April next year. That is when the European Union is willing to open membership talks - provided the former Yugoslav republic fully co-operates with the UN war crimes tribunal. Zagreb had been hoping for an unconditional date but EU officials want to keep up the pressure in the hunt for a fugitive former general, indicted by the court. Other would-be members Bulgaria and Romania missed out on the first wave of the European Union's eastern enlargement in May, after dragging their feet on reforms. But the EU now says it will sign an Accession Treaty with both countries in April 2005, with a view to them taking their place in the bloc two years later. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 16 Dicember, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bus hijacking drama in Greece ends peacefully
In Greece, armed hijackers have surrendered their weapons to police, ending an 18-hour standoff. Half a dozen remaining passengers held on a bus since the early hours of Wednesday morning were released unharmed. The hijackers had already gradually freed 17 of the 23 passengers initially taken hostage. The two Albanian gunmen had earlier demanded a ransom of 750,000 euros and a flight to Russia, otherwise, they said, they would blow the bus up. Police say it turns out the pair did not have explosives. The safe release of all the hostages came as a big relief for the families of the passengers who had been anxiously waiting for news. "I was praying all day for my daughter's release," said one woman. "I'm happy it's ended peacefully." A husband and wife were also among those reunited. "Everything finished very well and I feel very happy," said the woman. The Greek Minister of Public Order, Giorgos Voulgarakis, said the hostage situation was very difficult and complex. He praised what he called the calmness and professionalism of the authorities. He also said the experience police gathered during the Olympic Games came in handy. Officials say it appears the hijackers were motivated by money and their real goal was to go to Albania, not Russia as they earlier claimed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Italian aid worker reported kidnapped in Iraq
It is reported an Italian working for a non-governmental organisation has been kidnapped in Iraq. The Italian news agency Ansa reports the man works for a British NGO. The news came on the day that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi met US President Bush in Washington. Officials in Rome say they are checking reports of the kidnapping, and also reports that a photograph showing a body and an Italian passport has been discovered in Baghdad. So far this year, seven Italians have been taken hostage in Iraq. Two women aid workers were released after being held for three weeks in September. Two others were killed by their captors. Italy has some 3,000 troops in Iraq, the third biggest contingent after the US and Britain. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 15 Dicember, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ World's tallest road bridge inaugurated
Standing 23 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower, it is a world record breaker - the tallest road bridge in the world. It is located in Millau in southern France and was inaugurated this morning by French President Jacques Chirac. The bridge has been constructed to ease serious summer traffic congestion as holidaymakers stream from north to south in search of sun. It connects the French cities of Clermont Ferrand and Beziers. That means that Paris is now directly linked to the Mediterranean and removes the bottleneck from Millau. Though it is a French project, the Millau bridge was designed by British architect Norman Foster. He said crossing his construction should feel more like flying a car than driving it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ IRAQ. Green Zone bombed twice in two days
A second suicide bomber has struck outside Baghdad's Green Zone complex in two days. At least one person was killed in the blast and 12 civilians wounded, five of them seriously. The device is reported to have gone off near a recruiting centre for the Iraqi National Guard, a force being trained by the American-led coalition in the country. The Green Zone is a heavily fortified complex which houses the US-backed interim government and foreign embassies. Almost 24 hours earlier eight people died in the same area when a suicide car bomber struck on the one year anniversary of Saddam Hussein's capture. Insurgents including radical nationalists and Islamic militants are blamed for the bombings. The violence comes as Iraq prepares for national elections at the end of next month. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Germany's can deposit system has been given a cool reception by the European Court of Justice. It ruled that the regulations giving buyers cash back when they return an empty container goes against European competition rules Judges decided that the system unfairly discriminated against foreign producers of canned and bottled drinks. The legislation imposing a deposit system on cans sparked controversy when it was introduced in 2003. Large supermarket chains said the rules allowing customers to bring back their cans to any store and demand a 25 cent deposit in return were unworkable. The aim of the initiative is to protect the environment
- but critics say it is not working, with a quarter of all cans bought
thrown away rather than returned. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yanukovich speaks about Kuchma and Yushchenko's poisoning
Ukraine's Prime Minister and presidential candidate Viktor Yanukovich has spoken publicly about his falling-out with current president Leonid Kuchma and the claims that authorities poisoned rival candidate Viktor Yushchenko. Yanukovich will run against Yushchenko in a rerun of disputed elections on December 26. At a media conference in Kiev, the Prime Minister accused the US and international mediators of meddling in his country's affairs. He also spoke about the loss of support he once enjoyed from Kuchma, whom he accuses of doing nothing to avert the electoral crisis. "As far as my current relations with the outgoing president are concerned, our points of view have become absolutely different," said Yanukovich. "I became deeply disappointed in this person," the prime minister added. He also spoke about the scandal over the poisoning of his rival. "I feel compassion for Viktor Yushchenko on the account of his illness. I wish him no evil, and never did. I hope he gets well soon." Yanukovich has denied any knowledge about the dioxin poisoning which has left Yushchenko's face disfigured. The opposition candidate says he is convinced he was targeted by the authorities, and says he hopes prosecutors will establish the truth after the new elections. Both the US and the European Union have called for full investigations. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 14 Dicember, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ IRAQ. One year anniversary of capture of Saddam marked by violence
On the one year anniversary of the capture of Saddam Hussein, Iraq has been rocked by what seems to now be a daily dose of violence. Some 50 kilometres from Baghdad, a car bomb exploded by a US military convoy. There was no immediate word of casualties. In the northern city of Kirkuk gunmen shot an Iraqi translator working for US forces, he was severely wounded and a passer-by was killed. The days bloodiest attack took place outside Baghdad's government compound. A suicide car bomber killed at least seven Iraqis and wounded 19 others. Al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has claimed responsibility for the assualt. Meanwhile, it appears that Saddam Hussein's jailed deputies have called off what seemed a shortlived hunger strike. It is not thought Iraq's toppled leader refused food, and though there are few details, it is believed they were protesting at the legality of their detention. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Pinochet charged over Operation Condor
The former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet is being placed under house arrest and formally charged over a 1970s crackdown on left-wing opponents. The 89-year-old has been accused of involvement in the disappearance of nine Chileans and the death of one of them during what was known as Operation Condor. The prosecution says it was a sinister and shadowy plot between military South American leaders to track down and kill the opposition. The victims' bodies were never found - their families have long campaigned for justice. Pinochet has repeatedly escaped prosecution by claiming he is not mentally fit to stand trial, a claim overthrown by Santiago judge Juan Guzman. The general's legal team plans to appeal that decision. In an earlier human rights case his defence kept him from facing trial by successfully arguing his mild dementia made him mentally incompetent. Pinochet ruled the South American country with an iron fist from 1973 to 1990. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opposition leader Basescu wins Romania vote
Supporters of newly elected Romanian president Traian Basescu have been celebrating in the streets as the man himself pledges to get down to business. The centrist DA alliance leader beat Prime Minister Adrian Nastase by a narrow margin in Sunday's run-off vote. Following through on an election campaign pledge, Basescu said he was putting corruption on the country's defence agenda: "I think at the moment high level corruption has become or is becoming a threat to our national security," he said. With no party enjoying a majority in parliament the opposition offered to cooperate with Basescu as Romania pushes towards EU membership in 2007. "We're going to support the plans put forward by Traian Basescu, continuing along the road towards Europe and prosperity," says Adrian Nastase. "I hope that Traian Basescu as president will also lend his support to the plans either we or the new government will be proposing." For the moment Basescu is negotiating with smaller parties as he aims to form a government. The incoming president holds significant influence over the process, as he nominates the new prime minister. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Zapatero testifies before 11th March committee
The March 11th terrorist bombings on Madrid are making the headlines again with Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's testimony. He is the first Spanish premier to be questioned by a parliamentary commission. He rejected claims the attacks, which took place three days before a general election, helped catapult his Socialist Party to power. He also responded to criticism that Spain bowed to terrorism by withdrawing its troops from Iraq, by saying that had always been a campaign pledge. Speaking about his conservative predecessors, he accused the former government of deceiving the public by first trying to lay the blame for the attacks on Basque terrorists, then erasing computer records concerning that period: "When I took office, not a single document or piece of paper could be found, it had all been deleted," he told the committee. Nearly 200 people died when a series of bombs exploded on commuter trains throughout the Spanish capital on 11th March this year. Ex-premier Jose Maria Aznar has always denied the assaults were the result of his unpopular decision to support the US-led invasion of Iraq. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Much work to be done, Basescu tells EuroNews
The fight against corruption and steering Romania towards membership of the EU are among the main priorities for Triain Basescu. The Romanian president-elect has been telling Euronews about how he intends to achieve his goals, and what needs to be done to meet EU requirements. "There are several important points which are mentioned in the European Commission's report on Romania - the report of 2004. Firstly, there's the independence of the judiciary. Then there's the elimination of corruption and particularly corruption among the political class. The freedom of the press...We also have big problems in stimulating a competitive environment.The former government had the habit of giving all sorts of presents to political clients." "There were tax exemptions running to billions of lei. We will be very careful in terms of public procurement - an area where the current government compromised itself by according contracts worth billions of euros without seeking other tenders. We are going to seriously look into the problem of child adoption. We will also have to guarantee that civil society plays in Romanian life." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Middle East. Violence dents peace hopes in Middle East
Hopes that a relative lull in violence between Israelis and Palestinians could last have been significantly dented following an upsurge in hostilities. Israel has launched a series of retaliatory air strikes in Gaza City after five of its soldiers were killed on Sunday. They targeted suspected weapons-making factories. Yesterday's attack on an Israeli checkpoint was the army's heaviest in seven months. Militants had dug a tunnel underneath the post and set off 1500 kg bomb. Israel has now said that progress towards peace cannot be made if what it termed terrorism continued. But for Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat negotiations need to come first: "The only way to revive hope in the minds of Israelis and Palestinians is to have a meaningful process. The only way to break the vicious cycle of violence is to revive a meaningful peace process and negotiations, that would lead to the end of the Israeli occupation," he said. Israel has sent re-enforcements to the southern Gaza Strip. The growing violence has dealt a blow to those who had hoped that the Palestinian president's death would herald a new period of calm and eventually bring lasting peace to the troubled region. |
Last Updated, 13 Dicember, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lopes bows out after turbulent four months as PM
Portugal's Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes and his
centre-right administration have resigned. It follows Friday's announcement
by President Jorge Sampaio that there would bean early general election
on February 20. Sampaio said he was dissolving parliament after what he called a "series of episodes" had damaged the government´s credibility, including the bitter resignation of a minister and allegations that the ruling party was interfering with the media. Lopes, a former mayor of Lisbon, took over as premier in August when Jose Manuel Barroso left to become European Commission president. Portugal's opposition Socialists are ahead in opinion polls. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yushschenko probably poisoned by "third party": doctors
Viktor Yanukovich´s chances in Ukraine´s repeat election appear to have been dented after doctors confirmed his challenger had been poisoned. Although Yanukovich has not been accused directly, suspicion has fallen on pro-government forces who Viktor Yushchenko believes tried to kill him. Public prosecutors in Ukraine have re-opened an attempted murder case. Experts at a hospital in Vienna where Yushschenko underwent a fresh round of tests said his blood contained very high levels of dioxin which, they said, would be easy to slip into food. "In our final diagnosis, we are sure the poisoning was triggered by a third party," said the clinic´s director Dr. Michael Zimpfer. The opposition challenger fell ill in September. He resumed campaigning later that month but with a pockmarked and badly disfigured face. Specialists believe it will take years for Yushchenko´s body to rid itself of the toxin. The opposition number two, Yulia Timoshchenko, said: "I think that after his victory in the election everyone who was involved in this episode will be answerable before the law." Some people on Kiev´s streets welcomed the diagnosis. "I think it was correct because there were many experts looking into it," one man saement. id. "I believe doctors have made the right assessment - that he was definitely poisoned." The government had no immediate reaction but has in the past rejected allegations of any involv ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 12 Dicember, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Romanians to vote in presidential poll
Romanians go to the polls today in a tightly fought presidential runoff that is crucial to the country´s future as EU membership looms. According to the latest opinion polls, Adrian Nastase, the left-wing prime minister, maintains a slight lead over his centre-right opponent Traian Basescu. Both challengers have struck a populist tone. Nastase has portrayed himself as a safe pair of hands with the economy and has pledged to improve living standards. Basescu, the mayor of Bucarest, has focused on corruption and has vowed to return what he calls stolen money from political cronies to pensioners, peasants and young people. It was a bitter and sometimes dirty campaign. At one stage Nastase angrily denied stories in the media alleging that he is gay. The opposition lashed the Prime Minister's conduct of EU accession negotiations and charged that massive fraud had taken place in the first round of the election. A question mark remains over today´s turnout with the far right calling for a boycott. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Berlusconi rallies party faithful
Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi addressed a rally of his Forza Italia party a day after escaping conviction in a major corruption trial. He avoided all mention of the court case, preferring to list the reforms his government has carried out over the last three and a half years. Berlusconi told his supporters - numbering five thousand, according to organisers - that tax cuts for next year were at the heart of his political programme. Earlier on he had refused to comment on his latest judicial embarrassment when a court in Palermo sentenced a close political ally to nine years in jail for colluding with the Mafia. Prosecutors said Marcello Dell'Utri, a Forza Italia senator, had frequent contacts with the Mafia when he worked for the Berlusconi family's holding company Fininvest from 1974 to 1994. On Friday Berlusconi himself escaped conviction in a nearly five-year-old trial in Milan. The ruling implied that he was guilty of authorising a 400-thousand-euro bribe to a judge in 1991 but could not be sentenced because of the time limit. Berlusconi was acquitted of a second bribery charge ----------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 11 Dicember, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bitter-sweet victory for Berlusconi
Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's victory in a major corruption trial was a bitter-sweet one after one of his closest aides was jailed for 9 years. Marcello Dell'Utri has been found guilty of collaborating with the Mafia. He has also been barred from holding public office for life. Dell'Utri, a senior member of Berlusconi's Forza Italia ruling party, is accused of acting as a middle-man between the mob and Italy's political and financial elite. He will appeal the verdict. The ruling comes just a day after the prime minister escaped conviction in a corruption case thanks to a statute of limitations - the ruling implies that Berlusconi was guilty of bribing a judge in the early 1990s in order to secure a business deal but could not be sentenced because time had run out. The prime minister, who was also acquitted of a second charge of bribing the judiciary, has always claimed he was the victim of a politically-motivated witch hunt. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sampaio gives date for Portugal poll
Portugal will go to the polls in an early general election on February 20. The date was announced live on national television by President Jorge Sampaio. He explained why he was dissolving parliament and elaborated on what has made him lose confidence in the current centre-right administration. He referred to "a series of episodes" which he said had decisively overshadowed the credibility of the government and its capacity to confront the crisis the country was going through. They were strong words that followed an eventful if short-lived time at the helm for Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes. His tenure has been beset with problems ranging from a minister's bitter resignation to allegations of government interference with the media. His ruling Social Democrats could well be on the way out, if the opinion pollsare to be believed. The opposition Socialists are the clear frontrunners. Lopes, the former mayor of Lisbon, took over as premier when Jose Manuel Barroso left Portuguese politics in July to head the European Commission. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chechnya, 10 years on
It has been a decade since Russian troops first invaded the breakaway republic to crush a separatist rebellion. The incursion came after months of rising tension between the territory and Moscow. Moscow had thought it would be a blitzkrieg which would put a quick end to the uprising - but it encountered much stronger resistance than anticipated and the conflict turned into a drawn-out bloody campaign. Two wars later, the violence continues. Grozny, once a thriving city, is now buried in rubble - nobody knows how many people lie beneath the ruins. Tens of thousands of people are thought to have died. The civilian population in this devout Muslim country has paid the price for the conflict, which has extended well beyond Chechnya's borders. In one of the most shocking instances which caught international attention, more than a hundred people were killed when Chechen rebels stormed a Moscow theatre in October 2002. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kerik leaves Bush administration after just one week
He is leaving just a week after being nominated for one of the top portfolios in the Bush administration. Bernard Kerik, the president's choice for Homeland Security Secretary, has abruptly stepped down for what he called personal reasons. He said he couldn't allow private matters to distract him from his job, but didn't elaborate. Concerns had been expressed that his work could involve dealings with a weapons manufacturer which helped to make him rich, raising the possibility of a conflict of interest. Kerik is a board member of Taser International which makes stun guns. George Bush sees the former Manhattan policeman as a hard-nosed operator with a common touch. He said Kerik understood the duties that came to America on September 11th by being at the Twin Towers when they collapsed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yushchenko in Austria for medical tests
Viktor Yushchenko has checked into an Austrian hospital for fresh tests to establish whether he was poisoned. With the Ukrainian presidential election now just over two weeks away, an affirmative result would give the opposition challenger a major boost and deal his rival a heavy blow. Previous tests at the clinic in Vienna proved inconclusive, but Yushchenko insists he is the victim of a vendetta by an establishment which sees him as a threat. His wife Kateryna has told a US television network that she could remember the night she thought he had been poisoned because his lips tasted of medicine. Yushchenko's opponent, Viktor Yanukovich, has denied he had anything to do with the allegations and has gone on the offensive as the ballot nears. "What we see today is violence against voters. Human rights are being trampled on," he told reporters. "If they call this honest elections, and if they think they'll win like this, then I'm sure they'll get a slap in the face both from western and eastern Ukraine." Yushchenko's supporters held mass street protests for two weeks, effectively forcing a repeat of the poll which they said was rigged. Yanukovich has accused the opposition of trying to stage a coup. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 10 Dicember, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Middle East. Sharon prods Likud into shotgun marriage with Labour
Israel's governing party Likud is voting today on whether or not to form an alliance with the opposition Labour party. Likud leader and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon warns that if his party does not back the alliance, it would force snap elections two years ahead of schedule, and stymie his Gaza withdrawal plan. Members of the party's Central Committee have been told Sharon needs a free hand to rebuild his shattered parliamentary majority, as without a stable government his radical plan is doomed to failure. The result of the vote is expected late tonight and while internal polls predict a victory for Sharon, other observers say it is too close to call. The committee is also being asked to approve coalition overtures to two ultra-orthodox parties. They would not be vital were Labour to come on board - as Shimon Peres's party has 22 seats, which, with Likud, would produce a majority of two. It would however give the government a bigger comfort zone. The vote is non-binding, but Sharon hopes it will lift a Committee ban on any Labour coalition participation. Sharon's Gaza pullout has broad public support although hardliners say it is rewarding Palestinian terror and will make it look as if settlers and the army are retreating. The Palestinians say it is a trap, giving them an impoverished strip of desert the better to keep hold of the main prize of any future Palestinian state - the West Bank. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tensions ease between East and West over Ukraine
NATO and Russia have issued a joint statement calling for free and fair elections in Ukraine. Earlier this week it seemed there was little hope of East and West speaking with a single voice. Moscow accused Washington of meddling in the ex-Soviet state's affairs. Meeting in Brussels, US Secretary of State Colin Powell and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov put their recent spat behind them. Nonetheless the Russian foreign minister went against tradition by holding a news conference separate to that of NATO's Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. "I am happy we have reached common ground," he said. "We agree it is important not to meddle in Ukraine's internal affairs. We must respect its sovereignty." Referring to the country's strategic position between East and West, Lavrov added: "Ukraine's territorial integrity must be respected, as well as its law and constitution". NATO chief Jaap de Hoop Scheffer welcomed the passing by Ukraine's parliament of a series of laws and constitutional changes yesterday, including tighter control of the electoral process. He also played down the confrontation between Russia and the West, saying it was not comparable to tensions during the Cold War. The joint NATO-Russia declaration calls for European observers to be sent to Ukraine to monitor the December 26 re-run. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 9 Dicember, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Arms row threatens Irish peace deal
The British and Irish prime ministers will unveil their blueprint for reviving Northern Ireland's peace process in Belfast today but there are signs it will not be accepted by all sides. Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern are trying to resolve a dispute between pro-Irish republicans and British unionists that led to the suspension of the province's power-sharing government. IRA arms is again the stumbling block. The militant group has agreed to give up its weapons but will not concede to a unionist demand that the disarmament process be photographed. Ian Paisley, the leader of the main unionist party, the DUP, has said if there is no photographic evidence of disarmament he will not commit to any new deal on sharing power with Sinn Fein. Both the British and Irish leaders say they are not giving up hope. But Ahern has hinted that a 'major difficulty' remains which could derail the agreement. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ IRAQ. Bush confirms more US troops for Iraq
Despite growing uncertainty about Iraq's forthcoming elections, US President George W.Bush has said the vote will go ahead at the end of January. On a visit to a military base in California, he confirmed that thousands more troops would be sent to Iraq to provide extra security for the ballot. "America and her coalition have a policy in place to aid the rise of a stable Iraq, to help the Iraqi government provide security during the election period. We will increase American troop strength by twelve thousand personnel for a hundred and fifty thousand total troops." Attacks against US forces and their allies continue in Iraq. A recent CIA report has said the situation is deteriorating and unlikely to improve for some time. Russian President Vladimir Putin, after talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi in Moscow, said: "I honestly say that I cannot imagine how elections can be organised under a full occupation of the country by foreign troops," he said. He added: "I also cannot imagine how you, on your own, will be able to restore the situation in the country and stop it from breaking up." Allawi himself remains committed to the January 30 election date. But he has said the vote in troubled regions could take two to three weeks longer to complete. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Armed robot could be on Iraq front lines by next year
Modern technology could soon be providing a helping hand to soldiers in Iraq, who have had no shortage of examples of the extreme dangers they face there. As part of a plan to reduce the risk from snipers and booby traps, experts have developed an armed robot. The US company Foster Miller is behind the project, and its vice president, Arnes Mangolis, says the remote-controlled recruits could be on the ground in Iraq by next year. He said: "By having a standoff of say 800 metres of the robot to the enemy, and then the soldier himself can be offset by another 800 metres, the enemy will never see the soldier, much less reach him. So the soldier can now basically assess the situation in a clam manner." The robot, known as Talon, began helping explosives experts in Bosnia in 2000. If all goes well though it could soon become a familiar sight fighting on the front lines. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 8 Dicember, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Putin's cold shoulder to West over Ukraine
It may have been a coincidence, but Vladimir Putin's visits to India and Turkey in recent days did look like an effort to remind the West that Moscow has plenty of friends worldwide. The Russian leader took advantage of the occasion to go on the offensive over Ukraine. "Our position is that only the people of a given country, and this includes Ukraine in its entirety, can decide their fate. One can play the role of mediator but one must not meddle and apply pressure," he said. President Putin suffered something of a personal defeat in Ukraine because he chose to give his backing to pro-Moscow candidate Viktor Yanukovich. His response to the crisis has been to lash out at the West for interfering in regional affairs. Analyst Dimitri Trenine from the Moscow Carnegie centre argued Putin's policy was badly thought through. "It would have been in Russia's interests to play a more complex game, so that it wouldn't lose out whatever the outcome of the vote," he said. "But Putin followed an unsuccessful path and I think having failed he certainly won't be an easier and more flexible partner, for either the US or Europe." It is not just at the presidential level that the sparks are flying. Russian members of parliament are equally indignant. Duma deputy speaker Vladimir Zhirinovsky complained: "It's belittling for us, they come from Brussels to teach us." Most analysts expect the current cooling of East-West relations to be temporary. Putin is expected to take a pragmatic approach in his dealings with Kiev, whoever eventually wins the election. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dutch police arrest suspected Saddam chemical supplier
Police in Amsterdam have arrested a man suspected of supplying Saddam Hussein with material for chemical weapons used in the 1980s. 62-year-old Frans van Anraat has been on a US wanted list since 1989, and was known to have been in Iraq until the American-led invasion in 2003. "We suspect this man of complicity in committing war crimes and genocide," said a spokeswoman for Dutch prosecutors. It is alleged the Dutchman supplied the former Iraqi regime with tonnes of material that was turned into mustard and nerve gas. Chemicals were used on many occasions, the most notorious being the 1988 attack on the Kurdish town of Halabja, in which more than 5,000 people died. Authorities say Anraat will appear before a judge later this week. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Terrorism and European affairs top Spain-France summit
Terrorism and European affairs have topped the agenda during a bilateral summit between Spain and France. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was host to French President Jacques Chirac in the north-eastern city of Zaragoza. The EU constitution and the stability pact as well as cross border co-operation were discussed. Six French ministers including those for defence, home and foreign affairs held talks with their Spanish counterparts. Following a spate of attacks by the Basque separatists ETA in Spain joint work on security was all the more relevant. Both nations have worked closely in the crackdown against the group detaining more than 100 ETA suspects on both sides of the border this year. In what appears to be a continuation of those efforts, French police detained one of the spokesmen of a militant group that defends imprisoned members of ETA. Dozens of supporters of the organisation gathered to protest at the arrests in Bayonne in France, showing their anger as the police cars drove away with the detainees. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 7 Dicember, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spain hit by seven bomb blasts
There have been seven bomb explosions in Spain following threats by the Basque separatist group, ETA. It warned it would strike at 1.30 p.m. at seven different locations - Alicante, Malaga, Avila, Leon, Santillana del Mar, Ciudad Real and Valladolid. Casualties are reported although no-one is believed to have been seriously hurt. The threat was made to a Basque newspaper by a man speaking in the name of the outlawed group. Tension was high following Friday's simultaneous blasts at service stations along major highways in and around the capital, Madrid. Two police officers were slightly wounded by one of the bombs, which were hidden in places such as rubbish bins. Authorities feared further violence today as it is a public holiday in Spain to celebrate the 1978 constitution - a source of pride to most Spaniards marking the return to democracy after the four-decade long dictatorship of General Franco. Police had been searching the towns where the group has threatened to strike and evacuating people from danger spots. ETA has claimed nearly 850 lives since 1968 in a bombing and shooting campaign for an independent Basque state in northern Spain and south-western France. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Low turnout scuttles citizenship referendum in Hungary
Crowds gathered outside Hungary's parliament on Sunday to show their disappointment at the failure of a campaign to give citizenship to millions of Hungarians abroad. Low voter turnout has torpedoed a referendum on the issue, handing victory to the new Prime Minister, who had pushed for a "no" vote. The opposition, led by Viktor Orban, wanted to promote the interests of Hungarians living abroad after the carve up of the Austro-Hungarian empire in 1920. Orban has so far refused to concede defeat, and called on the socialist government to support dual citizenship, despite the vote. Final turnout was just over 37 percent, below the 50 percent needed to validate a result. That is good news for socialist Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany, although he is insisting that he has won without joy. He has also criticised the right wing opposition for "playing with the feelings of Hungarians". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ French soldier in explosives stand-off gives himself up
A French soldier who had been threatening to blow himself up along with some 600 tonnes of munitions has surrendered to authorities. The Sergeant Major, who is an arms expert, locked himself in a depot in the northern Marne region on Friday to protest against his upcoming retirement. His family had been called in to help persuade him to leave the site packed full of anti-tank mines. The regional prefect announced the stand-off had ended peacefully. Dominique Dubois said the soldier left the bunker at 6.45 a.m. telling security services it was not booby-trapped. Residents in the area must now be breathing a sigh of relief. Some 400 inhabitants who had been evacuated to a local gym can now go home. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saudi security forces have stormed the US consulate in Jeddah in pursuit of gunmen who attacked the building. Three militants are said to have been killed and two others arrested. It follows reports that the attackers were holding at least 18 local members of staff hostage at the American mission in the Red Sea city. Sources say four Saudi security guards have been killed. It is believed the gunmen had unsuccessfully tried to drive a car into the compound. Some reports speak of grenades being thrown. Heavy gunfire and explosions were heard and fire broke out inside the consulate, sending plumes of smoke into the sky. Police and national guards sealed off the area and ambulances were seen ferrying casualties to hospital. However no US diplomats were killed, injured or taken hostage according to a spokeswoman at the American embassy in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia is battling a wave of al Qaeda violence against foreigners and security forces. Around 170 people have been killed in attacks and clashes since the first suicide bombings in the capital Riyadh 18 months ago. Apart from bomb attacks on foreign targets in the kingdom, gunmen have also shot dead several Americans and Europeans in a campaign to drive foreigners from the birthplace of Islam. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 6 Dicember, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yushchenko calls on supporters to keep up the fight
Ukraine's opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko has been calling on his supporters not to become complacent and to keep up pressure on the streets. He has also urged the West to send in as many observers as possible for a re-run of the second round of the presidential election on December 26th despite the Christmas holidays. . The Supreme Court has annulled the November 21st run-off saying it was rigged in favour of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich. Yushchenko has rejected further dialogue with Ukraine's president Leonid Kuchma, who wants to curb presidential powers in exchange for reform of the electoral system. But by doing so, Yushchenko risks alienating his allies the Socialists who helped get rid of Yanukovich. Socialist leader Oleksander Moroz accused Yushchenko's party of going back on its promises. Yushchenko has vowed to make good on a pledge to support trimming the president's role after the election. The opposition leader needs the Socialists' backing to garner support in Ukraine's Russian-speaking east, his rival's power base. Yesterday, minor scuffles erupted between supporters from both sides in the Crimean capital Simferopol where hundreds had turned out to support their candidates. Two weeks of street protests have highlighted the divide between eastern and western Ukraine, between Russia which openly supported Yanukovich and the West which has placed its hopes in Yushchenko to help build a free, democratic country. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hungarians hold referendum on dual citizenship
People in Hungary vote today to decide whether ethnic Hungarians living abroad should be given dual citizenship. Millions of people of Hungarian origin live outside the country's borders as a result of a 1920 treaty in which Hungary lost one third of its territory. The governing Socialists are waging a strong "No" campaign. They argue dual citizenship would attract hundreds of thousands of people to Hungary and burden social services. Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany says a "yes" result could turn Hungary from an island of modernism into another Yugoslavia. But supporters say the move would help cure the trauma caused by the country's division. A Hungarian passport would also give ethnic Hungarians rights as European Union citizens since Hungary joined the bloc earlier this year. It is estimated up to five million ethnic Hungarians live in neighbouring countries including Slovakia, Serbia, Ukraine and particularly Romania, where they make up seven percent of the population. Their fate has long been a politically and emotionally charged issue, especially during the almost 50 years the region was under Soviet rule and their rights were regularly abused. But even after so many years, many feel they still belong in Hungary. Opinion polls are divided - last week they predicted a slight "yes" majority, but recent surveys suggest the "no" camp is gaining ground. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 5 Dicember, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ IRAQ. Britain's Black Watch back from Iraq in time for Christmas
Britain's Black Watch regiment which deployed near the Iraqi capital Baghdad to back US forces has completed its mission and will be home by Christmas. It was sent there last month to support a US-led assault on nearby Falluja. Its deployment to Camp Dogwood in an area dubbed the Triangle of Death caused controversy in Britain. Critics said it was politically motivated to show support for US president George W Bush ahead of the US presidential election. Five troops were killed in the mission which was led by Lieutenant Colonel James Cowan. He paid tribute to them, saying: "As we prepare to leave, the happiness of return will always be marked by the thought that some of us haven't returned." Downing Street has said Britain can be very proud of the job the Black Watch have done. The 850-strong battle group is now back at its base in the southern city of Basra after a two-day journey across Iraq and can be expected home next week. Camp Dogwood will be taken over by American and Iraqi battalions ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Portugal to hold early elections in February
Portugal's ruling Social Democrats have chosen Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes as their candidate in early elections next year. The country has descended into political turmoil after its president decided to pull the plug on Santana Lopes's centre-right government earlier this week amid growing signs he was losing authority over his coalition and his own party. Santana Lopes is furious. He says that when he spoke to the president on Monday, he guaranteed him he wouldn't dissolve parliament. But the next day Sampaio decided he would in fact take steps to call an early vote which is likely to be held in February. Elections were not scheduled until 2006. The president says he will set a date after consulting party leaders and the advisory Council of State at the end of next week and only then would he address the Portuguese people to explain his decision. Socialist leader Jose Socrates has criticised Santana Lopes for what he branded rude and inappropriate remarks directed at Sampaio, saying the president deserved respect. His party is well ahead of the Social Democrats in opinion polls - the Socialists are backed by an estimated 45 percent of voters. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Balkan. Serbia furious over Kosovo's new PM
The nomination of a former guerrilla leader as prime minister of Kosovo has prompted outrage in Serbia and consternation in Brussels. Ramush Haradinaj is seen as a war criminal in Belgrade for his role in the ethnic Albanian insurgency against Serb rule in the late 1990's. He has twice been questioned by the Hague tribunal. Serbia's prime minister has described his appointment as a provocation and called on UN authorities in charge of Kosovo to overrule it. The EU says Haradinaj may not be the most appropriate person for the job. He denies any wrongdoing and told parliament he was proud of the part he had played in defending his people. In October's elections, his party, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo, won nine seats and became a junior coalition partner. Both the government and the opposition have pledged to work for the province's full independence from Serbia. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sweet taste of chocolate in Naples
Pastry chefs have produced the mouth-watering sight of the biggest chocolate nativity scene ever. The 3.5m high tribute to the cocoa bean includes more than 100 intricate statues, one of which took two weeks to make. The delectable creation takes centre stage at the Christmas chocolate fair in the southern Italian city. It may be a time for spiritual nourishment, but young visitors feel the need for a more tangible kind of sustenance, which one five-year-old summed up: "Chocolate!" They will have to wait until organisers place the structure in one of the city's squares for public tasting. More than 30 chefs worked round the clock for weeks, pouring nearly 3,300 kilos of chocolate into the cornucopia. The team included not just some of the area's finest cooks, but also an expert cabinet maker, a sculptor and a painter. In the cobbled street of San Gregorio Armeno, artisans have also been selling their witty, hand-made nativity scenes. This year's personalities include the two Simonas who were released from captivity in Iraq earlier this year. Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden have previously made "appearances." ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 4 Dicember, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ETA claims five Madrid bomb blasts
Five explosions have hit petrol stations in the Spanish capital, there were no injuries. A phone warning to a newspaper in the name of the armed Basque separatist group ETA allowed authorities to evacuate the petrol stations so that no-one was hurt. The caller apparently gave a time the bombs would go off. The blasts hit Madrid as thousands of residents were leaving the city for a long bank holiday. The explosions mark a return to violence for ETA. It had been relatively inactive since the March 11 train bombings that were carried out by Islamic militants and which killed 191 people. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ukraine awaits Supreme Court decision
Ukraine is holding its breath in anticipation of a Supreme Court ruling on the country's political crisis. The verdict is expected today, but it is not clear if the court will recommend a full re-run of the disputed presidential election, as the government hopes, or a repeat of the last round only - that is the opposition's preferred scenario. Supporters of Viktor Yushchenko are still massed in Kiev's Independence Square for a 12th day of protests. A string of speakers has been rallying the crowd. Opposition activists are continuing to block access to the main government building.
Russian parliament blames EU for spiralling Ukraine crisis
Russia's lower house, the Duma, has accused the European Union and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) of further destabilising the situation in Ukraine. The statement, which was passed almost unanimously, partly blamed the current developments on some European bodies. Deputies said that what they described as the EU's one-sided approach was "dangerously encouraging" for the Ukrainian opposition. Meanwhile, the Russian president Vladimir Putin kept tight-lipped on the situation as he visited India. He met the country's foreign minister as part of an annual summit between the two countries. Although it's a regular event, Putin's talks will be his first with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's communist-backed coalition, which took power in May. The weapons trade between the two nations is expected to top the agenda. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ IRAQ. Double attack on Baghdad
Gunmen have stormed a police station in southern Baghdad, killing at least 12 officers. Insurgents fired mortar rounds at the suburban station, then some 15 armed men ran into the main courtyard. A policeman at the station said there were "many casualties", including people held in the jail. Iraqi police are frequent targets of rebels. Last month insurgents overran nine stations in the northern city of Mosul, stealing weapons and vehicles. Elsewhere in the north of the Iraqi capital at least 14 people were killed by a car bomb. The mainly Sunni neighbourhood - Aadhamiya - has seen several attacks in the past. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 3 Dicember, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Top NY cop to head Homeland Security
George W Bush has chosen the former head of the NYPD to run America's Department of Homeland Security. A loyal supporter of the president, Bernard Kerik campaigned on behalf of Bush during the election and served in the US administration in Iraq. As New York City Police Commissioner, Kerik made headlines in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks as the right hand man to mayor Rudolph Giuliani. The 49-year-old army veteran is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and used to work for the Saudi royal family. His tough image, which was honed in undercover drugs operations in Harlem, is seen as an asset as the US tries to increase security on its home soil. Kerik will replace Tom Ridge, who has announced his resignation. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 2 Dicember, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ukraine's parliament votes to sack government
In what is a major victory for the opposition in Ukraine, parliament has voted to sack the government of Viktor Yanukovich - the man officially declared winner of last month's disputed presidential election. The move helps pave the way for a new poll. That is a key demand of those backing the candidate who claims he was robbed of the presidency by systematic electoral fraud, Western-leaning liberal Viktor Yushchenko. Deputies also voted to create an interim administration - what they called a "government of national trust." Today's dramatic events in Kiev are a big blow to pro-Russian Prime Minister Yanukovich, who has been looking increasingly isolated. Outgoing president Leonid Kuchma has joined calls for a re-run but, unlike the opposition, he wants both rounds of the controversial ballot to be held again. The parliamentary resolution will lift the spirits of the orange-draped supporters of Yushchenko who, day after day, have turned out in their thousands on their streets of the capital - braving freezing temperatures. With international mediators in town trying to resolve the deadlock, many opposition activists are now looking to the country's top court for the next boost to their campaign. It is considering claims that vote rigging took place and it is believed a ruling could be handed down later today. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Portuguese left upbeat amid government crisis
Portugal's opposition Socialists are in a strong position as mounting pressures on the ruling Social Democrats have prompted the dissolution of parliament and consequently a fresh general election. It is thought Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes will stand in the poll, expected in February. President Jorge Sampaio decided Lopes was not up to his job and dissolved parliament. The move came after a top minister's resignation, budget difficulties, a slump in the opinion polls and accusations of government meddling with the media. The Socialists, led by Jose Socrates, see a window of opportunity. "We are ready to work for political change in Portugal and we will be doing our best to earn the trust of the nation," he said. Francisco Louca from the far-left bloc also welcomed the prospect of an election, saying it was important for the Portuguese to be able to choose a new direction. Lopes has faced a string of problems since taking over from Jose Manuel Barroso, now the EU Commission boss, in July. Trouble began when Lopes loosened a tight spending policy Barroso had imposed to close the budget deficit. That prompted a negative assessment of the country's economic outlook from a credit rating agency. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ French socialists vote on Euro constitution
France's socialist party will hold a key vote today in an internal referendum on whether or not to campaign for the European Union's constitution. Francois Hollande, leader of the socialists in France, insists that a "no" vote would be catastrophic for France and Europe. "With George Bush re-elected for another four years as US president, we cannot add to Europe's problems," he said. Leading the "no" campaign is former prime minister and now deputy leader of the socialists, Laurent Fabius. He wants the treaty redrafted and improved. "Are we moving towards a more socialist Europe, which is what we socialists want, or are we moving towards a liberal Europe?" he asked. European socialists fear that a "no" from the French left would increase the danger of a "no" from France as a whole. Spanish socialist and member of the European Parliament Miguel Angel Martinez said: "The constitution allows for great advances in a number of areas, less so in some, and no improvement elsewhere. But there are no barriers within it to future improvement." A decision to back a "no" in the national referendum could scupper the EU constitution. Another socialist Euro MP, Italian Nicola Zingaretti said: "It would be a waste not to grab the opportunity afforded by the constitution to work at the heart of Europe and develop better social policies for each European." Some within the French socialists fear the treaty is too Anglo-Saxon in nature and could mean fewer jobs in France as firms migrate to lower cost economies. The results of the socialist party's referendum are expected at midnight. The French nation will vote on the constitution some time next year. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Romanian elections contested
Ukraine isn't the only eastern European country to have been plunged into political uncertainty. In Romania, the election commission has rejected a plea to cancel Sunday's parliamentary and presidential poll. Traian Basescu, the opposition challenger for the top job, demanded the vote be cancelled because of alleged irregularities. "We are concerned the electoral process is much too affected by fraud," he said. "It is necessary to repeat the elections." The electoral commission said discrepancies could be due to errors in calculating the votes, but it insisted the overall results were sound. Basescu, the leader of the centrist Liberal and Democratic party, faced the incumbent Social Democrat Prime Minister Adrian Nastase. The latter won the presidential race with 41 percent of the vote, leaving Basescu with 32 percent. The Social Democrats also took the majority of the seats in the parliamentary contest, clocking up 36.6 percent of the vote, with Basescu's party controlling just 31 percent. Basescu claims electronic fraud took place during the counting process. Western monitors say the poll was largely professional and efficient but they have urged a thorough investigation of reports of multiple voting. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 1 Dicember, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ President of Serbia survives attack
Serbia is in shock after what looks like an assassination attempt on its president. Boris Tadic escaped unscathed when a car tried to ram his limousine. Security officials, travelling in his motorcade, managed to block the Audi used in the attack. It then drove away from the scene. Pro-Western Tadic is a hate figure for Serbian nationalists after stepping up pressure on the government of premier Vojislav Kostunica to arrest and extradite war crimes suspects. Today's attack happened in an upmarket district of Belgrade. It brought back memories of the killing in the capital last year of Zoran Djindjic, the Prime Minister shot dead by a sniper outside government headquarters. He too infuriated nationalists by sending former President Slobodan Milosevic to the Hague war crimes tribunal. For years, Djindjic led the Democratic Party, which is now headed by Tadic. Last week a letter containing death threats against the President was sent to Serbia Montenegro's embassy in Vienna. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Caution over Middle East talks
The Israeli army has carried out its first raid into the West Bank town of Ramallah since the death of Yasser Arafat, ending a period of relative calm. Two members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine were reportedly arrested in the operation. At least 15 Israeli vehicles were involved in the incursion into the al-Tira district. The incident is likely to cast a cloud over hopes for a revivial of the Middle East peace process. Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath dampened optimism himself after talks with his Israeli counterpart Silvan Shalom. He said little of substance had changed between the two sides since's Arafat's death. Shalom had spoken of "a window of opportunity."
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