Last Updated, 28 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Israel blames Syria for suicide bomb
Israel has accused Syria of involvement in Friday night's suicide bombing that seriously dented peace hopes in the Middle East. The attack outside a nightclub in Tel Aviv killed four Israelis and left dozens of others injured. Islamic Jihad, a Palestinian militant group with ties to Damascus, said it was responsible. Syria denies any link to the blast. With the suspected bomber identified as coming from a village in the West Bank, Israeli and Palestinian authorities have made several arrests. Israel also announced it was suspending plans for a phased pullback from a number of towns and cities until Palestinian security forces rein in militant factions. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack, blaming what he would only describe as a "third party." "We will not hesitate for a minute in capturing the people responsible and bringing them to justice to be punished," he said. As for Israel's response, officials say it will show restraint for now. The first suicide bombing in Israel for four months sent shockwaves through the population. Many people believed the groundbreaking Sharm al-Sheikh summit meant such horrors were now behind them. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 27 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pope delegates Sunday blessing for first time History is being made at the Vatican.
For the first time in his papacy, John Paul II will spend a Sunday without blessing the faithful. Instead, the ailing 84-year-old will follow the weekly Angelus prayer service from his hospital room. Visitors to Rome acknowledged the significance of his absence. "It is sad," said one woman from the Irish Republic, who took it as a sign that: "he is coming to the end of his days." "Well my guess is there will be people here joining him in prayer, knowing that he is praying with them, especially at that particular time," said a man. An aide will stand in for the pope at St Peter's Square. It is not clear whether a video link will be set up so the crowd can at least see the leader of the Roman Catholic Church who is still unable to speak, following throat surgery. Meanwhile, a special prayer service dedicated to the pope took place in the chapel of Rome's Gemelli Hospital where he is being treated. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 26 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catholic church faces dilemma
With the Pope now incapacitated the big question for the world's one billion Catholics is who provides guidance for the church? Supreme power is concentrated in the Pope's hands, and even after death, until a successor is chosen, no-one else can fill his shoes. This means no rulings on dogma, doctrine, faith, or morals can be made, or bishops be ordained. The Vatican's army of beaurocrats can keep the machinery turning, but without an active Pope there is a vacuum. Some are wondering if he should resign. German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger could replace him says Vatican watcher Wilton Wynn; "Cardinal Ratzinger is one of the most important men in the Vatican right now, he's the watchdog of the faith. I think he's the man making sure the Pope doesn't give away the store" Another possible successor is Cardinal Angelo Sodano, an Italian, who is the Vatican's foreign minister responsible for the papal state's embassies around the world; "Sodano, the secretary of state, has run the machinery of the Vatican for many years and has built up tremendous prestige all over the world wherever the church is present", added Wynn. Medical advances have made the problem more pressing for the Vatican. In the past, Popes ailed and died, and were replaced. Now they can be kept alive, prolonging the loss of the leader, and the last papal abdication was nearly 600 years ago. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Five held over Tel Aviv bombing
Israel says Palestinian efforts to stop terror have
failed Four people died and about 30 were injured in the blast, the first since Israeli and Palestinian leaders agreed earlier this month to end violence. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has pledged to punish the perpetrators. "The Palestinian Authority will not stand silent in the face of this act of sabotage," he said in a statement after a meeting with security chiefs, quoted by the Associated Press news agency. "We will follow and track down those responsible and they will be punished accordingly." the Palestinian Authority must take the necessary, concrete steps to dismantle the terrorist organisation Raanan Gissin, Ariel Sharon aide A top Sharon adviser, Raanan Gissin, told the BBC that the Palestinian Authority "must take "the necessary, concrete steps to dismantle the terrorist organisation, collect the illegal weapons, make the necessary arrests". US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for the Palestinians to take "immediate, credible steps" to find those behind the attacks. Militant attacks had fallen away in the days after Israel and the Palestinian Authority reached a truce at a summit in Egypt on 8 February. Israeli soldiers raided the village of Deir al Ghusun, just north of Tulkarem, on Saturday morning and imposed a curfew. Two brothers of the bomber, identified by the Israelis as 21-year-old Abdullah Badran, were arrested, as well as the local imam. Palestinian sources say the bomber was a member of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, but also recruited and funded by Lebanon-based Hezbollah militants - though a Hezbollah spokesman in Beirut has denied this. All the main Palestinian factions have denied involvement. The BBC's James Reynolds in Jerusalem says it is in everyone's interests to show that this was an attack by a group from outside the Palestinian territories. The bomber set off a device as people queued to get into the club, reportedly after security guards spotted him and kept him out. The attack happened at the entrance to the Stage club on Herbert Samuel Street, close to the promenade, Tel Aviv police chief David Tsour said. Israeli media report the blast occurred at 2315 (2115 GMT). Clubs in the area have been attacked by Palestinian militants in the past, notably the Dolphinarium disco, where a bomber killed 21 in 2001. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 25 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pope recovers after tracheotomy
Pope John Paul II is recovering in hospital after successfully undergoing emergency surgery for breathing difficulties. He was rushed to Rome's Gemelli hospital early on Thursday. Doctors there performed a tracheotomy - a procedure that involves cutting a small hole into the neck and windpipe so air can flow directly into the lungs. Hospital spokesman Nicola Cerbino said the operation lasted half an hour and described the pope's condition as normal. It is the second time this month that the 84-year-old has had to receive emergency treatment after suffering acute respiratory problems. It appears he had not got over the flu. The Italian prime minister's top aide went to see the pontiff after the operation. He told reporters he had been assured about his condition, adding that the Pope managed a wave when he came out of the operating theatre. The Pope already suffers from Parkinson's disease. Medical experts say his recovery will be an ordeal and he will also have great difficulty regaining his speech. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bush presses Putin on democracy but praises ties
The US and Russian presidents have hailed their ties and dismissed rumours of frosty relations at the end of their summit in Slovakia. George W.Bush set the tone for the talks earlier this week by raising questions over Moscow's commitment to democracy. Privately, he expressed concerns about press freedom in Russia. At their joint news conference, both men were friendly but frank about their discussions. "Even if we didn't agree on certain issues, if you look at what we have done over the last four years and what we want to do in the next four, the common ground is a lot more than those areas where we disagree," said Bush. Vladimir Putin said that Russia would not be going back on the democratic path it embarked upon when the Soviet Union collapsed 14 years ago and that Western fears are unfounded: "Russia and the US share long-term interests, genuine strategic goals and certainly a great degree of responsibility towards our own people and those in other countries when we talk about international security," said Putin. There was also agreement that neither Iran nor North Korea should have any nuclear weapons. Bush now returns to Washington pleased no doubt to have got his points across without giving too much ground. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- UN team probes murder of Lebanon's ex-PM
Who killed Lebanon's former prime minister? That is the question a team of UN-appointed investigators hopes to answer. Led by Irish Deputy Police Commissioner Peter Fitzgerald, the trio are in Beirut where the Syrian-backed government has pledged to co-operate. A huge bomb killed Rafik al-Hariri in the city earlier this month, piling pressure on Syria to withdraw the estimated 14,000 troops it has deployed in Lebanon. On Thursday, Damascus said it would move soldiers closer to its own border and that it was ready to work with the United Nations to implement a Security Council resolution demanding a pullout. When or indeed whether a full withdrawal will take place remains unclear. Wael Abu Faour of Lebanon's opposition is sceptical. He says Syrian promises are nothing new. "The most important thing is that the Syrians are threatening the Lebanese that if they withdraw from Lebanon there will be internal problems between The Lebanese. This is unacceptable," he said. Since Hariri's assassination, tens of thousands of Lebanese have taken to the streets to protest against Syria's military and political grip on its tiny neighbour. The former premier had himself urged Damascus to withdraw its troops shortly before his murder. Syria denies claims it had a hand in the attack which it has condemned. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 24 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bush in Germany as part of fence-mending tour
The US president has been welcomed to Germany on day three of his fence-mending tour of Europe. Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder was there to greet George W.Bush at an airport near Frankfurt. Talks between the two leaders in Mainz were expected to focus on controversy over Iran's nuclear ambitions, and whether the NATO alliance should be revamped. Germany was one of the more vocal opponents of Bush's policies on Iraq, and today's meeting was seen as important to reinforce the message that Europe and the US are back on good terms. Bush will also visit an American military base in Wiesbaden to rally the troops. Thousands of anti-Bush demonstrators were expected in Mainz with a similar number of police on hand. The president is due to fly on to Bratislava in Slovakia tonight, and is scheduled to hold talks tomorrow with the Russian president. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Putin warns West to keep out of its politics
"Don't use democracy as an instrument to weaken Russia." That is the sharp message from President Vladimir Putin after recent Western criticism of his perceived authoritarian tendencies. He was speaking to Slovak journalists ahead of his meeting with George W. Bush in Bratislava on Thursday. The US President has called on Putin to reaffirm his commitment to democracy. "Russia chose the democratic path 14 years ago," Putin said. "We chose it for ourselves, not because we wanted to please anyone else. Democratic principles and institutions have to be adapted to the realities of life in Russia today, to our traditions and our history. And we will do that by ourselves." Putin has caused concern in the West in recent months by abolishing direct elections for local governors and nominating them instead. There are also worries about the Kremlin's suspected role in the Yukos affair and its stance during the Ukrainian election crisis. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Tug of war delays new Palestinian cabinet
Another delay has set back the naming of the new Palestinian cabinet until tomorrow morning. It follows two days of hard bargaining after the expected announcement on Monday was postponed, because of fears the Palestinian Prime Minister would face a no-confidence vote in parliament. That bargaining now continues as the PLO's corruption-tainted old guard stubbornly resists attempts to oust them in favour of modernisers and reformists. Parliament is backing the renewal attempts, and is pushing Prime Minster Qurie and President Abbas to go further. Now at least 10 new faces are expected to enter the cabinet, instead of the originally proposed four. In a separate development work on Israel's West Bank security wall was halted today near Ramallah after the Supreme court provisionally upheld a Palestinian appeal to change its route. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Queen to stay away from Charles and Camilla's wedding
Buckingham Palace has announced that the Queen will not be attending the civil marriage ceremony of her son Charles to his long-term lover, Camilla Parker Bowles. Palace officials say her majesty will attend the church blessing afterwards and is happy to host the reception. But royal watchers are describing the decision as a snub and another setback to the Prince of Wales' plans. Despite a carefully co-ordinated PR campaign, Camilla's popularity ratings remain low. The wedding, set for April the 8th, has also caused several other headaches for Clarence House. Originally, the couple wanted to tie the knot at Windsor Castle. But they were forced to change the venue because the granting of a marriage licence would give ordinary members of the public the right to have their nuptials there too; and that would create serious disruption and security concerns in the royal household. So Windsor's Guildhall was chosen to host the event. Clarence House says it is a better option as it will allow the public to see the newlyweds arrive and leave for a prayer service led by the Archbishop of Canterbury at St George's chapel in Windsor Castle. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brussels promises more help for Ukraine
Ukraine's new government has been promised help from the European Commission to carry out a programme of political and economic reform. President Viktor Yushchenko has been meeting the commission president Jose Manuel Barroso in Brussels. On Monday Ukraine signed a so-called action plan between Kiev and Brussels. Barroso says he is satisfied with the details of the agreement, although direct reference to Ukraine's wish to start negotiations for EU membership has not been included. Yushchenko was also a guest of honour yesterday at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Ukraine is still far from becoming an official candidate to join the Atlantic Alliance, but observers say it has taken a clear step in Europe's direction. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 23 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bush charms Europe & France
Love is in the air as far as EU-American relations go on President Bush's European tour. At least that is how the diplomats are painting things following cordial meetings yesterday between Bush and his lead critic during the Iraq war, French President Jacques Chirac. Many differences remain, but on one issue at least both men are singing from the same hymn sheet: Lebanon and Syria. Chirac has been keen to stress that their approaches to the crisis there are "identical". In Bush's twin meetings today with NATO and the EU, common aims and values will be stressed rather than the divisive ones. However commentators say Bush's speeches have been strong on charm and flattery, but have offered little in the way of significant compromise or policy concessions, with two exceptions. US resistance to EU arms sales to China appears to be softening as Europe offers a code of conduct to govern them, and the fact Bush now has Middle East peace high on his agenda may quieten the chorus of European critics of his Iraq intervention, who say intervening there without tackling the Israeli-Palestinian problem does little to tame Islamic militancy. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 22 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Portugal swings to the left
Portugal's opposition socialists are celebrating their biggest-ever electoral victory. For the first time, the party led by Jose Socrates will have an absolute majority in parliament. Socrates said politics had come full circle after the socialists were defeated in 2002 after the resignation of Prime Minister Antonio Guterres. He said it had been a tough campaign and he promised to work to boost the lagging economy. The Socialists won 119 of 230 seats in parliament, according to preliminary results while the Social Democrats won 73. The two main parties were trailed by the Communists, with 14 seats; the rightist Popular Party, the Social Democrats' coalition partner with 12 deputies; and the Left bloc with eight seats. The results do not include the four deputies to be elected by Portuguese living abroad. The centre-right Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes is on his way out after only seven months in power. President Jorge Sampaio dissolved parliament early in December, citing lack of confidence in the centre-right coalition government. Santana Lopes accepted full responsibility for the defeat and called a special party conference to discuss what went wrong and the way forward for the Social Democrats. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spain says "si" to Euro charter
An overwhelming "yes" to Europe's new constitution has given Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero plenty to smile about. But while 77 per cent of Spaniards approved the EU charter, turnout - as feared - was low. Zapatero, however, was keen to talk up the result: "Today the people of Spain have written a page of European history," he said. "Our votes have sent a message to the other citizens of Europe and we invite them to follow the path that we have started in Spain." Just under 77 per cent of the nearly 35 million eligible voters decided to approve the treaty with 17 voting "no". But nearly 58 per cent of people did not bother to cast a vote, a figure the opposition said was a failure. While the government campaign was glitzy, with footballers and television stars roped in, critics said not enough information was given. Europe-friendly Spain had hoped to set an example to waverers such as Britain and France but whether Sunday's poor showing will outweigh the actual result remains to be seen. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 21 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bush begins charm offensive in Brussels
George W Bush has arrived in Brussels on the start of a five-day visit aimed at renewing friendly ties with Europe. After two years of bitter division over the wisdom of the Iraq war, the US president will call for a "new era of transatlantic unity" with a goal of spreading democracy across the Middle East. In a speech to EU and NATO leaders today he will make clear his belief that spreading American political ideals will make the world more peaceful. Despite Bush's appeal for unity in the heart of Europe, policy differences remain. The EU and the US are divided over how hard to push Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions. They are also split over how to get Syria to pull its troops out of Lebanon and stop supporting Hizbollah militants. With thousands of people expected to join protests during Bush's visit, a huge security operation is in place with 2,500 Belgian police officers coordinating a "ring of steel" around the capital. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Israel approves Gaza withdrawal plans
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's cabinet has approved his Gaza pullout plan - the first time an Israeli government has decided to dismantle settlements on land Palestinians want for a state. Within hours of the cabinet's 17-5 vote, the Israeli leader signed an order for evacuations to begin on July 20, giving settlers five months' notice to get out. After signing the historic agreement, Sharon described his decision to order the withdrawal as the most difficult choice he has ever had to make. Sharon's plan calls for Israel to removal settlements from land captured in the 1967 Middle East war. The deal has been touted as a springboard to peace talks but Palestinian hopes have been hit by Israel's decision to endorse the route of a security barrier looping around Jewish settlement blocs in the West Bank. The Palestinians have warned that extending the wall further into West Bank territory will harm efforts to revive negotiations. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 20 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Country at crossroads - Sampaio appeals to Portuguese voters
Held at a time of crisis, that's how Portuguese president Jorge Sampaio described today's election in a televised appeal to voters to make their voices heard at the ballot box. He called the poll early, citing instability in the centre-right coalition government. The snap election will usher in the Iberian nation's fourth government in three years. Most opinion polls show the opposition Socialists set for a comfortable win although it is touch and go whether they will get an absolute majority. Led by former environment minister Jose Socrates, the Socialists say they willcreate jobs through technology and cut the public workforce. Portugal's economy is slowly picking up after a recession but it remains the poorest country in western Europe. Formerly mayor of Lisbon, Pedro Santana Lopes was elected leader of the ruling Social Democratic party when Jose Manuel Durao Barroso left to head the European Commission. The president described Portugal as at a crossroads, by the end of the day it should be clear which direction its citizens have chosen ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Apathy not opposition likely stumbling block in Spain's EU poll
Spain's prime minister has enlisted the help of footballers and television stars, but whether Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has done enough to convince voters to turn out for Sunday's EU constititution referendum remains to be seen. Nine out ten Spaniards say they know nothing about the charter, according to a recent government poll, but Spain is solidly pro Europe and Zapatero's problem is apathy not opposition. Analysts say a strong yes - a showing of at least 40 per cent of voters - would send a clear message to other Europeans but if less than 30 per cent show there may be calls for a re-run. Security has been stepped up pre referendum but a small explosive device went off outside the ruling Socialist party's office in the northern Asturias region yesterday, shattering the windows. Polls open at 9am Central European Time and it is hoped
that by early afternoon it will be possible to get a rough idea of
turnout. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anti-Bush protesters prepare for Belgian visit
Brussels is preparing for a three-day visit from the US president, as he swings through Europe in an attempt to patch up relations. George W Bush appears confident he can heal the rifts that opened up in his first term, particularly over Iraq. But as the Belgian capital readied itself, so too did the anti-Bush protesters - as common a sight on the American leader's European trips as the massive numbers of police officers. Banners and posters were being prepared at the headquarters of the pressure group Stop USA - the United States of Agression. Bush will meet with more than two dozen European leaders, including French president Jacques Chirac. He said he felt no bitterness towards France's opposition to the Iraq war but that he disagreed with Chirac's belief a united Europe would serve as a counterbalance to the United States ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Huge Rome rally for IRAQ hostage
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets of Rome, demanding the liberation of the Italian journalist held hostage in Iraq. Giuliana Sgrena of the Communist daily Il Manifesto was seized on February 4 in Baghdad. Since then she has been seen in a video, pleading for her life. Marchers also had other captives in mind, notably French journalist Florence Aubenas, missing in Iraq since January with her Iraqi assistant. Giuliana Zgrena's father Franco was among those attending the rally. "We saw her in poor condition on the video and can only hope that she is not being badly treated," he said. Former European Commission President Romano Prodi was also there. He is now the leader of Italy's centre-left opposition block. The event took on distinct political overtones with many calling for the withdrawal of Italian troops from Iraq. That was the plea made by Giuliana Sgrena in the video released by her captors. Since her abduction, two Indonesian reporters have also been taken hostage ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- What now for Cyprus?
The stakes are high as Turkish Cypriots go to the polls this Sunday to elect a new government. The vote could determine whether efforts to reunify the divided island resume any time soon. Outgoing Prime Minister Mehmet Ali Talat backs unification talks and closer ties to the European Union. Opinion polls suggest his will again be the biggest party in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. But it would need support in the 50-seat assembly. Only Turkey recognizes the north, which is banned from international trade. Last April, in an island-wide referendum, Turkish Cypriots backed UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's peace plan. But Greek Cypriots gave the project the thumbs down, leaving it null and void. Talat's main opponent is the National Unity Party, which is more sceptical on reunification. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded the north in response to a Greek-inspired coup. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Clinton e Bush Senior in tour asiatico per il dopo Tsunami
Due ex presidenti americani per sostenere le popolazioni decimate dallo Tsunami. E' cominciato da Puket, in Tailandia, il tour asiatico di Bill Clinton e George Bush Senior. In questa zona, lo scorso 26 dicembre, sono morte almeno 2 mila delle circa 30 mila vittime dell'onda assassina. Bush Senior e Clinton sono stati nominati dall'attuale presidente americano per raccogliere fondi a favore delle popolazini colpite. Obiettivo del loro viaggio è fare il punto della situazione, promuovere la ricostruzione, ma anche rilanciare l'immagine degli Usa. "Penso che nessun'altra tragedia abbia toccato il cuore degli americani piú di questa -ha dichiarato Bush Senior- Alcuni guardano alle nostre elezioni e pensano che siamo divisi. Il nostro viaggio significa che possiamo lavorare insieme per qualcosa di piú grande di noi". Bush Senior e Clinton si recheranno nei prossimi giorni in Indonesia, Sri Lanka e Maldive. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 19 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Violence marks IRAQ Shia festival
Shia Muslims in Iraq are preparing to mark Ashura,
the holiest day of the Shia calendar, amid growing violence. Iraq's borders have been closed and security tightened, after blasts in Baghdad and Karbala during last year's Ashura killed at least 181 people. On Saturday morning a car bomb outside an Iraqi National Guard base north of Baghdad killed one guardsman. Police officials said the attack at Baquba, 60km (35 miles) northeast of the capital, was the work of a suicide bomber, who was also killed. A second guardsman and a civilian were also injured. Procession blast Shias have blamed radical Sunni Muslim insurgents for attacks on mosques in Baghdad and Iskandariya on Friday. Iraq's national security adviser Mouwaffaq al-Rubaie accused militant leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and former Baath party members of trying to provoke a sectarian civil war. "It's a paradoxical idea when they claim that they are fighting the infidels and at the same time, they kill Muslims during Friday prayers," he told the Associated Press news agency. The BBC's Jon Leyne in Baghdad says Ashura is an obvious target for the Sunni-led insurgency, particularly after the Shias' slim victory in January's election for Iraq's new transitional parliament. SHIA FESTIVAL: ASHURA
The worst attack was in a packed Kazimain mosque in the southern Doura district of Baghdad, where 15 people died when a bomber blew himself up as he mixed with worshippers. At least one person was killed in an attack on a second mosque in the capital, while three more died in an explosion near a Shia procession. In the evening, a car bomb killed seven people outside a Shia mosque in Iskandariya, south of Baghdad. Three people also died in a suicide bomb in a Sunni area of Baghdad, at an Iraqi police and National Guard checkpoint in the north of the city. Officials in Karbala have stepped up security measures as pilgrims from across Iraq pour into the city to mark the peak of the Ashura festival on Saturday. Provincial police chief Gen Abbas al-Hassani told AFP news agency: "Last year we didn't even have half the manpower we have now." Hospital officials have put up a tent to take emergency cases and expanded the capacity of the morgue in case there should be another deadly attack like last year's, AFP said. Predominantly Sunni Arab militants have vowed to continue targeting Iraq's Shia majority, which is set to take power for the first time. It could take several weeks of negotiations before a government is formed, as the winning Shia United Iraqi Alliance will have to form a coalition to reach the two-thirds majority needed to pass legislation. Ashura marks the death 1,300 years ago of the Prophet Mohammed's grandson, which widened the split between Sunni and Shia Islam. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Gaza crossing re-opened to young
The crossing ban has created a feeling of imprisonment
in Gaza The move comes as Palestinian deportees are allowed back into the West Bank and Israel declares an end to the policy of razing suicide bombers' houses. The measures are part of a deal agreed in a truce between Israel and the Palestinians earlier this month. An Israeli defence ministry spokeswoman said the lifting of the travel ban was one of a range of new measures designed to ease conditions for Palestinians. The travel ban caused huge frustration in Gaza and disrupted
many thousands of lives, reports the BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza.
CEASEFIRE PACKAGE But it is expected to be a couple of days before the order actually takes effect and young Palestinians are again able to move freely across the border. The Israelis have controlled who comes and goes between Egypt and Gaza since they occupied the strip in 1967. As tension escalated, about nine months ago a policy was implemented banning the vast majority of Palestinians aged between 16 and 35 from crossing what is effectively Gaza's only link to the outside world. Its only other border is with Israel and very few Palestinians are allowed to cross on account of the threat posed by suicide bombers. The shutting of the Egyptian frontier to huge numbers of young people has contributed greatly to the sense of claustrophobia in Gaza which locals often describe as a big prison. Palestinians always regarded the travel ban as collective punishment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Polls point to historic victory for Portugal's Socialists
Portugal's opposition Socialists are within reach of winning an absolute parliamentary majority in tomorrow's general election. The latest opinion polls give them up to 47 per cent of the vote, compared to the ruling Social Democrat Party's predicted 31 per cent. Socialist leader Jose Socrates said the electoral campaign has shown his party wants a country that is modern, competitive and fair because that was the example set by former leader Antonio Guterres. Pollsters see 45 per cent as the mark for the Socialists to win an absolute majority in the 230-seat parliament. Some analysts are predicting Prime Minister Santana Lopes may step down if his party records too dismal a showing. He warned voters against electing the opposition, saying no businessman, saver, small or medium investor would put money into a country run by socialists and leftist parties. This will be Portugal's fourth election in three years and voters must be hoping it will herald some positive changes - boosting the economy and cutting unemployment will be top of the new leader's to-do list. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 18 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Lebanese remember murdered former Prime Minister
There was grief on the streets of the Lebanese capital, Beirut as mourners held a night-time vigil after the murder of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri - killed in a suspected car bombing on Monday. Local newspapers are saying the scenes amounted to a national referendum against Syria's military and political influence over its smaller neighbour. Many Lebanese see the hand of Damascas in Monday's blast. As for US President George W Bush, he has demanded Syria abides by a UN Security Council resolution that calls on foreign troops to withdraw from Lebanon. While Bush has recalled the US ambassador to Syria this week, he has said he did not know who was behind Monday's bomb attack. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- End to demolition of Palestinian militants' homes
Israel is to stop demolishing the homes of families of Palestinian militants. The tactic has long been criticised internationally as collective punishment. Israeli security forces said the move followed a review that found the effectiveness of the strategy was off-set by the violent resentment it caused. The U-turn was part of a truce declared at a peace summit in Egypt last week. Jessica Montell from Israeli human rights group B'Tselem said: "Over the past four years, Israel has demolished close to 700 Palestinian houses as a punishment. Over 4,000 people have been made homeless as a result of this policy, it's clearly collective punishment in that the people who are punished are those who have committed no offences, or who are not suspected of anything." However Israeli field commanders justified the tactic, saying Palestinian families would often turn in sons suspected of planning attacks for fear of losing their homes. But many analysts agreed that while a deterrent, it cost long term peace hopes. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. New US intelligence chief nominated
Defending the United States. That is the role of the new US Director of National Intelligence. President George W. Bush has nominated the US ambassador to Iraq to take up the post. John Negroponte will supervise the work of America's 15 intelligence agencies, including the CIA. He will compile a daily briefing on the agencies' activities for the US president. The CIA will be expected to report to the new intelligence chief every day. Negroponte's appointment was a surprise choice for many. He had been ambassador to Iraq for less than a year. The 65-year-old has been described as a career diplomat - serving in eight Foreign Service posts in Asia, Europe and Latin America. Before Baghdad, he had worked as the US ambassador to the UN for nearly three years. He is the first person to ever become the US intelligence tsar. The creation of the post was one of the central recommendations of the commission that investigated the September 11 attacks. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Red Brigade" trial starts in Italy
The trial of 15 people accused of the 1999 murder of an Italian government advisor is due to get underway in Rome. The 15, believed to be members of the Red Brigade, will also face charges of robbery and belonging to an armed organisation. The trial will take place at the high security Rebibbia prison. Seventeen people were initially charged in the case. However two women, who are understood to have cooperated with authorities, will be tried separately. Professor Massimo D'Antona, an expert on labour law and an advisor to the left wing government in power at the time, was gunned down on a Rome street in May 1999. Five of the 15 on trial in Rome are also facing charges
in Bologna, where they are accused of the murder of another government
advisor, Marco Biagi, who was killed in March 2002. |
Last Updated, 17 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Hariri laid to rest in Beirut
The funeral has taken place in Beirut of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri, who was killed in a car bomb attack on Monday. He was laid to rest in the Mohammad al-Amin mosque in the city centre. Hundreds of thousands of people, according to some reports, are said to have taken part in the funeral procession or lined the route as the cortege made its way from his home. There were chaotic scenes outside the mosque as Hariri and some of the 16 other people who were killed in the suspected suicide bombing were being buried. Some mourners vented their anger against Syria which they accuse of being involved in the bombing. Syria denies this and has condemned the killing. A previously unknown islamist group has claimed responsibility, but its statement has not been verified. Hariri had recently joined calls for Damascus to withdraw its forces from Lebanon. He stepped down as prime minister last October when a simmering feud with the Syrian-backed President Emile Lahoud came to a head. Hariri, a Sunni muslim billionaire, served as prime
minister between 1992 and 1998, and then again between 2000 and 2004.
He has been credited with setting Lebanon on the path to reconstruction
after the country's ruinous 15 year-long civil war, though the country
never reached the level of economic stability he strove for. The 60
year old entered political life in Lebanon after 20 years of working
in the construction industry in Saudi Arabia. The group which claimed
to have carried out the killing said he was targetted because of his
close links with the Saudi leadership. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. US piles pressure on Syria
In an initial response to the killing the US has withdrawn its ambassador to Syria - a move which Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said expressed Washington's deep concern over Syria's involvement in Lebanese affairs. "We're not laying blame, it needs to be investigated that is the important point. However as Resolution 1549 notes, Syria is in interference in the affairs of Lebanon. There are Syrian forces in Lebanon, Syria operates out of Lebanon and so when something happens in Lebanon, Syria needs to help to find accountability for what has happened there," she said. The UN Security Council has also condemned the killing of Hariri and once again expressed its disapproval of Syria's presence in Lebanon. The Council asked Secretary General Kofi Annan to deliver
a report into the bombing. Delegates called for the implementation
of a resolution passed last year calling on the withdrawal of Syrian
troops from Lebanon. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. Video appeal aired from Italian journalist kidnapped in Iraq
An Arabic television station has aired a video appeal from kidnapped Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena. On the undated tape released by insurgents Sgrena is shown pleading for her life. She describes violence against Iraqi women and children, and the shortage of electricity and basic supplies in the country. Sgrena implores the Italian government to pull out of Iraq and for people to put pressure on Rome to end its involvement. She also calls on her partner and fellow journalist Pierre Scolari to do everything possible to rescue her. Visibly distressed, she reports that her kidnappers demand the immediate withdrawal of all foreigners, journalists, and troops from Iraq. The special envoy for Italian communist newspaper "Il Manifesto", 56 year old Sgrena was seized in Baghdad on February 4th. In her home town of Domodossola in northern Italy the journalist's friends, family and supporters held a rally for her on Monday evening. Sgrena's father is among those calling for more information, as two separate insurgent groups have claimed to be holding her. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kyoto Protocol implemented to tackle global warming
Environmentalists have been celebrating the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol. Ratified by 141 countries, it is the first legally binding initiative to regulate climate change. But the United States, the world's biggest polluter, has rained on the parade by refusing to sign. And the protocol also excludes major developing nations such as China, India and Brazil.The earth is rapidly heating up thanks largely to greenhouse gas emmissions, caused by the burning of fossil fuels in factories and cars. By signing up to Kyoto in 1997 nations promised to try and slow down this process. If temperatures continue to increase ice caps will melt, sea levels will rise, thousands of species will become extinct and we will be at the mercy of more extreme weather. A United Nations climate panel has warned that time is running out. Kyoto wants to force us to take our foot off the gas. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 16 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- hock amid mourning after Lebanon bomb
Beirut remains in shock after the assassination of one of Lebanon's most high profile political figures. A huge car bomb tore down seafront facades and shattered hopes that the country's turbulent years of civil war were in the past. At least 14 other people were killed, including some of Hariri's bodyguards travelling in his motorcade. At least 135 people were wounded. Now police and army patrols are on the streets amid fears the killing of the billionaire businessman could rekindle the flames of Lebanon's 15-year conflict. With flags at half mast and most shops closed, Beirut is almost deserted. The government has called three days of mourning, with Hariri's funeral tomorrow. The opposition has called a three day strike in protest at Syrian influence in the country. The Lebanese press is full of speculation over who may have killed Hariri - with many fingers pointing to Damascus. The 60-year-old, who was the mastermind behind Beirut's reconstruction in the 1990s, was expected to make a political comeback in this spring's general election. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Speculation mounts over Syrian role in Hariri assassination
Though uncertainty hangs over who was responsible for killing Hariri, the size of the bomb suggests it was the work of a well connected and highly organised group. More than 300 kilos of explosives are thought to have been detonated in what appears to be the biggest bomb in Beirut since the civil war ended in 1990. Suspicion is falling on Syria, not least because of Hariri's deteriorating relationship with the country. Recently he had been angered by Damascus's insistence on extending the term of his political rival, President Emile Lahoud. There has been international outcry at the assassination. French President Jacques Chirac, a close friend of the politician, praised him for his determination to establish democracy in Lebanon. The Lebanese opposition has been protesting at the government, holding it, as well as the Syrians, responsible for the deaths. In recent months Hariri had moved towards the opposition, he had joined their calls for a Syrian withdrawal from the country. There are some 14,000 Syrian troops stationed in Lebanon. Since it helped broker the end of the war Damascus has maintained a powerful grip on its neighbour through its intelligence services, political allies and widespread economic interests. Hours after the killing an unknown Islamist group claimed it killed Hariri. Later a statement attributed to al Qaeda denies Islamists were involved. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 15 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Heater blamed for deadly Iranian mosque inferno
A faulty electrical heater is thought to be behind a mosque fire in Iran that killed 59 people. The building had been crowded with worshippers for a major Shi'ite Muslim festival that took place yesterday. As the blaze spread witnesses say some people were trampled on in the desperate rush to escape the flames. Others report seeing worshippers throwing themselves from windows as they tried to flee. Officials are examining pieces of the heater to determine exactly how the fire was caused. It is thought to have started in a section set aside for women. Relatives and friends of worshippers have been flocking to the Arg Mosque in the capital Teheran looking for their loved ones. Others have been scouring hospitals in the area in search of news. More than 200 people were injured. Many are suffering from severe burns and cuts from broken glass. The quick-burning acrylic used to make women's headscarves has been blamed for some of the wounds. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
At least 203 miners have been killed after the worst colliery disaster in China for 15 years. Rescue teams are still searching for survivors more than 24 hours after the blast. It is still not clear what caused the accident, but workers reported feeling a strong tremor just ten minutes before the explosion in the Sunjiawan mine in the north-eastern rust-belt town of Fuxin. The Chinese mining industry is the world's largest, and most deadly. Last year the country produced 35 per cent of the world's coal, but reported 80 per cent of the world's mining-related deaths - a total of 5,000 workers lost their lives in 2003 alone. The Communist government has struggled to regulate the thousands of small pits which are kept in business by high demand. Authorities have ordered safety checks at all so-called high gas mines, like the pit at Fuxin. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 14 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Former Lebanese PM killed in Beirut blast
The former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has reportedly been killed in a huge explosion that has rocked the seafront area of Beirut, according to local media. At least nine people are reported dead, and at least a dozen others injured. Some of those killed are believed to be bodyguards of Hariri. The luxury five star Saint George Hotel in the Lebanese city was severely damaged in the explosion, which left a huge crater in the road. Lebanon has parliamentary elections planned for May. It was the largest blast since the end of the civil war in the 1990s. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. Shi'ites striking deals after Iraq elections
Iraq's Shi'ites may have won the lion's share of the vote but it is not enough for a parliamentary majority. Behind-the-scenes wheeling and dealing has already begun with the United Iraqi Alliance - headed by Abdel Azim al-Hakim - looking to link up with other groupings, with some analysts touting the Kurds as the most likely partners. Vctorious Shi'ites have promised to share power with ethnic and religious minorities. It is unlikely they are just paying lip service to inclusion - the new constitution must be agreed by a two thirds majority. With 48 per cent of last month's vote, the Shi'ites fall far short of that figure. In second place was the Kurdish alliance with 25 per cent. It is not clear how far and how fast they will seek autonomy within a federal state, which many fear could be a precursor to a push for independence. Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's secular Shi'ite list took 14 per cent. A coalition with the United Iraqi Alliance could mean the UIA will be forced to temper its strict religious principles. But while the ballot boxes in the Kurdish north and Shi'ite south were full, those from Sunni Arab areas were considerably lighter. In Anbar province - which includes Falluja and Ramadi - just two per cent of eligible voters turned out. Privately, it is reported, some mainstream Sunni leaders regret the election boycott and hope to contribute to the draft constitution and prepare for December's general election. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- War on terror cannot be waged alone says Rumsfeld
The annual Security Conference has got underway amid tight security in the southern German city of Munich. Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder himself is unable to attend because of 'flu, but a score of world leaders have turned up including US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and New York Senator Hilary Clinton. Germany, which was opposed to the US-led war on Iraq, started by urging Washington to give full backing to European diplomacy on the Iranian issue: "The fight against international terrorism cannot be reduced to political and military measures," said Defense Minister Peter Struck. Iran temporarily suspended uranium enrichment in November as a goodwill gesture towards the EU and Washington, which has accused it of covertly pursuing a nuclear programme. Rumsfeld played down any divergence on Iran, stressing the need for nations to work together to defeat radical Islamists and their "totalitarian aims". But Washington has also made clear it will not rule out military action as a last resort. Outside the venue, hundreds of pacifists gathered last night ahead of the summit. Four were arrested. Thousands more are expected for demonstrations today ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 13 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ: no let-up in violence
No day goes by without its toll of violence in Iraq. In the last 24 hours alone, several attacks have caused dozens of victims. In the southern city of Basra, the chief judge was assassinated in his car last night by masked gunmen who shot him dead. His driver was injured. In another incident, at least 18 people were killed in a suicide car bomb attack near the hospital of Musayyib, some 70 kilometres southwest of Baghdad. The city is located near the so-called "Triangle of Death". Most of the victims were civilians. At least another 25 people were injured. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blair and Brown take election pledges around country
British prime minister Tony Blair and his finance minister Gordon Brown have visited a housing project in south London that is aiming to help first-time house buyers. It was the first stop on their trip northwards to Gateshead where the Labour Party has started its last conference before the general election expected in early May. Brown, seen as Blair's likely successor, joined the premier in outlining six pledges if Labour is re-elected for a third term. At the housing project in Battersea, Blair said: "Over the past seven or eight years I think people have learnt not just to trust the management of the economy that Gordon has achieved but also to recognise that without that foundation of economic stability, nothing else can be achieved." The conference is meant to rally a party still fractured over the Iraq war. Gordon Brown will claim that Britain's low interest rates, inflation and unemployment make the economy a model for the rest of the world. The opposition Conservatives say he has over-borrowed, kept taxes too high and failed to turn round creaking public services. The latest opinion poll sees Labour extending its lead to 41 percent support, with the Conservatives on 32 percent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Abbas to pursue truce talks
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is to pursue talks with militants who threaten a shaky truce with Israel. He is scheduled to meet armed factions in Gaza later today to demand obedience after gunmen bombarded Jewish settlements. The attack has weakened a ceasefire announced by Abbas and Israeli premier Ariel Sharon at Tuesday's summit in Sharm-el-Sheikh. Militant groups have so far refused to sign up to a formal truce but have pledged to suspend their operations if Israel does likewise. Ariel Sharon's government has not retaliated for the Gaza attack to give Abbas a chance to rein in militants, but it has warned its patience is limited. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 12 Fabruary, 2005 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Argentina's prison mutiny is reported to have come to an end. Authorities in the country's second city Cordoba say inmates who took over 70 people hostage, protesting against over-crowding, have now surrendered. The provincial police chief says all the hostages have been freed, just hours after 13 people including prison guards and inmates' relatives were released. Rioting prisoners seized the facility during family visiting hours on Thursday afternoon. At least eight people were killed. Argentina has seen 263 prison riots since 1986 but they have become less frequent since 2000, according to a private study. Cordoba city governor Luis Juez said the jail was old and falling apart and that prisoners lived in "subhuman" conditions. A group of inmates were seen on the prison roof yesterday, threatening prison guards with knives and firearms and hurling bricks at police. The mutineers were demanding an amnesty, which the governor of the province has firmly rejected. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Ariane 5 ready for take-off
The Ariane 5 rocket is set to leave French Guiana tonight in a crucial test for Europe's Space program two years after a first failed attempt. It will be carrying a military communications satellite for Spain's Defence Ministry as well as an experimental payload which will study how fluids react in space. One of its main features is increased capacity which means lower launch costs, an essential asset in an industry that has experienced a downturn in recent years. Independent access to space has been the main driving force behind Europe's space programme, which is funded largely by France. Last February, the European Space Agency pledged nearly one billion euros to continue funding the Ariane 5 programme. The last Ariane 5 rocket veered off course and was destroyed by ground control three minutes after lift-off in December 2002, due to a malfunction in the cooling system. You can follow tonight's launch live on EuroNews from 8:49 pm.
Step forward for European science
Europe's largest nuclear magnetic resonance machine or NMR has been unveiled in Germany. Its centrepiece is a powerful magnet, weighing nearly 32 tonnes, that creates a field through which a detailed image of the human brain is produced. The NMR, previously only available in the US, should facilitate diagnosis of diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and epilepsy. It will also be used in research on language and memory. The machine was unveiled at the Leibniz Institute in Magdeburg. Its director, Henning Scheich was the first to test it and said it was a pleasant sensation. The NMR cost ten million euros and was partly financed by the EU. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 11 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rice urges N. Korea to return to nuclear talks
"With efforts by other countries, North Korea could be brought back to the table." That was the reaction of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan after Pyongyang declared on Thursday that it had developed atomic weapons and was pulling out of negotiations on its nuclear programme. North Korea said there was no point in the six-party talks since the US had termed the communist state an "outpost of tyranny". The phrase was used last month by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Today, in Luxembourg, Rice was more conciliatory. "I know we have the support of the international community in saying to North Korea that they ought to take what is before them: a path to a more reasonable relationship, a path to a better life for their people, a path to security assurances from their neighbours including the US, and very clear statements from the president of the US that there is no intention to invade or attack North Korea," she said. Experts believe North Korea has probably produced enough plutonium for a small number of weapons but it is unclear if the North has the ability to assemble and deliver a nuclear bomb. In October 2002, the US accused North Korea of operating an illegal uranium programme. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iran: out in the cold to celebrate National Day
Hundreds of thousands of Iranians braved appalling wintery scenes in central Tehran to celebrate the country's National Day - the anniversary of Iran's Islamic revolution. Holding banners against both the US and Israel, the crowd listened to speeches from political leaders including President Mohammed Khatami. Yesterday he told a meeting of Middle Eastern ambassadors that those showing aggression towards Iran would "burn in hell". United States President George W Bush previously labelled Iran as part of the "axis of evil" and has warned the country: "Do not develop a nuclear weapon". Tehran claims the programme is solely for generating power. More recently Bush has emphasised the importance of diplomacy in dealing with Iran, and his Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, currently on a visit to Europe, has said that a US attack on Iran was not currently on the agenda. Britain, France and Germany are in talks with Tehran over the accountability of its nuclear programme. The US wants to take the matter to the United Nations Security Council, but the European three want to continue with efforts towards a deal. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 10 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- UK's Charles to marry long term partner Camilla
Britain's Prince Charles has announced that he will tie the knot with Camilla Parker Bowles. But the 56-year-old heir to the throne has ruled out Camilla ever becoming queen. They are to have a quiet civil ceremony in Windsor Castle on April 8. It will be a far cry from Charles' dazzling church wedding to the late Princess Diana in 1981. They will then go on honeymoon in Scotland. After the marriage, Camilla, 57, will acquire the official title of Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall. Aware of public misgivings, Charles has agreed that Camilla will take the status of Princess Consort when he succeeds his 78-year-old mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen and her husband Prince Philip, who were slow to accept the divorced mother-of-two, have wished the pair well. The Archbishop of Canterbury, the head of the Anglican church, called the marriage an important step. He will be presiding over "a service of prayer and dedication" after the civil ceremony. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saudi men voting in limited elections
Today marks an historic event in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Thousands of men are taking part in the country's first nationwide municipal elections. More than 1,800 candidates are competing for 104 seats in the Riyadh area. They include businessmen, tribal figures, security chiefs, academics and officials. After Riyadh, the next two phases of the polls will see the south and east of the country voting in early March and the north and west casting their ballots in late April. Critics say the elections are a cosmetic response to internal and external demands for reform. Only 148,000 of 400,000 eligible men have registered to vote in Riyadh. Women are not taking part at all. For the mayor of Riyadh, Prince Abdel Aziz ben Ayyaf al-Moqrin, it is still a major step. He told reporters: "I am satisfied with the process of opening up in the kingdom." He added that the authorities would recommend allowing women to vote in the next elections in 2009. The polls are part of a cautious reform programme introduced by de facto ruler Crown Prince Abdullah, who has faced pressure from domestic activists and his main ally, the United States. Just half the members of municipal councils are being elected. The rest will continue to be appointed. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 9 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spanish amnesty for illegal immigrants
Spain's Socialist government is launching its most ambitious effort yet to legalise hundreds of thousands of immigrants, currently working illegally. It plans to grant short-term residency and work permits to people who have lived in Spain since August and can produce a job contract. Up to one and a half million immigrants may qualify but no one knows exactly how many there are. They have three months to make an application. But as one woman explained, there is a gulf between getting a job and getting a contract. She said she has been here for three years and no employer has wanted to make it formal. Most of Spain's illegal immigrant workers are Latin Americans on tourist visas and Moroccans who managed to slip past border controls. The majority work in construction, domestic service or agriculture. The amnesty is an attempt to recognise that thousands of people are already working without paying taxes or joining the social security system. The initiative, which coincides with the arrival of the biggest single boatload of Africans in the Canary Islands, has alarmed many EU governments which favour tighter controls. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- UK govt unveils pre-election immigration crackdown
The British government is proposing a radical shake-up of immigration controls, including the introduction of a points-based system for migrant workers. Points would be allocated according to the skills and experience of job seekers from overseas. A decision would then be made on whether they are entitled to a work permit. Interior Minister Charles Clarkes visited Heathrow Airport in London today to see how existing measures are working. "We need a system which reflects the fact that this country needs people who come here to work, who come here to study, who come to visit and support our tourism industry," he said. "And we have an obligation, a correct obligation, to give asylum to people who genuinely are fleeing tyranny. "But what we don't need is people who are not here under one of those channels and we need to police the system properly. And there is a lot of work we still have to do to achieve that." English language tests for migrants would also be introduced. Amid claims the current system is in chaos, Britain's Labour government hopes to regain the upper hand on an issue that could prove to be its Achilles heel in a general election, expected in May. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 8 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. Hopes for Italian journalist's release raised by internet statement
An Iraqi group which claims it is holding Italian journalist Juliana Sgrena hostage says she will soon be freed. In a statement posted on an Islamic website the group calling itself the Jihad Organisation said she will be released because she is not a spy. In Rome rallies have been held in support of Sgrena, who works for communist newspaper Il Manifesto. It is not clear whether the group which posted the news of her imminent release is the same as the group which announced the kidnap. However, one of Sgrena's colleagues has said the various statements that have been issued indicate there is reason to be optimistic. He said he was hopeful the outcome would be a positive one. An earlier statement threatened to kill Sgrena if Italy failed to withdraw its troops from Iraq. She was kidnapped in Baghdad on Friday. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mideast. Peace in the air at Middle East summit
The Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheik is the venue for a landmark summit between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders today. But will it be the first step along the road to a lasting Middle East peace deal or another false dawn? The meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is expected to lead to a ceasefire announcement by both sides. The two leaderships have already spoken positively about the progress made so far in preliminary talks. The dialogue has been boosted by a renewed commitment to the search for peace by the US. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has brought that message of support in person in a visit to the region. She said both Abbas and Sharon had accepted invitations to the White House in the spring for talks with President Bush to keep the momentum going. But it all depends on the expected truce holding and it is not yet certain that all Palestinian militants will go along with the ceasefire. The main factions have indicated Israel's offer of an end to military operations in Gaza and the West Bank, and the release 900 of 8000 Palestinian prisoners does not go far enough. Leaders of the largest groups say they want to be consulted before Abbas makes any ceasefire declaration. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Immigration dilemma for EUROPE., need them but dont want them
Immigration has emerged as one of the trickiest issues of the moment across Europe. In many cases both the private and public sectors need immigrants to do jobs Europeans will no longer do. But at the same time across the EU there is widespread opposition to opening the doors any further. Governments have to draw a fine line between local sensitivity and economic necessity. The situation is particularly striking in countries like Spain that themselves not so long ago saw many of their younger citizens head overseas in search of work. Spain is literally crying out for immigrants to toil in fruit farms where the work is hard, low paid and avoided by the Spanish. But its not just unskilled immigrants that are needed. In Britain where there is near full employment especially in the south - skilled workers are hard to find too. But they exist: Like a polish computer expert hired by his London boss Trevor Cotterell. He says his Polish employee is a model staff member and has the skills he can't find elsewhere. It is not just the high tech sector that's suffering. So are the telecom and health fields too - service industries where Europeans are demanding the best they can get. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 7 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tragedy in Spain as 18 die after suspected gas leak
The relatives of 18 people found dead after a suspected gas leak have gathered in the town of Castellon in north-eastern Spain where the bodies were taken for autopsies. Psychologists have been called in to help mourners deal with the shock. The victims, aged between 22 and 40, died in their sleep in a rented hostel in Sant Cristofol, a popular choice for those seeking a base for hiking, mountain biking, and riding. It is thought a faulty heater they had taken with them is to blame. Around 50 friends gathered at the hostel near the village of Todolella for a birthday party. However, celebration turned to tragedy. Out of the 20 who stayed the night only two survived. They were sleeping in a separate room. The victims were discovered by hostel staff in the afternoon. They were all from nearby villages. It is the worst tragedy of its kind in Spain in at least 15 years. The mayor of Todolella said that everyone in the area was affected by the tragedy: "This is a small region where everyone knows each other, it's like a big family catastrophe," he said. A funeral for the victims will be held later today. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Egypt has sent a delegation to Gaza ahead of a meeting it will be hosting on Tuesday between Palestinian and Israeli leaders. The summit in Sharm el-Sheik will be the highest-level talks between the two sides since the Intifada broke out in September 2000. It is hoped Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Israel's Ariel Sharon will declare a formal end to violence. Abbas's ruling Fatah movement has renewed its support for a mutual ceasefire. It said its militias would refrain from attacks on Israeli civilians. A Hamas leader said he hoped Israel would agree to stop targeting militant leaders. In Ramallah, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie said he hoped progress would be made at the summit on the issue of a Palestinian state. He made the comments on a wet day in a region where rain is a sign of hope. "We will raise the issue of President Bush's vision about the establishment of a Palestinian state beside Israel. We think that this is the most important issue and the solution for this conflict," said Qurie. The U.S. president, who has been criticised for too little involvement in Middle East peace efforts, has sent his newly-appointed secretary of state to the region. Condoleezza Rice held talks with Sharon on Sunday and is due to meet Abbas today. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Amnesty for illegal immigrants in Spain
Spain is offering partial amnesty to more than half a million illegal immigrants from today. It is estimated more than a million people live in Spain without residence or working permits, getting work on the black market at great cost for the government. It is now launching a process to officialise their status, provided they can prove they have been living in Spain for at least six months, have a clean legal record, and have a working contract. Employers face a fine of up to 70,000 euros if they don't comply. They have three months to do so. Organisations defending the rights of refugees argue that the government scheme reduces the chances of some refugees, like those coming from certain African countries or nations at war who cannot get the papers they need back home. Spain's right-wing opposition has criticised the legislation saying it will attract illegal immigrants from all over Europe. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 6 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. Italians hold vigil for journalist kidnapped in Iraq
Hundreds of people have gathered at a vigil in Rome to show solidarity with Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena who was kidnapped in Iraq on Friday. Sgrena, a correspondent for the communist newspaper Il Manifesto, was abducted while she was conducting interviews near Baghdad University. An award-winning journalist who was opposed to the war in Iraq, the 56-year old is the eighth Italian to be taken captive in Iraq. Asked whether Italy would withdraw its forces from Iraq as demanded in an internet statement allegedly sent by her abductors, Italy's foreign minister replied: "Absolutely not." No specific threat has been made against Sgrena. Italy, a staunch ally of the US in its so-called war on terror, has some 3,000troops based in southern Iraq. There were also displays of solidarity in several French cities on Saturday where people gathered to mark one month since French journalist Florence Aubenas and her Iraqi translator were kidnapped in Baghdad. There is still no news on their whereabouts or the identity of their abductors. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rice presses Russia on democracy
On her first meeting with her Russian counterpart, the new US Secretary of State has said Russia must to more to show it is committed to the basics of democracy. Condoleezza Rice did add, however, that Washington had no intention of isolating Moscow. She met Sergei Lavrov in Turkey on the second day of her whistlestop tour of Europe and the Middle East, before holding talks with her host Turkish Prime Minister Reccep Tayyip Erdogan. She told him the US was fully committed to a unified Iraq, an issue of concern for Ankara which fears its large Kurdish community might join forces with Iraq's Kurds who are fighting for an independent state. Today, Rice is in Israel for talks with prime minister Ariel Sharon. She will be visiting his newly-elected Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas, on Monday. Rice's visit is part of US president George W Bush's renewed interest in the Middle East peace process after he was criticised for too little involvement in his first term. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protests grip France
French workers have taken to the streets in nationwide protests against labour reforms. According to unions, around 300,000 people have demonstrated across the country to condemn the government's proposal to increase the 35-hour working week. Organisers say many employees of private companies took part alongside public sector workers. The rallies are seen as a major challenge to President Jacques Chirac's conservatives, who are trying to push through a raft of social reforms. "Economic studies have shown that the 35-hour rule created jobs in 1999, 2000 and 2001," one protestor said. "Some people are now saying the opposite, but we won't accept that. We will defend this project, we are committed to it, and that is why we are here today." The government argues the overhaul is necessary to help cut high unemployment and pull the world's fifth largest economy out of the doldrums. It wants workers to put in more time in return for more pay, if they reach a collective agreement with their management. But unions and the opposition Socialists, who introduced the 35-hour week in 1998, believe company bosses could force staff to work more without raising their wages because of the parlous financial state of many firms. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 5 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brown praises G7 deal to help poor nations
Britain's Finance Minister Gordon Brown has hailed a "breakthrough" on his plans to cut Third World debt. Speaking at the end of the Group of Seven summit in London, he said it had agreed to offer 100 percent debt relief to the world's poorest countries. The G7 discussed other issues but Brown made it clear that talk of tackling poverty dominated. "London 2005 will be widely seen as the 100 percent debt relief summit. It is the richest countries hearing the voices of the poor", Brown said. Gordon Brown's announcement is being seen as a compromise however as he had sought a complete write-off of African debt and a doubling of aid to 75 billion euros a year. The United States blocked the move. It is now up to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to come up with plans on how to deliver on the debt relief pledge. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. Efforts to release Italian journalist in Iraq intensify
Rome is stepping up diplomatic efforts to secure the release of an Italian journalist abducted in Iraq. The Secretary of State for foreign affairs has met top Kuwaiti officials to ask them to help find and free Giuliana Sgrena, a veteran foreign correspondent for the Communist daily, Il Manifesto. The newspaper, which strongly opposed the Iraq war, is preparing a video due to be aired by Al Jazeera television emphasising Sgrena´s pacifist stance. In a message posted on a website, Islamic militants claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and demanded Italy withdraw its 3,000 troops from Iraq, but Rome says the statement is unlikely to be authentic. Sgrena´s disappearance follows the kidnapping last month of Florence Aubenas, a correspondent for the French left-wing paper, Liberation. Reporters without Borders, a group which supports journalists worldwide, held a meeting in Paris calling for her release. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 4 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- French MPs debate changes to 35-hour working week
It was held up as a model for stimulating the job market, but now France's 35-hour working week is being re-examined by the country's right-wing government. A debate has begun in parliament on a law change that would relax the rules and give employees the right to work longer hours if they want to. The 35-hour-week was brought in by the previous socialist government, with the aim of creating more jobs. There has been fierce debate, however, about whether that has actually happened, and employers' groups have called for more flexibility. The socialists and unions are vowing to fight any change to the law. "It is really getting close to a swindle when the expression 'the choice of the worker is used'," said Jean Christophe Le Duigou from the CGT union. "Employees who end up refusing to do extra hours, on top of the legal quota... I wouldn't bet on them staying in the company for very long." There seems to be mixed opinions on whether the public actually want to work longer. One recent poll said 74 percent wanted to stick to the current system, while another said 53 percent of professional workers were keen to do overtime. Some unions have organised their own ballots among staff, not satisfied with some companies claims that employees are in favour of longer working weeks. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 3 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Basque leader defends "independence" plan in Madrid
The leader of the Basque region, Juan Jose Ibarretxe, has challenged politicians in Madrid to let Basque people decide their own future by accepting his plan for virtual independence. The project, which includes proposals of shared sovereignty, a referendum on self-determination, a separate Supreme Court and Basque as the official language, is expected to be rejected in the national parliament. Ibarretxe said a "no" vote could not be imposed without negotiation and more than eight out of ten Basques believe it is up to them to decide their future. The socialist government and main opposition centre-right party have condemned the project as a breach of Spain's 1978 constitution. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero spoke out against the so-called Ibarretxe plan. "If we live together, we must decide together," he told parliament. "Relations between the Basque country and the rest of Spain will be decided by all Basques, not just 50 percent of them, and all Spanish people." The plan was approved by the regional Basque assembly on December 30 with votes from Batasuna, a party outlawed as the political branch of the armed terrorist group ETA. Spanish media reported that Zapatero might offer an olive branch by proposing a revision of the Basque country's existing statute of autonomy. Ibarretxe, who claims the plan would put an end to ETA violence, has threatened to go ahead with a referendum even if his proposals are rejected by the national parliament. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 2 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. Militants claim downing of UK plane in Iraq
Video footage has been released that militants say shows them shooting down a British transport plane in Iraq. There is no evidence to support the claims now being made by two radical groups that the Hercules transporter was blown out of the sky by a missile. But with reports in the UK that a bomb on board the aircraft could be responsible, speculation is mounting over why the plane came down. Ten people are feared dead: nine Royal Air Force personnel and one soldier. The Ministry of Defence is not commenting on the video. British Foreign Minister Jack Straw is waiting for more facts about what happened: "The site of the crash has been secured and we're investigating its cause. The House will understand that it would be wrong at this stage to speculate about possible causes," he told parliament. The Hercules C-130 was based at RAF Lyneham in southern England. The plane came down north of Baghdad in an area controlled by US forces, and it is not clear why the British airmen were there. The families of the victims have been contacted, and their identities should be released later. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iraq's Shi'ites celebrate as al Qaeda vows to fight on
The result is likely to be days away but Iraq's Shi'ites just can't contain their joy. In jubilant scenes, they poured onto the streets of Najaf in anticipation of taking control of their country. And they are right to be confident. Sunday's historic election looks certain to put Iraq's Shi'ite Muslim majority in power, after eight decades of rule by minority Sunni Muslim Arabs - many of whom boycotted the ballot. Announcing he is happy to stay in the job if chosen, Iraq's President Ghazi al-Yawer added his voice to calls for unity in the political process. He was speaking, however, against a backdrop of fresh threats from militants. Although the election day onslaught of suicide bombers and mortars was less bloody than expected, violence persists in Iraq. And, describing the poll as "an American game," al Qaeda has vowed to pursue its war against US-led occupying forces and Iraqis working with them. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mideast. Key border crossing re-opened
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has arrived in Turkey in an attempt to consolidate Ankara's support amid renewed hopes for regional peace. Turkey has close ties with both Israel and the Palestinians. Its possible contributions could include assistance with border security in the Gaza Strip after the Israeli pull-out. It is thought the Palestinians also want Turkey to join the international group called the Quartet that is working on peace in the Middle East. Meanwhile, the Israeli-controlled Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt has been re-opened. It had been shut for several weeks after Palestinian militants tunnelled under the Israeli army post there and blew it up, killing five soldiers. The crossing is the main gateway in and out of Gaza for Palestinians. The opening is a boost for Abbas in his campaign to coax a ceasefire from militants. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 1 Fabruary, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. Shi'ites on brink of power in Iraq
Iraq's Shi'ite majority is poised to take power after the country's first multi-party elections for more than half a century. The final result of the historic ballot is not due for 10 days. But the long-oppressed Shi'ites know it is all but certain to put them firmly in control. A coalition formed under the guidance of Iraq's most prominent Shi'ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, is widely expected to have won the most votes. The risk is that this could alienate the once-privileged Sunni Muslim minority. In a news conference, interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi urged Iraqis to unite and promised to work on drawing all groups of society into the next government. Despite Election Day violence, he said that terrorists had been defeated. The poll drew a higher-than-expected turnout with officials indicating that over 60 per cent of registered voters braved threats from militants to cast their ballots. Shi'ites and Kurds voted in droves. The numbers were much lower in Sunni Arab strongholds. Insurgents had warned they would turn the ballot into a bloodbath and, on the day, at least 35 people were killed. But suicide bomb and mortar attacks claimed far fewer lives than some had feared. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kuwait police battle militants
There has been a deadly shootout between security forces and militants in Kuwait, where authorities are battling a surge in al-Qaeda-linked violence. It happened in a wealthy residential area south of the capital, Kuwait City. There has been conflicting information about casualties but latest reports say five suspected militants were killed. Four others, including a man identified as a top leader, were arrested. The interior ministry says several policemen died as well as one civilian. It was the second deadly gunbattle between security forces and suspected militants in as many days in the pro-Western Gulf state. Diplomats say sympathy for al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is on the rise in traditionally moderate Kuwait. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pre-election violence erupts in Tajikistan
A powerful blast has rocked the centre of Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan, less than a month before parliamentary elections. It appears a car bomb went off outside the emergencies ministry, killing at least one person and injuring a further four. Hours later a fire broke out in the Central Asian state's security ministry, although it was not clear what caused it. An interior ministry official said the fire was caused by an air conditioner. Cameramen were prevented from filming black smoke billowing from the roof. An impoverished ex-Soviet Muslim country of seven million people, Tajikistan will hold elections on February 27. A Tajik government official was killed in the run-up to the previous parliamentary poll in 2000. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mideast. Massive Gaza withdrawal demo in Jerusalem
There was a powerful demonstration in Jerusalem of the difficulties Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon faces in pushing ahead with his Gaza withdrawal plan. Tens of the thousands of Israelis - more than a hundred thousand according to some reports - took part in a protest in the city. They want a referendum on Sharon's proposal to close Jewish settlements in the Strip. The pull-out plan is being pursued in parallel with new moves towards a peace deal with the Palestinians. Sharon's defence minister, Shaul Mofaz, has said Israel is likely to withdraw troops from several West Bank towns in the coming days - a further sign of cooperation with the new Palestinian leadership. The announcement came after talks between Mofaz and Mohammed Dahlan, a former Gaza security chief. The new momentum in the peace process is likely to gather pace if a summit between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Sharon goes ahead. Abbas is currently in Moscow for talks with the Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is thought Abbas and Sharon will meet on February 8 to explore ways of reviving the "road map" peace plan. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mont Blanc tunnel fire tribunal opens
Court proceedings to establish responsibility for a fatal fire in the Mont Blanc tunnel in the Alps in 1999 get underway in France today. The tribunal in an improvised courtroom in the Alpine town of Bonneville will deal with manslaughter and other charges in relation to the blaze which killed 39 people. One of the principal defendants is a Belgian lorry driver in whose vehicle the fire started. He denies any wrongdoing. The manufacturer of the truck, Volvo, faces allegations that it knew of design problems with the engine which may have been the cause. The French and Italian managers of the tunnel and authorities from both countries are also facing charges. |
