9 June 2002
Turnout key to French elections
The first round of the French parliamentary elections have got off to a low key start amid fears a low turnout could favour extremists. The allies of centre-right president Jaques Chirac are tipped to win a majority of the 577 seats, but the far-right of Jean-Marie Le Pen may make a significant impact. The record number of candidates is an important factor. In one constituency in Paris there are 27 standing, and the average is 15. That could scatter votes, particularly in the splintered Left, thus giving extremists the chance to make it into the second round on June 16th. Apathy is another key issue. Despite the demonstrations following the results of the first round of the presidential election, voters' attention has now turned to other matters, including the World Cup, and they remain frustrated by what is seen as a cosy Parisian elite.
Russia riots after football defeat
Russian football fans have gone on the rampage in the centre of Moscow after their team's 1-0 defeat to Japan in the World Cup. One man died and more than 20 were injured in the violence. The victim died from stab wounds during a mass brawl. Angry youths threw bottles, vandalized around 20 cars and setting four of them alight. Three thousand fans had been watching the game on a giant screen in Manezh Square when the defeat sparked violence. Fists and boots flew in every direction, with almost any object or individual unlucky enough to stand in the way bearing the brunt of their fury. It spread to nearby streets close to the State Duma lower house of parliament. Riot police, heavily outnumbered at first, responded with strong-arm tactics
Bush says no to Mubarak's Palestine timetable
US President George W. Bush has rejected a call by Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak to support a timetable for creating a Palestinian state. Speaking to reporters after meeting at Camp David, the two leaders expressed differing opinions of the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The United States has been reaching out to other Palestinians as it seeks to coax the Palestinian Authority to reform, something Israeli Prime Minister has set as one of the conditions for peace negotiations to restart. Mubarak urged: "We should give this man a chance. If he's going to deliver, I think everybody would support him. If he's not going to deliver, his people will tell him that." Bush said there was "plenty of talent" elsewhere among the Palestinians and said of Arafat: "I have constantly said I am disappointed in his leadership. I think he has let the Palestinian people down." Bush welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to the White House tomorrow. Even as US peace efforts intensified, Palestinians and Israelis were trading strikes. Two Palestinian gunmen killed three Israelis, including a man and his pregnant wife, at a Jewish settlement in the West Bank. In Gaza, five Palestinians were killed as two separate attempted attacks on Israelis were thwarted.
Progress in India-Pakistan relations
There are signs diplomatic efforts to diffuse tensions between India and Pakistan may be paying off. Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf says the chances of war with India are "minimal". And New Delhi has ordered its diplomats back to Islamabad - a move welcomed by Pakistan's Information Minister Nissar Memon. "This is a diplomatic victory of the European and American leaderships," he said, "They have been together with Pakistan and India to come to a dialogue to de-escalate the entire thing. This is a positive step from the Indian side to de-escalate by announcing to send diplomats to Pakistan." But in the disputed region of Kashmir the conflict is still claiming lives. An Indian woman was killed and three others injured after coming under fire from Pakistani troops. On the other side of the Line of Control a teenage Pakistani was killed by mortar fire.