Last Updated, 31 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. Romanians seized in Iraq seen on videotape
The abductors of three Romanian journalists in Iraq have issued a video of them and a fourth person, whom Romanian media described as the trio's American-Iraqi guide. The tape shows two men pointing guns at the hostages. Al Jazeera, the Arabic-language channel which aired the tape, said an unknown group was holding them and made no mention of any demands. The Romanians are seen appealing for their freedom. One of them, television reporter Marie Jeanne Ion, apparently denies that any ransom is being demanded. She says, in English: "If somebody asked for something in exchange for our freedom ... this is not true." Marie Jeanne Ion managed a quick call to her newsroom before vanishing. She was heard pleading with her kidnappers to let them go because they came from a poor country unable to pay a ransom. Yesterday the Romanian government said it had received no ransom demand. Washington meanwhile confirmed that an American citizen was kidnapped along with the Romanians in a Baghdad suburb on Monday. The incident came during a visit by Romanian President Traian Basescu to Afghanistan and Iraq, where Bucharest has sent 800 troops. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quake victims use bare hands to hunt for survivors
As many as 2,000 people are now feared to have lost their lives in Monday's massive earthquake in Indonesia, although the UN's provisional toll is at least 518 dead. Survivors are still believed to be beneath the rubble but efficient means to find and free them are simply not available. People are digging for their loved ones, using basic tools and their bare hands. Miracle rescues are being reported, like that of a man who survived for 40 hours under the debris of his home on the worst-hit island of Nias. He had the good fortune to be in an area combed by a team of French firefighters. International aid has been dispatched to the islands in the disaster zone but bad weather and damaged infrastructure have been hampering relief efforts. The earthquake, measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale, comes just three months after an even bigger one triggered a tsunami that swept the Indian Ocean, leaving nearly 300,000 people dead or missing. Two thirds of those killed then were in Indonesia, although on that occasion this particular part of the country escaped major damage. This time round Nias, Simeulue and the Banyak Islands were not so lucky. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pope being fed through nasal tube
Pope John Paul briefly appeared at his window overlooking St Peter's Square, amid news that he is now being fed through a nasal tube. The faithful were delighted to see the Roman Catholic leader but although he blessed them, he was unable to pronounce any words, following his tracheotomy. It was the second time in four days that the pontiff had failed in his efforts to speak in public. It has fuelled concern that his condition is getting worse. But there were assurances from the Vatican that the 84-year-old is continuing what it calls a "slow and progressive convalescence." A statement said the nasal tube was being used to improve the pope's "calorific intake and promote an efficient recovery of his strength." ----------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 30 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- World Bank gets new boss
Critics of Paul Wolfowitz say the walls of the World Bank already tremble at his approach; the american left, and all of europe's teeth are on edge at what the big bad Wolfowitz will do with the world's kitty. Those close to him say he is sensitive to suffering, a motivation for the job; and he showed that when he was one of the first high-ranking foreigners to visit tsunami-hit Asian regions. It is a region he knows well, with three years as Ronald Reagan's Indonesian ambassador, and at the state and defence departments covering, among others, the tricky transition in the Phillipines from the Marcos dictatorship to a democracy. Add diplomacy with China and Korea and this 61 year old has been around. The career that began in Washington in the 1970's after a Cornell degree in Maths was immediately remarkable; this "hawk of hawks", this "velociraptor" for some, was in the "A" team of what would prove to be the Republican party's next-wave of thinkers. Detente and balance, status quo were out; using power to change a situation of potential danger to America was in. This meant championing values like democracy by force if necessary, because they were the best long-term guarantors of US security. Post 9-11 and back in the Pentagon's number two job with old boss Donald Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz spied an old enemy to strike; a job he had not been allowed to finish under George Bush senior. Iraq. A new order in Iraq, a new order everywhere, on an American model. That has been the man's credo over 30 years of public service, but only one public. Now he must prove his sensitivity to the demands of the world. These are multilateral needs, and may require more than unilateral instincts to deal with. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 29 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Death toll in hundreds after Indonesia quake
A powerful earthquake off the coast of Indonesia has killed hundreds of people, perhaps thousands, and triggered tsunami alerts around the Indian Ocean. There were initially fears that the quake could lead to a devastating tsunami like the massive waves which left nearly 300,000 people dead or missing last December. Tsunami warnings were issued across the region. However, several nations cancelled the alerts well before dawn, telling people they could return to their homes. The 8.7 magnitude quake struck at around 11:15 pm local time. The epicentre was 200 kilometres off the coast of Sumatra, very close to that of December's quake. A US Geological Survey spokesman said Monday's quake was an aftershock from December's but also a "very serious earthquake in its own right". Thousands of people fled their homes in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India and Sri Lanka - all areas still recovering from the tsunami three months ago. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 28 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rival parliaments struggle for power in Kyrgyzstan
Police officers in Kyrgyzstan's capital are attempting to bring security to the streets following Thursday's chaotic coup. They have been instructed to go back to work and have been given permission to shoot looters who have been ravaging Bishkek ever since the toppling of President Askar Akayev. He was forced out by those demonstrating against the recent disputed parliamentary polls and is rumoured to be in the Russian capital. The coup last week has left the ex-Soviet republic with two rival parliaments. Deputies of the outgoing chamber and those elected in February are vying for control. Leading opposition figure and acting interior minister Felix Kulov has caused controversy by claiming the old parliament has expired and so legally the new parliament is legitimate. Meanwhile, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe has sent a team to the country ahead of a presidential poll in June. The OSCE has criticised the decision to hold elections so soon. Poor, but situated in an oil-rich region, the state is home to both Russian and American military bases, which could explain the international community's interest in its future. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 27 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ew Presidential poll announced for Kyrgyzstan.
Calm has returned to the streets of Bishkek as the country's parliament declared that a new presidential poll will take place in Kyrgyzstan But the violence that accompanied the overthrow of President Askar Akayev is clear evident from the debris that litters the city's streets. The country's new leaders - a loose coalition of opposition groups including former government officials - seized power on Thursday. That was after crowds of protestors overwhelmed police and marched into the country's presidential offices. Wedged between the former Soviet Union and China, Kyrgyzstan is a mainly Muslim country of five million people. It lies in an energy rich region where Washington and Moscow vie for influence. Each has a military base outside Bishkek. For the moment power lies in the hands of acting president Kurmanbek Bakiev. He is an opposition leader who played a key role in the protests against a flawed parliamentary election. He has promised a new presidential poll in June. For now re-enforced police patrols are trying to prevent a repeat of the scene of gangs of youths roaming the streets. The deposed President Akayev is reported to have arrived in Moscow via Kazakhstan but claims his absence is only temporary. Akayev has ruled since 1990. Kyrgyzstan is the third ex-Soviet state in two years where a revolt has kicked-out the entrenched leadership. That could raise awkward questions for authoritarian regimes in neighbouring Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 26 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Time running out for Terri Schiavo.
Outside the mansion of Florida governor Jeb Bush, supporters of Terri Schiavo gather, desperate for a last minute intervention to prolongue her life. Schiavo lies dying in a hospital bed after her husband won a court battle to remove a feeding tube that has kept her alive for 15 years. The case has gripped America, where the religious right has rallied to back Schiavo's parents Mary and Bob Schindler. "I think it is disgusting and revolting what the court has done to her," Mr. Schindler told supporters. "Governor Bush has the authority to stop all this. He could stop all this with a stroke of his pen. He could stop it, he could stop it immediately. He's put Terri through a week of hell, and my family through a week of hell." Schiavo has been hospitalized, bedridden and unable to speak or feed herself since 1990 when she suffered heart failure linked to an eating disorder. The courts have consistently agreed with doctors that the 41 year old woman is in a persistent vegetative state. Her parents only realistic hope now is that a series of last minute emergency appeals might persuade the courts to change their view. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 25 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Opposition declares it's in charge in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan's opposition has declared itself in control of the country after seizing key government buildings. Parliament has installed opposition leaders as acting president and prime minister and given them 24 hours to present a new cabinet. President Askar Akayev is rumoured to have fled the Central Asian country, possibly to Kazakhstan. Other reports say he may have sought refuge at a Russian airbase near the capital, Bishkek. The ousting comes after days of demonstrations against what the opposition says were rigged parliamentary elections. Kyrgyzstan is a mainly Muslim country of five million people. Security forces first cracked down on demonstrators trying to enter the heavily defended government building known as the White House, but then retreated. Thousands of people then stormed the offices, effectively taking control. More than 70 people are reported to have been injured in clashes. Reporters on the ground say the police disappeared from the streets of Bishkek. Russia's official news agency is also reporting that the country's supreme court has now annulled the electoral commission's validation of the recent polls. Kyrgyzstan follows in the footsteps of two other ex-Soviet states, Ukraine and Georgia, which have also seen their leaderships fall to popular uprisings. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Possible UK step towards designer babies
Members of the British parliament have suggested parents should have more say in fertility treatment. That could lead to them choosing the sex of a baby through in vitro fertilization. The recommendations come in a controversial report by a parliamentary committee on science and technology. British MP Ian Gibson said: "Nobody thinks you can design babies to be blond and blue-eyed and so on. We haven't got that information, though we can give people the choice with new technologies and new science that can take away a lot of the problems." But the idea that parents could pick their baby's sex has prompted accusations of "playing God." Fertility expert Dr Mohammed Taranissi said: "Medicine is about helping people with serious medical conditions. That's the principle of medicine. That's why I became a doctor, and to have a boy or a girl is not a medical condition that needs medical intervention." Fanning the flames of controversy, the committee said the human fertilisation regulator should be disbanded, and that taboo issues such as implanting human cells into animals should be considered, provided there are strict safeguards. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 24 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- US refinery blast kills 14
At least 14 people are reported dead and more than 100 others are injured after a massive explosion rocked an oil refinery in the United States. Rescue workers were searching through the rubble in a desperate attempt to find survivors. Local people were told to stay in their homes as huge plumes of thick smoke poured from the BP plant at Texas City, close to Houston. Nearby roads were closed and children remained in their classrooms at school as firefighters battled to put out the flames. The refinery is the third biggest in the continental United States. Employing nearly 2,000 people, it processes around 450 million barrels of crude oil every day - that is some three percent of the US domestic oil supply. Petrol prices in the country leapt as news of the explosion reached the financial markets. Some of those hurt are in a serious condition. Many suffered broken bones and concussion. What caused the explosion isn't yet clear. A full investigation is now underway. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Schiavo parents turn to top US court
After suffering another legal setback, the parents of brain-damaged Terri Schiavo have turned to the US Supreme Court, the highest tribunal in the land. Bob and Mary Schindler faced disappointment when judges in Atlanta rejected their latest bid to have their daughter's feeding tube reinserted. But comments from Florida Governor Jeb Bush appear to have given them fresh hope. Bush, who has been part of the fight to prolong Schiavo's life, revealed the conclusions of an expect for Florida's Adult Protective Services. "The neurologist's review indicates that Terri may have been misdiagnosed and it is more likely that she is in a state of minimal consciousness rather than in a persistent vegetative state," he said. "This new information raises serious concerns and warrants immediate action." Court-appointed doctors however say Terri Schiavo is in a persistent vegetative state with no hope of recovery. Protesters are keeping a vigil outside the hospice where she is being cared for. Her feeding tube was removed last Friday under a state court order. Terri Schiavo's husband Michael says she should be allowed to die. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bolkestein revamp, Stability Pact reform accords ease EU pressures
The European Union's leaders have concluded their summit in Brussels agreeing to major alterations in the Bolkestein directive on the liberalisation of the bloc's services market. This takes pressure off France, where public opinion in the matter had risked the 'no' camp winning a referendum on the EU constitution. Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency, chaired the talks. He said: "We have decided there will be an opening up of the services market and this will be done in such a way as to avoid any social dumping. France's concerns are largely shared by Sweden, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium, to name just a few. It is not true that the European Council has decided to make substantial changes to the directive solely because of strong shifts in France." The leaders also approved reform of the Stability Pact, relaxing the EU rules on budget deficits. Germany comes out well in this, notably for the Chancellor's 2006 electoral chances. New commitments were made by the 25 to reinvigorate the Lisbon Strategy, aimed at improving the bloc's economic performance. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mideast. Lebanon opposition blames Syrian allies for blasts
Lebanese Christian opposition leaders have blamed the country's Syrian-backed security agencies for a series of bomb attacks. The second blast in five days in a commercial Christian area killed two people north of Beirut. Police sources say it was caused by a large explosive charge placed inside the multi-storey centre. The roof collapsed and walls were blown out. "It is as if they are asking us to choose between independence and security," said this Lebanese opposition MP. "If you have got independence, we will not give you security and if you've got security, we will not give you independence. No, the Lebanese people want both together." Global pressure and opposition protests after the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri forced Syria to start withdrawing its troops. The current crisis is the worst since the end of the civil war in 1990. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 23 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fears for Prince Rainier of Monaco
There is deep concern for Monaco's Prince Rainier after it was revealed that he has been placed in intensive care. The 81-year-old has suffered from repeated heart and respiratory problems in recent years. His latest stay in hospital began on March 7. Initial reports suggested he was responding well to treatment but palace officials say he has now suffered a relapse of a lung infection. Some on the streets of the principality fear the worst. One man evoked "a big sorrow" for the people of Monaco. "He is someone everyone really likes," he said. "The father of the people of Monaco." "It is horrible," said a woman. "He is a figurehead. I don't know what will happen in the future. It will be difficult to take over from him. I wish lots of courage to Prince Albert." One of the world's longest-serving monarchs, Prince Rainier made international headlines with his marriage to Hollywood movie star Grace Kelly in 1956. Since her death in a car crash in 1982, he has cut an increasingly lonely figure - delegating ever more responsibility to Prince Albert, his son and heir. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Victory for Berlusconi on constitutional reforms
The first major hurdle is over for Italian leader Silvio Berlusconi whose plans to revamp the constitution have been approved by the upper house of parliament. Centre-left senators walked out in protest at the proposals that include strengthening the prime minister's powers and devolving control to the regions. The driving force behind the changes is the populist Northern League, which once pushed for secession for Italy's rich north from the poorer south. It has made clear its support of Berlusconi's government depends on the bill being approved - the opposition accuses the Northern League of blackmailing lawmakers and threatening Italy's unity. But the prime minister's allies argue the bill is nothing more than a long overdue reform of Italy's 1948 constitution. Under the changes, the number of representatives in the lower house will drop from 630 to 518, and the Senate will lose 63 members. The bill gives more power to the prime minister, enabling him to sack ministers and dissolve parliament. Berlusconi argues this is necessary to stop coalition partners from constantly switching allegiance - a behaviour which has caused governments in Italy to fall at a rate of one per year. But his detractors say the leader is simply paving the way for a dictatorship. By handing more power to the prime minister, the bill takes it away from the president, who already plays a largely symbolic role. Other plans include a devolution of power to Italy's 20 regions, particularly in the areas of education, policing and health. As it includes changes to the constitution, the bill must now go before both chambers again, after which it will likely be put to a referendum before it can be passed. Berlusconi says this is unlikely to happen before the 2006 general election. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 22 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mideast. Tulkarm returned to Palestinians
Raising the Palestinian flag at the entrance of Tulkarm - Israel has handed back control of the West Bank city to the Palestinians after four years. The handover is seen as a gesture towards Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas who won a deal with militants last week to extend a de facto truce. Israel agreed at a summit last month to give back security control of five West Bank cities which it reoccupied after the 2000 uprising. Last week, Palestinians regained Jericho. Next on the list is Qalqilya. The handover was initially delayed by disputes over security and a suicide bombing last month in Tel Aviv. Compromise was finally reached over nearby villages, including one from where Palestinian militants are believed to have mounted the Tel Aviv attack. They will remain under Israeli control pending further talks. Militant groups have warned they will only abide by directives once Israel completes its withdrawal from West Bank towns. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- US in shock after high school massacre
America is in shock after the worst high school massacre since Columbine. A student killed two of his grandparents at their home before heading out to a school, shooting seven people and then turning the gun on himself. He murdered a security guard and a teacher. The rest of the victims were pupils. Thirteen people were wounded. The events happened at the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota, near the Canadian border. Authorities have not released the killer's name and his motives were not immediately known, but he had apparently made his intentions clear some time ago. "A couple of kids told me that he planned this last year, that he was going to come up here and shoot up the school," one pupil said. Terrified students barricaded themselves inside classrooms and called the police on their cellphones. "Our crisis management plan saved a lot of kids today. Teachers following it through saved a lot of people," said the school's superintendent Stewart Dejarlait. Politicians have expressed their condolences to the victims' families. The last massacre on this scale was at Columbine high school in Colorado six years ago, when 12 students, a teacher and the two killers died. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 21 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- EU members welcome Stability pact deal
There is satisfaction all round after EU finance ministers clinched a deal on relaxing the Stability and Growth pact. The new rules allow more flexibility - good news for heavyweights such as France and Germany who have repeatedly broken the deficit ceiling. EU newcomers have also welcomed the accord, which will make it easier for them to join the Euro. Governments will be able to exceed the deficit limit of 3 percent of GDP if the spending contributes to the EU budget, research and development or pension reform. EU Monetary Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia stressed however that flexibility did not mean a free-for-all, and that disciplinary measures could still apply to pact-breakers. However, the deal is being seen as letting some countries off the hook, especially Germany. The text allows members to invoke unspecified "European unification costs" to overshoot the deficit target. The clause is clearly aimed at Berlin, which still spends 80 billion euros every year to rebuild its eastern regions, 15 years after re-unification. EU heads of state and government will look at the deal at their summit on Tuesday and Wednesday. They are not expected to object. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- US divided over Schiavo euthanasia case
There has been mixed reaction to a new law in the United States that could prolong the life of a brain-damaged woman from Florida. Forty-one-year-old Terri Schiavo has been in a persistent vegetative state for 15 years since a heart attack in 1990 starved her brain of oxygen. Her feeding tubes were removed last Friday at the request of her husband. But an emergency vote was called early this morning at the Senate to pass a law that could force doctors to keep her alive. President George W Bush returned early from a weekend in Texas to sign the bill shortly after it was passed by the House of Representatives. Under the new law, a federal judge will now review the case and is expected to order Mrs Schiavo's feeding to resume. The case has reignited the euthanasia debate in the United States - which is deeply divided over her fate: "It's the life of a person and that person still has rights, and I see Congress stepping in for an American citizen right now," said one woman in Washington DC. But another man in the US capital disagreed: "There are other ways of doing it. It's a family matter and not the government's matter." Mrs Schiavo's family, who are fighting to keep her alive, have welcomed the ruling. They say she can still lead a fulfilling life. But her husband who wants her to be allowed to die has said he is outraged. He argues she would not want to be kept alive under such circumstances. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 20 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Massive 'no' to Bolkestein directive in Brussels
Protestors have sent a potent message to EU leaders just days ahead of summit in which plans to open up the services sector will be high on the agenda. Tens of thousand of trade unionists and left wing activists gathered in Brussels for the demonstration against the so-called 'Bolkestein directive'. The draft law will liberalise the services industry. Opponents say it will undermine workers rights. "In France we have social rights and we want to keep them," said one man taking part in the rally. "We don't need to reduce the level of rights, we need to raise them." The Bolkestein directive would allow companies in one country to trade under the rules of another where employment laws may be more lax. British union leader John Monks said: "I'm calling today for it to be withdrawn and rewritten because it causes too much confusion about what the Commission is proposing. We need to start again with a new proposal." The directive was devised by the previous Commission and it is thought the current executive is willing to change it but not scrap it altoghether ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. Anniversary of Iraq invasion marked by mass protest
On the second anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq, thousands of demonstrators descended on central London. The protestors called for an end to the UK's continued presence in Iraq. A rally took place in Hyde Park, after a march past the American Embassy. One of the demonstrators said: "My son was killed on the 20th of June, 2004, and from the time Gordon got killed we have been hearing more and more lies about this war. There were no weapons of mass destruction, so why doesn't he pull the boys out now and let the Iraqis get their own country sorted out, which they do want?" Another kind of protest has taken place in the US. Demonstrators in California have highlighted the human cost of the conflict,laying out 1,519 pairs of boots to represent the number of Americans killed. The exhibition stirred controversy as it toured the country. It began in Chicago and was organised by a branch of the pacifist Quaker church. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Congress intervenes in Schiavo case again
The right-to-die case of a severely brain-damaged woman in the US has taken another twist with a new intervention from Congress. Congressional leaders say they are close to finalising a bill which would ask a federal judge to review the case of Terri Schiavo. If it is passed a feeding tube which a Florida court ordered removed would be restored. The bill will be discussed in Congress today Republican Senator Mel Martinez said: "The fact that the Congress has come together to act I think is just a great thing, and I think an awful lot of Floridians are grateful today. I think all Americans, many Americans, all over the country, but certainly Floridians are very grateful Courts in Florida have consistently ruled in Michael Schiavo's favour that his wife Terri should be allowed to die. But her parents, pro-life campaigners and Republican politicians all believe she should not be left to die, and can be rehabilitated. It is understood President George Bush is returning to Washington from holiday so he can sign the bill. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Berlusconi's Sardinian home invaded by separatists
There has been an invasion of one of the private residences of the Italian prime minister. About 100 Sardinian separatists broke into Silvio Berlusconi's 50 hectare property on the island, before being evicted by the police. The activists managed to get as far as the luxury villa's swimming pools, in a protest against symbols of the Italian state. Some Sardinians want independence from Rome, accusing authorities of trying to stamp out their culture and language. Berlusconi, who is Italy's richest man, also came under fire recently from environmentalists. He carried out building work on the property, violating strict construction rules on the coast. The government insisted the work was lawful because the property is used for official functions. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 19 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dutchman on trial over Iraq chemical weapons
The trial of a Dutchman accused of selling materials for chemical weapons to Saddam Hussein has begun in the Netherlands. The case prompted demonstrations from Kurds, whose relatives were killed in the Halabja massacre. Some of them are seeking 10,000 euros each in damages from the accused. They hope the trial will highlight their cause. "It wasn't just in Halabja in Iraq that there were massacres, there were also massacres against Kurds commited in Iran eight and a half months earlier," said one demonstrator. Frans van Anraat is the first ever Dutchman to be tried on charges related to genocide and war crimes. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italian public workers strike over wages
In Italy, thousands of public workers have taken to the streets to demand higher wages just three weeks ahead of important regional elections. Banks and government offices closed, trains and buses stopped running, while children stayed home from schools. In the capital, Rome, the protest brought traffic to a standstill as hundreds of thousands of people walked from the Colosseum to the Senate. Problems are piling up for the Italian Prime Minister. Silvio Berlusconi is trying to contain a public deficit which hit the European Union's limit last year and he has warned labour leaders that spending is restricted. At the same time, Europe's statistical agency, Eurostat, has rejected Rome's figures for the last two years. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 18 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ukraine admits 18 missiles sold to China and Iran
Ukraine is under mounting pressure to explain how and why 18 cruise missiles were sold off to China and Iran. The X-55 rockets have a striking range of 3,000 kilometres. Ukraine's Prosecutor General Svyatoslav Piskun acknowledged that the missiles had been handed over in 2001, but that they were not armed with nuclear warheads. It is the first time a government official has admitted the weapons had been exported. The news appears to confirm Western fears that some former Soviet arms are now in foreign hands. A Ukrainian businessmen was arrested by the previous Russian-backed government in Kiev, and his trial is still ongoing. Two Russians, one of whom is in custody, are suspected of masterminding the sale. The US accuses Iran of trying to secretly develop nuclear weapons, a charge it denies. A Japanese official has voiced fears the missiles could have been transferred through China to North Korea. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sharon to visit Bush ranch
For the first time in a year Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is heading to the USA for a visit to meet President Bush in April. Sharon has been to the White House 10 times since becoming Israel's leader in 2001, but for the first time he will be a guest at the Bush ranch in Crawford, Texas. It is likely he will feel very much at home, as Sharon has a ranch of his own in Southern Israel. It is the latest sign Bush is stepping up his Middle East peace efforts.In Washington the State Department says the agreement in Cairo by Palestinian militant groups to extend what they are calling a "period of calm" till the end of the year falls short of demands that they renounce violence. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas got the deal on condition Israel releases prisoners and returns West Bank towns to Palestinian control, but the 13 factions warn that truce might not hold if the conditions are broken. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 17 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. Berlusconi blames journalists for pullout confusion
What a difference a day makes! After seeming clear on Tuesday about pulling Italy's troops out of Iraq beginning in September, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi now says that is not what he meant at all. "No, no, it is absolutely not like that," he said. "I spoke with Tony Blair about a plan for an exit strategy, a plan that is expected by Italian public opinion." he said. According to Berlusconi it is all the fault of journalists building card castles, reading definite intentions into what he says are merely "hopes" for a September pullout. However, elections are coming up and Berlusconi has an eye on them. Some suggest his "clarification" follows a rap on the knuckles from Washington for breaking ranks but this is not the case, according to George W. Bush. The US president said he had phoned Berlusconi to talk about other things and the Italian leader brought up the subject himself to reassure him policy had not changed. In London, Prime Minister Blair also made it clear that he was on the same wavelength, maintaining that troops would only leave when the job was done and when Iraqi forces could take over. He added that this had always been Britain's position. Blair may be facing an election soon too, although he is weathering lukewarm British public opinion over the war better than his Italian counterpart. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Schroeder proposes corporate tax cut to boost economy
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has been defending plans to kick-start the economy and reverse rising unemployment in a speech to the Bundestag. The measures were presented as an extension of "Agenda 2010", which was introduced by the government two year ago. The package includes a series of unpopular benefit cuts. Schroeder told members of parliament that unemployment, which has risen above 5 million, was Germany's biggest challenge today. At the heart of the new measures are moves to ease the burden on German companies, which currently pay the highest taxes in Europe. Schroeder has proposed to cut the corporate tax rate by six points, from 25 to 19 percent. Germany's budget deficit has violated European Union rules for three consecutive years. Schroeder needs the backing of the opposition, which has a majority in the upper house. He is meeting conservative leaders Angela Merkel and Edmund Stoiber for talks later. The Chancellor is hoping for a boost ahead of a crucial election in May in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The ruling Social-Democrats have been losing ground there after 39 years in power. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Top Russian businessman escapes assassination attempt
Anatoly Chubais, the head of Russia's state power monopoly, Unified Energy System, has survived an assassination attempt on the outskirts of Moscow. Following the attack, Chubais said he knew who had tried to kill him but did not give any names, adding that he refused to be intimidated. He was travelling in a two-car convoy which was targeted by a roadside bomb. His armoured vehicle left the scene immediately - security guards travelling in another car got out and returned fire at two assailants who managed to escape. Chubais was the key architect of Russia's privatisation drive in the 1990s under which a small number of oligarchs acquired vast amounts of wealth. He has been accused of launching an era of wild capitalism and corruption. He ran former president Boris Yeltsin's successful re-election campaign in 1996 and quit politics two years later. Ranked as Russia's most influential businessman, he remains a controversial figure. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 16 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Lebanon reports progress in Syrian troop pullout
The Lebanese military say the first phase of Syria's troop withdrawal has been completed. If that is the case, observers say it brings Damascus closer to meeting US demands to quits Lebanon. All Syrian troops and intelligence officers are said to have pulled back to the Bekaa valley in eastern Lebanon or to have crossed back into Syria. Up to 10,000 Syrian soldiers are thought to remain in the Bekaa valley, while at least 4,000 have left the country. Damascus agreed to pull its troops out of Lebanon after intense international pressure and protests in Beirut. However, there have also been large pro-Syrian rallies. Supporters of the armed group Hizbollah turned out onto the streets last week, condemning what they see as international interference in their country's affairs. Hizbollah also says it will not be disarming. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- No EU talks today for Croatia
It was due to have been an historic day for Croatia - the day when it would have started talks aimed at securing it membership of the European Union. But those negotiations have now been postponed by Brussels as a punishment for the Balkan nation's failure to arrest a leading war crimes suspect. Many in Zagreb simply shrugged their shoulders. "I am not disappointed because we can still get into so-called Europe," said one man interviewed on the streets of the capital. "All this fuss was unnecessary. The EU would just make up something else, even if General Gotovina were arrested." But others are angry. Another man said Europe seems to appreciate the opinion of UN war crimes prosecutor Carla del Ponte more than that of the Croatian authorities who insist they can't hand the fugitive over because he has left the country. Luxembourg currently holds the rotating EU presidency and it was down to its foreign minister to break the news that Croatia's EU dreams have been put on hold. No new date for talks has been set. Jean Asselborn said the decision underlined the importance Europe places on full co-operation with the UN tribunal in the Hague by all the countries of the Western Balkans. The man at the centre of the row is former general Ante Gotovina. Seen by many Croats as a hero, he stands accused of crimes against humanity during the break up of what was Yugoslavia. ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
Last Updated, 15 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East peace process gathers pace
The first concrete signs of progress are materialising in the restarted peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. For the first time, the Israelis have not ruled out the release of Palestinian prisoners convicted after terrorist acts involving bloodshed - a key Palestinian demand. This could open the way to many more of the some 7,000 prisoners walking free one day. A second sign is the handover tomorrow to Palestinian control of the West Bank town of Jericho. Tulkarm is expected to follow this weekend, with Qalqilya set to be next, if all goes well. The announcement on the prisoners' issue may be no coincidence as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas meets the armed Palestinian factions today in Cairo. It is a meeting Israel's leader Ariel Sharon has said he is indifferent to, as the object in his opinion is to disband the militants, not talk to them. However, hinting at larger-scale prisoner releases helps Abbas claim his policies get more results than their guns. The only inmates freed so far were due for release anyway and were held for minor offences. Tackling the issue of harder-core militants will be tougher. Israel for the moment appears ready to consider freedom only for activists jailed before 1994. With the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan also in Israel, renewing an often difficult relationship for the first time in four years, the only threat to a quickening of the peace process is a fresh outbreak of violence. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kosovan president escapes bomb attack
An explosion has damaged a car carrying Kosovan president Ibrahim Rugova. It happened in the region's capital Pristina. No one was hurt. The blast also shattering windows in nearby buildings. Police said the explosion seemed to come from a rubbish bin and appeared to have been detonated by remote control. Sixty-year-old Rugova told journalists that what happened showed there were still bad elements who wanted to destabilise Kosovo. The president was on his way to meet EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana for talks on the formation of a new government after the resignation of his Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj last week. Kosovo is currently under UN administration. Haradinaj stepped down last week to face trial before the International War Crimes tribunal in the Hague, where he has pleaded not guilty to 37 counts of war crimes. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 14 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spanish smash crime ring linked to Yukos
Spanish police have cracked a money-laundering operation worth up to 250 million euros which, according to the government, may have links to Russia'stroubled oil company Yukos. A total of 41 people of various nationalities including Spanish, French, Russian and Ukrainian, were arrested in cities on the southern Costa del Sol. Police raided exclusive properties and seized luxury goods and 42 cars. Russian and Spanish judicial authorities are reportedly cooperating in the investigation that began in September 2003. Police say they found links between a group of lawyers arrested and organised crime groups involved in activities including homicide, illegal weapons, drug trafficking and prostitution. A senior government representative for Andalucia said: "To combat money laundering and organised crime you must have international cooperation like for terrorism, even though the stakes are not so high." A Yukos spokesman reacted by saying: "It is absurd. One could just as well claim that we laundered money on Mars." Russian authorities have driven Yukos to bankruptcy,
demanding 20 billion euros in back-tax and prosecuting its main owner,
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, for fraud and tax evasion. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- No motive clear in US church shooting
Police in the US are still searching for a motive after a man went on a deadly shooting spree at a church in Wisconsin. Seven people were killed and four others wounded by the 45-year-old, who then turned the gun on himself. Detectives are at a loss as to why the un-named man opened fire in the middle of the service at a hotel in the city of Brookfield. He was thought to be either known to or a member of the evangelist Living Church of God, which celebrates the Sabbath on Saturday. Among the dead are believed to be the church minister, two teenage boys and a 72-year-old man. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Portugal aims for Euro charter referendum in December
Portugal's new prime minister Jose Socrates said he hopes to hold a referendum on the European Constitution in December. Sworn in on Saturday along with his 16-member cabinet, the Socialist leader said he would like to hold the poll along with municipal elections at the end of the year. President Jorge Sampaio - also a Socialist - presided over the official swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon. Speaking afterwards, Socrates said he wanted to stress the importance of the European Union, which he described as one of the most crucial projects of current times. The Socialists swept to power on February 20, wresting control from the centre-right Social Democrats. Diogo Freitas do Amaral is the new foreign minister - a change of political colours for the founder of the right-leaning Christian Democrats. There are just two women in the new cabinet. Sampaio called a snap election late last year, citing a lack of confidence in the previous government of Pedro Santana Lopes. The new administration has put the country's ailing economy and unemployment at the top of its to-do list. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 13 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. UN envoy says Syria has agreed total Lebanon pullout
The United Nations' Middle East envoy says Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has promised to withdraw all his forces from Lebanon. Terje Roed-Larsen announced the two-stage plan after meeting President al-Assad in the Syrian city of Aleppo. Next week he will present details of the timetable for a complete withdrawal to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Roed-Larsen told reporters: "The president has committed to withdrawing all Syrian troops and intelligence from Lebanon in fulfilment of Security Council resolution 1559. The withdrawal of Syrian forces will be carried through in two stages. The first stage will see the relocation of all military forces and intelligence apparatus into the Bekaa Valley by the end of March 2005. Further, a significant number of these Syrian troops, including intelligence, will withdraw fully from Lebanon into Syria during this stage." This week Syria began pulling its 14,000 forces back to the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon. All its forces in the north have left but it has kept intelligence offices in several cities. Overnight more troops crossed the border to the east. Several hundred Syrians gathered to shower the returning soldiers with rice and flowers. Pressure on Damascus to end its 29-year presence in Lebanon increased after the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri, Lebanon's former prime minister, last month. Some in the opposition blamed Syria, although Damascus denied this. Today, 10,000 people formed a national flag in Beirut, demanding to know the truth about the killing. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 12 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Blair bruised but terror law passes
After an unprecedented stand-off between its two houses, Britain's parliament has finally passed a controversial anti-terrorism bill into law. The unelected House of Lords finally accepted the bill after the longest parliamentary sitting on record. In a compromise, Prime Minister Tony Blair promised there would be an opportunity to amend the legislation after the next election. Opposition leader Michael Howard claims the government had climbed down. "Mr Blair has only himself to blame for the mess he finds himself in this afternoon. Throughout this sorry saga, he has consistently refused to listen to parliament and to common sense, arrogantly asserting that he is the only person willing to fight terrorism," he said. Earlier Tony Blair argued the legislation was essential: "I would ask the Conservative party and its leadership that has frankly behaved in the most extaordinary way over the past few days to recognize that to continue to try to water down and weaken this legislation is wrong, is irresponsible and should stop." At least eight foreign suspects were released from prison yesterday, ahead of the expiry on Sunday of current emergency laws. The upper house of parliament had been opposing tough
new measures which will include giving police the power to put suspects
under house arrest and impose curfews. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spain falls silent a year after Madrid attacks
Spain fell silent to mark the first anniversary of the Madrid attacks, a day which has been declared one of national mourning. At midday, the country came to a standstill for five minutes, as the nation remembered its dead. A hundred and ninety one people were killed and more than 2,000 injured when a series of bombs went off inside packed commuter trains on March 11 last year. Scenes of silent respect could be seen across the nation. In an unprecedented move, even trains stopped running. Outside Madrid's main mosque, Muslims gathered to mark a minute's silence and to express their solidarity. Imams condemned terrorism at Friday prayers throughout Spain. World leaders gathered for a ceremony in Madrid's main Retido Park where King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia lay a wreath at the so-called Wood of the Departed where one tree has been planted in memory of each victim. A song of peace was then played by young cellist Blanca Coines. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Socrates takes over as Portuguese leader
Portugal is hoping for a fresh start when its new government is sworn in later. Prime Minister elect Jose Socrates goes into office with an outright majority in parliament, the first Socialist party leader to have one. But he says that will not make him complacent. "We don't want a majority in order to impose our vision on others. We want to listen to other people, listen to their point of view of that the government can be firm in its decisions. I'll consider the position of others to make sure I make good decisions for the Portuguese people," he said. Socrates won on February 20 after a snap election. He faces the tough task of boosting growth and jobs while keeping Portugal's budget deficit under control. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- US and Europe together over Iran nuclear issue
The US and Europe have launched a coordinated effort to persuade Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. President George W Bush said Tehran can begin talks on joining the World Trade Organisation if it complies with demands. "I look forward to working with our European friends to make it abundantly clear to the Iranian regime that the free world will not tolerate them having a nuclear weapon," he said. However Iran says there is no way it is prepared to give up a programme that it insists is confined to producing energy. With leader Mohammed Khatami visiting Venezuela a spokesman for his government said the offer from the US was "too insignificant to talk about". The British, French and Germans say they will hold Tehran to account at the UN Security Council if it resumes enrichment and reprocessing. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Syrian troops quit northern Lebanon
The last Syrian troops in northern Lebanon have pulled out of the country as part of the slow withdrawal being organised by Damascus. The soldiers are not leaving quietly - they fired into the air and cheered as they crossed the border - and they are not leaving quickly either. Many thousands are still in southern Lebanon; part of a phased withdrawal organised earlier in the week under intense international pressure. An exact timetable for the Syrians' move towards the Bekaa valley and further east to the border will be one of the key demands made by the UN envoy visiting Damascus today. Terje Roed-Larsen has already seen for himself the political crisis developing in Lebanon, where the opposition wants Syria to leave before elections next month. The current failure to establish a national unity government means that vote may even have to be postponed until consensus is found. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 11 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Madrid terrorism conference ends
A global conference on terrorism has ended in Spain with calls for strengthening democracy around the world and for a comprehensive strategy to thwart extremists. The three-day meeting wrapped up in Madrid as Spain prepared to commemorate the first anniversary of the train bombings in the capital later today. It was attended by around 20 heads of government, plus experts on security and Islam. "The stronger democracy, freedom and justice are, the less terrorism there will be," said Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. UN boss Kofi Annan urged world leaders to adopt a treaty against terrorism, and warned of the danger of a strike using chemical, biological or nuclear materials. Annan also said the world must not forget civil liberties in its struggle against terror, noting that countries had passed legislation that undermined human rights in the wake of the September 11 attacks. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Painful memories on Madrid bombing anniverary
Exactly one year on Spain is reliving the trauma of the March 11 train bombings. At exactly 7.37 am local time church bells will ring to mark the moment when the first of ten explosions claimed the lives of 191 people. Five minutes' silence will be held at midday. The devices, planted by Islamic terrorists, went off on busy commuter services bound for central Madrid. There is a fear of further attacks, and some travellers say they will stay away today. The first memorial to the victims has already been unveiled in the town of Alcala de Henares on the outskirts of the capital. It carries the names of the 25 passengers who started out that morning, never to return. Locals say they appreciated the simplicity of the ceremony after criticism the media was not being sensitive to their needs. Another memorial will be unveiled by King Juan Carlos later. A minute's silence was held in the lower house of parliament. The speaker described the attacks as the "cruellest and most terrible act of terrorism in recent Spanish and European history." ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 10 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQi police officers killed at fake checkpoint
Insurgents dressed in Iraqi police uniforms have shot dead the chief of a central Baghdad police station and at least two other officers. Police sources say the insurgents set up a fake police checkpoint and stopped the car of Lieutenant-Colonel Ahmed Abeis as he was on the way to work. After asking his name, they opened fire. One of the insurgents reportedly filmed the killing. On Wednesday, the bodies of at least 20 people who had been shot dead were found in western Iraq. Officials say one of the dead had an Iraqi police identity card and others may have been national guards. Meanwhile, police now say foreign security guards, not assassins, opened fire on Iraq's planning minister in Baghdad on Wednesday. Mehdi al-Hafedh escaped injury but two of his guards were ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- European Parliament remembers victims of terrorism
Commemorations have started to mark the first anniversary of the March 11th Madrid bombings. The European Parliament in Strasbourg held a minute's silence in memory of the victims of terrorism. In a speech, President Josep Borrell called on the need to analyse the causes of terrorism in the world: "There are no explanations or justifications for terrorism, but there are causes which provoke it and we must investigate these causes, and in this analysis we need to take into account the fundamental values and rights which constitute the base of our communities, but we must also apply preventive measures to stop these attacks. Prevention doesn't just mean war, it must be applied at home and abroad, it includes tolerance, a better integration for immigrants, the fight against discrimination, improved cooperation between intelligence services," said Borrell. The president of the parliament also said much of the legislation approved in the wake of the attacks was never implemented, calling on improved cooperation between European nations. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Karami says only unity government can save Lebanon
Lebanon's recently-resigned prime minister Omar Karami has been reappointed by president Emile Lahoud. Ten days ago Karami resigned amid anti-Syrian protests in Beirut. In a speech carried live on national television, Karami reached out to the opposition, saying: "The only way to confront all the difficulties facing the nation is a government of national unity." On Wednesday, parliament voted in favour of Karami forming a new cabinet, after a huge rally in support of Syria, which has strong political influence and about 14,000 troops in Lebanon. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has announced plans for a two-phase troop withdrawal. Soldiers have been moving eastwards this week, with many of them crossing the border. International pressure on Syria to withdraw increased after the assassination of Lebanon's former premier Rafiq al-Hariri in a huge bomb blast on February 14. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 9 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pro-Syrian prime minister expected to be named in Lebanon
Lebanese president Emile Lahoud is expected to name a pro-Syrian prime minister ahead of a general election in May. The news comes despite calls by the opposition and the international community for Syria to give up its political and military hold on Lebanon. The favourite candidate is widely believed to be Omar Karami, who resigned as prime minister last week but stayed on in a caretaker role. It follows a massive pro-Syrian demonstration in the capital Beirut yesterday called by the militant group Hizbollah. It was the first major show of popular support for Syria in weeks after the assassination of a senior opposition figure sparked off a series of anti-Syrian protests. Meanwhile, a delegation of Lebanese opposition figures has been visiting the European Union's foreign policy chief in Brussels. Javier Solana reiterated the EU's backing of a UN resolution which demands the withdrawal of Syria's 14,000 troops from Lebanon and an end to political interference by Damascus in Beirut's affairs. Solana also called on unity and serenity in Lebanon ahead of the May election. Today, Syrian troops continued to redeploy to eastern Lebanon. Witnesses said army trucks carrying soldiers and ammunition left several positions east of Beirut overnight and crossed the border into Syria. Syria's ambassador to the United States has pledged
a complete withdrawal before May but no timetable has been given.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Efforts continue to free French hostage in Iraq
Belgium's landmark Atomium monument has become the latest symbol of the international effort to free a French journalist held in Iraq. The names of Florence Aubenas, who works for the newspaper Liberation, and her Iraqi guide Hussein Hanoun have been projected onto the sculpture. They were both kidnapped in Baghdad on January 5th. She was last seen alive in a video released on March 1st in which she is seen looking pale and drawn, appealing to French member of parliament Didier Juliafor help. A controversial character, Julia first hit the headlines last year when he was strongly criticised for a failed attempt to secure the release of two other French hostages in Iraq. He has now taken leave from the ruling conservative party after he came under fire for comments linked to the Aubenas affair. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 8 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pro-Syrian protest in Beirut
Protesters have gathered for a demonstration that highlights deep divisions among the people of Lebanon. Rallies in Beirut have most recently called for Syria to pull its troops out of the country. But today's big event is a staunch defence of Damascus and a rejection of what those taking part see as foreign interference. It has been called by Hizbollah, Lebanon's most powerful party. Its leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah said the protest would thank Syria for what he called its sacrifices in Lebanon. Syrian soldiers meanwhile are continuing preparations to pullback to the Bekaa Valley. Syria has promised to redeploy its troops to eastern Lebanon this month under a two-stage withdrawal. It made the pledge under intense pressure from the international community and the Lebanese opposition. No timetable has been set for a complete departure of Syrian forces although officials in Damascus say it will include all security personnel. Washington has dismissed the plan, complaining of what it calls "half measures." The assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister last month was the trigger for an anti-Syrian outcry. Damascus denies having any hand in Rafik al-Hariri's murder. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mobilisation key to freeing Iraq hostages says Sgrena
The leading figures in the Italian government have paid their last respects to Nicola Calipari, but now they are moving into a higher political gear to deal with the fallout over his killing. Foreign Minister Fini addresses parliament today, while Prime Minister Berlusconi called in the American ambassador for a second time last night, and addresses the Italian senate tomorrow. Italy's President, Carlo Azelio Ciampi, has visited Giuliana Sgrena in hospital where the journalist is expected to spend a week recovering from the bullet she took in her shoulder. There is still confusion about the fusillade that riddled her car with bullets, but less confusion about the policy to take regarding hostages still being held in Iraq. Sgrena has insisted on the important role popular mobilisation played in her freedom, and European parliamentary President Josep Borrel has underlined this is the way forward; "Giuliana is once more back among us and enjoying her liberty, but the mobilisation must continue to obtain the freedom of Florence Aubenas, and of her interpreter Hussein Hanoun al-Saadi. They are still in captivity, held by those who reject the right to information and therefore democracy". Posters of the pair greet European members of parliament as they enter the chamber in Strasbourg. The rumour is Italy paid an eight million euro ransom for Sgrena, but Rome refuses to comment on this. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 7 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Russian relations dominate Moldovan election
Moldova goes to the polls on Sunday in an election in which the tug of war between East and West has become a major campaign issue. The ruling communists are widely predicted to win but their pledge to take the former Soviet country closer to Europe has raised the alarm in Moscow. The two main opposition parties are also looking to Ukraine and Romania for inspiration, not Russia. With accusations that he will try to rig the ballot and the eyes of Europe and the US watching the election for fraud, President Vladimir Voronin sought a reassuring tone. "The regulations of the democratic state are more important than success of one party or another. It is very important to have in mind our pro-Europe ambitions," he said. The breakaway region of Transnistria is a key source of tension between Moldova and Russia, with Chisinau accusing Moscow of supporting Russian-speaking separatists there. Russia says the Moldovans are standing in the way of peace. It is hoped an election deemed to be free and fair will pave the way for stalled negotiations on Transnistria's status to restart. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Adams tells McCartney family killers should face court
Irish republican leader Gerry Adams has told supporters they have to face up to what he called the crisis of confidence in their party. He brought the sisters of a man killed in a Belfast pub brawl to Dublin for Sinn Fein's annual conference. Seven members of Sinn Fein have been suspended over the stabbing. The victim's family has accused republicans of being involved in the murder and a subsequent cover-up. Such allegations from Belfast's Catholic community are virtually unheard of: Adams thanked those attending for the warm welcome they gave to family members of the murdered man, Robert McCartney. His family say more than 70 people were in the pub when he was killed and as many as 20 people were involved. So far no one has been charged over the crime. Combined with allegations that the IRA was involved in a massive bank robbery last year, the issue has severely dented Sinn Fein's credibility among one of its core constituencies. The party says it has handed over the names of suspects to the Northern Ireland police ombudsman. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 6 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Delight in Beirut but displeasure in US over Syrian pull back
Thousands of Lebanese opposition supporters erupted in joy when the Syrianpresident announced troops would gradually be withdrawn from their country. Although many European nations welcomed Bashar al-Assad's speech with cautious optimism, the United States said the announcement was "not enough". Washington described the plan to withdraw soldiers in phases as "half-hearted" and said it should happen immediately. But not everyone in Lebanon was celebrating. Smaller pro-Syrian demonstrators also took to the streets. "A good beginning" was how the leader of the Lebanese opposition, Walid Jumblatt, described the news but he said his party would insist on a timetable for the withdrawal. And the former Lebanese president, Emile Jemayel, said without clear dates and deadlines the statement was meaningless. "We were quite disappointed by the speech because we were expecting a timetable for a full withdrawal of the Syrian army," he said. "What we heard in fact was a deployment and not full withdrawal and we do not know what happens when the Syrian army is in the Bekaa valley." Israel, however, is tentatively extending the hand of peace to Beirut, saying once the Syrian army has left, negotiations could begin. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom dismissed Syria's redeployment plan, saying only a full withdrawal would bring Syria in line with UN Security Council resolution 1559. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Syrian leader "withdrawal plan fulfils UN resolution"
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has told parliament that his country's troops will withdraw first to Lebanon's Bekaa Valley and then to the border. That, he said, would fulfil both a UN resolution and the Taif Accord. That agreement ended Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war while the resolution calls for foreign troops to quit Lebanon. Elaborating on Assad's announcment, a Syrian cabinet minister said soldiers would withdraw to the Syrian side of the border. It has had a military presence in Lebanon since intervening in its civil war in the 1970s. Damascus has long viewed the country as a strategic and economic asset, with nationalists viewing it as a rightful part of Syria - sliced off by colonial machinations by the French and British ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. Accusations fly over US shooting of hostage agent
The body of the Italian secret service agent, who was shot by US forces in Iraq, has arrived in Rome to a hero's welcome. Nicola Calipari died shielding journalist Guiliana Sgrena, who had just been released after a month held hostage in Iraq. Politicians including Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi paid tribute but fury grew over how such an incident could have happened. The Americans claim the Italians' vehicle had been seen as a threat because it was travelling at speed and failed to stop at a checkpoint near Baghdad airport, despite warning shots. Not true, said Sgrena during her debriefing. According to her, the car was not going fast and had already passed several checkpoints. Rather the Americans shone a flashlight at them and fired between 300 and 400 bullets. Then, instead of calling for assistance, the troops' first move was reportedly to confiscate the Italians' weapons and mobile phones. The journalist's partner, who flew to Baghdad to collect her, put an even more sinister spin on events, suggesting in a TV interview that Sgrena was the victim of a deliberate ambush, possibly as a result of some information she had received. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 5 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. Italy stunned at Iraq shooting
How could such a positive event turn into a tragedy? That is the question the whole of Italy is asking after a security guard who helped secure the release of a kidnapped journalist was mistakenly fired upon by US forces. In Giuliana Sgrena's newspaper Il Manifesto the front-page cartoonist originally drew a man hugging a dove. This was later replaced with this image of the bird in a pool of blood. Today's Italian press pays tribute to the security agent shot dead by the US military. Nicola Calipari is described as a hero who died while acting as a human shield. On the streets of Rome, public opinion reflected feelings of shock, sadness and anger. ."It is a shame. It spoiled the party," said one man. "I suspect they did it on purpose because she was a left-wing anti-American journalist," said another, talking about the US soldiers who fired. A woman said that she was already against the war and that the latest incident only makes it worse. Nicola Calipari's killing is the most serious diplomatic incident between Rome and Washington since a US Marine jet killed 20 people when it sheared the cables of a ski-lift while on a low-flying exercise in northern Italy in 1998. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- US military shoots freed Italian hostage in Iraq
Rome's Colosseum was lit up last night in celebration at the release of the Italian journalist held hostage in Iraq, Guiliana Sgrena. But Italy's happiness quickly turned to shock and sadness when it emerged that Sgrena had been injured by American troops who fired at the car taking her to the airport. An Italian agent with her has been killed, apparently while trying to protect her. The US military in Baghdad said forces had shot at a vehicle that was speeding towards a checkpoint but that they had tried to warn it to stop. US President George W. Bush has telephoned Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to express his regret over the death. Berlusconi had earlier summoned the American ambassador, demanding an explanation. Sgrena has had an operation to remove shrapnel from her shoulder. Two weeks ago the reporter, who was abducted while carrying out interviews on the streets of Baghdad, appeared in a video begging for help and urging foreign troops to leave Iraq. Sgrena, who was snatched on February 4, is the eighth Italian to have been taken hostage and one of two female Western journalists abducted this year. The other, France's Florence Aubenas, is believed to be still in captivity. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iraq hostage celebrations "ruined" by US shooting
There were scenes of delight at the offices of Sgrena's newspaper, Communist daily Il Manifesto, as news of her release broke. While Italy is one of Bush's staunchest allies, Il Manifesto had opposed the US-led war in Iraq. Aid worker Simona Torretta, one of the "two Simonas" kidnapped in Iraq last September, said naturally that she was thrilled Sgrena had been freed but cautioned people not to forget the other hostages still in Iraq. It later emerged she had known the agent shot dead by American forces. But the relief at Sgrena's release was short lived. The paper's illustrator re-drew today's sketch after news of the shooting. It now shows a blood-soaked dove trying to drag itself back to Italy. Il Manifesto's editor said what should have been a moment of celebration had been ruined by the gunfire. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Bush describes Syrian pullback plan as "half-hearted"
Syria is expected to announce a partial withdrawal of its troops from Lebanon, a move many analysts saw as inevitable in the face of increasing world criticism. It is thought President Bashar al-Assad will say some troops will quit completely, while some will move to the border. World pressure has mounted since the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri - an attack widely blamed on Syria - although Damascus denies involvement. But US President George W. Bush said a partial withdrawal is not enough. He called for all forces to be out by May, to clear the way for free elections. "There are no half measures involved. When the United States and France say withdrawal we mean full withdrawal, no half-hearted measures," he said. Hundreds of Lebanese held impromptu celebrations in the streets of Beirut when news of the predicted Syrian announcement leaked out. Syria has carried out five troop deployments since 2000 but has continued to maintain soldiers in the capital and northern Lebanon ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ukrainian ex minister linked to murder found dead
Ukraine's former Interior Minister, who has been linked to the murder of an investigative journalist, has apparently committed suicide. Yuri Kravchenko had been due to give evidence to prosecutors yesterday in connection with Georgiy Gongadze's death. It is reported he left a note saying he had taken his own life because of what he described as former president "Leonid Kuchma and his entourage", in a bid to shield his family. Kuchma has been accused of covering up the murder. Speaking on holiday in the Czech Republic, he said: "Before God, before the people, I have a clear conscience." He said he was returning home today to end speculation about the affair. Kuchma was linked to the killing by a former bodyguard who fled Ukraine with hundreds of hours of secret tapes. In one, a voice similar to Kuchma's is heard giving an order to "deal with" the reporter. Gongadze was killed in 2000. He had been a harsh critic of Kuchma and had reported on high-profile corruption cases. The discovery of his headless body in a field near Kiev triggered a political scandal and widespread protests. Many analysts believe it was these demonstrations that eventually led to Kuchma's fall from power. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 4 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italian hostage in Iraq released.
The Italian reporter held hostage in Iraq has been released. Newspaper Il Manifesto, which employs Giuliana Sgrena, has confirmed news that she was set free earlier. The editorial director Francesco Paterno says he was informed of Sgrena's release by a top Italian government official. It is reported Sgrena will board a plane for Rome this evening. The 57 - year -old was seized in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on February 4. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 3 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- First sentences in Red Brigade trial
Two members of Italy's Red Brigade terrorist group have been given long sentences at a prison in Rome for their roles in the 1999 killing of a government advisor. Cinzia Banelli received a 20-year sentence, and Laura Proietti got life for taking part in the killing. They were sentenced at the end of a short trial after choosing a fast track for their cases in the hope of leniency. However, the court said it was necessary to set an example, despite Proietti publicly repenting and renouncing the principle of armed struggle. Professor Massimo D'Antona was a labour law advisor to Italy's then Socialist government when he was gunned down as he was walking to work. The trial of 15 others accused in connection with the killing continues. They also face charges of robbery and belonging to an armed organisation. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crucial day in the trial of the "King of Pop"
It was a key day in the trial of Michael Jackson. As the superstar entered the courtroom in California where he faces child molestation charges, veteran British journalist Martin Bashir was preparing to testify. It was Bashir's documentary, "Living with Michael Jackson", that triggered the sex abuse scandal in February 2003 and led to the case. The journalist's testimony is key to prosecutors' efforts to portray Jackson as a calculating sexual predator. The court watched Bashir's programme, in which the singer holds hands with his alleged victim and says he shares his bedroom with children. The defence questioned Bashir's integrity, saying he had got Jackson's confidence under false pretences. Jackson is accused of plying a 13-year-old boy with alcohol and sexually abusing him at his Neverland ranch two years ago. His lawyers are expected to argue the singer was framed by the boy's mother, who is alleged to have made similar claims against other people. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Miss HIV staged in Botswana
A new way of trying to break down the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS is being tried in Botswana. A beauty pageant with a difference has taken place: the crowning of a Miss HIV. 12 contestants have taken part in the ceremony, in a country where it is estimated that more than a third of the population is infected. 32-year-old Cynthia Leshomo was judged the winner. She says it is a chance to "show that people who are tested positive can still live positively". ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 2 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. Video tape shows desperate plea by French journalist kidnapped in Iraq
A French journalist taken hostage nearly two months ago in Iraq has appealed for help in a video tape released by Iraqi insurgents. Florence Aubenas, who works for the daily newspaper Liberation, and her Iraqi driver Hussein Hanoun were taken hostage in Baghdad on January 5th. There has been no news of Hanoun's fate. The tape is currently being analysed by the French government. In it, Florence Aubenas appeals to a French member of parliament, Didier Julia, for help. Julia hit the headlines last year when he made a failed attempt to secure the release of two other French journalists kidnapped in Iraq. The French government denied it had approved his intervention then, and has told him not to undertake any personal initiative to help Aubenas. Julia, who is rumoured to have close ties with Syria, said on prime-time television on Tuesday that he believed those who are holding Aubenas know him and that he probably knows them. He added that he had cut all ties with his contacts in Iraq but that he would resume dialogue if the government asked him to do so. Another woman journalist, Italian Giuliana Sgrena, is also being held in Iraq. She was abducted there last month. A group of religious leaders started a hunger strike in Italy yesterday demanding her release. Among them are Catholic, Jewish and Muslim representatives. The 56-year-old journalist was last seen in a video two weeks ago pleading for her life. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mideast.Syria set to pull troops out of Lebanon
"Syria out" - a familiar chant by protesters in Beirut's Martyrs Square over the past two weeks. Now it seems their voices are being heard in Damascus. Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad, has said he might withdraw his country's14,000 soldiers from Lebanon in the next few months. It is the first indication Damascus is moving towards a full pullout, as stipulated by the United Nations and demanded by Washington and France. Previously Syria only talked about a troop redeployment within Lebanon. US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice said Syria's behaviour and activities were undermining the aspirations of the Lebanese people. She also implicitly backed Israel's accusation that Damascus was behind a suicide attack in Tel Aviv last week. That has increased pressure on Syria, which stands accused of involvement in the murder of Lebanon's former premier Rafik al-Hariri on 14th February. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hundreds of thousands of Uruguayans have gathered in the streets of the capital Montevideo to welcome their new left-wing president Tabare Vasquez. The 65-year-old cancer specialist and former Montevideo mayor won in a presidential election last October, breaking a 175-year hold on power by the country's two traditional parties. His swearing-in was watched by his counterparts from Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela, who all came to show support. "We have promised change and there will be change," said Vasquez. "The changes will start with the government itself, it will be an example of austerity, of respect, of dialogue and of tolerance." It is estimated that one in three people live in poverty in Uruguay, once one of Latin America's most prosperous countries. One of the government's first steps will be to launch a 100-million dollar emergency plan to help the neediest. It has also pledged to defend human rights and help bolster the economic union with its neighbours. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mideast.World leaders demand Palestinian security crackdown
A conference in London aimed at showing international backing for the Palestinian Authority has ended with a pledge of support for a Palestinian state. Announcing the accord, the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said nobody can be in any doubt now as to what people expect and want world leaders to do. "What we have today is an agreement, not just on behalf of the Palestinian Authority but on behalf of the whole international community, as to the practical steps to create a viable Palestinian state in the future and without those practical steps a viable state just won't happen," he said. The Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, used the meeting to condemn those responsible for the Tel Aviv suicide bombing last Friday that broke a fragile ceasefire with Israel. He also thanked the international community for recognising the Palestinian Authority's attempts to improve security, boost economic development and its efforts to carry out the demands of the "road map" to peace. However there were words of warning from the Middle East quartet, comprising of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations. The group called on the Palestinian Authority to take "immediate action to apprehend and bring to justice the perpetrators" of terrorism ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 1 March, 2005 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. At least 100 killed in Iraq bombing
The death toll after a suicide bombing in Iraq this
morning is reported to have risen to at least 100. Hospital officials
say at least 130 others have been hurt after the explosion at Hilla,
about 100 kilometres south of Baghdad. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lebanon's parliament debates Hariri killing
Against a backdrop of mounting protests the Lebanese parliament has been debating the government's response to the assassination of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri. Opposition members have tabled a motion of no-confidence in the Syrian-backed administration. They have accused Syria of involvement in the killing. But with a pro-Syrian majority in the parliament the motion was expected to fail. In the streets of Beirut there was evidence that two weeks after the assassination public anger has not diminished. At least 20,000 people are said to have protested in the capital in defiance of a government ban. Security forces appeared to make little effort to prevent the demonstrations. It coincided with a general strike called by the opposition in which banks, schools and businesses were reported to have closed their doors. The protestors were calling for Syria to withdraw its 14,000 troops from the country. Damascus first sent forces in during Lebanon's civil war between 1975 and 1990. It has retained a military and political influence over the nation since, despite condemnation from the UN. Syria denies involvement in Hariri's killing and recently said it wanted to cooperate with the UN on a withdrawal. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- UN nuclear watchdog urges Iran to cooperate
Iran should do more to help the UN investigate allegations that it is trying to develop a nuclear weapon, according to Mohammed El Barradei. The head of the UN's atomic energy monitoring body said their inquiry was making progress but Tehran could be more forthcoming. His comments came ahead of a top-level meeting of the agency to discuss Iran's nuclear programme. The Iranian government says its purpose is to produce power for civilian use and denies allegations that research on nuclear arms is being carried out. Russia has been helping the Iranians build the plant and cooperation moved up a gear with the signing of a deal yesterday. Under the plan Moscow will supply uranium fuel, which should enable the power station to begin operating next year. The White House has not commented on the deal, but some leading US politicians have called for Russia to be barred from the next summit of G8 nations. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pope undergoing physical therapy to help breathing
Doctors have issued some more positive news on the condition of Pope John Paul II. The latest statement from Gemelli hospital in Rome says the pontiff is recovering well from last week's throat operation. The 84-year-old is also now said to be undergoing physical therapy to help with his breathing and speaking. Yesterday he pleased Catholics who are staging a vigil outside the hospital by making a surprise appearance at his 10th floor window. Earlier a Vatican aide presided for the first time over the Pope's weekly blessing, raising speculation he may be forced to become the first pontiff in nearly 700 years to stand down from the post. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Top Italian gangster" arrested in Spain
An arrest in Spain has been described as a major blow to the Camorra, the notorious mafia in the Italian city of Naples. Raffaele Amato, a suspected top mobster thought to be at the centre of a bloody conflict between two gangs, has been arrested in Barcelona along with five other people. Spanish police acted on information from Italian authorities. Referring to Amato's capture, Italy's Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu said: "The two factions that are bloodying Naples have been decapitated." "This arrest shows the war against the Camorra will be won," he added. Amato is believed to be the head of a breakaway mob that is locked in a turf war with the established Di Lauro criminal clan in the suburbs of Naples. The battle for control of a drugs and extortion racket has led to more than 120 murders there over the past year. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spanish movie is Europe's Oscar success
Europe's glittering prize at the Oscars came from Spain. Director Alejandro Aménabar followed in the footsteps of Pedro Almodovar and scooped the best foreign language award for his "Mar Adentro". It is the 12th Oscar Spain has won in the history of the Academy awards and confirms Aménabar as hot property after his breakthrough directing Nicole Kidman in "The Others". Only 32, Aménabar said the Oscar would be good for his movie's run in cinemas, but it would not be changing his career. The film's subject, premature death, in this case a paraplegic's fight to end his own life with dignity, has proved to be a winning one all round this year, as Clint Eastwood's "Billion dollar baby" was the night's biggest winner. The veteran star and director walked away with the accolades for best picture and best direction, and his stars Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman got best actress and best male support. Swank joins an elite group including Liz Taylor, Katherine Hepburn, Jodie Foster, and Ingrid Bergman of double Oscar winners, Freeman gets one at last after missing out three times in the past. ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
