Last Updated, 31 October, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buttiglione stands down in EU row
Italy's controversial candidate for the new European Commission has withdrawn, following a row over comments he made on homosexuality and marriage. But it seems Rocco Buttiglione's gesture will not be enough to resolve a row at the heart of the EU executive. Describing himself as "an innocent victim", he told a press conference in Rome that he had fallen foul of an ambush by Europe's parliament and then suffered at the hands of what he called a "superficial and crude" press campaign. Due to have been named the body's new justice and security chief, Buttiglione caused an uproar after calling homosexuality a "sin" and saying marriage was for women to have children. He was the first nominee ever to be rejected by a parliamentary committee. A stand-off followed while incoming Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stood by Buttiglione, despite criticism from Euro deputies. But, amid fears Barroso's whole line-up would be vetoed because of the row, the head of the new Commission withdrew his team ahead of an investiture vote by the European Parliament on Wednesday. By Friday, there were signs that both Barroso and Berlusconi were bowing to pressure, meaning Buttiglione had little choice but to fall on his sword. However, news of his departure was followed by calls for further changes to the future executive by the two main groups in the European Parlaiment Clearly, the crisis at the Commission is far from over. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ukraine votes in presidential poll
Ukrainians go to the polls today to choose a new president. There are 24 candidates vying for the top job. But it is expected that Prime Minster Viktor Yanukovich and former premier Viktor Yushenko will go head to head in a second round next month. There are 37 million eligible voters in Ukraine. It has been a tight and bitter contest with both main contenders accusing the other of cheating and of trying to subvert the vote. Yanukovich is backed by Ukraine's establishment and is an advocate of further integration with Moscow. In what some have perceived as an attempt to curry favour with the electorate, the leader just recently raised public sector pay and pensions. Viktor Yushenko has accused his poltical rival of trying to twice kill him and,amid fears for the safety of his family, he has moved them to a secret location. The Western-leaning politician has urged his voters to gather around polling stations during the election. The rivals are neck and neck in the polls. Observers say the outcome of the vote will determine whether the ex-Soviet state intensifies traditional links with Moscow or begins looking towards the West ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bin Laden video pushes security to top of campaign
Election day in the United States dawns on Tuesday but millions of Americans have already made their choices - using the early voting system. The Democrats vice presidential candidate is among them. While casting his ballot, John Edwards quipped that his could be the deciding vote. His political partner, presidential-hopeful Senator John Kerry has been campaigning in Wisconsin. He laid into his Republican rival for failing to capture the nation's enemy number one. "When Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda were cornered in the mountains of Tora Bora, it was wrong to outsource the job of capturing them to Afghan warlords who, a week earlier, were fighting against us - instead of using the best trained troops in the world." Bush has also been talking security. Capitalising on his perceived strength in fighting the war on terror, he told voters that, with him at the helm, America would prevail. "If America shows any uncertainty or weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch." The latest polls show the race for the White House still too close to call. Analysts are divided as to how Osama bin Laden's surprise
video will influence the outcome of the vote. His appearance has made
one thing certain, however. The war on terror will dominate both campaign
agendas until election day. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 30 October, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EU leaders sign new constitution
The ceremony came amid a row about the views of prospective Italian EU commissioner Rocco Buttiglione. Incoming Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has withdrawn his entire team and is now considering changes. "We need more time so I can go back to some of the prime ministers, so that I can get better choices... I'm sure I can get a better team," he told reporters in Rome on Friday. Outgoing President Romano Prodi revealed after the ceremony that Mr Barroso plans to re-nominate a team of commissioners in time for a meeting on 17 November, the Reuters news agency reported. "We are trying. There are some things to sort out," Mr Prodi was reported as saying. Support for Barroso EU leaders voiced their backing for Mr Barroso "to form a Commission that can count on widespread support," Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said. His country currently holds the EU presidency.
The signing ceremony was held in the Renaissance splendour of the Campidoglio, the city hall inspired by Michelangelo in the centre of the capital's historic district. 'More democratic union' Europe's leaders put on a united front, even though disunity over the European Commission line-up still threatens to plunge Europe into institutional chaos, the BBC's Tamsin Smith reports. EU countries holding referendums
Up to 7,000 police and security forces were on Rome's streets to protect EU leaders, while a squadron of F-16 fighters enforced a no-fly zone over the city centre. Mr Barroso said in a speech before the signing that the EU constitution would give birth to a "more democratic union", and urged the 25 member-states to ratify it without delay. "I hope that tomorrow the national parliaments and European citizens will take responsibilities and approve this constitution, opening the way to a new union." "More than ever, we now need perseverance, an unfailing will and total confidence in the future in order to overcome the challenges faced by the European Union." Mr Barroso held informal talks with EU leaders during the event, to seek support for his planned changes to the commission. Euro votes The signing ceremony was a triumph for attention to detail, Tamsin Smith reports. ASK THE EXPERT
As dreamy music played in the background each leader and foreign minister stepped up in alphabetical country order to sign a giant tome. They shook hands with each other, with a beaming Mr Berlusconi, and then progressed along a line of dignitaries. Each leader was then presented with a special platinum pen to keep after signing the treaty. Despite the signing of the constitution, member nations still have to ratify the document individually before it comes into effect - either by referendum or parliamentary vote. A number of countries, including France and the UK, will hold public votes, with the first vote expected to take place in Spain in February. On Friday, UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said a referendum on the EU constitution in the UK would take place "early in 2006" if the ruling Labour Party won a third term in office. There is intense scepticism in the UK, while the outcome of the French vote is by no means certain, says the BBC's Tim Franks in Rome. The constitution intends to make the union function more smoothly. But plans for an EU president overseeing the co-operation between member states, and a change in the voting system, have caused divisions in EU states. The new treaty also sees a big expansion in the number of policy areas where countries will lose their national veto, and includes the creation of a foreign minister's post.
EU signs constitution amid Commission crisis
A new chapter in European history is being heralded with the signing of the new EU constitution - the treaty meant to make the union work more smoothly. European Union leaders gathered in the Italian capital, Rome, for a lavish ceremony. This is where it all began almost 50-years ago with the signing of the first Treaty of Rome, the agreement which gave birth to the European project. The lavish pageant was staged on the Capitoline Hill in the same Renaissance hall where the EU's six founding nations signed the original Treaty of Rome in March 1957, launching the most successful enterprise in European unification. But this celebration of unity was marred by uncertainty over its ratification and turmoil over the stalled European Commission. The leaders said they would use private talks after the signature to discuss a standoff with the European Parliament that has blocked the entry into office of a new EU executive. The new constitution is designed to streamline Europe's decision making process and change the voting system to give more weight to bigger states. But there's still a long way to go. The agreement needs to be ratified by every member state before it can become law, and with polls suggesting seven out of ten Europeans feel they know nothing or very little about it, the big job of convincing the public remains to be done. The British Foreign Minister, Jack Straw, announced that Britain will likely hold a referendum in early 2006. France, Portugal and Spain have already said they will vote next year.
Middle East. Arafat heads to France for medical treatment
Surrounded by well-wishers, Yasser Arafat has left Ramallah en route for a French hospital. Onlookers tried to catch a glimpse of the ailing Palestinian president as he headed out of his compound for the first time in over two years. The 75-year-old is said to have a low blood platelet count and, amid fears he could be suffering from leukaemia, tests are to be carried out in Paris. Initial reports suggested his illness was a severe case of flu. In his absence, the Palestinian Authority, Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie and the legislative council will take over. Yasser Arafat's condition worsened drastically on Wednesday and yesterday the decision was taken to treat him in the West. Flown by military helicopter to the Jordanian capital, Amman, he warmly greeted supporters. "God willing, I will come back," he is said to have told aides during a half-hour stopover. The long-time leader has named no successor. He knows that for many Palestinians he is simply irreplaceable. But that has not prevented intense speculation over who would step into his shoes, should he fail to recover. Helped onboard a French plane, the most popular Palestinian politician is widely seen as an icon of his people's struggle for statehood. Yasser Arafat agreed to go abroad only after his long-time foe, Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon, said he would let him return to Ramallah after his treatment. The veteran leader's slide into illness has raised fears of chaos among Palestinians. They will be closely following his progress and hoping that he will be heading home soon. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 29 October, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protests as Duma discusses Bill giving more power to Kremlin
A controversial new law that would give greater control over Russia's regions to President Vladimir Putin is being debated at the Duma. The Russian Parliament is dominated by parties that back the Kremlin's line and the changes are expected to sail through. But the proposals have sparked fury among some regional leaders and several western countries. Putin's bill will give him the right to appoint governors, instead of them being elected by the people of the region. Controversially, Putin will also be able to dissolve local parliaments if they twice fail to approve his choice of governor. The Kremlin argues the changes mean the end of often fraudulent local elections. But critics, who have been staging demonstrations in Moscow, say the new legislation deprives people of the right to appoint their leaders. It is also being seen as another move by Putin towards increasingly autocratic rule. The Kremlin has been criticised for stifling a free media and imposing its control over the national parliament. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cambodia crowns new king
A classical ballet dancer by training, he is a political unknown. But Norodom Sihamoni is being crowned the next King of Cambodia. Three days of festivities are underway to celebrate the 51-year-old's accession to the throne. And today a traditional Buddhist blessing ceremony took place, ahead of his coronation. It follows the shock abdication of Sihamoni's father, because of ill health. One of the world's most enduring Cold War leaders, King Norodom Sihanouk played a key role in the proceedings, choreographing the dawn ritual with the consummate skill of one who has trodden the international stage for more than 60 years. His nimble-footed son, meanwhile, who has lived much
of his life abroad, will need all his strength, agility and grace
as he swaps the cafes and conservatories of Paris for the role of
king in the war-scarred southeast Asian nation ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kerry gets a boost from "the Boss"
With just a few days to go until the US presidential election, rock star Bruce Springstein has given Senator John Kerry a helping hand at a rally in Madison, Wisconsin. . Buoyed by the 80,000-strong crowd, Kerry joked that when George W. Bush heard that "the Boss" was playing at the rally, the president thought Dick Cheyney was turning up. He also broached more serious issues - blaming Bush for the fact that 380 tons of explosives have gone missing in Iraq. "And now George Bush's shifting explanations and efforts to blame everybody except themselves is evidence that he believes the buck stops anywhere but with the president," said Kerry. "And we need a president who takes responsibility and understands what being Commander in Chief is all about." Iraq and terrorism have dominated the contest. An ill-timed report for Bush in the Lancet medical journal claims 100,000 Iraqi civilians have died since the US-led invasion. It is the fourth day that the candidates for the White House have been at odds over the disappearance of the weapons. Bush sought to turn that controversy against his opponent. "This week Senator Kerry is again attacking the actions of our military in Iraq, with complete disregard for the facts," he said. Polls show the contenders are neck and neck. Analysts predict a tight finish in the November 2 election. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 28 October, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 28 October, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Concern grows over Arafat's health
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is "very, very sick" according to Palestinian officials, who say he is drifting in and out of consciousness. The 75-year-old president has been suffering from gastroenteritis since last weekend. He underwent tests on Monday. Doctors concluded he suffered from nothing serious. Medics have been rushed to his compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where large crowds gathered as news of his ill-health spread. Asked about rumours that Arafat had already set up a committee to act on his behalf, one of his spokesmen said: "No, nothing like that. President Arafat is well and he is recovering, and we hope in the coming days he will feel better." Arafat has been holed up in his Muqata headquarters for more than two years, under siege by Israel which accuses him of fomenting violence. The Israeli government has offered to help him get treatment. Spokesman Ra'anan Gissin: "This is a humanitarian case and we will provide any assistance that will be required in order to facilitate the treatment of Mr Arafat." In a sign of how serious his condition is, his Paris-based wife is on her way to Ramallah - for her first visit in four years. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Arafat: the demise of the terrorist-turned-statesman
Yasser Arafat's isolation and frailty are a far cry from the heady days of 1993, when he basked in the international limelight after signing a historic peace deal with Israel. After years of exile, he triumphantly returned to the Palestinian territories in 1994. Two years later, in a landmark poll, he was elected president of the newly established Palestinian Authority. Recognising Israel, he pledged to work for a political solution to the Middle East conflict. It was a remarkable transformation for the former guerrilla leader known for spectacular terrorist acts such as the blowing up of airliners. He spearheaded anti-Israeli operations after the 1967 war before setting up his headquarters in Jordan. But King Hussein feared Arafat's PLO fighters would destabilise the country and expelled them in 1971 amid bloody street combat. Arafat set about rebuilding his power base in Lebanon and pursued his terrorist activities, but was driven out by the Israeli invasion of 1982 led by Ariel Sharon, then minister of defence. The mid-1980s marked a low point for the PLO as the Palestinian leader languished in exile in Tunisia. A veteran survivor, Arafat pulled through after an airplane crash and escaped numerous assassination attempts. With the armed struggle at a dead end, he traded the gun for the ballot box but the optimism ushered in by the Olso accords proved to be short-lived. The Palestinian uprising erupted in 2000 and Arafat's eternal bogeyman, Ariel Sharon, became prime minister of Israel. Accused of fomenting the violence, the Palestinian leader was effectively put under house arrest, shunned by world leaders and marginalized by radical forces at home. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- European Parliament claims victory over Commission
Rocco Buttiglione may be down but he not out, partly because Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is determined to come out of the Commission crisis with his head held high. The Italian press says the premier actually tried to persuade the would-be justice commissioner to stand aside this week. On Wednesday his foreign minister Franco Frattini said Buttiglione remained Rome's candidate for the present. One institution that may come out of this untainted is the European Parliament. Barroso's decision not to ask it to vote when he realised he was not sure of a majority is being interpreted as a parliamentary victory. While the directly-elected assembly forced a previous Commission to resign en masse in 1999, it has never denied an incoming EU executive an investiture vote. John Palmer from the European Policy Centre said: "This is a hugely positive day for European democracy. It proves something to the voter and the citizen, that your vote counts for the European parliament. We know that on occasion national parliaments defeat governments and keep them in check, but this is the first time on such a serious issue that it's happened on a European level. I think this is the coming of age of European parliamentary democracy." As European parliament President Josep Borrell pointed out, today's events take the EU into "virgin territory" because the new Commission was meant to take office next Monday. On Friday European leaders sign the new EU constitution in of all places, the Italian capital. The glittering ceremony could now become a crisis meeting. The standoff is sure to be discussed at a Brussels summit on November 4th and 5th. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Barroso withdraws proposed team of commissioners
In Strasbourg, the incoming EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has withdrawn his proposed team of commissioners. The investiture vote in the European Parliament has been postponed. Barroso will consult EU leaders and the parliament before putting forward new proposals "in the next few weeks". That announcement was made this morning. After a short break, various speakers congratulated Barroso on his decision, as it had looked like he was heading for a fall. Hans-Gert Pöttering of the biggest group, the European People's Party conservatives, said: "We have backed you all along, Mr Barroso, and will continue to back you." This was in reference to the second-largest of the Parliament's groups, the Socialists, who had opposed approving Barroso's team. Socialist leader Martin Schulz was one of the most satisfied that the parliament demonstrated it is a political force to reckon with. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UK starts troop redepoyment from Basra
British troops have begun moving from the southern IRAQi city of Basra northwards to deploy near the capital Baghdad. London agreed last week to support American operations in central Iraq. About 850 British troops are expected to deploy just south of Baghdad to free up U.S. forces fighting insurgents in the rebel-held city of Falluja and elsewhere. They will be based in what some have called the triangle of death, taking in towns like Mahmoudia and Latifiya. US Marines call it "Camp Incoming" because of the frequent mortar and rocket-propelled grenade attacks. The British forces being redeployed include 500 troops from Scotland's Black Watch regiment and 350 support staff. Prime Minister Tony Blair has said the Black Watch soldiers will be "home for Christmas." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Japanese man taken hostage in IRAQ
A Japanese man has fallen into the hands of Iraq's most feared terrorist group. Militants loyal to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi have released a tape showing their hostage, vowing to kill him if Tokyo fails to pull its troops out of Iraq within 48 hours. The Japanese government has flatly rejected the demand. The captive has been identified as a 24-year-old civilian. It is not clear what he was doing in Iraq. Zarqawi's Unity and Combat group has beheaded several hostages in the past and is behind numerous bloody attacks across Iraq. Tokyo is a firm US ally and sent 550 troops to Iraq, the first such deployment since World War Two. The decision was unpopular and critics say it violates Japan's strictly pacifist constitution. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 27 October, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Sharon rejects calls for referendum on Gaza Strip pullout
"I will never give in to pressures and threats." So said Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon quoted in today's national press, after parliament approved his unilateral disengagement plan. Four cabinet members, including finance minister Binyamin Netanyahu, have threatened to resign unless Sharon agrees within two weeks to put the plan to a referendum. That could delay the withdrawal of all settlers and the troops protecting them from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements. The departure of key ministers could leave Sharon seeking an alliance with the opposition Labour party, whose deputies all voted for the plan. Under the proposal, Israel will maintain control of Gaza's borders, coastline and airspace. But for religious settlers that is not the point. They believe the whole of the West Bank and Gaza Strip was given to the Jews by God. Amid reports of extremists threatening to kill the premier, people in Gush Katifsay they will not be leaving. One settler said: "We are not going to do anything special, we are going to live and we hope that with God's help we will not let this thing happen." Many Israelis think protecting the Gaza settlements is too costly financially and in human lives. The latest poll suggests 65 percent back the pullout plan. The EU says the withdrawal must take place under the US-backed "road map" peace plan for a two-state solution, and must not involve transferring illegal settlement activity to the West Bank. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A week to go - Bush and Kerry continue to tour swing states
Exactly a week before the US election, both presidential candidates have been waging their campaign just miles apart in the swing state of Wisconsin. Polls show the race is tight there - Wisconsin last went Republican 20 years ago. President George W. Bush hammered home the message describing himself as a strong leader: "In war sometimes you change your tactics but you never change your principles. Americans have seen how I do my job." Meanwhile, Democratic candidate John Kerry continued to accuse Bush of poor decision-making, particularly with regard to the Iraq conflict: "The president has demonstrated to the American people, and to countries around the world, that he is divorced from reality in Iraq. And if President Bush can't fix the problems, if he can't recognise the problems in Iraq, he won't fix them. I can recognise them, I can fix them, and I will fix them." ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 26 October, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Knesset begins Gaza pullout debate
Security has rarely been tighter around the Israeli parliament as the chamber begins debating one of the most controversial measures in the state's history - a plan to withdraw settlers from Gaza. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's initiative has the backing of most Israelis but is fiercely opposed by those who live in the isolated enclaves. Under the plan, which Sharon says will make Israel more secure, all 21 Gaza settlements would be dismantled. Four in the West Bank would also go. The pull-out motion is expected to pass with about 67 votes in the 120-member Knesset in Tuesday's vote but only because of support from left-wing opposition parties. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQi protestors demand release of kidnapped aid worker
Demanding the release of the woman who has done so much to help them, Iraqis gathered outside the Baghdad offices of the humanitarian group Care International on Monday. The organisation's director of operations in Iraq, Margaret Hassan, was kidnapped last Tuesday. In a video released on Friday, she was seen in tears begging British premier Tony Blair to withdraw troops to save her life. Insurgent commanders in the city of Falluja have told reporters that they are not holding Mrs. Hassan, who has lived in Iraq for 30 years and holds joint British-Iraqi nationality. Care International has now suspended its aid operations in Iraq. A group of Iraqi intellectuals told French media on Sunday that two kidnapped French journalists, Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, will be freed "in several days". France's foreign minister Michel Barnier said on Monday that contacts had been re-established with the Islamist militants who kidnapped the two men and their Syrian driver on August 20. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Norwegian dispute pushes oil to new high
The rising price of oil has been given new momentum following a threat by Norwegian ship owners to halt production in the world's third biggest producer. Fears of what that would mean for winter supply has pushed the price to a new record high of 55 dollars a barrel. The ship owners have threatened to expand a lockout in a bid to end a four-month labour dispute. A strike by oil rig workers has so far affected only a fraction of the country's almost three million barrels per day output. Workers said the threat was a ploy to provoke the government into intervening and said they would continue their action. Norway's government has in the past stepped in to end industrial disputes when they threaten oil and gas production. As the increased demand of winter looms the new scare has hit a market already jittery over a supply shortage in the US and instability in Iraq. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 25 October, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hard bargaining to follow Lithuania ballot
Lithuania's labour party has won the most seats in the second round of parliamentary elections but that is not necessarily a cause for them to celebrate. With practically all the votes counted, Victor Uspaskich has garnered 39 places in the 141 seat chamber. The ruling centre-left coalition won just 32 seats but it has said it wants to form an alliance to keep Labour out of government. In fact, Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas has said he has not ruled out forming what he called a "rainbow alliance" with right wing parties in order to keep hold of his job. His efforts are boosted by the fact that the Lithuanian president, who plays a key role in choosing the next premier, wants him back at the helm. This is the first election to be held since Lithuania joined the European Union and Nato this year. With just 40 percent of the electorate casting their ballot, it is thought that rainy weather kept many people at home during Sunday's vote. Observers say this was the lowest turnout in a national election since Lithuania regained its independence amid the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ben Ali back in power in Tunisia
The leader of Tunisia has won another landslide at the ballot box. In presidential elections, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali secured over 94 percent of the vote, according to preliminary results. It means five more years in office for the former army general who first came to power in a coup in 1987. His popularity in Tunisia is not in question. He has boosted economic growth and living standards as well as advancing the rights of women. But his habit of winning elections in such resounding style has prompted human rights groups to denounce polls in the North-African country as a sham. Rival candidates and parties were in evidence in this weekend's presidential and parliamentary elections. But the main opposition group boycotted the ballot, citing unfair conditions, including censorship of its election manifesto. Critics claim the whole exercise disguises what they say is a police state which beats dissidents and makes arbitrary arrests. But the president rejects such allegations, calling the polls fair and a boost for democracy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Karzai set for Afghan poll win
The vote counting is nearly over and it seems all but certain that Afghanistan's interim leader has won the presidential election. With just under six percent of the ballots left to tally, Hamid Karzai is on course to win a simple majority and, it appears, on the brink of becoming the country's first democratically-elected leader. Karzai's main rival, former education minister Yunus Qanooni, has admitted defeat - despite reports of multiple voting fraud. But official results will not be released until investigations into the allegations are complete. That is expected to take up to three days. Karzai has rounded up strong support in the cities and
among fellow Pashtuns, the country's largest ethnic group. But despite
his popularity, Karzai's grip on power outside the capital has often
appeared tenuous. He will have to rein in powerful factional leaders
if he is to shake off criticism that he is little more than the "Mayor
of Kabul". ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 24 October, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bush and Kerry continue swing state merry-go-round
To theme music from the film Top Gun, President George W Bush landed in his helicopter at Fort Myers in the electoral battleground state of Florida. It was one of four glitzy campaign stops designed to fire up his conservative base. Once again he laid into his opponent's shift in stance on Iraq: "When he voted to authorise force, the Senator must have recognised the nightmare scenario that terrorists might somehow access weapons of mass destruction. Senator Kerry seems to have forgotten all that as his position has evolved during the course of the campaign. You might call it election amnesia." There are still 10 days to go before US election day but millions of voters have already cast their ballots. More than one in five plans to vote early. Meanwhile Democratic candidate John Kerry hammered away at the president's economic policies as he campaigned in Colordao - traditionally a Republican state. He said Bush is playing on people's fears: "This president keeps going round the country trying to scare people. He talks about only one thing. The only thing he wants to talk about is terror, the war on terror." Kerry and his running mate John Edwards will also be campaigning in Florida this weekend. The Democrats have drafted in two heavy hitters to rally voters in the Sunshine state - Hilary Clinton and Al Gore, who narrowly lost the state and the presidency to Bush in 2000. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Latest. Early Kosovo results show win for president's party
Unofficial results from elections in Kosovo appear to indicate that President Ibrahim Rugova's party has won nearly half the seats in the country's second parliament since it became a UN protectorate in 1999. But reports from polling stations suggest a planned boycott of the vote by minority Serbs was observed. Led by veteran Albanian separatist leader Rugova, the Democratic League of Kosovo campaigned under the slogan 'independence for Kosovo'. In second place with a reported 27 per cent of the vote is the centre left Democratic Party of Kosovo, headed by former Kosovo Liberation Army political leader Hasim Thaci. The future status of the province, which technically remains part of Serbia and Montenegro, was a key issue of the campaign. The vast majority of the population are Albanians, most of whom want independence for the province. A decision on Kosovo's so-called final status will be taken in 2005. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Opposition supporters take to streets ahead of Ukraine vote
Up to 100,000 people have been demonstrating in the Ukranian capital in support of the nation's main opposition leader ahead of the presidential election. Demonstrators have been calling for a free and fair poll - with just a week to go before the vote. Viktor Yushchenko, a western-leaning liberal, is running neck and neck with Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who has the backing of the outgoing president Leonid Kuchma. There have been allegations of electoral fraud and assassination plots. Yushchenko has only just returned to the campaign trail after a mysterious illness. His aides say his opponents tried to poison him. Yushchenko, criticised for being too close to the US, urged everyone to vote at the rally in Kiev. But as the atmosphere during the election campaign turns increasingly tense, the government has said it will use force if there is any civil unrest. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Violence across IRAQ leaves many dead
It has been a violent start to the weekend in Iraq where at least 14 members of the security forces have been killed in a spate of suicide attacks Ten died and many others were injured in an explosion at a training base west of Baghdad. Shortly aftewards, four Iraqis were killed in an attack at a checkpoint near Samarra to the north of the capital. A roadside bomb is thought to have been responsible for injuring six US soldiers close to Baghdad's airport. Close to Baqouba, in the centre of the country, families mourned the loss of loved ones killed in fighting between US forces and militants. Four children were among the dead. This latest upsurge in violence began at the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan nine days ago. Meanwhile the US military claims to have captured a top aide of its most wanted man in Iraq - Abu Musab al-Zarqawi - the man blamed for several suicide bombings and hostage beheadings. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Massive quake rocks north Japan
Aftershocks struck northern Japan for several hours following a powerful earthquake that killed at least 17 people and injured more than 1,000. Numerous landslides hit the largely mountainous region, one stranding an entire village. Nearly 300,000 homes are without power or phone services. The initial quake with a magnitude of 6.8 hit on Saturday evening, local time. More than 15 hours after that, over 230 smaller tremors had been recorded and meteorologists said there were more to come. Japan, which is already reeling from a record 10 typhoons this year, is one of the world's most seismically active areas. In Niigata, tens of thousands of people spent the night outdoors for fear of further tremors, desperately trying to stay warm with blankets or inside cars as the temperature dropped to around 5 Celsius. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 23 October, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Russia's lower house passes climate change treaty
"The biggest step forward in environmental politics and law we have ever seen." That was how the head of the climate change programme at conservation group WWF describes the Russian parliament's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. The Duma, the lower house, approved it by 334 votes for to 73 against. The 1997 treaty will come into effect worldwide three months after it passes Russia's upper house of parliament and is signed by President Vladimir Putin. In May, President Putin agreed to speed up Kyoto's ratification, in exchange for the EU supporting Moscow's bid to join the World Trade Organization. But his own economic adviser fiercely opposes the move, arguing it could undermine Putin's plan to double gross domestic product within 10 years. Kyoto obliges rich nations to cut overall emissions of carbon dioxide to 5.2 per cent below 1990 levels by 2012. To be effective, the treaty must be ratified by developed
nations accounting for at least 55 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.
It has depended on Russian approval since the US, which produces at
least 30 per cent, pulled out of the agreement in 2001. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Don't Smoke -- here's why, in pictures
First there was the European Union's media campaign to discourage cigarette smoking, now picture warnings have been introduced for the packettes. Health and consumer protection commissioner david byrne unveiled a database of 42 images. Each of the 25 EU member states can decide whether to make tobacco companies put the pictures on what they sell. Ireland and Belgium are expected to bring them in next year. Experts put the annual cost of tobacco-related disease in the EU at 100 billion euros. Byrne underscored other shocking aspects about smoking: "Smoking may reduce the blood flow and cause impotence. This doesn't look like a very happy couple. And I suppose, again, that it emphasizes there are better things in life besides smoking, a lot better." The Commission says that experience in Canada, which uses picture warnings, suggests they can help reduce smoking. And if you thought EU rules can sometimes be quite imposing, doctors in Canada have just proposed there should be a ban on smoking in cars carrying children. Critics say this is another attack on personal freedom. Byrne also gave a class of Belgian school kids a cash prize for a don't smoke poster they designed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Belgian and Italian public transport workers strike
As public transport workers in the Belgian capital Brussels continue a one-day strike, it seems many commuters have stayed at home. Fears of rush hour traffic chaos have not materialised. The action was announced two weeks ago, with unions saying drivers are under excessive pressure to keep their services on time. On Wednesday, 51 people were injured, four seriously, when two Brusssels trams crashed into each other. Amid reports one of the trams was running late, unions say such an accident was bound to happen. Meanwhile, in cities across Italy, public transport workers are also staging a walk-out. Unions are demanding a salary increase of 130 euros a month while management is offering about 50 euros more. Rome's historic district is usually closed to all vehicles except public transport, but because of today's strike, cars are being let through. Transport workers have reportedly promised to run a minimum service. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UK court compromises on terminally ill boy
The British mother of a terminally ill baby boy has lost a High Court case demanding doctors put her son on a mechanical respirator if his condition deteriorates. But in the compromise ruling Ruth Winston-Jones did win the right to have her child given heart massage. Her spokesman stressed the more positive side of the ruling to reporters: "Ruth today has been successful in her High Court battle on behalf of her son Luke. In a judgement given by the president of the Family Division, Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, Ruth has won the right to have Luke resucitated if his condition deteriorates." Nine-month-old Luke has a rare genetic disorder called Edwards Syndrome. He has serious heart problems and is not expected to live more than a year. The decision mirrors one made at a UK court earlier this month that doctors do not have to resuscitate critically ill premature baby Charlotte Wyatt if her breathing stops again. The cases have been brought as hospitals seek to establish their legal footing if there is a disagreement between parents and doctors. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 22 October, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. British hostage makes tearful plea for life
"Please help me, these might be my last hours" - The words of British hostage Margaret Hassan who is being held in Iraq. In a video recording Hassan, who was snatched from Baghdad on Tuesday, made a desperate appeal for her release and urged the UK to withdraw its forces from Iraq. Irish-born Hassan, who works for the charity CARE International, has lived in Iraq for 30 years and has dual British-Iraqi nationality. It is unclear who her captors are and what they want. So far they have made no demands, but this is the second video they have released of Hassan. It appears to have become a popular method for kidnappers to exploit their captives. There are fears the charity worker could suffer the same fate as Kenneth Bigley, another British hostage beheaded more than two weeks ago. It puts further pressure on British Prime Minister Tony Blair, just a day after he agreed to a US request to redeploy British troops in Iraq to free up American soldiers for battle. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Spanish try court bomb suspects
Campaigning Spanish judge Baltazar Garzon has begun hearing the case of ten suspected Islamic militants accused of plotting to attack the High Court in Madrid. Police believe the group wanted to blow up the building that houses the country's top anti-terrorism investigators and judges. The suspects were picked up in six different cities around the country earlier this week. All have criminal records. They include suspects of Algerian and Moroccan origin who live in Spain. The inquiry also appears to have turned up wider links to Islamic radicals operating in Europe. Authorities in Madrid have also asked for the extradition of an Algerian currently being held in Switzerland. Known by several other names, including Moohammed Achaf, it is thought he could be the ringleader of the court bomb plot. He is also reported to have exchanged letters with one of those behind the 1993 world Trade Centre bombing, and organised a group of willing suicide bombers while in jail in Spain three years ago. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 21 October, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nationwide pay dispute brings Russians onto streets
Teachers in Russia have been at the forefront of a nationwide public sector strike for better salaries. Close to a million people were said to have taken part in stoppages across the country. There were protests in cities and towns throughout Russia. The average monthly wage for a teacher is around 80 euros. Employees of the health, culture and science services also joined in the strike. Union leaders complain that a 30 per cent pay increase laid out in the budget for 2004 has yet to take effect. The parliamentary lower house, the Duma, is currently debating the budget for 2005. Negotiations are set to continue on Thursday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deal struck in Spanish shipyard row
Unions and government representatives in Spain are reported to have reached an agreement in a long-running row over restructuring of the state-owned ship building company, Izar. It is understood the two sides have agreed, in principle, to a plan for limited privatisation of four ship yards across the country. They have also struck a deal on the creation of a new holding company. Workers had feared the restructuring programme would have led to the closing of some yards and the loss of thousands of jobs. The dispute has led to violent protests in recent months. The government was faced with the task of modernising the loss-making firm which has found itself under pressure from Asian competitors. Its woes were added to by a demand from Brussels for a repayment of subsidies. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Iraqi demonstrators call for release of aid worker
Patients from a Baghdad hospital have left their beds and lined the streets to protest against the kidnapping of a leading aid worker. Margaret Hassan was snatched from the Iraqi capital on Tuesday as she made her way to the offices of the charity 'CARE International'. She is a well known figure in the country and has been involved in the rebuilding of many hospitals and schools. Her supporters are furious that extremists have once again targeted an innocent civilian - there to help ordinary Iraqis. "She is a good person, she loves this country," said one woman. Irish-born Hassan, who has dual British-Iraqi nationality, has lived in the country for 30 years and is married to an Iraqi. Footage of her, and her official documentation, has been aired on al-Jazeera television. CARE has suspended its activities in Iraq in response. It comes just two weeks after the beheading of British hostage Kenneth Bigley. ------------------------------------------------------------------ Last Updated, 20 October, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Turkish Cypriot government resigns en masse
The Turkish-Cypriot prime minister has put his political career on the line in the hope he can win a stronger hand against the opposition. The minority government of Mehmet Ali Talat has resigned en masse, a move apparently designed to force fresh elections. Talat has been trying for months to forge a new coalition, and says he will still keep trying: "Now we are looking for maybe if there is a possibility to form such a government in the parliament, otherwise as we said it seems that it is inevitable to have an early election." Talat lost his majority after a referendum which saw Turkish Cyriots accept and Greek Cypriots reject a UN peace plan to unite the island. The prime minister was undermined by the EU's failure to lift trade sanctions against the Turkish Cypriots in reward for their 'Yes' vote. The Greek Cypriots, who are now EU members, argue lifting the arriers could lead to the Turkish side becoming internationally recognised. Talat believes fresh elections will give him a stronger position against Turkish Cypriots who oppose reunification. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 19 October, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eight suspected Islamist militants arrested in Spain
At least eight suspected Islamist militants have been arrested in a series of raids across Spain. The arrests took place in the southeastern Almeria province, Malaga, Madrid,Valencia and Pamplona. The men are thought to have been plotting an attack against the country's High Court. They include four Algerians, a Morroccan and a Spaniard. Unconfirmed sources claim police had detected conversations in which the men spoke about carrying out bomb attacks. But the plot was apparently still in itsearly stages as no explosives were found. The interior ministry said the suspects constituted a network of Muslims living in Spain who have spent time in various prisons. The operation was directed by anti-terrorism judge Baltasar Garzon - as part of an investigation into these groups. The raids come seven months after suspected Islamist terrorists killed close to 200 people in a series of train bombings across the capital. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Germany: GM workers resume strike over job cuts
Opel workers at the car giant General Motors in the Western German city of Bochum are in their fourth day of strike. More rallies are expected at other GM plants throughout Europe where the company's announced plans to cut a total of 12,000 jobs in a bid to boost flagging profits. Talks between GM management and unions got underway in Germany yesterday. An Opel spokesman said today both sides were willing to make an effort so that the sites at Bochum, Ruesselsheim and Kaiserslautern could remain competitive and stay open beyond 2010. General Motors, which has not made a profit in Europe since 1999, says it needs to save 500 million euros a year. Analysts believe the company is determined to follow through with the job cuts despite what could be a drawn-out strike at its Opel, Vauxhall and Saab factories across Europe. Up to 10,000 jobs could disappear in Germany alone, 4,000 of which in Bochum. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Echos of 2000 as computer glitches dog US voting
Early voting for the US presidential election has begun in Florida but computer problems and long queues soon emerged. With memories still fresh of 2000, when the race was so close it triggered weeks of recounts, black and elderly voters in particular lined up to cast ballots two weeks early. Florida is one of 32 states where voters can make their choice before election day. This American was determined to take advantage: "I want to make sure my vote is counted. I want to make sure about that," she said. Asked whether that was because of the 2000 debacle, she replied: "It sure is." Meanwhile, President George W Bush has launched one of his harshest attacks yet on Democratic candidate John Kerry, accusing him of having what he described as a 'September 10th attitude'. "My opponent has finally settled on a strategy, a strategy of retreat," he said. Kerry, though, hit back describing Bush's support for American troops in Iraq as 'empty rhetoric'. He said: "Mr President, when it comes to war in Iraq it is time to come clean and acknowledge what your military leaders have told you privately." The latest polls show the pair deadlocked at 45 per cent support. With just two weeks to go until the November 2 election, Bush has an edge on the fight against terrorism while Kerry is thought to be stronger on the economy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Florida focus of controversy once again
Four years after the controversial recount in Florida, and the region is still the focus of much discontent. This is the battleground state where the close election of 2000 left the world wondering who had won. President Bush got the job when the Supreme Court weighed in with a decision that stopped a lengthy recount by hand. To resolve some of the problems with punch card ballots, Florida has now introduced computers. Not everyone is convinced that will mean progress, however. Former president Jimmy Carter, who runs an election monitoring centre, has written in a newspaper that Florida is destined to have the same problems this time round. He talks about lack of funding, politically partisan election officials, and non-uniform voting procedures. Former Democrat presidential contender, Howard Dean agrees. He said: "Those folks are incompetent down there - a lot of them - a lot of the Republican supervisors. It's not that they're corrupt although some are, but most of them are not. But they're incompetent." The Bush administration has already invited the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe to send representatives to observe the elections. Both the Bush and Kerry campaign teams say they have assembled strong teams of leaders to fight off any claims over the outcome of the votes in key states, including Florida. |
Last Updated, 18 October, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- European nuclear research centre marks 50 years
Events marking the 50th anniversary of Europe's revolutionary nuclear research centre culminate today in a ceremony in Geneva attended by several heads of state. The CERN laboratory, a collaboration of 20 European states, is behind a range of formidable discoveries in particle physics and other fields. Until the construction of the Channel Tunnel it was the world's largest civil engineering project. CERN has produced Nobel prize winners and was even responsible for the birth of the World Wide Web. Its work on particle accelerators has also had medical applications with the development of Positron Emission Tomography - a form of radio pharmaceutical diagnosis that can speed up the detection of cancers. But even more is expected of a new accelerator being built close to the site. When completed in 2007, it will fire particles at almost the speed of light. It is hoped it will give answers to mysteries beyond the scope of the current machine. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UN troops move in after 50 die in Haiti gang violence
Tension is mounting in Haiti as UN forces and local police try to quash the gang violence which has left at least 50 people dead over recent weeks. Armed groups loyal to former president Jean Bertrand Aristide are locked in combat with ex soldiers who helped topple the previous leader. The attacks come on top of storms and floods in September which left more than 3,000 people dead. South Africa has rounded on Haiti's interim leader - Gerard Latortue - dismissing accusations it is allowing Aristide to coordinate a violent uprising from his exile there. Meanwhile, nearly 100 Chinese riot police have arrived in Haiti under UN control - the first Chinese troops to be deployed to the Western Hemisphere. China does not have diplomatic relations with Haiti, which recognises the self-governing island of Taiwan ------------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 16 October, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Italy's Northern League hails first success for reforms bill
Italy's prime minister Silvio Berlusconi welcomed what he called a "a step forward" in parliament on Friday. The lower house approved a reform bill that hands more autonomy to Italy's regions and gives the premier more powers by having him directly elected. It would be the first major change to Italy's constitution since it came into force in 1948. The move was applauded by members of the Northern League. The populist party, one of Berlusconi's coalition partners, wants to give its support base in rich northern regions more powers. It has previously threatened to bring down the government if the bill is not approved. One of the League's best-known figures is reforms minister Roberto Calderoli. who took over from the ailing party leader Umberto Bossi in July. He said: "It's a great day for the Northern League, for northern Italy and the whole country, because federalism will make the running of the country more efficient and less costly." The bill passed through the lower chamber with a 295 to 202 majority. It would give the regions some executive powers over education, health and policing, and would reduce the Senate's power to alter legislation proposed by the lower Chamber of Deputies. Piero Fassino, the leader of the main left-wing opposition party, said: "The centre-right wanted to approve this law at any cost and they did it just thanks to their majority. I think they're damaging Italy and this is why we will continue to fight against this very bad law in the Senate." The opposition says it will seek a referendum to overturn any such change. Critics hope ordinary Italians will vote against a reform which, they fear, will broaden the divide between the affluent north and poorer south. --------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. British troops may replace US soldiers in Baghdad
Senior British military sources say Washington has asked British troops in Iraq to fill in for US soldiers, who are being redeployed. It is believed UK forces could be sent from Basra, in southern Iraq, to an area south of the capital Baghdad. British press reports say officers from Britain's Black Watch regiment have already told their troops about a possible move. Michael Howard, leader of the opposition Conservatives, has demanded a statement from Tony Blair's government. He told reporters: "If it's the case that British troops are to be moved out of area, as you suggest, it's vital that a statement is made in Parliament at the earliest possible opportunity." The move will reportedly involve up to 650 British troops, possibly operatingunder US command, although London insists no decision has been made. It would allow more US forces to join those trying to capture the Sunni stronghold of Falluja from insurgents. US bombardments have killed at least eight civilians in Fallujasince Thursday, and now residents are fleeing the city, fearing an imminent ground invasion. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Madrid identifies remains of train bombing suspect
Spain's interior ministry says 38-year-old Algerian Allekama Lamari was one of the seven men who blew themselves up to avoid arrest following this year's train bombings in March 2004. The other six who committed suicide at an appartment in the Madrid suburb of Leganes in April had already been identified. In all, two Algerians and five Moroccans blew themselves up in Leganes. Residents had been evacuated from the building but one policeman was killed in the blast. Scientists identified Lamari by comparing genetic information in the remains of the blast with saliva taken from his parents. Police believe Lamari masterminded the train bombings which killed 191 people and injured nearly 2,000 others. Spain is holding 17 suspects in the Madrid attacks. The leading judge in the case says they are Islamic radicals operating in the name of al-Qaeda. --------------------------------------------------------------------- New hope in fight against AIDS
AIDS experiments on monkeys show scientists could be one step closer to beating the deadly disease. They have re-worked a version of a naturally occuring immune system protein that can protect female monkeys against the virus. Two scientists have pioneered the research and hope it will lead to new methods of preventing infection in people. Professor Robin Offord from Geneva University in Switzerland said: "This material, if it works successfully in humans as we hope, will prevent infections." "Studies have shown that in developing countries which is where 95 percent of the problem is, a material of this kind, even if it was 65 percent effective, will be likely to save three and a half million lives in the first three years of its use." An estimated 43 million people have the incurable virus. Some 14,000 people become infected every day. People living in sub-Saharan Africa are most at risk. Scientists hope their findings will enable them to create a sort of AIDS barrier cream to help stamp out the deadly virus. --------------------------------------------------------------------- British schoolteacher says she helped Prince Harry cheat
Lawyers for a former teacher of Britain's Prince Harry have handed a court a secret audio tape which, they say, shows he cheated in exams. Art teacher Sarah Forsyth is suing Eton College, the historic secondary school attended by Harry and his older brother William, for wrongful dismissal. Ms. Forsyth's contract was terminated in June 2003. She claims that two years ago, her bosses made her prepare material that Prince Harry submitted along with his paintings for an art exam. She says after the school ignored her complaints of
harassment by a colleague, she decided to secretly tape Harry, to
prove that she had been forced to help him with his art A-level. The
young royal needed a pass to earn a place at the army's officer training
academy where he is due to start next year. According to the teacher's
transcript, her recording features Harry's voice saying he had done
"about a sentence" of the coursework himself. Eton School
says that the tape is largely inaudible and that the issue is irrelevant
to the dismissal case. -------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 15 October, 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Start of final sprint for the White House
Now the TV debates are out of the way, leaving the US election too close to call, the candidates are now focusing on the swing states, starting in Nevada. President Bush spoke at a rally with Republican governors. "We had a great debate last night,' said the president. "Those debates clarified the differences in our records, our approaches, and our plans for the future. I'm proud of my record. My opponent seemed to want to avoid talking about his. Democrat Senator John Kerry appeared before a senior citizens rally in Las Vegas. He said: "Do we want four more years of a president who gives more to those who already have the most and tells the struggling middle class that everything will be just fine? Or do you want a president that will honour middle class values and fight for middle class opportunities in America." With many polls showing the candidates are running neck and neck, both Kerry and Bush are making it clear they will be pulling no punches in these last days of campaigning. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Israeli media reports Israel withdrawal from Jabilya
Israeli media is reporting that troops have been given orders to pull out from the Jabilya refugee camp in the Gaza strip. Reports say the order has come from the Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, although that has not been confirmed by his office. It is reported troops would stay on standby a few kilometres away. The Israeli offensive in the camp has been the largest since the start of the Palestinian uprising four years ago. At least 100 Palestinians have been killed, including about 60 militants. Three Israelis and a Thai farm worker have also died. The offensive came 16 days ago after Hamas rocket attacks killed two Israeli children. The reports of a troop withdrawal came just hours after Sharon said the action in the camp would continue and be expanded if necessary. Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, thousands of Israelis opposed to the Prime Minister's plans to pull settlers out of Gaza and parts of the West Bank have demonstrated outside his home. Protest organisers say they expect some 500,000 people to take part in about 100 demonstrations across the country later today. --------------------------------------------------------------------- European Socialists threaten to vote against new Commission team unless...
The incoming team of European Commissioners is facing its first real challenge from the European Parliament. MEPs from the European Socialist group say they will reject the Commission team unless the controversial Italian candidate Rocco Buttiglione is dropped or given a different job. The head of the Socialist group Martin Schulz said if the Commission President-elect Barroso does not shake up his team especially that of the Commissioner for civil liberties, Justice and Security matters I cant see how we can approve this Commission. Jose Barroso on a trip to Austria gave no indication he is about to back down and believes he can get the backing from MEPS when they vote on October 27th. "I am very happy with the team I have, I hope my Commission will receive the confidence of the European Parliament." The controversy spilled over after Rocco Buttiglione an outspoken conservative referred recently to homosexuality as a sin and the role of women - motherhood. The Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi picked him as Italy's candidate for the Commission and has given him his full backing. -------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 14 October, 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------- US urges Nato to increase Afghan role
Washington wants Nato to play a bigger role in Afghanistan. The alliance is being urged to take control of all military operations in the country, possibly as early as next year. The call came as Nato defence ministers met in a Romanian ski resort. Afghanistan is the focus of two days of talks. The US-led mission there involves around 20,000 soldiers seeking to crush Taliban and al Qaeda remnants. Nato's force in Afghanistan is currently just half that size. Some member nations fear merging the two would mean changing the alliance's peacekeeping mandate to a combat role - a move not welcomed by either Paris or Berlin. He may have given this proposal a firm thumbs down, but German defence chief Peter Struck adopted a different tone when speaking of Iraq. He suggested that Germany, which staunchly opposed the US-led invasion to oust Saddam Hussein, could eventually send troops to the war-shattered nation. "I have made very clear that within the foreseeable future, it is out of the question," he told reporters. "But certainly there could be times ahead, in years to come, when Germany will get involved." But his comments were played down by the government of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. "There will be no German soldiers sent to Iraq," said a spokesman. "That will not change." --------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 13 October, 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Big test today for Belgium's troubled prime minister
They may have smiled recently for the TV cameras, but there is no getting away from the problems threatening Belgium's coalition government. All eyes will be on Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt when he makes an address to parliament today, to confirm his budget and plans for the following year. That would normally be straightforward enough if it was not for the controversy and disputes over several key issues. Verhofstadt's speech was supposed to have taken place three weeks ago, but he has been caught up in intense negotiations. Discord over voting rights in the Flemish and French-speaking Brussels-Hal-Vilvoorde electorate is one major problem, with controversy over plans to split up the constituency. There is also a row over plans by the transportation company DHL to increase night flights at Brussels airport. The prime minister, who broke two ribs in a recent car accident, has also been dealt another blow: a new opinion poll shows that if elections were held tomorrow, the far right Vlaams Blok party would be the big winner in the Flanders region. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Row at European Parliament over "gay sin" remark
Italian Rocco Buttiglione has tried unsuccessfully to convince a key European Parliament committee that he is fit to be the EU's justice and security chief. His anti-homosexual stance, in which he says being gay is a "sin", as well as his traditional views on the role of a woman in marriage, meant he was rejected. It is a blow for the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi who nominated Buttiglione, a close friend of Pope John Paul II. Berlusconi said the vote smelled of what he calls "fundamentalism". The Civil Liberties Committee voted by 27 to 26 against Buttiglione's nomination as commission vice-president and a commissioner for justice, liberty and security. Although not binding, it may force the new Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso to think about changing his line-up. MEPs will vote on Barrosso's proposed commission in two weeks' time. They cannot reject individual commissioners, but have the right to approve or reject the line-up as a whole. --------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. Popular Iraqi restaurant destroyed in US 'precision' strike
In Iraq, one of Fallujah's most popular restaurants has been destroyed in a US air strike. Two civilian guards are reported to have been killed in the overnight raid. US military commanders insist the restaurant was a meeting place for insurgents loyal to Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The restaurant was closed at the time of the attack, shortly after midnight local time. There have also been clashes overnight between US Marines and insurgents around a mosque in the city of Hit, about 170 kilometres west of Baghdad. The mosque was said to have been damaged in bombing raids, and subsequently caught fire. The city is on the main route between Baghdad and the Syrian border, a road the US says is used by foreign fighters trying to infiltrate Iraq and smuggle arms. Meanwhile, a weapons amnesty continues in the flashpoint Sadr City. Authorities are handing over cash payments worth hundreds of thousands of euros to people who surrender their heavy weapons and guns. About 40 euros is being paid for every item. Some may wonder whether hardcore insurgents can be disarmed in such a way. It is also not clear what control officials have over who gets the money and how it is spent, especially as it is possible more powerful weapons could be bought on the black market. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Iraq's nuclear assets reported missing
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has issued a stark warning on Iraq's nuclear assets. Mohammed El Baradei has told the UN Security Council that equipment and materials that could be used to make nuclear weapons have been disappearing since the US-led invasion of the country. An IAEA team continues to comb the sprawling Tuwaitha nuclear compound south of Baghdad. Satellite images suggest some of the facilities have been systematically dismantled and their contents removed. Rocket engines have turned up for sale overseas, while more specialised equipment that could be used to make nuclear arms has gone missing. Last week America's chief weapons inspector concluded that Saddam Hussein had stopped trying to produce weapons of mass destruction over a decade ago. --------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 12 October, 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Afghan opposition decide to back election
Box by box the votes keep coming in, and Afghanistan gets closer to being able to call itself a democracy. Ballot papers are still being sorted to make sure they match the tally made by election officials. Then the process of counting votes should begin in earnest on Wednesday. In the meantime, the political climate has changed rapidly. One of the key presidential challengers, ethnic Tajik Yunus Qanuni, has said he will welcome the result, whoever wins. That is a significant turnaround considering Qanuni was one of those to call for a boycott of Saturday's election amid suspicions of illegal multiple voting. Several other key tribal chiefs have put their weight behind the election result, a decision which is expected to be of principal benefit to one man, Hamid Karzai. The interim president is predicted to take over 50 per cent of the vote. An official result is not expected until the end of the month. ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Grey power is the latest threat to loom over Tony Blair and the Labour party as it prepares for a probable spring election. Britain's aging population is facing an imminent pensions crunch. It is not a new problem, but the British Prime Minister has sought to pre-empt a damning report that is published today saying the government is not doing enough with a speech in which he says his administration is about to get more pro-active and decisive. The problem is the methods so far proposed are raising a storm of protests: "There need to be new and imaginative ways of funding some of the services that, though universal, must be funded on a sustainable, progressive basis. Decisions made today will take decades to mature. if people are to have security in retirement they must also have confidence in the system," said Blair speaking in Beveridge House, named after the 1943 founder of Britain's welfare state. The gist of the problem is people are living longer, saving less, and some company pension schemes have behaved irresponsibly and now cannot fund their obligations. Among the solutions is raising the retirement age, and getting people to save more, but protestors sought to highlight the publication of the report by underlining its criticisms of Labour's inactivity in seven years in power. --------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 11 October, 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. Deadly explosions target public buildings in Baghdad
At least 17 people are reported to have died in a bomb attack outside a police academy in Baghdad. It follows a rocket attack on the oil ministry building, in which at least four people have died. A suicide bomber has also struck outside the culture ministry, injuring two bystanders. This as US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived in Iraq. He landed at the al-Asad airbase near Hadith, about 200 kilometres northwest of Baghdad. Rumsfeld is due to meet marine commanders and troops. He last visited Iraq on May the 13th, when he went to Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison, the jail at the centre of a prisoner abuse scandal. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Israeli PM thanks Egypt for cooperation after bombings
The Israeli Prime Minister has addressed his cabinet on the terrorist attacks in Egypt. Ariel Sharon says although the bomb blasts happened in Egypt, killing at least 34 people, they were directed against Israelis. Egypt has voiced scepticism at Israeli suggestions that the bombings were the work of Al Qaeda, with some officials in Cairo linking the attacks to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Rescue workers say there is little hope of finding any
more survivors, two days after terrorists struck at a hotel and a
camping site. So far it is known that nine of those who died were Israelis and half a dozen were Egyptians. The rest of the victims are still being unidentified. A previously unknown pro-Al Qaeda Islamist group called Islamic Tawhid Brigades claimed responsibility for the blast on a web site. Police are said to be questioning 12 people in connection with the attacks. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Afghan. Independent election observers have given their verdict: the polls in
Afghanistan yesterday was mostly fair. Halfway through the voting, rivals of US-backed Hamid Karzai announced they were boycotting the poll because a system to prevent fraud had failed. The OSCE mission in the country said: "The candidates' demand to nullify the election is unjustified. Such action would put into question the express will of millions of Afghan citizens who came out to vote." Threats of Taliban attacks did not materialise, although 40 people were killed in clashes, including 24 in a US bombing raid. Vote-counting is underway in earnest, and results are due in a couple of weeks. Karzai is widely tipped as the favourite to win. --------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 10 October, 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Portuguese premier to address nation over political row
Portugal's Prime Minister Pedro Santana Lopes has suspended all his public duties, to concentrate on Monday's 'Address to the Nation'. He is due to speak about a growing controversy surrounding the resignation of a distinguished political commentator, who criticised the premier on national television. The former president of Portugal's ruling Social Democrats, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, said he was quitting his job at the private channel TVI after a conversation with the boss of the Media Capital group which owns the station. A week ago, during the main news bulletin, he strongly criticized the current administration led by Santana Lopes. Now his employers are insisting they did not force him to step down. Meanwhile Prime Minister Santana Lopes has rejected suggestions that pressure was applied by the government: "Either these are politically-motivated accusations, or the problem lies with the Media Capital group. If there was censorship in Portugal then the legal institutions aren't working properly. And of course there isn't censorship." After the broadcast, a government minister did complain to the High Authority for Broadcasting, which then opened an investigation. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Bigley death stirs Liverpool & Britain
The northern English city of Liverpool has been in sombre mood today, with two minute's silence at midday and flags flown at half mast in memory of Kenneth Bigley, the British hostage in Iraq who was murdered on Thursday. The city has closed ranks around Bigley's family and friends and despite being a labour stronghold few people interviewed on the streets had a good word to say for party leader and Prime Minister Tony Blair. The feeling of loss is enhanced by the news that Bigley almost made it, as he escaped his captors briefly before being recaptured and beheaded. Speaking from Thailand, Bigley's widow said no words could express her sorrow at losing her beloved husband, a "good man" she repeated, who went to Iraq "to help the Iraqi people". Out of respect to the bereaved relatives, politics has taken a back seat during the affair, but when parliament reconvenes next week Tony Blair will again face tough questions on Iraq. It is becoming increasingly clear to analysts that Iraq will be the defining aspect of the Blair era; whether that ends or continues with next spring's general election, during which the name Kenneth Bigley may return to haunt the prime minister. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kerry impresses Americans again at debate
He performed better this time, but many people say it was still not good enough. US President George Bush went head to head with democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in their second televised live debate in the run up to November's election. In their first debate, Kerry's performance helped him to close the gap between Bush, turning the race into a dead heat. "If we had used smart diplomacy, we could have saved 200 billion dollars and an invasion of Iraq, and right now Osama bin Laden might be in jail or dead," Kerry said during Friday's debate which, unsurprisingly, focussed on Iraq. But topics such as jobs, taxes, abortion and stem cell research were also touched on. In Washington DC people were glued to the screens during the debate and this is what they concluded: "I don't think Bush defended his Iraq policy at all. The Iraq policy has been undermined this week and I don't believe he has in any way laid to rest those doubts", said one man. Another resident said: "I do feel that John Kerry performed better. He knew his information, and he delivered it well, almost every time, with almost every question." The two men will come head to head in their last debate on Thursday. --------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 9 October, 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Gas pipeline fuels Italy-Libya rapprochement
Italy and Libya have marked new ground in their reconciliation - with leaders Silvio Berlusconi and Muammar Gadaffi attending the opening of a giant gas pipeline linking the two countries. The multi-billion euro project has been a decade in the making. Starting at the desert Wafa field in Libya, the pipeline will convey natural gas to Sicily. From there it can be taken to the Italian mainland and elsewhere in Europe. The inauguration took place on October 7 - traditionally known as Libya's Day of Vengeance against its former colonial ruler. That is when Libyans remember when Italians invaded their territory, back in 1911. From now on, Colonel Gadaffi said the date would mark the two nations friendship. He indicated he would authorize the return of Italian residents expelled by his regime. In recent times illegal immigrations become a key issue - with vast numbers of migrants setting sail from Libya bound for Italian shores. --------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 8 October, 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. British hostage Ken Bigley killed in Iraq
The British hostage Ken Bigley has reportedly been killed in Iraq. A militant group led by al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi said it was responsible according to Abu Dhabi Television, quoting "informed" sources in Iraq. The 62-year-old engineer was kidnapped in Baghdad on September 16 by the Tawhid and Jihad Group which has also beheaded two American hostages who were seized along with the Briton. Neither the British government nor the Iraqi Interior Ministry in Baghdad say they have information on the report. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Death toll rises in Red Sea bombings
Israel today accused al-Qaeda operatives in Egypt of being behind the deadly Red Sea resorts explosions, which have left more than 30 people dead, say rescue workers. Another 38 people are missing after a car bomb and suicide bomber were involved in a series of explosions in Egyptian resorts next to the border with Israel, and further down the Red Sea coast. Most of the victims are Israeli holidaymakers. These resorts are the symbolic site of past peace talks between Israel and its regional foes, and full of tourists during Israeli holiday periods, despite warnings this year from Tel Aviv about a risk of terrorist attack from Palestinian or Islamic groups. Until now they have remained popular retreats from scenes like these at home. But that is where panic stricken tourists streamed across the border after the explosions, some by whatever means possible, even if that meant on foot. Scores of others were injured, more than 130 in the Taba explosion, which gutted the hotel, where 10 floors collapsed. There are no longer thought to be any survivors inside, but Israeli fire chiefs criticised Egyptian rescue services, saying their teams had been hindered from crossing the border, and their equipment had been held back as the Egyptians searched through the rubble with their hands. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Desert paradise turns deadly
The Sinai peninsula is a golden stretch of tourist havens; this morning they looked more menacing, tourist traps indeed, but final ones for those caught in the wrecked Hilton or the busy streets nearby. The concrete paradises near the border are more visibly scarred than the less-well-known resorts further south, but they were no safer. Holiday camp residents around Ras Shaitan were stunned by bombs that mocked the welcome signs written in Hebrew that, unlike other parts of Egypt, flourish here. Some of the area's hotels were built by Israel during its 12-year occupation of the Sinai in the late 60's and 70's, but they have been joined by dozens of others as Egypt seeks the money tourism can bring. Such a haven has the area been that Israelis have not needed visas to travel there. Now Israelis are all going one way, out, and the government is reportedly planning the evacuation of all tourists. It seems at least for the moment that Israel's favourite holiday spot in the sun is out of bounds. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Afghan War. Rocket attacks in Kabul fail to cause casualties
A rocket has exploded in the air above the US military compound in Kabul on the eve of Afghanistan's presidential poll. There were no casualties, according to a spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, which operates in the capital. The spokesman said the blast was about 200 to 300 metres from the US embassy compound. Security forces initially believed two rockets were fired at around 1.30 a.m. but after checks, they said that a single rocket had exploded before striking its target. The rocket's debris was found close to the election commission's media accreditation centre, which lies across the street from the US base. Hours earlier, two rockets were fired at another base used by an 850-strong Italian contingent on the outskirts of Kabul. The rockets missed the Italian base and there were no casualties. --------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 7 October, 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------- France tightens embassy security after bomb
What is being described as a medium strength bomb exploded outside the Indonesian embassy in Paris before dawn this morning, injuring 10 people, four of whom were in the building. Police say it left a crater in the pavement outside after a package was left on the steps and detonated, shattering windows in the smart 16th. district and damaging nearby vehicles. No warning was given and no claims have been made for the attack, which was condemned by Indonesia's president-elect, and French President Jacques Chirac, who is currently in Vietnam for the Europe-Asian summit. French interior minister Dominique de Villepin was on
the scene early, and this morning held a crisis-cell meeting which
announced all diplomatic security in France is to be stepped up, and
security increased in all the most sensitive sites around the country. Last Updated, 6 October, 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East. Hopes for peace in Gaza
A deal to end Israel's offensive in Gaza could be in the making. Israeli security forces say they are willing to end the incursion if the Palestinian militant group Hamas agrees to stop firing rockets into their territory. They say senior Israeli and Palestinian security officials have already made initial contacts on halting the fighting. Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat, however, said he was unaware of any direct contacts. Negotiations are expected to accelerate over the coming days, although some Israeli officials say they are unsure if Palestinian security services will confront Hamas. This is Israel's biggest military campaign since the uprising began four years ago and the US has called on it to quickly bring it to an end. But that message seemed to go unheeded this morning. Fighting intensified at the northern Gaza Jabaliya refugee camp and Israeli forces launched an airstrike killing at least four militants there. The incursion began after a Hamas rocket attack killed two Israeli toddlers in a border town last Wednesday. Since then about 70 Palestinians and three Israelis have been killed. Israel has mobilised 200 tanks and armoured vehicles backed up by air power. The Jabaliya camp has been hit every few hours. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Afghan War. Women denied rights in Afghan poll - report
Security concerns appear not to have succeeded in derailing this Saturday's presidential election in Afghanistan but doubts are being expressed about women's freedom to take part in the vote. They were severely oppressed under the ousted Taliban regime and the group Human Rights Watch says little has changed in some parts of the country. "Many women are ready and willing to take part in the political process. They're facing discrimination from government officials. They're being told that they can't organise by local factional leaders. They're receiving death threats," a spokesman said. The list of 18 candidates includes one woman but the Human Rights Watch report on the election says that most men believe a female would not be able to govern what remains a deeply factionalised and in some places unruly country Interim President Hamid Karzai is the clear favourite but one contender is trying to unite others in the race to mount a serious challenge. Former education minister, Yunus Qanooni, says he is hopeful of winning the backing of most of Karzai's opponents. Washington has given its support to the interim president who was installed after the US-led war which caused the downfall of the hardline islamic Taliban government. US President George Bush is portraying Afghanistan as a foreign policy success in his bid for re-election. --------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 5 October, 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------- UN debates Gaza resolution
The violence in Gaza returns the UN to a familiar theme and one which frequently provokes heated discussion. Algeria, which is currently the only Arab member of the Security Council, has called the emergency debate and is pushing for a vote today. The draft resolution reaffirms support for the "road map" peace process and calls on Israel to withdraw from Gaza. Algeria's representative said to maintain its credibility, the Security Council must demand Israel pull out of the territory and respect the standards of international humanitarian law. But the Israeli ambassador said the resolution would only serve to undermine the peace process: "The cost of the Palestinian leadership's morally bankrupt strategy of terrorism is paid in the lives of innocents, the stagnation in the peace process, and the suffering of both Israeli and Palestinians. By entertaining initiatives that effectively reward that strategy, the council would only embolden extremists and undermine the letter and spirit of the road map," he said. Israel's main ally, the US, has also raised objections and appears set to veto the resolution. The EU's Dutch representative condemned the Palestinian rocket attacks but called Israel's response disproportionate. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------
The European Commission is reportedly set to give Bulgaria and Romania the green light to join the EU in 2007 as long as they meet the required standards. The commissioners' strategy report to be published tomorrow is expected to include a clause which could delay the countries' entry if economic and administrative reforms are not in place. The report will say whether Turkey is ready to begin accession talks, and again it is thought the response will be a conditional "yes". Euronews spoke to Turkish professor of constitutional rights in Brussels, Rusen Ergec. He said negotiations could be halted if it is thought Turkey is not pushing ahead with the required reforms: "The report is not entirely positive and there are certain areas Turkey will have to be attentive to. It will have to continue to introduce reforms and respect them in practice. The proposed adultery law which was withdrawn caused some shock and it has left traces of doubt which should make even supporters of Turkish entry seek guarantees that reforms will be brought in. That's the message that needs to be sent to opponents of adhesion talks with Turkey." --------------------------------------------------------------------- IRAQ. French MP returns from failed hostage release mission
French MP Didier Julia is back in Paris after a failed mission to liberate two journalists held hostage in Iraq. He has returned to a political storm over his self-appointed mission, with claims and counter-claims over how much the government knew about his plans. He is also being accused of making matters worse for the captives, with the press saying his efforts could have put their lives in danger. Julia described that as a "morally scandalous lie". He also contradicted a statement from the French president's office, which said Jacques Chirac was not aware of the true nature of his trip until after he hadleft. Julia says the president did know what his plans were. French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier, who will be among those quizzing Julia later today, is trying to steer attention back towards the plight of the hostages. The reporters have been held in Iraq since August 20th. Paris has tried a softly-softly approach to getting them released, but its policy now stands accused of being confused and increasingly chaotic. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Italy under fire over mass deportations of refugees
Italy's new hardline stance on illegal immigration is causing an outcry from human rights and refugee organisations. Rome has deported scores of boatpeople to Libya, sparking claims it is breaching international law by taking away their right to apply for refugee status. One hundred would-be asylum-seekers were flown to Libya on Monday, following the deportation of about 500 at the weekend. The UN, Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders have criticised Italy. "Libya has not signed the Geneva Convention and has no system in place to deal with asylum seekers," said one official of the UN in Rome. "Libya's also a place where disagreeable things can happen." Italy says it has had enough of boatpeople flooding its southern islands. Almost 1500 arrived in the last five days alone on Lampedusa. While Rome says it is simply trying to deter human trafficking,
the UN says it should have access to the migrants before they are
deported. --------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated, 4 October, 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Authorities hail arrest of ETA leader
Spanish and French authorities are claiming a major
triumph over ETA with the arrest of the violent Basque separatist
group's top leader and up to 20 other suspects. Most were seized in
raids in southwestern France while one was detained in central Spain. ETA chief Mikel Antza had been on the run for years. He was arrested along with Soledad Iparaguirre, who is the mother of his son and also a senior figure within the extremist organisation. The coordinated raids were launched early Sunday morning in several locations across France's Basque region suspected of being bases used as bases by ETA. Spain's interior minister, Jose Antonio Alonso, welcomed the arrests as "very significant". He paid tribute to Spanish and French police for the manner in which the operation was carried. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ETA leader tracked down after years on the run
The arrest of Mikel Antza and his companion Soledad Iparraguirre brings to an end an exhaustive manhunt lasting several years. The pair headed the 'wanted' list of authorities on both sides of border. Antza, the son of a prominent ETA member, has not been formally accused of involvement in any specific crime of violence. But he is alleged to have orchestrated the attacks of ETA cells and helped other members of the group escape from jail. The 43-year-old became ETA chief in 1992 after a crackdown on the then leadership. Sources say Antza was opposed to the ending of the group's 14 month ceasefire which was declared in December 1998. But after the failure of negotiations with the government ETA returned to the bomb and the bullet with a vengeance. Iparraguirre, also known as "Anboto", is suspected of being at the forefront of the onslaught against the Spanish state. It is claimed she was involved in actions which caused the death of around twenty people. The 43-year-old was said to have taken a more political role in the organisation from 1993 but remained an implacable separatist. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Sharon says army should expand deadly raid
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said his country's military should expand their raid on Northern Gaza, one of the deadliest offensives in more than four years of conflict. So far 47 Palestinians have been killed in the offensive aimed at rooting out militants who fire rockets at Israeli towns. Nearly 200 tanks and armoured vehicles seized control of part of the Gaza strip after a rocket attack killed two Israeli children in a border town on Wednesday. Sharon ordered the army to carve out a "buffer zone" to prevent such assaults. Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat condemned the incursion as state terror and a war crime. --------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated 2 October, 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------- New worry in France about fate of kidnapped journalists
The French President has expressed his worries about a politician's effort to win the release of two French journalists being held in Iraq. Conservative MP Didier Julia, who is in the region, has said that a convoy bringing the reporters to Syria came under US fire, scuttling their release. Julia says half a dozen Iraqis were killed in the alleged attack, but the hostages were unharmed. US forces in Iraq say they had no reports of an attack on a convoy. The MP and another man named Phillipe Brett had said they were expecting the release of the two reporters when they arrived in Syria. Brett had earlier said that he had seen the two journalists, and negotiations for their release were being finalised. The government has denied it was involved in Julia rescue effort. President Jacques Chirac said today the situation was not looking very positive. --------------------------------------------------------------------- US-led crackdown against rebel-held towns in IRAQ
In the Iraqi city of Samarra, the US military says its taken control of government and police buildings, as well as mosques and other public sites. A further five people are reported to have been killed in overnight fighting, with about a hundred wounded. This brings to about 115 the number of people killed since US and Iraqi forces launched an offensive against insurgents in the town yesterday morning. Samarra is about 100 kilometres north of Baghdad, on the banks of the Tigris River. Residents report that aircraft bombarded parts of the city during the night and tanks rolled through the streets. The rebel-controlled city of Fallujah has also come under fire from US and Iraqi forces, leaving seven people dead, including women and children. The operations appear to be part of a drive to retake rebel-held parts of Iraq before the end of the year, so elections can be held in January. --------------------------------------------------------------------- At least 43 Palestinians dead in latest flare-ups
Four suspected militants have been killed trying to cross the border from Gaza into southern Israel. The army says the men wore explosive belts, and had been planning to attack a town in the area. This brings to 43 the number of Palestinians killed as part of operations over the past two days to crack down on militants. Gun battles have been raging in the Jabalya refugee camp in northern Gaza. The Palestinian cabinet has declared a state of emergency and called for international intervention. The operation comes after a rocket attack on Wednesday killed two children in the Israeli village of Sderot. Speaking during a visit to the UN in New York, Israeli's opposition leader, Shimon Peres, said a pull out from Gaza remains on track. The Palestinian cabinet has denounced what it calls an international silence on the latest Israeli operation. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Kerry and Bush resume campaigning after debate
Initial opinion polls suggest George W. Bush lost the first presidential election debate, but the Republican candidate was back on the attack in Pennsylvania, a key swing state, on Friday. The president said his rival, Senator John Kerry, had suggested U.S. military action would be subject to an international veto. "The use of troops to defend America must never be subject to a veto by countries like France. The president's job is not to take an international poll. The president's job is to defend America," Bush said to loud cheers in Allentown. Kerry was campaigning in Florida. The Democratic challenger said Bush had no plan to end the growing chaos in Iraq. "He says we don't want to wilt or waver. I don't know how many times I heard that. Well, Mr. President, nobody is talking about leaving, nobody is talking about wilting and wavering. We're talking about winning and getting the job done right. That's what we are talking about," Kerry said. The candidates will take part in two more debates in the next fortnight. The general election takes place on 2 November. --------------------------------------------------------- Last Updated 1 October, 2004 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Thumbs-up for John Kerry
After the first live TV debate between US President George W. Bush and his White House challenger John Kerry, opinion polls and analysts suggest the Democratic Senator came out on top. Foreign policy was the theme of the session, with Iraq dominating the agenda. Kerry said that by going to war the president had made a "colossal error of judgement." As expected, Bush made much of his opponent's initial backing of the war and his later rejection of it. He alleged Kerry was inconsistent and said that cast serious doubt on his leadership qualities. "What my opponent wants you to forget is that he voted to authorise the use of force and now says it's the wrong war at the wrong time at the wrong place," Bush said. "I don't see how you can lead this country to succeed in Iraq if you say 'wrong war, wrong time, wrong place.'" The main TV networks conducted polls straight after the debate. The results suggested that Kerry had won by putting George Bush on the defensive. "I think Bush was just feeding the same line that he's been feeding the American people for the last," said one woman in a bar in Washington DC. "I'm a Kerry supporter and I actually think that Bush won the debate," said a man in the same establishment. "I think Kerry is behind in the polls and I think he had to really show something tonight and he just didn't do it, so I'm a little disheartened." Kerry has been trailing Bush in the polls for weeks, and commentators say the encounter should give him a boost - especially if he prevails over the president on economic and social issues in other live debates later this month. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Scores of suspected insurgents killed in IRAQ
US forces in Iraq say they have killed at least 110 suspected rebels in the town of Samarra. Iraqi commandos are reported to have taken over the town's Golden Mosque, seizing 25 insurgents inside. One American soldier died in the fighting. The offensive came a day after three car bombings on a US convoy in Baghdad killed 41 people, 34 of them children who had rushed to collect sweets from American troops. Officials say Iraqi police are now in control of the centre of Samarra, 100 kilometres north of the capital. US-led forces carried out airstrikes and engaged in street-to-street combat, backed up by tanks. |
