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30 June 2002 Search for militant survivors goes on in Middle East
It was a standoff that had lasted four days, but it ended this weekend with the Palestinian police headquarters building in Hebron no longer standing. It was blown apart by the Israeli army in two massive explosions. It is still not known if any of the fifteen armed Palestinians holled up inside survived. Elsewhere in the Middle East, two Palestinians were arrested under the cover of a smoke screen. It is part of a continued effort by Israel to destroy what it says is an infastructure of terror. The road was blocked during the arrests, and a jam quickly built up. When drivers were ordered to turn around, chaos and anger ensued and tanks responded with fire. 700,000 Palestinians are currently under curfews, which are only occassionally lifted to allow food shopping. In Ramallah, the brief lifting of a curfew there brought many out onto the streets in protest against it. But the hastily conveined demonstration was broken up when the curfew was reinstated. |
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Anger at deaths os South Korean sailors
Grieving for their loved ones, the families of four South Korean navy personnel killed in a sea battle with North Korean boats, have been gathering at a military hosptial in Bundang. For many the news was just too difficult to take. Both countries have blammed each other for the clash, which has cast a shadow over reconcilliation efforts. Four sailors were killed, nineteen were wounded and another is missing following the battle, which happened near their maritime border, the so called northern limit line. A statement was read on North Korea's official television station saying "The South Korean army committed a grave provocation firing bullets and shells at patrol boats of the Korean People's Army on routine coastal guard duty". However the south sees it differently. The army's Lieutenant-General told a press conference that it was the North that fired first, after two of their patrol boats briefly crossed the disputed border. The twenty minute fight happened at the same place as a battle in June 1999, in which dozens of North Korean sailors were killed. That was the first naval clash since the 1950-53 Korean war. |
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Controversy over ordination of female priests
A protest against doctrine and church law which descriminates against women- that was the statement released by seven women shortly before they were ordained as Roman Catholic priests. The group, who were from Austria, Germany and the United States, gathered on a boat on the Danube in Austria, for the ceremony. It was conducted by Argentine Arch bishop Romulo Braschi, who was himself ordained as a Roman Catholic priest, but has since joined a church not recognised by the Vatican. However the ordination of the women is strongly opposed by leaders of the Catholic church in Austria and Germany, who described it as a cult spectacle. The bishop of Linz, Maximillian Aichern said the simulated ordination of a woman is not only wrong, but also blantantly contradicts the rules of the church. However the women argue the church's refusal to ordain them has no basis in the scriptures. |
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Clashes in Northern Ireland as marching season starts.
Rioting broke out in west Belfast as tensions rose at the beginning of the loyalist marching season. Police say the group of around 300 locals from the Catholic Springfield road area began protesting after a controversial Protestant Orange Order march passed through the area. Rioters pelted armoured police vehicles with stones and glass bottles. The security forces responded with water cannon. A spokesman for local residents said the trouble started when police failed to pull out of the area after the march. He said locals were angry that no restrictions had been placed on the marchers. The clash followed overnight disturbances in the east of the city during which two police officers were injured and a house destroyed. |
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Pakistan's "most-wanted" militants
Pakistan has issued a hit-list of suspected Islamic militants and offered big rewards for their capture in connection with the killing of U.S. reporter Daniel Pearl and the bombing of Western targets. Several of those listed are named as members of the outlawed Muslim group Lashkar-e-Janghvi. For the first time, the names are given of suspects wanted over a suicide bombing outside the U.S. consulate in Karachi that killed 12 Pakistanis earlier this month. Names are given too for those believed to have been involved in the bombing of a bus in the city. 11 French engineers died alongside 2 Pakistanis. Top of the list, though, is a suspect in the murder of Daniel Pearl, who disappeared in Karachi while working on a story about Islamic militants. The move will be welcomed by the White House, which has consistently praised Pakistan's military ruler Pervez Musharraf for his co-operation in Washington's war against terrorism. |
