Blackout in Ramallah fails to deter Arafat Yasser

Arafat remains besieged by Israeli troops in his compound at Ramallah in the West Bank. Much of the Palestinian leader's base lies ruined following the Israeli assault that began on Friday. Israeli authorities have cut the water and electricity supply but Arafat says he has been assured the army will neither harm him nor try to force him into exile. At one point on Saturday night, it seemed as though Israeli troops were poised to seize Arafat. The Israeli operation was launched in response to a Palestinian suicide bomb in northern Israel that killed at least 22 people. The Israeli government says the army is searching for terrorists it believes are hiding in the compound. Images of five dead Arafat bodyguards found in a room that had been vacated hours earlier by Israeli soldiers have provoked more international concern. The Palestinians say the men were executed while the Israelis say they died in a close-range firefight. Ramallah echoed to the sound of gunfire for much of Saturday as Israeli forces sought to strengthen their control of the area. The Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon has declared Arafat an enemy of Israel and has vowed to isolate him.

Suicide bomber strikes in Tel Aviv

A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up in a Tel Aviv restaurant on Saturday night, leaving at least 20 people injured, some of them critically. The blast, which ripped through the busy building at about 9.30 p.m. local time, has been claimed by the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a group linked to Yasser Arafat's Fatah organization. The group said it was in retaliation for the Israeli offensive in Ramallah and vowed to carry out further attacks. As emergency services tended to the injured, an impromptu group of protesters vented their anger. They carried signs reading 'Prosecute the Oslo criminals' and chanted 'Peres is guilty', a reference to Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres and others responsible for the 1993 Oslo interim peace accords with the Palestinians.

An Extraordinary Response; Three Million Times No

At times I’m really very sorry to be an American Citizen. It is truly hard to believe that CNN the Usa’s largest news broadcaster commented the Italian labor protest (the largest, most peaceful and correct the western world has ever seen) held on Saturday March 23 with “hundreds of thousands protesters invaded the streets of Rome

By Jerry Russo

Arafat remains under siege

Israeli troops have continued their siege of the Palestinian Authority headquarters in Ramallah, the army succeeding in its aim of isolating leader Yasser Arafat. Heavy machine gun fire was heard in the centre of the West Bank town. Soon after a six storey building was said to be on fire. This morning a column of tanks also entered the Palestinian town of Beit Jala near Bethlehem. These further actions follow Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's decision to step up a gear in his self-proclaimed bid to root out Palestinian militants. What was to become a major offensive against Yasser Arafat began on Friday when tanks blew a hole in President Yasser Arafat's security compound, with Israeli soldiers entering the building in Ramallah soon after. At least five Palestinians and one Israeli were killed in gunbattles. Israel had acted in response to a suicide bombing on Wednesday that left 22 people

US calls for Israeli restraint US Secretary of State

Colin Powell has called for Israeli restraint in its assault on Ramallah. He said he deplored the killing and wounding of innocent Palestinians there. "We call on Prime Minister Sharon and his government to carefully consider the consequences of those actions. Chairman Arafat is the leader of the Palestinian people and his leadership is now even more central to trying to find a way out of this tragic situation." Powell said he had spoken to the Israeli premier as his cabinet met to decide how to respond to the deadly suicide attacks. "He also advised me that whatever action they might decide to take it would not include bringing any harm to Chairman Arafat or killing him and subsequent statements by Israeli officials indicate it is not their intention either to capture them. They have determined to isolate him." Importantly Powell did not ask Sharon to end Yasser Arafat's isolation. He said Palestinian suicide bombers were to blame for setting back US envoy Anthony Zinni's efforts to arrange a Middle East ceasefire.

Israel calls up 20,000 reservists

Israeli army reservists have joined the fresh military campaign aiming to root out Palestinian militants. Around 20,000 men in their 30s and 40s donned old uniforms in a a mobilisation not seen since the Gulf War. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says the army operation will last several weeks or months. For those likely to see active duty in a region locked in tit-for-tat violence the justification for action is clear, an Israeli soldier telling reporters, "We have to fight back for what he did for the last months, the last period, all the terror attacks. We have to defend ourselves." The reservists are responding to Sharon's call for unity in what he described as an "all out war on terrorism."

Pope calls for peace in Middle East

Pope John Paul II has led Christians in commemorating Good Friday, the day Christ was crucified on the cross. He appealed for peace in the Holy Land at the Way of the Cross celebrations in Rome. The frail Pontiff was forced to sit and watch while others carried the cross in the procession. But despite an arthitic knee and failing health he delivered a strong message, asking for human hatred to be put aside in the Middle East. He improvised a sermon about the passion, death and resurrection of Christ, gaining a warm reception from thousands of the faithful.

Isrealis storm Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah

In what amounts to the most direct attack against Yasser Arafat since the current Middle East violence erupted, Israeli forces have fought their way inside the Palestinian president's headquarters in Ramallah. After a prolonged shelling of the compound tanks blasted holes in the perimeter walls. Troops then poured through the breach. They were met with hails of gunfire from Palestinian guards inside. There were reports of battles going on room by room within the premises and that Arafat had taken shelter within a bunker. At least five Palestinians and on Israeli soldier are said to have been killed in the fighting. Israel launched the assault in response to recent Palestinian suicide bombings. Palestinian officials said Arafat's life was in danger and described the siege as a declaration of war.

Palestinian suicide bomber was teenage girl

A Palestinian woman has blown herself up in a crowded Jerusalem supermarket, killing two people and wounding at least 20. 18-year-old Aayat Mohammed al-Akhras left a recorded videocassette message, saying she was answering a call by the Al-Aqsa Brigades to carry on fighting Israel. The Palestinian teenager came from a refugee camp near Bethlehem in the West Bank. Today she walked into a supermarket in Jerusalem's Kiryat Yovel district, whenmany Israelis were doing their shopping before the start of the Jewish sabbath at sundown. Israeli television said she detonated an explosives belt she was wearing, just a few meters inside the supermarket. Police say a mortar shell she was carrying failed to explode. She was the second Palestinian woman to carry out a suicide bombing. A fellow member of the Al-Aqsa Brigades blew herself up at an Israeli checkpoint in the West Bank last month, wounding three policemen.

Israel

New bombing as Israel moves on Arafat

Israeli tanks and bulldozers have surrounded Yasser Arafat's compound in Ramallah, and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has declared Arafat an "enemy." Meanwhile, Israel Radio reports a supermarket guard has been killed in a terror attack by a female suicide bomber in Jerusalem.

FULL STORY »

Thursday, 28 March, 2002, 16:58 GMT

Italy plays down attack fears

Thursday, 28 March, 2002, 16:58 GMT

Berlusconi firm 'abandons' Kirch

Rupert Murdoch (left) is a leading shareholder in Leo Kirch's media empire

Full Story

Suicide bomber targets Jerusalem supermarket

A Palestinian militant has blown herself up in Jerusalem. At least three people are believed to have been killed in the suicide bombing. Witnesses say over a dozen have been injured. Police fear the death toll may rise. The device went off in a supermarket in the Kiryat Yovel district. The area is a Jewish suburb in the west of the city. The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade has claimed responsibility for the attack. Israeli security officials had feared an upsurge in violence following the cabinet's decision to send the army into Ramallah. There have also been clashes at the holy site in the city known to the Palestinians as the Al Aqsa mosque and to the Israelis as Temple Mount. Israeli police apparently stormed the area when Palestinian youths began throwing stones.

Israeli tanks attack Arafat's headquarters

Israeli troops and tanks re-entered the West bank City or Ramallah on Friday morning, surrounding and attacking Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's headquarters. Shells were fired at the Palestinian leader's offices setting them ablaze but he was not injured. The tanks broke through one of the outer walls of the compound. It was reported that the military may have taken over at least one building. Five Palestinians and one Israeli soldier have been killed in gun battles between the two sides. This is Israel's most direct offensive against the Palestinian President since the current Intifada began. Palestinian officials claim the move amounts to a declaration of war. The campaign has hardened Palestinian militants resolve to combat what they see as the occupiers. Thirteen factions have united to form the National and Islamic Forces. A Hamas leader said the new group will protect Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) has also warned that it will target Israelis all over the world to avenge what it describes as Israel's "war to exterminate the Palestinians."

Defiant words from Yasser Arafat after Israeli tank attack

As Israeli tanks encircled his compound in Ramallah the Palestinian leader gave a telephone interview to the Qatar-based TV station Al Jazeera, saying Palestinians would never give up their fight for an independent state. He said he would prefer to die a martyr than by captured by the Israelis, and branded Ariel Sharon "a world terrorist". Arafat's remarks reflected a hardening of attitudes from last night when, in the aftermath of the Arab league summit, he said he was willing to work for an unconditional ceasefire with Israel. He stopped short, however of declaring a truce outright. The Palestinian president said he had discussed the latest violence with American action and demanded the U.S. take action to prevent a further escalation of the conflict.

Israel declares Arafat an "enemy"

On Friday morning Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon declared Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat an "enemy" and the head of a coalition of terror. The comments followed an all night meeting of the Israeli cabinet to discuss the response to a recent wave of suicide bombings, which have left dozens dead. In the city of Netanya, twenty people were killed when a Palestinian blew himself up on Wednesday. Sharon vowed to eliminate "terror", as he put it and called up twenty thousand reserve soldiers for what Palestinians fear could be a major reprisal. Israel's Defence Minister reiterated Sharon's tough line. He added that for the moment there are no plans to reoccupy the Palestinian territories. He said there was no risk of all out war, because Israel's sole aim was to root out terrorists.

Strikes cast a shadow over Germany economic recovery

Germany's most powerful union, IG Metal, extended a series of stoppages to western Germany when hundreds of workers in the Rhineland and Bavaria downed tools on the stroke of midnight. It follows several hour-long strikes in eastern Germany earlier this week. The union is demanding a 6.5 while employers are offering a two percent rise. But Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has warned that pay increases bigger than the current two per cent inflation rate would endanger the German economy's fragile recovery. IG Metal is expected to ballot members on full-scale strikes later this month if no settlement is reached.

France against death for "20th hijacker"

France says it regrets the decision by the US to seek the death penalty in the trial of French citizen Zacarias Moussaoui, a suspect in the September 11th attacks. Justice Minister Marylise Lebranchu says, "Legal co-operation will continue to get to the truth but we will not supply evidence that could lead to the death penalty." Moussaoui, a 33-year-old of Moroccan origin, is charged with conspiring with Saudi-born militant Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network in connection with the hijacked airliner attacks on New York and Washington. In the US he has been branded the "20th hijacker", the missing member of the team behind the disasters. His mother spoke emotionally to reporters, saying: "I think my son is a scapegoat. "Nobody deserves the death penalty", she said, then added, "I am simply a mother."

Bin Laden e-mail" received in UK

Is Osama bin Laden still alive? The question has resurfaced once again after the editor of a British-based Arabic newspaper received an e-mail purporting to be from the al-Qaeda leader. Abdel Bari Atwan says he believes the e-mail is genuine, "He knows this is a time when many people are starting to think he is dead, so he would like to prove he is alive and kicking." Abdel-Bari Atwan interviewed Saudi-born bin Laden six years ago and says he recognises his style of writing. The e-mail strongly criticised the Saudi peace plan for the Middle East, calling it a sell out to the Israelis. British journalists having been trying to trace the origins of the e-mail. The service provider has been traced to Karachi in Pakistan. But this does little to prove either the e-mail's authenticity or bin Laden's whereabouts.

Sex scandals cast shadow on papal Holy

Thursday On Holy Thursday, a weak-looking Pope John Paul II has attended mass at the Vatican but did not actually celebrate it; that would have meant standing for two hours. The 81-year-old pontiff did read the sermon, making an indirect reference to the sex scandals that have rocked the Roman Catholic church. He said "We pray for those priestly brothers of ours who have not lived up to the commitments they made when they were ordained." Shortly afterwards, the Holy See announced that John Paul II had accepted the resignation of an Archbishop in the Pope's native Poland who once worked with him at the Vatican. The Pope's failure to carry out the symbolic foot-washing ceremony has again put the spotlight on the health of the spiritual leader of over a billion Catholics worldwide.

Sun sets on Hollywood's Billy Wilder

Billy Wilder, the man who made some of the American film industry's most important movies, has died peacefully at his home in Beverly Hills at the age of 95. He went from being a crime reporter in Vienna and a refugee from Nazism to become a celebrated director, writer and producer. He was awarded six Oscars, including three for The Apartment. Wilder was the first to pair Walter Matthau with Jack Lemmon- creating one of cinema's best-loved teams. Wilder's cynical humour filled his films, a sense of the ridiculous that he is believed to have picked up in his early struggles to leave war-torn Europe. Among his hits were Sunest Boulevard and The Seven Year Itch with Marilyn Monroe. But Wilder will always be remembered for the timeless comedy Some Like It Hot in which Lemmon dresses up in drag, to hilarious effect.

US to seek death penalty for Moussaoui

The US Justice Department will seek the death penalty for Zacarias Moussaoui if the French citizen is convicted of conspiring to kill thousands of people in the September 11 attacks. Moussaoui's lawyers have entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf. His trial is scheduled to begin on September 30 in Alexandria, Virginia, with jury selection. Attorney General John Ashcroft must approve all federal death penalty cases. Ashcroft told a news conference the court filing listed numerous reasons, called aggravating factors, why he believes the death penalty was appropriate. He cited "the impact of the crime on the thousands of victims" and added, "We remain committed not only to carrying out justice in this case, but also to ensuring that the rights of the victims are fully protected." The indictment accuses 33-year-old Moussaoui of conspiring with Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda network to carry out the hijacked plane attacks. Moussaoui was detained by US officials before September 11. He was held on immigration charges, after officials at a flying school where he was training became suspicious. France has warned the United States that Paris' co-operation with the September 11 investigation could be jeopardized by Washington seeking the death penalty. Moussaoui is the only person to be charged in the US for the attacks that killed around 3,000 people.

Nanterre killer commits suicide

Nanterre killer commits suicide

Richard Durn, the Frenchman who admitted to killing eight people in a shooting spree in northern Paris, has committed suicide. The 33-year-old has thrown himself from the fourth floor of the police station where he was being held. Durn calmly gunned down eight municipal councillors in the town of Nanterre and wounded another 19 early Wednesday morning. Hundreds of people have been gathering outside the town hall where the tragedy occurred. Durn, an unemployed loner and a gun enthusiast, had told police he wanted to die but not before killing as many people as possible. He had begged to be killed following the shooting. Prime minister Lionel Jospin and president Jacques Chirac, who are neck-and-neck in the race for the presidential election later this month, have denounced the massacre as an act of madness. Both have pledged to tackle what many French see as rising violence in their country, but have been warned not to use the killing as campaign fodder.

Security stepped up in Italy after threats against U.S. citizens

Security stepped up in Italy after threats against U.S. citizens

Security is being stepped up at American diplomatic and business interests in Italy following warnings that they could become terrorist targets over Easter. U.S. State department Richard Boucher said they had received credible information about threats to their citizens in four cities, Venice, Florence, Milan and Verona. "We are working very closely with the Italian government concerning these kinds of threats. The Italian government has provided very good co-operation and security in terms of our own establishments in Italy." Washington said extremist groups were behind the threatened attacks but did not specify which ones. It is not the first time such a warning has been issued. Following the September 11th attacks the U.S. said its citizens in Italy were particularly vulnerable to terror strikes.

Netanya suicide bombing expected to trigger strong retaliation

A Palestinian suicide bombing which killed 20 people in a seaside resort has raised the spectre of a heavy retaliation by Israel. The Hamas militant blew himself up inside the busy lobby of Netanya's upmarket Park Hotel yesterday evening, as the Jewish Passover holiday was getting underway. More than a hundred people were wounded. It is the bloodiest attack since 21 people were killed last June in a suicide bombing outside a Tel Aviv disco. Israel has blamed Palestinian president Yasser Arafat, calling it an act of war. The United States has strongly condemned the bombing, urging Arafat to act to stop the violence. Arafat has denounced the bombing and vowed to hunt down those responsible. But many believe Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon could launch a broad offensive to quell the 18-month Intifada or Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule.

.S. forces involved in Afghanistan quake relief effort

US forces in Afghanistan have been turning their attention from hunting down Al Qaeda fighters and the Taliban to bringing aid to earthquake victims. The disaster zone in the northern Hindukush mountains has been all but cut off from the rest of the country. It has meant that the Americans and other foreign troops are best equipped to help those left homeless and hungry by the quake. Trucks carrying vital supplies are beginning to arrive in Nahrin - the town closest to the epicentre. It comes after engineers re-opened a tunnel on the main road to the region. Aid agencies will now be able to step up the relief campaign but it will still be some time before the death toll is known. Early estimates indicate many more than two thousand may have died.

Russia's TV6 regains control of station

Russia's TV6 is back in the hands of the team that ran it before the authorities took it off the air in January. A court ruled in January that the station be shut down on complaints by a minority shareholder that it had not set straight charter capital irregularities. Closing the country's last independent TV channel gave the Kremlin a monopoly of the airwaves for the first time since the Soviet era, although Moscow denied it was trying to silence critics. Many of TV6's journalists had previously worked at the opposition NTV, which they deserted after a board-room coup last April that saw it taken over by state-dominated natural gas monopoly Gazprom. 13 contenders, including a group headed by former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, were in the running today. In the end the government commission opted for what is seen as a marriage of convenience. Fomer TV6 managing director Yevgeny Kiselyov and his team are back in business, but this time around they will be under the beady eye of former Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov in a supervisory role. Primakov is an ex-spy master and a veteran of the political scene, with close Kremlin links.

From the tabloids to the law books

British supermodel Naomi Campbell has won a landmark privacy case against the Mirror newspaper after it published photos of her attending Narcotics Anonymous meetings. The ruling could change the way the media reports on celebrities in Britain, where the press is self-regulatory and follows a code of practice drawn up by editors. Some public figures have criticised the system but the government has always shied away from taking on the press. Campbell won 3,500 pounds from the Mirror for breach of confidence and invasion of privacy. The judge agreed the paper's article had "trashed her as a person in a highly offensive and hurtful manner". But he also criticised the supermodel who admitted to being a drug addict, saying she had shown herself to be less than honest with the media. Speaking from Los Angeles, Campbell said she was delighted with the decision and will give the money to charity.

Caracas holds its International Theatre Festival

There is a taste of Africa in the heart of Venezuela, courtesy of the French. Thousands turned out in Caracas to witness larger than life crocodiles, birds and giraffes all brought to them by the French Theatre company Opposito. One spectator described the show as "something innovative." He said "It is interactive with the public and there is a lot of mobility. It allows you to work out a lot of what the play is about". The show is based on the company's two-year travels around Africa, paying homage to the women and children they met there and to the future represented by the country. Opposito's performance forms part of the International Theatre Festival of Carcacas, which runs until Sunday.

Australian firm invents shark repellant

The Great White, the unwitting villain of the deep seas and any swimmer's worst nightmare could soon become as harmless as a dolphin. Australian firm Sea Change claims to have invented an electronic shark repellant, which attaches to the swimmer's ankle and emits an electronic field. This affects the shark's nervous system through sensitive receptors near its snout. An initial mild discomfort increases as the animal approaches until it causes intolerable muscle spasms. Work is underway on similar units to create a safety zone off the back of boats and yachts, as well as a larger version for beach protection. This would enable the removal of nets around beaches, which are responsible for the slaughter of many other marine species, such as whales, dolphins and turtles. The device weighs around half a kilogram and a slightly larger version is available for divers. It costs 260 euro. .

Carnage in Paris Council Chamber

Carnage in Paris Council Chamber

In France eight people have been killed and at least eighteen injured in a shooting in Paris. Eight of those injured are in a very serious condition, the other ten have injuries described as serious. The shoot-out happened at the council buildings in Nanterre, outside central Paris in the early hours of this morning. A police source says it happened when a man opened fire with a machine gun during a local council meeting. One man has been arrested.

Arab summit begins without Arafat

Arab summit begins without Arafat

The much-anticipated Arab League Summit begins in Beirut today but as leaders arrived in the Lebanon the focus was firmly on two notable absentees. The Palestinian President Yasser Arafat remains confined in Ramallah while Hosni Mubarak of Egypt dealt a further blow to the two-day meeting by deciding not to attend, due to what his foreign minister has called "domestic commitments." Yasser Arafat had hoped to put in an appearance but Israel set pre-conditions for freeing him from confinement that he judged unacceptable. Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat accused the Israeli government of handling the issue in a "despicable" fashion and said it had attempted to humiliate the Palestinian leader and the Palestinian people. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has shrugged off appeals from the United States, the European Union and many world leaders for Yasser Arafat to be allowed to attend the summit. His no-compromise stance has fuelled outrage among Palestinians keen to show their support for their President who is set to address the meeting nonetheless, via video link from the West Bank. Israel demanded a ceasefire and the arrest of militants in return for letting Yasser Arafat travel but it also insisted on the right to veto his return. Meanwhile, despite his absence, Arab leaders are still expected to endorse a new Saudi plan aimed at bringing peace to the Middle East.

Two observers killed in Middle East violence

Two observers killed in Middle East violence

Two members of an international observer group have been shot dead in the West Bank. A monitor who survived the attack said a Palestinian gunman in a police uniform fired at their car from close range. The vehicle's radio was still playing as the emergency services arrived at the scene, a road near Hebron where Jewish settlers have frequently been targeted by Palestinian militants. Hebron's Mayor, though, blamed Israeli soldiers for killing the pair, a Swiss woman and a Turkish man. Their murder came on another day of heightened tension in the region with two Palestinians blowing themselves up with their own bomb near Jerusalem, while on the way to an attack.

African Americans take on Corporate America

A historic lawsuit has been filed with the aim of balancing the books between African Americans and big US businesses. Three large companies have been named in what is the first action of its kind, seeking reparations from firms deemed to have profiteered from slavery. The legal action is being taken by a young black activist at Brooklyn Federal court in New York. Her lawyer is Roger Wareham. He said: "This is not about individuals receiving cheques in their mailbox, it's about the establishment of a collective fund that will address the vestiges of slavery that still linger to this point in the lives of people of African descent that when slavery officially ended, the oppression of the African people did not." It is the latest step by some black people to get compensation for what their ancestors suffered as slaves. The companies Aetna Inc and CSX Corp said slavery was a regrettable chapter in US history but the events occurred so long ago that a courtroom was not the proper place to decide on compensation. The complainant estimates the current value of slaves' unpaid labour is one point five trillion dollars.

British government takes a bet on loosening gambling laws

Great Britain looks set to free up its gambling rules, Las Vegas style. The government has proposed sweeping aside current restrictions, which date back to the 1960 to try and revolutionise the industry. If made law the plans will allow online gambling for the first time. Culture and sport minister Tessa Jowell said: "It is not a free for all. This is a modern, constructive regulation rather than the red tape bureaucracy and pointless control of gambling that we have currently." The government hopes that towns like Blackpool in the north West might benefit becoming the Las Vegas of Europe. Casinos would be able to offer Vegas style slot machines with unlimited prizes. Betting offices and new casinos would face fewer regulatory tests. They would also be able to lay on live entertainment and serve alcohol on their gaming floors.

Thousands dead in earthquake in northern Afghanistan

At least 2,000 bodies have been recovered from the rubble after a series of earthquakes hit northern Afghanistan last night. Rescue workers expect the death toll to rise over the next days. The quakes, which registered between 5 and 6 on the Richter scale, struck Baghlan province, around 200 kilometres north of the capital Kabul. They left little standing in the main town of Nahrin and surrounding villages. Several thousand people have been injured and tens of thousands have been left homeless. Aghanistan is appealing for international help to deal with the catastrophe in a region prone to earthquakes. The country is already struggling to get over a long drought and the aftermath of the US war on terrorism. Russia's sending a mobile clinic to the region while several UN and aid agencies have arrived with extra shelter, food and water.

Berlusconi says government ready for dialogue

Italy's three largest trade unions are to hold a general strike on April 16,protesting against controversial labour law reforms. The decision comes after Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right government cancelled talks with unions and employers representatives. Berlusconi says his reform package is needed to boost labour market flexibility and bring Italian laws into line with European norms. Unions say it will give businesses much more freedom to sack their workers. Some analysts had predicted that last week's murder of a government aide who helped draft the reforms would hinder union efforts to mobilise protestors. After the unions set the date for the strike, Berlusconi insisted his government remained open to dialogue, although he said not every-one wanted to talk. A rally on Saturday, which brought between 1.5 million and 3 million people onto the streets of Rome, has boosted morale in opposition ranks. Silvio Berlusconi has once again distanced himself from comments by some ministers who made a direct link between left-wing unionists and the assassination of government adviser Marco Biagi.

Italy's Margerita unifies into party

Italy's Margerita unifies into party

Italy has a new political party led by the man who tried and failed to beat Silvio Berlusconi in last year's general election. He may not be prime minister but centre-left opposition leader, Francesco Rutelli, is now the head of Margarita, an all new fusion of four separate parties hoping to make its mark at a time of increasingly visible dissatisfaction with the Berlusconi administration. Margareta existed before as a coalition. Now it is one party. Already there are signs of trouble ahead with a key figure in one of the four constituent groups failing to turn up. He accused one of the other groupings of not playing its full role in the newly-created union.

Tinsel town rewards its finest

Tinsel town rewards its finest

A night of a thousand stars in Hollywood. Well there may not have been that many, but there were certainly plenty of Tinsel town's finest packed into the Oscar's new home, the Kodak Theater. And it was a night when history was in the making. For the first time in the awards' 74 years its top acting honors were won by black performers, including the first ever best actress award to an African American. Halle Berry taking the honours for "Monster's Ball." Denzel Washington took Best Actor for Training Day. Happy days for Ron Howard. He was named best director for A Beautiful Mind, and while its leading actor Russel Crowe may have been over looked this time, the movie was not, picking up the converted best film award. It was also a huge night for a tiny country. Bosnia's black comedy No Man's Land picked up the award for the best foreign language film.

Ministers meet in Beirut ahead of Arab League summit

Ministers meet in Beirut ahead of Arab League summit

Arab foreign ministers are meeting in Beirut ahead of an Arab League summit on Wednesday. The delegates have been discussing a Saudi plan offering Israel a return to peace if it leaves all Arab land occupied in the 1967 Middle East war and agrees to a "just solution" for Palestinian refugees. The question remains over whether Yasser Arafat will attend the summit. Israel is insisting a truce be in place before the Palestinian leader is allowed to leave for Beirut. At his headquarters in Ramallah, Arafat has been meeting the European Union's Middle East envoy Miguel Moratinos to discuss the latest developments towards a possible ceasefire. The EU, like the US, is urging Israel to allow Arafat back into Lebanon, in what would be seen as a symbolic step towards a truce since Arafat and his guerrillas were ousted from Beirut in the early eighties.

Protesters stage mass rally in Rome

Protesters stage mass rally in Rome

The Italian capital has played host to a massive demonstration with a double message. Saying "no" to the social policies of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and "no" to political violence, a wave of activists surged through the streets of Rome. Were there 3 million protesters as some organisers claimed? Or was the figure closer to 1 million as the police suggested? Either way, the strength of feeling was clear. This rally was originally scheduled to protest solely at the government's controversial employment reforms which will make it easier to hire and fire certain categories of workers. But in the event, demonstrators, joined by politicians including centre-left opposition leader Francesco Rutelli, gathered not just to voice their objections to Silvio Berlusconi's plans but also to condemn terrorism. It follows this week's killing of government employment advisor Marco Biagi, claimed by an offshoot of the notorious Red Brigades guerrilla group. The murdered man had helped to write the unpopular labour reforms that brought the demonstrators out onto the streets. Nonetheless, the protestors were determined to show that, though they don't agree with the policy or the authorities, violence is not the answer. And Sergio Cofferati, the leader of the CGIL, Italy's biggest union which organised the march, strongly refuted accusations that the unions were creating a climate of political tension in which such terror can thrive. This protest is one of several planned in the days and weeks ahead which pit the power of the unions against the government. On Wednesday, a further mass demonstration is scheduled and on the same day a date will be set for a general strike, expected to take place in April.

EU debates defence policy for terrorism

EU debates defence policy for terrorism

EU defence ministers, meeting in Spain, have pledged to increase co-operation amid mounting concern that the union is far from ready to deal militarily with non-conventional attacks from abroad, as happened in the United States on September 11. Their get-together also stoked debate about the increasingly unmatched military might of the U.S with questions posed over whether Europe should increase its defence budget to close the gap. Spanish Defence Minister Federico Trillo said a declaration to be signed later would mean the EU would be in a better position to defend itself from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons of mass destruction. He also revealed that there would be greater co-operation in the future among member nations' intelligence services. EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana is among the advocates of increased military spending. But although soldiers from 5 nations have already joined forces in the Eurocorps alliance, ministers are still seeking to address shortfalls dogging Europe's more ambitious rapid reaction force.

Third Middle East suicide attempt in three days

Third Middle East suicide attempt in three days

Another suicide bombing in the Middle East and another failed attempt to sign a cease fire. One Israeli soldier was injured in an attack near the West Bank town of Jenin on Friday. A Palestinian blew himself up when he was stopped at the army checkpoint. Israeli security sources said he had intended targeting civilians. Hours later Israeli tanks rolled into Rafah killing one Palestinian. As the violence continued, peace talks again ended without result. In an effort to boost US envoy Anthony Zinni's mission, President George W. Bush said Vice President Cheney could meet Yasser Arafat if the Palestinian leader stoppedmilitants striking Israel. More meetings are planned for this weekend but a truce is still a long way off.

Monday, 18 March, 2002, 15:07 GMT

US steps up Mid-East peace drive

US steps up Mid-East peace drive

US Vice-President Dick Cheney has arrived in Israel as part of Washington's efforts to secure a truce between Israelis and Palestinians. Mr Cheney is meeting US special envoy Anthony Zinni, who earlier on Monday chaired talks between top Israeli and Palestinian security officials. General Zinni has not yet managed to broker a ceasefire. But Palestinian security officials said the two sides had agreed on an Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian areas in the Bethlehem sector of the West Bank.

Complete story

Updated: 10:59 a.m. EST (1559 GMT) -- 18 March 2002

Cheney in Israel

U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in Israel today, as top Israeli and Palestinian security officials talk cease-fire with U.S. envoy Anthony Zinni. Cheney plans to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Zinni, and possibly a high-level Palestinian delegation.

Cheney in Israel

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney arrived in Israel Monday as top Israeli and Palestinian security officials met with the U.S. Middle East envoy Anthony Zinni in an attempt to secure a cease-fire. As the vice president arrived in Israel, Avi Dichter, head of Shin Bet, the Israeli internal security service; Maj. Gen. Giora Eiland, chief of Israeli military operations; Jibril al-Rajoub, head of preventive security on the West Bank; and Mohammed Dahlan, who holds a similar post in Gaza, were meeting with Zinni, Israeli security sources said. Cheney came from Kuwait, the last Arab country on his 12-nation tour. He plans to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Zinni, and possibly a high-level Palestinian delegation

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19 March 2002

Mixed messages from Israel as Cheney says he will meet Arafat

Former Belgian Minster under investigation commits suicide

Former Belgian Minster under investigation commits suicide

Alain van der Biest committed suicide at his mother's near Liege during last might. The politician was being investigated in connection with the murder of former deputy Prime Minister Andre Cools. He had been arrested and then released several times. He had always maintained his innocence. Several theories have been put forward about Cools' murder. Amongst them, a possible revenge attack relating to mafia dealings. The idea that it may have been a settling of scores by another member or members of the Socialist was also investigates. Alain Van Der Biest took over the post of Interior Minster from Cools in 1990. It is understood he left a suicide note for his wife.

Dutch tourists killed on French motorway

A coach carrying Dutch tourists has collided with an Italian lorry in north-eastern France. Five of the passengers on board, and one of the bus' two drivers, were killed. They were returning from a skiing holiday in Val Morel in south-eastern France. Over 50 passengers on the bus were injured, three of them seriously, in the crash on the A31 motorway near the city of Metz. The driver of the articulated lorry and his passenger were also killed in the collision. The local prefect said the accident was probably the result of the lorry driver losing concentration. The truck apparently crossed over the central divide on a straight stretch of road. A section of the A31 running north to Luxembourg has been closed. French authorities have started an inquiry into the exact circumstances of the accident.

US commander says Anaconda nearly over

The commander of US forces in Afghanistan says "Operation Anaconda" is almost over. The most intense fighting in the offensive, against al-Qaida and Taliban fighters, ended last Wednesday. Now around 500 Canadian and US soldiers, and a similar number of Afghan troops, remain in the mountains near the eastern city of Gardez. They are conducting a cave-by-cave search to flush out any remaining militants. The man in overall charge of coalition forces in country, General Tommy Franks, said "future operations are likely to be the same size as Anaconda." Franks admits the US does not know where al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden is, nor how many militants he has in Afghanistan. US officials say that 500 enemy fighters were killed during the offensive in the Shah-i-Kot valley, which started on March 2. At least 15 American and Afghan government soldiers have also lost their lives. Local Afghan commanders say many of the guerrillas have escaped to Pakistan. There has been no contact with the rebels in the past 24 hours and no new casualties have been reported.

Portugal's new Prime Minister faces tough challenges

Portugal's new Prime Minister faces tough challenges

The country is holding its breath to see how Manuel Durao Barroso decides to play his cards now he is power. His Social Democratic Party snatched the reins from the Socialist Party, it has no overall majority in parliament. Speculation now is that Durao Barroso may be looking to make a coalition with the right. Barroso said following news of the victory "I will now do everything I can to give Portugal the stability and credibility it deserves." The initial excitement on the streets of the capital Lisbon at the news that the former opposition will now govern has already given way to speculation. Nobody doubts Durao Barroso's job will be a tough one. Projections of the final results, give 40 per cent to Barroso's Social Democrats, 38 per cent to the outgoing Socialist Party, and 7 per cent to the CDU, communists. The conservative Popular Party took around 9 per cent of the vote, and 3 per cent went to the leftist block. It was a closely fought election. The man who was pipped at the post was Eduardo Ferro Rodriguesh. He congratulated the PSD and Durao Barroso on his victory but added whimsically "With one vote we lost, with one vote you won."

Fox hunting vote in Britain

It is a pursuit favoured by Britain's Prince Charles among others but should it be banned? Fox hunting stirs strong passions for and against and today members of the British parliament will decide whether what is a barbaric blood sport for some and a harmless rural tradition for others should be outlawed once and for all. Deputies in the House of Commons have, in fact, already voted in favour of a ban. But their feelings have not been reflected in Britain's upper House of Lords, which has voted for fox hunting to go on. This time, a third so-called "middle way" option is being considered, allowing the activity to continue under licence. But animal rights activists, encouraged by the decision of Scotland's home-rule parliament to outlaw hunting with hounds last month, will not be happy with anything less than a total fox hunting ban, south of the border.

Patrick's Day celebrations around the world

London held its first official St Patrick's Day celebration on Sunday with tens of thousands of revellers taking to the streets. The atmosphere was celtic and carefree. The Patron Saint of Ireland was also feted in Dublin, where an estimated half a million people descended on the capital to watch the colourful annual extravaganza While on the other side of the globe in Moscow fun lovers were doing pretty much the same thing!. Irish expatratriates and employees of Irish firms in Russia joined locals in an all-singing, all-dancing carnival. And, for one day of the year at least, vodka was replaced by whisky or beer as the Muscovites drink of choice.