A free Iraq is essential for the security of this country... -- Pres Bush, Debate #1, 30 Sep 2004. On the defensive, Mr Bush has called on Americans to vote for him because he's the incumbent. Presidents live in a bubble, but he's [Bush] in a thermos. -- NYT columnist Maurine "Cassandra" Down, 30 Sep 2004. Bushworld. Down says she doesn't like to make 5 mn enemies a wk, but has to tell it like she sees it. This President has made -- I regret to say -- a colossal error of judgement... -- Sen John Kerry, Debate #1, 30 Sep 2004. Kerry has pointed out the the beauty of being on both sides of a question -- you can't be 100% wrong. I think we'll make it... but it'll be very close. -- PM John Howard, 03 Oct 2004. In the bag. After the latest polling, Mr Howard has practically declared victory. You do have a responsibility... in an election campaign ... to announce new, responsible spending measures. -- PM John Howard, 01 Oct 2004. The Howard govt has announced a new plan to force down the price of drugs for elderly voters after moving to increase them earlier in the y. He's got his head stuffed right in a coal mine... -- Sen Bob Brown, 01 Oct 2004. After Russia moved to ratify Kyoto, PM Howard has defended the US decision to ignore mandatory targets. It's easy for people to come in and make big promises... -- Health Min Tony Abbott, 01 Oct 2004. After reportedly enlisting snr churchmen to lobby for the govt, Mr Abbott apparently has switched to campaigning for the opposition, himself. Now that you mention it... I do remember meeting him. -- Health Min Tony Abbott, 01 Oct 2004. Not that I remember. With trust as a key issue in the election campaign, a red-faced Mr Abbott was covering himself with glory in failing to remember meeting the Archbishop of SYD this wk. Even politicians are allowed to talk to their priest from time-to-time... -- Health Min Tony Abbott, 01 Oct 2004. Apparently the Archbishop of SYD takes Mr Abbott's confession. Just because people are old, doesn't mean they're silly. -- Health Min Tony Abbott, 01 Oct 2004 Just in case you were wondering... the Min was not talking about the PM. ---------------------------------------- Fri, 01 Oct 2004. Jimmy Carter turns 80 today. HEADLINES: Oil price climbs back over $US50 Opp'n calls on Govt to back Kyoto AFP says 500 linked to internet porn Deadly clashes escalate in Gaza Deadly influenza toll may be rising Zarqawi group claims Iraq suicide attacks Bush, Kerry do battle over Iraq Benigni to make Iraq war comedy Aussie PM restates Iraq commitment Arab network says 10 new hostages seized in Iraq 'Every island' a possible nuclear waste dump ANU 'short-changed' by Govt: Labor AUS backs Indonesia's UN bid Aussie Ambassador warns UN Baghdad rocked by multiple attacks Beattie calls for media ombudsman over Energex reports Blair undergoes treatment for heart palpitations Brit Airways bomb threat a hoax Child pornography 'sickening': Latham James Hardie, union begin asbestos talks Bond's license to kill on hold Fijian-Indian minister resigns amid money abuse claims Goods and services prices rise Govt rules out mainland nuke dump Howard, Latham tight-lipped on forestry policy Indigenous health funding needs increase: AMA Killer dogs destroyed Kyoto supporters jubilant as Russia backs ratification Kyoto would hurt Aust industry: PM Latham brands Abbott a liar over Pell comments Manufacturing sector maintains growth Metals gain on USD sell-off More arrests expected, child porn crackdown continues More charges laid over child porn ring Nauruan Pres declares state of emergency Nigeria starts nuclear reactor amid unrest No charges in fatal dog attack PM condemns child porn ring Parents keep children at centres despite porn charges Pinochet undergoes psychiatric evaluation Russia close to ratifying Kyoto Protocol Sweden returns Aboriginal remains Tas seeks offshore nuclear dump assurance UN risks sliding into irrelevance: AUS US begins offensive in Samarra US company recalls arthritis drug Union warns customs cuts threaten bag checks Vicn police investigate fatal shooting @Oil price climbs back over $US50 Crude oil has gained 53% this y. NY (Reuters). Crude oil has climbed back over $US50/bbl with worries over the security of Nigerian supply supporting prices, despite a surprise build in US crude inventories. US light crude traded as high as $US50.10/bbl, less than 40 c off Tue's all-time record of $US50.47, before falling back to just under $US50. London's Brent crude was 62 c up at $US46.70. A Nigerian rebel group's threat to launch all-out war against the govt in the oil-rich delta region has kept prices boiling this wk. Mujahid Dokubo-Asari's Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force agreed to a truce after talks in capital Abuja, helping the market unravel some of its gains. Analysts said fears still remained over the security of Nigeria's more than 2 mn bpd of crude. Peace talks continued in Abuja, but main producer Shell said it had withdrawn more workers from the troubled region. Fears for a disruption to world supply capacity, tightly stretched to accommodate the fastest demand growth in a generation, have underpinned more than 53% gains on crude prices so far this year. @Nigeria starts nuclear reactor amid unrest Zaria, N Nigeria (AFP). Nigeria has commissioned its 1st nuclear reactor, which will be used for scientific research, project director Ibrahim Umar said. The launch comes amid the threat of civil war as negotiations between a rebel warlord, threatening to disrupt oil production in the delta region, and the Nigerian president force world oil prices higher. The reactor, which is solely for scientific purposes and constructed with technical assistance from the Internat'l Atomic Energy Association (IAEA), was launched in Ahmadu Bello University in northern university city of Zaria , Mr Umar told AFP. Mr Umar, director of the university's Centre for Energy Research and Training, which is in charge of the project, said that the reactor was commissioned by Nigeria's science and technology minister in the presence of representatives of IAEA and the Nigeria's Energy Commission. "The reactor will solely be applied for scientific research, which includes soil mapping to quantify different elements in the soil to boost agricultural production and to reduce the use of chemical fertiliser as well as for solid minerals identification in Nigeria", he said. "It will also be used in petroleum exploration and for identifying elements associated with diseases in the human body and other human-related research purposes", Mr Umar said. He ruled out the possibility of expanding the project for research in nuclear weapons, saying the project is under the strict supervision of the IAEA. "We are not involved in strategic research like nuclear weapons because we are a university-based research centre, located within the university. We have been doing this kind of research using other techniques which are just expanding using nuclear reactor," he said. According to Mr Umar, the research centre would be liaising with ministries for science and technology, water resources, agriculture and petroleum for its research programs. @US company recalls arthritis drug Merck plunged more than 27% after the recall. NY. US pharmaceutical giant Merck says it is withdrawing its arthritis and pain medication known as Vioxx from distribution around the world, after a study revealed an increased risk for strokes and heart attacks. Almost a y after AUS's Adverse Drug Reaction Advisory Committee warned in its newsletter that Vioxx had been linked to heart attack, Merck said that data from the new clinical trial had confirmed the increased risk. Vioxx has been marketed in more than 80 countries including AUS and produced sales of $3.5 bn in 2003 for the company. Chairman of Merck, Raymond Gilmartin, says the company has informed the US Food and Drug Admin (FDA) and regulatory authorities in other countries of its decision. "We believe it would have been possible to continue to market Vioxx with labelling that would incorporate this new data," he said. "However, given the availability of alternative therapies and the questions raised by the date, we concluded that a voluntary withdrawal is the responsible course to take." About 2 mn people worldwide are currently taking Vioxx. The increased risk of heart attack and stroke occurs about 18 m after patient's start taking the drug. $30-bn was wiped off the company's share market value when the withdrawal was announced and its stock price fell by 26%. @James Hardie, union begin asbestos talks James Hardie [now] accepts its moral obligation to make up the massive short-fall. Sydney. Asbestos victims and unions will this morning begin negotiations with James Hardie on how the company can continue to fund compensation for people who contract diseases from products made by former Hardie subsidiaries. A compensation deal is in the hands of the Aussie Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and asbestos disease groups. James Hardie now accepts its moral obligation to make up a massive short-fall. It wants a statutory scheme reducing a $1.5 bn bill to about $800 mn. A rep says the company does not have a rigid position, but it wants costs taken out of the system. Union secretary Greg Combet does not believe a closed scheme can be accepted. "We don't know how many people will contract an asbestos related disease from a Hardie product, we don't know what y that may occur." Both sides says the object is to ensure compensation for asbestos victims, but that the devil will be in the detail. The location of the talks has not been disclosed by negotiators are expected to make a statement afterwards. @Metals gain on USD sell-off NY/Sydney. The American dollar has been hit by concerted selling overnight, driving it lower against a range of currencies, including the Aussie dollar, and prompting sharp gains by precious metals. The US currency has been to a 2-m low against the euro, an 11-y low against the Canadian dollar and has lost more than 1% against the Swiss franc. Once the selling was underway, the greenback broke down through key support levels triggering even more selling. The expiry of options provided some of the impetus. The market is unconvinced about further recovery prospects for the US economy despite a stronger than expected Chicago based survey of manufacturing which lifted bond yields. The Aussie dollar has been to a 2-m high against its American counterpart leaping around 1.33 c from yesterday's local close. The peak for the night has been 72.86 US c and a short time ago it was just below that at 72.77. On the cross rates it is 0.5848 euros, 80.01 yen, 40.14 pence and against the NZ dollar it is at 1.072. On the NYSE, the Dow has closed 56 points lower at 10,080. Drug maker Merck & Co has been under pressure after being forced to withdraw its widely sold painkiller, Vioxx, after evidence of an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Its shares have plunged 27% to an eight-y low. However, the high-tech Nasdaq market has managed a small gain. The Nasdaq composite index has added 3 points to 1,897. The UK share market has fallen back. London's FT-100 index has ended the session 17 points lower at 4,571. Yesterday the Aussie market continued its record breaking run. The All Ords rose a further 7.5 points to 3,675. Woolworths shares rose 20 c to $13.62 after its joint venture bid for Aussie Leisure and Hospitality Group was raised in response to a rival bid from US equity fund Newbridge Capital. The gold price has surged to a 5-and-1/2 m high with investors shifting out of the USD into precious metals as higher oil prices prompt concerns about inflation. Gold has been over $US420/oz in NY and a short time ago was being quoted at $US418.40. West Texas crude is trading at about $US49.56/bbl. @Aussie Ambassador warns UN UN (AFP). AUS warned that the UN risked becoming irrelevant if it performed only aid work and did not find a way to cope with internat'l problems such as terrorism. Echoing the words of the US last y before the Iraq war, AUS's UN ambassador John Dauth urged the world body to get serious about reform to handle the world's challenges in the 21st century. "The UN is a vital institution that does great humanitarian work but it must now strengthen its capacity to deal effectively with the problems we now face or risk sliding into irrelevance," Dauth told the UN General Assembly. "AUS has long advocated the need for UN reform," Dauth said, citing calls for change made by For Min Alexander Downer in 2000. "This warning was before Sep 11, before coalition action in Afghanistan and Iraq, and before the terrorist bombings in Bali, Jakarta, Madrid, Istanbul and many other locations," he said. "If the need for reform was pressing then, it is critical now," Dauth said in a speech that closed the annual 2-wk debate of world leaders at UN HQ in NY. UN Sec-Gen Kofi Annan has appointed a high-level panel due to report in Dec with proposals about reforming the UN system, which Annan has warned was threatened by the deep divisions over the Iraq war. The UN chief has also repeatedly spoken out against the concern about terrorism by W nations, saying most people around the world have more pressing issues such as poverty, sanitation and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. AUS is one of Washington's closest allies in the US campaign against terrorism. @UN risks sliding into irrelevance: AUS UN (AFP). AUS warned that the United Nations (UN) risked becoming irrelevant if it performed only aid work and did not find a way to cope with internat'l problems such as terrorism. Echoing the words of the US last y before the Iraq war, AUS's UN ambassador John Dauth urged the world body to get serious about reform to handle the world's challenges in the 21st century. "The UN is a vital institution that does great humanitarian work but it must now strengthen its capacity to deal effectively with the problems we now face or risk sliding into irrelevance," Ambassador Dauth told the UNGA. "Terrorism will not simply fade away. In response we, the internat'l community, can not allow security threats to fester," he said. "AUS has long advocated the need for UN reform," he said, citing calls for change made by For Min Alexander Downer in 2000. "This warning was before Sep 11, before coalition action in Afghanistan and Iraq, and before the terrorist bombings in Bali, Jakarta, Madrid, Istanbul and many other locations," he said. "If the need for reform was pressing then, it is critical now," he said in a speech that closed the annual 2 wk debate of world leaders at UN HQ in NY. UN Sec-Gen Kofi Annan has appointed a high-level panel, due to report in Dec with proposals about reforming the UN system. The UN chief has also repeatedly spoken out against the concern about terrorism by W nations, saying most people around the world have more pressing issues such as poverty, sanitation and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. AUS is one of Washington's closest allies in the US campaign against terrorism. @Aussie PM restates Iraq commitment Canberra. PM John Howard has suggested the prestige of allies in Iraq, particularly the United States, would be harmed if AUS pulled out its troops. Mr Howard has reinforced his commitment to keep Aussie troops in Iraq. He says the situation is worse than he had anticipated. Mr Howard has told S Cross Radio it is not in anyone's interest for AUS to pull out. "It is a cause worth persevering with, it is a cause worth continuing to support, if we pull out, if we cut and run, it will be an enormous blow to the prestige of our allies, particularly the US," he said. "It will be an enormous blow to the authority of the West, it will leave democratic countries including Israel even more vulnerable in the Middle East." @Blair undergoes treatment for heart palpitations London (Reuters). Brit PM Tony Blair will go into hospital for a procedure to correct heart palpitations, but will be fully functioning and back at work next wk, his office said in a statement. The statement said Mr Blair would, if elected, serve a full 3rd term in power but at the end of that term, would not seek to stand for a fourth term as PM. Mr Blair had heart palpitations late last y and suffered a "mild recurrence" in Aug, the statement said. He will stay in hospital overnight, rest over the weekend and be back to work next wk. @Bush, Kerry do battle over Iraq Sen John Kerry and US Pres George W Bush go head-to-head in the 1st presidential debate. Miami (AFP). George W Bush and John Kerry have clashed over Iraq in a televised debate, with the Democrat accusing the Pres of a "colossal error of judgement" and the incumbent lashing out at his rival for dangerous inconsistencies. The 2 candidates in the Nov 2 election used their 90 minute session at the University of Miami to claim they were most capable of keeping the country safe from terrorism after the Sep 11 attacks. They quickly went on the offensive against each other. Sen Kerry, the senator from Massachusetts, said the US had to wage a "smart" war on terror. "And smart means not diverting your attention from the real war on terror in Afghanistan against Osama bin Laden and taking it off to Iraq," he said. "This Pres has made, I regret to say, a colossal error of judgement and judgement is what we look for in the Pres of the US." He said the United States needed strong alliances and repeated his pledge to hold a summit on Iraq if elected. "I'll never give a veto to any country over our security, but I also know how to lead those alliances. This president has left them in tatters across the globe," he said. Mr Bush came back to his familiar complaint that Sen Kerry voted in the Senate to authorise the use of force in Iraq and then opposed the operation. "I don't see how you can lead this country to succeed in Iraq if you say wrong war, wrong time, wrong place. What message does that send our troops? What message does that send our allies?" he said. "What message does that send the Iraqis? No, the way to win this is to be steadfast and resolved and to follow through on the plan that I just outlined." The 2 men also clashed over a timetable for eventually withdrawing the nearly 140,000 US troops from Iraq. Mr Bush said "artificial deadlines" could not be set to bring home US forces and that Iraqi security forces had to be stronger. He said US troops could not return "for the sake of bringing them home". "When our generals on the ground and ambassador [John] Negroponte tells me that Iraq is ready to defend itself from these terrorists, that elections will have been held by then, that there's stability and that they're on their way to a nation that's free. That's when." Sen Kerry said, "I believe those troops deserve better than what they are getting today". "I believe our troops need other allies helping. I'm going to hold that summit. I will bring fresh credibility, a new start, and we will get the job done right." @Union warns customs cuts threaten bag checks Canberra. The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) says it has become very difficult for customs officers to do their job properly since the Sep 11 terrorist attacks because of increased workload and under-staffing. Secretary for the CPSU Evan Hall says there is now a possibility of bags not being checked properly. He also says over 100 jobs were axed recently and the wages simply are not attracting new people into vacant positions. Mr Hall says there will be nationwide protests today by officers but it will not affect people travelling. "The expectations on what customs officers need to achieve have become tougher and they're working in a very threatening situation," he said. "They're working under pressure and the same time their numbers have gone down, the number of passengers and sea vessels have gone up and it's just becoming very hard to do the job properly." @Brit Airways bomb threat a hoax Amsterdam (Reuters). Dutch police have given the "all-clear" after a Brit Airways (BA) flight from Berlin to London was diverted to Amsterdam's Schiphol airport with a Dutch fighter jet escort because of a bomb threat. "It's all over. It was a hoax," Marcel Witteveen, Dutch police cmdr, told reporters at Schiphol airport. The Airbus A319, with 118 passengers and 6 crew on board, was shadowed by 2 F-16 fighters after its pilot requested an unscheduled landing at one of Europe's busiest internat'l airports in the early afternoon. "It was a bomb threat," a Dutch justice ministry rep said. "We have found no signs that it was meant to be a terror act. There is no terror organisation involved." The plane was parked about 1 km from the main terminal buildings while police combed it. Passengers were asked to identify their luggage. The plane was later given the all-clear to return without passengers to London, BA said. The Justice Ministry rep said nothing had been found in the plane or the passengers' hand luggage. They said an unidentified person in Germany made the threat in a call to a German TV station. Dutch and German authorities immediately scrambled the fighters as a precaution. They are still investigating who made the threat. @Pinochet undergoes psychiatric evaluation Santiago (AFP). Former dictator Augo Pinochet underwent psychiatric examination to determine whether he is fit to stand trial for the deaths of opponents to his 1973-1990 regime in Chile. The retired general, 88, was examined for more than 2 hr by 3 psychiatrists and neurologists at his home in the wealthy La Dehesa neighbourhood of Santiago. The doctors were assigned by judge Juan Guzman Tapia, who would like to prosecute Gen Pinochet for his role in Operation Condor, a 1970s conspiracy of S American military dictatorships to eliminate opponents and spirit their bodies to other countries in the group. Although some 3,000 opponents to the regime were killed during Gen Pinochet rule, the former dictator has never faced trial, claiming to suffer a dementia that would not allow him to properly defend himself. Lawyers for Gen Pinochet and for families of the 19 alleged victims agreed on the selection of the 3 psychiatrists. Before the examination and on the judge's order, Gen Pinochet gave a blood sample to assure that he had not been given any medication that could alter the outcome. The doctors gave a series of tests to measure Gen Pinochet's mental abilities and his memory of recent and past events, according to medical sources. They also took note of Gen Pinochet's physical condition, especially diabetes and arthritis, and a heart problem requiring a pacemaker. Chile's Supreme Court backed Gen Pinochet's claim of mental incompetence prior to a 2002 TV interview in Miami, in which the former general appeared lucid and joked with his interviewer. In Aug, the High Court revoked his immunity from prosecution, which had been granted to him as a former head of state, allowing Judge Guzman Tapia to interrogate Gen Pinochet. Gen Pinochet denied any knowledge of Operation Condor. "Neither Condor nor any of that was my problem," he told Judge Guzman Tapia. "No, I do not remember, and it was not my problem," said Gen Pinochet, who has maintained his innocence in the case. "I was the president of the republic and as president of the republic I was informed on nat'l security, not small-time security." "Everyone is a subordinate when one is president of the republic," he said. Judge Guzman Tapia charged him in 2001 in connection with the "Caravan of Death" case," in which a band of officers roamed the country summarily executing suspected opponents shortly after the Sep 1973 coup that propelled Gen Pinochet to power. @Deadly influenza toll may be rising Newcastle, NSW (AAP). Health authorities fear a death in a NSW Hunter Valley nursing home could be linked to a deadly influenza outbreak which killed 10 elderly people in a m. The elderly resident was the 6th person aged between 73 and 90 to die at the unnamed nursing home in the past wk. The residents all suffered respiratory illness before death but Hunter Health has yet to link the cases to an outbreak of influenza A. The deadly flu strain killed 10 residents in Newcastle's Bethel Aged Care Facility this m and spread through 2 other homes in the Hunter Valley region. All 4 homes have been quarantined since Fri, closing their doors to new residents and non-essential visitors. Hunter Health public health physician Dr Craig Dalton said 90 people, including staff, at the 4 facilities had showed signs of the illness. Some medical staff had also been struck down after an increase in hospital admissions from Hunter Valley residents suffering influenza A symptoms. "There is an elevated level of influenza in the community throughout the Hunter," Dr Dalton said. "Frail, aged people, particularly those in residential care facilities, are most at risk of developing serious consequences of influenza." He warned anyone who developed a headache, cough, and muscle and joint pain to visit their GP immediately and avoid visiting elderly people or young children. @Arab network says 10 new hostages seized in Iraq Baghdad (AP). Iraq -- The Arab news network Al-Jazeera showed video Thu of 10 new hostages seized in Iraq by militants. Al-Jazeera said the 10 -- 6 Iraqis, 2 Lebanese and 2 Indonesian women -- were taken by The Islamic Army in Iraq. The group has claimed responsibility for seizing 2 French journalists last m. Brit rules out negotiating with kidnappers in Iraq The video showed 3 of the hostages, who were not identified, and 2 masked gunmen pointing weapons at them. There was no mention of demands by the militants or when or where the hostages were captured. Gen Hussein Ali Kamel, the deputy interior minister in charge of intel, said 2 Lebanese were kidnapped, along with "a group of others that included women." Intel officials were investigating and trying to find them, he said. The network said the 10 were employees of the Jib electricity company. A Lebanese Foreign Min'y official in Beirut, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 2 Lebanese citizens have been kidnapped in Iraq. Later, another official who also refused to be ID-ed said kidnappers in Iraq had released a Lebanese hostage identified as Imad Basila and said he was in good health. It was not immediately clear if he was one of the 2 Lebanese citizens the Foreign Min'y said had been kidnapped. Several Lebanese businessmen and truck drivers have been kidnapped in Iraq in recent ms. All were released unharmed except for one, Hussein Ali Alyan, a 26-yo Lebanese construction worker found shot to death Jun 12. Foreign Min'y officials have said Alyan's kidnappers sought ransom and apparently were not politically motivated. Hundreds of Lebanese, mainly construction workers and industrialists, have gone to Iraq looking for opportunities in postwar reconstruction. The French journalists, Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, disappeared Aug 20 during a trip to the S Iraqi city of Najaff. The Islamic Army in Iraq demanded that France revoke a new law banning Islamic head scarves from state schools. The law went into effect as planned earlier this m. Negotiations for their release are continuing. More than 140 foreigners have been kidnapped in Iraq by a range of groups, some holding them for ransom while others have set political conditions for their release. At least 26 hostages have been killed. 7 hostages, including 2 Italian aid workers, have been released this wk. In Brit, PM Tony Blair ruled out any negotiations to free Brit hostage Kenneth Bigley, who tearfully pleaded for his life in a 2nd video released Wed. In an interview with the Brit Broadcasting Corp, Blair said his govt would do what it could to aid his release. "I am not sitting here saying, 'If they get in contact with us then we are just going to refuse to do anything,'" Blair said. "We will do whatever we can. In fact there is a lot that we are trying to do, which I won't go into. But we are trying to do whatever we possibly can." The engineer was kidnapped 2 wk ago in Baghdad along with 2 American colleagues who have since been beheaded. The militants claiming responsibility for Bigley's abduction have demanded the release of female Iraqi prisoners at American-controlled prisons -- a move US officials ruled out. "We cannot negotiate ... in the sense of negotiating about the payment of ransoms or meeting any political demands," Brit For Sec Jack Straw said. "That's always been the position of the Brit govt and it always will be." Iraq's interim PM Ayad Allawi said it was "repugnant" of the kidnappers to use Bigley as a "political pawn." "The anguish and pain inflicted on his family and friends is indescribable," he told reporters in London. But Allawi also said he was "saddened" by the media's coverage of the kidnapping. "Can we justify showing videos of hostages or groups of armed and hooded men? Is this not exactly the publicity that the terrorists seek?" Allawi said. The Arab news network Al-Jazeera on Wed broadcast video of a sobbing Bigley talking from behind bars of what appeared to be a prison cell. He was dressed in an orange jumpsuit and kneeling on the floor. @Zarqawi group claims Iraq suicide attacks 3 car bombs hit a US military convoy in Baghdad. Baghdad (Reuters). A statement apparently from the Tawhid and Jihad group of Al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi said it was behind 3 suicide attacks on a US military convoy and in Abu Ghraib, W of the Iraqi capital. Insurgents detonated 3 car bombs nr a US military convoy in Baghdad, killing 41 people, 34 of them children rushing to collect sweets from US troops. Hours earlier, a suicide bomber blew up his car nr a US checkpoint at a crowded intersection in Abu Ghraib, killing 2 Iraqi police and a US soldier. About 60 people, including women and children, were wounded. The attacks mentioned in the statement, which appeared in a format often used by the group led by Zarqawi, appeared to refer to those incidents. "3 men from the Martyrs Brigade of the military wing of the Tawhid and Jihad Group carried out 3 attacks, one against the HQ of the Abu Ghraib municipality," it said. A municipal official was meeting US troops at the time, the statement said, adding that 5 American soldiers and a number of Iraqi policemen were killed. "2 other heroes targeted an invading forces' convoy in a successful attack," said the statement. It gave no further details on the convoy attack. Zarqawi's network has claimed responsibility for many of Iraq's bloodiest suicide bombings and the killings of foreigners taken hostage. @US begins offensive in Samarra Samarra (Reuters). US forces have launched a major offensive against insurgents in the N Iraqi city of Samarra, residents reported. Residents in the city, 100 km N of Baghdad, told Reuters that big explosions were shaking the town. They reported heavy air strikes over more than 2 hr. Most residents were sheltering indoors, they said. Officials in Baghdad were not available to comment. CNN's reporter in Iraq, Jane Arraf, in a live broadcast from Samarra, said she was accompanying US forces engaged in the attack, which she described as "an entire brigade-size operation into Samarra to root out insurgents". She said she had been told there were an estimated 2,000 fighters in the rebel stronghold, including 250 foreigners. Ms Arraf said the city had previously been off limits to US forces under an agreement that they would not patrol there. Iraqi cities, including Baghdad, have been rocked by growing violence, including 3 car bombings on that killed 41 people, most of them children. The US military has said that with the help of Iraqi forces it will re-take rebel strongholds such as Samarra, Fallujah, Ramadi and the Baghdad neighbourhoods of Sadr City and Haifa Street by the end of the year so that elections can go ahead in Jan. @Baghdad rocked by multiple attacks Baghdad (AP). Suicide bombers and other attackers, apparently targeting US and Iraqi forces, struck in quick succession in 3 separate areas of the capital on Thu, killing at least 46 people and wounding 208 others, officials say. The attacks came as the Arab news network Al-Jazeera showed footage of 10 new hostages seized in Iraq by militants. Al-Jazeera said the 10 -- 6 Iraqis, 2 Lebanese and 2 Indonesian women -- were taken by The Islamic Army in Iraq. The group has claimed responsibility for seizing 2 French journalists last m. Lebanon confirmed 2 of its citizens had been kidnapped. Multiple explosions rocked a W Baghdad neighbourhood as residents celebrated the opening of a new sewage system Thu afternoon, killing at least 42 people -- most of them children -- and wounding 141, hospital and military officials said. 10 US soldiers were among the wounded. It was the largest known death toll of children in any insurgent attack since the conflict erupted 17 ma. Interior Ministry rep Col Adnan Abdul-Rahman said 2 car bombs and a roadside bomb exploded in swift succession as a US convoy was passing through Baghdad's al-Amel neighbourhood. But a military statement said all the blasts were caused by car bombs. Iraqi Nat'l Guard members were also on the scene at the time of the attack. Witnesses said many of the dead and wounded were attending the opening ceremony. It was not immediately clear whether the attack targeted the US convoy or the ceremony. Earlier, a suicide attacker exploded a car bomb in front of a govt complex on the W outskirts of Baghdad, killing at least one US soldier and 2 Iraqi policemen and wounding 60 people, Iraqi and coalition officials said. The morning attack targeted a compound in the Abu Ghraib area housing the mayor's office, a police station and other buildings, police 1st Lt Ahmed Jawad said. US forces were guarding the complex. A US Bradley fighting vehicle was damaged in the attack, which killed one US soldier and injured 3, said Lt Col Jim Hutton, rep for the US 1st Cavalry Division. At least 2 Iraqi policeman also died in the blast, Hutton said in a statement. Some 60 wounded, including police and civilians, were treated at Abu Ghraib Hospital, said the facility's director, Dr Abbas al-Timimi. Distraught relatives searched the buildings, calling out the names of missing loved ones. Others gathered outside the hospital hoping for news. Smoke and fire could be seen rising from the scene as US forces sealed off the area. @Benigni to make Iraq war comedy Rome (BBC). Oscar winning Italian actor and director Roberto Benigni will make a comedy film about the Iraq war. The film titled La Tigre e la Neve [The Tiger and the Snow] is set in Iraq at the beginning of the US-led invasion in Mar 2003. Benigni will play a poet who is in Iraq and is swept along by events. "What is extraordinary is his vision of the world. This is one person representing all the people in the world," he told the Italian media. The film is due for release in 2005. Benigni has previously criticised the West's role in the Iraq. It is not the 1st time that Benigni's subject matter has caused controversy. His Oscar winning comedy Life is Beautiful in 1998 was criticised for making light of the Holocaust. It won 3 Academy Awards for best actor, best foreign film and best original score. @Deadly clashes escalate in Gaza Sharon has ordered troops to use all means necessary to stop rocket fire from Gaza. Jerusalem (Reuters). 28 Palestinians and 3 Israelis have been killed in Gaza's bloodiest day for more than 2 y, as Israel's army struck back after a rocket attack killed 2 Israeli children in a border town. In the deadliest incident of the spiralling violence, an Israeli tank shell killed 7 Palestinians nr a school in Jabalya, Gaza's largest refugee camp, as Israeli forces thrust deep into the militant stronghold for the 1st time. The army's push came after PM Ariel Sharon ordered troops to use all means necessary to stop rocket fire that has persisted despite raids and given fuel to critics of his plan to relinquish the occupied Gaza Strip. Palestinian witnesses said the dead from the tank shell blast were all teenagers with no involvement in the heavy fighting that raged through the camp. While voicing regret for civilian casualties, a snr Israeli cmdr said a tank fired at armed men after they detonated a bomb that wounded several soldiers, and launched an anti-tank rocket at Israeli forces operating nearby. Earlier gunmen shot and killed 2 Israeli soldiers and a woman out jogging, and Israeli troops raiding N Gaza killed 21 people, including militants and bystanders. Medics said about 150 Palestinians were wounded. A Hamas rocket attack on the S Israeli town of Sderot on Wed killed 2 Israeli children, aged 2 and 4, visiting their grandparents on the eve of the Jewish festival of Sukkot. The latest cycle of bloodshed has sent Mr Sharon scrambling to counter right-wing critics who say his plan to withdraw troops and settlers from occupied Gaza next y has emboldened militants trying to give the impression that Israel is being driven out. It was Israel's deepest thrust into Jabalya's narrow alleys in 4 years of conflict, a move the army had previously avoided for fear that troops and armour would be too vulnerable. Officials said Mr Sharon had approved an offensive called "Days of Reckoning" that would mean continual raids in N Gaza Strip towns and refugee camps for "an extended period." "We are going to clean up the rocket crews," said one. "We are not leave Gaza under the shadow of Qassam rockets." Condemning the 2-day old incursion, Palestinian Pres Yasser Arafat called on world leaders to "immediately intervene to stop the continued massacres." @AUS backs Indonesia's UN bid NY (AFP). AUS came out in favour of Indonesia's bid for a seat on an expanded United Nations Sec Council but did not express support for Germany, a vocal critic of the war in Iraq. Germany has launched a joint campaign with Brazil, India and Japan for permanent seats if agreement can be reached on the politically tricky question of reforming the 15 nation council. AUS's ambassador to the UN John Dauth backed the other 3 but was conspicuously silent on Germany, which bitterly opposed the US-led war that was firmly supported by the Aussies. "AUS has advocated expanding the permanent membership of the Security Council to make it more compatible with geographical realities through the addition of Japan, India, Brazil, an African country and Indonesia," he said. Indonesia asked for a permanent seat, saying it would represent the voice of "moderate Islam" on the UN's top decision making body. The council has had the same 5 permanent members with veto power - Brit, China, France, Russia and the US -- since the UN was established in the wake of World War II. 10 other nations are elected for 2-y terms each. @Fijian-Indian minister resigns amid money abuse claims Nadi (AFP). Fiji's only ethnic Indian cabinet minister resigned following allegations he overspent Govt money during a trip to India last year, local radio reported. Ethnic Affairs Min George Shiu Raj had been under pressure since the auditor general's office claimed he had spent Govt money too freely while taking a delegation to a meeting for overseas Indians in New Delhi. The minister told reporters he had voluntarily resigned after meeting with PM Laisenia Qarase. "I have accepted his resignation but I feel sorry for him because he was one of the most effective ministers," Mr Qarase said. Fiji has a population of 845,000 people, 51% of them indigenous Melanesian or Polynesian and 42% ethnic Indians. The country's last Indian-led govt, that of PM Mahendra Chaudhry only lasted a y before being overthrown in a coup in 2000. @Nauruan Pres declares state of emergency Nauru. The Pres of Nauru has declared a state of emergency, dissolved Parliament and called a snap election. It is less than a year-and-a-half since the last election on Nauru, but there has been 3 changes of govt since then. Pres Ludwig Scotty decided to dissolve the Parliament in an attempt to break the latest deadlock brought about by the suspension of Health Min Dr Kieren Keke for holding dual citizenship of Nauru and AUS. Nauru's chief justice gave an opinion earlier this wk that Dr Keke remains a member of Parliament but the Speaker, Russell Kun, has refused to let Dr Keke take his seat until the Parliament votes on rescinding his suspension. With the numbers locked up 8 all, the Govt could not win that vote nor pass its reformist budget by the budget deadline the end of Sep. The state of emergency will allow the Govt to continue operating while the election is held. @Goods and services prices rise Melbourne (AAP). The price of Aussie consumer goods and services rose modestly in Sep on the back of increases in the cost of rents, house purchases and holiday travel. TD Securities/MEL Institute Experimental Monthly Inflation Gauge rose by 0.2% in Sep, following a 0.3% increase in Aug, to be 2.1% higher than a y earlier. Offsetting the increases in rents, house purchases and holiday travel was falls in the cost of automotive fuel and health and medical services. Excluding volatile items such as automotive fuel and fruit and vegetables, the core inflation measure rose by 0.3% in Sep to be 1.2% higher than a y earlier. TD Securities chief strategist Stephen Koukoulas said inflation in AUS was low and stable and while it remained the case, the Reserve Bank of AUS (RBA) would likely leave interest rates unchanged. The RBA meets on Tue with any change to the 5.25% cash rate announced on Wed. Mr Koukoulas said at this stage there was no discernable change in inflation momentum. "If inflation does start to move away from current levels, in either direction, the TDMI Inflation Gauge is likely to detect it ahead of the official CPI data which is published only quarterly and with a considerable lag," he said. University of MEL economist Don Harding said core inflation was running at about one full percentage point below the headline rate, and it was unlikely that a serious case could be made for tightening monetary policy, until the core rate of inflation showed signs of picking up its pace. "Prices rose in 23 expenditure classes in Sep, fell in 14 and remained stable in 52, giving a net balance of 9 price rises," Dr Harding said. "The main message emerging from these figures continues to be that prices are stable in many more expenditure classes than was the case one ya and, where price rises do occur, they have been small in magnitude relative to the price falls. "All of this is consistent with inflation being low and stable." Dr Harding said there was nothing in this m's inflation gauge to cause us to change the prediction we made last m that the ABS measure of the Sep Quarter inflation rate will be a little less than 0.3%. @Manufacturing sector maintains growth Canberra. The latest industry reading on the state of the manufacturing industry indicates continued moderate growth. The Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) compiled by the Aussie Industry Group (AiG) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has edged up half a point in Sep to 52.2, still above the 50 level which denotes growth. The AiG says the sector has maintained its growth momentum despite competitive pressures and rising input costs. Exports have failed to lift in the m with 20% of exporters reporting a decline and only 18% reporting an improvement. @Sweden returns Aboriginal remains Stockholm (AFP). Sweden has returned to Aboriginal elders the remains of 15 of their ancestors taken from AUS for scientific research a century ago. "There is much relief with regard to the whole repatriation process, but there'll be more to come on AUS's shores," a spokesperson for the Aboriginal delegates, Joey Chatfield, told AFP. "There'll be stronger emotions in AUS. There'll be tears in our eyes there. We're still a long way from home here," he said. The 13 skulls and skeletal remains of 2 other Aborigines will be put on a flight to CBR. Sweden is the 1st continental European nation to return Aboriginal remains, which explorers and scientists stole by the 100s in the 19th and early 20th centuries for supposed studies into racial evolution. The 15 remains in Sweden, taken primarily from the Kimberley region of Western AUS, were handed back to an 11 member Aboriginal delegation from W AUS, Qld, NSW and Vic. Before they were handed over, a smoking ceremony was held outside on the lawn of the museum to release their spirits, where a ring of stones now marks the holy site. "The smoking process needed to take place. It's part of our spiritual burial laws in this particular situation, because the remains have been put in foreign hands. They needed to undergo the cleansing process," said Mr Chatfield. The 15 remains were taken from their graves, against the will of their families, and brought to Sweden by scientists Yngve Laurell and Eric Mjoeberg, who conducted expeditions between 1910 and 1913. They wanted to study the remains due to their belief that Aboriginals were living examples of stone age men, according to Swedish anthropologist Claes Hellgren. A book he published a y ago about the expeditions started the ball rolling for the repatriations. Lotta Mjoeberg, a relative of Eric Mjoeberg who attended the ceremony, told AFP that she grew up with a feeling that she could help right the wrongs that were done long before she was born. "I have met many of these Aboriginals in their homes, and I have apologised for what was done," she said. "It is fantastic that I could make a small contribution, offer a kind of healing. I think many people are now going to find peace in their graves," she said. "Perhaps even Eric." Aussie officials hailed Sweden's cooperation in returning the remains. "There has been excellent cooperation between all the parties involved in the repatriation, from the govts, museums and communities," said AUS's ambassador to Stockholm Richard Rowe. @Indigenous health funding needs increase: AMA Darwin. The Aussie Medical Association (AMA) has urged the major political parties to put more money into Indigenous health, even though it may not see an increase in votes. The call comes after the release of a major study into mortality rates in the N Territory over a 40 y period. It found while the overall rate had fallen, the death rate from chronic diseases such as diabetes had not changed. Robyn Cahill from the AMA's Territory branch says the major parties are only committing about 25% of the money that is needed for Indigenous health and prevention programs. "That's the political reality, the Indigenous community in our country is a small part of our population when you look at the overall population and we all know that when it comes to election promises and electioneering that ultimately votes are what counts," she said. "Unless we can actually make it a voting issue it's often very difficult to get the funding into those areas." @Govt rules out mainland nuke dump Darwin (AAP). The Fed Govt ruled out building a commonwealth nuclear dump on mainland AUS in an attempt to allay political fallout in the coalition's most marginal seat. Fed Environment Min Sen Ian Campbell said the commonwealth would consider only offshore islands for storing its nuclear waste, ruling out the N Territory as a possible dump site. Earlier this wk the Fed Govt dismissed as obsolete a list of 22 mainland Aussie sites drawn up for expert scrutiny. "The commonwealth is not pursuing any options anywhere on the mainland, so we can be quite categorical about that, because the NT is on the mainland," Sen Campbell told Darwin ABC Radio. "I think the reality of this is that there is no one on the mainland who particularly wants a nuclear waste dump in their backyard, that is why we are pursuing the practical option of going to an offshore island." PM John Howard had earlier refused to rule out the possibility of the waste being stored in the NT and elsewhere. Nuclear waste had been heating up as a key election issue in the knife-edge marginal Darwin seat of Solomon, held by the Country-Liberal Party's Dave Tollner by just 88 votes. Mr Tollner created a stir earlier this y when he said the NT would have an obligation to take the nuclear waste if it was determined to be the safest place for it. The NT's Labor Chief Min Clare Martin recently hit the TV airwaves in a series of election advertisements warning about the potential for a dump, and introduced legislation in an attempt to block any fed move to place a dump in the NT. But Sen Campbell accused Labor of attempting to scare voters in its anti-nuclear dump campaign. "They are desperate to try and do everything they can to win a fed election and they are prepared to scare people as a result. "Our policy is to store our waste on an offshore island and its been our policy ever since I have been environment minister over 2 m ago." Ms Martin said the Fed Govt was all over the place on the issue. "With the election less than a wk away the coalition is claiming they've ruled out all mainland sites," she said. "Nothing we have heard from the coalition so far gives us any comfort at all, they are all over the place on nuclear dumping." @Tas seeks offshore nuclear dump assurance Hobart. Tas is seeking assurances from the Fed Govt that none of the State's offshore islands are being considered as sites for a nuclear waste dump. Sen Ian Campbell told N Territorians the Commonwealth was now pursuing what he called the "practical option" of establishing a nat'l nuclear waste repository on an offshore island. His comments have startled Tas's Environment Min Judy Jackson, who fears her fed counterpart may have set his sights on some of the more than 300 islands off Tas. She says in appeasing SA and now the N Territory, the minister has created uncertainty for Tasns, who she says also do not fancy the idea of a nuclear waste dump in their backyard. Ms Jackson has urged Sen Campbell to be more specific about his plans to avoid unnecessary concern. She has accused him of trying to dodge the issue on the mainland during an election campaign. @'Every island' a possible nuclear waste dump Hobart. Fed Environment Min Ian Campbell says any island off the coast of AUS is a possible site for the fed nuclear waste dump. Sen Campbell has announced a remote offshore island will eventually be chosen after a scientific analysis over the next 2 years. He says he will not be ruling out "every island around AUS". Tas's Environment Min Judy Jackson fears the dump will be put on a Tasn island to appease mainland states. Sen Campbell says Ms Jackson is mounting a scare campaign during the fed election. "Well, Judy Jackson is the person who is saying it could be in the Tasn archipelago," he says. "She doesn't know that, no one knows that. "We're just having an independent group of scientific experts to look at all of the 1000s of islands around AUS to see what is the safest and most secure and environmentally sound place to locate it," he said. Sen Campbell will not rule out a Tasn island as the site for the nuclear waste dump. @Howard, Latham tight-lipped on forestry policy Canberra. PM John Howard says the Coalition's intention to end old-growth logging in Tas will involve a "long-term plan" that preserves timber workers jobs. Mr Howard says he is still looking at the issue and that it is "quite hard" to find the balance. He has told S Cross radio that he will be unveiling the plan quite soon. "I'd like it to stop but I'm not prepared to throw jobs away," he said. "I don't think it's fair of people on the mainland to say 'well we'd like old-growth logging to stop, you can lose your job as a consequence of that'. "I will have something to say about it quite soon but it'll be something that will seek to balance preservation with jobs and respect for the Regional Forest Agreement with a long-term plan to eliminate old-growth logging," he said. Opp'n Leader Mark Latham says Labor's policy on Tas's old-growth is also imminent, but Mr Latham will not say whether his party's policy will come after or before the Coalition's. "We'll have a good initiative there for the conservation of the mighty Tasn forests, it's one of the big environmental issues, but in terms of Mr Howard going 1st on the environment, when has he ever had a go?" he said. "I mean, he's really Johnny come lately, he hasn't ratified Kyoto, he hasn't got a plan to save the Murray-Darling, he's not doing anything about the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target, his record on the environment is lousy." @ANU 'short-changed' by Govt: Labor Canberra. The Fed Opp'n says a leaked memo written by the vice-chancellor of the Aussie Nat'l University (ANU) reveals a $23 mn funding shortfall from the Govt. The letter to deans and directors suggests the university was not given its usual index funding of 2.5% for the Institute of Advanced Studies. Labor's science and research spokesperson Kim Carr says the ANU is being punished because the university rejected the Govt's demands on industrial relations. "Quite clearly the ANU is being robbed," he says. "The ANU is being short-changed by a vindictive govt who's in the business of making the university pay because it's been less than compliant with the Govt's dictates." @Beattie calls for media ombudsman over Energex reports Brisbane. Qld Prem Peter Beattie has repeated his call for the appointment of a nat'l media ombudsman. Mr Beattie made the comment during an address to the Bris Writer's Festival. He has been under pressure this wk over his handling of an investigation into the expenses of former Energex chief executive Greg Maddock, who committed suicide about 2 wk ago. Mr Beattie says media reports of the situation have been inaccurate and defamed him but there is little he can do to balance the ledger. "I've got 3 kids, I've got a mortgage, sure I could sue The Aussie," he said. "You think I'm going to win? Yeah, I might win in 4 y time when I'm sort of destitute and broke and I've got to make the dog fend for himself. "What I'm trying to say is this, if there was an ombudsman I could go to the ombudsman and say that is untrue." @Latham brands Abbott a liar over Pell comments Abbott had a momentary blank on ABC TV. Canberra. Fed Labor leader Mark Latham says Health Min Tony Abbott has been caught out not telling the truth. In an interview on ABC TV's Lateline program, Mr Abbott said he could not recall meeting Catholic Archbishop George Pell 10 days ago, but moments later when he was given a day and place of the meeting Mr Abbott admitted a meeting did take place. A few days after the 2 met, Archbishop Pell criticised Labor's policy to redistribute funds from wealthy private schools to needy independent schools. Mr Abbott says the 2 did not discuss Labor's schools plans. Mr Latham does not think Mr Abbott can be trusted. "Well, Tony Abbott's been caught out red handed not telling the truth," he said. "He said he couldn't recall the meeting with the man he then described as the most significant church leader he's ever met. "He met with him 10 days ago and can't remember it, it's another example of dishonesty by the Howard Govt," he said. 4 Catholic and Anglican Archbishops, including Cardinal Pell earlier this wk issued a statement saying Labor's policy to direct funds from private schools to the more needy was regrettable. Mr Abbott says that was not discussed during his meeting. "I may well have been going to confession to Cardinal Pell, I may well have been seeking pastoral counselling," he said. Mr Abbott says it is bizarre to suggest the schools policy was mentioned. @AFP says 500 linked to internet porn Canberra (AAP). More than 500 Aussies could be implicated in child internet porn as a worldwide investigation continues, Aussie Fed Police commissioner Mick Keelty says. Mr Keelty said police across the country had already executed more than 400 search warrants and more were to be executed. More than 200 people had now been charged with over 2,000 offences, he said. Mr Keelty said he was surprised at the extent of the problem. "Paedophilia is now becoming a worrying feature of law enforcement activity because it is so pervasive," he told ABC Radio. "This operation has provided us info in the order of in excess of 500 Aussies accessing the material." Mr Keelty said it all started when US authorities, mainly the US Customs Service, called a meeting at Interpol HQ at Lyons in France in Feb, revealing the internet porn operation working mainly from Belarus in eastern Europe. Info provided to AFP liaison officers included credit card details which enabled individuals to be identified. "It has taken us several m to put together at the High Tech Crime Centre here in CBR this nat'l operation which really has turned out to be the largest nat'l law enforcement operation in our history," he said. "The brief that was taken to Interpol had 95,000 leads worldwide. For us here in AUS -- I don't want to give the precise number -- but it is [in] excess of 500 leads that have been followed through." Mr Keelty said police were now examining 400 computers and other material seized in the raids. "It's almost certain that there will be further arrests," he said. Mr Keelty said the operation involved a small number of websites but the size of the internet suggested the problem was much greater. He said the operation was a warning to anyone involved in this activity that they could be tracked down and caught. Mr Keelty said the operation also highlighted the involvement of Russian organised crime in child internet porn. @More arrests expected, child porn crackdown continues Police arrest a suspect during AUS's biggest child porn bust. Melbourne. Police have indicated 100s face arrest as they continue their investigations in AUS's largest ever crackdown on child pornography. Authorities have so far charged more than 190 people with a total of 2000 offences and seized more than 2 mn pornographic images. Raids in every state and territory began yesterday. Police say the child pornography ring includes teachers, police and a childcare owner and is linked to organised crime groups in Europe. A special agent involved in the investigation in the US, Karl Hutchens, says the investigation there is continuing. "You just don't believe what you are seeing. You cannot believe what is being sold out there, and then I think you get absolutely disgusted by what you see," he said. "You can't believe the numbers, and you can't believe that how much money that these companies are making selling this type of material." Police in W AUS are continuing their investigations after 24 were charged in raids on more than 50 properties across the state. Police say they uncovered about one mn pornographic images of children. Among the accused are a serving police officer, who has since been stood down, and a former electorate officer employed by the Prem's Dept. 2 teachers from St Brigid's Primary School in Middle Swan and Iona Presentation College in Mosman Park have also been charged. The Catholic Education Office says the teachers have been suspended from duties without pay. Many of those charged are expected to appear in court today. * Vicn charges Scott Thompson, the owner of 3 childcare centres in MEL's eastern and N eastern suburbs, was charged with possessing child pornography. His lawyer Mark Yorston says Mr Thompson will defend the charges. He says his client has placed the centres into external Admin. "Mr Thompson voluntarily agreed not to visit the centres and that's been made one of the conditions of bail," he said. "Mr Thompson met with the managers of the 3 centres and instructed them to cooperate fully with the police and the Dept of Human Services." Vicn Assistant Commissioner Simon Overland has told Southern Cross radio there is no evidence to suggest the MEL childcare centres were involved in generating the pornographic images. However, he says the source of those images is being examined. "We need to actually determine whether any of the material that was found has been produced here in Vic and that's obviously a key part of the investigation from here on," he said. Head of the Vicn Police Sex Crimes Squad, Inspector Tony Cecchine says none of the 68 people interviewed during the porn crackdown in Vic was previously known to police. * Tougher laws He says there is a need for a change in regulations governing childcare centres. "Certainly tougher or more stringent controls and registration checks, I believe, are very important in the scenario, in the scheme of things, because, if someone slips through the net or through the cracks it's too late later to cry wolf," he said. The Vicn Opp'n says there should be tougher laws regulating people working with children, but the Govt says stringent checks already exist. Gary Stacey, from the Vicn Private Childcare Association, says current laws are already far-reaching. "The licensee implements the regulations by ensuring all the staff that are involved in child care require a police certificate and this even includes gardeners and handymen, or whatever it may be, who come near a childcare centre or are involved in a child care centre," he said. "All those type of subsidiary staff also need police checks as well." The Govt says it will however consider broadening the range of occupations requiring checks. * Tasn investigation Tas police expect to lay further charges as part of the nationwide swoop. A Hobart man has been charged with possessing a child abuse product and will appear in court this m. 9 homes across the State were raided as part of nat'l Operation Auxin, which resulted from info from overseas authorities. Mike Ashwood from Tas Police says raids across the north, NW and S of the State have resulted in the seizure of 14 computers and associated paraphernalia. "It's emanated from info relating to possession of child pornography but flowing from that we're looking at the manufacture, distribution, any type of networking between persons in relation to it and also the types of persons involved, whether they are in fact themselves exploiting young people," he said. The N Territory Family and Community Services Council says child sex offenders should face the toughest of penalties. 9 people have been arrested and 7 charged in the Territory. The Council's Barry Hansen says children deserve adequate protection. "The community would be one hundred% behind the courts in taking the strongest possible action against child pornography," he said. "It's child abuse and children have a right to better than that, to be protected from that sort of thing." @PM condemns child porn ring Canberra. PM John Howard has expressed his horror at the extent of child pornography uncovered in police raids around AUS this wk. So far a total of 191 people have been arrested with more raids expected. Teachers, a police officer and a doctor are among those facing charges as well as an owner of 3 Vicn childcare centres. Speaking on S Cross Radio, the PM said any crime involving the most vulnerable in our society always touched the heart. "I guess with something like this you are always shocked because you can't imagine how people could be so depraved as to derive pleasure from the exploitation of children," he said. @Child pornography 'sickening': Latham Canberra. The Fed Labor leader Mark Latham says he is sickened by the scale of child pornography revealed after police raids around the nation. More than 190 people, including teachers, a police officer, a doctor and the owner of 3 Vicn childcare centres have been arrested so far. Mr Latham has told Sky News those responsible must be brought to account. "It's absolutely disgusting, I couldn't think of anything sicker than what these people have done and I think both sides of politics, we need to be committed to all the law enforcement and processes to ensure that these rackets are cleaned out and the people go to jail," he said. @Parents keep children at centres despite porn charges Melbourne. Parents at a childcare centre in MEL's E say they have confidence in staff, despite the centre's owner being charged with child pornography offences. Scott Thompson, 42, of Kew owns 3 childcare centres in MEL and is on bail on the condition that he does not visit the centres which are now under the control of an administrator. Mr Thompson was arrested during a major Aussie crackdown, which has so far resulted in 190 arrests for possessing child pornography. Michelle Ross today took her grandson to the Excel Early Learning Centre in Croydon as usual. Her daughter worked at the centre for 2 y and Ms Ross says the children are safe. "You couldn't ask for better staff here, they're just doing the best that they can under the circumstances," she said. Another parent, Chris, said it was still a shocking experience. "The girls here are great with the children," he said. "They've made sure that all the parents are aware of what's going on. "At the end of the day, the thing that disgusts me most of all is when the business is sold he still gets his money," he said. Staff at the centre have been asked not to talk to the media. @More charges laid over child porn ring Canberra. The Aussie Fed Police Commissioner Mick Keelty says more than 200 people have now been charged in the nationwide crackdown on child pornography. Police say the child pornography ring includes teachers, police and a childcare owner and is linked to organised crime groups in Europe. Commissioner Keelty says more than 500 leads have been followed up. "A SYD man is today expected to be the 1st of 28 men from New South Wales to face court over child pornography allegations," he said. Meanwhile 3 Vicn childcare centres have been placed in the hands of an administrator after their owner was charged during the investigations. PM John Howard has congratulated state and fed police for the successful crackdown on child sex crime over the past wk. Speaking on S Cross Radio, the PM expressed his horror at the extent of child pornography uncovered in the raids. Mr Howard also praised the various police forces for mounting an effective and cooperative operation. "I can feel for many of the young police officers, perhaps some of them not so young, who would have found the trauma of looking at these filthy images, the trauma of just trying to get their heads around what is so shocking and revolting," he said. @Vicn police investigate fatal shooting Melbourne. Vicn homicide detectives are investigating the scene of a fatal shooting at a property NE of MEL. Police say a 40-yo man was found at the back of his house at Acheron by a relative. They say the shooting happened at around 7.00 pm, but the reason is not yet known. @Killer dogs destroyed Doomadgee, NW Qld. 3 dogs which killed a teenage boy in NW Qld have been destroyed. A 16-yo boy was attacked by the dogs while taking a shortcut through a relative's backyard in Doomadgee, yesterday morning. He died in hospital later in the day. Primary Industries officers at Doomadgee have killed the dogs they say were bull terrier-kelpie crosses. @No charges in fatal dog attack Doomadgee. The Mount Isa Police say they will not be charging anyone in the NW community of Doomadgee following a fatal dog attack. A 16-yo boy was mauled to death when he took a shortcut through a relative's backyard early yesterday. He died later in the day in hospital. The 3 dogs, described as bull terrier and kelpie crosses, were put down this morning. Police Inspector Ian Clarage says the boy's injuries were extensive. "2 detectives from Mount Isa went up to assist in conducting investigations at Doomadgee and the Dept of Primary Industries staff from Normanton have gone across to assist in relation to the dogs," he said. @Russia close to ratifying Kyoto Protocol Moscow (AP). The Russian Cabinet has approved the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on combating global warming, clearing the way for parliament to vote on the pact, which needs to be ratified by Russia to take effect. The Cabinet has to submit a draft bill on ratification of the protocol to the State Duma, the lower parliament house. The Duma is dominated by the Kremlin-directed United Russia party and approves nearly all bills backed by Pres Vladimir Putin. The Cabinet ruled that all concerned govt ministries and agencies should draft proposals on specific action that needs to be taken to fulfill Russia's obligations under the pact. A govt official said the ratification bill would be submitted to parliament shortly so that the Duma could ratify it before the year's end. Putin in May pledged to speed up approval of the protocol in return for European Union support of Russia's bid to join the WTO. "It's a political decision, it's a forced decision" to ratify Kyoto, Putin's economic adviser Andrei Illarionov, who led Russian opponents of Kyoto, was quoting as telling Cabinet by the Interfax news agency. "It's not the decision we are making with pleasure." The EU has long urged Russia to ratify the pact, which must be joined by no fewer than 55 countries that accounted for at least 55% of global emissions in 1990. That minimum now can be reached only with Russia because the US, China and some other big industrial nations have rejected the treaty. The Kyoto protocol seeks to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which are widely seen as a key factor behind global warming. Illarionov and other Russian foes of the Kyoto protocol have argued that joining the pact would stymie Russia's economic growth and made Putin's goal of doubling gross domestic product in a decade unattainable. Some observers have speculated that Russia was jockeying for more favourable terms when rules are worked out for a mechanism under which countries that come in with emissions levels below the targets can sell credits to nations that still need to reduce emissions. @Kyoto supporters jubilant as Russia backs ratification Russia has moved towards ratifying the Kyoto Protocol. Brussels (AFP). Defenders of the Kyoto Protocol are overjoyed after the Russian cabinet agreed to submit the UN's climate change pact for ratification, a key move towards dispelling the dark clouds over its future. Heading the chorus of delight was the European Union (EU), which had fought a rearguard battle in 2001 to save Kyoto after the accord was ditched by the US. Moscow's approval is a "huge success" in the fight against climate change, European Commission rep Reijo Kemppinen said. "We warmly welcome the decision," he said. "The final confirmation of this act will naturally only come once the [Russian] parliament has formally ratified the Kyoto Protocol. "But we are confident that they will do so in due course, in the coming weeks, given that the govt and the president of Russia enjoy a majority in that house." He added: "If and when the Duma agrees, it means that the Kyoto Protocol will enter into force as we have been predicting for a long time already, against many suspicions and some might say odds." In Bonn, Joke Waller-Hunter, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Kyoto's parent treaty, heaped praise on Russian Pres Vladimir Putin. "Pres Putin's "leadership sends an inspiring signal to the internat'l community," Ms Waller-Hunter said. Russia and Kyoto's other industrialised signatories were bound to benefit economically because of Kyoto, she predicted: "Accelerating the development of the clean technologies that will dominate the global economy of the 21st century will earn them a competitive edge in global markets." French Ecology Min Serge Lepelter said he was "delighted" at the Russian cabinet move. "This decision marks a historic step in the fight against climate change and the greenhouse effect," he said in a press release. * US 'isolated' Greenpeace Internat'l campaigner Steve Sawyer said US Pres George W Bush, whose rejection of Kyoto had brought the agreement close to extinction, was now isolated. "The Bush Admin is out in the cold and the rest of the world can move forward as one to start tackling climate change, the greatest threat to civilisation the world has ever seen," he said. Friends of the Earth Internat'l's Catherine Pearce, told AFP "It's fantastic news. It's great to hear it, and we hope it will not take too long for the Duma to ratify." "It will put pressure on the US and also on AUS, which are refusing to ratify," she said. An opposing note was sounded by Frank Maisano, a Washington lobbyist for the US utilities industry and former rep for US corporations which opposed Kyoto. Russian ratification "is largely symbolic," Mr Maisano said in a newsletter. A decade of Kyoto meetings and negotiations will result in "no meaningful reductions in greenhouse gases," he said, dismissing the treaty as "meaningless, ineffective and toothless." Russia's ratification is vital for transforming Kyoto from a draft 1997 agreement signed in the ancient Japanese city into a working internat'l treaty. Moscow had for y hedged on whether it would approve the pact. The protocol requires industrialised signatories to cut output of 6 "greenhouse" gases by 2008-2012 compared with their 1990 levels. Without the United States, the overall reduction in emissions is likely to be 0.6% if Kyoto is honoured, well below the initial target of 5.2%, according to the US environment group World Resources Institute (WRI). Scientists say that cuts in this range are only cosmetic. By some estimates, a 60% cut across the board is needed in order to avoid the worst impacts of global warming. Negotiations open next y on the post-2012 Kyoto targets, and fast-growing countries like India and China will be under intensifying pressure to join industrialised countries in agreeing to targeted reductions. @Kyoto would hurt Aust industry: PM Russia signs off on the Kyoto Protocol. Canberra. The PM John Howard says he will not change his mind about the Kyoto protocol on greenhouse gas emissions after the Russian cabinet approved a new law ratifying the agreement. The law will be debated in the Russian Parliament but is expected to pass un-hindered. Mr Howard says AUS does intend to meet the emissions targets set by the protocol. He has told S Cross radio that under existing rules AUS would be disadvantaged if it were to sign the climate change treaty. "The difficulty by ratifying, through ratifying under the present conditions, is that countries like China and Brazil and Indonesia would not be subject to the emissions targets we'd be subject to," he said. "Therefore it would be more attractive for industry to invest in those countries rather than AUS and that would take investment and also jobs out of our country." The Fed Labor leader, Mark Latham has told Sky News he can not understand why the PM will not ratify the Kyoto protocol. "AUS under a Labor govt will ratify and we'll set up the carbon trading system as quickly as possible," he said. "We want to be part of the internat'l effort and I can't understand, given the high stakes involved, why Mr Howard is so backward on this big environmental issue." The Fed Opp'n says if AUS does not join the global efforts to tackle climate change the results will be disastrous. Shadow Environment Min Kelvin Thompson says Russia's announcement takes the Kyoto protocol to a new level. "The announcement leaves AUS and the US isolated as the only developed countries which are not prepared to be part of the internat'l effort to tackle climate change," he said. "It means we need to review our position because if we do not ratify the protocol then the Aussie environment, Aussie farmers by way of increased droughts and Aussie business who will be locked out of the clean development mechanism established by the protocol, will all be adversely affected." Mr Thompson says moving to alternative energy can create jobs. "Our actions will generate jobs through the renewable energy industry," he said. "The renewable energy industry means regional jobs through co-generation projects, [they] will benefit the sugar industry in Qld, through wind farm projects, through solar projects, through a range of renewable energy projects there will be jobs in regional AUS as a result of our policies." Greens leader Bob Brown says, by not following Russia's lead and ratifying the Kyoto protocol, AUS is missing out on environmental and business gains. "The whole world is now moving to post-Kyoto and all the business opportunities involved in that, including carbon trading with AUS locked out," he said. "Vladymir Putin is an environmental ogre, I mean he really has a terrible environmental record, but John Howard has just repositioned himself behind Vladymir Putin in terms of global warming." @Opp'n calls on Govt to back Kyoto With Russia's approval, the Kyoto Protocol will come into force. Canberra. The Fed Opp'n says if AUS does not join the global efforts to tackle climate change the results will be disastrous. Shadow Environment Min Kelvin Thompson says Russia's announcement takes the Kyoto protocol to a new level. "The announcement leaves AUS and the US isolated as the only developed countries which are not prepared to be part of the internat'l effort to tackle climate change," he said. "It means we need to review our position because if we do not ratify the protocol then the Aussie environment, Aussie farmers by way of increased droughts and Aussie business who will be locked out of the clean development mechanism established by the protocol, will all be adversely affected." Mr Thompson says moving to alternative energy can create jobs. "Our actions will generate jobs through the renewable energy industry," he said. "The renewable energy industry means regional jobs through co-generation projects, [they] will benefit the sugar industry in Qld, through wind farm projects, through solar projects, through a range of renewable energy projects there will be jobs in regional AUS as a result of our policies." Fed Industries Min Ian Macfarlane says Russia's new law ratifying the Kyoto protocol on green house gas emissions was not unexpected. Mr Macfarlane says large greenhouse gas producers including China and India still have not signed up to the protocol and it is not in AUS's interests to join. "Until there is a protocol which includes all the emitters of the world, all AUS does by considering ratification is to ship our jobs off-shore, to put a choke on our industries and bring about new costs to industry where energy, particularly electricity consumers pay more for electricity," he said. Mr Macfarlane says Russia has passed the law as part of its bid to enter the European Union. He says Russia's participation will do nothing for the level of greenhouse emissions because it will simply trade its carbon credits with nations where emissions are low. The Aussie Conservation Foundation (ACF) says it is delighted with the steps Russia has taken toward ratifying the Kyoto protocol. Executive Director Don Henry hopes AUS will follow suit. "It's absolutely essential that the PM change his tack, support ratification of the Kyoto protocol as it's now on track to become law," he said. "Because that's crucial for the environment, but it'll also be very important for AUS's economy that we're part of the action on this protocol." @Bond's license to kill on hold LA (AFP). Suave super-spy James Bond's next mission has been delayed, as Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) searches for a new actor to play 007, and for a director to oversee the legendary secret agent's 21st screen outing. The announcement comes less than a wk after a deal to sell the MGM studio to a group led by Sony was sealed with pledges that business would continue as usual for the Bond franchise. The latest film in the 42-yo series was due for release in Nov next y. So far the picture has no director, and following Pierce Brosnan's announcement he will retire as 007, no star to play the agent who likes his Martinis shaken, not stirred. Studio officials say producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson are now wrangling over whether to release the new movie in Nov, or in the middle of 2006. They concede that without a director it will be nr impossible to start production on the film next Jan. After 51-yo Irishman Brosnan's announcement that he will retire after 4 Bond films, the hunt is still on for a replacement. Brit stars Ewan McGregor, Clive Owen, Jude Law and Orlando Bloom, and Aussies Eric Bana and Hugh Jackman, have all been tipped, but no actor has yet been offered the prized job. The Bond franchise, created by the late Cubby Broccoli, remains MGM's biggest moneymaker, generating around $US3.8 bn in box office receipts and mn more in revenues from home video and broadcast rights. The collection of existing Bond movies are among the prized items in MGM's coveted library of 4,100 films. {{ 0.30 An Israeli tank-shell has killed 7 Pal in Jabaliya refugee camp, bringing total dead to 20 in the latest Israeli incursion. [Later reports say the army says it fired at a group planting a bomb]. Observers say there are chaotic scenes at the nearby hospital, with ambulances coming and going every few mins. An integral part of the Brit army for 200 y, Nepalese Gurkhas have complained of double standards for almost as lost. Earlier this y, 7 Gurkhas took the Brit govt to court to get the same pay as their Brit counterpart. But the Court generously ruled they could be paid less because their home country had a lower standard of living than Brit. There are now moves to allow Gurkhas to apply to become Brit citizens after they leave the army. It's been a long fight. A group linked with al-Zarqawi has claimed resp for the Baghdad bomb attacks that killed at least 44 and left 200 injured. 6.30 am The Dow has closed down 56, weighed down by Merck. The Nasdaq added 3 pts. The AUD is trading at 72.77 US c -- up more than 1 c since last night's late local close. The Aussie is reacting to the falling greenback which -- in turn -- comes as part of the end of Q balancing act. Gold is up 1.70 at $US420.20/oz. Oil closed up .13 at $US49.64/bbl. The AFP says it's set to make many more arrests over a global Internet child porn ring. Parents at a MEL child-care centre have withdrawn their children after they discovered the owner was one of those arrested. Police say they have no reason to believe any images were made at the centre [!!??]. More than 150 men have been arrested in AUS and dozens of computers seized. 7 children have been removed from homes where they were believed to be at risk. The swoop came on advice from US authorities who had been monitoring operations of E Europe kiddie porn sites. 2 NSW officers may also be charged. Police officials say the officers have "no future in the police force'. [Later reports say 1 34 yo officer has been charged]. Merck has withdrawn Vioxx from sale world-wide. The anti-arthritis drug became a concern over side-effects. Research showed it increased the possibility of heart attack and stroke. Sales were $2.5 bn last y. $30 bn was wiped off the company after the announcement. In NY, Merck's shares fell 26%. 2 mn patients world-wide are taking the drug. The report says the effect starts 18 m after first taking the drug. It may double the chance of heart attack or stroke, says the study. Vioxx has been approved for sale after just 1 y of research. It was intro'd in 1999. 300,000 Aussies have been warned. The first of 3 scheduled US presid'l debates is to go ahead in Miami tonight. Health Min Tony Abbott has denied reports he influenced 4 conservative archbishops to join the govt's election campaign. At first he denied he had met with SYD Arch Pell. When reporters indicated they had solid evidence of such a meeting, the Health Min suddenly remembered who they were talking about. Sweden has handed over aboriginal remains. Indigenous groups have been campaigning for ys to have them returned. The museum in Stockholm says it's no longer interested in displaying human remains. The bones were originally removed from AUS by a collector who said they were kangaroo bones. A new study shows more Aussie women are being diagnosed with breast cancer. A flu outbreak has now claimed 16 elderly lives in the NSW Hunter Valley. New regs have come into force at US ports. Visitors from 27 visa waiver nations must now must undergo fingerprinting. 2 finger scans must be taken and visitors must have photos taken before they can clear immigration. Those falling under the new provisions incl Brit, France, Germany, Japan and Aussie nationals. A 16 yo boy has died in N Qld o'night after he was mauled to death by his uncle's 3 dogs. One of the animals was a pit bull. 7 am In Tokyo, a car has rammed into the service entrance of the Parliament building before bursting into flames. A man then got out. He said it was in protest over the NK abductee issue. The incident happened just a few 100 m from the PM's official residence. The US military has released 180 prisoners from Abu Ghraib prison. Authorities have cleared a BA jet in Amsterdam after am emergency landing following a bomb threat. PM Blair is to undergo surgery for a heart problem. He will go into hospital tomorrow. It's reportedly minor and the PM will be back at work next wk. Elsewhere, observers have been surprised by Mr Blair's comments at the Brighton conf that he would serve a full third term, but would doesn't intend to continue after that. Most say they doubt Blair will last another 5 y, and will be forced out by his party or become a lame duck PM. In worsening violence in Gaza, up to 27 Pal are dead in skirmishes o'night. 3 Israelis have also died in clashes. World music sales have fallen for a 2nd y in a row. The big companies are congratulating themselves DVD sales are on the rise. Talks between AUS and Timor over the Timor Gap oil field dispute have broken up, with both sides cagey over further talks. While both agree there will be more discussions, there has been no date set. Both say they will happen after the AUS election. 3.30 pm The Israeli Cabinet has OK-ed a major offensive to stop rocket attacks. The offensive may involve re-occupying parts of the Gaza Strip. More than 1,000 well-wishers have lined Bris streets to welcome home 160 troops from Iraq. They've been there since last y, doing air traffic control and handling security Baghdad airport. Sen Hill reminded the crowd other soldiers were still there. The Speaker of Nauru's Parl says he's been ordered by police to vacate his office. The Pres has dissolved Parl after a deadlock, and declared a state of emergency on TV. He blamed the speaker after he evicted the Health Min and cost the govt majority in the Parl which then failed to pass the Budget. The minerals ind'y has congratulated the Howard govt for continuing to resist signing up to Kyoto. Mr Howard and other Mins have renewed their opposition to Kyoto, saying Russia's decision to ratify will not change their position. 3.45 pm The AUD is trading at 72.61 US c. The All Ords is down 9 pts at 3,666, with 12 mins to trade. Gold is at $US419/oz -- at 6 m highs. In Japan, the Nikkei is up 160 pts. There's been flash flooding in SYD, with strong winds and heavy rain. Extreme conditions caused Manly and Paramatta ferries to be cancelled. The SES is responding to 100s of calls. There are severe thunderstorm warnings for S Qld. The storm front there is moving E at 70 kph. There are warnings of "large hail" for the GC and Bris between now and 5 pm local. Officials are warning of 130 kph winds. The Coal'n has fought back for the grey vote, with PM John Howard unveiled new measures incl a payment of $200 pa to self-funded retirees, and $200 pa for pensioners. The new payments would "meet bills at uncomfortable stages", said the PM. Mr Latham says it's a knee-jerk to Medicare Gold. We've been setting the agenda, Mr Latham told reporters, and that's why snr Aussies had now been put on the agenda by the govt. Pres Bush and Sen John Kerry have clashed on Iraq in the first of their 3 debates. A polished Kerry accused Bush of a "colossal mistake". The Sen said if he was elected Pres he would avoid mistakes on Iraq. Bush said he was a strong leader, with experience, and called on Americans to vote for him. Although security and Iraq were Bush's strong suits, he was at times on the defensive. He called on Kerry not to send mixed signals to US troops. 100s of US troops have mounted an attack on Samarra. The US military says the campaign will destroy the insurgency and re-take control of the city. Residential building is down in AUS. Building approvals were down to their lowest level in 3 y last m. The fall has been much sharper than expected. Numbers were down 5.9%, seasonally adjusted. With 13,500 approvals, they were at their lowest since Jul 2001. Private detached dwellings were down .8% -- sliding for their 11th consecutive m. Medium and high dens housing was down 18% in the latest m. 6.30 pm Scores of insurgents have been killed, N of Baghdad, say the US military. The cas come amid an on-going crack-down by US and Iraqi forces. Dozens of police stns have been seized from insurgents in major operations to the W and N of the Iraqi capital. The US has launched campaigns in Ramadi -- to the W -- where 3 people have been killed. Witnesses say children are among the cas there. The heaviest fighting is to the N, in Samarra. The US military says it's killed 100 insurgents there. In Baghdad, there's fighting in Sadr City. Residents say 2 people have been killed. Elsewhere, 10 more hostages have been seized, incl 6 Iraqis, and 2 Indon women. The Islamic Army in Iraq is claiming responsibility. So far, there are no demands. 3 police have been shot dead in Haiti during protests calling for the return of former Pres Aristide. 7.30 pm US officials investigating kiddie porn say they have a list of 95,000 offenders from the 1 major case used to tip off Aussie police. But you have to priorities, said a rep. Only those offenders with immediate access to children have been targeted so far. In AUS, police say there are 700 teachers, childcare operators, police, doctors and clergy that have used a network of 50 E European kiddie porn web sites. They were tracked down by their credit card details. 8.30 pm Reports are coming in of a blast in a Pak mosque. At least 10 people are believed to have been killed. A 46 yo man who'd been arrested in connection with an AUS-wide porn ring has reportedly committed suicide. 11 pm 15 people have been killed in a Shi'ite mosque blast in Punjab prov, Pak. The attack occurred 100 km E of Lahore at 1 pm local time, when a Fri congregation was being held. Reports are conflicting. Police are not able to confirm the cas figures. There was also an impromptu and violence protest after the bombing. About 40 wounded are being treated in a local hospital. In London, the FTSE is up 1.4%. }} ---------------------------------------- Sat, 02 Oct 2004. HEADLINES: Oil prices hold above $US50 G7 urges producers to boost oil supplies Iraq death toll worse than expected: Aussie PM Guantanamo Bay detainee alleges abuse, torture Guantanamo detainee alleges torture Some 150 Foreigners Taken Hostage in Iraq Powell regrets Iraq weapons claim for war Labour opposes quick military withdrawal from Iraq Freed Italian Hostage Says Iraq Rebels 'Justified' 2 killed, 4 injured in Gaza camp strike 4 arrested over multiple stabbing 4 child porn suspects commit suicide Al Qaeda tape urges Muslims to hit US allies Anglican synod to address child abuse Aussie PM won't follow Blair's full-term vow Beazley fears for seat after Greens preference call Bid to free French journalists founders Bomb kills at least 16 at mosque Charity urges action on poverty over marginal seats Child porn suspects commit suicide Coalition would win Eden-Monaro: poll Democrats call for child abuse royal commission Democrats launch Senate bid Former school chaplain remanded on child sex charges Fox apologises over fake Kerry quotes Fashion photographer Avedon dies Hamas militant killed in Gaza raid Heart in order, Blair eyes 3rd term Indefinite detention ruling under fire Israel expands Gaza strike, kills 6 Palestinians Israel urged to avoid civilian deaths in Gaza Judiciary must improve public image: Chief Justice Labor pledges 20,000 new uni places Libs tipped to hold Parramatta: poll Microsoft confident as EU appeal hearing ends Mount St Helens erupts Offensive in Samarra leaves 110 dead Offshore dump safest nuclear waste option: Sen PeopleSoft shake-up pleases Wall Street Phallic political artwork raises eyebrows Punters back Coalition as poll looms Qantas denies secret cabin crew training Rural doctors seek Indigenous health commitments Serbian court receives 1st war crimes case Shoppers welcome Howard's policies Suicide bomber kills at least 30 in Pakistani mosque Terror, crime boosts business Third Pitcairn sex trial begins Tighter porn laws under consideration: Govt UK hostage's brother claims home raided UN condemns Pakistan mosque bombing US confident Al Qaeda threat tape authentic US construction spending surges US destroyer deployed nr N Korea US to investigate Guantanamo torture claims US volcano blows off steam @G7 urges producers to boost oil supplies Washington (AP). Declaring that high oil prices were a threat to the global economy, the world's industrialised countries urged producers to provide price relief by boosting supplies. The Group of 7 countries -- the US, Japan, Germany, France, Brit, Italy and Canada -- also resolved on Fri to agree on providing battered Iraq with relief from its massive debt burden while also working on a deal to increase debt relief for the world's poorest countries. The joint statement issued by finance ministers and central bank presidents of the G7 countries also repeated the officials' desire to see all nations move to flexible currency systems. That was an appeal to China to drop its current system, which American manufacturers contend contributes to huge trade deficits and the loss of US factory jobs. China met with finance officials, the 1st time the country's officials have sat in on a G7 event. It could signal the beginning of a process in which the world's most populous country would be admitted to the group or at least the expanded Group of Eight, which includes Russia. The statement on currency flexibility represented a victory for the Bush Admin, which is trying to use internat'l pressure to bolster its campaign to get China to halt its practice of pegging its currency to the USD. Treasury Secretary John Snow, who served as host for the finance discussions along with Fed Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, hailed China's presence at the dinner as an "historic step" for the G7 and said that the issue of China's currency system came up in the talks. "I underscored that I would like to see China move more quickly to scrap its current fixed-rate currency system," Snow told reporters after the gathering. US manufacturers contend China's currency system had undervalued the yuan by as much as 40%, giving Chinese companies a big competitive price advantage over US companies. Snow, who has been pressing China for more than a year to allow the value of its currency to be set by financial markets, also won a pledge from the Chinese to work harder to move toward a flexible exchange rate system in a statement issued after a high-level meeting of US and Chinese policy-makers. Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry has accused Pres George W Bush of not being tough enough on China and not doing enough to protect American manufacturers, who have shed nearly 3 mn jobs in the past 4 y. The Admin said its diplomatic efforts to lobby China to change its currency policy were beginning to show results. On a day when oil prices closed at a record high $50.12/bbl, the G7 said "oil prices remain high and are a risk." To deal with the situation, the G7 financial officials urged oil-producing countries to "provide adequate supplies to ensure that prices moderate." The G7 said it also was important for oil-consuming nations to increase energy efficiency, and the Internat'l Energy Admin should accelerate efforts to provide better quality of data on oil resources and production. "Our working assumption is prices will decrease, but if they don't, this will have an impact that won't be good at all," said Jean-Claude Trichet, the head of the European Central Bank. Despite high oil prices, the global economy is expected to grow by 5% this y, its fastest pace in 3 decades, according to a projection by the IMF. The IMF trimmed its global growth forecast for 2005 because of the high oil prices. @US construction spending surges Washington (AP). Construction spending in the US surged in Aug to the highest level on record, while manufacturing grew at a slower pace in Sep, offering mixed signals about the economy's strength. The Commerce Dept reported the value of buildings put in place clocked in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $US1.02 trillion [$A1.4 trillion], a record high. That represented a 0.8% increase in Aug from Jul's level. The vigour exhibited in construction in Aug partly reflected a strong showing in residential projects by private builders, which hit a record high. The 0.8% advance was twice as big as the 0.4% increase the economists were forecasting. In more encouraging news, Jul's performance turned out to be even stronger than previously estimated. Revised figures showed that construction spending jumped by 1.1% in Jul from the prev m. "This was an extremely strong and encouraging report," said Kenneth Simonson, chief economist at Associated General Contractors of America. Separately, the Institute for Supply Management reported that its manufacturing index registered 58.5 in Sep, down from 59 in the previous month. An ISM reading of 50 or above means that the manufacturing sector is expanding, while a figure below 50 suggests activity is shrinking. The latest reading was slightly higher than the 58.3 expected by economists. Steve Stanley, chief economist at RBS Greenwich Capital, said the factory sector is settling "into a healthy pace of advance after exploding out of weakness late last y and early this y." Even though the reports offered some mixed signals, analysts said they still reinforced the view of US Fed Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan and his colleagues that the economy has regained some traction after hitting a soft patch in the late spring and early summer. Citing signs of some economic improvements, the Fed last m boosted short-term interest rates for a 3rd time this y. That pushed up a key rate to 1.75%, still low by historical standards. The Fed wants to make sure that inflation doesn't become a problem for the economy. The health of the economy and the availability of jobs are frequent sparring issues on the presidential campaign trail. Pres George W Bush says his tax cuts have helped the economy rebound and have spurred job creation. His Democratic opponent, John Kerry, says the tax cuts have benefited mainly the wealthy, squeezed the middle class and plunged the govt's balance sheets deeper into red ink. Although growth in the nation's payrolls picked up in Aug, the economy is still down 913,000 jobs since Bush took office in Jan 2001. The housing market has been a key contributor to economic growth. Home sales are expected to hit record highs this y, aided by relatively low mortgage rates. That has kept home building brisk. In Aug, residential projects by private builders rose by 1.7% from the previous month to a record high of $US550.6 bn ($A760 bn), on an annualised basis. Commercial construction by private builders increased 0.8% in Aug to an annual rate of $US227 bn ($A313 bn), the highest level since Jun 2002. That's encouraging news for the commercial sector which has been hard hit by the 2001 recession and has struggled to get back on solid footing. Govt spending on big public works projects, meanwhile, dropped by 1% in Aug from the previous m to an annual rate of $US237.6 bn ($A327 bn). The weakness in part reflected cuts in spending on schools and highways and streets. @Oil prices hold above $US50 Oil has risen by more than 50% this y. NY (Reuters). Oil prices ended above the $US50/bbl mark amid concern over possible conflict in Nigeria's oil-producing delta region, where a 2-day truce between rebel militia and govt forces is holding. US light crude settled at $US50.12/bbl, up 48 c on the day. It is the 1st time the benchmark contract has closed above $US50 in its 21 y of trade on the NY Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX). It hit an all-time peak of $US50.47 earlier this wk in after-hours trading. London Brent crude was 27 c up, at $US46.65/bbl. Nigeria's Govt has called off gunships and helicopters sent to attack the rebel militia, salvaging talks and averting a threatened rebel offensive. Earlier, the rebels had accused Nigerian Pres Olusegun Obasanjo's Govt of violating a 2-day cease-fire. They had threatened to blow up a critical natural gas plant if attacked. The rebel militia had told oil companies to shut down unless the Govt began talks on autonomy and revenue for the impoverished region, home to most of Nigeria's 2.3 mn bpd oil output. So far only a small amount of production has been affected by the fighting, but companies fear a repeat of last y's uprising in the delta, which temporarily shut 40% of Nigeria's output. Prices hit record highs earlier this wk on fears that disruption to Nigerian supply could inflict further strain on world supplies already struggling to meet the fastest demand growth in 24 y. Prices eased a little on Wed after the US Govt reported a surprise increase in crude stocks. The impact was blunted by a fall in refined product stocks ahead of winter after refinery operations were disrupted by Hurricane Ivan. @PeopleSoft shake-up pleases Wall Street NY. Wall Street has rallied on mostly upbeat economic news, with the technology sector lifted by a shake-up at PeopleSoft that boosted expectations for a high-profile merger. Several bullish car sales reports, notably from the world's number one automaker, General Motors, also supported the gains, as the market shrugged off a spike in oil prices. The Dow jumped 112 points, or 1.1%, to 10,192. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite leapt 45 points, or 2.4%, to 1,942 at the closing bell. PeopleSoft closed up $US2.98, or 15%, at $US22.83 and Oracle's stock rose 62 cents, or 5.5%, to $US11.90. GM closed up 66 cents, or 1.6%, at $US43.14. European stock markets also spiked higher, buoyed by Wall Street's solid opening. The London FT 100 index rose 1.9% to finish at 4,659, its highest level in more than 2 y, as a positive outlook from home loans provider N Rock lifted banking stocks. Northern Rock jumped 3.5% to 735 pence after the Brit home loans provider forecast full-y profits at least in-line with consensus. The positive outlook lifted sector peers, with HBOS gaining 2.5 per cent to 765 pence and Barclays 2.6% higher at 544 pence. The Frankfurt Dax jumped 2.6% to 3,994 and the Paris Cac 40 index gained 2.5% to 3,640. The DJ Euro Stoxx 50 index of leading eurozone shares advanced 2.6 per cent to 2,796 points. Earlier in Asia, Tokyo's Nikkei-225 index closed 1.5% higher at 10,985 points after the key Tankan survey showed continued improvement in business sentiment in the Sep quarter. The Aussie market yesterday ended its record breaking run after two days testing new territory. The All Ords shed 5.7 points to 3,669. At 8.15 am the Aussie dollar was trading at 72.56 US cents. On the cross-rates, it was buying 80.18 yen, 58.45 euro c and 40.43 pence sterling. @Microsoft confident as EU appeal hearing ends Brussels (AFP). US software giant Microsoft says that it is confident that it would succeed in an appeal against a European Union (EU) ruling that it had abused its market dominance. "We go forward with all the confidence that we had when we arrived and we go forward with the conviction that we brought with us that there must be a better way to address these issues," Brad Smith, Microsoft's chief lawyer, said. A 2-day hearing has ended and court president Bo Vesterdorf has said he will rule on a possible suspension of the measures "as soon as possible." The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, ruled in Mar that the company had to offer a version of its operating system Windows without its Media Player software, which offers access to audio and video content. The Commission also required Microsoft to provide competitors with the info they needed to enable their products to communicate with Windows. Brussels also fined Microsoft nearly half a bn euros. The money has been paid into an escrow account, meaning it is held in trust and neither Microsoft nor the Commission has access while the appeal is pending. The company insists that nobody would want to buy its Windows operating system without Media Player. The software titan claims that users do not want a stripped-down version of its all-conquering system. Microsoft is appealing against both the judgement and, in this case, against the steps it has been ordered by the Commission to take, until a decision is reached on the basic ruling. Mr Smith says the measures would mean "bns of euros of costs on European consumers and software developers". "The benefit, if there is any at all, will be reaped by a single American company," he claimed in a reference to RealNetworks, Microsoft's competitor in the audio and video field. Microsoft has dubbed the version of Windows without Media Player "A6" since it is the result of article 6 of the EU's decision. Company lawyer Jean-Francois Bellis told the Luxembourg court: "There is no rationale that end-users would take A6." "This is the 1st time the commission challenged the right of how a dominant company designs its own product," he said. "This would not just be new law, it would be bad law." Microsoft's rivals are fiercely opposed to any suspension of the measures ordered against it. They argue that such a ruling would open the way for Microsoft to extend its dominance further. @Powell regrets Iraq weapons claim for war Atlanta. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Fri he regrets the Bush Admin claimed that Iraq had stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction in its argument for war, but he believes the world is better off without Saddam Hussein. Following a speech to the Atlanta Press Club, Powell defended the bulk of his presentation to the UN in Feb 2003 in which he made the case for war in Iraq. @Terror, crime boosts business Vienna (AP). In Vienna's old stock exchange building, the ornate chandeliers and the pianist playing a Schubert sonata might have been from another era. But the merchants gathered there were right up to date -- selling surveillance devices, dirty-bomb detectors and boots designed to withstand anti-personnel mines. Rob Clarey hefted one of his anti-mine boots in his right hand. "It works," he said proudly. "We tested it on real legs." The limbs, he said, were provided by the medical faculty of a Vienna university. To his left, Joachim Goetzloff fielded questions about his contribution to making our world safer -- jump suits designed to repel SARS, radioactivity and chemical and biological attack. Just a few steps away, Roman Rost explained the finer points of his dirty-bomb detector -- "sets up quickly, using the existing infrastructure at hand." The companies represented in the ballroom of the venerable building were dealing in a very modern commodity -- the fears sown by the post 9/11 world of terrorism, pandemics, and organised crime. Hundreds of similar trade fairs are held each year, all over the world. But -- like the one in Vienna -- they are by invitation only, with organisers keen to keep the cutting edge technology being displayed out of the wrong hands. 24 exhibitors in Vienna displayed wares ranging from the relatively basic modified hiking boot that is meant to stop anti-personnel mines, to supposedly undetectable fibre-optics microphones and attache-case-sized scanners built to find bugs and other surveillance devices used by the bad guys. Former Brit Royal Marine Maj Paddy Saunders confided to a reporter that he would be staging a similar show in London later this y but refused to say when and where. "I want to keep mine small and discreet," said Saunders, explaining that potential clients -- govt intel services, police forces and army cmdrs -- "expect to come without the wrong person looking over their shoulder." At the Vienna show, Austrian military officers in uniform mingled with snr members of the Interior Ministry's anti-terror unit and a group of Russian speakers who refused to identify themselves. Smatterings of Czech and Croatian could also be heard from the floor. Clarey, who represents the Brit-based Aigis Engineering Solutions, says his company's boot was designed for "combat infantry, combat engineers, special forces." But he said some interest comes from outside those traditional sectors. @Labour opposes quick military withdrawal from Iraq Beijing (Xinhua). Brit PM Tony Blair has avoided a damaging defeat at Labour's annual conference over pulling troops out of Iraq after winning the backing of the big trade unions. A constituency party motion urging Blair to set an early date for the withdrawal of Brit forces was forced to a card vote at the conference in Brighton. 86%s of the Labour party representatives voted to oppose to the motion. Meanwhile, in another voting result, it was agreed by the majority that the Brit troops can stay in Iraq under the UN's authorisation until the end of 2005. It also recognised that Brit troops will remain in Iraq as long as that country's govt wishes them to do so. These voting results are expected to help unite the Labour for improving performance in the next election. @Fox apologises over fake Kerry quotes LA (AP). Fox News apologised for posting phoney quotes from US Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on its website. Carl Cameron, a Fox reporter who covers the Kerry campaign, wrote an item that had looked like a news story but had made-up Kerry quotes, said Paul Schur, a Fox rep. The item was not intended to be posted on the site. "Carl made a stupid mistake which he regrets," Schur said. "And he has been reprimanded for his lapse in judgement. "It was a poor attempt at humour." The phoney item posted early Sat read in part: "Rallying supporters in Tampa Fri Kerry played up his performance in Thu night's debate in which many observers agreed the Massachusetts senator outperformed the president. "'Didn't my nails and cuticles look great? What a good debate!' Kerry said Fri." The item also quoted Kerry as saying of himself and Pres George W Bush: "I'm metrosexual -- he's a cowboy". After withdrawing the item, Fox posted a statement on its website apologising for the error. It said: "The item was based on a reporter's partial script that had been written in jest and should not have been posted or broadcast. We regret the error, which occurred because of fatigue and bad judgement, not malice." Cameron has been a political reporter for Fox News since 1996, Schur said. Asked about the incident, Kerry rep David Wade said: "America would be stronger if only George Bush could admit his mistakes as easily". @Aussie PM won't follow Blair's full-term vow Canberra (AAP). PM John Howard wished his Brit counterpart Tony Blair a speedy recovery from heart surgery, but would not follow his lead in promising to stay a full term if re-elected. Before entering hospital for an operation to treat an irregular heartbeat, the Brit PM vowed that he would serve a full 3rd term, if re-elected next y. "I am simply saying I want to take the party into the election. I think the party wants me to take the party into the election, and if you stand you have to stand for the full term," Mr Blair said. Mr Howard, 65, has repeatedly refused to promise to stay for a full 3 y if he wins the Oct 9 election, raising speculation he will step aside for Treasurer Peter Costello. During a joint press conference with Mr Costello on Fri, Mr Howard deflected questions about whether he would commit to a full 4th term. "I have indicated in the past what my position is on that," Mr Howard said. But he said he and his wife Janette had sent a message of support to Mr Blair wishing him a speedy recovery. "Janette and I have sent a message a few hours ago to Tony Blair," he said. "He is going into hospital over the weekend and I have sent a message on behalf of myself and my wife wishing him well. "He's a man I like and admire a great deal despite the fact that we come from different political sides. "I hope everything goes well and that he will bounce out of hospital and back into his duties as quickly as possible." Mr Howard's campaign, which stalled on Thu as he pored over Labor's Medicare Gold plan for elderly Aussies, was back on track on Fri as he countered Labor's policy with his own $1 bn offer to pensioners and retirees. He and Mr Costello also attacked Labor's tax and families policy, saying the opp'n's refusal to submit all of the policy to Treasury and the Dept of Finance for costings proved there was a $1.9 bn hole in the promise. "I know why they haven't put it in for costing -- because they don't want to know the answer," Mr Costello said. He said he could only submit the policy to Treasury if Opp'n Leader Mark Latham gave him permission. @Heart in order, Blair eyes 3rd term London (AFP). Brit PM Tony Blair is recovering from surgery to correct an irregular heartbeat, a day after revealing that he intends to serve a full 3rd term if re-elected. With his wife Cherie at his side, Mr Blair checked into Hammersmith Hospital in W London for a relatively routine operation to restore his heart rhythm. It required only local anaesthetic and a couple of hours on the operating table. Several hours later, he was back at his official residence, smiling and looking relaxed. He is to rest for the weekend before embarking on an official visit to Ethiopia next wk. "I'm absolutely fine, thanks," he said. "The hospital staff, the nurses, the doctors were brilliant." In a statement, Hammersmith Hospital says Mr Blair was treated for "an irregular heartbeat due to atrial flutter [using] a planned procedure called radio frequency catheter ablation". "The procedure was successful in eliminating the atrial flutter," it said. "We consider the risk of recurrence of the problem to be very low." One of Brit's leading cardiologists, Andrew Grace, says the delicate procedure involves 2 thin wires being inserted into the right atrium via a vein in the leg. It has a high success rate. "It is very safe, effective and well tolerated procedure to cure these sorts of issues," he told BBC radio. Mr Blair has also dropped a political bombshell by declaring that he intends to serve "a full 3rd term", but no more, if his Labour Party wins the next general election. If the election comes next y, that means Mr Blair could be prime minister until as late as 2010. He 1st took the post in 1997. "The decision as to who is the PM of the country is the decision of the Brit people. They're the boss," he told BBC TV. "But if I am elected, I would serve a full 3rd term. "I do not want to serve a 4th term. I don't think the Brit people would want a PM to go on that long, but I think it's sensible to make plain my intention now." @Al Qaeda tape urges Muslims to hit US allies Doha (Reuters). Senior Al Qaeda official Ayman al-Zawahri, in a purported audio tape aired on Fri, urged Muslims to set up an organised resistance to hit the interests of "crusader America" and its allies throughout the world, including AUS. "We should not wait until US, Brit, French, Jewish, S Korean, Hungarian or Polish forces enter Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen and Algeria before we resist," said the voice on the audio tape aired by Al Jazeera TV. "Let us start resisting now. The interests of America, Brit, AUS, France, Poland, Norway, S Korea and Japan are spread everywhere. "They all took part in the invasion of Afghanistan, Iraq or Chechnya or enabled Israel to survive." Al-Zawahri is the right hand man of Saudi-born al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, responsible for the Sep 11, 2001 attacks on the US. The voice sounded similar to previously recorded messages by him, but it was not possible to verify the tape's authenticity. It was also not clear when the tape was made. The man on the tape said Muslim youths should emulate insurgents in Iraq, where US forces are battling an uprising against the US-backed govt, and also in Afghanistan, where guerrillas from the ousted Taliban regime are stepping up violence ahead of presidential elections next m. The tape urged fighters to form a leadership to organise resistance around the Muslim world and told them to carry on even if al Qaeda leaders were killed or arrested. "We can't wait or we will be eaten up country by country...People of knowledge and experience should organise their efforts and form a leadership for the resistance to combat the crusaders," said the man on the tape. He called for attacks against Israel and its ally, the US, "to liberate" the Palestinians who have been waging a 4-year uprising against Israeli occupation. Zawahri and bin Laden, believed to be hiding in the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan, have eluded capture since the Sep 11 attacks. Zawahri last appeared in a video tape broadcast by Al Jazeera last month in which he ridiculed US forces as stuck in a quagmire in Iraq and Afghanistan. The CIA said an analysis of the video determined with "high confidence" that the speaker was the Egyptian-born militant. @US confident Al Qaeda threat tape authentic Ayman al-Zawahri called for attacks on AUS. Washington (AFP/Reuters). A tape in which a voice attributed to snr Al Qaeda official Ayman al-Zawahri urged Muslims to hit the interests of "crusader America" and its allies throughout the world, including AUS, is authentic according to CIA analysts. "Let us start resisting now. The interests of America, Brit, AUS, France, Poland, Norway, S Korea and Japan are spread everywhere," the voice on the tape said. "They all took part in the invasion of Afghanistan, Iraq or Chechnya or enabled Israel to survive." A US official who asked not to be identified said: "There is high confidence that it is him, after a technical analysis". In the message aired by Al-Jazeera TV, Zawahri calls on young Muslims to resist the "crusader campaign". "We should not wait until US, Brit, French, Jewish, S Korean, Hungarian or Polish forces enter Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen and Algeria before we resist," said the voice on the tape. The voice on the tape said Muslim youths should emulate insurgents in Iraq, where US forces are battling an uprising against the US-backed govt, and also in Afghanistan, where fighters from the ousted Taliban regime are stepping up violence ahead of presidential elections next m. The tape urged fighters to form a leadership to organise resistance around the Muslim world and told them to carry on even if al Qaeda leaders were killed or arrested. "We can't wait or we will be eaten up country by country...People of knowledge and experience should organise their efforts and form a leadership for the resistance to combat the crusaders," said the man on the tape. It is not clear when the tape was made. The message also alludes to the mortality of Al Qaeda's leaders. "Young Muslims, here is our message... if we are killed or taken prisoner, continue the path [of resistance] after us," the voice said. "Don't betray God and his Prophet." Zawahiri, the right hand man of Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, was last heard in a videotape broadcast by the Qatar-based news channel on Sep 9. In that recording he forecast a US defeat in Iraq and Afghanistan. @Bomb kills at least 16 at mosque Sialkot, Pak (AP). A suicide attacker detonated a huge bomb that ripped through a Shi'ite Muslim mosque in an eastern Pakistani city during Fri prayers, killing at least 16 people and injuring dozens, officials said. Police said that 100s of people were inside the Zainabia mosque in the centre of Sialkot city at the time of the blast, which severely damaged walls and left body parts scattered inside. No group claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes less than a wk after Pakistan killed a top al-Qaeda suspect in a shootout in S Pakistan -- leading the govt to claim it had broken the back of the terror network in the country. Witnesses reported that a man with a briefcase entered the mosque shortly before the blast and that the briefcase exploded, Sialkot police chief Nisar Ahmed said. "We are almost certain it was a suicide attack," he told The Associated Press. He said bomb disposal experts were examining remains of the briefcase, and their initial assessment was that it contained explosives. He said that at least 16 people were killed. "Dozens of people have been taken to hospital in critical condition, and I think the casualties and death toll will rise," he said. A security official in Islamabad, who requested anonymity, reported 19 deaths and nearly 50 injured. Another official at the police control room in Sialkot, which lies 230 km SE of Islamabad, said the blast left a crater inside the mosque and had caused severe damage to the walls and shattered windows. Witnesses said many of the injured suffered burns. Ahmed said a mob initially prevented police from entering inside. Outraged worshippers vented their anger by pelting police with bricks and stones, and torching at least one motorbike and a car. "I'm trying to handle the situation, I'm holding talks with their elders. I'm telling them we've come to help them," Ahmed said. Murid Hussain, who lives nr the mosque, said there was human flesh scattered inside the mosque and smoke everywhere. One of his relatives was injured in the explosion and just remembered hearing a blast and then waking up in the hospital. Info Min Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told AP in Islamabad that the blast was "the work of enemies of Pakistan and enemies of Islam, and we condemn it". Mosques of Pakistan's Shi'ite minority have often been targeted in sectarian violence with majority Sunni Muslims. Most of Pakistan's 150 mn Muslims live in harmony, but there are radical elements on both sides of the sectarian divide. Pakistan has been a key ally in the US-led war on terrorism since the Sep 11, 2001, attacks on America. That support has triggered an angry backlash by Islamic militants who have launched repeated attacks across Pakistan. The al-Qaeda operative killed last weekend, Amjad Hussain Farooqi, was believed to be behind the kidnapping and beheading in 2002 of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, and 2 failed assassination attempts on Pres Gen Pervez Musharraf that left 17 other people dead in Dec 2003. @Suicide bomber kills at least 30 in Pakistani mosque Sialkot, Pak (Reuters). A suicide bomber has killed at least 30 people in a mosque packed with worshippers and wounded more than 40 during Fri prayers in the eastern Pakistani city of Sialkot, police said. More than 1,000 worshippers from Pakistan's Shiite Muslim minority were in the mosque, police said. "It was a suicide attack," Nisar Ahmed Saroya, district police officer for Sialkot, told Reuters. "It was a massive explosion which was heard several miles around. Geo TV, a private channel, quoted witnesses as saying they saw bodies and wounded strewn across the floor of the mosque. No group has taken responsibility for the blast. However, Sunni Muslim extremists have been blamed for a series of attacks on Shiite mosques in the S port city of Karachi earlier this y. Some of these Sunni groups have forged close links with Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda network and have been used to launch attacks against Pakistani leaders in retaliation for Islamabad's support for the US-led war on terror since the Sep 11, 2001 attacks. Sialkot is some 170 km SE of Islamabad on the border with India. @UN condemns Pakistan mosque bombing Angry: Pakistani activists of Imamia Student Organisation denounce the bomb blast. UN (AFP). UN Sec-Gen Kofi Annan has condemned the bombing of a Shiite Muslim mosque in Pakistan, which has killed at least 30 people and left dozens injured. "The Sec-Gen has learned with dismay and abhorrence the reports of a terrorist attack on a mosque in the town of Sialkot in Pakistan during Fri prayers today, which has killed and injured a large number of worshippers," Mr Annan's rep said in a statement. "No cause or motive can justify attacks on places of worship and innocent civilians. "The Sec-Gen condemns this cowardly act in the strongest terms. "He also calls for calm and restraint in the wake of the dastardly act." Police rep Mohammad Ihsanullah says 100s of worshippers were packed into the Mistri Abdullah Imambargah mosque in the city centre when the huge explosion tore through the building. The attack comes 5 days after Pakistani security forces killed the country's most wanted Sunni Muslim extremist, Al-Qaeda operative Amjad Farooqi, in a shoot-out in the S of the country. @Serbian court receives 1st war crimes case Belgrade (Reuters). The UN war crimes prosecutor has sent the 1st case to the Serbian judiciary in a move that could warm ties between the Hague-based court and Belgrade. The decision has been announced in Belgrade by chief war crimes prosecutor Carla del Ponte. It comes as the W piles pressure on Serbia to extradite war crimes indictees or face isolation. PM Vojislav Kostunica has been reluctant to hand over the wanted Serbs, including 4 police and army generals. He has argued the trials should be held at home. Ms Del Ponte did not say what the transferred case was except that it was "important", adding it is a sign of good cooperation with the country's judiciary. "I must say that with the judicial authorities we have no problem," she said. "I would be happy if I would have no problems next Mon when I come to meet with the political authorities." Belgrade authorities, including pro-western Pres Boris Tadic, have repeatedly said they recognised full cooperation with the tribunal was a must but no indictees have been transferred to The Hague since last y. Serbia's special court was set up last y to show the country was ready to deal with the past. The UN court has already helped it with documents and witnesses for the case of the notorious 1991 Vukovar massacre. Ms Del Ponte insists on having higher-level indictees brought to account in her court. She says the 4 generals had to be tried in The Hague, and she hopes to see them there soon. @UK hostage's brother claims home raided London (Reuters). The brother of a Brit hostage held in Iraq says intel officers have raided his Dutch home, copied data from his computer and forced him to make a 5-page statement about his activities. Paul Bigley, brother of hostage Kenneth Bigley, says the raid happened 2 days ago. However, a rep for the Brit FO says neither Brit nor Dutch officials have carried out such a raid. "There was no raid," she said. "No Brit officials of any kind have raided Paul Bigley's home." Mr Bigley says the raid had made him feel like a criminal and had wasted time in the race to save his brother's life. "I've lost 48 hours of my quest to get Ken free because of all this nonsense," he told Sky TV News. "It was incredible. "I understand that people have to check things out... but there are ways of doing these things." Mr Bigley says Dutch and Brit officers raided his home in the Netherlands, where he runs his own business. "[They copied] my whole computer, which of course they are welcome to copy," he said. Asked about a newspaper report which said the officers forced him to make a 5-page statement detailing his recent activities, he said: "That's true." "It's a very poor show... I felt diabolical," he said. Mr Bigley denies having any direct contact with his brother's kidnappers, who are from the Tawhid and Jihad group led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a key ally of Al Qaeda. He says his only contacts with the group are through Arabic TV channel Al Jazeera. Kenneth Bigley was seized 16 days ago with 2 Americans, both of whom have since been beheaded by their captors. The 62-yo engineer has made 2 videotaped appeals, both broadcast on Al Jazeera, in which he begged PM Tony Blair to meet his kidnappers demands and work to free him. Paul Bigley has been a vocal critic of Brit Govt efforts to secure his brother's release and has accused Mr Blair of lying over the Iraq war. @Guantanamo Bay detainee alleges abuse, torture London. A Brit detainee at Guantanamo Bay has revealed in a letter he was tortured and abused during detention. The accusations come from Moazzam Begg, who was detained in Pakistan more than 2 y ago. Begg's lawyer Gareth Peirce says the letter came via Begg's American lawyer who had been to Guantanamo Bay to see him. Although it came past the usual US military censors, it was the first unclassified communication from him. In the letter, Begg said he was denied natural light and fresh food, and had been held in solitary confinement. He also said he was physically abused, stripped and paraded in front of cameras held by US personnel. Begg said he had partially witnessed the deaths of 2 detainees at the hands of US military personnel. @Guantanamo detainee alleges torture London (AP). A Briton being held at Guantanamo Bay was tortured, held in solitary confinement for almost two y and "partially witnessed" US military interrogators killing 2 detainees at an American base in Afghanistan, he said in a letter released by his lawyers Fri. Moazzam Begg made the claim in an uncensored letter that was released to his legal team by American officials -- something his lawyers described as an "oddity." The Pentagon said Fri that America treats all prisoners humanely. Begg, 36, is one of 4 Britons being held at the US prison camp for terrorist suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 5 other Britons were released earlier this y, and PM Tony Blair has asked US Pres George W Bush to free the remaining Brit detainees. Begg's lawyers said they would file a suit on Mon demanding the US stop what they called the "inhumane treatment" of Begg, and called on the Brit govt to press harder for his release. In Begg's handwritten letter, written in formal, legalistic language and dated Jul 12, 2004, he says he was kidnapped from his home in Pakistan in Jan 2002 and taken to Afghanistan, where he was "degraded and physically abused" during a y at the US military base at Bagram, nr Kabul. "During several interviews, particularly though un-exclusively in Afghanistan, I was subjected to pernicious threats of torture, actual vindictive torture and death threats amongst other coercively employed interrogation techniques," Begg wrote. He said interviews "were conducted in an environment of generated fear resonant with terrifying screams of fellow detainees facing similar methods." "This culminated, in my opinion, with the deaths of 2 fellow detainees at the hands of US military personnel, to which I myself was partially witness," Begg wrote. He did not provide further details, but referred to an earlier letter that his lawyers said they had not seen. The lawyers said they could not reach Begg to ask him about the letter, and they did not clarify what "partially witness" meant. Asked about the allegations, the Pentagon did not comment specifically on Begg's case, but said in a statement that "all interrogation techniques used at Guantanamo are within the standards accepted internat'ly." US policy prohibits torture, and American personnel are required to follow that policy, the statement said. "All detainees are treated humanely and to the extent appropriate and consistent with military necessity in accordance with the principles of the Third Geneva Convention of 1949," it said. The military takes credible allegations of illegal conduct by soldiers seriously and investigates them, the Pentagon said. @US to investigate Guantanamo torture claims Washington (AFP). US Navy secretary Gordon England says that an allegation of torture by a detainee at a military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba will be investigated. Mr England says says he has no knowledge of the allegations made by Moazzam Begg, a Brit nat'l detained in Guantanamo, in a 4-page handwritten letter made public in London by his lawyers. "I don't know of any cases like that," Mr England said. "But, again, if there's an allegation like that, it'll certainly be investigated." Mr Begg, who was captured in Pakistan in Feb 2002, says that he was subjected to "pernicious threats of torture, actual vindictive torture and death threats" during interrogations, particularly in Afghanistan. "In this atmosphere of severe antipathy towards detainees was the compounded use of racially and religiously prejudiced taunts," he said. "This culminated, in my opinion, with the deaths of 2 fellow detainees at the hands of US military personnel, to which I myself was partially witness." 2 Aussies, David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib, are being detained at Guantanamo Bay. @Freed Italian Hostage Says Iraq Rebels 'Justified' Rome (Reuters). An Italian aid worker held hostage last m in Iraq said guerrillas there were right to fight US-led forces and their Iraqi "puppet govt." In comments that were bound to annoy PM Silvio Berlusconi's govt, Simona Torretta also called on Rome to withdraw the troops it sent to Iraq to support its US ally. "I said it before the kidnapping and I repeat it today," she told Corriere della Sera newspaper in an interview published Fri. "You have to distinguish between terrorism and resistance. The guerrilla war is justified, but I am against the kidnapping of civilians." Torretta and her Italian colleague Simona Pari, both of them 29, were freed Tue, 3 wk after being snatched from their Baghdad office. Berlusconi has brushed aside widespread reports that his govt paid a ransom of up to $1 mn. Describing the Admin of Iraqi PM Iyad Allawi as "a puppet govt in the hands of the Americans," Torretta said elections planned for Jan would have no legitimacy: "During my days in detention ... I came to the conclusion it will take decades to put Iraq back on its feet." Torretta, who lived in Iraq before, during and after the US-led invasion, said she wanted to return despite her ordeal -- but would not do so as long as US troops were there: "I've got to wait until the end of the US occupation," she said. She said she did know whether Italy bought her freedom from the kidnappers: "If a ransom was paid then I am very sorry. But I know nothing about it ... I believe that [the kidnappers] were a very political, religious group and that in the end they were convinced that we were not enemies." @Some 150 Foreigners Taken Hostage in Iraq Op/Ed (AP). Insurgents in Iraq have kidnapped nearly 150 foreigners in their campaign to drive out coalition forces and hamper reconstruction: * HELD HOSTAGE * 2 Indonesian women, Rosidah binti Anan and Rafikan binti Aming, and 2 Lebanese men. Video broadcast Sep 30 shows them being held at gunpoint by masked men and claims responsibility in the name of the Islamic Army in Iraq. * 2 Egyptian telco workers. Abducted Sep 22-23 along with 4 co-workers in 2 attacks in and around Baghdad. * 10 Turkish employees of the construction company VISNAN of Turkey. Kidnapping reported in a video broadcast Sep 18 and attributed to the Salafist Brigades of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. The said Sep 21 that it was freezing operations in hopes of saving the workers. * 3 Lebanese travel agency workers, Fadi Munir Yassin, Cherbal Karam Haj and Aram Nalbandian. Kidnapped Sep 17 between Baghdad and Fallujah. * Brit engineer Kenneth Bigley, 62. Kidnapped in Baghdad on Sep 16 with 2 American co-workers for Gulf Services Co of the United Arab Emirates. A video issued in the name of Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi threatens their lives unless the US frees all Iraqi women in custody. The 2 Americans are later slain. * Christian Chesnot, 37, and George Malbrunot, 41, French journalists. Disappeared Aug 21 while apparently driving toward Najaff. The Islamic Army in Iraq claims responsibility. * Vlada Abu Ghadi, Lebanese director of Lara construction company. Abducted Jul 31 in Baghdad. * Aban Elias, 41, Iraqi-American. Seized May 3 by group calling itself the Islamic Rage Brigade. * HOSTAGES KILLED * Jack Hensley, 48, a civil engineer from Marietta, Ga. Internet message posted Sep 21 reports his killing by militants loyal to al-Zarqawi. His beheaded body found in Baghdad on Sep 22. * Eugene "Jack" Armstrong, 52, formerly of Hillsdale, Mich. A video made public Sep 20 shows his beheading by al-Zarqawi. His body is found in Baghdad the same day. * Akar Besir, a Turkish driver. Body found Sep 21 nr Mosul after being kidnapped 3 days earlier. * Durmus Kumdereli, Turkish truck driver. Beheaded in a video made public Sep 13 but digitally dated Aug 17. Video posted on a Web site known for carrying statements from al-Zarqawi's group, Tawhid and Jihad. * 12 Nepalese construction workers. One beheaded and 11 shot in the head and killed in a video posted on an Islamic Web site Aug 31. Killings claimed by the Ansar al-Sunna Army. * Enzo Baldoni, Italian journalist. Reported killed Aug 26 by militants; the Islamic Army in Iraq had earlier threatened his life. * Murat Yuce, of Turkey. Shot and killed in video made public Aug 2 by followers of al-Zarqawi. Worked for Turkish company Bilintur. * Raja Azad, 49, engineer, and Sajad Naeem, 29, driver, both Pakistani, working for Kuwaiti-based firm. Slain Jul 28. The Islamic Army in Iraq said they were killed because Pakistan considering sending troops to Iraq. * Georgi Lazov, 30, and Ivaylo Kepov, 32, Bulgarian truck drivers. Militants loyal to al-Zarqawi suspected of decapitating both men. * Kim Sun-il, 33, S Korea translator. Beheaded Jun 22 by al-Zarqawi's group. * Hussein Ali Alyan, 26, Lebanese construction worker. Found shot to death Jun 12. Lebanese Foreign Min'y says killers sought ransom. * Fabrizio Quattrocchi, 35, Italian security guard. Killed Apr 14. Previously unknown group, the Green Battalion, claimed responsibility. * Nicholas Berg, 26, businessman from W Chester, Pa. Beheaded by al-Zarqawi's group after being kidnapped in Apr. * ESCAPED HOSTAGES * Thomas Hamill, 44, American truck driver. Escaped May 2 after being wounded in Apr 9 ambush on fuel convoy. * Radoslaw Kadri, Polish businessman. Escaped by jumping from car near US troops after abduction Jun 1. * HOSTAGES FREED OR RESCUED * Italian aid workers Simona Pari and Simona Torretta, both 29. Abducted in Baghdad on Sep 7; freed Sep 28. * Fereidoun Jahani, Iranian consul to Karbala. Freed Sep 27. In video made public Aug 7, kidnappers had accused Iran of meddling in Iraq's affairs. * Micah Garen, freelance journalist from NY City. Seized by gunmen Aug 13. Released after an appeal by aides of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. * James Brandon, Brit freelance journalist. Kidnapped Aug 12, freed the next day. * Angelo dela Cruz, Filipino truck driver. Kidnapped Jul 4. Freed Jul 22 after Philippines withdrew 51 troops from Iraq. * Also freed: 24 Turks, 14 Jordanians, 10 Lebanese, 7 Egyptians, 5 Japanese, 5 Chinese, 3 Kenyans, 3 Czechs, 3 Italians, 3 Indians, 2 Canadians, 2 Russians, a Pakistani, a Somali, a Frenchman, a Pole, a Syrian-Canadian, and an Arab Christian from E Jerusalem. * MISSING IN IRAQ * US Army Spc Keith M Maupin, 20, of Batavia, Ohio. Disappeared Apr 9 after an attack on a fuel convoy. Arab TV reported Jun 29 that he was killed but did not broadcast a video it said showed his shooting death. US military could not confirm that a man shown being shot in videotape was Maupin; he is officially listed by the military as missing. * William Bradley of Chesterfield, N.H, and Timothy Bell of Mobile, Ala. Truckers last seen after Apr 9 convoy attack. * RETURNED FROM IRAQ * Marine Cpl Wassef Ali Hassoun. Failed to report for duty in Iraq Jun 20. Videotaped images showed him apparently kidnapped. Emerged unharmed in Lebanon, Jul 8. Brought back to the US. Denies having deserted. @Bid to free French journalists founders Paris (AFP). A French MP who has led an unofficial mediation effort to free 2 French journalists held in Iraq admits that his bid has floundered. Didier Julia's assistant, Philippe Brett, is still in Iraq. "I was expecting the journalists to return today, but that hasn't happened for security reasons and because other people claiming to speak for the French Govt have said they could come up with large amounts of cash," Mr Julia said. Mr Julia, 70, is a member of Pres Jacques Chirac's ruling party and VP of the Iraqi-French Friendship Group. He has led an unofficial mediation effort to free Georges Malbrunot and Christian Chesnot, who were kidnapped on Aug 20. Following a meeting with the French ambassador to Damascus, Syria, Mr Julia said: "We are walking hand in hand with the French [Foreign Ministry] in this business." The statement comes despite the fact that Mr Chirac and the Foreign Min'y have both distanced themselves from his initiative. @Offensive in Samarra leaves 110 dead New clashes in Samarra have left over 100 Iraqis dead. Samarra (Reuters). US-led forces have stormed Samarra, saying more than 100 guerrillas have been killed in air strikes and street-to-street combat during a major new offensive to wrest control of the Iraqi town. Samarra's hospital says dozens of bodies have been brought in, including at least 11 women, 5 children and 7 old men. Staff could cope with no more wounded and bodies lay in the streets. Clashes have stopped some wounded from reaching hospital. A rep for the US 1ID says 109 fighters and a US soldier have been killed in the offensive, which was launched just after midnight. 4 soldiers were wounded. Towards dusk, US jets struck again as sporadic shooting continued. The rebel-held city of Fallujah has also been attacked by a US warplane killing at least 3 people, a Reuters witness and a hospital official said. Dr Mohammad al-Dulaimi says the dead are a woman, a child and an elderly man and 12 others have been wounded in the raid. Thousands of people are fleeing the historic town of Samarra, 100 km N of Baghdad. Water and electricity were cut off. Kassim Daoud, nat'l security adviser in the Iraqi Govt, says insurgents have been captured in the operation. The US military says Iraqi commandos have taken over Samarra's Shiite Golden Mosque and seized 25 rebels inside. Iraqi troops have also secured the town's renowned spiral minaret. The Interior Ministry says that by midday Iraqi police had control of the centre of Samarra, home to over 100,000 people, and most surrounding areas. The US-Iraqi operation was to "remove the terrorists who have been holding the town hostage". The US military says it will retake opp'n strongholds such as Samarra, the W cities of Fallujah and Ramadi and the Baghdad districts of Sadr City and Haifa Street by the end of the y so elections can go ahead in Jan as planned. Mr Daoud says fresh offensives would begin soon. Troops backed by tanks had pushed through Samarra's streets in darkness as militants unleashed mortar attacks and fired RPGs and rifles from the rooftops. Clashes also erupted again in Sadr City. Doctors say 8 Iraqis have been killed in fighting there. @Iraq death toll worse than expected: Aussie PM Melbourne (AAP). PM John Howard has said the deaths of 41 people after a spate of overnight car bombings in Iraq was much worse than he had expected. His comments came as Opp'n Leader Mark Latham said the devastating bombings were evidence Mr Howard did not have an adequate plan for the post-war reconstruction of Iraq. Insurgents detonated 3 car bombs nr a United States military convoy in Baghdad, killing 41 people, 34 of them children rushing to collect sweets from US troops. Hours earlier, a suicide bomber killed 2 Iraqi police and a US soldier by blowing up his car nr a US checkpoint at a crowded intersection in Abu Ghraib. About 60 people, including women and children, were wounded. "It is worse than I had hoped for but it is of a piece with what happens with a country that's going through this very difficult transition phase," Mr Howard told MEL radio station 3AW. But Mr Howard said Iraq was still a worthwhile cause for countries like AUS and the United States. "If we pull out, if we cut and run, it'll be an enormous blow to the prestige of our allies, particularly the US," he said. "It'll be an enormous blow to the authority of the West, it will leave democratic countries like Israel even more vulnerable, I believe, in the Middle East." But Mr Latham said the continuing widespread violence was a sad commentary on the way in which Mr Howard got AUS involved in the conflict. "We said from day one, they might win the war but the hardest thing will be to win the peace," he told Sky News. "And the fact the Howard govt had no plan for the post-war reconstruction of Iraq, and the violence continues, is a sad commentary on the way in which Mr Howard got us involved in the 1st place." Mr Latham, who has pledged to bring Aussie troops who are part of the US-led coalition home by Christmas, said a Labor govt would help out in Iraq through the UN. "They'll get help from a Labor govt, but through the processes of the UN," he said. "We're committed to helping with the UN protective force, with customs and border protection for that country and also trying to rebuild their health system, which is a sad consequence of all the trauma that nation has been through." @US destroyer deployed nr N Korea Washington (AFP). US destroyers equipped with Aegis missile tracking systems have been deployed in the Sea of Japan nr N Korea as part of a controversial new US missile defence system, the US Navy's civilian chief says. "We do have our Aegis destroyers deployed and indeed they do have tracking capability as we committed to do before the end of the year," US Navy secretary Gordon England said. Mr England has confirmed reports that the destroyers are in the Sea of Japan nr N Korea, whose long-range missile and nuclear weapons programs put it at the top of the US threat list. He would not say whether it means the missile defence system, also known as "son of star wars", that the US is erecting at bases in Alaska and California is now operational. Pentagon officials have said the US is on track to declare the system's "initial defensive capability" this y, providing a limited defence against long range missile attack by a "rogue" state. Critics of the system, however, say there is little confidence the system will work because it has not been sufficiently tested. AUS signed up to the program last y. The Aegis destroyers' powerful radars would be used to track long-range missiles after they have been detected by early warning radars. Data from the radars flow to command centres where they are integrated with other targeting data to launch interceptor missiles into the path of the incoming missile. So far, the Pentagon has deployed 5 interceptor missiles at Fort Greely, Alaska. One more is to be added at Fort Greely in mid-Oct and 2 others at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California before the end of the year. Early warning radars and Aegis radars on navy destroyers have been upgraded for the missile defence system. The command and control system linking the radars to the interceptor missile also have now been installed. @Israel expands Gaza strike, kills 6 Palestinians Gaza (Reuters). The Israeli army killed 6 Palestinians in Gaza on Fri as it poured soldiers into the coastal strip, expanding a ground offensive intended to root out militants firing rockets into Israeli towns. Palestinian officials said dozens of tanks pushed into N Gaza while more forces massed on the border, hours after 28 Palestinians and 3 Israelis were killed on Thu, the territory's bloodiest day in 4 y of conflict. PM Ariel Sharon and his security cabinet on Thu ordered the army to carve out a "buffer zone" to halt rocket attacks that have fuelled criticism of his plan to withdraw Jewish settlers from the territory by the end of 2005. The operation, code-named "Days of Reckoning", followed the killing of 2 Israeli pre-schoolers by a rocket in the border town of Sderot on Wed. Eluding troops, militants fired off another rocket on Fri but caused no casualties. Finance Min Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr Sharon's rival in the rightist Likud party, suggested the PM might have to drop his Gaza plan if Palestinian attacks worsened to "catastrophic" levels. The offensive was directed at Jabalya, Gaza's largest refugee camp. Palestinian PM Ahmed Qurie called it "state terror that deliberately targets civilians" and urged internat'l intervention. The Islamic militant group Hamas, at the heart of a campaign of suicide bombings and rocket firings, called the incursion "all-out war" and vowed not to submit. In Sderot, several thousand Israeli mourners, many wailing with grief, gathered to bury the 2-yo girl and 4-yo boy, the children of Ethiopian immigrants. And in Jabalya itself, 30,000 Palestinians, many shouting for revenge, marched in funerals for those killed on Thu. The latest cycle of bloodshed has sent Mr Sharon scrambling to counter right-wing critics who say his plan to withdraw troops and settlers from Gaza next y has emboldened militants trying to give the impression that Israel is being driven out. Israel's army is determined to smash the armed groups before leaving. "It is important to make clear to the other side that we will not tolerate terrorist actions or a retreat under fire," Defence Min Shaul Mofaz told troops as he visited Gaza. But some Israeli commentators warned against getting bogged down in the camp's narrow streets, where soldiers are vulnerable and risk tangling with civilians. As gun battles flared in Jabalya, an air strike killed 2 Hamas militants on a motorbike, witnesses said. Israeli military sources said the missile had hit a rocket crew. Hours later, another missile killed 3 people nr a school. Military sources said the army had hit a group laying mines against Israeli forces, which have had to make their way through booby-trapped streets. Bulldozers ploughed through houses to clear a path into the teeming camp of 100,000 on Thu. Troops also shot dead a Palestinian man in Jabalya, medics said. The army said it had done its utmost to avoid civilian casualties, but that militants had dug in in populated areas. Hamas, sworn to Israel's destruction, said it would stop rocket attacks "only if the Zionist enemy stops all forms of aggression against our people everywhere". @2 killed, 4 injured in Gaza camp strike Gaza (Reuters). Israel has killed 2 Palestinian militants and injured 4 more Palestinians in an airstrike on a Gaza refugee camp as Israel mounts a large raid in N Gaza. The army had no immediate comment on the attack in Jabalya refugee camp. It has launched a wide-scale operation in N Gaza after a rocket launched by local militants killed 2 Israeli children in a border town. PM Ariel Sharon and his security cabinet ordered the army to carve out a "buffer zone" to halt rocket attacks that have fuelled criticism of his plan to withdraw Jewish settlers from the territory by the end of 2005. Israel's latest airstrike occurred hours after troops killed nine Palestinians, including militants, during fierce fighting in the area. The army has so far killed 39 Palestinians during its massive Gaza incursion, which started on Tue. Gunbattles raged on Fri through Jabalya, a militant stronghold and home to 100,000 Palestinians. Israeli army bulldozers destroyed houses to clear paths for forces as troops made their way through the camp's booby-trapped streets. @Israel urged to avoid civilian deaths in Gaza Washington (AFP). The US is calling on Israel to use only "proportional force" in its ongoing military operations in Gaza, and urging it to avoid civilian Palestinian casualties. It says such deaths would complicated Middle E peace efforts. Both the White House and the US State Dept have declined to condemn the massive raids. The dept stresses that Israel has a right to defend itself but "notes with regret reports of civilian casualties" sustained in the operation. "We urge the Govt of Israel to take every measure to ensure that only proportional force is used to counter the threat that it faces," deputy rep Adam Ereli said. "We urge Israel to avoid civilian casualties and minimise humanitarian consequences. "These kinds of casualties can only make all of our efforts to achieve a durable peace more difficult." At least 45 Palestinians have been killed over the past 3 days along with 2 Israeli soldiers and a Jewish woman settler in one of the bloodiest battles since the Palestinian uprising started 4 ya. On Fri alone, a day after Israeli PM Ariel Sharon ordered the army to step up a massive raid in Gaza to stop militant rocket attacks on Israel, 7 Palestinians were killed. The large-scale offensive has sparked internat'l concern, with Russia calling on Israel to refrain from using "indiscriminate" force while urging the Palestinians not to resort to "terrorist acts against Israel." France says it is "deeply concerned" by the flare-up and that "recourse to violence is not a solution" for either sides. Shortly before Mr Ereli spoke for the State Dept, Whitehouse rep Scott McClellan cautioned Israel to "keep in mind the impact" of its Gaza operations on the peace process. "We've always said Israel has the right to defend itself, but it's also important to keep in mind the impact of those decisions," he said. Mr McClellan also called for a return to the internat'ly drawn "road map" to peace in the region. He praised Mr Sharon's call for dismantling all Israeli settlements in Gaza and some in the W Bank. @Hamas militant killed in Gaza raid Gaza (Reuters). An Israeli missile has killed a Hamas militant and wounded 8 other Palestinians witnesses say, as Israeli forces continue a massive deadly military operation in N Gaza. The air strike is Israel's latest in a series during a raids in Gaza. Israel says the offensive is aimed at curbing Palestinian militants in northern Gaza, who fire rockets at Israeli targets. The Army says troops have targeted a group of militants who tried to launch a rocket, which Palestinian witnesses confirmed. The witnesses say a drone had hovered above them and then 2 missiles hit, one of them slamming directly into a gunman. They say a 2nd militant and 6 civilians have also been wounded in the attack. Israel's operation, code-named "Days of Reckoning", follows the killing of 2 Israeli pre-schoolers by a rocket in the border town of Sderot on Wed. Eluding troops, militants fired off another rocket on Fri but caused no casualties. @Mount St Helens erupts N Washington (AP). Mount St Helens, the volcano that blew its top with cataclysmic force in 1980, erupted for the 1st time in 18 y, belching a huge column of white steam and ash after days of rumblings. "This is exactly the kind of event we've been predicting," said US Geological Survey scientist Cynthia Gardner. Still, the eruption was nowhere nr what happened 24 y ago, when 57 people were killed and towns 400 km away were coated with ash. About 20 minutes after the eruption, the mountain calmed and the plume began to dissipate. The eruption was so short-lived the ash appeared to pose no threat to anyone. No evacuations were ordered, and there was no sign of any lava pouring from the volcano. The steam cloud rose from the S edge of a 305-metre-tall lava dome in the volcano's crater. Steam frequently rises from the crater, but the 2,549-metre peak had not erupted since 1986. For the past week, scientists have detected 1000s of earthquakes of increasing strength -- as high as magnitude 3.3 -- suggesting another eruption was on the way. The earthquakes quit after the eruption, said University of Washington seismologist Tony Qamar. "That makes us think this is the end of the eruption," Qamar said. "All this buildup was leading to that relatively small eruption." But USGS seismologist Bob Norris said magma could be moving underground and he would not be surprised to see more explosions in the next days or weeks. "The monitoring will definitely continue on a very intense scale until we can determine that the thing has really gone back to sleep," said Tom Pierson, a USGS geologist. Mike Fergus, a rep with the Fed Aviation Admin in Seattle, said the plume had reached 4,877 metres in altitude, but did not know whether any planes would need to be rerouted. Few people live nr the mountain, about 160 km south of Seattle. The closest structure is the Johnston Ridge Observatory, about 8 km from the crater. @US volcano blows off steam Seattle (AFP). A plume of steam and ash has erupted from Mount St Helens, the volcano that devastated swathes of the US NW when it erupted 24 y ago, witnesses and geologists say. "The mountain began erupting some steam," Mount St Helens park ranger Greg Pohl said. "At the moment it looks like a very small event and there is an ash pall that appears to be very small, that seems to be heading in a westerly direction." Following the initial eruption, the volcano appeared to die down and the ash and steam clouded drifted off. Scientists say the steam cloud poured from the S edge of a 300 metre tall lava dome in the volcano's crater that has risen in recent days. "This is exactly the kind of event we've been predicting," US Geological Survey scientist Cynthia Gardner said. Officials have notified aviation authorities to warn aircraft in the area of the steam and ash cloud. However, they say they do not believe there is any real danger to people who live in the region. Seismologists at the US Geological Survey have been warning of a possible imminent eruption following more than a wk of growing earthquake activity in the area. A swarm of quakes began around the active volcano on Sep 24 and rose in magnitude through the wk until they measured between 3.0 and 3.2 and were taking place 4 times a minute by Thu. The scientists stress, any explosion of the peak would not be as serious as the deadly 1980 explosion that killed 57 people and covered much of the NW US region in a thick blanket of ash. @Third Pitcairn sex trial begins Third of the series of sexual abuse trials on Pitcairn Island opens today. Pitcairn Is, C Pacific. 7 Pitcairn men have pleaded not guilty to a total of 55 sex abuse charges, including indecent assault of a 5-yo girl and the rape of a young teenager. Today, 78-yo Len Brown is appearing. He is accused of 2 counts of rape relating to one woman over incidents that occurred between the y of 1969 to 1972. Yesterday, a witness giving evidence in the trial against Pitcairn Mayor Steve Christian, told the court that abuse and rape was the normal way of life on the island. The remote Brit colony in the Pacific, was founded by HMS Bounty mutineers more than 200 y ago. @Fashion photographer Avedon dies Funny face: Avedon once said he worked out of nos. NY (Reuters/VNU). Richard Avedon, one of the most influential portrait and fashion photographers of the 20th century, has died at age 81 in Texas, United States. A New Yorker magazine rep says Avedon had been photographing an essay on democracy for the magazine. Rep Perri Dorset says Avedon died of a subdural hematoma, or bleeding in the brain, at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio. He had been taken there last Sat after suffering a brain hemorrhage during the photo shoot. Avedon became the NYer's 1st staff photographer in 1992 after a career in which he virtually defined fashion and portrait photography in the US. He was a consultant for the 1957 Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn film Funny Face, about a fashion photographer in Paris that was based on his life. From 1945 to 1965, he was staff photographer for Harper's Bazaar under a series of legendary editors, including Carmel Snow and Diana Vreeland. There he helped move fashion photography away from the world of stuffy mannequins into a more playful era. After he left Harper's, he joined Vreeland at Vogue where he remained a staff photographer until 1990. His portraits of such subjects as Jimmy Durante, Brigitte Bardot, Georgia O'Keeffe, Jacques Cousteau, Andy Warhol, Charlie Chaplin, Marilyn Monroe, the Duchess of Windsor and Truman Capote were intense studies against a white backdrop that often caught a person's secret persona. He captured the essence of dancer Rudolph Nureyev by photographing his foot. His portrait of a sensual Nastassja Kinski in 1981, wrapped in a long python, become one of the most talked-about photographs of its time. "I've worked out of nos," he said in 1994. "No to exquisite light, no to apparent compositions, no to the seduction of poses or narratives. "And those nos force me to a yes. I have white background. I have the person I am interested in and the thing that happens between us." In 1958, Popular Photography magazine named him one of the world's 10 greatest photographers. In 1994 American Photo magazine named him number one on its list of "Photography's Top 100." American Photo's editor David Schonauer said: "No one has ever used a camera the way Avedon has. "Each time he makes a picture, it's like he's discovering the magic of photography again. "For all their visual sophistication...his pictures derive their power from an ability to tap directly into our own childlike forbidden stare." Avedon often left the realm of fashion to capture gritty real world images of the civil rights movement, the Vietnam war and the Chicago 7 trial. His 1964 portrait of Dwight Eisenhower created controversy with its picture of the ex-president and wartime general as a befuddled old man. Avedon was named the NYer's staff photographer in 1992 by then editor Tina Brown, who thought it was time for the august magazine to finally print photos. Avedon's 1963 portrait of Malcolm X appeared in the NYer on Oct 12, 1992 to become the 1st full page photograph ever published in the magazine. @Phallic political artwork raises eyebrows Cowra, N NSW. A sculpture depicting the faces of PM John Howard and US Pres George W Bush and others on phallus-shaped structures has caused a stir in a NSW town. The work, Texas Tea Party, features 9 plinths shaped like phalluses surrounding a gold oil barrel and tea set. The faces on the phalluses include those of Mr Howard and Mr Bush, Saddam Hussein, Kerry Packer and Alexander Downer. The work is part of sculptural exhibition opening today next to the Japanese Gardens at Cowra, but the board of the gardens has banned the work. The sculpture's co-artist, Ian Houssenloge, is not happy. "To be silenced at a time of an election," he said. Mayor of Cowra, Bruce Miller, has supported the decision to ban the sculpture saying the gardens where it would have been displayed are a popular school holiday destination. "It could be construed as political," he said. "In that we could be pretty blunt about it in that they were erect penises with the heads of some politicians on them and quite frankly we considered it was in pretty poor taste." "I guess it's quite poignant at this time, given it's quite a political time in AUS, you should be given a voice. " @Charity urges action on poverty over marginal seats Sydney. A major welfare group is trying to put AUS's rising poverty levels on the fed election agenda. St Vincent de Paul's nat'l social justice rep, Terry McCarthy, says the major parties need to stop focusing on marginal electorates and instead create policies addressing poverty. Mr McCarthy says AUS now has the 4th highest level of poverty of the industrialised countries. "Nobody seems to be concerned about the 852,000 children living in jobless families and the 500,000 young people who are at risk of never finding secure employment," he said. "That's going to develop into an AUS that none of us will be proud of." Mr McCarthy says the rich-poor divide is growing in AUS. "What we're trying to do is get people aware that there are big social and economic problems out there, which have to be addressed equally along with the young and old in marginal electorates," he said. @Rural doctors seek Indigenous health commitments Canberra. The Rural Doctors Association of AUS has called for both the Fed Govt and the Opp'n to make a tangible commitment to improving Indigenous health. Pres of the association, Dr Sue Page, says the average life expectancy of an Aboriginal person is on par with those living in third world countries. "An Aboriginal person born today has the life expectancy roughly slightly ahead of somebody born in Ethiopia and about 2/3 of the life expectancy of somebody born in Bangladesh," she said. "That's appalling." Dr Page has called on the major parties to spend an extra $400 mn a y on Indigenous health. She wants the parties to develop prevention programs for illnesses such as kidney failure and heart disease. Dr Page says preventing the diseases would cost a great deal less than trying to treat them once they have developed. @Indefinite detention ruling under fire Brisbane. A group advocating the rights of prisoners has criticised a landmark High Court decision to uphold Qld laws, which allow dangerous sex offenders to be held in custody indefinitely. Convicted rapist Robert John Fardon has been held in a north Qld prison beyond his release date, which passed more than a ya. He today lost an appeal against his ongoing detention. Susan Bothmann, from the Prisoners' Legal Service, says the decision turns the foundations of criminal law upside down. "He is now languishing in jail," she said. "He is in exactly the same circumstances that he was in whilst he was serving his sentence -- he has no idea how long he is going to remain in jail. "He is being punished for no further criminal act." @Labor pledges 20,000 new uni places Jenny Macklin says the extra places are fully costed. Sydney. The Labor Party says it will add another 20,000 places to universities across AUS if it is elected to govt. Opp'n's education rep Jenny Macklin says Labor will also abolish full fee degrees for undergraduates. Ms Macklin has announced the 1st of the extra places -- 2,050 places for universities across NSW by 2008. Of those, 750 places will be available for the start of next y. Ms Macklin says the extra places are fully costed. "This is just the 1st tranche from Labor," she said. "We will have 20,000 extra places, we'll build up to 20,000 extra places each year, that's across AUS. "We want to really build up the number of places to meet the demand from students who want to go to university." Ms Macklin says if Labor wins govt it will also stop the Howard Govt's 25% rise in HECS fees. It will abolish full fee-paying positions for Aussie undergraduates. "We'll be increasing the number of HECS places, making sure that students who do qualify for university can get a university place," she said. "What we don't want to see is students forced into paying $100,000 or even, in some cases $200,000, for a university degree. "We don't want to force our students into that sort of debt." @Democrats call for child abuse royal commission Canberra. The Aussie Democrats is calling on the Fed Govt to establish a royal commission into child abuse. SA Democrats MP Kate Reynolds says the recent arrests of more than 200 people on child pornography charges highlights the need for an inquiry to expose the scale of child abuse. She believes the latest round of arrests is the tip of the iceberg and the issue requires a broader approach. "We know that the extent of the exploitation of children and the abuse of children is much wider than it has ever been documented," she said. "It's a good start with these recent arrests but there's a lot more to be done and a fed royal commission will help the entire community to understand how big the issue is and exactly what needs to be done to address it." @Democrats launch Senate bid Sydney. The Aussie Democrats are officially launching their campaign for the Senate in SYD today. New S Wales Sen Aden Ridgeway has told an audience of about 100 people that electing Democrats to the Senate was the only way to ensure its independence of both the Liberal and Labor parties. Several prominent Aussies have offered testimonials in support of the party, including Julian Burnside QC and Aussie Medical Association (AMA) nat'l president Bill Glasson. Democrats leader Andrew Bartlett says the Senate will lose strength if the major parties gain greater control. @Shoppers welcome Howard's policies Sydney. PM John Howard has been mobbed by shoppers this morning in the heart of his fed electorate of Bennelong. Mr Howard visited the Macquarie Shopping Centre at N Ryde in SYD's NW. He received an enthusiastic welcome from shoppers during the late morning visit. One woman applauded the Coalition's policies for the ageing. She wished Mr Howard good luck. "Good luck next wk and I do appreciate the thought for self funded retirees," she said. However, not everyone was as positive. One man said he was seeking commitment from Mr Howard to ease red tape for small businesses. A 2nd man criticised the Govt's treatment of E Timor and reaching a deal over Timor Sea gas and oil reserves. Mr Howard's next scheduled appointment is the local RSL. @Coalition would win Eden-Monaro: poll Canberra (AAP). The coalition would easily win the vital seat of Eden-Monaro at next wk's fed election and potentially retain govt, according to a CBR Times poll. The seat of Eden-Monaro, which stretches from the NSW Snowy Mountains, to the S coast and inland to Queanbeyan, has been held by the party that went on to win govt at the past 13 elections and has become recognised as one of the strongest indicators of who will win the fed poll. The latest opinion poll, by Patterson Market Research, found incumbent MP Gary Nairn would retain the marginal seat for the Liberal Party. But the poll was taken before Opp'n Leader Mark Latham announced Labor's Medicare Gold package, which included a promise of free hospital care for those aged 75 and over. Mr Nairn gained 56% of the 2 party preferred vote while Labor candidate Kel Watt won 44%. PM John Howard comfortably won the preferred PM stakes with 51% approval compared with Opp'n Leader Mark Latham's 35%. Pollster Keith Patterson said Labor's Medicare Gold package may impact on the results but it still seemed unlikely the ALP would make up ground. Almost 66% of Eden-Monaro voters were aged over 40. "This very old profile for the region may indicate that the impact of the Latham gold card component of Medicare will have a material influence on voting intent in the last few days of the campaign," Mr Patterson told the CBR Times. "However, our data suggests that the ALP has a great distance to catch up in Eden-Monaro. "It is clear that the ALP is in serious trouble in Eden-Monaro. "Even allowing for the probably strong flow of preferences from the Greens and the Democrats to the ALP, it is difficult to see how the Liberals could lose in Eden-Monaro." Mr Nairn played down the poll results, saying they may have been influenced by the timing given it was taken on the 3 days following Mr Howard's official campaign launch. "It was done immediately after the launch of our campaign, John Howard's launch, but prior to the Labor Party's launch," he told ABC Radio. "That's why these things do jump around, particularly at this time in the last couple of weeks of the campaign. @Libs tipped to hold Parramatta: poll Sydney (AAP). Liberal MP Ross Cameron's infidelity confession does not appear to have dented his chances of holding his seat, according to a new poll. An ACNielsen poll, published in The SYD Morning Herald, shows Mr Cameron would retain his W SYD seat of Parramatta with 53% of the vote after preferences while Labor's candidate, Julie Owens, would have 47%. The poll was conducted before the Labor campaign launch on Wed. If the result was repeated at Sat's election, the paper said, Mr Cameron would increase his majority with a swing of 1.8%. The poll found Mr Cameron could almost win the seat without the help of preferences, with a primary vote of 49%. The newspaper said 57% of the 1002 voters surveyed replied "not at all" when asked how relevant being an unfaithful husband was to how they would vote. Only 12% said it was "very relevant" and 11% said it was "somewhat relevant". @Punters back Coalition as poll looms Sydney. With a wk to polling day, the central Aussie betting agency Centrebet has received $800,000 in wagers on the fed election. The Coalition is at a $1.40, while Labor is at $2.70. Centrebet's Gerard Daffy says Labor challenger Jim Davidson is the favourite in Solomon, the most marginal seat in the country. He is at $1.60 to take the 88 votes he needs from the sitting member Dave Tollner, who is $2. But of the 32 marginal seats available for a wager, the blue ribbon Liberal seat of Wentworth is attracting the most interest. Punters have laid out $30,000 in bets. Malcolm Turnbull is at $1.55. The man he defeated for Liberal preselection, Independent Peter King, is at $6. Mr Daffy is expecting up to $2.5 mn in bets by the time polls open next Sat morning. @Beazley fears for seat after Greens preference call Perth. Former Labor leader Kim Beazley admits it could be difficult for him to be re-elected after a a decision by the Greens to direct preferences away from him in the seat of Brand. Mr Beazley is the only Labor MP in W AUS, who has not been given Green preferences. Mr Beazley holds the seat of Brand by a margin of 10%. He says it will now be harder to win the seat. "Given that I've always had them in the past... and my views on the world have not changed in that period of time, it comes as a bit of a surprise," he said. "It makes it a bit harder to win the fight in Brand." The Greens' candidate for Brand, Jean Jenkins, says the party decided not to direct preferences to Mr Beazley because of his defence policies and his close ties with the US. "We approve of an alliance with between AUS and the US but we do not approve of this alliance being one of subservience as far as AUS is concerned," Mrs Jenkins said. "We want in no way to be a deputy sheriff, we can stand tall on our own." @Qantas denies secret cabin crew training Cloak and dagger: The union claims new staff are being trained at night. Sydney. The union representing flight attendants claims Qantas is secretly training new recruits in preparation for strike action by its employees. The Flight Attendants Association (FAA) says the training is in breach of the enterprise agreement because Qantas has no intention of giving the trainees a permanent job. Qantas denies the claim saying there has been no secrecy involved in the training of new recruits, who will be needed to work during the peak Christmas period. But Andrew Smedly, from the FAA, alleges there is a cloak and dagger operation. "It's being done at night," he said. "One of the classes starts at, from what I can gather, 12.00 am at night and goes till 7.00 am in the morning. "That has never ever happened. "They're meeting in a unspecified location to be picked up by a bus to be ferried to the training facilities. "Nothing like this has ever happened before." @Child porn suspects commit suicide Melbourne. 2 people charged during the nationwide crackdown on child pornography, Operation Auxin, have taken their own lives. More than 200 people have been charged with 2,000 offences and police expect to make more arrests nationwide. Dozens those charged have appeared in courts around AUS. Police say a Qlder who committed suicide after being charged was an officer from Logan, S of Bris. A police rep says the man took his own life during the first phase of the investigation last m. He had been suspended from duty after being charged with 46 counts relating to the possession of child abuse computer games. The office of the fed Justice Min, Sen Chris Ellison, has confirmed that a man in W AUS has also committed suicide. The man, who was found dead in Bunbury S of Perth, had failed to appear in court in connection to the child pornography raids. A Vicn man has also been found dead after being interviewed over child pornography allegations. Corrections Vic says a 2nd man, who worked as a prison officer at Sale's Fulham prison, has also been found dead after being questioned by police over a separate investigation. Police say neither man had been formally charged with any offences and the deaths are not being treated as suspicious. Sen Ellison says the Aussie Fed Police (AFP) have advised there will be 100s more arrests. "We are totally committed to cracking the activity which is abhorred," he said. @4 child porn suspects commit suicide 4 men have reportedly committed suicide after they were interviewed over child pornography allegations. Sydney (AAP). The 4 suspects -- 2 from Vic, one from Qld and one from W AUS -- were found dead after they were interviewed by police this wk, MEL's The Age newspaper has reported. 3 were identified by police involved in Operation Auxin, the nationwide crackdown on an internet child pornography ring that has led more than 200 people being charged. The 4th, a prison officer at the Fulham Correctional Centre nr Sale in the state's east, was found dead in his car at nearby Stratford on Thu after he was questioned on child porn allegations not related to the operation, The Age said. The body of a MEL man was found nr Heyfield, 30 km from Stratford. Another man was found dead in Qld. The Age report did not say when and in what situation the men's bodies were found. WA electrician Kim Della-Vedova, 46, of Australind in the state's SW, was found dead at his house. His body was discovered by a friend after he failed to appear at the Bunbury Court of Petty Sessions on 3 charges of possessing child pornography. Detective Sgt Darren Kelly of Australind police said Della-Vedova's body was found in his car parked at the side of the house and there were no suspicious circumstances. "From what we can ascertain so far, it appears he has died by his own hand as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning," he said. @Former school chaplain remanded on child sex charges Adelaide (ABC, Peter Lloyd). A former Adel Anglican priest wanted for child sex offences in SA has been remanded in custody in a Bangkok prison after making his 1st appearance in court. Thai authorities say it will take at least 2 m before 49-yo John Mountford can be extradited to face trial. The former Chaplain of Adel's St Peter's College was arrested at his home in Bangkok after returning from his native Brit where he has been in hiding for 4 m. He was paraded handcuffed and smiling before the media as he was taken to court. The 49-yo is wanted for sex offences allegedly committed at St Peter's in the early 1990s against a then 14-yo boy. The charges include one count of unlawful sexual intercourse, 2 of committing an act of gross indecency and 5 other counts of sexual abuse. An observer from the Aussie Embassy in Bangkok attended today's hearing. @Tighter porn laws under consideration: Govt More than 200 people face 2,000 charges over child pornography. Canberra. The fed Communications Min says a re-elected Coalition govt would look at strengthening laws against publishing child pornography, in the wake of recent arrests. Almost 200 people nationwide have been charged in the largest crackdown on child pornography in AUS. Communications Min Helen Coonan says the Govt has committed $30 mn to combat child pornography. However, she says there is still room to move. "If the police, as a result of the investigation that is currently going on, do identify where we might be able to strengthen it we certainly be looking at that," she said. Labor's communications rep, Kate Lundy, has told the ABC TV's Lateline that the Govt has taken too long to provide the Aussie Fed Police with much-needed resources to deal with the problem. "And we need to do more," she said. "This example will show that more should be done." Sen Lundy says there should be more focus on educating parents. "Labor that has long argued that parents need to be supported about their education of the Internet," she said. "It's only been in this last y or so that the Coalition Govt has actually turned their mind towards funding an education campaign aimed at parents and other Internet users. "It's been a long time coming and it's nice to see that the Howard Govt is once again following Labor's lead." 13 men have appeared in courts in SYD, MEL and Perth following a police investigation into an internat'l child pornography ring. Among those charged are school teachers, a priest and the owner of 3 childcare centres. The office of the Fed Justice Min, Sen Chris Ellison, has confirmed that a man in W AUS has committed suicide after failing to appear in court in connection to the child pornography raids. The man was found dead in Bunbury, S of Perth. @Anglican synod to address child abuse Perth. Child abuse will be at the top of the agenda at the Anglican Church general synod, which begins in Perth today. The synod is held every 3 y but this is the 1st time the synod has been held in Perth. Bishop of N SYD, Dr Glenn Davies, has told ABC Radio's AM that there will be seminars to discuss appropriate conduct and how to deal with allegations of child abuse. "[Child abuse] unfortunately has infected our church, we admit that," he said. "This will be a way the general synod can put some good things into place for the future." @Judiciary must improve public image: Chief Justice Sydney. The Chief Justice of the High Court has suggested judges and magistrates across the country need to make more of an effort to counter negative views of the judiciary. Chief Justice Murray Gleeson has told the Judicial Conference of AUS that criticising judges for being soft on crime is a popular activity. He says judges are not meant to cultivate popularity, and that at times, it is their duty to make unpopular decisions. He has suggested that the better informed people are about a what a sentencing judge is doing and why, the less likely they are to see sentences as too lenient. He says a concerted effort is needed to explain to the public why courts need to be independent and why judges should be kept out of politics. He says the exercise could perhaps begin with school children. @4 arrested over multiple stabbing Melbourne. Vicn police have arrested 4 people, including a 13-yo boy, over a multiple stabbing at Box Hill last night. 2 20-yo men were stabbed when a fight broke out at a house party in Stanley Street just after 11.00 pm. One of the injured men has undergone surgery and is in a critical but stable condition at the Alfred Hospital. The 13-yo Boronia boy and a 16-yo Belgrave boy will be charged on summons. 2 others, aged 17 and 18, have been remanded in custody. They will appear in the MEL Magistrates Court on Mon. @Offshore dump safest nuclear waste option: Sen Darwin. Fed Environment Min Ian Campbell has defended the Coalition's decision to store nuclear waste from the Lucas Heights reactor on an off-shore island. Sen Campbell says if the Labor Party wants to criticise, it needs to present an alternative policy. He says no decision has been made on which island would hold the Commonwealth's nuclear waste. Sen Campbell says the policy recognises there is no site on the mainland that would be accepted by the local population. "It's a decision that reflects the view that there's not a single state or territory in AUS that wants to have waste in their backyard," he said. "We have gone for the safe and practical option of storing it on an offshore island. "We'll be guided as to what island that is by an expert scientific committee which will make sure that we get a safe and secure site for the long-term." Sen Campbell says the scientific committee will also address transport issues. "Waste from wherever it's produced in AUS needs to be transported, and so it needs to be transported in the safest, most effective way that doesn't threaten human health," he said. {{ 1 am The Hague. A meeting of EU FM's has decided to go ahead with 5 reception centres in N Af for foreign immigrants. UN ref officials will have a role in running them. A key by-election in N Eng has seen the sitting Labour member returned, but with a reduced majority of only 2,000 votes. There was a 12% swing to the Lib Dems. The Tories came 4th, behind the anti-EU UKIP. They're holding their party conf next wk. Michael Howard's job is believed to be safe, but it will be an uncomfortable conf. In Eng, 3 men have been charged with attempting to obtain materials for terrorist purposes. A 4th has been released without charge. A man still detained by the Americans at Guatmo says he was subject to torture and death threats. The announcement was made public by lawyers in London. The accusations came in a hand-written letter. The man is 1 of 4 Brits held in Cuba for more than 2-and-1/2 y. He was arrested while living in Pak, and was also held in Afghanistan. Copies of the letter has been sent to the US and Brit govts as well as human rights groups. The man says he also saw murders, and was forced to sign a confessions under duress. He is reportedly the only detainee to be held in isolation at Guatmo. Human rights groups believe he was held in isolation because he saw unlawful killings. It's believed the letter has slipped through the Guatmo security by mistake, or because someone there has a conscience. The man denies he is involved with al-Qaeda. 1.30 am The Iraqi Int Min says 3000 US and 1000 Iraqi forces are being successful in regaining control of Samarra. The assault followed a US pledge to regain control of insurgent areas. In Fallujah, US planes have destroyed a building military sources said was used by al-Zarqawi loyalists. For the first time since 1950 China's number of poor has increased. The increase comes despite a record outlay in poverty-fighting funds -- $US1.5 bn this y. The number of poor is up 800,000 on last y. The central govt defines absolute poverty as anyone earning less than $US77 pa. 2 am 3 Pal have been killed by an Israeli missile that struck a house in N Gaza. 10 other people were injured in the attack. The case bring the total KIA to 49 -- incl 5 Israelis -- since Tue. Un Sec Gen Annan has expressed alarm at the escalating violence, adding military means would not solve the problem of violence. Tony Blair has left hospital after heart surgery. Tamil Tigers have gunned down a Muslim man, triggering riots in N Sri Lanka. Demonstrators set fire to LTTE officers and a fishing village. A curfew is now in force in the region. There have been on-going clashes between the LTTE and Muslims in the E and W of the country. In a statement, the LTTE says the killing was done by "some elements" to spark communal riots. Muslim groups have rejected the explanation. With the latest opinion polls showing Bush around 5 pt ahead of John Kerry, observers are waiting to see whether the Sen did enough in the first debate to get a boost. Most surveys and audience polls gave the debate to Kerry. Although drinkers in NY bars interviewed by DW radio said the debate showed Bush was in command of the issues. But they may have been distracted by the BB game at the bar. 9 am A suicide bomber has killed at least 30 people in a mosque packed with worshippers and wounded more than 40 during Fri prayers in the eastern Pakistani city of Sialkot, police said. 4 men under investigation for possessing child porn have committed suicide, incl 1 police officer. A MEL man was the latest to die in "non-suspicious circumstances", after being interviewed by police this wk. The Spanish govt has moved to enshrine same-sex marriage in law. Meanwhile, an attempt by the Bush Admin to restrict marriage to a man and a woman has been thrown out. The AUS Democrats are launching their election campaign in SYD today. They warn the Senate will lose strength if the major parties gain more control. Social services groups have called on the major parties to stop targeting marginal seats and concentrate on policies for the majority of Aussies. With the number of poor in AUS now putting it at number 4 on the list of developed countries, reps say no-one seems to be concerned. With almost 1 mn children living in a household with no-one in work, and a large fraction of Aussies likely never to have steady work for the rest of their lives, AUS threatens to become a place none of us can be proud of. A Nigerian warlord has reportedly withdrawn his threat to disrupt oil production in the S delta region. The govt always said it didn't take the threats seriously. [Later reports indicate 3 regional militia leaders have agreed on a peace deal with the c govt]. Midday. There have been fresh US attack on Fallujah. They follow a major push to get control of areas N of Baghdad. The Iraqi Int Min'y says US and Iraq troops are in control of 80% of Samarra. There is still sporadic sniper fire there. US forces say they killed 109 insurgents. 30 other insurgents were detained. 1 US soldier was killed. The UNSC has agreed to expand peacekeeping forces in Congo by 6,000. But that's less than 1/2 the number requested by Sec-Gen Annan. Diplomats say the requested 24,000 troop level has been carefully calculated, and now the sit'n will have to be re-evaluated. The head of UN peacekeeping says security ahead of next ys elections is crucial, especially in Bunia and other trouble-spots in the N of the country. The US has called on Israel to use only "proportionate force" in its incursion into N Gaza. With oil in NY closing above $50/bbl, Fin and Oil Mins meeting in Washington have called for an increase in production. A French Muslim school girl has shaved off her hair in response to a ban on head scarves in French schools. The 15 yo said it was the only way she could observe both French and Islamic law. She's now back in school. 1 pm A prison officer in C Vic has been found dead after being questioned by police over kiddie porn. It was a separate investigation to the AFP swoop. The PM has been mobbed by shoppers in N Ryde, in his seat of Bennelong. There were some dissenters. One man wanted to reduce red tape for small business. Another was critical of the govt's policy in the Timor Sea. Israel has launched 2 raids on Jabaliya ref camp today. 3 people are dead and 2 wounded. Israel says the dead were members of Islamic Jihad. 5 pm A new al-Qaeda tape has named AUS as well as the US and Brit. The tape called on supporters to maintain their fight even if terrorist leaders are killed. Observers say it may signal OBL is close to death. There's been an airshow in Amberley, Qld -- the first air show in 20 y. It featured one of the biggest peacetime displays of "military might", say reports. Some observers told Ch 10 the equipment they saw on display was the same they'd served with, years ago. 6.30 pm Mark Latham says he'll be sorry when the campaign ends. Today Mr Latham said if Labour wins the election the PM's residence in SYD will be turned over to charities. He will live in CBR. The attack on Fallujah continues. The US military says 10 people were in a house in Fallujah at the time of a US air strike. Reps say several intel sources indicated the house was a meeting place for al-Zarqawi supporters. Observers say it's highly unusual for Nigerian Pres Obasanjo to meet with militia leaders from the delta. But with the region pumping 2 mn bpd observers say it shows the Pres acks it's important to be seen to be doing something to secure prod'n. }} ---------------------------------------- Sun, 03 Oct 2004. HEADLINES: Oil prices threatens global recovery: IMF Blasts hit India, 17 killed 44 dead in India bomb attacks Tense calm in Samarra after US-Iraqi offensive Italy flags troop pullout after Iraqi election Iraqi beheaded for working with US G7 nations agree to cut Iraq's debt 25 suspected militants caught in Afghanistan Alleged embassy bomber's widow puts faith in God Blair's exit strategy sparks succession fever Child porn penalties to be raised Church offers counselling after child porn allegations Deaths mar Gandhi anniversary Debate boosts Kerry's poll chances Doctors, nurses attack Coalition's Medicare 'lies' Doubts raised over Defence contract 'back-flip' Gunmen shot dead crossing Gaza border fence Gunmen vow more attacks on Israel Health funding calls win Indigenous support Howard rules out tax increases IMF policy makers open annual meeting under heavy security India on alert as cyclone approaches Israel claims militants using UN vehicles Latham offers cheaper PBS prescriptions Latham to clear waiting lists for elderly Megawati appeals for hostage release Mount St Helens poised for new eruption Ozone layer hole shrinks Palestinians declare state of emergency Pitcairn Islanders pray as trials continue Police search for driver after Cottesloe hit-and-run Polls show tight race for marginals Riot rocks Pakistani funerals ScreenSound anniversary revives independence call Sharon moves to widen Gaza offensive Show us old-growth logging policies: forest groups Sky-high 'Not happy John' protest targets PM Thailand proposes South-East Asian wildlife Interpol Thousands of Shiite youths riot in Pakistan US forces target Fallujah rebels US tightens hold on Samarra Whistleblower praises pursuit of alleged paedophile Wilderness Society warns of Launceston water risk @IMF policy makers open annual meeting under heavy security Washington (AFP). IMF policy makers, gathering under heavy police guard, went behind closed doors in Washington on Sat to assess near-term global economic prospects threatened by rising oil prices. Participants were ferried in vans to IMF HQ in the early hours of the morning through a part of downtown Washington that had become a virtual ghost town. While no major protests were expected, police have nonetheless imposed a vast security perimeter, ringing the area around the IMF with massive cement traffic barriers and heavy-duty trucks and denying entrance to anyone without proper credentials. The Dept of Homeland Security in early Aug reported that internat'l financial institutions could be terrorist targets, but IMF and US officials quoted in local press reports said no additional info on the threat had been received. The 24-member Internat'l Monetary and Financial Committee, finance ministers or central bank governors representing all regions of the world, are meeting at a time when the world economy -- according to the IMF -- is in its best shape in nearly 3 decades. But while the global economy is projected to expand a healthy 5% in 2004, the prognosis for next y is uncertain in the face of oil market volatility. The threat was highlighted prominently on Fri in a statement issued here after a meeting of Group of 7 finance ministers and central bankers, who appealed to oil producers to ensure that supplies were sufficient to keep prices manageable. European Central Bank Pres Jean-Claude Trichet told reporters after the meeting that "all we are observing today is not encouraging." He said that if oil prices continued to climb, it would pose "a serious problem" for the world economy. Momentum is also imperilled by lacklustre growth in the euro zone, gaping US budget and current account deficits and, according to Western officials and commentators, Chinese resistance to calls for greater currency flexibility. Another hot-button issue is the crippling debt owed rich countries and internat'l financial institutions by poor countries. An IMF and World Bank initiative on debt relief for the world's poorest was recently extended until the end of 2006, but the effort has been faulted by activist groups and development analysts as vastly insufficient. Brit has offered to pay off 10% of the debt of poor countries owed to the World Bank and other development banks, amounting to a challenge to its wealthy partners to follow its lead. World Bank Pres James Wolfensohn hailed the Brit proposal, calling it "an enormously constructive suggestion." In another potential initiative, Brit and Oxfam have suggested that the IMF revalue its huge gold holdings to help it finance more ambitious debt relief. @Oil prices threatens global recovery: IMF Oil prices have risen by more than 50% in 2004. Washington (AFP). The IMF says action is needed to address the risks to a global recovery, which is threatened by high oil prices and worsening imbalances. Brit Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, who chairs the IMF's policymaking Internat'l Monetary and Financial Committee, says members agree that the global economy has improved. But they also note "that the recovery has been uneven, and with oil prices doubling and global imbalances worsening, we agreed that action must be taken to address risks to the recovery." Mr Brown says the IMF must address problems, "especially in the most vulnerable countries". He notes that it is "important to have stability in our [oil] markets around reasonable prices". The IMF panel says it "welcomes the strengthening and broadening of global economic growth in 2004, supported by a strong upturn in global trade, supportive policies and favourable financial market conditions". The IMF has projected global growth averaging 5% -- the best in 3 decades. At the same time, IMF officials took note of surging crude oil prices, which closed above $US50 for the 1st time on Fri. "The committee notes that downside risks to the recovery have recently increased, stemming in part from the increase and volatility in oil prices," the panel's statement said. "These reflect geopolitical tensions, strong global demand and market dynamics. "The IMF stands ready to assist members that may be adversely affected." The IMF panel reiterates the view on the oil market expressed a day earlier by the Group of 7 (G7) wealthiest industrial countries. It called for adequate supplies, more conservation and increased transparency in global markets. The IMF, like the G7, also expressed a need to improve debt relief for the most impoverished nations. However, it failed to endorse a specific plan or address some calls for a 100% write-off. While Mr Brown reiterates the Brit proposal to unilaterally write off its share of debt and calls on other countries to do the same, the IMF left this for future action. "So many countries have come to a consensus that we've got to do more," Mr Brown said. The IMF, which recently extended its program for partial debt relief, says that it "looks forward to further consideration of outstanding issues in the proposed framework for debt sustainability, before it is made fully operational, and of further debt relief, including its financing." @ScreenSound anniversary revives independence call Canberra. Supporters of the Nat'l Screen and Sound Archives are calling on the Fed Govt to hand back its independence. Today marks the 20th anniversary of ScreenSound's opening in CBR. The archives hold huge amounts of the nation's film and sound heritage dating back to the 1930s. In Jul last y the Fed Govt decided to integrate the archive with the Aussie Film Commission, a move supporters say is a step backwards. Independent film maker Graham Shirley says ScreenSound should be an independent cultural agency, such as the Nat'l War Memorial and Museum. "That's something of a gigantic slap in the face for the Aussie screen and sound media," he said. "The Govt basically doesn't recognise that our screen and sound heritage has as much importance as other cultural institutions, which preserve other forms and format of materials." Shirley says supporters want to see it returned to independent management. "We see the fact that the film commission has chosen not in any way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the archive as being further evidence of the fact that basically they want the film commission to dominate in all the publicity," he said. "The archive, which was once seen as a leading cultural institution, [is] to be very much sublimated to the film commission's own agenda." @Italy flags troop pullout after Iraqi election Rome (AFP/Reuters). Foreign troops would no longer be necessary in Iraq once elections had been held, Italy's Deputy PM Gianfranco Fini has said. "Once an Iraqi govt has been formed, one that represents all Iraqis, the presence of foreign forces will no longer be necessary," Mr Fini said at a joint news conference with Arab League leader Amr Mussa. Italy, which has 3,000 soldiers and police serving in Iraq, has refused the demands of hostage-takers to immediately pull out its troops, saying they would stay through elections. Elections in Iraq are slated for Jan, but there has been growing concern that the continuing violence could disrupt or delay the vote. The US military has vowed to wrest all rebel-held areas from insurgents before the end of the y so elections can be held in Jan. US-led forces backed by warplanes have tightened their grip on the rebel stronghold of Samarra, saying they had killed 125 rebels in one of the largest offensives in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein. War planes have also bombed a building on the outskirts of the rebel-held Iraqi town of Fallujah, targeting what the US military says are 15 to 20 insurgents suspected of links to Islamic militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. @Debate boosts Kerry's poll chances Washington. A Newsweek poll shows that the US Democratic presidential candidate, John Kerry, has surged back into the lead in the race for the White House. The poll says Sen Kerry has been buoyed by his strong success in his recent televised debate with Pres George W Bush. The survey has given Mr Kerry a 49 to 46% edge over Pres Bush in a two-way match up. He also has a 47 to 45% margin in a race also involving independent candidate Ralph Nader. The turnaround comes after the debate on foreign policy and security, which Newsweek reports Mr Kerry clearly won. Its poll shows 61% of those who watched the showdown thought the Democrat came off better, while only 19% felt Pres Bush had won. @Blair's exit strategy sparks succession fever London (Reuters). Brit PM Tony Blair was back at work on Sat after successful heart surgery but his vow to hold on to power for 5 more years has sparked fevered speculation about who might succeed him and when. Mr Blair left his Downing Street office in the morning for Chequers, his official country residence, where his rep said he was due to do some paperwork over the weekend. The secluded mansion is a far cry from Westminster, which was abuzz with gossip over the future shape of Brit politics. Finance Min Gordon Brown has long been seen as the PM's heir-in-waiting but Mr Blair's decision to seek a third full term in office, announced out of the blue on Thu night, would appear to have dented his chances. In theory, Mr Blair could now be in power until 2011, when Brown will be 60. By then, other, younger, candidates will have staked their claims for one of the world's most demanding jobs. Newspapers said Mr Brown was kept in the dark over both Mr Blair's "full 3rd term" decision and the fact the 51-yo premier was about to go into hospital for a heart operation. Mr Brown supporters said the finance minister only heard of Mr Blair's plans when he arrived in Washington for a G7 meeting on Thu, just hrs before Mr Blair told the nation. "I can't believe he's done this," the Guardian newspaper quoted one of Mr Brown's aides as saying. "It's like an African coup. They waited until he [Brown] was out of the country." Some of Mr Brown's supporters say Mr Blair has reneged on a supposed deal made back in 1994 to hand over power in his 2nd term. * Full term Brit PMs are elected for 5-y terms but can -- and often do -- return to the polls before their time is up if they think they have a good chance of winning. That means no one knows exactly when Mr Blair will call the next election and, if he wins, how long his 3rd term would be. Mr Blair is expected to go to the polls in May and according to his supporters is sincere when he says he wants to lead the country for another 5 y after that. "What Tony Blair wants to do is serve that full 3rd term, so all this discussion of labour leadership elections in 5 or 6 y time -- this is frankly becoming ridiculous," said Labour election strategist Alan Milburn, a staunch Blairite seen as Mr Brown's main rival to succeed the PM. While speculation about a looming war of succession filled the editorials of Sat's newspapers, Mr Blair's health also came under scrutiny. Fri's operation was designed to rid him of a condition which gives him occasional heart palpitations. His surgeons said it was a success and the problem was unlikely to recur. The past 18 m have been easily the toughest of Mr Blair's 7-y rule as the war in Iraq has divided Brit and shattered his trust ratings. At times, and despite his youthful air, lean frame and regular work-outs, the father of 4 has looked haggard. But he shows no sign of letting up and will head to Africa on Tue to visit Sudan and Ethiopia. Mr Blair's announcement that he will not stand for a 4th term offers some hope to Mr Brown that one day he will succeed his long-term ally in the top job in Brit politics. The opp'n Conservatives say Mr Blair's unprecedented exit strategy makes him a lame duck PM, but have shown few signs they can unseat him at the next election. Their 4th place finish in a parliamentary election on Thu marked the 1st time in over a decade that a main Brit opp'n party has finished outside the top 3. @Blasts hit India, 17 killed Nagaland state, N India (AFP). At least 17 people were killed and up to 55 were wounded in four powerful explosions in India's revolt-hit NE, police said. 3 blasts were in Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland state, and killed 16 people, police said. The attacks marked the deadliest violence in the state since New Delhi struck a truce with Nagaland's main separatist group, the Nat'l Socialist Council of Nagaland, in 1997. "11 people were killed at a railway station and 5 in 2 bomb blasts in markets," a police rep told AFP. The railway platform where one explosion took place was packed with passengers waiting to board a train. "Up to 50 people were wounded in the 3 blasts and the casualties could go up considering the serious injuries received by many of the people [at the station]," the police rep said. "We are not sure who could be behind the blasts," he said. No other details were immediately available. The 4th blast was in the neighbouring state of Assam's western district of Kokrajhar. One man was killed and 5 were 5 wounded, a police official said. @44 dead in India bomb attacks Nagaland, N India (AP). A string of bombings and shootings across 2 states in India's NE have killed 44 people and left dozens wounded, police say. 9 separate attacks took place in Nagaland and Assam states, police officials in both states told The Associated Press. 2 powerful bombs exploded minutes apart in Nagaland, killing 26 people and injuring 84, Chief Min Neiphiu Rio, the state's top elected official, told The Associated Press after visiting the sites of the attacks. The 1st blast occurred in the railway station in Dimapur, Nagaland's commercial hub, and was followed soon after by a powerful explosion just as shopkeepers were opening up for business in the city's popular "HK" market, said C Kuki, an inspector in the police control room. "We cannot say who is responsible. It is still too early," Rio said by telephone from the state capital, Kohima. Hours later, 7 other attacks hit neighbouring Assam state, leaving a total of 18 people dead. The deadliest of the attacks occurred in the small town of Makri Jhoda, where unidentified gunmen sprayed gunfire at a crowded marketplace, killing 11 people and injuring dozens of others, said local Superintendent of Police L R Bishnoi. The assailants then killed 4 more people as they left the market, he said. @Deaths mar Gandhi anniversary Dimapur, N India (Reuters). Separatist militants have set off bombs and opened fire in areas across India's NE, killing at least 46 people and wounding nearly a 100 in one of the bloodiest days in the troubled region. 2 bombs exploded in a market place in Dimapur, commercial centre of the state of Nagaland. An officer at the local police station says a 3rd ripped through a crowded railway station there almost simultaneously. 26 people died in the Nagaland attacks, which are the deadliest since a cease-fire with the main Naga separatist group began 7 y ago. Later, heavily armed Bodo tribal guerrillas fighting for a separate homeland in the neighbouring state of Assam drove into a town square and gunned down 11 people in a weekly market. Almost simultaneously, guerrillas of the United Liberation Front of Assam set off grenades at 4 different places in Assam, killing 8 people. One man had died in a blast earlier on Sat. Police say the attacks in Nagaland and Assam appeared to be unrelated, but both took place on a day India was marking the birth anniversary of independence leader Mahatma Gandhi. "We haven't found any linkage yet, but the militants are certainly trying to deliver a message on a day when the father of the nation is being remembered," Assam Inspector Gen Khagen Sharma said. India's mountainous NE is home to dozens of underground groups, some fighting for greater autonomy or statehood, and others for secession. The groups accuse the Fed Govt of plundering the region's rich resources and neglecting the local economy. Security analysts say successive Indian govts have largely ignored the NE, focusing almost entirely on the rebellion in the disputed region of Kashmir. Fed Home Min Shivraj Patil is flying to Nagaland amid concern that the attacks in the mountainous state could undermine the peace process. 12 people died in the attack at Nagaland's main railway station in Dimapur and 8 were killed at the market. 6 later died in hospital. "It was a powerful blast, the tin roof of the railway platform has been blown," railway official Robin Kalita said. "There are pieces of flesh and torn human limbs lying on the platform. There are people wailing," Yanger Thakkar, a journalist in Dimapur, said. @Alleged embassy bomber's widow puts faith in God Jakarta (AFP). The wife of a man suspected of blowing himself up in a bombing outside AUS's Jakarta embassy last m says it is "God's wish" he left her alone with a newborn child. Indonesian police chief Da'i Bachtiar has said that DNA tests comparing samples found at the scene of the Sep 9 blast with tissue and blood from suspects' families confirm that the bomber's identity is Heri Kurniawan. His alias is Golun. The suspected suicide bomber killed 9 people when his truck bomb exploded on a busy central Jakarta street. A total of 16 people have so far been arrested over the embassy blast, although only 5 of them have been officially declared suspects. Kurniawan's tearful mother has appeared on TV, denying that her son is the terrorist responsible for the attack. "A lot of people are besmirching my name. They say my son is a terrorist. I am offended. My son is not a terrorist," Anah Suhanah told Metro-TV. "They say my son did that but I'm his mother and I'm not sure." Earlier police arrested a man carrying a letter from Kurniawan in which he sought forgiveness from his pregnant wife and parents for the bombing. "We can't do anything about it. It's already happened. This is the fate of me and my child. It is God's wish," Golun's wife Satem, also known as Sitem, told the Indo Pos newspaper. She gave birth to baby Mohammed 10 days ago. The Indo Pos reports that Golun had left home several m after he married Satem last Dec. "If he was here he'd just go to the rice fields, sometimes look for fish in the pond... that's what he did here," Ms Satem said. Didi Nuhadi, chief of the village where they lived, told Indo Pos that Ms Satem is just an ordinary girl who rarely covered her head and was not a strict follower of Islam until she married Golun. The paper reports that Golun followed a different brand of religion from others in the village, which he left last Aug and never returned to. "None of the kids here wanted to follow him," Mr Nuhadi said. @Megawati appeals for hostage release Megawati Sukarnoputri says Ramadan would provide a timely opportunity for the hostages to be released. Dubai. Indon Pres Megawati Sukarnoputri has appeared on Arab TV to call for the release of 2 Indonesian women being held in Iraq. Speaking on Qatar's Al Jazeera satellite channel, the Pres said the women had gone to Iraq to make a living and feed their families. She said their release would be especially timely as the holy m of Ramadan approaches, a time when all Muslims sought to purify their hearts and be tolerant. A group calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq claims to have seized the women and says it is demanding Indonesia release the radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir. It claims the Indonesian Govt arrested the cleric to please the Aussie Govt. @Iraqi beheaded for working with US Baghdad (Reuters). An Iraqi Islamist group has beheaded an Iraqi contractor it said was working for US forces, a video on an Islamist website showed on Sat. The footage from the group, Ansar al-Sunna, showed a militant beheading the man, identified as Iraqi nat'l Barea Nafea Dawoud Ibrahim. The group said in a statement accompanying the video that Ibrahim was an "apostate" [a person who abandons their faith]. It was dated Oct 2. "I have set up 3 telecommunications networks for the Iraqi Nat'l Guard. I have been working in Taji since Jun 2004," a frightened-looking Ibrahim told the camera. He was wearing an access badge issued by the US forces around his neck. 2 men later held him down and one proceeded to behead him, before placing his severed head on top of his body. "We say to all those who even consider working with the crusader forces that they should repent," the group warned. Militants have kidnapped dozens of Western, Arab and Iraqi hostages. Most have been freed, but many have been killed, often by beheading. The same group beheaded last m 3 Iraqi Kurds who were members of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. @G7 nations agree to cut Iraq's debt Washington (AFP). The world's 7 leading industrialised countries have vowed to reduce Iraq's $US120 bn debt by the end of the y but remain divided on the scope of the cut. "We made progress on the Iraqi debt," French Finance Min Nicolas Sarkozy said. "We agree on a reduction and everyone agrees on reaching an agreement before the end of the year." The Group of 7 -- Brit, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US -- made clear its commitment following a meeting this wk. Mr Sarkozy says France has suggested an immediate reduction of 50%. Over the next 3 y, as Iraq implements measures proposed by the Internat'l Monetary Fund, creditors would consider future debt-related moves. "The Russians, the Germans and the Italians said they agreed with us," Mr Sarkozy said. He says Brit would go along with the French proposal if the initial cancellation were 80%. "The Americans didn't say anything," Mr Sarkozy said. The US and Brit have been arguing for the forgiveness of 95% of Iraq's obligations. @US forces target Fallujah rebels Fallujah (AP). US-led forces have unleashed a strike against a building on the outskirts of rebel-held Fallujah believed to be used for insurgents training, the military says. The attack occurred at 6pm [0100 AEST Sun] and hit a building where 15 to 20 insurgents "were conducting military-style training", it said. "Intel sources confirmed that anti-Iraqi forces were at this position to conduct training in order to disrupt the efforts of local Iraqi security forces, as well as to harass the local populace," the military said. "Throughout the operation, multiple measures were employed to ensure no innocent civilians were present when the strikes took place." The attack killed one man, Khamis Radini, and wounded his wife, brother and 2 young sons, Radini's brother told an AP photographer at the Fallujah hospital. It was the latest in a series of strikes aimed at insurgents believed to have links to Jordanian terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Late Fri, the military struck a suspected terrorist safehouse in Fallujah. Dr Suheib Ahmed at the city hospital said 7 Iraqis were killed and 13 wounded in the air strike, which flattened 2 houses on the N edge of the city. An Associated Press photographer counted 5 bodies and 11 wounded at the hospital. The conflicting figures could not immediately be reconciled. US military officers accuse Fallujah doctors of inflating the number killed and wounded in such attacks. "Intel indicated that there were no innocent civilians at the terrorist safehouse at the time of the strike," the military said. "Several credible intel sources confirmed that members of the terrorist group used this location to plan for suicide attacks on innocent civilians and Iraqi forces." The AP photographer saw 2 houses go up in flames in the air strike in the city's Joghaifi neighbourhood. Bodies seen nr the buildings included women and children. The US command says it has inflicted significant damage on al-Zarqawi's network during wk of "precision strikes" against suspected terrorist hideouts in Fallujah, 65 km W of Baghdad. @US tightens hold on Samarra Samarra (Reuters). US-led forces backed by warplanes have tightened their grip on the rebel stronghold of Samarra, saying they had killed 125 rebels in one of the largest offensives in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein. War planes have also bombed a building on the outskirts of the rebel-held Iraqi town of Fallujah, targeting what the US military says are 15 to 20 insurgents suspected of links to Islamic militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The US military has vowed to wrest all rebel-held areas from insurgents before the end of the y so elections can be held in Jan. The commanding general of the 1ID says the 2-day offensive to retake Samarra, 100 km N of Baghdad, also resulted in the capture of 88 insurgents. Maj-Gen John Batiste has told CNN that operations in the town would continue for several days. Sporadic gunfire can be heard in the city centre but the town is quiet, 2 days after 5,000 US and Iraqi troops launched the operation. More than 80 bodies were brought in to Samarra's hospital on Fri, and 5 more on Sat. Others were left in the streets, with health workers too busy to collect them. The Iraqi Red Crescent says it has evacuated 25 wounded people, including a young girl who later died. Some residents fled, fearing for their lives. "It took me 3 hours to get to a safe place," Abu Muhammad, a labourer, said. "Not all of us are the resistance. You can see the resistance. Go see the bodies in the streets of Samarra. "Snipers are positioned over houses. They shoot at us when we try to go out." The US military says that Iraqi Nat'l Guards have secured Samarra's hospital and a team of 70 Iraqi volunteers have arrived from Tikrit to help deal with the wounded. Meanwhile, the US gave no indication of the casualty toll from the Fallujah air raid, which is the 2nd such attack around the insurgent-held city in 24 hr. "Multinat'l Force Iraq conducted a precision strike against a building where 15 to 20 anti-Iraqi force personnel [US terminology for insurgents] were conducting military-style training on the outskirts of Fallujah," the military said. "Anti-Iraqi force criminals are reported to have links to local terrorist elements, specifically the Abu Musab al-Zarqawi terrorist network," the statement said. The military insists their operation has been a success, but there was no immediate way of verifying its claims. "Throughout the operation, multiple measures were employed to ensure no innocent civilians were present when the strikes took place," it said. @Tense calm in Samarra after US-Iraqi offensive Samarra (AFP). A tense calm interrupted now and then by sporadic gunfire has descended on Samarra, a day after a US-Iraqi offensive against rebels in the city N of Baghdad. The streets of the centre's Motasem neighbourhood were deserted as residents said water and power were cut off. Reports of unidentified snipers on roof tops in the city made it virtually impossible for reporters not embedded with US troops to venture out on the streets. Almost 3,000 US soldiers backed by about 2,000 Iraqi forces stormed into Samarra at dawn on Fri in a bid to regain the city from the grip of insurgents ahead of Jan nat'l elections. Iraqi Nat'l Security Adviser Qassim Daoud claimed Iraqi and US forces entered the city at the behest of Samarra's residents vowing the operations would continue until the area is "cleansed of terrorists, criminals and former regime elements." A US military statement said 109 rebels and one US soldier were killed in the assault, while local hospitals reported 90 killed and 180 wounded. @25 suspected militants caught in Afghanistan Kabul (AFP). Reports from Afghanistan say 25 suspected militants have been arrested in a pre-dawn swoop in the capital, Kabul, and a cache of explosives seized. The arrests were made one wk ahead Afghanistan's historic presidential elections. Afghan intel sources say the men were detained after a shipping container holding explosives, rockets and a waistcoat of the type used in suicide bombings was discovered. A US military rep in Afghanistan says the detained men have reported ties to Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda terrorist network and the ousted Taliban regime. @Palestinians declare state of emergency Targeted: 2 Hamas militants were killed and 7 people injured in this air strike. Gaza (AFP/Reuters). The Palestinian Cabinet has declared a state of emergency in its territories, with leader Yasser Arafat appealing for internat'l help against a massive Israeli incursion. The incursion has killed a further 11 Palestinians in fighting on Sat, local time. 7 of those were killed in the early hours of Sat while another died of his wounds, with 2 subsequent Israeli air strikes killing one and then 2 Palestinians. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat is calling on the world to end the "criminal and racist" Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip. Israel says the campaign is to root out militants firing improvised rockets into Israeli territory. But militants of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas say they would continue to fire the rockets and would target the port city of Ashkelon. "The Israeli military operation has failed," a leader of Hamas's military wing, the Ezzedin al-Qassam Brigades, said. "We will continue to fire Qassam rockets." However, another Hamas leader says that his group is prepared to stop firing rockets if Israeli forces ended their campaign in the northern Gaza Strip. "Our sons will stop the firing of Qassam rockets as a means of defence if the Israeli occupier ceases its aggressive incursion and its occupation in the N of the Gaza Strip," Ismail Haniyeh said. * Expanded operation Israeli PM Ariel Sharon said on Sat that Israel should expand its massive raid of N Gaza. "We must expand the areas of operation to ward off the [militant] launchers from the areas within the firing range of the rockets into Jewish towns over the border," Mr Sharon told Israel Radio in his first public comments on the raid. Mr Sharon and his security cabinet had ordered the army to carve out a "buffer zone" to halt rocket strikes that have fuelled right-wing criticism of his plan to pull out all soldiers and Jewish settlers from Gaza by the end of 2005. "We must operate in Gaza in a way that will prevent attacks on settlements now and during the withdrawal," he said. "It's necessary to change the situation in Gaza, to hit the militants and the heads of terror groups and those who create weapons that target us." * Emergency meeting Mr Arafat has held an emergency Cabinet meeting. "I call on the entire world to act immediately and rapidly to stop the criminal and racist [attack]," he said. He denies that any of the rockets fired at Israel has caused any casualties, contradicting Israeli reports that 2 children had been killed in the S Israeli town of Sderot on Wed. "These rockets the Israelis are talking about have not killed anyone... and only make noise," he said. A Palestinian Cabinet statement calls for internat'l intervention and humanitarian help for the people of Gaza. It denounces what it called "world silence in the face of the magnitude of crimes committed". Israeli troops have killed 56 Palestinians since Tue night when more than 100 Israeli tanks, backed by aircraft, moved into the N Gaza Strip in the operation called "Days of Penitence". Shops have closed in the W Bank and Gaza Strip in a widely followed strike to protest at the deaths of the Palestinians. * Internat'l condemnation Egypt and France have joined mounting calls for a halt to the violence. Spain, Switzerland, the Internat'l Committee of the Red Cross and Canada have also expressed concern at the continuing violence. The Arab League will hold an emergency session on Sun to discuss the violence in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian representative Mohammed Sobeih says the permanent delegates to the league would meet at the request of the Palestinians to "discuss the savage and continuing Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in all cities, villages and refugee camps, notably in the Gaza Strip". * Deaths Palestinian security sources say Israeli gunfire killed a Palestinian early on Sat nr his home in Rafah in the S Gaza Strip. 2 Palestinians died and 4 were wounded in an Israeli air raid on the Jabaliya refugee camp in the N of the Gaza Strip overnight. Officials say the dead are members of the Islamic Jihad group. In a separate operation, the Israeli Army says its troops shot dead four members of a Palestinian commando after they had managed to infiltrate Israel from the Gaza Strip. Later, hospital sources in Gaza City said a Palestinian hit during an Israeli air raid on the Jabaliya camp on Fri had died of his wounds. Medics say 2 Hamas militants were killed when a rocket fired by an Israeli helicopter slammed into their vehicle in the Gaza Strip, leaving 7 others wounded. On the Israeli side, 2 soldiers and a female Jewish settler in the Gaza Strip have also died since the incursion began, as well as the 2 children in Sderot. @Gunmen vow more attacks on Israel Gaza (AFP). A massive Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip's largest refugee camp has entered its 3rd bloody day, with troops and aircraft hitting hard at militants and masked Hamas gunmen vowing more rocket attacks on Israeli towns. The expanding Israeli offensive has claimed 50 Palestinian lives, including 10 killed on Sat. The Israeli death toll stood at 5. About 2,000 Israeli troops have taken control of a nine km stretch of the N Gaza Strip -- home to tens of 1000s of Palestinians living in some of the world's most crowded conditions. The fighting once again plunged the encircled, poverty-stricken Gaza Strip into scenes of anguish. Mothers wept over their children's corpses, tank fire ripped through groups of militants and bystanders, stone-throwing youngsters faced off against well-armed Israeli troops and tyres burned in the streets to confuse Israeli spy drones. Militant groups have called a commercial strike that closed most shops and businesses in Gaza, while gunmen fortified their positions in the Jabaliya camp and 2 other nearby towns also commandeered by Israel. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat denounced the Israeli offensive as "monstrous", but his prime minister, Ahmed Qurie, warned against the consequences of firing missiles into Israel. Israeli aircraft killed at least 5 Palestinian militants on Sat, including 2 targeted from a helicopter while travelling in a car. Troops also shot dead 4 Palestinians who managed to cut through the Gaza border fence and approach an Israeli communal farm. The buffer zone Israel created inside Jabaliya may help stop militants from firing homemade Qassam rockets into Israel. One such rocket attack provoked the current incursion by killing 2 Israeli pre-school children on Wed. But any lull in rocket fire will likely only be temporary -- unless Israel stays in the camp indefinitely. "The nine-km buffer zone is there because the range of the Qassams at this time is around nine kms," said Captain Sharon Feingold, an Israeli army rep. "So at this time we believe we have dramatically reduced the terrorist organisations' capability to hit an Israeli town and target Israeli children." She added that Israel may have to stay in the camp for a long time, but did not say how long. The Israeli campaign, dubbed "Days of Penitence", is by all accounts just getting started. Officials said the operation would be open-ended -- PM Ariel Sharon's answer to the militant rocket attacks that threaten to turn public opinion against his planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005. Yet the militant Hamas group said Israel should not only expect more rockets, but longer-range ones that would strike deeper and deeper into the Jewish state. In their first-ever news conference, members of the secretive Hamas military wing Izzedine al Qassam threatened to launch rockets at the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon, which is 15 km N of Gaza and has been out of reach of the rockets. @Gunmen shot dead crossing Gaza border fence Jerusalem (ABC, Mark Willacy). The Israeli Army has killed 4 Palestinian gunmen who had crossed from Gaza into Israel. The men from the militant Hamas movement and the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades were killed after a fierce gun fight. Using the cover of dense fog to avoid detection by soldiers, the Palestinian gunmen climbed over the border fence that separates Israel from Gaza. But the men triggered the fence's alarm system and they were soon confronted by troops who shot them dead. The Palestinians were armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles and the military believes they were on their way to attack a nearby Israeli community. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Cabinet has declared a state of emergency in response to the massive Israeli military operation in Gaza. More than 50 Palestinians have died since the operation was launched. @Israel claims militants using UN vehicles [UN claims pix show man carrying folded stretcher]. Jerusalem (AFP). Israel will lodge a strong protest with the UN after releasing footage of what it says are Palestinian militants using a UN ambulance to transport rockets, Israeli army radio reports. Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Gillerman, is to address a written protest to Sec-Gen Kofi Annan. "The UN's role is to bring peace and not to give shelter to killers of women and children," the radio quotes the letter as saying. "The UN must set up a commission of enquiry to look deeply into the matter and find out if its employees have collaborated or been used." Mr Gillerman accuses Peter Hansen, the director of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA, of being "heavily implicated in this problem". "Peter Hansen is far from being considered a friend of Israel, on the contrary, he hates Israel," Mr Gillerman said. Israeli TV has broadcast video footage taken by a drone in the northern Gaza Strip that it says shows Palestinian militants carrying a Qassam rocket launcher getting into a vehicle with the United Nations logo on the roof. The Israeli Army says that one of its drones shot the footage on Fri evening above Jabaliya refugee camp in the N Gaza Strip. Israel has been conducing a massive incursion into the N Gaza Strip since Tue, which is aimed at preventing rocket attacks on Israeli territory. 54 Palestinians have so far been killed in the operation, as well as 2 Israeli soldiers, a settler and 2 Israeli children killed by a Palestinian rocket in the S Israeli town of Sderot on Wed. The Israeli accusation against the United Nations followed a UN complaint against Israel that its troops had taken over UN-run schools in the Gaza Strip, while children were still in class, and used them as firing positions for tanks. "They have now taken positions in these 3 schools and using them as a military camp for their ongoing campaign, using them also as firing positions," the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said. "UNRWA strongly protests the totally unacceptable misuse of clearly marked UN installations and calls on the Israeli military to respect the neutrality of these places," agency rep Matthias Burchard said. @Sharon moves to widen Gaza offensive Jerusalem (Reuters). PM Ariel Sharon says Israel should expand its massive raid of N Gaza, one of the army's deadliest offensives in more than 4 y of conflict with the Palestinians. The Israeli army killed 9 militants in and around the Gaza Strip on Sat local time, raising to 47 the number of Palestinian deaths in the massive offensive. The offensive is aimed at rooting out militants who fire rockets at Israeli towns. "We must expand the areas of operation to ward off the launchers from the areas where the firing range of rockets reach Jewish towns over the border," Mr Sharon told Israel Radio. Nearly 200 tanks and armoured vehicles seized control of 9 square kms of the coastal territory in an operation mounted after a rocket attack killed 2 Israeli toddlers in a border town on Wed. Mr Sharon and his security cabinet have ordered the army to carve out a "buffer zone" to halt such assaults. The assaults have fuelled right-wing criticism of his plan to pull soldiers and Jewish settlers out of Gaza by the end of 2005. "We must operate in Gaza in a way that will prevent attacks on settlements now and during the withdrawal," Mr Sharon said. Palestinian Pres Yasser Arafat's leadership condemns the Israeli incursion as "ugly state terror and war crimes". It also signals that militants should stop rocket attacks, saying they give Israelis "the pretext to pursue their crimes". The Palestinian dead from the operation, code-named "Days of Reckoning", include civilians as well as fighters. Israeli fatalities are 2 soldiers and a woman jogger. * Jabalya For the 1st time in the conflict, Israeli forces moved deep into the Gaza Strip's biggest refugee camp of Jabalya. The mass of buildings is home to 100,000 people and a base for Hamas militants firing rockets into Israel. The cycle of bloodshed has sent Mr Sharon scrambling to counter rightist critics, who say his Gaza pullout plan has emboldened militants trying to give the impression Israel is being driven out. Israel is determined to smash armed groups before leaving. Hamas, a militant group sworn to Israel's destruction, has threatened to use its rockets to hit towns deeper inside Israeli territory. The Israeli Army says gunmen have been upgrading rockets, which may increase their firing range. Mr Sharon dismissed the comments, saying: "Such words do not matter. [Israeli forces] are taking the required steps to preserve the well-being of Israel's citizens. It is our duty and it will be done." Militants have fired 100s of Qassam rockets, with an estimated range of 8 kms. Only one reached the S Israeli town of Ashkelon, causing no casualties. @India on alert as cyclone approaches Deli (Reuters). A low-intensity seasonal cyclone is likely to hit the coastal areas of India's W Gujarat state on Sun [local time], a weather official said. The storm in the Arabian Sea was some 250 km SW of Gujarat's coast and could make a landfall between the towns of Nalia and Porbander, said Kamaljeet Singh, director of the Indian Meteorological Dept. "It's a seasonal cyclone and could lead to heavy rains and a tide surge of 2 to 3 metres ... Considering the low intensity of the cyclone, it is unlikely to cause heavy damage," she said. Authorities have alerted ports and fishing harbours in the region and warned fishermen against venturing into the sea. Nearly 3,000 people died when a powerful cyclone hit the coastal areas of Gujarat in 1998. @Riot rocks Pakistani funerals Sialkot, Pak (AP). Mass mourning for victims of a suicide attack on a Shi'ite mosque that killed 31 people dissolved into violence as youths rampaged through this eastern Pakistan city for a 2nd day, burning a police station and the mayor's office. Meanwhile, investigators questioned survivors of Fri's blast and sifted through the carnage at the Zainabia mosque in Sialkot for clues, but said it's not yet clear whether al-Qaeda had a hand in the attack. 100s of army troops and police commandos patrolled the streets, but initially struggled to contain rioting by youths that broke out after about 15,000 Shi'ite Muslim mourners, beating their chests and wailing, had gathered for a mass funeral for victims of the bombing. The rioters attacked the office of Mayor Mian Javed, who was not inside. They also burned a record room of a court, a police station and several motorcycles parked there. There were no reports of injuries. Youths shouted slogans against the govt of Pres Gen Pervez Musharraf, the United States and the perpetrators of the attack. By late afternoon, security forces had brought the situation under control and the city was quiet. The Pakistani govt offered a reward of 10 mn rupees [$A330,000] for info leading to the identity of the suicide bomber, as police investigators searched for clues at the mosque and questioned witnesses. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, and officials declined to speculate on who was responsible. "Police and other security agencies are still investigating, and at this stage I cannot say whether al-Qaeda was involved in this act of terrorism," provincial law minister Raja Basharat Elahi told The AP. Police quoted witnesses as saying the attacker strode into the mosque carrying the bomb in a briefcase and the moment he opened it, it exploded, killing 16 people on the spot. 15 others died later. Elahi said 29 of the bodies had been identified, and one or 2 of the unclaimed bodies could have been suicide bombers. Interior Min Aftab Khan Sherpao was quoted as saying by the state news agency the attack may have been a reaction to the death of Amjad Hussain Farooqi, a top Pakistani al-Qaeda operative and radical Sunni Muslim militant group leader who was killed by Pakistani security forces in a gun-battle a wk ago. Farooqi was accused in a string of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, including the kidnapping and beheading of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002, and 2 assassination attempts against Musharraf in Dec that killed 17 other people. Farooqi was allegedly part of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi militant group, blamed for a string of attacks on Shi'ites, including 2 bombings of mosques in the volatile S city of Karachi in May that killed more than 40 people. In the 3 y since Musharraf threw Pakistan's support behind the US-led war on terror, Islamic militants, often linked to al-Qaeda, have launched repeated attacks against the govt and W targets. Violence has also been directed at Shi'ites, who make up about 20% of Pakistan's 150 mn people, most of whom are Sunni Muslims. @Thousands of Shiite youths riot in Pakistan Sialkot (AFP). Thousands of Shiite youths have rioted in Pakistan as mourning relatives buried the dead from a suspected suicide bombing that killed at least 30 people at a mosque in eastern Sialkot city. The tensions flared as police launched investigations into the blast which ripped through a Shiite mosque in the city during Fri prayers. Members of the Shiite Imamia Students Organisation staged violent protests and burned tyres at various locations after police blocked entry points to the city and Pakistani soldiers stepped up their patrols. "We will continue our protest until the culprits behind the attack are arrested," the organisation's president, Nasir Shirazi, told AFP. Witnesses said vehicles were set alight and crowds attacked govt buildings after 1000s of people carrying black flags attended funeral prayers for 9 of those killed in the mosque blast. An angry crowd of about 2,000 people carrying rifles, iron rods and batons ransacked the offices of Pakistan Internat'l Airlines, state-owned Nat'l Bank branch, district courts and the district jail, the witnesses said. The crowd torched the office of Sialkot's mayor and besieged a police station, with officers from a commando unit responding with gunfire and tear gas to disperse them. Security officials said earlier the mosque bomb blast, which also left dozens of people injured, was an act of terrorism. "We believe the bomber carried the explosive into the mosque in a briefcase which he detonated while sitting amongst the worshippers and also blew himself up," the official, who did not wish to be identified, told AFP. "It is an act of terrorism..," police chief Nisar Ahmed told AFP. "We believe a suicide bomber carried out the dastardly attack at a time when 100s of worshippers were present inside the mosque for Fri's prayers." @Mount St Helens poised for new eruption Washington state (AFP). Mount St Helens volcano, which roared to life on Fri with a giant plume of steam and ash, remains dangerous and could erupt again at any time, scientists have warned. "An eruption could happen right now, in a few days or a few weeks," Catherine Puckett, a rep for the US Geological Survey (USGS), said. She says agency scientists are coordinating possible alerts with authorities, including the Fed Aviation Admin. Aircraft have already been warned to avoid the area around the volcano. The mountain is quiet after Fri's outburst, but scientists remain concerned that another eruption is in the works. Ms Puckett says pressure within the volcano has again been rising. "In just a few hours after yesterday's event, it started ramping up again to levels seen just before the event," USGS hydrologist Thomas Pierson said. "Those levels of heat and intensity have since gone higher." Mount St Helens last erupted in 1986, and an earlier eruption in 1980 killed 57 people. @Pitcairn Islanders pray as trials continue Pitcairn Is, C Pac. A church service is to be held on the Pacific's Pitcairn Island today, as the community prepares for its 2nd wk of sex abuse trials. 7 men, who are all leaders of the Brit colony's tiny community, are alleged to have raped and indecently assaulted a number of girls. In the openings of the 1st 3 trials, the prosecution has suggested that the defendants believed they could assault the youngsters when and how they pleased. The defence has denied the events took place. Tomorrow, the 4th trial -- that of the island's 49-yo postmaster, Dennis Christian, opens. He faces a total of 4 charges of sexual assault. @Wilderness Society warns of Launceston water risk Launceston, Tas. There are claims that Launceston, in Tas, could face a major environmental threat to its water supply. The Wilderness Society is warning that under current forestry plans, 22% of the Upper N Esk and St Patrick sub-catchment areas will end up being converted to plantations. A public tour of the region has been conducted, allowing people to form their own opinion. Nat'l forests campaigner Sean Cadman says the large-scale aerial spraying of plantations is just as big an issue for Launceston's water supply as it is for St Helens on the E coast. "These are the areas for Launceston where most of our rain falls," he said. "The lower parts of the catchment are quite dry but most of the rainfall that's captured into the rivers where we take our water from is actually in these areas where this conversion and massive expansion of forestry has occurred." @Health funding calls win Indigenous support Canberra. A prominent Indigenous academic has supported calls by the Rural Doctors Association and the Aussie Medical Association (AMA) for more funding for Aboriginal health. Rural doctors want Labor and the Coalition to commit an extra $400 mn a y to Indigenous health. Academic Boni Robertson has sent an open letter to fed Parliament. She says election policy statements are offensive to her people. "You can't just marginalise part of the constituency, especially leading up to an election," she said. "All parties should put on the table their intentions about how they're going to represent the people if they get elected and I think they've let us down." Ms Robertson says Indigenous health issues are not being dealt with appropriately. "A lot of the funding that has been given has been spasmodic, it's been short-term," she said. "There's been no real long-term planning. "Most of our people live on short-term survival. "We can't even get into long-term planning ourselves because of the funding shortage." @Doubts raised over Defence contract 'back-flip' Darwin. The NT Govt has expressed scepticism over changes to a nat'l defence maintenance contract promised by the Coalition. 100s of local defence contractors had feared they would be locked out of Defence work under the $bn contract with TenixToll. The contract has become an election issue in the knife-edge Darwin seat of Solomon. This weekend the Coalition pledged to change the terms of the Tenix deal, introducing a two-y transition period during which local businesses would be used as sub-contractors. The Territory's Defence Support Min, Paul Henderson, has questioned the timing of the announcement. "It is a back-flip at the last minute by the Commonwealth, that's why I'm very suspicious," he said. He says the detail of the proposed change needs to be seen. "Each one of those 240 territory businesses needs a rolled gold guarantee form Sen [Robert] Hill that they will continue to receive the same amount of work via TenixToll as they're currently receiving directly from the Commonwealth," Mr Henderson said. Fed Defence Min Robert Hill says he is responded to concerns raised with him during his recent visits to the Top End. "Being better informed, I said we certainly had no intention of undermining good local business," he said. @Show us old-growth logging policies: forest groups Melbourne. Both sides of Tas's forest debate are urging the major political parties to announce their old-growth logging policies without further delay. With the election less than a wk away, both the Greens and timber workers believe the issue could tip the result. Greens leader Bob Brown says as expected, Tas's forests have emerged as a nat'l election issue. "The clock's coming up to ballot box midnight, and the forest packages have to come out," he said. "I know many Aussie votes are going to be determined by that." The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union's Michael O'Connor has warned both the major parties that there will be an electoral backlash if they move to protect Tas's old-growth forests. "They can't form govt unless they win the majority of regional seats," Mr O'Connor said. "They won't win the majority of regional seats if they butcher the Tasn timber industry." He says his members do not want Tas to go the way of Western AUS, where old-growth logging has been phased out. "It doesn't matter how the W Aussie Govt wants to spin it, anybody wants to go to [the] SW of W AUS will know that it has been a disaster," he said. "We want to ensure that that's not the policies that either Mr Howard or Mr Latham are going to announce." Mr O'Connor says the union will step up its nat'l campaign for timber job security. He says the forest industry will be making use of 10,000 names, addresses and phone numbers of electors in key Vicn seats this week. "There are a 140,000 people that work in this industry, 1000s will be contacted on this issue," he said. @Sky-high 'Not happy John' protest targets PM Sydney. Several groups campaigning against the Coalition are have combined to have the message "Not happy John" written in the air over PM John Howard's SYD residence. A skywriting aircraft has attempted to create the message but the words began disappearing before they had been completed. The sky protest had been planned to coincide with the Coalition's campaign launch in Bris last weekend but was postponed at the last minute. @Doctors, nurses attack Coalition's Medicare 'lies' Sydney. An alliance of health professionals says it is sick of the Coalition's Medicare promises, dismissing them as "lies and false impressions". The Doctors Reform Society, the NSW Nurses Association and the Aussie Nurses Federation are banding together to raise awareness of health issues. The alliance's Dr Tim Woodruff says the it wants to inform the public that although a lot of money is being thrown around, none of it is going to make a difference. He says the group will present a letter to PM John Howard today calling for honesty on the issue of affordable health care. "For example, the Health Min [Tony Abbott] said that the huge amount spent on increasing the rebate for seeing general practice was going to result in a $20,000 pay rise for general practitioners," he said. "In other words not going to patient care, not making it easier for patients to access health services." @Polls show tight race for marginals Sydney. Support for Mark Latham and the Labor Party has grown in 4 key New South Wales marginal seats just a wk before the fed election, according to the latest Taverner poll published in the Sun-Herald newspaper. But a Newspoll published in the Sun Telegraph shows Labor trailing the Coalition in marginal seats. The polls come after Mr Latham's campaign launch on Wed, with his Medicare Gold package grabbing the headlines. Although it failed to impress many over 75's, the Taverner poll showed a swing by the younger and middle-aged voters. Older constituents in Eden Monaro, Parramatta, Dobell and Greenway are still leaning the Coalition's way on the two-party preferred, but the primaries are where Labor is holding sway and the preferences will make the difference. Overall, the Taverner poll gives the Labor Party at 43% of the primary vote and the Coalition 41%. The seat of Eden-Monaro, which has accurately reflected the incoming govt for 30 y, puts Labor ahead in the two-party preferred vote by 4%. Parramatta, Greenway and the central coast seat of Dobell are also looking good for the ALP. The poll's Phillip Mitchell Taverner says although John Howard is still ahead as preferred PM at 43% to Mr Latham's 39%, things could change. "The Liberals need something major to help them," he said. He says its seems as though Labor is making sense but the polls are volatile. The Newspoll shows the Coalition has 51.5% of the vote in its marginals, compared with Labor's 48.5%, on a 2-party preferred basis. That is almost the same polling result as those taken at the beginning of the campaign. @Latham to clear waiting lists for elderly Labor's policy would begin in Jul 2006. Sydney. Fed Labor leader Mark Latham has promised to clear hospital waiting lists for aged Aussies within the 1st term of govt if elected. Labor's Medicare Gold policy would provide free hospital care for everyone over the age of 75. If Labor wins next Sat's election, the policy would be due to begin in Jul 2006. Mr Latham has committed clearing the waiting lists for over 75s. "The job can be achieved very quickly," he said. "Just last wk we had the joint meeting with the head of the Catholic hospital system. "He explained that just one hospital in Bris, the Mater, they could take an extra 6,500 admissions if they had the resources." @Howard rules out tax increases Canberra. PM John Howard has ruled out increasing taxes or introducing any new taxes if he wins next Sat's fed election. Mr Howard made the new promise on Channel Nine. Asked if he would rule out any tax increases or new taxes the Coalition won the election, Mr Howard answered, "Yes, I do". Mr Howard says he will also match Labor's promise, which is that tax and spending by the Fed Govt would fall as a proportion of AUS's gross domestic product. Mr Howard has attacked Opp'n Leader Mark Latham for measures in his tax package. Mr Howard says they run contrary to Mr Latham's claim in Jul that Labor was not proposing any new taxes. "When he announced his tax and family benefits policy, he announced 11 tax increases of different kinds," Mr Howard said. "A payroll tax, a superannuation guarantee surcharge, increases in tax for single income families over a certain level, increases in cigarette taxes, increases in departure tax." Mr Howard denies claims that he has broken a previous election promise that he would not increase taxes. Mr Latham has accused Mr Howard of putting up 130 taxes and levies over the past 3 y, despite saying he would not do so. Mr Howard says the Ansett levy, and the sugar and milk levies, that he has introduced were different. "You do have to see a difference between things like that and straight tax increases, the like of which I've described, ... between his promise in Jul of no new tax increases and the election day," he said. The Opp'n Leader has promised that Labor will not make any changes to the tax system, apart from those he has already announced. Labor's planning to pay for a tax cut for middle-income earners, by increasing the tax on cigarettes and airport departures. Apart from these measures in the tax and family policy, Mark Latham is giving this guarantee: "To implement those commitments, nothing more, nothing less, and above and beyond that, no change in the taxation system". John Howard says Mr Latham has broken a commitment he gave in Jul that Labor was not proposing new taxes. @Latham offers cheaper PBS prescriptions Labor plans to cut co-payments. Sydney. Labor leader Mark Latham has announced a $700 mn plan to cut the price of medicines. Labor claims the Govt has adopted its plan to save $830 mn through greater use of generic medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Mr Latham says under his Govt most of those savings would go towards reducing the PBS co-payment for pensioners and concession card holders to $4 per script. The maximum co-payment for other individuals and families would be $25 per script, a cut of $3.60. Mr Latham made the announcement while visiting sick children at the Westmead Children's Hospital in the marginal SYD seat of Parramatta. Mr Latham says a Labor govt would also double the immunisation allowance to $427.20 from Jul next y. * Waiting list promise Mr Latham today also promised to clear hospital waiting lists for aged Aussies within the 1st term of govt if elected. Labor's Medicare Gold policy would provide free hospital care for everyone over the age of 75. If Labor wins next Sat's election, the policy would be due to begin in Jul 2006. Mr Latham has committed clearing the waiting lists for over 75s. "The job can be achieved very quickly," he said. "Just last wk we had the joint meeting with the head of the Catholic hospital system. "He explained that just one hospital in Bris, the Mater, they could take an extra 6,500 admissions if they had the resources." @Whistleblower praises pursuit of alleged paedophile Adelaide. SA police have been praised for their pursuit of former St Peters College chaplain John Mountford, who is wanted on child sex charges. It is expected Mountford could be held in Thailand for 2 m before being extradited to Adel. Reverend Don Owers, who blew the whistle on the Anglican Church's handling of sex abuse claims in Adel, has welcomed news of Mountford's arrest. He has praised SA's paedophile task force and the State Govt for providing resources to track down Mountford. "If extradition proceedings are successful and he can be brought to trial in Adel, it offers a measure of justice for families and individuals, who've been really badly hurt by him," he said. @Church offers counselling after child porn allegations Police made raids across AUS and expect to make more arrests. Melbourne. Parishioners at St Philip's Anglican parish will be counselled by church officials after the suspension of their priest following child pornography allegations. Police told church officials 3 days ago that Reverend John Crump, who has been the parish's priest for 3 y, would be charged. More than 200 people have been charged with 2,000 offences and police expect to make more arrests nationwide. The general manager of the Anglican Archdiocese of MEL, John McKenzie, says it will be difficult time for the parishioners and their counsellors. "These are unusual things that nobody's very experienced with," he said. "The church wardens have got a plan in place to talk people through it and the church has put in another priest that will be there to help people through whatever their questions might be." Mr McKenzie says parishioners will have serious concerns. "I think it's unlikely the children have been at risk," he said. "I did ask the police when they contacted me 2 days ago whether that was the case and they didn't indicate it was. "I think that might become clearer as they go through their investigation." Dozens of those charged have appeared in courts around AUS. Fed Justice Min Sen Chris Ellison says the nationwide crackdown on child pornography, Operation Auxin, will continue despite the suicides of 4 people questioned during the operation. @Child porn penalties to be raised More than 200 people have been charged after nationwide raids. Sydney. NSW A-G Bob Debus says he is introducing legislation to raise the maximum penalty for the possession of child pornography. The current penalty is a maximum two-y jail sentence, which is less than half of the 5 y maximum in Vic, ACT and Western AUS. In Jan, the Fed Govt will introduce a 10-y jail term for downloading child pornography. Mr Debus says some strict legislation has been put in place for child sex offenders in NSW but more can be done. He says the NSW Govt will do whatever is necessary to protect children. "We are learning that the crime is much more widespread than anybody had understood and its because of the Internet," he said. "That means that we're all going to have to keep the matter under review. "I will be talking with other attorneys-general in the nr future about standardising the maximum penalty for child pornography itself." @Police search for driver after Cottesloe hit-and-run Perth. Police have mounted a major operation in the Perth suburb of North Fremantle tonight, following serious injuries sustained by a child who was hit by a four-wheel drive vehicle in the nearby area of Cottesloe. Police say the driver of a grey Range Rover fled the scene in Margaret Street, Cottesloe, after running down the child, believed to be aged about two. The driver later abandoned the vehicle and fled into scrubland near the railway line bordering the beach at N Fremantle. Police have a helicopter scouring the area with a searchlight, and have called in the dog squad. The child is in a stable condition in the intensive care unit of Perth's Princess Margaret Hospital. @Thailand proposes South-East Asian wildlife Interpol Bangkok (AFP). Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra has proposed an Interpol-style agency for South-East Asia to tackle the region's $multi-bn illegal wildlife trade. He made the announcement at the opening of a major global wildlife summit in Thailand, a nation criticised in the past for failing to crack down on smuggling and stung by claims that it was an "exotic supermarket" of wildlife products. "I would like to declare that Thailand is prepared to take the lead in the formation of a new South-East Asian regional law enforcement network to combat nature crimes," Mr Thaksin told the 13th meeting of the Convention on Internat'l Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). "The illegal trading in wildlife, timber and other natural resources is now surpassed only in trafficking in drugs and weapons." Mr Thaksin said if the proposal was supported he would press for a meeting of Asian nations in 2005 to draw up an outline for the new force. The premier said Thailand had already taken strides to crack down on illegal wildlife trading, but wanted a regional force that could potentially work with internat'l law enforcers. "This proposed network could at some time in the future join forces with other law enforcement networks around the world," he said. Countries, activists and organisations are meeting in Bangkok until Oct 14 to discuss proposed changes to trading regulations designed to protect some of the world's rarest animals and plants. @Ozone layer hole shrinks Wellington (Reuters). A gaping hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica appears to have shrunk by about 20% from last y's record-breaking size, New Zealand scientists say. The Nat'l Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA) say its measurements back up NASA satellite data showing the hole has peaked at about 24 mn square kms. Last y it was 29 mn square kms. The ozone layer sits about 15 to 30 km above the earth, filtering harmful ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer. Industrial chemicals containing chlorine and bromine, which are used in refrigerators and aerosols, have been blamed for thinning the layer because they attack the ozone molecules, causing them to break apart. NIWA scientist Stephen Wood cautions against reading too much into the hole's smaller size, which he says is also influenced by natural variations. "We need to see smaller or less severe ozone holes over a number of years before we can say for certain that ozone is recovering," he said. The only inhabited area that might possibly be affected by the hole would be the S tip of S America. Under the 1987 Montreal Protocol, more than 180 signatory states have committed to phasing out the use of nearly 100 ozone-damaging substances. In 2002, the ozone hole suddenly shrank, raising hopes it had turned the corner and was starting to close. However, some scientists later put it down to an abnormality caused by atmospheric conditions. {{ Midnight. US and Iraqi forces are meeting "pockets of resistance" in Samarra, after 2 days of an on-going assault. They say they have about 70% of the city under control. Residents report US snipers are positioned on high buildings, and say they are too scared to go outside. Bodies are lying in the streets. Some have been buried in gardens. Water and electricity is still cut off. The US says they've made another "precision air strike" on Fallujah. Pres Megawati has appeared on Arabic TV to appeal for the release of 2 Indon women held hostage. The release would be especially timely in the run-up to Ramadan, said Megawati. There was no reason to hold the hostages, she added. They had gone to Iraq to support their families and make a living and had no political motives. The kidnappers are demanding the release of a Muslin cleric in Indon. Hamas says it will continue rocket attacks on Israeli towns. It made the statement in Jabaliya ref camp. 4 Hamas men wearing masks made a televised statement. They would continue to launch rockets at Sderot. Anyone there was a target, they said. They were all part of the Israeli state that had subjected Pals to occupation. Darfur. There's been no let-up in violence, despite continuing internat'l efforts. In recent raids close to the N capital 5,000 have reportedly fled into the desert to escape fighting. NE India. 28 are dead and 100 injured after 2 blasts occurred at railway stn in Nagaland. A large number of passengers were waiting for trains when the blasts occurred. The roof of the stn was blown off. An insurgency in the region is been long running, but a ceasefire has lasted 7 y. The 2 blasts occurred within mins of each other. In Bangkok, Pres Thaksin has ordered an internat'l conf to discuss the illegal trade in plants and animals. He warned that wildlife smuggling threatened bio-diversity. The 3 main ethnic groups in Bosnia are voting in nat'l elections. It's the first election organised by Bosnians. 2 mn are entitled to elect 42 local assemblies and -- for the first time -- town mayors. 1 am The Palestinian Cabinet has appealed for internat'l intervention and assistance. The Cabinet has called a state of emergency. 8 am A new video has been released by Ansar Al Sunna, showing the beheading of an Iraqi contractor kidnapped from a US base. The terrorists said they would target anyone helping US occupation forces. Police in AUS have revealed some of the people questioned in the kiddie porn crackdown had been questioned before. Of more than 100 people targeted before, only 2 had gone to trial. Police say the crack-down will continue, despite the suicide of 4 people questioned. 8.30 am There are conflicting results in polls concerning the AUS election. A new Newspoll in 12 key marginals shows the govt may just hang onto power with 51.5% of the TPP vote. But a Taverner poll in some of the same marginals shows Labor is comfortably ahead at 54 to 46 TPP. Midday. The fundamentalist group the Islamic Army in Iraq has asked Indonesia to release radical Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir in exchange for 2 Indonesian women kidnapped in Iraq. Indonesian officials have confirmed 2 Indonesian women working for a Brit company in Iraq were among 10 people kidnapped by an Islamic militant group. 5 pm Mark Latham says he expects Treas Peter Costello to resign if no $700 mn black hole is found in Labour policies. The opp'n leader says Mr Costello has staked his professional credibility on there being 100s of errors in the opp'n policies. [Later, Mr Howard upped the stakes, saying there was a $2 bn black hole in Labor's policies]. Singing "shame, Howard, shame" there have been "truth and government" protests in SYD, MEL, Adel, Perth, CBR and regional centres across AUS. In the biggest protest, 4,000 marched from the Town Hall in SYD. Actors, diplomats and former govt employees addressed the crowd. 1,200 rallied in MEL. They were told the Iraq war was in breech of internat'l law, and had made the world and AUS less safe. 6 pm An Arabic language newspaper says there are "secret talks" aimed at freeing Brit hostage Bigley in Iraq. A shadowy negotiating team that was resp for getting the release of 2 Italian aid workers is involved. The news comes after Tony Blair publicly refused to talk with the kidnappers directly. 10 members of the RAN have returned to SYD tonight after training Iraqi navy personnel in Umm Qasr for 8 m. They said it was an example of the positive work the Coal'n is doing in the war-torn country. 6.30 pm Tonight, PM Sharon has vowed to expand the Israeli offensive in Gaza. The army will remain in Gaza indefinitely, he said. The army has formed a 9 km buffer zone. 50 Pals and 3 Israelis have been killed since the incursion was launched 3 days ago. The Israeli army says it's photoed Pal militants loading a rocket into the back of a UN ambulance. It was "proof", said the Army, the UN was involved in the attacks on Israel. The Israeli govt has demanded the sacking of UN officials in Gaza. The UN chief in Gaza says an investigation underway but he has doubts. The rocket in question weights between 32 and 50 kg, he said, and no man could easily carry one in their hand as shown in the photos. In all likelihood, he said, the B&W overhead pix show a man carrying a portable and folded stretcher. The UN says it's not the first such allegation made by Israel, and in the past they've been proved false. Meanwhile, Hamas has released pix of 4 gunmen killed yesterday by Israeli soldiers as they tried to infiltrate across the border. In the pix, they warned Pal anger would continue and this was jihad until death. In Hebron, there was a protest march. Elsewhere, protests involved direct clashes with Israeli troops. Israel now has 2,000 soldiers and several 100 tanks in Gaza, in what PM Sharon says is an plan to stop rocket attacks. As the US announced it had regained control of Samarra, rebels published pix of the beheading of another hostage. Meanwhile, Sadr City is a harder nut to crack than Samarra. There has been fierce resistance from militias in the chaotic suburb with 1 mn pop'n. The US has control of the skies, but not all of Iraq's cities. Schools are reported back in safer parts. The Iraqi govt says 80% of students are attending. But in Baghdad, many say the figure is lower. Many families are keeping their children at home because of the deteriorating security sit'n. In Fallujah, the US is trying to take back control. But militants have hit back. A car bomb targeted a US convoy. That attack was followed by an air-strike on the outskirts of the city. The US says it "probably killed a large number" of insurgents. In N India the govt and state officials have condemned the latest violence. 3 bombs exploded, killing 53 and wounding 140. It was the worst violence in region for ys. The local hospitals are struggling to cope with the number of injured. Hrs after the first bombing, there was another attack in an adjacent state. In Deli, the PM expressed shock as he marked Gandhi's b'day. Good news for Sen Kerry. A new Newsweek poll after the first presid'l TV debate shows he's 2 to 3 pts ahead of Bush. Elsewhere, "The Boss" and a group of rockers have kicked off a "Vote for Change" tour, with 40 concerts in key battleground states. 2 ships carrying Pu from the US to France are expected to arrive any time. The ships are delivering weapons grade Pu. They left the US more than 1 wk ago. They're reportedly travelling under armed guard, and are thought to be in the English Channel. Greenpeace is waiting to conduct a protest on arrival. The shipment -- enough to make 40 weapons -- will be processed into fuel rods and sent back to the US. 7 pm IAEA boss ElBaradei is in Seoul to meet the PM. Last m the IAEA visited S Korea after scientists admitted they had enriched U that could have been used in a nuclear bomb. One timber workers' union has called both parties "gutless and heartless" after they refused to release old growth forestry policies. Until the last wk of the Aussie election campaign. They've called for both sides to stop the gamesmanship and release the details. Unionists say the govt and opp'n have both used Tassie timber workers as political footballs. In Washington, 100s of peace protesters have carried coffins draped in black from Arlington Nat'l Cemetery to the Whitehouse. 20 were arrested after crossing a police barrier. The protesters incl the father of a murdered US hostage. }}