From the World-Wide Resourses of the Western Australia
Reserch Senter(*)
OIL THE NEWS THAT FITS MY VIEWS #193
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In the Run-Up to World War III, Reliably Reporting the News Relevant
to Extreme Right-Wing Democratic Socialists Everywhere
(validated for RiteThink(tm) by the Office of Our Man in Can-berra).
Our Home Page:
The Undeniable Evidence:
Even More Uneniable Evidence:
US Centcom News Releases:
Iraqi Body Count: [8,902+ as at 22 Apr 2004].
UN Mailing List:
Some Of The News, Some Of The Time:
This Stuff Blogged:
Also Kindly Archived:
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Selecting latest news stories and other data for you...
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Failure in leadership, from the Brigade Cmdr on down, lack of
discipline, no training whatsoever, and no supervision. Supervisory
omission was rampant.
-- Maj Gen Antonio M Taguba, 10 May 2004.
Travel brochure for Abu Ghraib, Baghdad. And those are the GOOD points.
It's not our intention to lose the election.
-- Treas Peter Costello, 11 May 2004.
Vote buying. There's $10.5 bn in the kitty, it's an election year,
and the middle- to high-salary earners are vital for another term.
What's worse? Damaging graves or humiliating prisoners?
-- anon Palestinian, Gaza, 10 May 2004.
The local view. Brit WWI graves in Gaza have been damaged and
pasted with photos of POW abuse in Baghdad.
Why Sen Falkner wants to drag Australia into this ... unfortunate
circumstance, is beyond me.
-- AUS def min Robert Hill, 11 May 2004.
What obligation? The Howard govt is loath to see itself as having
any obligations under the Geneva Conventions -- as one of the more
eager occupying powers in Iraq.
The ADF did not manage the prisons... The ADF did not interrogate the
prisoners.
-- AUS def min Robert Hill, 11 May 2004.
The Howard govt has also used the "we didn't know" excuse.
----------------------------------------
Tue, 11 May 2004.
Bush approval rating hits new low
UK Labour popularity at 17-y low
US Senate condemns abuse of Iraqi prisoners
Senate asked to condemn Iraq prisoner abuse
Red Cross told Iraq abuse "part of the process"
Italian PM condemns Iraq prisoner abuse
Bush defends Rumsfeld over Iraqi abuse
Bush heads to Pentagon for prison abuse brief
Bush sees new abuse photos with "disgust"
Govt knew of prisoner abuse claims in Feb: Labor
Prisoner abuse photos were staged, say military lawyers
Red Cross witnessed prisoner abuse: report
US promises "thorough" prisoner abuse probe
Unarmed Iraqis slain: Amnesty
UK casts doubt on Iraq photos
Spain to refuse hand over of Iraqi cleric
"Clean" Wiranto brushes off arrest warrant
2 killed in Gaza incursion
35 Shiite militiamen killed in Baghdad overnight: US military
Amnesty accuses British soldiers of killing civilians
Anwar outburst causes appeal upset
Arroyo looks set to retain Philippine presidency
Australia to assist Pacific nations with port security
Between 200 and 300 killed in Nigerian massacre
Bush's backing of Rumsfeld shocks and angers Arabs
Business community hopes for tax cuts
Canada pledges $100M in new program to treat mn of people with AIDS
Canada wheat board cheers Monsanto GMO decision
Chechnya buries slain leader
EU reels in solution to Canada-Portugal fishing row
Howard pitches Budget to MPs
Installation of Olympic stadium roof begins
Japan proposes easing of whale embargo
Japan's main opposition leader resigns
Jewish settlers set up new Gaza Strip neighbourhood
Liberal leadership speculation continues
Monsanto pulls plan to commercialise gene-altered wheat
Officials celebrate as Olympic stadium roof begins slide
Oil drops $1 on Saudi calls for supply
Plane makes emergency landing at Sydney Airport
Qantas to introduce fuel surcharge
RSL disgusted at pet cruelty
Radiation warning for cardiologists
Review: FBI computer upgrades inadequate
SARS vaccine could be ready 'within 3 y'
Scientists say El Nino worsening
Stocks at 2004 lows on rate-hike fears
Supporters consider court action to keep Thai girl in Australia
Taiwan begins vote recount
Taskforce examines possible underworld murder link
Top End to host military exercises
US ignores risks posed by readily available explosive
Voting ends in India, ruling coalition struggles
Man fatally bitten by sexually aroused DemSoc
Oil drops $1 on Saudi calls for supply
[But don't worry, it's only temporary].
NY (Reuters). World oil prices fell from their 13-y peaks of $40/bbl
on Mon as leading world exporter Saudi Arabia said OPEC should raise
supply to stop high prices hurting world economic growth.
US light crude ended one dollar/bbl lower at $38.93, bouncing back
slightly from its heavy losses of over $1.50/bbl directly after the
Saudi remarks. London's Brent crude was down $1.03 to close at $36.97/bbl.
Saudi Arabian Oil Min Ali al-Naimi said OPEC should raise its
production target by at least 1.5 mn bpd, just over 6%, from an
existing 23.5 mn bpd when it meets on Jun 3.
In London, a snr OPEC delegate said the cartel could raise output by
as much as 2 mn barrels a day if inventory data indicates such an
increase is warranted.
The latest weekly US stockpile data -- which is forecast to show
commercial crude and product inventories rose last wk -- will be
released on Wed.
US crude struck the $40 mark on Fri for the 1st time since Oct 1990 in
the run up to the 1st Gulf War, reinforcing concern that higher energy
costs could upset global economic growth.
"We ... do not want to see prices rise to the level that they
negatively affect the growth of the internat'l economy or the demand
for oil," said Naimi. "It is apparent that demand, especially that of
Asia, has and will continue to increase in the 2nd half of this y."
OPEC cut its ceiling by one mn barrels daily, or 4% from Apr 1, to
head off a fall in prices when demand ebbs after the N winter.
The curbs -- combined with concern over Middle E security, low US fuel
supplies and strong Chinese demand -- have fuelled oil's rally,
alarming importing nations about the possible impact on economic growth.
High prices have deterred OPEC from enforcing the cutbacks in full,
and the group is producing around 2 mn bpd above its formal limits.
Fellow Gulf members the UAE and Iran over the weekend also said OPEC
could raise official quotas to cool the price surge, which has added
$7/bbl, or 22%, to the cost of crude since the turn of the year.
Algerian Energy Min Chakib Khelil said oil prices will not fall much
even if OPEC agrees to raise supply as most members are already
pumping at capacity and Middle E tensions would keep markets on edge.
"It doesn't matter whether we increase or not, it's not going to have
an impact on prices," Khelil said.
* ECONOMIC WORRIES
The Bush Admin, worried about rising gasoline costs in a US election
year, has led calls for OPEC to increase supplies.
Oil importing nations are increasingly worried about the impact on
economic growth. "Naturally the high oil price is worrying me," German
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said on Mon.
European Central Bank Pres Jean-Claude Trichet applauded Saudi
Arabia's move. "We welcome the recent decisions," Trichet said.
The Saudi comments outweighed the impact of a weekend assault on a
southern Iraqi pipeline that sliced into exports from Iraq 's main
Gulf oil export terminal The attack came just 2 wk after US-led forces
foiled suicide boat attacks on tankers at the terminal, casting
further doubt on Iraq's ability to sustain crude supplies to world markets.
The extent of damage from Sat's sabotage attack was unclear, with
Iraqi and US assessments at odds.
Iraqi oil officials said exports were still flowing from Basra at a
reduced rate of 1.2 mn bpd compared with 1.6 mn bpd before the attack
as the terminal was being fed by another pipeline system.
The US Army Corps of Engineers said Iraq had halted oil exports from
its offshore S terminals.
Last week's shooting of foreign workers at a petrochemicals plant in
Saudi Arabia, fuelled fears of a larger attack on the kingdom's
tightly-guarded facilities.
Fellow Gulf producer Kuwait has beefed up security at 6 ports after US
warnings to oil-rich Gulf states of possible sea borne attacks by
booby-trapped boats or jet-skis.
EU reels in solution to Canada-Portugal fishing row
Ottawa (AFP). One of several Portuguese vessels claimed by Canada to
have been snared in an illegal fishing crackdown was steaming home,
after the European Union defused a diplomatic showdown over the incident.
Canadian Fisheries Min Geoff Regan welcomed Europe's intervention, but
challenged Portugal "to throw the book" at skippers Ottawa blames for
infringing internat'l fishing rules.
The EU Commission office in Ottawa said the decision for the trawler
Brites to head for its home port was taken "following close
consultations between the European Commission and the Portuguese
authorities."
The commission said an EU inspector of fisheries was on board the
Brites which "will be inspected by the Portuguese inspection
authorities in accordance with the standard rules of NAFO [North
Atlantic Fisheries Organisation] for all vessels returning to port
after fishing trips."
Regan told parliament he was "pleased to hear this afternoon in fact
that the Portuguese govt has hauled the ship, the Brites, back to port
in light of the clear evidence."
Portugal had last wk rejected the claim that any of its boats were
involved in illegal fishing.
"There were no irregularities," For Min Teresa Gouveia said in
Helsinki over the weekend.
Canadian fisheries officials on Sat claimed a net ditched by the
Brites just before naval and coastguard officers boarded the vessel
showed evidence of illegal fishing in internat'l waters.
Most of the fish found in the net were prohibited species, said Randy
Jenkins, the foreign ministry's acting director conservation and protection.
And Regan said Mon: "Canada is prepared to provide physical evidence
of illegal fishing to the EU and we expect Portugal to throw the book
at these bad actors."
The Brites was one of 9 foreign vessels boarded last wk by Canadian
officials in a Canadian clampdown on alleged fishing for protected
species off the Grand Banks in the N Atlantic.
Canadian officials said the recovered net from the Brites had mesh
smaller than legal limits, allowing it to snare protected juvenile fish.
Canadian officials also said that another Portuguese trawler, the
Solsticio, was boarded Fri on the nose of the Grand Banks and
inspectors found a net with smaller mesh than regulations allowed.
These 2 cases follow the issue of 2 citations issued by Canadian
inspectors against another Portuguese vessel, the Aveirense, for
alleged violations of NAFO agreements.
Regan claimed Canadian efforts to stop foreign over-fishing and
illegal fishing were working.
"The govt's efforts to stop illegal fishing on the nose and tail of
the Grand Bank has resulted in 9 boardings in the last week. More
importantly, this pressure from our Coast Guard and Navy has driven
the foreign fleet into deep water where they cannot fish moratoria species.
"Officials informed me today that last wk where there were 14
Portuguese vessels out there, this wk there are only 5."
Stocks at 2004 lows on rate-hike fears
NY (Reuters). US stocks fell for the 3rd straight session on Mon,
ending at their lows for the y and pushing the blue-chip Dow below the
psychologically key 10,000 level for the first time since Dec on fears
the Fed Reserve will raise interest rates as early as Jun.
Energy stocks retreated, led by Exxon Mobil Corp, after a call from
Saudi Arabia's top energy official for more production by OPEC members
sent oil prices lower.
The Standard & Poor's Integrated Oil and Gas Index gave up 2.75%, and
was among the biggest%age losers of all S&P sectors.
"Because of last wk's strong employment data, long-term interest rates
have risen very strongly," said Hugh Johnson, chief investment officer
at First Albany Corp "What's jolted the stock market is the rapidity
of the rise, (which) is causing a downward adjustment in stock prices
to reflect the new level of interest rates."
Citigroup also dragged down blue chips, after it said it would pay
$2.65 bn to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by holders of
WorldCom stocks and bonds.
The DJIA ended down 127.32 points, or 1.26%, at 9,990.02, marking the
1st time the Dow has closed below the 10,000 mark since Dec. 10,
2003. The broader S&P 500 Index fell 11.58 points, or 1.05%, to
1,087.12, its lowest level in nearly 5 m. The technology-heavy Nasdaq
Composite Index tumbled 21.89 points, or 1.14%, to 1,896.07, its
lowest close since Nov 21, 2003.
On Fri, the major market benchmarks all fell more than 1%, after a
surge in Apr jobs growth left many investors convinced the Fed would
lift its key fed funds rate when it next meets in late Jun.
In the US Treasuries market, the benchmark 10-y note declined in
price, boosting its yield to 4.80%, the highest since mid-2002 and
sharply above its 4.50% yield one wk earlier.
Since mid-Mar, yields have risen about 110 basis points, hoisting
mortgage rates sharply higher in the process.
Stubbornly high oil prices also weighed on investors, who worried that
high prices at the gasoline pump would hurt consumer spending.
"We've had energy prices stay at high levels for relatively long, and
seen a recent jump at the retail level," said James Luke, director of
growth equities at BB&T Asset Management in Raleigh, North Carolina.
"That takes directly out of discretionary income, and perhaps you'll
start seeing some significant slowdown in consumer spending."
Trading was heavy, with 1.92 bn shares changing hands on the NY Stock
Exchange , above the 1.4 bn daily average for last y. About 1.91 bn
shares were traded on the Nasdaq, higher than last y's 1.8 bn daily average.
Leading US oil companies' shares fell, after Saudi Arabia's oil
minister said OPEC members should increase output to prevent high
crude prices from derailing global economic growth.
Shares of Exxon Mobil, the world's largest publicly traded oil
company, fell $1.20, or 2.77%, to $42.05. ConocoPhillips, which
analysts say is more sensitive to swings in commodity prices, dropped
$1.36, or 1.86%, to $71.78. And ChevronTexaco lost $2.48, or 2.71%, to $89.17.
Crude oil futures also eased after the Saudi official's comments. In
NY, crude oil futures fell $1.00 to settle at $38.93/bbl, after
hitting $40/bbl on Fri, the highest level since Oct 1990, as persistent
violence in the Middle E inflamed concerns about energy supplies.
Citigroup shares fell $1.31, or 2.8%, to $45.41 on news of the payout
to WorldCom investors, who had accused the bank of participating in
financial fraud. The world's largest financial services company also
set aside bn more for other lawsuits to put behind it the financial
scandals from the late 1990s.
On the Nasdaq, Charter Communications Inc shares slumped after the
company reported a wider quarterly loss, despite higher subscriber
growth and sales. Shares of Charter, one of the nation's biggest cable
TV operators, slid 25 cents, or 6.48% , to $3.61. In after-hours
trading, shares of Pacific Sunwear of California Inc, a clothing
retailer that caters to teens, rose to $21.18 on the INET electronic
brokerage from their close of $20.49 on the Nasdaq.
After the close of Mon's regular trading session, Pacific Sunwear said
its first-quarter earnings jumped 88%, buoyed by the popularity of
fashions inspired by surfing and hip-hop.
Between 200 and 300 killed in Nigerian massacre
Lagos (AFP). The final death toll following last week's attack by a
Christian ethnic militia on a mainly-Muslim Nigerian town was between
200 and 300, the Government said on Mon, scaling back earlier
reported figures.
The previous official toll for the May 2 attack had been only 67, but
last week local officials and Nigerian Red Cross staff told an AFP reporter
at the scene of the killing that at least 630 people had been slaughtered.
A rep for the National Emergency Management Agency, Ibrahim
Farinloye, said that a Government team had now visited the town of
Yelwa to investigate and to provide relief materials, and now believed
the death toll was lower.
He said that the death toll was "less than half" the reported figure,
but more than 200.
He admitted, however, that authorities were keen to downplay the scale
of the killing in order to minimise the risk of reprisal attacks.
"That is why we are trying to downplay the mass grave," he said.
Last wk Yelwa residents showed reporters and a Red Cross team a fresh
burial plot they said had been filled with 630 corpses, after the
Tarok militia raided their Hausa-Fulani neighbours in an ethnically
motivated attack.
Bush's backing of Rumsfeld shocks and angers Arabs
Dubai (Reuters). Arab commentators reacted with shock and disbelief
on Mon over Pres Bush 's robust backing of Def Sec Donald Rumsfeld
against calls for his resignation.
Critics had called for him to quit after the furor over the abuse of Iraqi
prisoners but analysts, editors and ordinary Arabs were united in their
condemnation of Bush who said the US owed Rumsfeld a "debt of gratitude."
"After the torture and vile acts by the American army, Pres Bush goes
out and congratulates Rumsfeld. It's just incredible. I am in total
shock," said Omar Belhouchet, editor of the influential Algerian nat'l
daily El Watan.
"Bush's praise for Rumsfeld will discredit the US...and further damage its
reputation, which is already at a historic low in the Arab world," he added.
Analysts have said the damage from images seen worldwide of US
soldiers abusing naked Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib prison would be
indelible, incalculable and a gift to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
What people saw, they said, was the true image of the occupation:
humiliation of an occupied people, contempt for Islam, sadism and racism.
"After Mr Bush's decision to keep Rumsfeld, all their apologies seem
like lip service," Dubai-based political analyst Jawad al-Anani told
Reuters. "Mr Rumsfeld would have certainly lost his job if the prisoners
were American."
"The US is spending so much money by setting up Alhurra television and
Radio Sawa to improve its image in the Arab world...How can it reconcile
that with keeping a man who has insulted every Arab through the abuses
of Iraqi prisoners," added Anani, a former Jordanian foreign minister.
University of Algiers professor Mahmoud Belhimeur agreed.
"I cannot believe the US reacts the way an authoritarian regimes would.
Bush should have done the honourable thing and fired Rumsfeld," he said.
* RUMSFELD "SYMBOL" OF IRAQ WAR
But Michael Cox, professor of internat'l relations at the London
School of Economics, said the repercussions of firing the defence
secretary would have been very significant for Bush.
"This has been Rumsfeld's war, and I suppose the political symbolism
of trying to get rid of Rumsfeld would be huge."
Cox said he could not entirely rule out that Rumsfeld could go, if US
public opinion turned. But he added it would seem out of character for
Rumsfeld to go quietly.
"'I want to spend more time with my family' doesn't sound too credible
with Mr Rumsfeld. With Mr Powell maybe, but not Rumsfeld," he said.
A Saudi businessman, who asked not to be named, said keeping Rumsfeld
would be seen as Washington's quiet approval of the abuse.
"This just confirms that what is happening in Iraq in general, and
especially what is happening in Abu Ghraib is sanctioned by the
American Admin and that is a hell of a position to be in.
"I see no advantage in keeping Rumsfeld. Bush should be building
bridges with the outside world."
Mustapha Ramid, a prominent Moroccan opp'n member of parliament said:
"It's normal for Bush to back Rumsfeld. The contrary would have been a
real surprise. This shows that Bush takes responsibility for what's
happening in Iraq."
Bush approval rating hits new low
Washington (AFP). US Pres George W Bush's popularity has fallen to
the lowest point since he took office in Jan 2001, with 46% of
Americans approving of the job he is doing, according to a new poll.
The USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll of 1,003 likely voters was conducted
over the weekend. It has a margin of error of 4.5%age points. The
poll is the latest indication of how Bush's popularity has suffered
from the persistent insurgency in Iraq and the festering scandal over
the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US troops. The president's approval
rating last wk stood at 49%.
UK Labour popularity at 17-y low
London (AFP). Brit PM Tony Blair's Labour Party currently has the
backing of fewer than a third of voters, its worst position for more
than 17 y, a poll showed.
Were a general election to be held now, 32 per cent of people said
they would vote for Labour, as against 36% for the main opp'n
Conservative Party, according to findings published in The Times.
That was Labour's lowest rating since early 1987, the newspaper said,
just before former PM Margaret Thatcher won her 3rd term
in office and a full decade ahead of Blair's accession to power.
The findings came just 2 days after another poll, in The Mail on Sun,
said that Labour's best chance of winning the next election would be
ditching Blair in favour of his chief finance minister, Gordon Brown.
However, the latest poll was not necessarily as bad as it seemed for
Blair, as if predicted actual voter turnout was taken into account
then Labour and the Conservatives would be level pegging on 34%
support each. Additionally, the change in voter numbers is seen
mainly as being due to dissatisfaction with Labour rather than
intrinsic support for the opp'n, the pollsters told the Times.
Nonetheless, the findings mark yet another electoral warning for
Blair, whose long honeymoon with the voters has ended abruptly in the
aftermath of the Iraq war.
Blair backed the US-led invasion of Iraq, telling a deeply sceptical
nation that it was necessary as Baghdad's illegal weaponry posed an
immediate threat to the West, and his credibility was severely dented
when no such arms were found.
The aftermath of the conflict, especially allegations this m that Brit
troops mistreated Iraqi prisoners, has also affected his popularity.
At the weekend, film producer Lord David Puttnam, a snr Labour member
and a personal friend of the PM, suggested that perhaps the time had
come for Blair to bow out.
Taiwan begins vote recount
Taipei (BBC). Taiwanese officials have begun a recount and
examination of every one of the 13 mn ballots cast in the country's
disputed presidential election held in Mar. Such is the suspicion
surrounding the poll that the recount in more than 20 district courts
is being filmed and teams of lawyers from the ruling party and the
opposition are scrutinising the counting of every vote. Chen
Shui-bian was declared the winner of the presidential poll in Mar by
just 30,000 votes. The number of votes declared invalid was 11 times
that of the winning margin. The opposition's legal team says if the
court officials conducting the recount can not reach agreement with
the party's lawyers about the validity of a particular ballot, the
dispute will have to be settled by the High Court at a later date.
Japan's main opposition leader resigns
Tokyo. The leader of Japan's main opposition party, Naoto Kan, has
resigned after being caught up in a political pensions scandal. The
leader of the Democratic Party has admitted that he failed to pay his
compulsory pension premiums for 10 m. Mr Kan resigned from the
leadership saying that his "responsibility is extremely grave". The
Democratic Party is Japan's main opposition force. The pension
scandal has rocked both sides of politics and only last week the
Government's chief cabinet secretary, Yasuo Fukuda, resigned after it
was revealed he had not made pension payments for 8 y.
Voting ends in India, ruling coalition struggles
Delhi (Reuters). Voting has ended in India's marathon election with
exit polls showing PM Atal Behari Vajpayee's ruling
coalition struggling to get a clear majority in parliament.
TV exit polls predicted Mr Vajpayee's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) and its allies would win anywhere between 248 and
279 seats in the 545-seat lower house.
That would leave Mr Vajpayee as overwhelming favourite to form a
government but means he may have to woo small, populist parties to
expand his already large coalition.
Votes will be counted on Thu and results announced the same day.
"They will have to mobilise support from smaller groups, independents to
reach the mid-point," Centre for Media Studies chairman Bhaskar Rao said.
"They are still the front-runners. I believe they will be able to form
the government, but with some difficulty."
Indian financial markets have tumbled on fears that a shaky coalition
government would go slow on the reforms the country needs to emerge as
a major global economic force, particularly in privatising state firms
and reducing heavy government borrowing.
Tens of mn of Indians braved the summer heat to vote in 182 constituencies
in 16 states in the final and largest phase on Mon of a closely
fought 3-wk election.
The BJP has very little presence in some of the large states which
voted and will rely heavily on regional allies.
Mr Vajpayee, 79, called the polls 6 m early to capitalise on a strong
economy, a good monsoon and improving ties with traditional foe Pakistan.
* "India shining" flounders
The BJP-led coalition was earlier tipped to win comfortably over 300 seats.
But the party's "India shining" campaign motto failed to resonate with
many poor rural voters and the BJP changed tack mid-campaign to sell
itself as the only group capable of building a stable coalition in the
fractious world of Indian politics.
"To get results in this country we need a stable government, a
government which can provide progress to this country and not worry
about surviving all the time," businessman Ratan Khemani said, voting
after his morning walk in Calcutta.
* "I think BJP is the best bet."
In an interview published on Mon, Mr Vajpayee said he would prefer
a coalition with large parties but told the Tribune newspaper his
alliance was "open to all parties that support our platform of
development, good government and peace".
Bombay's main share index closed around 2% lower on Mon and has
fallen more than 6% since exit polls 2 wk ago first suggested a
possible hung parliament.
The rupee and bonds were also weaker.
The opposition Congress party has apparently done far better than
anyone expected, even though its Italian-born leader Sonia Gandhi
trails Mr Vajpayee in the popularity stakes.
Bush defends Rumsfeld over Iraqi abuse
US Pres George W Bush says Donald Rumsfeld is doing a superb job.
Washington (AFP). US President George W Bush has staged a
lavish show of support for embattled Defence Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld, rejecting calls for his resignation and insisting the
Pentagon chief was doing "a superb job".
Emerging from a closed-door military briefing on Iraq, President Bush
also promised a "full accounting" for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by
US troops, which has sparked a global outcry and crippled US credibility
in the Arab world.
But the President made clear that he was not ready to heed the growing
chorus of voices calling for Rumsfeld to resign or be fired, even as
his administration braced for the release of more graphic photographs
detailing the mistreatment of detainees at the notorious Abu Ghraib
prison near Baghdad.
"You are courageously leading our nation in the war against terror.
You are doing a superb job. You are a strong Secretary of Defence, and
our nation owes you a debt of gratitude," Mr Bush told Mr Rumsfeld.
In a sign of the importance the White House attached to that message,
Mr Bush appeared with Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State
Colin Powell, and Gen Richard Myers, chairman of the joint chiefs
of staff, at his side.
The newly confirmed US ambassador to Iraq, John Negroponte, was also
present at the briefing, which White House aides said focused on the
next step in the US response to the graphic photographs from Abu Ghraib.
"There will be a full accounting for the cruel and disgraceful abuse
of Iraqi detainees," vowed President Bush, who called the abuse "an
insult to the Iraqi people and an affront to the most basic standards
of morality and decency".
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said President Bush was shown
more than a dozen more photographs and still images captured from
videos of abuse.
A snr US defence official said the President saw "a representative
sample" of the hundreds of photographs from Abu Ghraib that have not
yet been seen by the US public.
The President, who has apologised for the violence against prisoners,
was also scheduled to do an interview with US Armed Forces radio and
television in what appeared to be an effort to boost the morale of US
troops in Iraq.
"What took place in the Iraqi prison does not reflect the character of
the more than 200,000 military personnel who have served in Iraq"
since the Mar 2003 invasion, he said.
Mr Bush also acknowledged the heavy toll that the abuse scandal has
taken on Washington's stated political objectives in Iraq -- stabilising
that war-torn country and setting it on course for democracy.
"Those responsible for the abuses have caused harm that goes well
beyond the walls of a prison. It has given some an excuse to question
our cause and to cast doubt on our motives," he said.
Still, the President stressed that most Iraqis were better off under
the US-led occupation than under ousted dictator Saddam Hussein, who
tortured and executed political foes at Abu Ghraib.
And Mr Bush promised that US-led forces would stay in Iraq after the
Jun 30 target date for the transfer to self-rule.
"Having brought freedom to Iraq, America will make sure that freedom
succeeds in Iraq; a nation we will be proud to call a friend and
partner in the pursuit of peace," he said.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said that the Pentagon briefing
had been scheduled before the scandal erupted, but the crisis over the
abuse lent added weight to the visit.
Democratic lawmakers have called for Rumsfeld's resignation, including
President Bush's Democratic rival for the White House, Senator John Kerry.
Arroyo looks set to retain Philippine presidency
Manila (Reuters). Gloria Macapagal Arroyo looked on course for
another 6 y as Philippine President as the first exit poll by a major
polling firm showed her with a wide lead over her film star rival in
the Manila region.
Other early surveys suggested Mon's national election was a closer
race, raising the prospect of a disputed result and leaving Manila
markets with some uncertainty as they re-open for business.
Victory would give Ms Arroyo her first real mandate to lead the
largely Roman Catholic nation of 82 mn people after 3 y of only partly
successful efforts to tackle corruption, insurgencies, huge debts,
pervasive poverty and a weak economy.
Ms Arroyo, 57, a US-trained economist and daughter of a former
president, had the support of big business, charismatic Christian
groups and much of the political elite as she campaigned largely on
her track record and Fernando Poe Junior's inexperience.
The exit poll by Social Weather Stations (SWS), one of the country's
major polling firms, showed Ms Arroyo gaining 31% of the capital's
votes in Mon's elections, ahead of action film hero Mr Poe with 23%.
Pre-election SWS opinion polls had shown Ms Arroyo ahead of Mr Poe in
the capital region, but only by 2 to 3 points.
"It's very clear that GMA [Arroyo] is ahead," SWS head Mahar Mangahas
told a TV station.
The exit poll, conducted on 528 voters, had a 5% margin of error.
The Philippines' poll watchdog Namfrel is to release accurate
predictions of the election result later in the day but official
results will take a month, leaving Ms Arroyo's Government hamstrung by
the potential for instability during the drawn-out count.
Analysts said either a narrow victory or a landslide would present
political risks, with a huge win not seen as credible.
Interviews with nearly 21,000 people by independent radio network dzRH
on Mon showed Mr Arroyo with 36.5% of ballots compared with 31.4%
for Mr Poe, the strongest of her 4 rivals.
A preliminary exit poll by state-run television showed Ms Arroyo with
a 5-to-10 point margin over Mr Poe.
Despite 114 election-related deaths since Dec, including 20 on
Sun and Mon, a military spokesman described the elections as
"generally peaceful" with no sign of feared attacks by Al Qaeda-linked
militants or plots to disrupt the vote.
Newspapers held back from declaring a winner on Tue, focusing
instead on widespread reports of poll fraud and complaints from voters
who could not find their names on lists.
* Voter frustration
A plan to modernise the election by introducing automated counting
fell through, meaning there was little change in a long tradition of
vote-buying, violence and incomplete voters' lists.
"Instead of poll modernisation, however, the nation got a scandal. And
we're back to square one, tallying votes on blackboard by candle-light,"
the Philippine Star newspaper said in an editorial.
Watchdog Namfrel said incomplete registration lists may have deprived
at least 2 mn people of the chance to vote.
A close ally in the US-led war on terror, Ms Arroyo rose to President
after military-backed "people power" protests ended the turbulent term
of Mr Poe's friend Joseph Estrada, a former actor now in detention as
he stands trial for economic plunder.
Ms Arroyo put down a brief mutiny by junior officers in Jul.
Mr Poe, 64, who left school at 15, inherited many of Mr Estrada's poor
supporters.
He was also backed by Imelda Marcos, the widow of dictator Ferdinand
Marcos, whose 2-decade rule ended in 1986 in the first of 2 "people
power" uprisings.
Mr Poe apparently failed to turn his fame into votes on the same scale
as Mr Estrada did when he swept to a landslide victory in 1998.
His reticence on policy issues rattled financial markets.
Review: FBI computer upgrades inadequate
Washington (AP). The FBI 's nearly $600 mn effort to modernise its
antiquated computer systems to help prevent terrorist attacks is "not
on a path to success," according to an outside review completed wk
after the bureau director gave Congress assurances about the program.
The report by technology experts for the Nat'l Research Council found
that the FBI's "Trilogy" project doesn't adequately reflect the agency's
new priority on terrorism prevention since the Sep 11 attacks. It
urged the bureau to build new systems from scratch to help in this role.
The report was being circulated this wk to snr FBI officials and some
members of Congress in advance of its public release next week. The
Associated Press obtained a copy.
The study by the council, a nonprofit research board operating under
the Nat'l Academies of Science, concluded that even ongoing
improvements to the bureau's computerised system for tracking criminal
cases won't help. It cited "significant differences ... between
systems supporting investigation and those supporting intel."
It suggested that the system for tracking criminal cases could later
be plugged into a new anti-terrorism system. The case-tracking system,
known as the Virtual Case File, "is not now and unlikely to be an
adequate tool for counterterrorism analysis because [it] was designed
with criminal investigation requirements in mind," the report's
authors wrote.
The FBI responded in a statement Mon that Director Robert Mueller
"understands that these capabilities are essential to our success in
the war on terrorism and he has made them a top priority." It cited
several examples in which agents using some parts of the new system in
terrorism investigations performed mn of info searches in days rather
than the m it would have taken using old FBI tools.
The council's criticisms are the latest over the slow pace of the
massive project, launched in Nov 2000 with an estimated $380 mn price
tag and a completion date of 2003. The price tag now approaches $600
mn and, while some components are operating already, the system's most
important parts won't be ready until year's end.
The council's report, completed at the FBI's request, concluded that
the bureau has made important progress in the past year. But it also
describes the FBI's efforts and results as "late and limited" and said
its upgrade programs "fall far short of what is required."
The report comes just wk after Mueller asked for $20 mn more for the
project and assured a Senate budget committee, "We are now on the
right track, and we are closing in on the goal of completion."
The FBI noted Mon that the council's report only covered the period
until Mar. "While the report is accurate and its findings helpful,
it does not reflect the significant progress made under the FBI's new
chief info officer," the agency said.
The report pointedly criticised plans to allow agents to begin using
the Virtual Case File, a system aimed at letting investigators anywhere
in the world quickly share info, before it has been rigorously
field-tested.
The council called that "highly risky" and "nearly guaranteed to cause
mission-critical failures and further delays." It recommended delaying
the FBI-wide rollout for more testing and leaving the old system in
place until it can be safely turned off.
The FBI said the system probably "will be deployed in phases that will
ease the transition for FBI employees, allow us to test and improve it
and mitigate risks."
The FBI's new chief info officer, Zalmai Azmi, told reporters last wk
that some version of the Virtual Case File will be in place by the end
of the year. Azmi, who took over the job Fri, said the FBI was
re-negotiating parts of its contract with Science Applications
Internat'l Corp, one of its primary contractors.
US ignores risks posed by readily available explosive
Op/Ed (USA Today). 2 days after the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing,
neighbours spotted Terry Nichols covering his front lawn with a white
powdery substance. He apparently had lots of it.
Nichols, already serving a life sentence for conspiracy and
involuntary manslaughter, is now on trial a 2nd time for his role in
the bombing. Govt evidence suggests he bought the 2 tons of common
ammonium-nitrate fertiliser used to make the truck bomb that claimed
168 lives.
Ammonium nitrate was also the explosive terrorists used in last Nov's
bombings in Istanbul, the Bali nightclub bombings in 2002 and scores
of other attacks that have claimed 100s of lives around the world. As
a result, govts from Ireland to AUS have moved to impose restrictions
on the manufacture, sale or import of ammonium nitrate. Not so in the USA.
9 y after the Oklahoma City tragedy, the nation lacks legal barriers
to prevent the next would-be terrorist from building a massive
fertiliser bomb for less than $500. More than 1.7 mn tons of ammonium
nitrate are sold annually, and even modest proposals to regulate its
manufacture and sale have run into opp'n from farmers, the fertiliser
industry and professional blasting operations that use it as an
inexpensive substitute for dynamite.
The ingredients remain readily available even as new reminders of the
risks emerge. After the Mar 11 Madrid train bombings, the fed govt
warned that terrorists might use ammonium-nitrate explosives to attack
public transportation in the US Last month, Turkey became the latest
country to limit sales of the product. Several other nations,
including China, Colombia, Algeria and the Philippines have banned
fertiliser-grade ammonium nitrate altogether.
The European Union requires that ammonium-nitrate fertiliser with more
than 28% nitrogen be produced only in large, dense granules to make it
resistant to absorbing diesel fuel. When mixed with diesel fuel, ammonium
nitrate forms an explosive with more than half the force of dynamite.
6 y ago, the Nat'l Academy of Sciences' Nat'l Research Council
recommended banning sales of packaged ammonium nitrate unless dealers
required foolproof identification from buyers and kept accurate
records, much as gun dealers are required to maintain. The council
also suggested additional steps if terrorist threats increase, such as
putting chemical "markers" in fertiliser to aid bomb-sensing equipment,
licensing all fertiliser dealers and requiring purchasers to obtain
govt permits.
Yet not even the 9/11 attacks have jarred Congress into action.
Though Congress had requested the research council's recommendations,
it has largely ignored them.
Farmers and other legitimate users of ammonium nitrate object to the
threat of increased costs and hassles if restrictions are imposed.
Fertiliser manufacturers and their allies point to an industry
campaign that calls for self-regulation. Guidelines urge distributors
to protect their product from theft, know who their customers are and
promptly report suspicious behaviour. Still, public safety can be
endangered too easily by the actions of an inattentive fertiliser dealer.
Nichols' new trial calls attention to a danger tolerated for too long.
Taking needed legal precautions today might prevent another calamity
tomorrow.
"Clean" Wiranto brushes off arrest warrant
Jakarta (ABC, Tim Palmer). Indonesian presidential candidate,
Wiranto, says the issuing of an arrest warrant against him for alleged
crimes against humanity in East Timor is a character assassination.
The warrant has been issued by a special judicial panel in the East
Timorese capital, Dili. The former Commander in Chief of Indonesia's
military, Wiranto pointed to the timing of this latest legal move
coming just days after he won the Golkar nomination for President. He
told journalists that the reports of his legal status were "just
rumours" and a "character assassination campaign", stating that he was
"clean". Wiranto is accused by special international prosecutors of
command responsibility for war crimes committed in East Timor in the
lead-up to its independence, a time during which 1,400 people were
killed and tens of thousands forced to flee as refugees.
Canada pledges $100M in new program to treat mn of people with AIDS
Montreal (CP). Days before Canada is set to pass a law allowing the
production of low-cost drugs, PM Paul Martin announced a $100-mn
contribution to treat mn of people who have AIDS.
The money will be given to a new initiative of the World Health Organization
to treat 3 mn people with AIDS by the end of 2005. The contribution of
new money has made Canada the largest donor in the program.
"Canadians can take pride in this, because this is a question of life
and death." Martin told a Montreal audience Mon.
The money will be used to train doctors and nurses and help countries
develop treatment plans and strategies.
Rock star Bono welcomed Canada's commitment.
"This is real leadership," the lead singer of the Irish group U2 said
in a statement. "I hope Canadians will know what this means in the
rest of the world."
The AIDS funding was part of a series of internat'l proposals Martin
outlined as part of his desire to have Canada take a leading role in
helping developing countries build better legal and economic institutions.
Martin also expanded on the creation of Canada Corps, introduced in
the throne speech. The new agency is being created to provide
much-needed expertise to poorer countries. The program will involve
experts in the public and private sectors, volunteers and young people
with training in law, management or community organising.
The agency's co-chairs will be astronaut Julie Payette and Gordon
Smith, former deputy minister of foreign affairs, Martin announced.
"The internat'l community must build the capacity of vulnerable
countries to create and manage their own public and private
institutions," he said.
"And there is no country better placed to take on a leadership role in
this area than Canada."
Martin also pushed his concept of a G-20 to complement the G-8.
"I am convinced that a meeting of the G-20 leaders can make a
significant contribution by galvanising our efforts at the
multilateral level," he said.
Martin told a luncheon of foreign affairs specialists he will discuss
the concept with regional powers in Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia.
It's estimated that 30 mn of the world's 45 mn AIDS sufferers live in
Africa. Many are dying because they don't have access to the drugs
developed over the past decade to help stem the deadly epidemic.
The bill and its proposed changes, now being debated by a Commons
standing committee, are expected to be passed into law this wk.
SARS vaccine could be ready 'within 3 y'
SARS conference in Germany finds good chance of vaccine in 3 y.
Luebeck (AFP). Scientists gathered in Germany for the first
international conference on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
have heard there is a good chance that a vaccine to the killer
respiratory disease would be found within 3 y.
"There are good chances of finding a vaccine. I think it will take 2
to 3 y," said Hans-Dieter Klenk, the head of an association of German
virologists.
"The chances of curing illnesses caused from atypical pneumonia are
better at this moment thanks to vaccines," said Dr Klenk, referring to
recent advances by British researchers using genetically modified
viral substances.
The 300 scientists from China, the centre of last year's SARS epidemic,
as well as Europe, Canada and the US gathered for the 4-day
conference to present research on Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.
SARS last year caused almost 800 deaths worldwide from some 8,000
infections, most of them in China and South-East Asia, before it was
halted by quarantine policies.
In a smaller outbreak linked to handling of the virus in a laboratory,
nine people have been diagnosed with the disease in China in the past
few wks, prompting the Chinese authorities to isolate hundreds of people.
Rolf Hilgenfeld, conference director and the head of the University of
Luebeck's biochemistry institute, warned the conference that research
with the coronavirus required extra care, since it appeared that the
SARS strain was mutating with each new epidemic.
In Apr of this year American researchers announced an experimental
vaccine against SARS that had had successful results in lab mice.
A study released last week by Chinese pathologists showed that the
SARS virus can be found in sweat glands and the intestine, and added
that theoretically it could spread via contaminated sewage, food or
even a handshake, not just by airborne droplets.
Red Cross told Iraq abuse "part of the process"
Geneva (Reuters). The Red Cross saw US troops keeping Iraqi prisoners
naked for days in darkness at the Abu Ghraib jail in Oct and was
told by the intel officer in charge it was "part of the
process", a leaked report said.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) also described
British troops forcing Iraqi detainees to kneel and stomping on their
necks in an incident in which one prisoner died.
The Red Cross said it had repeatedly alerted US-led occupation
authorities to practices it described as "serious violations of
international humanitarian law" and "in some cases tantamount to torture".
The Red Cross confirmed the confidential Feb 4 report, which
appeared on the Wall Street Journal website on Mon, was genuine.
The 24-page report concluded that "persons deprived of their liberty
face the risk of being subjected to a process of physical and psychological
coercion, in some cases tantamount to torture, in the early stages of
the internment process".
During a visit to Abu Ghraib in Oct, Red Cross delegates witnessed
"the practice of keeping persons deprived of their liberty completely naked
in totally empty concrete cells and in total darkness," the report said.
"Upon witnessing such cases, the ICRC interrupted its visits and
requested an explanation from the authorities. The military
intel officer in charge of the interrogation explained that
this practice was 'part of the process.'"
It said it met prisoners who were being held naked in complete darkness.
Others had been held naked and were allowed to dress, but given only
women's underwear.
The Red Cross's visit took place 2 m before pictures were taken of US
troops abusing prisoners, which later led to criminal charges against
7 soldiers.
* International outrage
Those pictures appeared in the media last month, causing international
outrage and prompting apologies by US President George W Bush and
other snr officials.
However, Washington has said it believed the practices were isolated
incidents of aberrant behaviour by individuals and not its usual practice.
Although much of the abuse described in the report appears to have
taken place in jails run by US forces, the report also describes the
death of an Iraqi prisoner in custody in the British zone Basra last Sep.
His name is blacked out.
A spokesman for Britain's Defence Min'y said the allegation was not
new, but appeared to be a reference to the death of an Iraqi detainee named
Baha Musa, which Britain says it has been investigating since last year.
The Red Cross report described him as one of 9 men arrested in a
Basra hotel and "made to kneel, face and hands against the ground, as
if in a prayer position. The soldiers stamped on the back of the neck
of those raising their head".
It said the death certificate for the Iraqi prisoner listed his cause
of death as a heart attack.
"An eyewitness description of the body given to the ICRC mentioned a
broken nose, several broken ribs and skin lesions on the face consistent
with beatings."
The report describes prison guards opening fire with live ammunition
during riots and escape attempts, on detainees who "were unarmed and
did not appear to pose any serious threat to anyone's life".
According to the report, the Red Cross repeatedly drew allegations of
mistreatment to the attention of the authorities.
In some cases, they changed practices, for example, they stopped
issuing wristbands marked "terrorist" to all foreign detainees.
Among the "serious violations of international humanitarian law", the report
listed a failure to set up a system to notify family members of arrests.
"The uncaring behaviour of the CF [coalition forces] and their
inability to quickly provide accurate information on persons deprived
of their liberty for the families concerned also seriously affects the
image of the occupying powers amongst the Iraqi population," it said.
Unarmed Iraqis slain: Amnesty
London (AFP). Brit soldiers have fired on and killed Iraqi civilians,
including an 8-yo girl, in situations where there was apparently
no serious threat and in many cases the Brit army has not even
investigated the incidents, human rights group Amnesty Internat'l said
in a report published.
"UK soldiers have opened fire and killed civilians in S Iraq in
circumstances where there was apparently no imminent threat of death
or serious injury to themselves or others," the report said.
"In many cases where civilians have been killed by UK forces the Brit
army has not even opened an investigation.
"Where investigations have been opened, the [Brit] Royal Military
Police, which is responsible for conducting the investigations, has
been highly secretive. It has provided [the victims'] families with
little or no info about the progress or conclusions of investigations."
The Amnesty report, which is likely to add to the furore over the
abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners by the Brit and US forces
occupying Iraq, said Brit soldiers were implicated in the killings of
37 Iraqi civilians since combat operations were officially declared
over on May 1, 2003.
Amnesty cited the case of 8-yo Hanan Saleh Matroud, who was
fatally shot in the stomach in Karmat Ali on Aug 21, 2003 while
soldiers from Company B of the 1st Battalion of the Kings' Regiment
were patrolling the town.
It quoted an eyewitness as saying: "Hanan was standing in the alley
about 60 to 70 m from the armoured vehicle. Suddenly a soldier aimed
and fired a shot which hit Hanan in her lower torso".
2 m later the Brit army sent a letter to the girl's family acknowledging:
"A soldier concerned for his own safety and the safety of his patrol
fired a warning shot into the air in an attempt to disperse... stones
throwers".
"The suggestion was that this wound [was] sustained as a result of the
warning shot, which has not been proven but (has been) accepted as a
possibility," Amnesty quoted the army letter as saying.
Hanan's family had always denied the soldiers were being stoned,
Amnesty said.
The London-based rights organisation said scores of civilians had been
killed by armed groups in Brit controlled S Iraq.
"In S Iraq, dozens or possibly 100s of civilians have been executed by
armed groups and individuals since the start of the occupation, for political
reasons. Killings often take place in the street in broad daylight".
"The violence is fuelled by the easy availability of small arms," it said.
"Iraqis appear to have no confidence that the Brit army or the Iraqi
police can protect them from such attacks or that the perpetrators
will be held accountable before the law."
Bush sees new abuse photos with "disgust"
Washington (AP). Pres Bush examined new photos and video clips of
American soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners Mon, reacting with "deep
disgust and disbelief" during a Pentagon visit in which he underscored
his support for embattled Def Sec Donald Rumsfeld.
The Pres spent the morning in damage-control mode at the
Pentagon, where he convened an extraordinary gathering of top
military, diplomatic, legal and intel advisers.
Seeking to douse speculation about Rumsfeld's future, Bush stood
shoulder-to-shoulder with the secretary -- along with VP Dick Cheney,
Secretary of State Colin Powell, CIA Director George Tenet and other
civilian and military officials -- to offer a testimonial before TV
cameras. Then Bush went behind closed doors to view about 2-dozen
video clips and photos showing US soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners.
Whitehouse and Pentagon officials went out of their way to let it be
known that Bush saw pictures the public had not, part of an effort to
position the Pres ahead of the unfolding election-y
controversy. Until Mon, Bush had seen only pictures obtained by the
news media -- a state of affairs that led him to scold Rumsfeld last wk.
Rumsfeld's rep, Larry Di Rita, called the images "disturbing," and
said they showed humiliation of prisoners as well as "inappropriate
behaviour of a sexual nature." They were consistent with what has been
seen in photographs published around the world in recent days, Di Rita said.
"The president's reaction was one of deep disgust and disbelief that
anyone who wears our uniform would engage in such shameful and
appalling acts," Whitehouse rep Scott McClellan said. "It does not
represent our US military and it does not represent the US."
Bush said in his public remarks, "The conduct that has come to light
is an insult to the Iraqi people and an affront to the most basic
standards of morality and decency."
The Pentagon has not yet decided whether to make the videos public,
and Whitehouse officials repeatedly sidestepped questions about the
president's opinion on that subject. Bush twice ignored reporters'
questions about the matter.
McClellan did say the Admin was seeking a way to share them with
Congress, so lawmakers can "carry out their oversight responsibility."
A highly unusual gathering of Bush officials at the Pentagon illustrated
the gravity of the prison-abuse controversy. It was a meeting 1st
proposed several wk ago, but one that gained urgency over the weekend,
when several additional officials, including Cheney, were told to report.
Rumsfeld's executive dining room was transformed into a TV studio for
the Pres to address a bank of cameras, a handful of journalists
and a gaggle of top aides.
Rumsfeld stood on one side of Bush, Cheney on the other. Cheney left
the Pentagon ahead of Bush to campaign in New Hampshire and Maine.
Also on hand were Powell; Nat'l Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and
her deputy, Stephen Hadley; Whitehouse chief of staff Andy Card, CIA
Director Tenet; Gen Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff; Gen Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs; John Negroponte,
the new US ambassador to Iraq, and Deputy Def Sec Paul Wolfowitz.
They sought to project unity at a time when the prisoner-abuse matter
has strained his team. Above all, Bush wanted to buck up Rumsfeld, who
faced new questions about his fitness to serve.
"You are courageously leading our nation in the war against terror,"
Bush said. "You're doing a superb job. You are a strong secretary of
defence, and our nation owes you a debt of gratitude."
The defence secretary stood with his hands clasped behind his back
during Bush's remarks.
The Army Times, a Gannett Co Inc newspaper read by a quarter-mn troops
around the world, said in an editorial that responsibility for the
abuse lies at the highest levels of the Pentagon, including Rumsfeld
and Myers. Both men are guilty of "professional negligence," the
editorial said.
His voice still hoarse from 3 long days of campaigning last week, the
president also used the appearance to offer a lengthy, favourable
progress report on military operations in Iraq.
His remarks came on a day when the military reported 3 more US
soldiers' deaths between Sat and Mon.
Bush said twice that the US is "on the offensive," and used the phrase
again in an interview with the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service.
He cited patrols and raids in Ramadi, Husabayah and Karmah, and said
Marines would "ensure that Fallujah ceases to become an enemy sanctuary."
In the interview, Bush sought to bolster troops worried that the
scandal has tarnished their reputation worldwide.
"The actions of a few will not be allowed to stain the honour of the
mighty US military," Bush said.
Bush heads to Pentagon for prison abuse brief
Washington (BBC/AFP). Pres George W Bush will reportedly visit the
Pentagon to view all the available footage showing abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
US Pres George Bush is to visit the Pentagon later tonight as his
administration continues to work to safeguard the position of Defence
Sec Donald Rumsfeld.
With new pictures surfacing almost every day, the latest showing
soldiers with dogs surrounding a naked prisoner, efforts to draw a
line under the scandal have failed.
It is reported that President Bush has demanded that he be shown all
the video material and still photographs in the Pentagon's possession.
The Pres will make a statement from the Pentagon today.
There have been calls for Mr Rumsfeld to resign after the publication
of the photographs showing American soldiers in Iraq apparently abusing
Iraqi prisoners.
However the administration is fighting hard to keep Mr Rumsfeld in his post.
Vice-President Dick Cheney has told people to "get off his case" but
it is clear that Mr Rumsfeld faces a new and damaging set of
criticisms from army families who think junior troops are being left
to carry all the blame.
* Doubts on photos
Meanwhile, British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon is facing questions in the
House of Commons about the alleged abuses of Iraqi prisoners by Brit soldiers.
Mr Hoon told Parliament there were "strong indications" that a vehicle
featured in photos showing the alleged torture of Iraqi prisoners by
British troops was not in Iraq at the time.
However Mr Hoon said 2 cases of mistreatment could soon lead to prosecutions.
"I can confirm today that 2 cases have reached an advanced stage with
decisions on prosecutions pending," Mr Hoon told Parliament.
The British Government is under increasing pressure to reveal when it
first learned of the alleged abuses.
PM Tony Blair has revealed the UK was already investigating
the claims of abuse when the Red Cross presented its detailed report in Feb.
* Court-martial to be 'transparent'
The deputy director of US military operations in Iraq, Mark Kimmitt,
has vowed that the public court-martial this month of a low-ranking US
soldier over the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib
detention centre will be "transparent".
"I think that we are going to make this process as transparent as
possible," US Brigadier Gen Mark Kimmitt told ABC television.
"But at no time will we ever forfeit the rights enjoyed by that young
man. He's innocent until proven guilty."
The court-martial against Specialist Jeremy Sivits has been scheduled
to take place in the Iraqi capital on May 19.
If found guilty, Sivits, 24, from the 800th MP Brigade, could be
jailed for a year, demoted, thrown out of the army, fined and lose
two-thirds of his salary for up to a year, a military legal source said.
"This will not be a show trial," Brig Gen Kimmitt said.
"However, there will be access not only to Western media, but to Arab media.
"It is important that the people of this country see what a fair and
transparent process and legal system that we have," he added.
UK casts doubt on Iraq photos
[While Hoon says prosecutions will soon start, the Brit govt also
casts doubt on the evidence?]
London (Reuters). The Brit Government has cast doubt on photographs
allegedly showing UK troops abusing an Iraqi prisoner but said 2 other
cases of mistreatment could soon lead to prosecutions.
"I can confirm today that 2 cases have reached an advanced stage with
decisions on prosecutions pending," Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon told
Parliament.
Britain's Daily Mirror newspaper has printed photographs apparently
showing troops urinating on a prisoner and beating him.
The authenticity of the pictures has been questioned but the paper has
since published evidence from a soldier who said he had witnessed
savage beatings of Iraqis.
"There are strong indications that the vehicle in which the photographs
were taken was not in Iraq during the relevant period," Mr Hoon said.
"Additional lines of inquiry are being pursued to corroborate this."
The Mirror photos kick-started allegations of British mistreatment of
Iraqis but human rights group Amnesty International and the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) say British authorities were told of
serious complaints months ago.
An ICRC report was posted on the Wall Street Journal website on Mon
and confirmed as genuine by the Geneva-based body which said Britain
had received it in Feb.
Although much of the abuse described in the Red Cross report appears
to have taken place in jails run by US forces, it also described the
death of an Iraqi prisoner in custody in the British zone Basra last Sep.
Officials said the allegation referred to the death of an Iraqi detainee
named Baha Musa, which Britain says it has been investigating since
last year.
"By the time the ICRC referred to the case in their Feb report, a
thorough investigation was well under way," Mr Hoon said.
"The case is currently with the Army Legal Services for consideration."
Mr Hoon said Red Cross worries about "hooding" of prisoners had been
accepted and the practice was ended in Sep last y.
"It is fair to say that the ICRC are generally satisfied with our approach
and that they described conditions of internment as 'fairly good,'" he
said.
Allegations of abuse from elsewhere had prompted the British authorities
to trawl the records of its units in Iraq, a process that will last a
few more weeks, he said.
"We unreservedly apologise to any Iraqis where the evidence shows they
have been mistreated," Mr Hoon said.
Senate asked to condemn Iraq prisoner abuse
Canberra. Democrats leader Andrew Bartlett says it is crucial the
Senate condemns prisoner abuse. The Senate today will be asked to
pass a motion condemning the abuse of prisoners in Iraq. With
Parliament resuming this afternoon after a 5-week break, Democrats
leader Andrew Bartlett thinks the Senate should urgently express its
view on the situation. And he is hoping the motion will be passed
unanimously. "We think it's absolutely crucial that the Australian
people, through the Senate, send a strong signal to the global
community that we categorically condemn these actions and believe that
action should be taken to repair the damage," he said. In a separate
move, the Greens want a Senate inquiry into when the Howard Government
found out about the abuse of prisoners and how much it knew.
Italian PM condemns Iraq prisoner abuse
Rome (AFP). Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has condemned
the abuse of prisoners in Iraq, warning it is an obstacle to peace in
the country. Earlier, a member of Mr Berlusconi's cabinet had said
US leaders responsible for the occupation forces in Iraq
should resign over the scandal. And on a visit to Washington,
Germany's Int Min has said the abuse of prisoners in Iraq is
horrific, and a major setback for the global fight against terrorism.
Otto Schily also says apologies may not be enough to repair the
damage. The independent Army Times newspaper, which is read widely in
the US military, has become the latest publication to suggest Mr
Rumsfeld and other top Pentagon civilian and military leaders should
be removed from office.
US promises "thorough" prisoner abuse probe
Baghdad (AFP). Deputy chief of military operations in Iraq, US
Brigadier Gen Mark Kimmitt, says there will be a comprehensive
investigation into prisoner abuse allegations.
An investigation into US military intel and
interrogation methods in Iraq will be "comprehensive" and cover all
detention facilities in the country, according to a US general.
Brigadier Gen Mark Kimmitt said the probe, one of several launched
into alleged torture of prisoners in US-run jails, would be country-wide
and "as comprehensive as possible".
"I certainly know that the investigation will be widespread, will be
thorough," he told reporters.
"We're going to be as comprehensive as possible so anybody who has
quite frankly any association or affiliation is a subject of that
investigation and will be investigated."
He confirmed that 7 soldiers had been charged with criminal
offences as a result of an earlier investigation, adding that "those
are the ones who are going to go through the court martial proceedings".
So far only one soldier, Army Specialist Jeremy Sivits, 24, has been
ordered to face a court martial, scheduled to take place in public in
Baghdad on May 19.
Gen Kimmitt repeated the US military's position that the abuses were
the work of a small fraction of US forces in Iraq despite concerns
that it was ordered from snr commanders within the military intel agencies.
US soldiers patrolling the streets of Iraq had noticed no "tangible"
backlash since shocking pictures of the abuse were published earlier
this month, he said.
But he admitted that "people look at them differently because of what
they've seen".
"It's their [the soldiers'] responsibility to demonstrate to the
people of Iraq that those pictures do not represent the 135,000
American marines and soldiers who are doing the right thing every
day," he said.
Prisoner abuse photos were staged, say military lawyers
Washington (AFP). Military lawyers for a female US private
seen in a photo holding a leash attached to the neck of a naked Iraqi
say their client was merely taking part in staged pictures. Giorgio
Ra'shadd represents Private First Class Lynndie England and he says
the photos were part of a psychological operation so that other
prisoners could be shown the pictures and pressured into talking.
"Many of the photos you see involving our client are staged. They are
psychological operations photos," he said. "Those were instructed,
and the ones that were not specially instructed were inferred by the
civilian intel people who essentially took control."
Amnesty accuses British soldiers of killing civilians
London (AFP). Human rights group Amnesty International says British
soldiers in Iraq have fired on and killed civilians in situations
where there was apparently no serious threat. Among the dead was an
eight-year-old girl. Amnesty says that in many cases, the British
army has not even investigated the incidents. Where investigations
have been opened, the military police have been highly secretive,
providing the victims' families with little or no information about
the progress or conclusions of investigations. Amnesty International
says British soldiers have been implicated in the killing of 37 Iraqi
civilians since combat operations were officially declared over 12 m ago.
US Senate condemns abuse of Iraqi prisoners
Washington (AFP). The US Senate has unanimously approved a
resolution condemning the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US soldiers in
Iraq, apologising to victims of the mistreatment and their families.
The resolution said soldiers found guilty of abuse, at Abu Ghraib
prison outside Baghdad, would be brought to justice for their actions.
It "condemns in the strongest possible terms the despicable acts at
Abu Ghraib prison and joins with the President in expressing apology
for the humiliation suffered by the prisoners in Iraq and their
families". The resolution also urged the administration of George W
Bush to take "appropriate measures" to ensure such acts do not occur
again while calling for a full investigation into the abuses. The
Senate resolution follows swiftly on the heels a similar house
resolution that was approved over the weekend by a 365-50 vote.
Govt knew of prisoner abuse claims in Feb: Labor
Kevin Rudd says the Aussie Government needs to come clean on when it
became aware of the prisoner abuse claims.
Canberra. The federal Labor Party says the Government needs to give a
clear account of what and when it knew about prisoner abuse in Iraq.
The Australian Greens will move a motion in the Senate today calling
for a parliamentary inquiry to establish whether there has been any
Australian involvement in the mistreatment of prisoners and what the
Government knew.
Labor's Kevin Rudd says it is now clear FM Alexander
Downer was aware that the US was investigating claims of
abuse at the beginning of the year.
"We have the Defence Minister Senator Hill saying that he only found
out about prisoner abuse in Iraq a week or 2 ago yet we have the FM
saying that he was aware back in Feb," he said.
"Now you would think at a minimum, the Howard Government would at
least be able to get its story straight."
A-G Philip Ruddock says he did not know about the prisoner abuse until
the photographs were published across the world.
"Nobody has said to me that they had knowledge of this matter before
last week," he said.
A leaked document shows the Federal Government signed an agreement in
early 2003, setting out its legal obligation to ensure no prisoners
captured by Australian forces are mistreated.
But Mr Ruddock says Australian troops do not handle prisoners and AUS
does not fall under the UN resolution responsible for Iraq.
Red Cross witnessed prisoner abuse: report
NY (BBC). A confidential report leaked to the Wall Street Journal
says Red Cross employees in Iraq saw American troops keeping Iraqi
prisoners naked for days in darkness at the Abu Ghraib prison near
Baghdad. They were told by an intel officer in charge that it
was "part of the process". Although most of the Red Cross's
observations concerned US forces, it also did not spare
Britain. It said that in one incident, British troops forced Iraqi
detainees to kneel, then stomped on their necks. One of the prisoners
died. As the revelations have grown worse, US Pres George W Bush
has been more vocal in condemning them. "Because America's committed
to the equality and dignity of all people there will be a full
accounting, for the cruel and disgraceful abuse of Iraqi detainees,"
he said. "Conduct that has come to light is an insult to the Iraqi
people and an affront to the most basic standards of morality and decency."
35 Shiite militiamen killed in Baghdad overnight: US military
Baghdad. Around 35 suspected loyalists to Shiite Muslim radical
leader Moqtada al-Sadr were killed in multiple engagements with US
forces in the Iraqi capital overnight, US Brigadier Gen Mark
Kimmitt said.
2 Shiite militiamen were also wounded and 4 coalition soldiers
treated for minor injuries before being returned to duty, Brig Gen
Kimmitt, the US-led coalition's deputy director of operations, said.
He said the death toll did not include Shiite militiamen reportedly
killed on Sun.
"It's my understanding that that is a new number," he told a Baghdad briefing.
He said militiamen attacked US soldiers with rocket-propelled grenades
fired from alleyways in "numerous engagements during the early morning".
US forces raided the local office of Sadr but, when they found no one
inside, withdrew and destroyed the building with a combination of tank
and possibly helicopter fire.
Brig Gen Kimmitt said clashes continued through the daylight hours but
they were "nothing like what we saw last night".
Sadr on Mon ordered his Mehdi Army to launch a broad new offensive
against US-led occupying forces following a US crackdown on his strongholds
in Baghdad and across the south.
Spain to refuse hand over of Iraqi cleric
Madrid (Reuters). Spanish forces in Iraq have refused a request,
apparently from the US, to hand over "dead or alive" an Iraqi
religious leader if they encountered him, according to Defence
Min Jose Bono.
"The occupying countries can engage in offensive actions. But
coalition countries like Spain cannot participate in offensive actions
and therefore we said categorically that we were not prepared to hand
over dead or alive -- as we were asked to do at one point -- a certain
religious leader," Mr Bono was quoted as saying by Europa Press news agency.
Mr Bono did not say if he was referring to rebel Muslim cleric Sheik
Moqtada al-Sadr who has led an uprising against the US-led occupation.
He also did not say who made the request, but appeared to be referring
to US forces who have vowed to kill or capture Sadr.
Spain is withdrawing forces from Iraq in line with an electoral pledge
by Socialist PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who won
power in Mar shortly after the Madrid train bombings.
Sadr's stronghold is in the Shiite holy city of Najaff, S of Baghdad,
where Spanish forces were present until it recently concentrated
troops in Diwaniya prior to departure.
Mr Bono said Spanish troops in Iraq were "subject to international
law, which prevents us being an occupying and offensive force".
He said Spaniards could be sure their troops had not mistreated any
Iraqi prisoner.
He said US forces would take control of the remaining Spanish base in
Diwaniya by May 17 and said all Spanish troops were likely to be out
of Iraq before May 27.
Chechnya buries slain leader
Slain Chechen Pres Akhmad Kaydrov has been buried in his home town.
Grozny (Reuters). Chechnya has buried slain President Akhmad Kadyrov,
the pro-Moscow strongman whose assassination has left a power vacuum
in the rebel Russian province.
The ex-Muslim cleric, central to plans to pacify mainly Muslim
Chechnya but a traitor to separatists, was killed by a bomb blast at a
World War II victory ceremony in the regional capital Grozny on Sun.
6 other people died in the blast from a bomb planted under the VIP
stand at Grozny's Dinamo Stadium.
Mr Kadyrov, 52, who once led the separatists, ruled Chechnya with an
iron fist and was increasingly taking over powers from his Kremlin
masters, negotiating with moderate rebels and suppressing opposition
among rival clans.
As 1000s of mourners flooded tightly guarded roads to attend the funeral
in Mr Kadyrov's home village of Tsentoroi some 50 km from Grozny,
Russian officials insisted they had the security situation under control.
TV pictures showed dozens of people attending the burial after Mr
Kadyrov's body, under a sheepskin blanket, was delivered to the cemetery.
Russian and Chechen officials blamed rebels for the assassination. But
rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov denied any involvement in an interview to
rebel news agency Chechenpress.
* Russia confident
"In general the situation in the republic is under control of
law-enforcement bodies and federal forces," Interfax news agency
quoted the newly appointed Russian commander in Chechnya Col Gen
Mikhail Pankov as saying.
Col Gen Pankov's predecessor, Col Gen Valery Baranov, was
badly injured, but officials said he was feeling better after surgery.
But despite confident noises from officials the situation looked bleak
for President Vladimir Putin's plans to establish an effective
authority there that would eventually snuff out the separatist rebellion.
"Kadyrov's death has left a political vacuum in Chechnya," Russian
parliamentary deputy Ramazan Abdulatipov said.
The defection of Mr Kadyrov from the rebel cause was a coup for Mr
Putin, who sent troops in 1999 to end short-lived independence.
But Mr Kadyrov's moves to get rid of power rivals with Moscow's
heavy-handed help devastated Chechnya's political landscape, leaving
few potential successors of quality for Mr Putin to choose.
For the past 4 y his main political rivals had been kept out of
Chechnya, losing touch with voters and their power base in the republic.
2 hr after Kadyrov's death, Mr Putin met his son Ramzan in Moscow
fuelling rumours the head of Mr Kadyrov's security forces -- accused
by opponents of involvement in human rights violations and kidnappings
-- could be handed the hot job.
These rumours strengthened on Mon, when Ramzan was appointed first
deputy head of the regional government.
Jewish settlers set up new Gaza Strip neighbourhood
Gaza (AFP). Jewish settlers have begun setting up a new neighbourhood
in the Gaza Strip, in memory of a pregnant woman who was killed with
her 4 daughters last week by Palestinian gunmen. An AFP correspondent
says 3 bulldozers have been levelling ground about 100 metres from the
Katif settlement, in preparation for the construction of the
neighbourhood. Under the first phase of the peace plan known as the
road map, Israel is required to freeze all Jewish settlement activity
in the occupied territories including the expansion of existing
settlements. Meanwhile, Israeli PM Ariel Sharon is
drawing up a new version of a Gaza pullout plan, after his Likud party
rejected his proposal to withdraw from all settlements there.
2 killed in Gaza incursion
Gaza (BBC). Israeli troops backed by tanks and helicopter gunships
have reportedly killed 2 Palestinians and wounded 10 in a raid into
Gaza City. Israeli tanks and armoured cars have pushed into the
densely-populated Zeitoun area of Gaza City. Palestinian fighters
have moved to confront the troops and there have been exchanges of
fire. The Israelis have been using loudspeakers to warn people that
if they emerge from their homes they will be shot, and Israeli snipers
have taken up positions at the top of the highest buildings in the
area. It is not clear year exactly what the operation is aiming to
achieve. An army spokeswoman would only say that what she described
as "terrorist infrastructure" was being targeted.
Anwar outburst causes appeal upset
KL (AFP). Malaysia's jailed ex-deputy PM Anwar Ibrahim
lost the first round in his final appeal for freedom after failing to
have the judges thrown off his case.
Anwar caused an upset in court during his freedom bid by telling the
judges he did not believe they would give him a fair hearing.
The judges hearing his appeal against a sodomy conviction were
"handpicked and will be given swift promotion after they convict me,"
an angry Anwar told reporters at the Federal Court.
"I have no confidence in your lordships," Anwar told the 3 judges in
the country's highest court.
"I see no point in continuing these proceedings. It is a foregone conclusion.
It is a facade. There is not going to be a fair trial," Anwar said.
Earlier, his lawyers had called on 2 of the 3 judges to disqualify
themselves from the case, accusing one of bias against Anwar and the
other of being too junior.
When the judges returned after an adjournment to declare that they
would not step down, Anwar stood up and made his angry statement.
The judges then adjourned again, telling Anwar to give instructions to
his lawyers on whether to proceed with the case.
If Anwar's appeal fails, he will remain in prison until at least 2009.
He has already served 5 y on a corruption charge.
Anwar accused PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of continuing to
control a judiciary cowed by his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad, who
retired last Oct.
"[Abdullah] is hiding behind the courts. [Mahathir] destroyed the judiciary
and he has appointed a person to ensure the system remains," Anwar said.
Anwar stood up in court at one stage to back his lawyers' allegations
against Abdul Hamid, telling him he was wrong to have suggested that
the issue of national security played a role in his conviction.
"Once we knew [who the judges were], I lost faith. There are more
senior, credible judges around," he said.
Former PM Mahathir Mohamad sacked his charismatic and
popular deputy in 1998 and Anwar was later jailed on charges he says
were trumped up to prevent him from making a challenge for the premiership.
Legal experts widely condemned his trials as flawed and the US and
Amnesty International list him as a political prisoner.
Installation of Olympic stadium roof begins
Athens (AFP). Workmen have begun sliding into place the first of 2
giant arches which will support the controversial roof of the Olympic
stadium in Athens.
Whether or not the glass-metal roof would be installed in time has
been in doubt for the last few months as Greece has struggled to
complete its projects for the Games.
But with 95 days to go until the Olympics open, workmen began to
position the first of the support arches at around 1.00 pm local time.
The development comes on the day of the International Olympic Committee's
(IOC) final official inspection visit to check preparations for the
Aug 13-29 Games and a week after a bomb attack on an Athens police stn.
The western arch, designed to carry the metal structure supporting the
polycarbon roof plates overlooking the stadium, weighs around 9,000
tons and was to slide at a snail's pace across a distance of 60 m.
According to an engineer at the worksite, the manoeuvre was scheduled
to take around 4 days.
But a source close to the IOC said that it could last as little as 36
hours and be finished for the IOC final press conference at midday on Wed.
The installation of the eastern arch, which is still under construction,
is expected to start around 10 days after the first arch has been
moved into place.
According to an engineering source, the installation of the second
arch is expected to be easier than the first one.
"There will be more space for the workers to move," the source said.
Both arches span over 300 metres each.
The sliding operation is running several days behind a schedule presented
weeks ago, according to which both arches should have been in place
around May 15.
But Greek organisers said it was a mistake to play up a delay of a few
days to the roof, as contractors had used the time to advance on other
areas of the construction work.
Around 15% of the semi-transparent polycarbon plates have been already
laid on the roof's western wing -- a work initially designed to be
completed after the sliding of the arch.
IOC sources repeatedly expressed concerns that the roof -- a project
they did not deem necessary for the Games, but which has become a
matter of prestige to the Greeks -- would not be completed in time and
jeopardise vital refurbishing work for the stadium.
But those fears have receded since the roof for the cycling velodrome,
also designed by Spanish star architect Santiago Calatrava, was successfully
installed on Mar 28.
"Despite the unexpected problems encountered, the contractor shifted
the roof in 2 days, instead of the 4 planned," a source close to the
contractors said.
Final refurbishing of the revamped 20-year-old stadium was expected to
have finished at the end of Jul, 2 wk ahead of the opening ceremony.
Officials celebrate as Olympic stadium roof begins slide
Athens (BBC). Greek government officials and Olympic Games organisers
are celebrating this morning, after the first successful movement of a
high-tech roof that is being slid into place over the main stadium in
Athens. The roof is meant to be the architectural showpiece of the
Games, but has been plagued by delays. The minister overseeing the
building work for the Olympics smashed a bottle of wine on the foot of
the arch of the roof as it began to slide towards the stadium. It was
a critical moment. The roof is a spectacular and pioneering piece of
architecture. Much could have gone wrong but it all went smoothly.
It moved 2 m and the slide is expected to continue later today. This
half of the roof should be in place over the stadium by the end of the
week. The other half is due to move later this month.
Howard pitches Budget to MPs
Canberra. PM John Howard believes the federal Budget to
be unveiled tonight is a very good budget and is economically responsible.
At a meeting of the Liberal and National parties earlier today Mr
Howard told his colleagues tonight's budget comes at a very important
moment in this political cycle.
Mr Howard insists it is all possible because his Government has run
the economy well.
Treasurer Peter Costello told the party room the Budget is part of the
Government's continuing sound economic management which is not a fluke
or an accident and the Treasurer also told reporters the Budget will
be a milestone in the nation.
"A statement as to where we are, where we want to go, how we are going
to give families more choices and the largest package that we have
ever seen," he said.
Mr Howard told his MPs and senators he has not made up his mind when
the election will be.
* Aspirational families
Mr Costello says the Budget will provide an unprecedented level of
financial support for families.
He says it will focus on measures to help parents raise their children.
The Budget is expected to include tax cuts, payments for new mothers
and as many as 40,000 new child care places.
There will also be extra spending on aged care, intel agencies
and scientific research.
* Bribery claim
The federal Labor Party has predicted a bounce in the opinion polls in
favour of the Coalition, after the release of tonight's big-spending Budget.
Labor finance spokesman Bob McMullan has accused the Government of
withholding money to use as a pre-election bribe.
"In the last 2 pre-election Budgets they got a bounce of between 3
and 5% in the poll first taken after the Budget," he said.
Mr McMullan says he expects a 3 to 5% rise in the polls for the Govt
and that could see the PM call an election as early as Aug.
He says if that happens there will not be time for most of the Budget
measures to travel through the Parliament.
"It's highly unlikely that they could get it drafted, debated,
examined by the Senate and passed by the 30th of Jun so things like
that are really more Liberal Party election promises than Budget
commitments," he said.
Labor is also expected to keep focus on the future of Treasurer Peter
Costello today after renewed speculation over the Coalition's leadership.
But Liberal Parliamentary Secretary Trish Worth has this morning sent
a message of support to Mr Costello.
"It's been quite an effort on his part, this is 9 Budgets, that is
a lot of very hard work," she said.
"I think we all appreciate the work that he has done. If he's feeling
a bit tired at the moment and missing his family a bit, I think that's
entirely understandable."
* "Important initiatives"
Mr Costello arrived at Parliament House this morning saying tonight's
Budget will have important initiatives for the long-term future of AUS.
The big spending Budget will have a focus on work and family, with new child
care places and maternity payment of at least $3,000 for all new mothers.
Hundreds of $mns will also go to Australia's intel agencies and
there will be a big funding boost for aged care.
The Treasurer has had little to say so far about an expected tax cut
for all Australians.
He says families will be the greatest focus of the Budget.
"We want to give families more choices, we want to give families
incentives and help with bringing up their children because it's the
families that make the fabric of Australia," he said.
Independent Senator Meg Lees says the Upper House will scrutinise the detail.
"Hopefully we will see some real spending on infrastructure, we will
see some real spending on the environment and tax cuts that are
targeted to those that really need them," he said.
"But if there are nasties in there, and they've been there before,
then it's the Senate's job to work through it and take them out."
* National security
The Budget is expected to contain more funding to boost national
security at shipping ports and regional airports.
Dr David Wright Neville from the Global Terrorism Research Unit at
Melbourne's Monash University says while the funding is welcome, it
addresses the symptoms rather than the cause of terrorism.
"A determined terrorist is highly adaptive and that's why we're seeing
possibly the move from airlines to attacks on rail and perhaps land
transport, that we're seeing in Europe," he said.
"So I mean, they will probe for weak spots and even any increased
security at regional airports isn't going to dissuade a terrorism from
committing an attack -- it will simply prompt him or her to look for
softer targets."
Business community hopes for tax cuts
Sydney. Many in the business community are hoping they will be on the
receiving end of tax cuts in tonight's Budget.
While most business and industry groups are supporting the personal
income tax cuts and more funding for vocational training, they are
also hoping the Budget will address concerns about capital gains and
exports taxes.
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry spokesman Peter Hendy says
the capital gains tax needs reforming to promote investment and
research and development in Australia.
"The burden on capital gains tax in this country is high compared to
our competitors," he said.
The Australian Industry Group's Heather Ridout says the tax on exports
was introduced 8 y ago to repair a struggling budget, and it
is the right time to let it go.
"And if we're looking at a surplus somewhere conservatively of 4 bn,
you'd have to say if not now when?"
The market is expecting the surplus could go as high as $8 or 9 bn,
but is not expecting the tax and spending announcements to provide
more than a modest stimulus to the economy.
Supporters consider court action to keep Thai girl in Australia
Plarm Pongprom has been granted another bridging visa
Cairns. Court action may be taken to ensure that a 12-year-old Thai
girl can stay in Australia permanently. Plarm Pongprom has lived with
her grandparents in Mareeba in far north Queensland for 3 y after
being abandoned by her Thai parents. The Immigration Department
yesterday extended her bridging visa as it has done several times
before. One Nation Senator Len Harris says he will fund a
humanitarian appeal to the High Court to have Plarm granted the right
to stay here permanently. "It would be inhumane to send Plarm back to
a women's shelter in Thailand," he said. "We all know that in
Thailand one of the greatest areas where they actually source these
young girls for prostitutes is from these women's shelters."
RSL disgusted at pet cruelty
Townsville [Taliban territory]. 6 soldiers who set kittens alight and
ran over one with a motorbike had disgraced the army, RSL president
Bill Crews said.
The soldiers from Townsville's Lavarack Barracks appeared in the
Townsville Magistrates Court on Mon where they were fined after
pleading guilty to cruelty to animals charges.
Ben Charles David Lightbody, 21, Brett Michael Henry Neville, 26,
Casey Mitchell Parker, 21, Geoffrey Martin Symonds, 20, Darryl Stephen
Llewellin, 26, and Christopher James Murray, 19, were each fined
$2,000 but had no conviction recorded against them.
Police said the soldiers tied a rope around one kitten's neck then
dragged it along a bitumen road.
He said the kitten survived that but was then placed behind the rear
wheel of a vehicle. When the vehicle's handbrake was released, it
rolled back and crushed the kitten to death.
The 3 other kittens were then thrown one by one onto the road, where
fuel was poured over them and they were set alight.
"I'm horrified and appalled to say the least," Maj Gen Crews told ABC Radio.
"There is no explanation for why a person would reasonably do that.
"They have disgraced the army through their behaviour, it's as simple
as that, and it's not acceptable to the army, I feel sure.
"The snr leadership of the army will ensure these people are made
aware of that if indeed they are even invited to remain."
The soldiers, all from an army support battalion, said they would each
voluntarily do 100 hr of community service with the RSPCA.
But Qld RSPCA chief executive Mark Townsend said staff did not want
their help.
"I don't think those soldiers would actually be able to turn and help
at all with the shelter until they had some other counselling," he said.
"Normal people don't burn cats alive and don't drag them behind motorbikes.
"There's a lot more serious problem there than just turning up to the
RSPCA and doing some work to make them feel better."
Top End to host military exercises
Canberra. Hundreds of personnel and aircraft from 4 countries will join
the Royal Australian Air Force for its biggest air combat training
exercise -- Pitch Black.
The biennial exercise has returned to the Northern Territory and will
run from Jul into Aug.
Singapore, France, Thailand and the US will take part.
Air Commodore John Quaife says it will be exciting to see France's
Mirage 2000 fighter jets on Australian soil.
"So what it actually enables us to do is look at how another quality
airforce manages quality equipment that we don't see too often," he said.
"So that gives us plenty of opportunities to learn from the French
airforce as well as from the other participating nations."
He says northern Australia provides a great training ground.
"Frankly, it's our preferred training area because the airspace is so
generous," he said.
"But it's not just the airspace, there's been large investments on
Darwin, large investments on Tindall, so what we've got is the facilities
in the Top End for training but Darwin's also strategically important
for defence and so therefore it's important all the people that are in
the airforce who would have to defend Australia understand operations
in the north."
The Australian Army will also participate in separate exercises being
run at the same time.
Australia to assist Pacific nations with port security
Canberra. Australia is to help Papua New Guinea and other Pacific
island countries meet new international, anti-terrorist, port security
standards. The deadline for implementing the new standards is just
over 7 wk away. Jul 1 is the deadline for compliance with the
International Maritime Organisation's International Ship and Port
Security Code. The code forms part of a new global security regime
for international shipping and many island countries face the possible
loss of vitally important freight deliveries if their ports do not
measure up. Australia's FM Alexander Downer says
Australia is providing almost $500,000 to help Pacific nations
including Papua New Guinea improve their port security.
Liberal leadership speculation continues
Canberra. Despite Treasurer Peter Costello's bid to keep all eyes
focused on tonight's Budget, Liberal leadership tensions remain.
Parliamentary Secretary Christopher Pyne was admonished recently for
speaking out about the expected hand-over from PM John
Howard to Mr Costello. But now another Parliamentary Secretary, Trish
Worth, has become the third Coalition MP in a week to raise the issue.
"He has every reason to think that some time down the track he'll be
PM should we win the next election," he said. Labor
front-bencher Wayne Swan has seized on the comments. "Well there's
another one out there this morning. She now joins the twins, Senators
Brandis and Mason, out there calling for a changeover," he said. Mr
Swan says it is clear a vote for John Howard will be a vote for future
PM Peter Costello, and says voters deserve to know when
any hand-over will occur.
Qantas to introduce fuel surcharge
Sydney. Aussie flagship carrier Qantas Airways Ltd said it would
introduce a fuel surcharge on passenger tickets sold after midnight,
May 17, because of a substantial rise in jet fuel prices.
The fuel surcharge will be $6.00 per sector for Qantas Domestic,
QantasLink, Jetstar and domestic NZ services and $15 per sector for
Qantas Internat'l services and Aussie Airlines.
Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said jet fuel prices were currently
about $US44/bbl, the highest level for 14 y.
"Fuel represented about 15% of Qantas' costs last y, the 2nd largest
cost to the group after salaries and wages," Mr Dixon said.
He said the USD price of jet fuel is almost 60% higher than it was 12
m ago -- $US44/bbl compared to $US28/bbl -- and this has significantly
increased the cost to the airline's business.
Mr Dixon said the main reasons for the jump in the fuel price is
continuing tensions in the Middle East and strong global demand,
particularly from the US and China.
He said the last time Qantas introduced a passenger fuel surcharge was
in late 2000 after jet fuel prices spiked to more than $US43/bbl in
Oct 2000 because of surging global demand.
Plane makes emergency landing at Sydney Airport
Sydney. A plane carrying flammable cargo has been forced to make an
emergency landing at Sydney Airport. Richard Dudley from Air Services
Australia says the pilot of the small plane was alerted to a possible
engine fire by a flashing warning light around 9.30 pm. Mr Dudley
says the aircraft was originally flying into Bankstown Airport but he
says the pilot decided to land at Sydney Airport where aviation rescue
and firefighting services were on standby. Mr Dudley says the plane
landed safely at 9.45 pm after the pilot took appropriate action.
"Any warning indication light requires prompt action," he said. "The
pilot did what he thought appropriate given the circumstances and
aviation rescue and firefighting at Sydney airport responded accordingly."
Taskforce examines possible underworld murder link
Melbourne. The police taskforce investigating Melbourne's underworld
killings has been briefed about a suspicious death in Brunswick at the
weekend. A man's body was dumped in Brunswick on Sat night in
Katawa Grove. Initially it was believed he died from stab wounds, but
a post mortem has revealed he had been shot in the upper body. The
man's identity is yet to be established. Homicide squad detectives
have notified the Purana taskforce investigating Melbourne's
underworld killings. Purana detectives are monitoring the homicide
investigation. Meanwhile, police are also investigating the deaths of
2 people at Essendon last night. The body of a man and a woman were
found in a house in Edward Street.
Radiation warning for cardiologists
[BUT, BUT! Radiation is GOOD for you!]
Vienna (AFP). Cardiologists unaware of radiation risks can give
patients hard-to-heal skin burns or increased chances of getting
cancer in procedures that use high-dose X-rays in order to avoid
open-heart surgery, doctors and experts said.
Radiation safety specialist Medan Rehani said many cardiologists doing
angioplasties, which use an inserted catheter to unblock arteries
instead of cracking open the chest for open-heart surgery, "have never
been trained in radiation protection."
He was speaking to reporters at a conference by the Vienna-based
Internat'l Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to brief cardiologists from 25
developing countries about the problem. Rehani, who works for the
IAEA, said 88% of the 27 cardiologists at the conference, who were
from eastern Europe, the Middle E and Asia, had said "it was the 1st
time they were getting training in radiation protection."
"It is a shocking fact but it is a fact," said Rehani, an Indian who
is a medical physicist. "Somehow X-rays have been used safely for
many decades, so doctors thought they were safe," he said.
Rehani said conditions were better in the US than elsewhere
in the world "because there is a good mechanism of feedback" to
monitor illnesses.
Pedro Ortiz-Lopez, a medical physicist who is IAEA unit head of
radiation safety, said the amount of X-ray radiation given to a
patient during an angioplasty could be 1,000 times as much as in a
chest X-ray, for instance.
In a therapeutic angioplasty, doctors use fluoroscope X-rays to see
where the catheter is going and can have the beam on a patient for
from 20 minutes to over an hour.
Ortiz-Lopez said about one mn cardiac angioplasties were done annually
worldwide, with a risk of skin burns of one in 10,000 cases and
increased cancer risks from the radiation.
The more obese the patient, the more the chances of injury as dosage
levels must be higher in order for the fluoroscope to see inside the
body, Rehani said.
He said the number of angioplasties, a procedure in use for some 2
decades, has exploded over the past 10 y.
The technique allows patients to go home the next day instead of
staying in hospital after open-heart surgery. In some countries, the
rate of angioplasty procedures is doubling every 2 to 4 y.
Rehani said doctors should take the following steps to avoid excessive
radiation exposure for patients:
Before the angioplasty, they should check to see if patients have
already had the procedure, and so have been exposed to radiation, or
if they are sensitive to radiation-intensive treatments.
Canada wheat board cheers Monsanto GMO decision
Winnipeg, Manitoba (Reuters). Canada's wheat exporter lauded Monsanto
Co's decision on Mon to shelve its genetically modified wheat -- a
crop the Canadian Wheat Board said would hurt its markets.
"I think Monsanto has made the absolutely best decision at this time
given the info available to them," said Patty Rosher, snr program manager
at the Canadian Wheat Board, one of the world's largest wheat exporters.
"It's a good decision in a second-best world: we don't like to see a
company pull back on biotech research ... but this product was not the
right product," Rosher said.
Monsanto's wheat, designed to withstand applications of its Roundup
herbicide, spurred fierce debate in Canada's farming heartland since
the company 1st announced its research plans in 1997.
Canadian farmers had already been stung by being shut out of European
markets for canola after they widely adopted GMO varieties of the
crop, a Canadian variant of rapeseed crushed for its cooking oil.
Canada's bulk-handling system makes it impossible to keep GMO and
non-GMO grains and oilseeds completely separate -- and buyers of
Canadian wheat quickly lined up saying they wouldn't buy from Canada
if the GMO crop was commercialised.
The Canadian Wheat Board, which has a monopoly on exports from
Canada's main wheat-growing region, became a fierce opponent of
Monsanto's wheat research, and even threatened legal action to stop
the company from proceeding further.
Last year, buyers of 87% of Canada's wheat required guarantees that it
was not genetically modified, the wheat board has said.
The wheat board's opp'n was part of why Monsanto decided to step back
from its efforts to develop GMO wheat, the company's Canadian rep said.
"The wheat board has not been particularly supportive of biotech wheat
investment," Trish Jordan said.
Monsanto will discuss with Canadian govt regulators what to do with
its submission for feed, food and environmental approvals, Jordan said.
The company said it will consider reviving its work when other GMO
wheats become available, possibly in 4 to 8 y.
"When that might be, it's hard for us to say, because it might not be
us," Jordan said. "There are other companies that are working on
biotech traits in wheat."
By that time, the Canadian system may have better ways to keep GMO
wheat separate from traditional wheat, the Canadian Wheat Board's
Rosher said.
Wheat buyers may be more accepting of GMO wheats with consumer
benefits, rather than a variety that resists a chemical, Rosher said.
"I think that's a timeline that we can deal with," Rosher said.
Monsanto pulls plan to commercialise gene-altered wheat
Washington (WashPost). The Monsanto Co yesterday scrapped plans to
commercialise genetically engineered wheat, the biggest defeat yet for
advocates of agricultural biotechnology -- and a victory for skeptics
who said the company was trying to foist on the world a crop it did
not want or need.
Monsanto said it would indefinitely delay plans to commercialise
Roundup Ready wheat, a product that 3 y ago seemed headed for quick
approval in the US and Canada. The company said it would cut most of
the $5 mn it spends annually to develop the crop.
It did not rule out reviving it some day, but said it would do so only
as part of a larger package of genetic alterations in the wheat plant
that might win broad acceptance in the marketplace. Monsanto said any
decision to revive the product would be 4 to 8 y away.
While a few gene-altered crops have won wide acceptance among farmers,
none is used primarily as human food and none carries the philosophical
significance of wheat, fields of which make up the "amber waves of
grain" that symbolise the bounty of N America.
Monsanto's efforts to develop gene-altered wheat had been watched
around the world as a bellwether for the future of agriculture.
A small but organised band of farmers in Canada and the N Great
Plains, fearing introduction of the wheat would cost them vital
markets among skeptical consumers in Europe and Asia, fought for 5 y
to kill the crop, forming a tactical alliance with environmental
groups that oppose genetic engineering in principle.
Their efforts set off broad debate among farm groups and in state
legislatures.
The skeptics celebrated yesterday's announcement.
"We're just thrilled," said Gail Wiley, a farmer nr Millarton, ND, who
joined her husband, Tom, in spear-heading opp'n to Monsanto's
plans. "I'm sure Monsanto won't say it was because of us, but we're
going to take the win, whether they admit it or not."
Friends of the Earth, an environmental group, called Monsanto's
decision "a worldwide victory for consumers."
Joseph Mendelson, legal director of the Center for Food Safety, said
it was "a watershed event to have a product rejected in N America
because of consumer and farmer desires. It will embolden farmers to
say when we see a product we don't want on the market, we can stop it."
Roundup Ready wheat was designed to make it easier and less labour-intensive
for growers to control weeds. The plant resists the effects of
Roundup, an herbicide sold by Monsanto and, under the generic name
glyphosate, by other companies. Roundup normally kills crops and can't
be used after they're in the ground, but Roundup Ready crops have been
tweaked at a genetic level to permit them to survive even heavy
applications of the herbicide.
Monsanto said it scrapped the product not because of pressure from
activists, but out of hard-nosed business calculations. Spring wheat
acreage in N America, the market Monsanto was targeting, has shrunk
25% since research on Roundup Ready wheat began in 1997, the company
said. With growers divided on whether to accept the crop, Monsanto
said it simply saw better opportunities elsewhere.
Monsanto declined to say how much it had spent developing Roundup
Ready wheat. The company said it would focus on expanding sales of
gene-altered corn, cotton, canola and soybeans, which have been widely
accepted in N America and in many foreign countries.
"I wish it were complex, but it's really not," said Carl Casale,
executive VP of Monsanto, based in St Louis. "It was just a pure
economic analysis of this opportunity relative to others that we have."
For 2 y, Monsanto's biggest political problem in pushing Roundup Ready
wheat had been not its enemies but its friends.
The most influential wheat growers' group, N American Wheat Growers,
officially supported the crop and wanted it approved. But the group,
and other wheat organisations, also pressed Monsanto to commercialise
the product only when certain conditions were met, including evidence
that it would be accepted among overseas buyers.
Those conditions became nearly impossible to satisfy as foreign opp'n
hardened in the past 2 y. Japanese millers went so far as to tour the
American and Canadian wheat belts to oppose the crop.
Roundup Ready soybeans and canola have been huge successes with North
American farmers, and they have also embraced other Monsanto crops
that have been genetically altered to resist insects. But none of the
gene-altered crops widely adopted to date is a food crop with the
symbolic significance of wheat.
Soybeans and canola are pressed for their oil, most of which is used
in small quantities in processed food. Most corn is fed to animals,
and cotton is used for clothing. Wheat would have been by far the most
important food crop to "go biotech," in the phrase that farmers use.
Darren Coppock, chief executive of the N American Wheat Growers, in
Washington, emphasised yesterday that efforts to use biotechnology to
improve the wheat crop were not dead. But genetic alterations that
benefit farmers alone might not be enough to overcome marketplace
resistance, he said, adding that companies need to develop genetic
alterations that could benefit millers and consumers.
Among farmers, "nobody has a scientific or technical or philosophical
objection to using biotechnology in wheat," he said.
"The resistance comes if the person at the very end of the food chain
says, 'I'm not going to buy the product.' "
Monsanto has already filed for approval of Roundup Ready wheat in some
countries, including the US, and the company said yesterday it would
consult with regulators on how to proceed.
Monsanto left open the possibility of seeking approval now in some
countries, so that commercialisation might be easier if it decides to
revive the crop in several years. But the company said it would seek
to go to market only if farmer sentiment changes, perhaps after other
companies have successfully commercialised biotech wheat varieties.
Monsanto's decision to continue pressing for regulatory approval led
to some wariness yesterday among opponents of biotech wheat, who fear
the company, perhaps under new management in the future, might break
its pledges to farmers.
"We do have a hard time trusting Monsanto," said Gail Wiley, the North
Dakota farmer. "If that [regulatory] process is still going forward,
we'll be watching."
Japan proposes easing of whale embargo
Tokyo (Kyodo). Japan is to propose an easing of an embargo on the
international trade of minke whales, at an international wildlife
conservation meeting in Bangkok later this year. Japan's Fisheries
Agency says the Government has already submitted the proposal to the
conference of the signatory countries to the Washington Treaty, which
will run from Oct 2 to Oct 14 Japan has made similar proposals
in previous conferences for the past 3 years, requesting an easing
of the embargo on minke whales and Bryde's whales, but the proposals
have been voted down each time. Japan claims the number of whales in
each category is rising, and easing the ban will not lead to extinction.
Scientists say El Nino worsening
[BUT IT'S NOT HAPPENING, BA-KARK!!]
Canberra. New scientific evidence has shown the El Nino weather
condition which causes droughts is becoming more aggressive.
Researchers from the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology
Organisation have found that not only did the most recent El Nino, in
2002, result in less rainfall, it also led to more evaporation.
Professor Ann Henderson-Sellers says this has dire implications for
consumers, particularly in terms of agriculture and the amount of
fresh water available for drinking. "We've recently been able to
demonstrate that the current El Nino drought has been different in
nature there's been less rainfall as everybody has understood," she
said. "But there's also been more evaporation and so the net result
of that is that we've had less overall water, really for the first
time in recorded history."
Man fatally bitten by sexually aroused horse
[Something at Moldy Bones iii speed].
Warsaw (Reuters). A sexually excited stallion bit a Polish man to
death when he tried to calm the beast, which had become uncontrollably
aroused by a nearby mare, police said. "The 24-yo man, identified as
Robert R, was bitten when he tried to calm his horse, which had become
unsettled by the presence of a mare in the vicinity," a duty officer
in the Baltic port of Szczecin told Reuters. The horse went wild and
began straining and bucking while pulling a farm cart through the
village. An autopsy would determine whether the direct cause of death
was a severed jugular vein or damaged spine, the officer added.
{{
2 am
Pres Bush has given the strongest support yet for Donny Rumsfeld.
The Pres has apparently decided to protect the Def Sec from continued
calls for his resignation. But serving military officers have joined
the chorus. Pres Bush has replied to criticisms that the military
will scape-goat jr officers and let those at the top of the chain of
command off. Mr Bush said there would be no scape-goating and justice
would prevail.
Brit Def Sec Geoff Hoon has denied the Brit govt ignored Red Cross
reports, saying the concerns had been dealt with.
The oil price has dropped sharply after Saudi Arabia called for
production to be increased. Markets are still reacting to the sharp
increase in the price that took it to $US40/bbl in the last 24 hrs.
The US has fined the largest Swiss bank $100 mn for sending USD to
Cuba and Yugoslavia, in violation of US sanctions.
A judge in E Timor has issued an indictment against Gen Wiranto --
Golkar's candidate in the up-coming Indon presid'l elections. The
warrant says he's ultimately responsible for the widespread and
systematic attack on E Timor after its move to declare independence
from Indon. The warrant has been lodged with Interpol, meaning
Wiranto could theocratically be arrested if he tries to leave
Indonesia. That's a problem for a man running for Pres. Wiranto told
reporters the timing of the warrant was "politically motivated".
3.30 am
The final stage of the Indian general elections is over. With exit
polls showing a close run between the BJP and Congress, the rupee and
markets fell at the prospect of a hung parliament.
The funeral service for the assassinated pro-Russian Pres of Chechnya
have been held in his home village.
The FTSE has fallen more than 2% on rising oil prices.
Midday.
US Pres George W Bush has staged a lavish show of support for
embattled Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, rejecting calls for his
resignation and insisting the Pentagon chief was doing "a superb job".
There is renewed controversy in Britain over the authenticity of
newspaper photos of alleged prisoner abuse by British troops in Iraq.
A confidential report leaked to the Wall Street Journal says Red Cross
employees in Iraq saw American troops keeping Iraqi prisoners naked
for days in darkness at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad.
The Red Cross saw US troops keeping Iraqi prisoners naked for days in
darkness at the Abu Ghraib jail in Oct and was told by the intel
officer in charge it was "part of the process", a leaked report said.
An investigation into US military intel and interrogation
methods in Iraq will be "comprehensive" and cover all detention
facilities in the country, according to a US general.
Military lawyers for a female US private seen in a photo holding a
leash attached to the neck of a naked Iraqi say their client was
merely taking part in staged pictures.
The Aussie Senate today will be asked to pass a motion condemning the
abuse of prisoners in Iraq.
The US Senate has unanimously approved a resolution
condemning the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US soldiers in Iraq,
apologising to victims of the mistreatment and their families.
British PM Tony Blair has apologised for British soldiers'
mistreatment of prisoners in Iraq, in the first official admission of
abuse by his forces since shocking pictures were published 10 days ago.
Human rights group Amnesty International says British soldiers in Iraq
have fired on and killed civilians in situations where there was
apparently no serious threat.
Despite Treasurer Peter Costello's bid to keep all eyes focused on
tonight's Budget, Liberal leadership tensions remain.
Many in the business community are hoping they will be on the
receiving end of tax cuts in tonight's Budget.
Local councils have been warned of a massive shortfall in public
infrastructure spending in Qld.
5 pm
2 more US soldier have died in Iraq. They were killed in separate
attacks, says the US military.
(AUS) SBS World News. A leaked Red Cross report says not only is
prisoner abuse widespread in Iraq, it is part of "normal operations".
Abu Ghraib was open to reporters again today. But prisoners were kept
well away from reporters. The ICRC reports on physical and
psychological coercion at the US-run prison. It also complains of
"excessive and disproportionate use of force resulting in death and
injury". The Red Cross reported raised its concerns with the Coal'n
partners soon after GWII started. One ICRC official says they were
told by US cmdrs abuse was "part of the process". The Red Cross says
the US military estimated between 70-90% of those in its custody in
Iraq had been arrested by mistake. Which means many prisoners that
were injured or killed were innocent, says the ICRC. The report was
presented to the US and Brit govts 3 m ago. Most snr officials in the
US and Brit govt said this wk they had not seen or read the report.
US Pres'l hopeful John Kerry has upped the pressure on Rummy to go.
He says he's about to present a a petition with 279,000 signatures
calling for Rumsfeld to be sacked or stand down as the US Def Sec.
A visit by the Chinese Prem to London led to some uncomfortable
questions for Tony Blair. For the first time, the host was asked more
questions on violations of human rights than the visiting Chinese
dignitaries.
7.15 pm
The AUD has recovered some ground today. It's now trading around 69.68 US c.
9.30 pm
Another 13 insurgents have been killed in Iraq. And the first Dutch
soldier has died in Iraq, just as Holland was re-considering its
contribution to GWII. The 36 yo Sergeant was killed in a hand grenade
attack. Dutch cmdrs in Amara say they've seen an up-swing in attacks
since the US issued a capture dead or alive order for Moqtada al-Sadr.
But they say hand-grenades are used so rarely it may have been a
revenge attack. They say they have shot dead 2 people when they
refused to stop at checkpoints.
An Israeli chopper has fired 2 missiles at a car in Gaza City. It's
thought to be in response to a roadside bombing earlier that claimed 6
Israeli soldiers. During a major Israeli incursion into Gaza City
itself, Palestinian gunmen exchange gunfire with the soldiers. Israeli
soldiers backed by tanks and choppers moved in o'night. 70 Pals were
reported wounded. Gun battles have raged through the day. At least
2 of the dead are believed to be snr Hamas leaders. The Israelis say
they're looking for rocket workshops. Earlier, an Israeli armoured
vehicle was ripped apart in a roadside bombing. Israel says 6
soldiers died in the attack. Hamas has claimed responsibility for the
bombing. But al Aqsa and al Quds also claimed responsibility on
al-Arabiya TV.
30 graves have been damaged in the Commonwealth War Cemetery in
Palestine. The gravestones were damaged, and photos of abused
Iraqi POWs were pasted to headstones.
In Thailand a 52 yo former Aussie diplomat have been jailed for 13 y
for sex abuse of children. He was also fined $24,000. He exploded
with rage when the verdict was handed down. All along, he'd tried to
play down the importance of the proceedings to Aussie reporters. He
admitted to sexual contact with the 2 14 yo boys, but denied sodomy or
forcing them to have sex.
[Within 12 hrs, the man had reportedly committed suicide in his
jail cell].
Manila. Early exit polls show Pres Arroyo has received 40% -- well
ahead of her major rivals. There are many claims of vote buying,
missing ballot boxes and other irregularities.
11 pm
The Israeli army says it's still involved in a search and rescue
operation in Gaza City. The Army says it wants to retrieve the
bodies of Israeli soldiers who died when their patrol hit an explosive
device. 6 soldiers were killed. An Army rep said he was "disgusted"
when he saw on Arab TV Palestinians parading in victory with body
parts from the dead soldiers. The Israeli incursion into Gaza city
had been the biggest for some time. But it went badly wrong, when one
patrol was ambushed.
In Washington, the Gen in charge of investigating the POW abuse says
the crimes were carried out by a small number of soldiers acting on
their own. He said there was no written or other order for them to
carry out the abuses.
11.30 pm
Police in Venezuela have raided a US embassy warehouse. They've also
arrested 90 people, allegedly in connection with a plot to overthrow
Pres Hugo Chavez.
}}
----------------------------------------
Wed, 12 May 2004.
Investigation begins into new Army abuse allegations
Bush Administration misleading on prisoner abuse
Experts: 9/11 vengeance fed Iraq abuses
Poor leadership led to Iraq prisoner abuse scandal, report says
Taguba, unflappable US general who found Iraq abuse
UK court okays "unlawful" Iraqi deaths challenge
Relatives of Iraqi dead win hearing
Radical Iraqi cleric offers truce
Italian opp'n demands Iraq troops recall
Dutch shocked over Iraq killing
Woodside strikes oil in WA
10 killed as youths riot in Nigeria
4 killed in Glasgow factory blast
Bali paedophile found hanged day after conviction
Bamboo extinction could devastate some species: UN
Biotechnology company to close GM canola program
Brit courts say women are better drivers
Budget a mixed result for Indigenous people: ATSIC
Budget bonanza prompts talk of early election
Budget boost to Commonwealth Games, no money for roads
Business welcomes Budget measures
Costello Budget "wasted opportunities": Crean
E Timor prosecutor seeks Wiranto warrant revision
Explosives trial nr Woomera
Farmers see Budget boosting competitiveness
Father blames US govt for beheading
Firefighters angered over snub during CBR fires
Greece slams Aussie travel advice
Health Budget wins AMA's praise
Housing market cooling: report
Howard identifies election window
Islamic website shows beheading of American
Israeli troops search for bodies of dead soldiers
Maternity payment raises concerns
Muslim Council calls for Brit troop withdrawal
NAB head disappointed with half-y profit
New blow for Malaysia's Anwar at appeal hearing
OECD gives Costello 'pat on the back'
PM anoints Costello as successor
Possible solution to standoff
Rescuers search Glasgow rubble for blast survivors
Seeds prove sticking point in GMO debate
Senior JI member jailed on weapons charges
Sharon vows to hit Palestinian militants "wherever they hide"
Soldier unhappy at prisoner humiliation
Tax relief could have gone further: manufacturers
US places sanctions on Syria for terrorism support
Underworld killing suspect ordered to give DNA sample
Union says students miss out on Budget spend
Vaile meets UAE counterpart
Vanuatu to hold snap election
Woodside strikes oil in WA
Perth (AAP). Woodside Petroleum Ltd may have struck commercial oil in
a new exploration well in W AUS's Exmouth Sub-basin.
Analysis is continuing to determine if the discovery is commercial,
but AUS's 2nd largest oil and gas company said preliminary interpretation
of wireline log data from the Eskdale-2 well indicates a 24 m gas
column and 13 m oil column with no oil-water contact encountered.
The Atwood Eagle semi-submersible drilling rig has drilled the hole to
2,942m total depth, with coring operations continuing.
Water depth at the location, around 2.3 km SW of Eskdale-1, is about 824 m.
Woodside and BHP Billiton Ltd are equal partners in the BHP operated
WA-255-P joint venture project that includes Eskdale-2.
Eskdale-2 is one of 6 oil exploration wells Woodside plans to drill
during the current quarter -- 2 in Algeria, and Eskdale-2,
Stybarrow-3, Indian-1 and Knott-1 in AUS.
The exploration results were not released to the market until 5
minutes before closing, and Woodside shares ended the day down 37
cents at $16.38.
OECD gives Costello 'pat on the back'
Peter Costello reveals his Budget to the media.
Paris (AFP). AUS's economy is set to continue with robust growth, a
firming labour market and inflation in check, provided it raises
interest rates again by up to 0.75 of point, the OECD warned on Tue.
In its annual Economic Outlook, the Paris-based Organisation for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) gave AUS a clean bill of
health and a pat on the back for the state of an economy which it said
was driven by private expenditure and an upturn in exports.
It warned the continuing strength of domestic demand and a firming
labour market created a risk of higher inflation once the effect of
currency appreciation diminished.
"Accordingly, the projection is based on a further gradual tightening
of monetary policy, to bring the cash rate back [from its current 5.25
per cent] to a neutral level of 5.5% to 6% in 2004 and 2005," it said.
The report came days after an upbeat report by AUS's central bank all
but ruled out another interest rate rise, concluding that easing currency
woes, a cooling housing market and an improving global economy had
improved prospects for balanced growth.
The OECD report was completed before recent signs that AUS's worst
drought in 100 y may not be over as had previously been hoped, and
before the recent rapid depreciation of the Aussie dollar.
"Domestic demand may slow in 2004 and 2005, but the strengthening
world economy and the breaking [Aussie] drought should boost exports
and raise GDP [Gross Domestic Product] growth, despite the strong
Aussie dollar," it said.
"Although capacity utilisation is high and unemployment is at a record
low, wage moderation, improved labour productivity and the currency
appreciation should keep inflation under control.
"The favourable economic outlook should permit a more neutral setting
of monetary policy, to lock in price stability.
"Fiscal policy should remain geared to preserving a small budget
surplus, which would help to maintain financial market confidence and
keep long term interest rates in check."
Private consumption, housing construction and industrial investment
had performed strongly in the 2nd half of 2003, against a background
of supportive financial conditions, solid wage gains, a strong labour
market, rising household assets and robust company profits.
At the same time, the global recovery and the breaking drought had led
to an upswing in export volumes, "although export earnings were sapped
by the appreciating Aussie dollar".
"In spite of substantial terms-of-trade gains, soaring imports
entailed a current account deficit of around 6.0% of GDP in 2003."
It said employment had continued to grow vigorously, reducing the
unemployment rate to 5.6% in late 2003, the lowest in 22 y and close
to the estimated structural unemployment rate.
Forward indicators pointed to further employment gains.
"Actual and expected inflation remained under control in 2003 and in
early 2004, helped by the exchange rate appreciation since mid-2002,"
the report added.
With the case for an expansionary monetary policy disappearing after
mid-year, the Reserve Bank of AUS had raised official cash rate in 2
moves from a record low 4.75% to 5.25% in Nov and Dec 2003.
Vaile meets UAE counterpart
Abu Dhabi (AFP). Aussie Trade Min Mark Vaile has held talks with his
UAE counterpart on boosting trade and the 2 sides could soon conclude
a free trade agreement, an Aussie embassy rep said.
Mr Vaile and the UAE Economy and Commerce Min Sheikh
Fahim al-Qassimi "discussed ways of strengthening and diversifying the
extensive trade and investment links between the 2 countries,
including the possibility of signing a free trade agreement," the rep said.
"The Trade Min also discussed the scheduling of the next meeting of
the AUS-UAE joint ministerial commission and trade issues," he added.
Mr Vaile also met with other snr officials and businessmen in Dubai
and Abu Dhabi, 2 of the 7 city states that make up the UAE federation.
He will travel to Brussels on May 12 to meet European Agriculture
Commissioner Franz Fischler before heading to Paris for the OECD
ministerial council meeting on May 13 and 14.
He is then to visit the US to sign the AUS-US Free Trade Agreement on
May 18.
4 killed in Glasgow factory blast
Rescue workers search for survivors.
Glasgow (AFP). 4 people have been killed in a powerful explosion at a
plastics factory in Scotland's largest city of Glasgow.
Firefighters say they are in voice contact with 5 of the 10 people
thought to be still trapped in the rubble.
"The situation is changing from minute to minute," said Maj Brian Sweeney.
"We are unsure about the precise numbers, but we are in vocal contact
with 5 people and I'm very optimistic that those people will come out
and be rescued alive in the next few hours."
The cause of the explosion is under investigation, with first
indications suggesting a gas leak, Sky News TV reported.
Officials ruled out a terrorist attack.
The blast at a 4-storey building at the Stockline Plastics complex
in the centre of the city occurred around noon, and injured 37 people,
including 16 seriously.
Maj Sweeney said the scene resembled an earthquake zone, and that
efforts to dig survivors out of the rubble could take 48 hr.
6 people have been rescued since the start of the operation.
The plant was part of the ICL Technical Plastics group. It was set up
in 1973 and specialised in manufacturing toughened plastic screens.
Gas pipeline operator Transco said the main gas supply to the building
had been switched off at the time.
Throughout the afternoon, firefighters and police officers have been
searching through the rubble.
Passers-by helped treat survivors while paramedics removed the most
seriously injured casualties on stretchers.
Dozens of workers and onlookers gathered on the street outside the
factory gates in the W end of the city.
The building was all but destroyed, with debris raining down on parked cars.
"I was working away as normal. Next thing, there was an explosion,"
said plant worker Daniel Gilmour, 50, who suffered injuries to his head.
"Something came out of a gas oven and hit me on the head," he told the
Glasgow Evening Times newspaper.
"I remember seeing it. The next thing, I woke up and it was pitch
black. There was rubble everywhere."
"4 of us managed to crawl to a hole in the wall. I don't know how, but
we managed to get out. I feel lucky to be alive ... but my worry is
for the ones who didn't get out."
No fewer than 16 ambulance teams converged at the scene, and a red
emergency helicopter flew in.
"I just heard a massive explosion," said Gerry McGuinness, 44, a
technician at a nearby dental laboratory.
"It was really loud, it sounded like a bomb going off. It nearly shook
me off my seat, the blast was so strong."
"We ran up and started taking some of the bricks away. There were 4
guys and one girl trapped under the rubble. We couldn't see them but
they were screaming at us for us to help them," he said.
"We were trying to move the bricks when a man came and told us to stop
because it may be unsafe, then the police arrived. If anyone gets out
of that alive, they'll be lucky."
Rescuers search Glasgow rubble for blast survivors
Rescue workers search for survivors.
Glasgow (AFP). As Glasgow slept, rescue teams worked through the
night searching under spotlights for survivors trapped beneath the
debris of a plastic factory in a mainly residential area of Scotland's
largest city.
What was once a substantial, 4-storey building had been levelled by
an unexplained explosion to little more than a shell, most resembling
the aftermath of a major earthquake.
After dark, the nature of the rescue operation changed.
Emergency crews clearing rubble and bricks by hand made way for
specialist searchers with dogs. Voice contact with survivors below had
been lost, police said.
No one knows how many factory workers could be trapped still in the
rubble -- police said that the company, Stockline Plastics, was unable
to tell them how many were there when the blast happened at around
midday on Tue (local time).
So far 4 people have been confirmed dead -- 3 at the scene -- and 43
others have been taken to hospital, of whom 17 were thought to be in a
serious condition.
Apart from the odd bark, the scene was quiet.
At times even the generator used to power the spotlights was turned
off as rescuers strained to listen for noise beneath the factory remains.
Occasionally, someone would holler on a loudspeaker to direct the
complex operation, involving more than 300 personnel -- seemingly
endless shifts of firefighters, ambulance crews, police officers and
specialist rescue workers.
Some rescue teams had worked in the aftermath of earthquakes in
Afghanistan and Turkey. Hope was not lost, they said. People could be
found days, even wk after.
A rep for the police and the firefighters assured journalists at the
scene that the rescue effort would continue round-the-clock until all
hope was exhausted.
"They are working hard, they have their sleeves rolled up," a
policeman said.
At the entrance to the factory, beyond a sign reading "Stockline
Plastics -- Visitors Car Park", the area was filled instead with
scores of ambulances and fire engines, with an overspill of vehicles
in a neighbouring shopping centre.
Behind it, a 4.5-metre high perimeter fence had been cloaked with
thick sheets of green tarpaulin to shield rescuers from the camera
crews encamped across the road.
Behind the non-stop to-and-fro of emergency vehicles, a crane towered
high in the night sky, earlier it had carried men clearing rubble from
what was left of the factory's precarious upper floors.
Officials will not begin their full investigation until after the
rescue operation is complete.
10 killed as youths riot in Nigeria
Lagos (AFP). At least 10 people have been killed in the N Nigerian
city of Kano when Muslim youths rioted following a rally called to
protest against a massacre carried out last wk by a Christian ethnic
militia. An AFP reporter in Kano says he has counted 10 bodies in the
streets after mobs set up roadblocks. Many of the victims had been
burned. Gangs of youths also burned and looted at least 5 Christian
properties and a truck in the city's mainly Muslim district. Late
last week, a gang of militants from the Christian Tarok ethnic group
stormed Yelwa in central Nigeria's Plateau State and killed between
200 and 300 people.
Italian opp'n demands Iraq troops recall
Rome (AFP). The Italian opp'n has called for the immediate return of
the country's troops serving in Iraq to protest the abuse of Iraqi
prisoners by occupation forces.
"[PM Silvio] Berlusconi must come before parliament before he goes to
the US next Thu and say that he is no longer acting as a
vassal," Francesco Rutelli, leader of the Olive Tree coalition said.
"If that is not done, we will vote for the return of our soldiers," he
told the Repubblica newspaper.
Mr Berlusconi is heading to Washington on May 19, shortly before US
Pres George W Bush visits Italy in Jun.
Italy has 3,000 troops serving with the US-led occupation forces in
Iraq, 3rd only to the US and Brit, and 3 Italian nat'ls are currently
being held hostage by an insurgent group in the country.
Olive Tree parties have abstained during previous parliamentary votes
on Italy's mission in Iraq but Mr Berlusconi and his allies command a
strong majority in the assembly.
Mr Berlusconi himself condemned the prisoner abuse in Iraq on Mon.
"I am deeply distressed by the humiliation and suffering inflicted by
certain US soldiers on certain Iraqi prisoners," he said in a statement.
Min for European affairs Rocco Buttiglione said the US forces' leaders
in Iraq should resign.
Italian opp'n leaders also called for Mr Bush's visit to Rome to be
cancelled as a protest against the abuse and torture of Iraqi prisoners.
"The Italian Govt would do well to cancel the events of Jun 4 with
Bush, as long as full light has not been shed on the torture affair,"
said Green Party leader Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio.
Muslim Council calls for Brit troop withdrawal
London. Brit's most respected Muslim organisation has called for the
withdrawal of Brit troops from Iraq saying the alleged abuse of prisoners
and claims of killing of civilians have harmed Brit's standing.
The Muslim Council of Brit has cited an Amnesty Internat'l report that
claims Brit soldiers fired on and killed Iraqi civilians, including an
8-yo girl, in situations where there was no apparent threat.
But Brit Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon says more than 30 cases of abuse
are being investigated.
"As far as Amnesty's current claims are concerned, there actually are
a great number of cases that they have raised with us already," he said.
"A significant number of cases that already have been the subject of a
very detailed investigation and were appropriate as I made clear again
to the house of commons yesterday.
"If there are matters that require further investigation, those
matters will be pursued."
However, Amnesty UK director Kate Allen says the number and manner of
official investigations so far have been inadequate.
"There are 37 cases that we know of up until Feb this y.
18 have investigations, the rest don't," she said.
"And the difficulty about this is that the investigations only start
to take place at the instigation of the soldier's commanding officer,
the soldiers involved.
"Now this really isn't independent or adequate enough."
Howard identifies election window
[Opp'n betting on Aug/Sep].
Canberra (AAP). Aussie PM John Howard identified a 5-m window between
Jul and Nov when he would hold the fed election.
But he said he was yet to make up his mind, despite the Budget being
focused on helping families and giving tax cuts ahead of the election.
"I haven't made up my mind when the election is going to be, it obviously
has to be some time in the 2nd half of this y, it could theoretically
be in the early next y but that's not normal," Mr Howard told ABC radio.
"Just exactly when in that 6-m period, or I guess 5-m period, because
nobody likes elections in Dec anymore, I don't know, I haven't made up
my mind."
Mr Howard refused to give a time-frame of how long he would stay on as
leader of the Liberal Party, except to guarantee Aussies they would be
going to the polls to vote for a Howard-led govt.
"I will remain leader of the Liberal Party for so long as the party
wants me to and it's in the best interest," he repeated for the
umpteenth time.
Mr Howard said he understood Treasurer Peter Costello wanted to take over
the top job but at the moment he found the job rewarding and stimulating.
"In relation to Peter, I think it's a perfectly understandable thing
that he should want to lead the party," he said.
"He's been a great servant of the Liberal Party and of the govt and
there's certainly a very general view that if there were to be a
vacancy in that position, he'd be the logical person to fill it.
"For my part, I find this job immensely rewarding and stimulating and
I believe I have much to continue to give to the Aussie people.
"In the end, I won't decide my future... the Aussie people will decide
whether I should continue as PM.
"And their choice at the next election will be between a John Howard
Liberal-Nat'l coalition and a Labor Party led by Mark Latham."
Mr Howard said the election would be a tight battle for the coalition.
"Nobody should be imagining that we're not still very much the
underdog," he said.
Mr Costello said he had no idea when the election would be held and
doubted whether Mr Howard had already made up his mind.
Budget bonanza prompts talk of early election
Mark Latham expects an early election.
Canberra. Last night's family-friendly Budget has fuelled speculation
that Prime Min John Howard could call an election as soon as Aug.
Opp'n leader Mark Latham has cancelled a planned visit to the US in
case the election is held earlier than expected.
"I think it's better to be in AUS talking to the Aussie people about
our positive plans for the country rather than being overseas and you
can't take any risks in that regard," he said.
"And it's important to be working on our policies and just as
important to be talking to the Aussie people about the good things
that we want to do for the country."
Labor front-bencher Wayne Swan agrees an early poll is on the cards.
"There's no doubt the way they've constructed the family payment fraud
they will call an Aug election," he said.
Treas Peter Costello says the Budget is aimed squarely at families
struggling with juggling work with child-rearing.
It centres on significant income tax cuts, more benefits for families,
extra child-care places and a new maternity payment of $3,000.
While leaks had revealed many of the Budget measures tackling PM John
Howard's "barbecue stopper" -- the pressures on families -- Mr
Costello kept his show stopper quiet: tax cuts worth $14.7 bn over 4 y.
Mr Costello's ninth Budget also delivers additional money for aged
care, research and carers, as well as a scheme to boost Aussies'
retirement savings, while promising an underlying cash surplus of $2.4 bn.
The personal tax cuts will be delivered by raising the thresholds for
middle-income earners to fight the effects of bracket creep.
NSW Liberal Ross Cameron says he can not wait for the election.
"I would like to bring it on," he said.
"In this election y I feel a little bit like the woman who is sort of
8 m and 2 wk pregnant, that you just want the thing to come."
Deputy PM John Anderson doubts the Budget will affect the timing of
the election.
"No I don't believe it makes any difference in that sense," he said.
"John Howard says he hasn't yet decided on a date for the election."
* Budget criticism
Meanwhile, Mr Latham has criticised the Govt's tax cuts and families
assistance package but says Labor will pass the measures.
He says Labor's soon-to-be-announced tax cuts will be broader and
fairer than the Govt's.
"Well 60% of the country has been forgotten. 3 out of 5 of the Aussie
families and singles do not receive a single cent in tax relief or
family assistance," he said.
"So when the PM said in 1996 he was going to govern for all of us,
he's actually forgotten most of us in this Budget."
Shadow Treasurer Simon Crean says the way the Govt plans to change tax
thresholds is not fair to those on low incomes.
"I mean this is a Budget of wasted opportunities and shattered
expectations," he said.
"The big build up about the tax cuts has seriously forgotten a large
number of Aussie families.
"Some 8.5 mn of them get not one cent in terms of a tax cut."
Aussie Council for Trade Unions Pres Sharon Burrow says the tax
cuts will not help low income earners.
"Not one cent of tax relief for the 70% of hard working Aussies who
earn under $52,000 a year," she said.
* Family focus
But Mr Costello says you can not give cuts to low income earners who
do not earn enough to pay tax.
"So what we decided to do to help families was not to do it through
the tax system but to do it through the payment system," he said.
PM John Howard says he is proud of the Budget's focus on families.
Mr Howard has told Channel 7 he has not yet decided the election date,
but has again said he expects it will be held later this y.
"This Budget is a good Budget and it does contain a lot of benefits
for Aussie families in particular," he said.
"But it has been made possible because we have a very strong economy
and what you saw last night is what happens and what a Govt can do
when it runs the economy well."
Deputy Prime Min has defended the fed Budget's treatment of low income
earners, saying it will help struggling families in city and rural areas.
"There is a lot in it, particularly in troubled sugar seats. But I
think it's a good overall Budget and people will have to form their
own judgements on it," he said.
"I can't see them acknowledging anything other than that this is a
tremendous Budget for Aussies generally."
* Lump sum payments
The Aussie Families Association is disappointed the Fed Govt opted for
"one-off" payments in its Budget rather than long-term help for families.
2 mn families will be entitled to an extra $600 for each child per y
and there will be a lump sum maternity payment of $3,000 rising to
$5,000 in 2008.
Association Pres Bill Muirhead says changing the tax thresholds
would have been more helpful.
"At the moment we tend to tax even low income people and then give it back
to them in benefits so the tax free threshold cuts out at $6,000," he said.
"If we kept up with inflation it would be more like $13,000 before you
even started taxing."
The Pensioners and Superannuants League is calling for special
assistance for those who look after their grandchildren, saying the
fed Budget ignored them.
Rep Yvonne Zardani says an increasing number of people are being
forced to spend their retirement funds on caring for their
grandchildren and their efforts should be recognised.
"If grandparents are taking over in the community to help with this,
it's a big issue," he said.
"The Govt knows it, they've already done some studies on that, both
fed and state have done studies.
"There should have been something in there to help those grandparents."
* Maternity cash
The Govt's new $3,000 maternity payment has been welcomed by Sex
Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward, although she is still pushing
for changes.
"Because this is a lump sum and because it's not linked to staying
home, there will be employers who say look you get the money anyway, I
need you to come back to work next wk," she said.
Aussie Council of Social Services (ACOSS) head Andrew McCallum
believes the Budget provides family assistance for those who need it,
and tax cuts for those who do not.
"The package will help families with new born babies and there are
some other assistance in that for families," he said.
"What we are really concerned about is [that] the top 3rd wage earners
in this country are the ones who'll benefit from the tax cuts here."
* Aged care
AMA Pres Dr Bill Glasson says the only significant new
announcement in the health Budget was the aged care package.
"Health has been relegated to the Second XI in this Budget," Dr
Glasson said.
"We do acknowledge, however, significant previously announced
measures, especially the work by the Health Min on medical indemnity."
Dr Glasson says the AMA welcomes the aged care package, but noted the
funding comes in the 3rd and 4th years.
"While the focus is on residential and community care places -- and
not on the medical side of things -- any move to improve access and
quality in the aged care sector is overdue."
Association of Independent Retirees Pres Joan Heard has described
the changes to aged care as "radical".
"For our members and the ageing population, I think it's a substantial
investment and wonderful news for retirees," she said.
Catholic Health AUS rep Francis Sullivan agrees, saying the Budget is
the best one in y for aged care and will drive quality in the industry.
"It's a Budget that recognises the crisis and tonight's investment by
the Govt will stall the further deterioration in aged care in AUS,"
she said.
* Tax changes
The country's peak accounting body is excited about the changes to
family payments and taxation thresholds.
But Certified Practising Accountants AUS chief executive Greg Larsen
says he would like to have seen bigger reforms of the personal tax system.
"This Budget was a great opportunity for some systemic change to
superannuation," he said.
"We have a wave of retirees coming in on this country over the next
few y and money has to be put aside for them.
"Tax money at this time would make a big difference to our ability to
pay for retirees in the future."
However, Democrats Leader Andrew Bartlett says the proposed income tax
cuts are a joke because they provide no relief for workers earning
less than the average wage.
"These income tax cuts are simply unacceptable," he said.
"The Democrats call on Labor to recognise its roots as a labour party
to recognise that this is just an initial proposal from the Govt that
must be significantly amended in the Senate."
Vanuatu to hold snap election
Pt Vila. The S Pacific nation of Vanuatu is to hold a snap election
after its Parliament was dissolved thanks to a Supreme Court ruling.
The Vanuatu Supreme Court removed the recently elected head of state,
Pres Alfred Maseng Nalo, because he was a convicted criminal, saying
he should never have been nominated. Mr Nalo had been the opp'n's
candidate and he defeated Prime Min Edward Natapei's preferred nominee
when the members of Parliament and council presidents met last m to
vote for a new president. With Mr Nalo out of the way, acting Pres
Roger Abiut, who was amongst those remaining loyal to the PM, agreed
to Mr Natapei's request to dissolve the Parliament. An election has
to be held within 60 days and it could be an acrimonious campaign. Mr
Natapei's Vanua'aku Party is split -- 3 snr members including former
PM Donald Kalpokas signed the no confidence motion.
PM anoints Costello as successor
Canberra. Treas Peter Costello shares a joke with journalists as he
prepares to hand down his ninth Budget.
PM John Howard says Treasurer Peter Costello is the logical person to
succeed him as Liberal leader, but insists he is not ready to give up
his job just yet.
Mr Howard has been promoting the Govt's Budget this morning, focusing
on assistance to families and tax cuts for people earning more than
$52,000 a year.
But the question of who will lead the Coalition after the election has
this wk threatened to overshadow the Budget.
Mr Howard has made it clear he does not want Peter Costello to become
the PM for a while.
"I think it's a perfectly understandable thing that he should want to
lead the party," he said.
"He's been a great servant of the Liberal Party and of the Govt and
there's certainly a very general view that if there were to be a
vacancy in that position he'd be the logical person to fill it," he said.
"But for my part, I find this job immensely rewarding and stimulating
and I believe I have much to continue to give to the Aussie people."
New S Wales Liberal MP Bruce Baird says Mr Costello has done a
fantastic job as Treasurer, and he is glad to see him in a leadership
role, in whatever form that takes.
"It's clear that if there should be a vacancy that the Treasurer is
well placed but there are many people in the party who could do an
outstanding job as well but he'd be a great PM I'm sure."
The Opp'n tried to exploit speculation about the Liberal leadership in
the lead-up to the Budget.
Mr Costello has refused to say whether he wants to remain Treasurer
next y if the Govt wins the election.
Relatives of Iraqi dead win hearing
London (AP). The families of 13 people allegedly killed by Brit
troops in Iraq won the right to challenge the govt in court.
Sitting in London's High Court, Justice Lawrence Collins agreed that
the 13 families could challenge the govt's refusal to hold independent
inquiries into the deaths, and ordered an urgent hearing to begin in
Jun or Jul.
Lawyer Phil Shiner said the hearing would examine whether Human Rights
law applied to Brit forces in SE Iraq, and whether the govt had a duty
to hold independent inquiries into the deaths.
A ruling in favour of the families could pave the way for compensation
and possible criminal proceedings for unlawful killing.
"The way things are going in Iraq, it seems to me in everyone's
interest that this point of principle is decided as soon as possible,"
the judge said.
Lawyer Phillip Sales, representing the govt, said there had been no
allegations of illegal killings at the time of the deaths. The
MoD now had to go through "26 metres" of files to find
details of the cases, he said.
Greece slams Aussie travel advice
Athens (AFP). A Greek minister slammed as "exaggerated" AUS's
decision to heighten its travel warning for Greece ahead of the
Olympic Games.
Public Order Min Yiorgos Voulgarakis told a news conference the move
was "empty of substance".
The decision by CBR followed a series of bomb blasts in the run-up to
the Games.
In its advice, AUS's Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade said Aussies
should exercise caution and keep themselves informed of developments
that might affect their safety.
"Aussies should be aware of a recent series of firebomb attacks on
domestic political and commercial premises in Greece, mainly in Athens
and Thessaloniki," the advice said.
"More recently there have been incidents involving improvised
explosive devices. On 5 May 2004, 3 improvised explosive devices
detonated outside a central Athens police station."
Greece announced that 70,000 security personnel will watch over the
Olympics in Athens -- outnumbering athletes by almost 7 to one.
The Games' security bill is swelling along with the number of guards
involved, possibly reaching $A1.71 bn -- an Olympic record, Voulgarakis said.
"We have taken a political decision not to make any discount in
safeguarding the security of the Games."
The minister's statements come 94 days before the Aug 13-29 Games'
opening ceremony, and a wk after the bloodless explosion of 3 small
bombs in Athens stirred security fears.
Calling the attacks "high treason against the country", Voulgarakis
accused the perpetrators of exposing Greece to "pressure from abroad".
Human rights groups have voiced fears that the security alert could
lead to a crackdown on civil liberties during the Games.
Thousands of security cameras are being installed in the capital, some
feeling a direct sight and sound signal to central security command.
Voulgarakis vowed they were "here to stay", saying they would help
smooth car traffic in the congested Greek capital.
Senior JI member jailed on weapons charges
Jakarta (AFP). A snr member of the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terrorist
group has been jailed for 7 y for possessing weapons and explosives.
Imron Baihaki, alias Mustopa, alias Mustafa, was found guilty of the
offences at a court in Jakarta. The court cleared him of charges of
terrorism, a crime which carries a maximum sentence of death. Police
say Mustafa admitted to being a former head of a regional JI command
which covered Indonesia's S Sulawesi, Sabah in Malaysia and the S
Philippines. He is believed to be a veteran of fighting in
Afghanistan and was an instructor at a training camp in Mindanao in
the S Philippines.
E Timor prosecutor seeks Wiranto warrant revision
Former Indonesian military chief Wiranto has won the Golkar party's
nomination for the presidency.
Dili (AFP). East Timor's Prosecutor Gen has filed a court motion
for a "revision" of the case against Indonesian presidential candidate
Wiranto, a day after a UN-backed court issued a warrant for his arrest.
"I regret that arrest warrant," Prosecutor General Longuinhos Monteiro
told a press conference.
"My men have 'opened fire' without an order from me," he said,
implying that his subordinates had acted without authorisation.
Meanwhile, 100s of students and victims rallied outside the UN
Mission in support of E Timor, calling for Wiranto to be
brought before an internat'l tribunal.
Members of parliament questioned why the arrest warrant had been issued
just days before the UN mission was due to be replaced by a smaller body.
Mr Monteiro also expressed suspicion about the timing of the warrant,
which authorises Wiranto's arrest on charges of crimes against humanity.
The charges include murder, deportation or the forcible transfer of
people, and persecution.
The warrant alleges Wiranto, the former Indonesian Armed Forces cmdr,
had responsibility for the military, police and militia forces who
carried out the crimes surrounding E Timor's split from Indonesia in 1999.
"Why wasn't the arrest warrant issued one y ago? Are there interests
behind that?" Mr Monteiro said.
He gave no details about how the "revision" of Wiranto's case would be
carried out but said it would have no influence on the warrant itself.
"Now I hope for support from the people of Timor Leste to help me
execute my strategy for settling the Wiranto case," he said.
Mr Monteiro heads a staff of UN-funded prosecutors who indicted
Wiranto and 6 other snr officers in Feb 2003.
Aside from Wiranto, only one has been served with an arrest warrant.
In Jan, Mr Monteiro accused UN-appointed judges working in Dili of
hindering his efforts to get the warrants.
East Timor's Pres Xanana Gusmao has said good relations with the
former ruling power should take priority over court proceedings.
Asked whether he was under political pressure within E Timor, Mr
Monteiro said that he and the Pres had separate strategies but "as an
E Timorese, I think more about the nat'l interests of my people".
Bush Administration misleading on prisoner abuse
Op/Ed (The Daily Mis-lead). In an attempt to quell growing internat'l
controversy last wk, Pres Bush expressed outrage at the abuse of Iraqi
prisoners. He told Arab television that he thinks "this is a serious
matter" and that "we will fully investigate". However, the Pres has
yet to answer why no action was taken to deal with the problem in the
last 6 m --when the Admin was repeatedly warned of "widespread" abuse.
Specifically, The Internat'l Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
delivered a confidential report to the Whitehouse earlier this y which
"concluded that abuse of prisoners in Iraq in custody of US military
intel was widespread and in some cases 'tantamount to torture". It
also charged coalition forces with "serious violations" of the Geneva
Conventions governing treatment of prisoners of war violations that
may have been encouraged by Bush's "pre-war decision that the Geneva
Conventions didn't apply" to detainees. The Red Cross said it had been
aware of the situation in Abu Ghraib and "repeatedly asked the US
authorities to take corrective action," but were rebuffed.
Even top Admin officials were asking the Whitehouse to address the
situation earlier, but were ignored. The Washington Post reported that
"Secretary of State Colin L Powell urged action in several White
House meetings that included Rumsfeld". Similarly, Coalition Provisional
Authority chief Paul Bremer "repeatedly raised the issue of prison
conditions as early as last fall -- both in one-on-one meetings with
Rumsfeld and other Admin leaders, and in group meetings with the
Pres's inner circle on nat'l security". But "the Pentagon repeatedly
failed to act". At the same time, the Red Cross was told by intel
officials that the abuse it witnessed was just "part of the process".
Experts: 9/11 vengeance fed Iraq abuses
NY (AP). As US forces surged through the desert to topple Saddam
Hussein, slogans and symbols referring to the attacks of Sep 11,
2001, made clear that a spirit of anti-terrorism vengeance infused the ranks.
"Let's Roll" was a common battle cry, evoking the defiant passengers
aboard one of the planes hijacked in those attacks. Soldiers displayed
flags from Ground Zero and images of the World Center's twin towers.
More than a y after Saddam's ouster, no proof of his ties to Al Qaeda
or Sep 11 has materialised. Some skeptics suggest that the avenging
rhetoric and imagery instead may have fostered an atmosphere conducive
to the maltreatment of Iraqis who had no connection whatever to
internat'l terrorism.
Curt Goering, deputy executive director of Amnesty Internat'l-USA,
said the Bush Admin bears some responsibility for blurring the lines
between Sep 11 and the Iraq war.
"The tone that was set, all the way to the top, and the climate in
which these soldiers operated was an invitation to this kind of
abuse," Goering said. "Govts have the obligation to take appropriate
steps to protect their citizens, but they have to take these in a
manner consistent with respect for fundamental human rights."
The Army's own investigative report, by Maj Gen Antonio Taguba,
suggested that interrogation techniques used against suspected terrorists
detained at Guantanamo Bay were applied inappropriately in Iraq.
Taguba concluded that there were many common criminals at Baghdad's
Abu Ghraib prison, but probably no detainees linked to Al Qaeda or
other internat'l terrorist groups. In a separate report, the Internat'l
Committee of the Red Cross suggested that most Abu Ghraib prisoners were
detained by mistake.
However, Army Lt Col Joe Yoswa, a Pentagon rep, said Tue it was wrong
to suggest that the prison abuse was symptomatic of broader problems
of attitude. As for the Sep 11 imagery, Yoswa said it was hard to
gauge what impact such rallying cries had on individual soldiers.
"Does a rallying cry motivate troops to go out and do things? Yes," he
said. "It motivates people to stand up and volunteer and help try to
get Iraq on its feet as a country."
Some American Islamic leaders contend the maltreatment at Abu Ghraib
is part of a wider animosity toward Muslims that was stirred up by Sep 11.
The prisoner abuse "represents a growing trend in our culture that
demonises and dehumanises Arabs and Muslims," the Arab American
Anti-Discrimination Committee and the Muslim Public Affairs Council
said in a joint statement. "It conflates innocents with criminals."
US officials have consistently depicted the Iraq conflict as part of
the war on terrorism, and many soldiers said their decision to serve
was prompted by Sep 11. Among them was PFC Lynndie England, one of
the soldiers charged with abuse; her lawyer says she joined the Army
Reserves to help prevent future terrorist attacks.
Capt Adrian Wheeler, cmdr of a Kentucky Army Nat'l Guard military
police company, said the Sep 11 attacks -- rather than contributing
to any excesses -- provided an incentive to perform better.
"At no point have we loosened up on professionalism or the values that
we hold true," said Wheeler, a Louisville police officer whose troops
transported Iraqi POWs from battlefields to temporary holding facilities.
"After 9-11, if anything, soldiers, citizens I think really wanted to
prove themselves as professionals," Wheeler said. "That was the time
when people really stepped up."
Leonard Wong, a professor of military strategy at the US Army War
College in Carlisle, Pa, has visited Iraq twice to assess the
motivations of US soldiers. While some cited Sep 11, more expressed
a desire to liberate Iraq or help it achieve stability, Wong said.
However, Sep 11 imagery provided a backdrop for many troops during
the early phases of the war. The Navy Seabees, for example, called
their Kuwaiti base "Camp 93" in honour of the passengers who fought
hijackers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 before it crashed in
Pennsylvania. One of the units at Abu Ghraib was named after Peter
Ganci, a fire chief killed at the World Trade Center.
"Soldiers were encouraged to make the incorrect links," said Jimmy
Massey, a former Marine sergeant from Waynesboro, NC, who served in
Iraq, then quit the force and has affiliated with an anti-war group
called Veterans for Peace.
Massey said "a bunch of innocent civilians" were killed by his platoon
and he attributed these deaths in part to military intel reports
warning of potential terrorist attacks by non-uniformed Iraqis.
"You put a bunch of Army or Marines out in the desert and tell them to
guard these supposed terrorists, and they're going to start inventing
ways to keep themselves busy," Massey said.
Nancy Lessin of Boston, who co-founded a group called Military Families
Speak Out, said her stepson's Marine unit took along a flag from
Ground Zero when it headed to Iraq.
"That whole 9-11 connection paved the way for certain things to happen
in certain ways," she said. "It's revenge and vengeance, based on a lie."
Curt Goering, the Amnesty Internat'l official, said at least some of
the soldiers who committed abuses likely believed their actions were patriotic.
"Carrying out these despicable acts doesn't just happen," he said.
"In every war, part of the process of transforming a person into a
soldier involves a certain dehumanising of the enemy. ... They often
believe they're acting for the greater good."
Poor leadership led to Iraq prisoner abuse scandal, report says
Washington. The author of a report on the abuse of Iraqi detainees by
US military personnel has testified a failure of leadership
caused the scandal but he also says there is no sign the US guards
were following orders. Maj Gen Antonio Taguba has made the
comments to the US Senate Armed Services Committee overnight. Gen
Taguba was in charge of preparing the 6,000 page report on the
mistreatment of Iraqi detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison nr Baghdad.
He has concluded there have been sadistic, blatant and wanton criminal
abuses at the prison and believes the causes are straight-forward.
"Failure in leadership, from the Brigade Cmdr on down, lack of
discipline, no training whatsoever, and no supervision. Supervisory
omission was rampant. Those are my comments," he said.
Taguba, unflappable US general who found Iraq abuse
Army Maj Gen Antonio M Taguba testifies before the Senate Armed
Services Committee.
Washington (AP). Known as a straight-shooter, US Army Maj Gen Antonio
Taguba was unflappable Tue as senators peppered him with questions
about his damaging report on the abuse of Iraqi inmates by American
soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison nr Baghdad.
Hailed by many as a hero for exposing the humiliation and mistreatment
of Iraqi prisoners that has sparked outrage throughout the world,
Taguba is one of the Army's top Asian-Americans. His military career
has spanned more than 30 y.
More photos, hearings on abuse coming as Admin works to control
fallout He replied calmly and directly to questions at Tue's Senate
Armed Services Committee hearing, at one point contradicting a
response from Under Secretary of Defense Stephen Cambone, who is in
charge of military intel.
Taguba's 53-page secret report, which was leaked to the press, detailed
systematic and illegal abuses of detainees, including "sadistic,
blatant and wanton criminal" treatment, which he said were a direct
result of a failure of leadership and discipline in the US military.
The graphic and disturbing photographs of the abuses and the resulting
damage to the US' reputation in the world have led to calls for Def
Sec Donald Rumsfeld to resign over the scandal.
Those close to Taguba say his courage and determination in producing
the report was typical of a man who saw the Army as a noble calling
from a very young age.
"If you want the truth, he's going to tell you the truth," one Army
general told The NY Times. "He's not bullied, he's a stand-up guy."
* NO STRANGER TO ADVERSITY
Taguba, 53, is the son of a US Navy sergeant who was captured by the
Japanese in 1942 and escaped from the notorious Bataan Death March.
When his father was awarded a Bronze Star for bravery decades later,
his son was there to watch the ceremony and later complained it had
taken so long to finally honour Tomas Taguba.
"It took over 54 y to gain my parents their due recognition," he said
in a 2001 speech. "They sought not to be recognised, only to be
appreciated," he said.
Born in Manila, the Philippines, Taguba came to America when he was 11
y old, moving to Hawaii where he says he learned his roots need not be
a barrier to success.
"Hawaii opened my mind to the capabilities and opportunity in
America," Taguba told the publication Asian Week in a 1997 interview
after he became the 2nd Filipino American to attain the rank of Brig Gen.
Taguba is currently serving as the deputy commanding general for Third
Army, US Army Forces Central Command and Coalition Forces Land
Component Command, in Kuwait.
He began his military career soon after receiving a Bachelor of Arts
degree in history from Idaho State University in 1972 and quickly rose
through the ranks.
A 1968 graduate of Leilehua High School, in Hawaii, Taguba and his
siblings were raised mostly by their mother Maria while their father
was serving in Germany, Okinawa and S Korea.
In an interview last wk with the Honolulu Advertiser, Maria Taguba
said she was proud of her son, but nervous.
"I am proud but scared, too, you know," she said from her home in
Wahiawa. "You don't know what will happen, but it is OK, that is his
job. Any mother is always scared."
Soldier unhappy at prisoner humiliation
Ft Bragg, NC (AP). An Army reservist who was photographed smiling and
pointing at naked Iraqi prisoners was unhappy about following orders
to humiliate the inmates, her civilian lawyer said.
In the photographs, Army PFC Lynndie England is seen smiling,
cigarette in her mouth, as she leans forward and points at the
genitals of a naked, hooded Iraqi. Another photo shows her holding a
leash that encircles the neck of a naked Iraqi man lying on his side,
his face contorted.
"You don't see my client doing anything abusive at all," one of
England's lawyers, Giorgio Ra'Shadd, said after meeting with England
at Fort Bragg.
"I think she was ordered to smile."
Ra'Shadd said England was not pulling on the leash. In other photos,
he said, she was pulled into the photographs by CIA and other intel
agents who subverted the military chain of command.
"The spooks took over the jail," said Ra'Shadd, a former Army lawyer
who once worked in psychological operations.
"Everything about that command was wacky." Military officials have
acknowledged that intel officers visited the Abu Ghraib prison and
spoke with inmates, but it's unclear how much authority they had.
England faces a military court-martial that includes conspiracy to
maltreat prisoners and assault consummated by battery. She could face
punishments ranging from a reprimand to more than 15 y in prison. No
date has been set for a hearing.
Ra'Shadd said intel agents used England to humiliate prisoners, so
agents could show the photographs to more important prisoners and
threaten them with the same treatment.
He said England and other soldiers at the prison were told they were
helping save American lives by finding prisoners who carried out
roadside bomb attacks.
6 other soldiers from the 372nd Military Police Company are also charged.
One, Spc Jeremy C Sivits will face a court-martial in Baghdad next wk.
Ra'Shadd said he is trying to get permission for England to use
accumulated leave to visit her family in W Virginia and to meet with
her volunteer legal team in Colorado.
He has said his client joined the Army Reserves out of patriotism and
to prevent another terrorist attack like Sep 11.
Ra'Shadd, part of a group of lawyers in the Denver area with
experience in military cases, agreed to take England's case for free.
UK court okays "unlawful" Iraqi deaths challenge
London (Reuters). Lawyers for 12 Iraqi families who allege their
relatives were unlawfully killed by Brit troops have won the right in
London's High Court to challenge the Brit Govt's refusal to open
independent inquiries.
The MoD has refused to accept responsibility for the deaths but the
families' lawyers are demanding a judicial review to examine whether
the killings were a violation of the victims' right to life under
European law.
The High Court case came as both Brit and American soldiers stand
accused of torturing and sexually abusing Iraqi prisoners after media
organisations published photographs of alleged torture.
The Govt was also hit by another report on Tue by human rights group
Amnesty Internat'l which accused Brit soldiers in Iraq of killing
several civilians -- including an 8-yo girl -- when they posed no
apparent threat.
It was not immediately clear if the cases cited by Amnesty overlapped
with those before the High Court.
In court, Judge Justice Andrew Collins ruled the families should be
given permission to argue that the European Convention on Human Rights
applied to their cases.
"Permission means merely that the point is arguable," he said.
The families' lawyer, Phil Shiner, argued because the Iraq war was
officially over when the victims died, and Brit was an occupying
power, the European Convention should apply.
He said many of the deaths occurred when the victims were at home or
going about their normal daily lives.
One man was working on a farm, another was fishing on a river and
another was returning home in his car.
Mr Shiner alleged Brit soldiers shot and killed them and the Brit Army
refused to properly investigate the killings.
Brit joined the US-led war on Iraq in Mar last y and US Pres George
W Bush declared the war over on May 1, 2003.
The MoD, under pressure due to allegations of mistreatment by Brit
soldiers, has said it has responded to lawyers' inquiries but does not
accept liability for the deaths.
It had no immediate response to Tue's ruling.
Dutch shocked over Iraq killing
Amsterdam (Reuters). The Dutch PM has cut short a foreign holiday
after the 1st death of a Dutch soldier in Iraq but indicated he would
not pull troops out of the country.
Dutch premier Jan Peter Balkenende returned home on Tue to meet his
foreign and defence ministers amid growing concern about the safety of
the Netherlands' 1,200 troops in Iraq after the soldier was killed on
Mon night.
The 36-yo sergeant, who died in a grenade attack in the southern town
of Samawa, was the 1st Dutch soldier to be killed in conflict since
1995 when a peacekeeper died in the Srebrenica enclave during the
Bosnian war.
"Despite today's sorrows, the powers of terror cannot win. We must
cooperate with the people of Iraq to rebuild a stable Al Muthanna,"
Balkenende said, referring to the Iraqi province under Dutch control.
Dutch concern over the safety of troops in Iraq mounted last m when a
shell landed nr a Dutch military camp at Samawa. It was the first
major incident in which Dutch forces had been targeted.
Balkenende's 3-party coalition -- comprising the Christian
Democrats (CDA), VVD liberals and the centrist D66 -- is expected to
decide within wk whether to ask parliament to back an extension of the
Dutch mission in Iraq.
The D66 party announced last wk it would not support keeping Dutch
forces in Iraq after Jul unless the UN plays a more central role and
the US-led coalition quickly transfers sovereignty to an interim Iraqi govt.
* Politicians divided
Dutch forces at home and abroad flew flags at half mast as politicians
were divided over whether the govt should join Spain and Honduras in
withdrawing troops from Iraq or keep them there.
The US, faced with an eroding military coalition amid mounting
violence in Iraq, said last m it hoped other nations would keep their
troops in Iraq after US-led forces hand over power to Iraqis on Jun 30.
After Spain's new govt, elected 3 days after the Mar 11 Madrid train
bombings, announced it was withdrawing from Iraq, the CDA and VVD said
any move to pull out of Iraq would be tantamount to caving in to
guerrilla attacks.
But left-wing opp'n parties, including the powerful Labor party, are
opposed to Dutch forces remaining in Iraq and the D66 has said it
would consider voting against an extension.
"Our initial enthusiasm to participate in all this has been reduced in
the last few wk and months," said Bert Bakker, foreign affairs rep for D66.
But the D66 said it did not expect the issue to threaten the
coalition. Even without its support, the govt is expected to win a
narrow majority in parliament if it proposes an extension.
"There will be a majority for saying 'yes'," a foreign ministry rep
said, adding that For Min Bernard Bot supported extending the Dutch
mandate in Iraq by 8 m.
Radical Iraqi cleric offers truce
Najaff. The radical Iraqi cleric, Sheik Moqtada al-Sadr, has reportedly
offered to end his armed campaign against coalition troops in Iraq.
Sadr's supporters have released a written statement promising peace if
the coalition agrees to negotiate.
Leaflets carrying the signature of Sadr have been handed out in the
holy city of Najaff.
The statement includes an offer to end clashes with coalition troops,
in exchange for negotiations.
US troops say they killed more than 35 members of Sadr's militia group
in 2 days of clashes in Baghdad.
The latest unrest began on Mon.
The supporters of the cleric in the capital have promised to escalate
their armed campaign.
But Sadr now appears to be calling for a halt to the violence.
The young cleric is wanted by US forces, in connection with the murder
of a rival cleric last y.
Meanwhile, Najaff's new US-appointed governor has sought to assert his
authority overnight demanding that Sadr disband his militia.
Adnan al-Zorfi has also asked local tribal leaders to provide 1000s of
men for a paramilitary force that will be in charge of securing Najaff.
Sadr has reportedly offered to end his insurgency in the occupied
country if the US-led coalition agrees to negotiations.
But Mr al-Zorfi has warned the cleric -- and the tribal leaders --
that time is running out.
"All the militias have to be dissolved, there can be no militias in
Iraq's future," he said.
"The future is the law, the future is education, we don't want war in Iraq.
"The war is over, Saddam is finished, the Ba'ath party's finished.
"Now we must all work together to rebuild and improve our country."
Meanwhile, former Iraqi Pres Saddam Hussein will be handed over
to Iraqi officials before the official hand-over of power on Jun 30.
Up to 100 former members of Saddam's regime are also expected to be
transferred to Iraqi custody.
The prosecutor in charge of the trials says Saddam and his former
officials will be handed over before the US-led coalition returns
sovereignty to Iraqis at the end of Jun.
Salem Chalibi says the hearings are expected to start in Jan next year.
Saddam is accused of committing wide-ranging human rights violations
during his time in power.
The former Iraqi Pres has been in US custody since he was captured in
Dec last y.
He is currently being held as a prisoner of war.
Iraq's war crimes tribunal has appointed judges and prosecutors, but
is yet to lay charges.
Possible solution to standoff
Aide to radical Iraq cleric and other leaders agree
Najaff (AP). Radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr will end his violent
standoff with American troops if the US-led coalition postpones its
legal case against him and sets up an Iraqi force to patrol his
stronghold of Najaff, Iraqi leaders in the city said Tue.
About 40 Iraqi political and tribal leaders, including a snr aide to
al-Sadr, agreed on the proposal at a meeting at the most prominent
shrine in the holy Shiite city, where American forces have fought the
cleric's fighters this m. The violence comes as US forces try to
improve security ahead of a Jun 30 deadline for the restoration of
sovereignty to Iraqis.
There was no immediate response from the coalition to the offer from
Najaff, but the new US-appointed governor of the city offered earlier
in the day to defer murder charges against al-Sadr if the young
firebrand disbands his militia.
Mansour al-Assadi, a snr tribal leader, said a proposed deal would
require all armed groups in Najaff to withdraw from the city, a step
that would defuse rising tension among rival Iraqi groups. In exchange,
murder charges against al-Sadr would be postponed until a permanent
constitution is adopted next y, and would be tried by an Islamic court.
Qays al-Khaz'ali, a snr aide to al-Sadr, attended the meeting and
confirmed that participants agreed on an offer to end the standoff.
Adnan al-Zurufi, who was appointed Najaff governor last wk, said he
will ask the US-led Admin to delay legal proceedings against al-Sadr
until after the Americans transfer power to a new Iraqi Admin Jun 30.
"The legal process will be delayed until after the transfer of power
on condition the militias are disbanded and surrender their weapons,"
al-Zurufi told The Associated Press. "The local police will take over
the security of the province."
Maj Gen Martin Dempsey, cmdr of US forces in the Najaff area, said he
had been urging religious, political and tribal leaders to seek a
political solution.
Al-Sadr has been holed up in Najaff since early Apr after US
authorities announced an arrest warrant against him in connection with
the Apr 2003 assassination of a moderate rival cleric in Najaff.
His forces have clashed with US, Brit and other occupation forces
across S Iraq and in Baghdad since then. 5 Iraqis were killed and 14
injured during fighting late Mon between US troops and al-Sadr's
militia in Najaff's twin city Kufa, hospital sources said.
In a statement Tue, al-Sadr said he was willing to tell his fighters
to end the confrontation "if the occupation forces officially request
negotiations, provided that they are just and honourable and under the
supervision of religious authorities."
Sadreddin al-Qombanji, the local representatives of Iraq's largest
Shiite political party, said he had "received indications" that "all
forms of armed presence" would soon be withdrawn from the city. He did
not say whether this signalled a deal with the Americans to remove
their positions from the edge of Najaff.
Al-Qombanji is a member of the Supreme Council of the Islamic
Revolution in Iraq, or SCIRI.
In a statement this m, al-Sadr offered to stop shooting at coalition
forces if the Americans withdraw from the Kufa and Najaff areas and
suspend legal proceedings until after an elected Iraqi govt takes power.
The Iraqi govt due to take office Jun 30 will not be elected but
appointed after consultations with UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, who is in
Baghdad for consultations with Iraqi and US officials. Elections are
expected by next Jan.
Also Tue, about 1,000 people, including a few women in black veils,
marched through the streets of Najaff to urge al-Sadr and his followers
to leave the city, as called for by moderate Shiite leaders.
Father blames US govt for beheading
West Chester (AP). The father of an American contractor whose
beheading was shown on an Islamic militant website lashed out at the
US military and Bush Admin, saying his son might still be alive had he
not been detained by US officials in Iraq.
The video showed Nick Berg, 26, slain by an al-Qaeda-affiliated
group. The video said the killing was to avenge the abuse of Iraqi
prisoners by American soldiers.
Berg, a small telecommunications business owner, spoke to his parents
on Mar 24 and told them he would return home on Mar 30. But he was
detained by Iraqi police at a checkpoint in Mosul on Mar 24.
Berg was turned over to US officials and detained for 13 days.
His father, Michael, said his son was not allowed to make phone calls
or contact a lawyer.
FBI agents visited Berg's parents in W Chester on Mar 31 and told
the family they were trying to confirm their son's identity. On Apr 5,
the Bergs filed suit in fed court in Philadelphia, contending that
their son was being held illegally by the US military. The next day
Berg was released. He told his parents he had not been mistreated.
Michael Berg said he blamed the US govt for creating circumstances that
led to his son's death. He said if his son hadn't been detained for so
long, he might have been able to leave Iraq before the violence worsened.
"I think a lot of people are fed up with the lack of civil rights this
thing has caused," he said.
"I don't think this Admin is committed to democracy."
Berg's family said US State Dept officials had told them that Berg's
decapitated body was found on a highway overpass in Baghdad on Sat.
When told about the website, Berg's father, brother and sister
collapsed in their front yard.
"I knew he was decapitated before," Michael Berg said. "That manner is
preferable to a long and torturous death. But I didn't want it to
become public."
Berg's mother, Suzanne, said her son was in Iraq as an independent
businessman to help rebuild communication antennas. Berg owned a
communications equipment company, Prometheus Methods Tower Service
Inc, she said.
The Bergs last heard from their son on Apr 9, when he told his parents
he would come home via Jordan. Suzanne Berg said that the family had
been trying for wk to learn where their son was, but that US fed
officials had not been helpful.
"I went through this with them for weeks," she said. "I basically
ended up doing most of the investigating myself."
Berg had gone to Third World countries several times to help spread
technology, his family said.
He had previously been to Kenya and Ghana, where they said he had
bought a $US900 [$A1,300] brick-making press for a poor village.
Islamic website shows beheading of American
Washington (AFP). An Al Qaeda-related website has posted a video
showing the beheading of a 26-yo American whose body was found in
Baghdad over the weekend.
A snr US State Dept official identified the slain American as Nicholas
Berg, a private businessman from Pennsylvania who was in Iraq looking
for contracts.
The official said Mr Berg's body had been found by the side of a road
near Baghdad over the weekend.
US TV networks said the video of Mr Berg's execution showed 5 hooded
men standing behind him while one of them read a statement denouncing
the abuses of Iraqi detainees by US soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison.
A bearded Mr Berg was seated on the ground dressed in an orange
jumpsuit while the statement was read.
After the statement was finished, Mr Berg's captors decapitated him
with a large knife, according to the networks, which did not show
video of the actual execution but described it as horrific.
The gruesome manner of slaying was similar to the 2002 killing of Wall
Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, who was kidnapped and beheaded
in Pakistan by Al Qaeda members.
The networks said the tape on the Islamic militant website with links
to Al Qaeda was titled Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi slaughtering an American.
Zarqawi is a wanted Al Qaeda operative.
The networks said it was unclear whether Zarqawi himself murdered Mr Berg.
A US official said the Central Intel Agency was reviewing the tape.
"We're reviewing the tape. At this point we need to review it to see
whether it is Zarqawi," the official said.
The State Dept official said Mr Berg had gone missing in mid-Apr.
The official also said Mr Berg had been taken into Iraqi custody
around the town of Mosul in late Mar.
"He was released and went to Baghdad in early Apr," the official said,
adding that he did not know why Mr Berg was arrested.
Sharon vows to hit Palestinian militants "wherever they hide"
Jerusalem (AFP). Prime Min Ariel Sharon has vowed Israel will seek
out and strike at wanted Palestinian militants "wherever they hide"
after 6 Israeli soldiers were killed in Gaza City.
"We are paying a heavy price to ensure the security of Israelis. We
are fighting a cruel enemy and we will relentlessly fight him wherever
he operates and wherever he hides," he said ahead of a speech to
Parliament marking the defeat of Nazi Germany.
Mr Sharon is due to convene his security cabinet to consider the next
move, after an Israeli armoured personnel carrier was blown up in a
Palestinian attack and its 6 crew killed during an incursion in Gaza City.
The bomb attack was one of the Israeli army's heaviest losses in the
Gaza Strip since the Sep 2000 outbreak of the intifada and is likely
to trigger large-scale retaliation.
Witnesses in the Zeitun district where the clashes took place also
said that masked men were seen parading with the remains of dead
soldiers, in gruesome scenes captured by the media.
2 Palestinian groups later announced they were holding some of the
body parts as bargaining chips.
Israeli troops search for bodies of dead soldiers
Gaza City. Israeli troops backed by armour and helicopter gunships
are making house-to-house searches in Gaza for the remains of 6
soldiers killed when their vehicle was blown up during a raid. The
remains were taken away by gunmen, but even the Palestinian Authority
has called on those holding them to return them to Israel in
conformity with human rights and the Muslim religion. Israeli troops
had entered the narrow streets of Gaza City when one vehicle was
attacked, all 6 soldiers blown up and their remains then paraded
through the streets like trophies by jubilant Palestinian gunmen.
Later, militants set a number of conditions for the return of the
bodies. But Israel's PM Ariel Sharon said he would not negotiate. Mr
Sharon called his security cabinet together to discuss the deaths but
no decision was made on an immediate response.
US places sanctions on Syria for terrorism support
Washington (AFP). The Whitehouse has placed major sanctions on Syria
including a freeze on certain Syrian assets in the US, and limits on
exports of goods such as weaponry. In a statement, Pres George W Bush
has accused Syria of supporting terrorism, continuing its occupation
of Lebanon, pursuing weapons of mass destruction and missile programs,
and undermining US efforts to stabilise and reconstruct Iraq. The
Pres says Syria's actions constitute an unusual and extraordinary
threat to the nat'l security, foreign policy, and economy of the US.
He says he has also declared a nat'l emergency to deal with the threat.
New blow for Malaysia's Anwar at appeal hearing
KL (AFP). Malaysia's jailed ex-deputy PM Anwar Ibrahim has received a
new setback at his final appeal hearing, with the judges refusing to
consider a bail application.
Anwar's lawyers had applied for bail in the hope that he could return
home and attend court daily until a judgement is made on his appeal
against a sodomy conviction.
3 Fed Court judges said they would only hear the application at the
end of the appeal case, which is his last chance for freedom.
Anwar has already been in jail for more than 5 y, having completed
a sentence for corruption, and begun serving a 9-y term for sodomy.
If his appeal fails, he will remain in jail until at least 2009, even
with a 1/3 remission of sentence for good behaviour.
Anwar's lawyers argued that as he had a good chance of overturning the
sodomy conviction, he should be allowed bail until a decision was made.
Presiding judge Abdul Hamid Mohamad said, however, that the
application was premature and could "confuse things".
Commenting on the decision to reporters, Anwar said it proved that he
had been right in his previous allegations that the judges were biased
against him, but added: "Never mind, let's see what happens".
Anwar's lawyers had tried unsuccessfully on Mon to get 2 of the 3
appeal judges to recuse themselves from the case, accusing one of bias
and the other of inexperience.
The rest of Tue was taken up with his lawyers attacking the conduct of
his trial as unfair.
Counsel Karpal Singh asked the judges to "focus on the weird and
bizarre events" in the sodomy case, such as the changing of the date
of the alleged offence and the refusal to allow a fresh alibi.
Anwar, once heir apparent to former PM Mahathir Mohamad, was convicted
in Aug 2000 of sodomising Azizan Abu Bakar, an official driver.
The original charge stated that Anwar sodomised Azizan one night in
May 1992.
It was changed to one night in May 1994 after prosecutors realised
that the condominium where the alleged event took place did not exist
at that time.
Govt lawyers later again changed the date to "sometime between Jan and
Mar 1993".
The conduct of the trial was widely condemned internat'ly and Anwar
says he was framed to prevent him from mounting a political challenge
to Mahathir after being sacked in 1998.
Anwar has also sought bail to enable him to receive medical treatment
abroad for a back injury which he says he sustained during a beating
by police when he was 1st arrested, but the govt says treatment is
available in Malaysia.
The hearing is due to continue Wed.
Brit courts say women are better drivers
London (AFP). Women, much maligned by the opposite sex for their
supposed lack of ability behind the wheel, make far safer and more law
abiding drivers than their male counterparts, Brit officials said on Tue.
Of those found guilty of all driving offences by English and Welsh
courts in 2002, 88 per cent were male motorists, according to
statistics published by the Home Office.
Men committed almost all the most serious offences, such as causing
death and dangerous driving, but women's share of speeding offences
rose from 13% in 1998 to 17% in 2002.
The category in which women committed the highest number of offences
was obstruction, waiting and parking.
The category was responsible for 23% of such cases in 2002.
Women committed just 6% of the death or bodily harm offences in 2002
and just 3% of dangerous driving offences.
But offences relating to driving with excess alcohol or drugs in the
system increased for women, up from 9% of the total in 1998 to 11% in 2002.
Men were responsible for 96% of vehicle thefts and 97% of offences
relating to motorcycles.
Overall, women's share of motoring offences rose only 1% between 1998
and 2002.
Bali paedophile found hanged day after conviction
William Stuart Brown has committed suicide.
Bali (ABC, Tim Palmer). An Aussie man sentenced on paedophile charges
in Bali yesterday has been found hanged in his cell. William Brown
was sentenced to 13 y' jail yesterday afternoon and was found dead
this morning in his cell in Karangasem. A lawyer for Brown confirmed
his client's death and says his body has now been taken to hospital.
The lawyer said he has notified AUS's consulate in Bali. Yesterday
Brown appeared shattered when he was given a 13-y prison term for
sexual abusing 2 Balinese boys. His lawyer said late yesterday Brown
appeared calm and had instructed him to prepare an appeal. Foreign
Min Alexander Downer has told Macquarie Radio Brown's death is
regrettable. "Obviously the trauma of it was too much for him and he
took his own life," he said. "We regret that but, you know, the
sentence was the right thing to do."
Business welcomes Budget measures
Sydney. Aussie Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) chief
executive officer Peter Hendy has welcomed the Budget saying it is
full of "goodies".
"It is also a good economic document because the Govt shows how it pays
for those goodies and yet still deliver a Budget surplus, which is
crucial to business because it keeps pressure off interest rates," he said.
The Aussie Industry Group (AIG) has largely welcomed this y's Budget
saying it is good for business and industry.
However, AIG chief executive Heather Ridout says the Govt has not done
anything to address a looming skills shortage.
She also claims the Govt reneged on a promise to cut a 3% tax on
imported goods.
"In 1996 the Govt imposed the 3% tax on manufacturing in AUS on
imported inputs, even when there was no domestic equivalent
manufacturer," he said.
"That was imposed for budgetary reasons and it was agreed it would be
abolished once the Budget permitted.
"This Budget clearly had a strong surplus and we would have liked to
have seen action in that regard."
Meanwhile, wine maker Ken Helm says every wine maker in AUS will
benefit from the Budget measures.
"Small regional wineries on a $20 bottle of wine were making less than
1% profit," he said.
"This will actually mean that some profitability will go back into
those wineries.
"Not only will regional economies benefit, but the wineries will
increase their infrastructure."
Aussie Business Limited chief executive Mark Bethwaite says he is
deeply concerned the Govt ignored cutting some import duties to help
manufacturers.
"That's the 3 per cent tariff which acts to make Aussie manufactured
goods more expensive," he said.
Aussie Business Council Pres Hugh Morgan says the Budget is great
if you are an ordinary Aussie, but big business is largely ignored.
"There's been little in it directly for the corporate sector but the
realist would have to recognise that this is an election year," he said.
Mr Morgan says the growth of corporate tax receipts is the major
reason for the Budget surplus.
Maternity payment raises concerns
Canberra. Fed Sex Discrimination commissioner Pru Goward says the fed
Budget includes the beginnings of a paid maternity leave scheme.
However, she says there are problems with paying new mothers a $3,000
lump sum.
"It's the price of a second-hand Ford Laser," she said.
"Instead of seeing it as a regular payment for up to 14 wk, it also
means [that] for women in full time work, that's not going to take
them very far in terms of staying home with their children."
Aussie Council of Trade Unions Pres Sharan Burrow says working
Aussies will think the Budget is shocking.
"To wake up tomorrow and understand that $52 bn of their taxes has
been squandered," she said.
"Yet this Govt has failed to save Medicare, failed to guarantee free
govt public education, failed to make child care more affordable and
done nothing about the dignity of child care worker wages."
Tax relief could have gone further: manufacturers
Sydney. Aussie Industry Group (AIG) chief executive Heather Ridout
says tonight's Budget meets a number of expectations, but she is
disappointed further tax relief has not been forthcoming.
Ms Ridout said the AIG had lobbied for the outright removal of the 42
cent tax bracket, saying it would have been a huge reform for the tax system.
Ms Ridout also expressed disappointment that the tariff concession tax
was not removed.
"We would have very much liked to see the removal of the 3% tax on the
industry imposed under the tariff concession system," she said.
Ms Ridout says while Treasurer Peter Costello has delivered a "smart
and progressive" Budget, the Govt has benefited from larger company
tax collections.
"He's been very fortunate because company tax collections have been
very positive," she said.
"Over the last 4 y they've added over $10 bn of extra income."
Ms Ridout says the AIG is satisfied with the changes to effective
marginal tax rates and superannuation changes and the focus on infrastructure.
"We were looking for a strategy that gave emphasis to incentive to work
and to save and you would have to say he has delivered on that," she said.
Aussie Business Limited chief executive Mark Bethwaite says he is also
deeply concerned the Govt ignored cutting some import duties.
"That's the 3 per cent tariff which acts to make Aussie manufactured
goods more expensive when compared to imported competitors, which in
many cases come in duty free," he said.
"It is just an anomalous situation and the Aussie Govt should have
moved a long time before now to address that."
Health Budget wins AMA's praise
Canberra. Aussie Medical Association head Bill Glasson has described
the Budget as Christmas coming twice. "We've seen a consolidation
Budget in relation to health," he said. "A lot of the initiatives
that were announced tonight, obviously we knew about. "We commend
Tony Abbott and the PM on the issues around medical indemnity."
Budget boost to Commonwealth Games, no money for roads
Melbourne. The budget has failed to impress Vic Treasurer John
Brumby who wanted funding for several major road projects but MEL's
2006 Commonwealth Games is a winner, receiving $217 mn to stage the
event. "There is no funding that has been announced for the Geelong
Western ring road, no funding for the Calder Highway duplication, no
increase in funding for the Pakenham bypass and of course in other
parts of country Vic, no funding for the Wimmera Valley pipeline," he
said. Games chairman Ron Walker says $115 mn of those funds will go
toward making the games safe. "There's an element going to security,
to the opening and closing ceremonies, to the baton relay, it's a
cocktail of all those things coming together," he said.
Farmers see Budget boosting competitiveness
Canberra. Nat'l Farmers Federation Pres Peter Corish says the
Budget is a welcome relief for drought-affected farmers. He says the
increase to road and rail infrastructure funding is also a good step
forward. Mr Corish says the Budget will be welcomed by farmers eager
to emerge from drought with the right economic conditions in place.
"It will hopefully, with a budgeted surplus, lead to further low
inflation and therefore [there will be] no need to increase interest
rates," he said. Qld farm lobby group AgForce agrees the Budget is
good for the rural sector. Pres Larry Acton says the spending on
infrastructure is a particular highlight. "Road and rail are critical
for getting our product to either port or to processing," he said.
Farmers have also welcomed more money to support the live export trade
but have expressed some concern about the likelihood of higher labour costs.
Costello Budget "wasted opportunities": Crean
Canberra. The Labor Party says the Budget "wasted opportunities and
shattered expectations" but that it would pass the Govt's tax cuts.
Shadow Treasurer Simon Crean says Treasurer Peter Costello has thrown
away an opportunity to deliver a fair Budget.
"This is a Budget of wasted opportunities and shattered expectations,"
he said.
Mr Crean says Labor is now working on an alternative tax policy to
take to the election and will offer a clear alternative, saying the
Govt's change to tax thresholds is unfair to low income earners.
"We will come forward with our alternative approach so that going to
the election people will have a clear choice with what the Govt
proposes and what we propose." he said.
"The big build-up about the tax cuts has seriously forgotten a large
number of Aussie families. Some 8.5 mn of them get not one cent in
terms of a tax cut.
"This is a Budget that spends and commits $52 bn over the course of
the next 4 y and yet it gives not one cent of tax cut to people
earning less than $52,000 per year."
He says the Budget offers no relief for social services and those on
lower incomes are going to suffer.
"Not only haven't these people got a tax cut, they're having to fork
out more to go to a doctor, more to send their kids to university,
more to bring up their kids," he said.
He says the Budget is a clear bid for votes at the next fed election.
"This is not a Budget for the future, it's a Budget for their
re-election," he said.
But Mr Crean says he is pleased the Coalition has found money for aged
care reform and the baby care payment.
He says Labor is in a healthier financial position, having already
paid for the baby care payment in its estimation, while the Coalition
is having to fund it through the surplus.
He says if Labor is elected this y the party will maintain a surplus
each y they are in power.
"We're in front on the services, [we] don't have to spend what they're
trying to spend, let's have a look at the total picture and you'll see
our final result," he said.
Union says students miss out on Budget spend
Canberra. Students say they are the big losers out of the 2004 fed
Budget. There are large tax cuts in Treasurer Peter Costello's ninth
budget, but students are likely to miss out. The Govt will spend
$14.7 bn on tax cuts over the next 4 years for those earning
between $52,000 and $80,000 a year. Jodie Jansen from the Nat'l Union
of Students says she is not impressed with the announcement.
"Costello's tax cuts are being funded by students and their families,"
she said. She says students are having to pay for rising university
costs and will also be slugged with an 8% tax increase because the
Govt is axing its subsidy on text books. Don Henry from the
Conservation Foundation says funding for the environment is
disappointing. "The locker's bare on the environment," he said.
Budget a mixed result for Indigenous people: ATSIC
Canberra. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission's
acting chairman Lionel Quartermiane says last night's Budget was a
mixed result for Indigenous people with the Govt adopting some of the
organisation's key initiatives but still pushing ahead with the peak
body's abolition.
The Fed Govt is claiming a record spend on Indigenous affairs of $2.9
bn in the coming financial year.
But Mr Quartermaine says some of the money is going to initiatives
originally conceived by ATSIC on family violence, women's development
and home ownership.
He says it brings into question the Govt's criticism of the organisation.
"I would like to know if everyone's saying that ATSIC has failed,
please tell me where we've failed if the Coalition Govt is actually
taking on the initiatives of ATSIC," he said.
Reconciliation AUS says the Budget reaffirmed reconciliation as a
defining issue on the nat'l agenda.
The Fed Govt has announced a $15 mn injection into the organisation to
meet its operating costs over the next 4 y.
The body's co-chairman Fred Chaney says any new Govt framework on
Indigenous affairs needs an independent organisation like
Reconciliation AUS to provide alternative policy advice.
NAB head disappointed with half-y profit
Melbourne. The head of AUS's biggest bank has expressed
disappointment with its $2 bn half-y profit.
The Nat'l AUS Bank has revealed a number of weak spots in its latest
accounts.
For the latest 6 m, the NAB's bottom line profit is $2.17 bn, up 16%.
But that includes $315 mn from the sale of its strategic holdings in
AMP and St George Bank, as well as an upward revaluation of its wealth
management business.
Cash earnings before significant items have actually fallen almost 9%.
Chief executive officer John Stewart says he is disappointed with the results.
"There have clearly been a lot of distractions facing the bank for
most of this y but we can't really blame these results totally on
distractions. There are things in this organisation that we need to
put right," he said.
The European business will be a particular focus.
At around 11.45 am Nat'l AUS Bank shares were down 50 cents on the
Aussie Stock Exchange to $28.80.
Housing market cooling: report
[The day after Treas Peter Costello said a slowing in property markets
was the "key risk" for the Aussie economy...]
Canberra. The housing market is showing further signs of cooling.
The Mar housing finance figures show a drop of 1.2% in the number of
new home loans across the country. That is the 6th consecutive
monthly drop. The fall lends further support to the Reserve Bank's
view that the housing market has reached a turning point, taking some
pressure off the need to raise interest rates.
Firefighters angered over snub during CBR fires
Canberra. The CBR bushfire inquest has heard firefighters with the
airport brigade were angry and frustrated that their offers of help
were declined last y.
ACT fire brigade station officer Ken Camilleri has listed numerous
concerns about last year's bushfire response including the use of resources.
Mr Camilleri has testified a firefighter with the airport brigade
called him the day after the firestorm hit to express anger and
frustration that their offer of assistance was declined by the fire brigade.
Mr Camilleri has told the inquiry the airport pumpers carry up to
9,000 L of water and can direct water cannons from within the vehicle.
He said they also have breathing apparatus on board and would have
been very useful during the fire disaster.
However, yesterday brigade Superintendent Peter Newham told the inquest
he turned down the offer of help because the airport pumpers are not
suited for structure fires and the service's radio communication
systems were incompatible.
Earlier, the inquest heard a dramatic account of urban firefighters
battling a blaze before it reached tanks containing dangerous chemicals
last y.
Mr Camilleri said he had no idea of the seriousness of the fire situation
W of CBR when his crew was called out on the afternoon of Jan 18 last y.
Mr Camilleri has described heading to a fire at the Molonglo sewerage
treatment works and being faced with an unexpected front of flames.
The coroner's court has heard the officer could direct his crews to
tanks of chlorine and gas cylinders because he had had a tour of the
plant y earlier and knew the chemicals would release toxic fumes and
cause explosions if ignited.
Mr Camilleri has testified he could not get through to the command
centre to call for help after his pumper caught alight.
Another crew finally arrived to help douse the flames around the
chemical tanks.
Investigation begins into new Army abuse allegations
Sydney. An internal Army investigation has begun into fresh
allegations of unacceptable behaviour at the School of Infantry at
Singleton in the Upper Hunter region of NSW. The chief of the Army,
Lt Gen Peter Leahy, says a snr officer is investigating allegations
that have been raised against 4 members of the School of Infantry.
The allegations of improper behaviour include slapping, kicking,
throwing objects and the use of threatening and abusive language.
They also include the use of non-programmed training activities and
group punishment. Lt Gen Leahy says all implicated staff have been
removed from contact with trainees and reassigned to other duties
pending the outcome of the investigation. A military police investigation
is also underway. The inquiry follows a separate investigation last y
that found 20-yo Private Jeremy Williams hanged himself in Feb 2003
after being harassed and abused at the Singleton Army barracks.
Explosives trial nr Woomera
Woomera (AAP). Aluminium sheeting was ripped off buildings and brick
walls collapsed when 5 tonnes of explosives were detonated at a test
site in S AUS's north.
The blast, at a remote site nr Woomera, was part of an internat'l
experiment aimed at improving the way explosives are handled and stored.
Defence, Science and Technology Organisation rep Darryl Johnston said
many structures surrounding ground zero, about 25 km from the Woomera
township, sustained extensive damage.
Other structures further away received varying amounts of damage, from
serious to minimal, Mr Johnston said.
"One structure was made of a number of building materials and it
suffered extensively," he said.
"The wall made of brick collapsed and another wall made of aluminium
sheets was ripped off.
"It was spectacular."
The trial was a much smaller version of a 2002 explosion of 27 tonnes
of old Dutch howitzer shells.
Technical problems delayed the blast for more than 4 hr, with the
explosives detonated at 2.30 pm (CST).
Mr Johnston said apart from the delay, the trial had been successful.
Trial manager Keith Parker said info gathered from the trial would
give a comprehensive understanding of the effects of an ammunition
blast and would ensure the highest standards of ammunition storage
safety were maintained.
The blast involved researchers from AUS, the US, Canada, The
Netherlands, Germany and Singapore.
Another trial involving the detonation of a further 5 tonnes of
explosives is planned for May 20.
Underworld killing suspect ordered to give DNA sample
Melbourne. A MEL magistrate has given police permission to obtain a
DNA sample from Victor Brincat, the man charged with one of MEL's
underworld killings. In a hearing lasting just 20 minutes, Magistrate
Duncan Reynold ordered Victor Brincat to provide a compulsory blood
sample to police. Brincat is one of 2 men charged with shooting
Michael Marshall last Oct. In court supporting Brincat was alleged
underworld figure Carl Williams and Brincat's girlfriend Michelle who
is the sister of Roberta Williams. Police had applied for permission
to take the sample because they argued a previous mouth swab had been
contaminated by Brincat.
Bamboo extinction could devastate some species: UN
UN. A new report has found almost half of the world's 1,200 wild
bamboo species may be in danger of extinction through deforestation.
The UN Environment Program says that of those, about 250
are characterised as "extremely vulnerable". One of the researchers,
Val Kapos, says the effect could be devastating on not only the giant
panda but on a number of endangered animal species. "There are red
pandas that are related but you see much less," he said. "There are
limas in Madagascar which are dependent on bamboo, mountain gorillas
are dependent on bamboo for part of the year. "There are frogs,
beetles, birds, bats that all are very, very closely tied up with
bamboo in the wild."Reuters/BBC
Seeds prove sticking point in GMO debate
Brussels. The European Union (EU) is poised to lift its 5-y ban on
gene-spliced foods and will now open the next battle to try to agree
on purity levels in seeds, the European Commission said.
Rules for how much genetically modified organism (GMO) material may
occur in non-modified seeds before they must be labelled has been a
thorn in the side of EU govts, and the commission, for m if not years.
It will be the last major piece of legislation to be put in place
before it can discuss authorising new applications for GMOs where the
requested use is cultivation.
The EU's moratorium on authorising new GMO products and crops is now
effectively over and the commission is set to approve a biotech maize
type known as Bt-11, a canned product for human consumption, at a
meeting on May 19, officials said.
The next battle ground for EU biotech policy -- and the fight is
certain to be heated, diplomats say -- is for "live" GMOs, or those
destined for planting in Europe's fields.
Before that can happen, the 25 member states have to sort out seeds.
While a draft commission proposal on seed thresholds has surfaced in
Brussels, with a range of 0.3 to 0.5% for permitted GMO presence in
conventional and organic seeds, it is far from clear that the EU
executive itself is totally agreed.
"On seeds, there will certainly be a discussion within the next couple
of weeks. There are different views on this," EU Health and Consumer
Protection commissioner David Byrne said.
"Those who are looking at the farming interest and those on the more
green side of the argument want lower thresholds, which I think might
be difficult to achieve," he said.
Mr Byrne's dept, looking at the seeds dossier along with the commission's
agriculture, environment and research units, is said to favour higher
thresholds closer to the 0.9% labelling level already in force for GMO
food and feed.
Higher levels are also favoured by the seed industry, while green
groups want nothing higher than 0.1%, a view backed by several EU
states such as Austria, Luxembourg and Denmark.
Mr Byrne said such low levels were not technically practical.
"Some of us take the view that if you go too low, it creates further
problems," he said.AFP
Biotechnology company to close GM canola program
Canberra. The Grains Council of AUS says the biotechnology company
Monsanto will shut down its program to introduce genetically modified
canola to AUS.
Monsanto has also decided to end 7 y of efforts to introduce "Roundup
Ready" wheat to internat'l markets.
The company is continuing research in corn, cotton, and oilseeds.
Its Roundup Ready canola is approved in AUS, but Grains Council
president Keith Perrett says moratoriums on commercial crops in most
states have ended the biotechnology company's investment.
"Discussions I've had with Monsanto as recently as today, have
indicated to me that they will be pulling out their canola program in
AUS," he said.
"[It's] finished, because if you're investing your money somewhere and
you could see no chance of getting a return on that investment you
wouldn't continue to put money down the spout."
Mr Perrett says Aussie farmers could now miss out on important
biotechnology innovations.
The announcement by Monsanto that it will abandon a GM wheat product
internat'ly has been claimed by Greenpeace as a giant victory for consumers.
{{
1 am
Israel says it's found 30 welding machines in Gaza City, which is says
were used to make weapons. Elsewhere, a 14 yo Pal boy was killed in
an Israeli missile attack. 6 other Pals were killed in fighting with
the Israeli army. 70 others were wounded.
4 am
A group of masked militants claiming to members of al-Qaeda have
released a video in which they appear to behead a man in an orange
jump suit who ID'ed himself as a US hostage. The militants say they
killed the hostage in revenge for the POW mistreatment in Coal'n-run
Iraqi prisoners. The US State Dept has ack'ed the body of the 26 yo
American was found in Baghdad over the weekend, but didn't say how he died.
5 am
Congress has scored a landslide in Andrah Pradesh -- a key S Indian
state. But the stock market has dropped more than 250 pts over fears
of political instability. In Hyderabad, Congress party workers gathered
to celebrate the unexpected good news.
European papers are still full of the POW abuses. One cartoon shows
the Statue of Liberty striding forward, with an Iraq prisoner on a
leash crawling behind. Another shows a naked, hooded prisoner, with a
sign on his chest "I survived Saddam".
6 am
Oil has closed above 40/bbl in NY. After an initial decline, the
markets have ignored the call by the Saudi Oil Min to increase production.
Midday.
Aussie Treasurer Peter Costello has unveiled an election-y Budget
centred on significant income tax cuts, more benefits for families,
extra child-care places and a new maternity payment of $3,000.
Personal tax and family payment changes in Treasurer Peter Costello's
ninth Budget have received a mixed response from Aussie opp'n parties,
business and community groups.
Aussie Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) chief executive officer
Peter Hendy has welcomed the Budget saying it is full of "goodies".
Aussie Medical Association head Bill Glasson has described the Budget
as Christmas coming twice.
Rural lobby groups say the Fed Budget creates the right economic conditions
for the sector, which continues to grapple with the effects of drought.
The ABC's managing director says he is happy with the Budget outcome
for the nat'l broadcaster.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission's acting chairman
Lionel Quartermiane says last night's Budget was a mixed result for
Indigenous people with the Govt adopting some of the organisation's
key initiatives but still pushing ahead with the peak body's abolition.
The SA Govt has criticised the fed Budget as being disappointing,
particularly in the area of health.
The W Aussie Prem has criticised the fed Budget for ignoring what he
calls the engine room of the nation's economy.
The fed Budget provides a big funding boost for AUS's defence forces
and intel services, including money to keep Aussie forces in Iraq
until at least the middle of next y.
Prime Min John Howard and his Treasurer will hit the air waves this
morning talking up their election year, family-friendly Budget.
US Pres George W Bush has staged a lavish show of support for
embattled Def Sec Donald Rumsfeld, rejecting calls for his resignation
and insisting the Pentagon chief was doing "a superb job".
Honduras has begun its troop withdrawal from Iraq with the first of
its 369 soldiers arriving in Kuwait, Pres Ricardo Maduro says.
The Italian opp'n has called for the immediate return of the country's
troops serving in Iraq to protest the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by
occupation forces.
The US Senate has unanimously passed a resolution condemning the
mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners.
10 pm
Aussie detainees in Guatmo Bay may have been abused. That's the hint
from the US military lawyer for Guatmo detainee David Hicks. Maj
Michael Mori, USMC, says he can't talk directly about the interrogation
techniques used at Guatmo Bay and in Afghanistan. That's part of the
conditions of his appointment at the defence council for Hicks. But
he says if the AUS govt wants to know, it can just ask him. He says
he wants the AUS govt to ask the US govt to free him from the
provisions of his appointment. While he can't be specific, it's been
indicated that Hicks and Habib have not been allowed outside for 8 m.
The ICRC has access to Guatmo, but their reports are not available.
Mori says he's curious to know whether the US govt has shared those
reports with the AUS govt. [FM Downer later indicated he had no
knowledge of them]. Mori says he was told by cmdrs at Guatmo that
interrogations there were deliberately not recorded, in case prisoners
later tried to use them in their defence. Mori has broadly hinted
that coercive techniques were used to obtain "confessions".
11.30 pm
US allies have echoed US outrage at decapitation of a US hostage in
Iraq. In AUS, PM Howard said the act was "depraved". Brit officials
have said it was "indefensible". But the Arab media says it's revenge
for the POW mistreatment. As long as foreigners were oppressing Iraqis
they would be targets of "legal resistance", said one editorial.
There are allegations Italian forces have been sending Iraqi POW's to
an Iraqi-run prison nr Nasiriyah where they were abused. PM
Berlusconi says the Italian govt will investigate the claims.
In Pakistan, officials say the US has agreed to release 20 Pakistani
detainees from Guatmo. That's about 1/2 the number of Pakistanis
held there. Pak Int Min officials say the release would occurred
before the end of the m.
The IOC says work for the Olympics will be finished on time. The
announcement came after an inspection of all sites nr Athens.
DaimlerChrysler says it will sell its stake in Korean car maker Hyundai.
}}
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support payments and sundry legalese in their home countries. Mention
us at any Uncle Harry's Suburban Bunker and get a 10% discount on cop-killers!
All speling macroizated for correctitood by Mcrosotf Speelchek.
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