From the World-Wide Resourses of the Western Australia
Reserch Senter(*)
OIL THE NEWS THAT FITS MY VIEWS #210
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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: [7,968+ as at 13 Jan 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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We need to let them know it goes in automatically.
-- Comm Services Min Kay Patterson, 20 Jun 2004.
The claw-back. The Howard govt has kicked off a new $multi mn ad
campaign to tell families about a $600 pre-election payment into
their bank accounts.
The govt is going to use taxpayer's money on a disgraceful scam. This
grubby tactic will backfire on the govt. [...] In office, we will ask
the Auditor General to draw up guidelines...
-- Opp'n MP John Howard, 1972.
Way-back machine. In C21 it's called a taxpayer funded $150 mn
"information campaign" ahead of an expected Aug 7 election date.
[Do you put a ban on...] Do you put a ban on alcohol?
-- PM John Howard, Parliament, 21 Jun 2004.
Kiddie time. The PM showed his age when debating a proposed ban on
junk food ads during children's TV programs. He forgot he *supports*
the current ban on alcohol advertising during children's TV programs.
The timing of it [govt inquiry into govt rent] relates to the
[smirking] process [...] relating to the senate.
-- A-G Philip Ruddock, 20 Jun 2004.
Free market. Despise an inquiry 10 y ago, the Howard govt has
launched another expensive investigation into the rent paid on an
Opp'n property.
The President remained in the classroom for another 5 to 7 minutes
[after he'd been told the US was under attack by terrorists], while
the children continued reading.
-- school teacher, 9/11 Commission, 18 Jun 2004.
The US Pres has been accused of inaction during the attacks of Sep 2001.
It was a mistake. Mistakes do occasionally, occur.
-- Def Min Robert Hill, 20 Jun 2004.
The Def Min was under pressure this wk for "forgetting about" human
rights reports he now ack's he might have seen in mid-2003.
His handling deserves not just censure, but sacking by the PM.
-- AUS Sen John Faulkner, 21 Jun 2004.
Censure motion. Opp'n parties have censured the Def Min for being
evasive and slow to respond over the POW abuse scandal.
Australians didn't administer the [Iraqi or Cuban] prisons... Maybe
it's the innate anti-Americanism of modern Labor.
-- AUS Def Min Robert Hill, 21 Jun 2004.
Hill gave his reasons for misleading the Parliament and Senate
committees about when he first heard about POW abuses in Iraq.
Anyway, he says, it would have hurt the relationship between the
Howard govt and their masters.
It's 3 months since I was last censured in the Senate... so I guess I
shouldn't complain.
-- Def Min Robert Hill, 21 Jun 2004.
I haven't heard that. I think that the question the def dept has with
Maj Mori is that he claims there was some abuse with David Hicks at
Guantanamo or somewhere else.
-- US Amb Tom Sheiffer, Senate committee, 21 Jun 2004.
The lawyers for accused Taliban fighter David Hicks say the Pentagon
is trying to intimidate them by launching "ethics investigations".
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Sat, 19 Jun 2004.
HEADLINES:
US accused of using 13 secret prisons
US holding 1000s in secret jails
US hostage beheaded in Saudi Arabia
Al Qaeda chief killed after US contractor beheaded
Yukos ordered to repay $5 bn in taxes
Withdrawal would increase local terror risk: PM
US soldier killed, contractor wounded in Iraq mortar attack
Sec Council repairs image with Iraq vote, but challenges remain
Question of credibility: Bush, Cheney still insist Iraq linked to al-Qaeda
Putin says Russia gave US intel on Iraq
Panel's findings suggest flawed justifications for Iraq war
Lebanese hostage freed in Iraq
Japan cabinet okays joining Iraq multinat'l force
Iraq weighs draconian measures to stamp out violence
Iraq oil exports set to resume
Insurgents kill American and Iraqis
Bush gets boost from McCain on Iraq
2 Perth escapees recaptured, one still at large
4 bombs explode in Turkey
ATSIC employees fear for jobs
AUS to commit to US missile defence program
Anglican Synod must address victims interests: Rann
Anthrax kills elephant, more may be infected
Aphrodite heading for line honours in Big Bird Race
Beached whale freed
Brit minister sees EU constitution deal "soon"
Canada turns down US request to delay troops' departure from Afghanistan
Chinese "police" arrested in HK
Court rejects Samudra appeal
Crick suicide prompts no charges
Deadline nears for US hostage in Saudi
Don't condemn accused lawyer: Law Institute
EU clinches historic constitution deal
German "samurai" attacks hikers
Halliburton fires 2 consultants
Imelda asks court to ban documentary
India, Pakistan gear up for historic nuclear security talks
Israel arrests 3rd teenage girl over planned attacks
Italy school foils cheats by blocking phone signals
Jordan denies it has US prisons on its territory
Kids choose fruit when offered: survey
Militia takes Afghan town
NT says weeds need greater attention
Nitschke welcomes decision not to prosecute Crick case
Olympic prison controversy stirs in Greece
Police rescue 8 after boat sinks in Derwent
Private rocket plane aiming for space flight prize
Rail union says 200 Hunter jobs could go
Russian "warning" on Saddam puzzles US
Sadr condemns interim govt's US ties
Saudi says top Al Qaeda leader Muqrin killed
Smokers, quit early to regain health
Sprint claims "world speed record" for Internet
Stocks end up; options, stable oil help
Stranded whale faces fitness program
Suspicious white powder found in Athens rubbish bin
Think tank criticises energy package
US signs treaty to save Titanic
US stocks quiet ahead of key announcements
US trade deficit explodes to record in 1st quarter
WTO again finds US breaches trade rules
Iraq oil exports set to resume
Baghdad. Coalition officials in Iraq say oil exports could resume
tomorrow as work continues to prepare 2 pipelines attacked at the
start of the week. The attacks ruptured the 2 main pipelines feeding
terminals on the Persian Gulf nr Basra. Repairs were expected to take as
long as 10 days, but a coalition official says one of the pipes may be
fixed for exports to resume tomorrow. The attacks shut down oil
exports from the world's 2nd largest proven reserves and caused major
environmental damage, swamping the surrounding land with oil. Oil
exports account for 90% of Iraq's revenue.
Yukos ordered to repay $5 bn in taxes
Moscow. Russia's largest oil exporting company, Yukos, has been
ordered to pay back taxes of $5 bn. The case against Yukos is
believed to have been orchestrated by the Kremlin. Yukos has been
under investigation for nearly a y after the Tax Ministry found it
guilty of evading taxes worth $5 bn. Yukos has warned paying up could
force it into bankruptcy. However, it has been offered rare support
from Russian Pres Vladimir Putin, who says the govt will try to ensure
the company survives. Analysts say the Pres could just be hinting
that Yukos will be given time to pay the massive claim. Many in
Russia believe the case is part of a Kremlin campaign to increase its
control over Russia's oil assets. The company's founder and former
chief executive officer Mikhail Khodorkovsky is on trial, accused of
tax evasion and fraud.
US trade deficit explodes to record in 1st quarter
Washington (AFP). The broadest measure of the US trade deficit has
exploded to a record $US144.9 bn in the 1st quarter of 2004 as
Americans splurged on imports, govt data showed.
The shortfall on the current account -- tracking trade, income from
investments and foreign workers and one-way transfers -- grew 9.1%
from the previous quarter.
The gap easily surpassed the $US140 bn deficit predicted by private
economists.
"We are seeing imports being sucked in quite rapidly because of the
strength of US demand," BMO Financial Group snr economist Sal Guatieri said.
"It does not appear that the past depreciation of the USD has had much
impact in slowing the pace of imports, although it does seem to have
boosted exports somewhat."
A breakdown for the quarter showed:
The shortfall in trade of goods and services bulged 9.1% to $US136.9 bn.
The United States' surplus in income shrank 21.6% to $US12.7 bn.
One-way transfers resulted in a net outflow of $US20.6 bn, up 17.0%
from the previous quarter.
Super-low interest rates were stimulating demand, Mr Guatieri said.
"What needs to happen is interest rates need to get back to normal
levels in the US to slow the pace of domestic demand and import
growth," Mr Guatieri said.
Fed Open Market Committee (FOMC) policymakers are expected to raise
key short-term interest rates for the 1st time in 4 y, probably by
0.25 points, at a meeting Jun 29-30.
The fed funds target rate, which commercial banks charge each other
overnight, now stands at a 1958 low of 1% and the Fed Reserve has said it
must return to a more normal level.
US Fed Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan this wk said interest rate
increases should be "measured," although the bank stood ready to take
stiffer action if inflation became a major menace.
The dollar dropped after the data were released, pushing the euro up to
$1.2076 from $1.2045 a few minutes beforehand.
Robert Sinche, head of global currency strategy at Citigroup, said the
current account deficit was "highly likely" to reach a new record in
Q2, given that the Apr trade deficit hit a record $US48.3 bn.
Mr Sinche said there were signs the deficit may place an increasing
burden on the dollar.
Foreign demand for US company equities and bonds appeared to have
peaked in Feb, Mr Sinche said.
"Given our expectations for slowing GDP and profit growth, that slower
demand for corporate assets could persist," he said.
"At the same time, there is tentative evidence suggesting slowing
growth in foreign official demand for US Treasury/Agency securities."
Wells Fargo Banks chief economist Sung Won Sohn said the US needed to
attract about $US1.6 bn a day in foreign investment to fund the deficit.
"If it is perceived that the US is becoming a riskier investment, the
dollar would fall and interest rates would rise to make investments in
the US more attractive," he said.
"Although the dollar has weakened over the past year, it has not been
enough to deter foreign investment in US assets."
US stocks quiet ahead of key announcements
NY (Reuters). US stocks have advanced in a quiet session on Fri,
helped by stabilising oil prices. However a batch of key economic
reports due next wk and a Fed Reserve meeting at month's end kept a
lid on gains. The DJIA ended up 38 points, or 0.37%, at 10,416.
The Standard & Poor's 500 Index rose 3 points or 0.26% to 1,135,
based on the latest available data. The Nasdaq Composite Index closed up
3 points or 0.15%, at 1,986. For the week, the Dow edged up 0.06%,
while the S&P 500 dipped about 0.13% and the Nasdaq fell 0.66%.
Stocks end up; options, stable oil help
NY (Reuters). US stocks advanced in a quiet session on Fri, helped by
stabilising oil prices, but caution before a batch of key economic
reports next wk and a Fed Reserve meeting at month's end kept a lid on gains.
Alcoa Inc, the world's biggest aluminium producer, led the blue-chip
Dow's percentage gainers. Analysts said that weakness in the dollar,
following a report showing the US current account gap widened more
than forecast, boosted shares of Alcoa and other cyclical stocks.
Blackboard Inc topped%age gainers on the Nasdaq in its 1st day of
trading, a day after its initial public offering was priced. Shares of
Blackboard, an educational software company, at one point jumped more
than 60% -- the best debut by a technology company since Dec 2003.
The expiration of various derivatives contracts also helped gains,
traders said. Fri marked the expiration of 4 different types of
options and futures, an event that occurs once a quarter and can cause
volatility in trading.
The DJIA ended up 38.89 points, or 0.37%, at 10,416.41, while the
broader Standard & Poor's 500 Index added 2.95 points, or 0.26%, to
1,135.00. The Nasdaq Composite Index edged up 3.06 points, or 0.15%, to
1,986.73.
Still, trading floors were quiet, with many investors reluctant to buy
stocks ahead of the weekend, traders said.
Many investors are also waiting for data next wk on durable goods
orders, new home sales and other economic indicators for clues about
the size of a widely expected interest rate hike at the Fed's policy
meeting on Jun 29-30.
"Oil prices are higher, but I wouldn't say there's any big catalyst
today," said Neil Massa, an equity trader at John Hancock Advisors in
Boston. "Everyone's focused on the end of the m with the Iraqi
hand over and the Fed meeting, and no one's taking a stand one way or
another before then."
News that al Qaeda militants beheaded a US engineer, held hostage
since last wk after the Saudi govt failed to meet its demands to
release jailed militants, did not sway markets, traders said.
"It's horrible news, but the market hasn't given up any of its recent
gains. It's been very narrow. It hasn't had any impact on the market,"
said Michael O'Hare, head of block trading at Lehman Brothers.
For the week, the Dow edged up 0.06%, its 4th straight up week, while
the S&P 500 dipped 0.13% and the Nasdaq fell 0.66%.
Trading was active, with 1.5 bn shares changing hands on the NYSE,
above the 1.4 bn daily average for last y. About 1.69 bn shares were
traded on Nasdaq, matching last y's daily average.
On the economics front, the govt said the US current account deficit
widened more than expected in the 1st 3 m this y to a new record of
$144.9 bn, pushed by the growing gap between imports and exports. The
dollar fell against rival currencies after the report.
On the NYSE, Alcoa's stock jumped $1.23, or 3.93%, to $32.53, lifting
the Dow.
Viacom Inc shares rose, after the media company disclosed terms of the
anticipated split-off of its Blockbuster Inc movie rental business, a
move that is expected to generate $738 mn in cash.
Viacom shares rose 37 c, or 1%, to $37.03, while those of
Blockbuster shed 17 c, or 1.1%, to $15.22.
General Electric Co shares also rose, on news that GE and InVision
Technologies Inc tentatively agreed to settle lawsuits related to GE's
proposed acquisition of InVision, a security technology company.
2 lawsuits related to the deal have been consolidated under one lead
case, and if the court approves the settlement, the lawsuits will be
dismissed, InVision said.
GE shares rose 22 c, or 0.7%, to $32.58, while InVision shares
added 5 c, or 0.1%, to $49.85.
On Nasdaq, Blackboard's stock rose $6.01 to close at $20.01, up almost
43% from its IPO price of $14 a share. During the session, it hit a
high of $23.40 -- up 67%.
Fears about higher energy prices eased after an official said Iraq's
oil exports could resume on Sat, if test runs succeed on a S oil
pipeline, which had been damaged by sabotage.
On the NY Mercantile Exchange, crude prices were down for most of the
session. But the NYMEX Jul crude futures contract settled up 29 c at
$38.75/bbl, reflecting the market's skepticism over plans to resume
Iraqi exports this weekend.
Still, crude prices are down about 10% from their Jun 2 peak of
$42.45, the highest in the 21 y that oil futures have traded on the NYMEX.
WTO again finds US breaches trade rules
Vienna (Reuters). The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has again ruled
the US broke global trade rules by lavishing subsidies on its cotton
farmers, backing Brazil in a high-profile dispute with Washington, a
trade source said.
In a final verdict, which could have a big impact on free trade
negotiations underway in Geneva, the WTO reaffirmed an initial Apr
ruling that US policy seriously hurt Brazilian cotton producers, said
the source, who had had access to the confidential report.
"Basically, the conclusions have not changed at all," the source told
Reuters.
Thailand, which is the world's 3rd largest sugar exporter, and AUS,
the 4th largest exporter, were 3rd parties backing the Brazilian case.
There was no immediate reaction from Brazil, but the US, which insists
that its cotton policy is in line with WTO rules, said it would appeal
the ruling.
"We believe US farm programs were designed to be and are fully
consistent with our WTO obligations," US Trade Representative rep
Neena Moorjani said.
"We will appeal. We have serious concerns with aspects of the final
panel report," Ms Moorjani said without elaborating.
The lengthy decision, which was given only to the 2 sides, will not be
made public for wk but the result came as little surprise as the WTO
has never in its 9-y life overturned preliminary findings.
Reading a prepared statement, Ms Moorjani said that the entire question of
domestic agriculture supports should be addressed by global trade
negotiations under way at the WTO instead of through litigation.
"The best way to address any distortions in world agriculture markets is
through the WTO agriculture negotiations," she said.
Those talks are not expected to meet an end-of-y deadline for a deal, as
negotiators have not yet even been able to draft a broad outline
for reducing barriers to agriculture trade.
They hope to do so by Jul, before political events in the United
States and European Union could put talks on hold until next y.
In the meantime, Ms Moorjani said, "We... have no intention of
unilaterally disarming."
So confident was Brazil of victory that For Min Celso Amorim said
earlier this wk that the decision would "have an enormous political impact".
"There have already been positive reactions from [cotton] producers in
the developing countries," he told journalists at a conference of the
UN development agency UNCTAD in Brazil.
The WTO decision goes to the heart of the debate at troubled
negotiations to reform world farm trade, where angry poorer countries
argue the massive subsidies of their richer rivals depress prices and
keep them out of lucrative markets.
It will be particularly welcomed by W African producers such as Benin
and Chad. They have pleaded for their crop to be given special
consideration at Geneva talks on lowering barriers to farm trade
because of the heavy losses they have suffered.
Trade sources said in Apr that Brazil had successfully argued that the
United States had exceeded agreed subsidy limits for cotton, leading to
over-supply which in turn had helped depress world cotton prices.
In the 2001-2002 season alone the US paid out nearly $US4 bn in
subsidies to its 25,000 cotton farmers for a crop valued at only $US3
bn, trade sources said.
Brazil said that the ability of US farmers to sell cotton cheaply,
because of the subsidies, cost its producers $US600 mn in lost sales
during the 2001 marketing y alone.
It was the 1st time that a developing country had challenged the crop
support programmes of a big trade power, and analysts and diplomats
said that other cases could follow.
"Hopefully, this ruling will open the floodgates for similar cases
that could stop rich countries subsidising their farmers at the
expense of farmers in some of the world's poorest countries," the
relief agency ActionAid said in a statement.
The EU, another big user of farm subsidies, is already under attack
from Brazil, AUS and Thailand, all major sugar exporters, over the
massive assistance it gives its sugar beet growers in a case that
could be decided this summer.
Anthrax kills elephant, more may be infected
Dhaka (Reuters). Deadly anthrax has killed one elephant and might
have infected more in south eastern Bangladesh, veterinarians said
today. Officials in the Chittagong Hill Tracts said they were taking
measures to stop the spread of the disease which can infect humans.
The disease might have infected other elephants and wild animals in
the 14,200 square km hill tracts, said Mohammad Hafizur Rahman, deputy
commissioner of Bandarban district. "Veterinarians are planning to
adopt effective measures to stop the spread of the disease," he said.
The area is home to 400 wild elephants, including 100 believed to have
migrated from forests in Burma and India.
India, Pakistan gear up for historic nuclear security talks
New Delhi (AFP). 2 y after lurching towards war, rivals India and
Pakistan come together this weekend to discuss ways to reduce such
potentially cataclysmic risks.
High-ranking officials from Pakistan have arrived in India and said
they planned to go into the talks with an open mind.
"We have a responsibility as responsible nuclear states and so we have
come here with a positive spirit and we look forward to a
result-oriented outcome," Pakistani delegation chief Tariq Usman
Haider said.
Highly-placed Indian govt sources said one of the issues in the
upcoming talks would be a proposal of a hotline between the nuclear
command-and-control centres of the 2 nations.
"The hotline could be in addition to a separate and dedicated
communication line between the 2 sides," an Indian official said.
Anti-nuclear activists are however demanding that both sides agree to
dismantle warheads from missiles and that the rivals institute
safeguards against accidental use of their weapons of mass destruction.
The former govt of Hindu nat'list premier Atal Behari Vajpayee
conducted nuclear weapons tests in May 1998, prompting Pakistan to
carry out tit-for-tat tests a few days later, which drew a slew of
US-led sanctions against both countries.
The 2 S Asian neighbours, who have fought 3 wars since 1947, have
refused to endorse nuclear non-proliferation treaties.
AUS to commit to US missile defence program
Canberra. AUS will formally commit to the US missile defence program,
known as "Son of Star Wars", next m when it signs a memorandum of
understanding at the AUS-US Minial Consultations (AUSMIN), in America.
Defence Min Robert Hill says the memorandum will provide a 25-y
framework under which broad areas of cooperation are agreed.
Mr Hill says one of the 1st projects will include investigating the
potential of AUS's over the horizon radar technology in missile defence.
AUS's new air warfare naval destroyers will be equipped with radars
that can also detect ballistic missiles, which could provide early
warning of an attack.
At an Asia-Pacific defence ministers' meeting in Singapore earlier
this m, US Def Sec Donald Rumsfeld and Sen Hill also said an
in-principle agreement on a base in Qld or the Northern Territory
could be signed next m.
Sen Hill said the joint facility would not have a permanent deployment of US
troops or equipment and that most of the cost will be carried by Washington.
The US already has a heavy involvement in AUS through the Pine Gap spy
base, nr Alice Springs, regular visits by Navy ships and training exercises.
PM John Howard is one of Pres George W Bush's staunchest supports over
the war in Iraq.
AUS is also a member of the US-led program to block the trade in
missiles and WMD through the interception of ships and aircraft around
the world and has signed up to buy the next-generation Joint Strike Fighter.
Putin says Russia gave US intel on Iraq
Astana, Kazakhstan (AP). Russian Pres Vladimir Putin said Fri his
govt warned Washington that Saddam Hussein's regime was preparing
attacks in the US and its interests abroad -- an assertion that
appears to bolster Pres Bush's contention that Iraq was a threat.
Putin emphasised that the intel didn't cause Russia to waver from its
firm opp'n to the US-led war last y, but his statement was the 2nd
this m in which he has offered at least some support for Bush on Iraq.
"After Sep 11, 2001, and before the start of the military operation in
Iraq, the Russian special services ... received info that officials
from Saddam's regime were preparing terrorist attacks in the US and
outside it against the US military and other interests," Putin said.
"Despite that info ... Russia's position on Iraq remains unchanged," he
said in the Kazakh capital, Astana, after regional economic and
security summits. He said Russia didn't have any info that Saddam's
regime had actually been behind any terrorist acts.
"It's one thing to have info that Saddam's regime is preparing
terrorist attacks, [but] we didn't have info that it was involved in
any known terrorist attacks," he said.
Putin didn't elaborate on any details of the alleged plots or mention
whether they were tied to al-Qaeda. He said Bush had personally
thanked one of the leaders of Russia's intel agencies for the info but
that he couldn't comment on how critical it was in the US decision to
invade Iraq.
In Washington, a US official said Putin's info did not add to what the
US already knew about Saddam's intentions.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Putin's tip
didn't give a time or place for a possible attack.
Bush alleged Thu that Saddam had "numerous contacts" with al-Qaeda and
said Iraqi agents had met with the terror network's leader, Osama bin
Laden, in Sudan.
Saddam "was a threat because he had terrorist connections -- not only
al-Qaeda connections, but other connections to terrorist organisations,"
Bush said.
However, a commission investigating the Sep 11 attacks reported this wk
that while there were contacts between al-Qaeda and Iraq, they did
not appear to have produced "a collaborative relationship."
Also Thu, a top Russian diplomat called for internat'l inspectors to
resolve conclusively the question of whether Iraq had any WMD.
"This problem must be resolved ... because to a great extent it became
the pretext for the start of the war against Iraq," the Interfax news
agency quoted Deputy For Min Yuri Fedotov as saying. He said such a
finding would allow the UN Sec Council to "finally close the dossier on
Iraqi weapons."
In the wake of the invasion of Iraq, Putin sharply rebuked the US for
going to war despite opp'n within the UN Sec Council and said the
threat posed to internat'l security by the war was greater than that
posed by Saddam.
But Putin's relationship with Bush is warm by the accounts of both
leaders, and last wk he said he has no patience for those who
criticise Bush on Iraq.
"I don't pay attention to such publications," Putin said of media
criticism of Bush at the end of the Group of 8 summit in the US,
according to the ITAR-Tass news agency.
Putin said opponents who criticise Bush on Iraq "don't have any kind
of moral right. ... They conducted exactly the same kind of policy in
Yugoslavia."
Russia vehemently opposed the NATO bombing attacks on Yugoslavia in
1999, which the US pushed for under Pres Clinton.
Russian "warning" on Saddam puzzles US
Washington (Reuters). The US State Dept expressed bafflement after
Russian Pres Vladimir Putin said on Fri that his country had warned
the United States after the Sep 11, 2001 attacks that Iraq's Saddam
Hussein planned to hit targets on US soil.
The State Dept said say they knew of no such info from Russia.
Mr Putin said Russian intel had been told on several occasions that
Saddam's special forces were preparing to attack US targets inside and
outside the US.
"After the events of Sep 11, 2001, and before the start of the military
operation in Iraq, Russian special services several times received
info that the official services of the Saddam regime were preparing
'terrorist acts' on the US and beyond its borders," he told reporters.
"This info was passed on to our American colleagues."
He added, however, that Russian intel had no proof that Saddam's
agents had been involved in any particular attack.
State Dept rep Adam Ereli told reporters he did not know anything
about the info that Mr Putin said Russia passed on, saying no such
info was communicated from Russia through the State Dept.
"Everybody's scratching their heads," one State Dept official said,
who asked not to be named.
The Kremlin leader's comments seemed certain to bolster Mr Bush, whose
campaign for re-election in Nov is under pressure from the Iraq crisis.
Mr Bush has been on the defensive at home for insisting -- against the
findings of an independent commission -- that Saddam had links with Al
Qaeda, the group behind the 2001 airline attacks in the US that killed
nearly 3,000 people and prompted the US war on terrorism.
Mr Putin's remarks were all the more unusual since Russia had
diplomatic relations with Saddam's Iraq and sided with France and
Germany in opposing the invasion.
It is not the 1st time that Mr Putin, who has forged a strong personal
bond with Mr Bush despite opposing him diplomatically over Iraq, has
come to his defence on the issue.
At a summit of G8 world industrialised powers at the US resort of Sea
Island last week, where he met Mr Bush separately, Mr Putin stepped
into the US campaign by chastising US Democrats for attacking the
Republican president on Iraq.
Intel reports of a link between Saddam and Al Qaeda were part of
Bush's rationale for the invasion of Iraq where more than 830 US
soldiers have died after 14 m of violence.
Halliburton fires 2 consultants
Houston (AP). Halliburton Co has fired a 2 consultants -- one of whom
was also the retired chairman -- of a subsidiary under investigation
for alleged involvement in paying $US180 mn [$A264.92 mn] in bribes to
get a natural gas project contract in Nigeria.
The Houston-based oil services conglomerate announced Fri it is
"terminating all relationships" with consultant A Jack Stanley, who
retired in Dec 2003 as chairman of subsidiary KBR, formerly known as
Kellogg, Brown & Root. The company also said another consultant and
former employee of MW Kellogg, Ltd, a joint venture in which KBR has a
55% interest, has been fired. The individual was not identified.
Halliburton terminated the pair because of violations of codes of
business conduct "that, to Halliburton's knowledge, involve the
receipt by these persons of improper personal benefits," the company
said without elaboration.
Evidence of the violations emerged from the company's internal probe
into the bribery allegations.
"It is important to the company that clients, suppliers and host
countries know that Halliburton's code of business conduct is expected to be
followed in every country in which the company operates," said
Dave Lesar, Halliburton's chairman, president and chief executive.
The allegations centre on a contract for a $4 bn Nigerian liquefied
natural gas plant awarded in 1995 to 4 partners: MW Kellogg Co, a
subsidiary of Dresser Industries; Technip SA of France; ENI SpA of
Italy; and Japan Gasoline Corp Halliburton refers to the consortium as TSKJ.
Stanley served in several management positions since joining
M.W. Kellogg in 1975, Halliburton said.
Halliburton acquired Dresser in 1998 and combined its Brown & Root
subsidiary with M.W. Kellogg Co to form KBR.
The alleged bribes were made to Nigerian officials from 1995 -- 3 y
before Halliburton acquired Dresser -- through 2002. Other contracts on
the Nigerian plant to the consortium followed in 1999 and 2002.
VP Dick Cheney was head of Halliburton from 1995 through 2000, when he
resigned to be Pres George W Bush's running mate.
Halliburton said the company is continuing its internal probe of the
alleged bribes in addition to cooperating with investigations under
way by the Justice Dept and the Securities and Exchange Commission. A
French magistrate and Nigerian officials also are investigating the matter.
Imelda asks court to ban documentary
Manila (Reuters). Former Philippines 1st lady Imelda Marcos has
complained that a documentary she is trying to have banned had made a
joke of her life. She spoke as a court battle began over the
award-winning film.
Making her 1st public appearance in support of a petition to stop the
film's screening, the 74-yo widow of dictator Ferdinand Marcos
expressed deep hurt over what she said was the documentary's failure to
show the couple in a serious light.
"They wanted to make a big joke in our life," she said.
"My life has been so committed to God, country and people and yet they
seemed to make a joke of it."
The 100 minute film, Imelda, has won favourable reviews and first
prize at the Sundance Film Festival, but upset Imelda by hinting that
she and Ferdinand amassed illegal wealth during a 2 decade reign that
ended in 1986 amid huge anti-govt protests.
It is due to open in Philippine cinemas on Jul 7.
"After seeing the film, I threw the disk into the trash can because it
was not only taking away the truth, it wanted to take away our
dignity," Ms Marcos said.
Ms Marcos, famous for her huge shoe collection, can only leave the
country with special permission because she faces dozens of criminal
charges and civil lawsuits over reports that the 1st couple stole more
than $US5 bn, but has never been convicted.
Japan cabinet okays joining Iraq multinat'l force
Tokyo (Reuters/Navhind Times). The cabinet decided today that Japan
should take part in a multinat'l force in Iraq despite criticism from
the Opp'n and some media that the govt had rushed to make the move,
which they argued violated the pacifist Constitution.
The decision to have Japanese non-combat troops already deployed in
Iraq participate in the multinat'l force is certain to be hotly
debated ahead of next m's election for Parliament's upper House.
The cabinet backed the PM, Mr Junichiro Koizumi's plan to maintain the
military in Iraq after the hand over of power to an interim Iraqi govt on
Jun 30.
The top govt rep said Japanese troops would stick to their current
reconstruction and humanitarian activities and would not engage in
combat even after joining the multinat'l force, whose main aim is to
keep the peace in Iraq.
"It is extremely important for the self-defence forces [military] to
continue with their mission as part of our country's support of the
reconstruction of Iraq," the chief cabinet secretary, Mr Hiroyuki
Hosoda told reporters.
"They will just carry on with what they've been doing."
But there are concerns that by joining the US-led multinat'l force,
Japanese troops would find themselves involved in combat, which is
banned by the Constitution.
The UN resolution authorising the multinat'l force says it will be
under a unified command, but Japanese officials have said Tokyo will
maintain its own chain of command.
"It is said that the US and Brit have acknowledged that the
self-defence forces would be under Japanese command, but how would
that be guaranteed in actual operations?" the liberal Asahi Shimbun
daily asked in an editorial today.
Mr Koizumi, who last wk told US Pres, Mr George W Bush of Tokyo's
intention to take part in the multinat'l force, has come under fire
for not explaining the decision to the public. The Opp'n has attacked
the PM for not debating the issue in Parliament, and waiting for its
session to end on Wed before the cabinet made a formal decision.
In an editorial titled: "That's all the explanation?" Tokyo Shimbun
criticised Mr Koizumi for making such a significant change of policy
without explaining his decision to the people or the Opp'n parties.
Japan has never taken part in such a multinat'l operation outside of a
UN force, as its military is banned from using force overseas. It
normally only participates in UN-authorised peace-keeping operations
where there is an agreed cease-fire.
Japan enacted a special law last Jul allowing its military to engage in
reconstruction and humanitarian activities in "non-combat" zones
within Iraq, and has sent some 550 troops to S Iraq.
Opp'n and even some ruling party lawmakers have said the govt should
revise the law if Japan were to take part in the multinat'l force,
rather than leaving it for the cabinet to decide.
Countering such criticism, Mr Koizumi has said he will explain his
decision directly to the people in the campaign for the Jul 11 upper
House election.
Canada turns down US request to delay troops' departure from Afghanistan
Washington (CP). Canada has turned down a request from the US State
Dept to delay withdrawing its 2,000 troops from Afghanistan this summer.
Americans, worried about potential violence during Afghan elections
this fall, wanted Canadians to act as a rapid reaction force and stay
put past their scheduled departure this summer. "This started 2 or 3 wk
ago," said Darren Gibb, rep for the Defence Dept in Ottawa.
"What the Americans are looking for is not exactly what our troops are
trained to do," he said Fri.
"A determination has been made that we're going to rotate our troops back."
Canada has made up about 40% of the NATO -led forces of the Internat'l
Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. The 2,000 soldiers will
depart at staggered times from the end of Jul through mid-Aug.
They will be replaced by Europeans. Canada will rotate into the
country up to 700 armoured reconnaissance squad troops in Sep with
another 200 soldiers for air support, said Gibb.
US officials are expected to apply more pressure on Canada and other
NATO countries during the alliance's annual meeting Jun 28 in Istanbul.
Gibb didn't want to speculate about whether Canada's decision could change.
"The picture is pretty clear. We fulfilled our commitment. As of
today, there's no intention to change that position."
The US govt has made no secret of its desire to see Canada stay. The
State Dept's Afghanistan co-ordinator, William Taylor, recently told
the Middle E Institute that it would be a good idea if Canada could
stay an extra month.
"It would be good, we're suggesting, if the Canadians could stay on an
extra month, if the Europeans could get there on time in Aug, so that in
Sep you'd have an overlap," said Taylor.
"In Sep you'd have, therefore, nearly double the number of troops you
would otherwise have."
Gibb said Foreign Affairs officials responded to the US request after
consulting the Defence Dept.
"We talk regularly to Canada and our other NATO allies about how to
best provide support, although formal requests and decisions on troops
and requirements rest with NATO," said State Dept rep Jay Greer.
Question of credibility: Bush, Cheney still insist Iraq linked to al-Qaeda
Op/Ed (Register/Guard). The commission staff investigating the
Sep 11, 2001, attacks stated Wed that it found "no credible
evidence" of cooperation between Iraq and al-Qaeda targeting the US -- or
any other collaboration between Saddam Hussein and Osama bin
Laden's terror network.
The findings, which contradict one of the Bush Admin's justifications
for invading Iraq, were the most complete and authoritative to
date. Despite Whitehouse stonewalling, the panel's staff ended up with
access to all critical classified info. At Wed's hearing, high-level
FBI and CIA officials concurred with the conclusion. Yet the Admin
brazenly continues to assert that there was a collaborative
relationship between Saddam's regime and the terrorist network
responsible for the Sep 11 attacks.
As recently as Mon, VP Dick Cheney proclaimed that Saddam "had
long-standing ties with al-Qaeda." Asked the next day about Cheney's
remarks, Bush said he supported them.
Instead of continuing to mislead the American people, Bush and Cheney
should acknowledge that they were wrong in insisting, both before and
after last y's invasion, that Iraq had ties to al-Qaeda.
That's not likely to happen. Bush and Cheney have repeatedly proven in
Iraq that they have difficulty with the "truth thing." The Admin's
approach to the truth on Iraq has often been to state the opposite and
then keep stating it -- even in the face of overwhelming evidence to
the contrary.
Long after it became clear that Iraq's weapons programs had been shut
down and that Saddam was militarily impotent, the Admin continued to
insist he had been stockpiling weapons of mass destruction.
Now, the panel's staff has concluded there is no evidence that Iraq
had ties to al-Qaeda. Yet Bush and Cheney continue to insist that it did.
Admin officials correctly observe that postwar Iraq has become a
hotbed of terrorism. But that's a result of Bush's ill-advised and
ill-timed war, which has galvanised radicals throughout the Middle E
and opened up a new front in their holy war against America.
It's not because Saddam was playing footsie with Osama bin Laden
before the war.
If the American people had known the truth -- that Saddam had no WMD
and no ties to Sep 11, it's doubtful the president could have
persuaded them or Congress to support an invasion of Iraq. Yet the
president and vice president continue to distort the truth.
The Admin's kinder critics have suggested that Bush and Cheney
actually believe what they're saying, that they're victims of bad
intel. But make no mistake -- they know the truth.
On Tue, Bush had the temerity to suggest that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a
Jordanian-born terrorist believed to be operating in Iraq, was
evidence of that connection. Yet CIA Director George Tenet told the
Senate earlier this y that his agency had determined that Zarqawi did
not work with Saddam's regime.
Bush and Cheney know the truth. They're just hoping that a majority of
American voters don't figure it out before Nov.
Panel's findings suggest flawed justifications for Iraq war
Op/Ed (USA Today). Flash back to March 2003. The attack on al-Qaeda's
Afghanistan bases is over, and the start of the Iraq war is less than
a wk away. If polls are to be believed, the 2 invasions are fused in
the public mind -- a seamless response to the still-vivid 9/11
terrorist attacks. A USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll found that an
overwhelming 88% of the public believed Saddam Hussein supported
terrorist groups that had plans to attack the USA.
Now that appears to be untrue.
On Wed, the bipartisan commission investigating 9/11 said it found no
credible evidence that Iraq and al-Qaeda "cooperated on attacks"
against the USA. While al-Qaeda tried to build a relationship, the
panel's staff said, Iraq never responded.
The disclosure prompted presumptive Democratic presidential nominee
John Kerry to charge that Pres Bush had led the nation to war on false
pretences -- as serious an accusation as a candidate can level. The
Whitehouse counter-attacked, saying the Admin had never claimed a
direct link between Saddam and 9/11. Further, it said, evidence of
contact between the 2 organisations cited by the commission was reason
enough to act.
Cut away all of the political manoeuvring, and the truth is this:
The Admin's case for going to war did not rest solely on the terrorist
link. More weighty were its assertions that Saddam possessed WMD and
that he was defying the UN and violating agreements that ended the
Persian Gulf War.
The Admin did not assert that Saddam was involved in 9/11.
But Pres Bush and VP Cheney did repeatedly claim that Saddam was tied to
al-Qaeda. Before, during and after the war -- in fact, as recently as
this wk -- they used that link to justify the Iraq war.
The claim -- always in question -- now appears highly unlikely. And
that, combined with the surprising failure to turn up any weapons of
mass destruction, casts the basis of the Admin's decision to go to war
into grave doubt.
Cheney linked Saddam to al-Qaeda as early as Dec 2001, when he pointed to a
meeting between lead hijacker Mohamed Atta in Prague, Czech
Republic, and a snr Iraqi intel official a few months before the 9/11
attacks. But the 9/11 panel's staff said it doesn't believe the
meeting ever took place.
In the lead-up to the war, Bush himself spoke of Saddam's links to
al-Qaeda. In a Feb. 8, 2003, radio address, he talked of 8 meetings
since the early 1990s between Iraqi intel and al-Qaeda, as well as
Iraqi aid to the terror group. The commission's staff said that while
al-Qaeda had contacts with Iraq, the contacts didn't appear to result in
any "collaborative relationship."
In Sep 2003, Cheney again implied an Iraq link to 9/11. He called Iraq
the "geographic base of the terrorists who had us under assault now
for many years, but most especially on 9/11." A few days later, Bush
contradicted Cheney. "We've had no evidence that Saddam Hussein was
involved with" the 9/11 plot, Bush said. Yet, just this week, Cheney
again insisted that Saddam "had long-established ties with al-Qaeda."
Even a day after the commission's report, the Admin was struggling to
present any hard evidence to support its claims of Saddam links to al-Qaeda.
That does not necessarily prove that the Admin aimed to deceive, as
Kerry implied. But it does argue strongly that one Admin justification
for war is severely flawed.
It's important, however, to separate the reality of pre-war Iraq from
the reality today. Whether the war was justified or not, post-war Iraq
most certainly has become a front in the war on terrorism. That is
evident in the headlines every day. Were the US to abandon Iraq to
chaos, civil war or hostile control, parts of it undoubtedly would
provide shelter for terrorists.
The question that lingers is whether the war, in the end, will have
snuffed out a terrorist threat or created one. That answer will depend on
actions not yet taken -- and on a more accurate assessment of the
threat than existed before the war began.
Bush gets boost from McCain on Iraq
Fort Lewis, Wash (AP). Before cheering troops, Pres Bush got a strong
endorsement on Iraq and a boost for his re-election campaign Fri from
Sen John McCain, the Arizona Republican courted by Democrat John Kerry to be
his running mate.
Bush seemed to relish keeping McCain, his one-time rival for the
presidency, out of Kerry's corner.
"Both candidates in this race are honoured to be a friend of John
McCain," Bush said at a campaign rally in Nevada. "Only one of us gets
his vote. And I am proud that it is me."
McCain issued dire warnings about the threat from terrorists and
backed the war to oust Saddam Hussein in words matching the starkest
language Bush and VP Dick Cheney have employed. The support from
McCain came as the president is trying to counter rising questions
about the invasion.
"Should the enemy acquire for their arsenal the chemical, biological
and nuclear weapons they seek, this war [on terrorism] will become an
even bigger thing: It will become a fight for survival," McCain told
1000s of GIs at the Army base here. "That's why your courage is so
indispensable to us."
Bush sat just behind McCain on a stage erected in an aircraft hangar,
basking in the endorsement from his fierce opponent for the 2000 GOP
presidential nomination. They seemed determined to project unity,
heaping praise on each other with no mention of the bitter contest.
The president said of McCain, who spent 5 1/2 y in a Vietnamese POW
camp: "When he speaks of service and sacrifice, he speaks from
experience. ... The US military has no better friend in the US Senate
than John McCain."
McCain said of Bush: "He has not wavered in his determination to
protect this country and to make the world a better, safer, freer
place. You will not yield, nor will he."
McCain said 26 soldiers from this base have died in recent combat;
Bush met with some of their families after the speeches, and with
wounded GIs.
He offered similar praise for the Iraq war and for Bush Fri evening in
Reno, Nev, at the Bush campaign rally.
"I believe just as strongly as when we began our efforts there, this
was noble, achievable and necessary," McCain told several thousand
Bush backers. "And for his determination to undertake this task, for
his unflagging resolve to see it through to the just end we see, he
deserves not only our support but our admiration."
McCain has criticised Bush on certain issues -- including tax cuts,
the environment and Medicare -- and has said more troops are needed in
Iraq. He also has declined to join other Senate Republicans in
criticising Kerry, a friend, and has even defended Kerry over his
defence record.
But Bush and McCain have sought a broader political detente,
cooperating when it benefited both men. Earlier this y, Bush named
McCain to the commission investigating intel used to justify the Iraq war.
For Bush, McCain's vigorous defence of the war was a welcome rebuttal to a
report this wk that called into question a central pillar of the
case for war.
The independent commission investigating the Sep 11 attacks undercut
the Admin's insistent claims of a link between Saddam Hussein and
al-Qaeda. That comes on top of the Admin's failure to find any WMD in Iraq.
In Nevada, Bush trumpeted his Admin's efforts to clean up Lake Tahoe,
but steered clear of a hot Nevada topic on which he has taken an
unpopular stance.
Bush backs a nuclear waste dump 145 km NW of Las Vegas, at Yucca
Mountain. Democrats cast that as a broken promise because as a
candidate in 2000, Bush had promised to wait for "sound science"
before making his decision on the dump. Yet, dozens of scientific
studies remain incomplete.
Terry McAuliffe, Democratic Nat'l Committee chairman, said Bush "lied to
the citizens of Nevada and he did it for partisan political gain."
About 600 people demonstrated against Bush outside the convention
hall, many of them drawn by the chance to air their opp'n to the dump.
Many others opposed the war in Iraq and carried signs promoting Kerry.
One protester held a sign that read, "Send Bush and nuclear waste to Texas!"
Deadline nears for US hostage in Saudi
Riyadh (AFP). There was no word today on whether Saudi security
forces were nearer to locating a US hostage threatened with execution,
despite intensive searches in Riyadh as the clock ticked to an
overnight deadline by his Al Qaeda kidnappers.
After Paul Johnson's son went on US television to urge the Saudi govt to
strike a last minute deal with the captors, his Thai wife appeared on
Saudi-owned Arab satellite TV to plead tearfully for her husband's release.
The aeronautics engineer with top US defence contractor Lockheed
Martin was working, apparently on a contract basis, with a Saudi
electronics firm.
Asked whether he favoured the militants being released, Mr Johnson's
son, Paul Marshall Johnson III, told NBC television: "Yes, I would, I
don't want to comment on it, I just want my father home."
"I just really think the Saudi govt will do whatever it takes for my
father's safe return home, and I know they got many people working on
this and they're not sitting, doing nothing," he said.
The US embassy said it was in close contact with Saudi authorities
over the Johnson case, but Vice Pres Dick Cheney said that Washington as a
"general proposition" does not negotiate with hostage takers.
US hostage beheaded in Saudi Arabia
Riyadh (AFP/Reuters). American hostage Paul Marshall Johnson has been
beheaded by the Al Qaeda gunmen who were holding him captive in Saudi
Arabia, the US embassy in Riyadh has confirmed.
An Islamic website carried 3 pictures, including images of the victim
with his head cut off and placed on his back, and a statement
announcing the execution.
US Pres George W Bush sharply condemned the beheading but vowed that
"America will not retreat" in the face of such attacks.
Latest reports say the body of the 49-yo has been found in the Saudi
capital.
A Saudi website, al Wifaq, said Marshall's body was found in the
Mowansiyah area, E of the capital Riyadh.
* Website claim
Last week, a group calling itself "Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula"
posted a video on a website threatening to kill Mr Johnson unless the
Saudi govt freed detained militants within 72 hr.
"As we promised the mujahideen, we have beheaded the American hostage
Paul Marshall after the deadline that the mujahideen gave to the
tyrannical Saudi govt passed," a statement signed by the group said on
the website.
The website showed 3 pictures of what appeared to be Johnson's severed
head -- one showed the bloodied head propped up on the back of a body in an
orange jumpsuit with a knife leaning on the face.
A 2nd picture showed a hand lifting up the head and a 3rd showed the
body and the head from a different angle.
Mr Johnson, 49, was an aeronautics engineer employed by US defence
contractor Lockheed Martin to equip Apache attack helicopters with
night vision technology.
The family of Mr Johnson remained behind closed doors after news broke of
his execution.
Relatives, who issued tearful pleas for Mr Johnson's safe return this
wk, had reportedly been informed of his death.
Mr Johnson's wife, a Thai nat'l who stayed in Riyadh after his
kidnapping, made a similarly emotional appeal on Arab satellite TV
before the execution deadline expired.
"I want him to come back to me. He didn't do anything wrong," she said.
Lockheed Martin said it was "very distressed" by the news.
"We are very saddened, very distressed to hear the news of Paul
Johnson and his tragic and senseless death," Lockheed rep Tom
Jurkowsky said.
"We are very discouraged, very disheartened by the news."
* Terror tactics
Militant attacks have rocked the world's biggest oil exporter for more
than a y but Mr Johnson's kidnapping was the 1st of its kind in Saudi
Arabia and raised concerns over a new tactic by militants.
Saudi forces killed 3 wanted militant suspects in Riyadh, Al-Arabiya
television said on Fri.
2 Americans and an Irish television cameraman have been shot dead in
Riyadh this m.
Mr Johnson's kidnapping was the 1st of its kind in Saudi Arabia and
raised concerns over a new tactic by militants.
The statement warned other Americans would meet a similar fate if they
went to Saudi Arabia.
"This is God's voice rising in anger...at the treatment of Muslims in
Abu Ghraib, al-Hair, Guantanamo, Ruwais and others," the statement
added, referring to US military prisons in Iraq and Cuba and 2 Saudi prisons.
The statement said Al Qaeda had killed him because of "what Muslims
have suffered from American Apache planes and their rockets".
Fallujah, whose name appears in the signature of the group, is a Sunni
Muslim city in Iraq where US troops fought insurgents in Apr and May.
"This act is to heal the hearts of believers in Palestine,
Afghanistan, Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula," the group said.
"This is so that he can taste what Muslims have suffered from Apache
planes and their rockets. The slain American parasite was working on
their maintenance and developing their systems in Saudi Arabia," the
statement said.
"We, by the will of God, will continue to fight the enemies of
God...This act is revenge against them and will be a lesson so that
they can be sure of the fate of those who come to our country."
Saudi says top Al Qaeda leader Muqrin killed
Riyadh (Reuters). Saudi security forces killed the kingdom's top al
Qaeda leader Abdulaziz al-Muqrin and 2 other militants on Fri shortly
after the group beheaded US engineer Paul Johnson, a senior security
source said.
"Yes it is correct, he [Muqrin] was killed with 2 other snr militants,"
the source told Reuters. He said Muqrin was one of 3 militants killed in
the al-Malazz area of the capital, Riyadh, in a shootout.
Muqrin claimed responsibility for the beheading of Johnson and the
killing of other Westerners in the kingdom, which has battled Osama
bin Laden's group for over a year.
Al Arabiya TV said another militant had been arrested in the massive
security operation in the al-Malazz area.
The source said Muqrin and his men were killed while they were trying to
dispose of Johnson's body. He said forces had combed 4 Riyadh areas
before honing in on a building where the militants were holed up.
Arabiya TV showed footage of police cars and crowds in Malazz, a
middle class residential area of the capital.
Muqrin, a hardened militant driven by revenge and hatred for the US and
pro-American Arab rulers, was Saudi Arabia's most wanted al Qaeda leader.
He was a veteran of Bosnia's 1992-95 war between Muslims, Serbs and
Croats and Islamist militant expert Mohsen al-Awajy said he was also
one of a hit squad that tried to kill Egyptian Pres Hosni Mubarak in
Ethiopia in 1995.
Muqrin spent 2 y in jail in Ethiopia before he was extradited to Saudi
Arabia in 1998. He served 2 y at a jail and was subjected to
"intolerable torture," Awajy said.
Al Qaeda chief killed after US contractor beheaded
US hostage Paul Johnson has been beheaded by Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia.
Riyadh (Reuters). The leader of an Al Qaeda group in Saudi Arabia
which beheaded American hostage Paul Johnson has been killed in a
shootout with security forces as he tried to dispose of the body,
Saudi officials said.
Abdulaziz al Muqrin's Islamist group displayed photographs of the
49-yo aviation engineer's severed head on a website.
Shortly afterwards, as Muqrin and 2 other top militants deposited the
body in the capital Riyadh, they were surrounded by Saudi security men
and gunned down, a security source said.
Muqrin, a young man driven by revenge and hatred for the US and its
Arab allies, was Saudi Arabia's most wanted Al Qaeda leader.
Brothers Bandar and Faisal Abdul Rahman al-Dakheel, who figured on a
most-wanted list, were also shot dead.
Mr Johnson was the 3rd American killed in Riyadh in the past 10 days,
stepping up pressure on 1000s of US citizens and other foreigners
vital to the economy of the world's biggest oil exporter and on the
Saudi royal family, which bin Laden has sworn to overthrow for its
close alliance with Washington.
Pres George W Bush and his top aides vowed on Fri that the beheading of an
American contractor in Saudi Arabia by "extremist thugs" would
only strengthen US resolve in the war on terror.
"They killed him in cold blood," US Pres George W Bush said after
hearing of the killing.
"They're trying to shake our will; they're trying to get us to retreat
from the world. America will not retreat. America will not be
intimidated by these kinds of extremist thugs," he told reporters
while travelling in Seattle.
"The murder... shows the evil nature of the enemy we face. These are
barbaric people. There's no justification whatsoever for his murder,
yet they killed him in cold blood."
Mr Bush was speaking before reports from Saudi Arabia that the leader of
the kidnappers had been killed by Saudi security forces while
trying to dispose of Mr Johnson's body.
The US embassy said more attacks were likely and the State Dept was to
issue a new warning to Americans across the Middle E after urging many to
leave Saudi Arabia this wk.
* Shocking photographs
The website showed 3 pictures of what appeared to be Johnson's severed
head -- one showed the bloodied head propped up on the back of a body in an
orange, US prison-style, jumpsuit with a knife leaning on the
mustachioed face.
A 2nd picture showed a hand lifting up the head and a 3rd showed the
body and the head from a different angle.
Militant attacks have been afflicting the birthplace of Islam for more
than a y but Mr Johnson's kidnapping was the 1st of its kind in Saudi
Arabia and raised concerns over a new tactic by militants.
"As we promised, the mujahideen, we have beheaded the American hostage
Paul Marshall after the deadline that the mujahideen gave to the
tyrannical Saudi govt passed," his Fallujah Brigade of the
Organisation of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula said on its website,
using Mr Johnson's 1st names.
2 other Americans and an Irish television cameraman have been shot
dead in Riyadh this m.
Beheading prisoners or cutting their throats has been a shock tactic
among Al Qaeda militants for some time -- American Nick Berg was
filmed as he was killed in Iraq last month, as was Wall Street Journal
reporter Daniel Pearl in Pakistan in 2002.
Like Mr Johnson, his captors dressed Mr Berg in orange, like that worn by
Al Qaeda suspects held by US forces at Guantanamo Bay.
Mr Johnson worked for defence contractor Lockheed Martin on the
manufacture of Apache helicopter gunships -- an employment that his
killers cited as justifying his selection for killing.
The statement said Al Qaeda had killed him because of "what Muslims
have suffered from American Apache planes and their rockets".
Fallujah, whose name appears in the group's signature, is a city in
Iraq where US troops have fought insurgents.
"This act is to heal the hearts of believers in Palestine,
Afghanistan, Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula," the group said, warning
other Americans they would meet the same fate.
"This is so that he can taste what Muslims have suffered from Apache
planes and their rockets. The slain American parasite was working on
their maintenance and developing their systems in Saudi Arabia," the
statement said.
4 bombs explode in Turkey
Istanbul (AP). Small bombs exploded outside 2 banks in Istanbul and
2 others in Turkey's third-largest city, slightly injuring 3 people,
officials said.
One person was slightly injured by flying glass following 2 blasts
that occurred within a half-hr of each other in 2 neighbourhoods on
the Asian side of Istanbul, police said.
Those blasts followed 2 similar explosions in the Aegean port city of
Izmir that shattered windows and slightly injured 2 others, local
officials said.
The bombs appeared primarily to be designed to make noise, rather than
cause serious damage, authorities said.
There were no immediate claims of responsibility. Militant Islamic,
Kurdish, and leftist groups are active in Turkey and have carried out
past attacks.
Istanbul is to host a NATO summit between Jun 28-29 that is to be
attended by US Pres George W Bush, Brit PM Tony Blair, German
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, French Pres Jacques Chirac and other
alliance leaders.
Security has been of special concern since 4 truck bombings blamed on
a Turkish al-Qaeda cell killed more than 60 people last y in Istanbul.
Suspicious white powder found in Athens rubbish bin
Athens (AFP). 3 Greek rubbish collectors have had brief respiratory
problems in Athens after a plastic bag containing an as yet
unidentified white powder burst in their vehicle's bucket. The powder
had been collected in the central Kallithea area, the Health Ministry
said. The symptoms had lessened by the time the 3 men went to a
hospital outside Athens for a check-up. One of them underwent X-ray
examination, which did not produce any "suspicious" results. None of
the workers were kept in hospital. The powder was being examined in a
laboratory, an official said. Greek authorities are on heightened
alert over possible terror attacks in view of the Athens Olympics to be
held in Aug.
Smokers, quit early to regain health
NY (Reuters). People who quit smoking before the age of 35 can
eventually live as long and healthy lives as people who never smoked,
a new study shows.
"If you quit by age 35, you avoid nearly all of the harm smoking has on
lifespan and quality of life," study author Dr Donald H Taylor,
Jr, told Reuters Health.
However, it takes time to regain that lost health, the report notes;
only people who had quit at least 15 y before the study began lived as
many y in good health as never-smokers.
Taylor also cautioned that people should not believe that it's okay to
smoke until you are 35. "The problem is that once you start [smoking], it is
hard to quit," he said.
In the report, Taylor and his co-author Dr Truls Ostbye, both at Duke
University in N Carolina, said that many people focus on how smoking
can kill, but less attention is paid to how smoking can affect your
quality of life, and cause you to live fewer y in good health.
To investigate, Taylor and Ostbye reviewed interviews collected from
middle-aged and older people, in which they were asked about their
health and smoking status. The more than 20,000 participants were then
re-contacted over several years, to see if their health had changed.
Research has shown that the way people describe their health predicts
their future health, so Taylor and Ostbye used participants'
estimations of their health to predict how many more years they would
live, and live in good health.
The investigators found that people who were smokers tended to lose
more y of healthy life than non-smokers. However, people who had quit
smoking at least 15 y before the 1st interview -- between the ages of
35 and 45 --tended to live as many y in good health as people who had
never smoked.
Smokers also appeared to live fewer y than non-smokers, regardless of
their health status, the authors report in the journal Health Services
Research.
Taylor explained that, in order to regain the health they had as
non-smokers, people need to butt out for good before they develop
health problems. "You can avoid most of the harm by quitting before
having a negative health event," Taylor said. "You can't wait until
you have a heart attack to quit and reap these benefits."
Taylor added that smokers may be more likely to quit, and people may be
less likely to never start smoking, if they hear more messages
about how the habit can hurt health.
"The message that smoking kills people is so common that it may not
have much impact. Perhaps we need to begin to focus on the
debilitating effects of smoking on quality of life," Taylor said.
US accused of using 13 secret prisons
NY. A human rights group has accused the US of holding prisoners
incommunicado at over a dozen secret off-shore locations around the
world. Human Rights First says the US govt has acknowledged the
existence of 17 prisons, but has failed to reveal the existence of 13
other jails. The group, formerly known as the Lawyers Committee for
Human Rights, says the secret prisons are located in Afghanistan,
Pakistan, Jordan, in the Indian Ocean Island of Diego Garcia while 2
are aboard US amphibious assault ships. Earlier, US Def Sec Donald
Rumsfeld admitted ordering the 7 m secret detention of an Iraqi
insurgent leader. Under the Geneva Convention, states are legally
obliged to reveal the identity of prisoners to the Internat'l Red Cross.
US holding 1000s in secret jails
Many detention centres 'fail to meet obligations under US law'
NY (Al-Jazeera). The US is holding 1000s of suspects at more than 2
dozen detention centres, half of which operate in secret, says a
leading US human-rights group.
The revelation comes as a CIA contractor is charged with assaulting an
Afghan detainee who later died of his injuries.
The secrecy surrounding the centres makes "inappropriate detention and
abuse not only likely, but inevitable", said the NY-based Human Rights
First in a report on Thu.
The centres are in Iraq, Cuba, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Jordan and on
2 US ships, said the human-rights group. They fail to meet
obligations under US and internat'l law on the treatment of prisoners,
said the report entitled Ending Secret Detention.
It was released on the same day that US Def Sec Donald Rumsfeld
acknowledged that the occupation authority had secretly held a
prisoner in Iraq and failed to register the detainee with the
Internat'l Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Rumsfeld refused to cite the reason for the secrecy, saying it was
classified. However, he denied it was done to prevent internat'l
monitors from gaining access to the suspect.
"The US govt is holding prisoners in a secret system of off-shore
prisons beyond the reach of adequate supervision, accountability or
law" Deborah Pearlstein,
Director of Human Rights First's US Law and Security Programme The
report's release also followed the publication of photos of the sexual
abuse and humiliation of Iraqi detainees at the hands of occupation
soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad and reports of abuse at
the US base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
"The abuses at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib cannot be addressed in
isolation," said Deborah Pearlstein, director of Human Rights First's
US Law and Security Programme.
"The US govt is holding prisoners in a secret system of off-shore
prisons beyond the reach of adequate supervision, accountability or law."
* Secret centres
Among the detention camps that the US govt refuses to disclose but
have been reported to Human Rights First by "multiple sources" are a
centre in Kohat, Pakistan, nr the Afghan border; al-Jafr Prison, a US
Central Intel Agency interrogation facility in Jordan; and a facility on
the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia.
The ships USS Bataan and USS Peleliu were also suspected detention
sites, said the report by the rights group.
* Secrecy makes detainee abuse 'not only likely but inevitable'
Most of the detention centres listed in the report were in Iraq,
including Abu Ghraib; Camp Cropper nr Baghdad Internat'l Airport; Camp
Bucca nr Basra; and 9 centres run by military division or brigades.
The report said suspected sites were also in Afghanistan, including
CIA interrogation facilities in Kabul and at Bagram Air Force Base.
The other sites are known, including a collection centre at Bagram; a
facility in Kandahar; the Guantanamo Bay base; and a US military brig in
Charleston, S Carolina.
Human Rights First called on Washington to end secret detentions;
notify the families of the detainees; investigate abuses; implement
preventative measures; release the location of the detention
facilities; and give the Red Cross immediate access to all detainees.
The Red Cross has been given access to some detainees, most notably
ousted Iraqi Pres Saddam Hussein.
* Interrogator charged
In related developments, a former Army Ranger hired by the CIA to
conduct interrogations was charged with assaulting an Afghan detainee
who died after 2 days of beatings, the 1st time civilian charges have
been brought in the investigation of prisoner abuse in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A 4-count grand jury indictment was handed up Thu in the US state of
N Carolina, against David Passaro, 38, for the 21 Jun 2003,
killing of Abd al-Wali.
A-G John Ashcroft said Passaro was accused of "brutally assaulting"
Wali at a US base in Asadabad, Afghanistan.
Asked why Passaro was not charged with torture or other more serious
offences, Ashcroft said the indictment was based on the best evidence
available. He said more serious charges could be brought if new
evidence is found.
Jordan denies it has US prisons on its territory
Amman (AFP). Jordan denied reports by a US-based human rights group
suggesting that it had a US-run detention centre on its territory.
"There are no American detention centres in Jordan," govt rep Asma
Khodr told AFP.
"The report carried by Human Rights First is totally unfounded," she said.
The human rights group charged on Thu that the US was holding suspects in
the war on terrorism in more than 2 dozen detention centres around
the world, at least half of which operate in total secrecy.
In a report called "Ending Secret Detentions," Human Rights First said
these centres included 13 which it described as "suspected" detention
sites, which it said were not acknowledged officially.
7 suspected detention centres on the list were in Afghanistan, 2 in
Pakistan, one in the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, one in
Jordan, and 2 aboard US amphibious assault ships, the group said from
Washington.
The report also listed 17 detention centres that have been officially
disclosed by the US govt, including 2 in Afghanistan, 13 in Iraq, one at
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and one in Charleston, S Carolina.
Sadr condemns interim govt's US ties
Radical Shiite leader Moqtada al Sadr has criticised the close
relationship between Iraq's interim govt and the US.
Najaff. One of Sadr's aides read a statement on his behalf at a Fri
prayer meeting in the Holy city of Kufah, S of Baghdad.
The Shiite leader called on the Interim Govt to distance itself from
the US.
He said his heart had been "filled with wrath" when Iraq's interim
president shook the hand of US Pres George W Bush and he told his
followers that while the US has previously installed rulers in secret, it is
now doing so in public.
Sadr has withdrawn many of his Mehdi army fighters from Kufah and the
nearby holy city, Najaff, after m of bloody fighting with US and Iraqi forces.
* Emergency laws
Meanwhile, Iraq's interim Justice Min Malik Dohan says his govt is
considering imposing emergency laws.
Mr Dohan says the Interim Govt is considering the emergency measures
but he has not detailed what they will be.
He says the move could be based on a law introduced by Saddam
Hussein's regime.
Iraq is confronting a surge in violence in the lead up to the
transition to sovereignty at the end of the month.
US forces came under attack nr Baquba, NE of Baghdad, and killed a
number of people in the gun battle that followed.
Lebanese hostage freed in Iraq
Beirut (Reuters). Kidnappers in Iraq have freed one Lebanese hostage,
but one remains captive, a Lebanese govt source in Beirut said. The
source said Jamil Deeb, who was taken hostage last weekend, was freed on
Thu night. His colleague George Frando was still being held. The 2
men were working in Iraq for a company called Sweidan. At least 4
Lebanese have been taken hostage in Iraq since the US-led invasion and
occupation of the country. One, Hussein Ali Alyan, was killed and
dumped by a road along with 2 Iraqi colleagues. Another, Habib
Samour, was released earlier this wk after almost a m in captivity
and has returned to his family in Jordan.
US soldier killed, contractor wounded in Iraq mortar attack
Baghdad (AFP). A US soldier has been killed and a contractor for a US
firm wounded in a mortar attack on a US-led coalition base on Fri, the
US military said. "One Task Force Baghdad Soldier died and a Kellogg
Brown and Root contractor was wounded when 6 mortars hit a coalition
base at about 2.30 pm," a statement said. KBR is a subsidiary of US
construction giant Halliburton. The statement did not reveal the
nat'lity of the contractor, who only received minor injuries. The
death raises to 614 the number of US soldiers killed in action since
the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003, according to numbers from
the Pentagon.
Insurgents kill American and Iraqis
Baghdad (AP). Insurgents killed 3 Iraqis and an American in a pair of
attacks in the capital, while local officials said 2 days of clashes
between US troops and insurgents have killed at least 13 Iraqis in a
town NE of Baghdad.
In S Iraq, work crews rushed to fix sabotaged oil pipelines,
anticipating a partial resumption of exports after attacks this wk
halted oil flow.
Officials in the US-led coalition said tests on the pipelines could
begin soon.
The 3 Iraqi civilians were killed in a coordinated ambush in Baghdad,
which began when a roadside bomb exploded in the Kamalaya district in
the E of the city, the US command said.
Insurgents opened fire from the rooftops. US troops returned fire and
the insurgents "sustained moderate casualties," the statement said.
Several hr later, 6 mortar shells exploded at a US camp in S
Baghdad, killing an American soldier and slightly injuring a civilian
contractor, the military said.
The attacks were among several in Sunni Muslim areas of Iraq following
a series of deadly car bombings this wk that have unnerved an Iraqi
public before the transfer of sovereignty on Jun 30.
Elsewhere, insurgents attacked US troops at a police station in the
Sunni Triangle city of Samarra, firing RPGs and rifles after warning
shopkeepers to close, witnesses said.
US troops returned fire, wounding 2 attackers, residents said by
telephone. There was no report on US casualties.
In the south, Brit soldiers traded small arms fire with Shi'ite
fighters loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in Amarah, witnesses
said. There were no Brit casualties but 2 insurgents were killed.
Municipal officials in Buhriz, a Sunni Muslim town located about 55 km
NE of Baghdad, said at least 13 Iraqis had been killed in clashes
since Thu.
The fighting began Thu when American soldiers entered the town looking
for insurgents, who opened fire on them, officials and townspeople said.
10 insurgents were killed and one American soldier was wounded in the
ensuing firefight, rep Maj Neal O'Brien said.
Fighting resumed when another patrol came under fire in Buhriz. At
least 5 insurgents were killed, O'Brien said. There were no US
casualties.
Fighting persisted intermittently throughout the day, witnesses said.
Residents said about 20 Iraqis were wounded in the clashes and that
many townspeople had fled their homes to escape the fighting.
In an afternoon clash, insurgents wearing red scarves blasted a US
patrol with machine gunfire and RPGs as the Americans tried to enter
the market district.
"We are ready to defend our city against the invasion by the
occupiers," one youthful fighter said, refusing to give his
name. Electricity was cut off in the city due to power lines damaged in
the clashes.
Work crews were trying to repair damaged oil pipelines in the south. A
coalition rep said the smaller of 2 oil pipelines blasted by
insurgents this wk had nearly been repaired, although engineers were
still examining the larger one.
Rep Dominic d'Angelo said tests could begin on the smaller pipeline
soon but full exports would probably not resume before Jun 16.
Iraqi exports were suspended Wed because of the attacks on the
pipelines, which carry crude oil from the S fields to tankers in the Gulf.
Exports from Iraq's other field nr Kirkuk were halted last m due to
sabotage on the pipeline to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, Turkey.
The attacks against the pipeline were part of a stepped up campaign of
violence in the run-up to the Jun 30 transfer of sovereignty to the
interim Iraqi govt.
In the boldest attack in months, a car bomber smashed into a crowd
seeking jobs at a military recruitment centre Thu in Baghdad, killing at
least 35 Iraqis and wounded another 145. Another car bombing the
same day killed 6 Iraqi civil defence fighters and injured 4 others in
Balad, north of Baghdad.
In the Shi'ite city of Kufa, al-Sadr denounced interim Pres Ghazi
Yawar as an American-installed puppet.
"Your alliance with the occupation will bring only shame and disgrace to
you," al-Sadr told al-Yawer in comments read by an aide during the
weekly Fri sermon at the Kufa mosque.
Al-Sadr's uprising, launched in Apr after US occupation authorities
closed his newspaper, has left 100s dead in clashes with US troops,
although the rebellion has largely petered out.
Al-Sadr said he was "hurt" to see al-Yawer shaking hands with US Pres
George W Bush on the sidelines of the G-8 summit in the US last
wk. Al-Sadr called the visit "a sign of weakness".
Yawar, a Sunni Muslim, has encouraged al-Sadr to transform his
al-Mahdi Army into a political movement and compete for power in the
Jan elections.
The US had vowed to "capture or kill" al-Sadr but now appears willing to
let Iraqi authorities deal with him.
Iraq weighs draconian measures to stamp out violence
Baghdad (AFP/ChannelNewsAsia). Iraq's caretaker govt weighed imposing
emergency powers to conquer a wave of violence and sabotage that has
killed more than 180 people this m and halted oil exports for at least
5 days.
Justice minister Malik Dohan al-Hassan said the govt may resort to
"exceptional" laws imposed by former dictator Saddam Hussein after it
takes power on Jun 30.
"The idea of imposing exceptional laws is under study," he said,
adding that there were no legal hurdles.
"From the old regime, there was a statute, which foresees exceptional
measures, which do not violate rights of the citizens, that has never
been abrogated," he told AFP.
Interior minister Falah al-Naqib also warned he may impose "martial
law" to control "terrorist acts" after 41 people were killed in 2 car
bombings on Thu.
35 people were killed in a suicide attack on a crowded army
recruitment centre, leaving the road littered with bloodied and
tangled bodies. Another 6 Iraqis were killed N of the capital 3 hr later.
Meanwhile, a coalition official said oil exports from S Iraq would
resume Sun after being halted by sabotage attacks.
"We currently expect oil exports from the 42-inch line to resume Sun,
and ships may pre-position at the offshore oil terminals before then,"
the official said.
Benchmark prices soared in NY and London after S supplies were cut off on
Tue.
Iraq's S terminals have been the main gateway for oil exports since last
y, when insurgents launched a relentless campaign of sabotage against
the N city of Kirkuk's pipeline to a Mediterranean terminal in Turkey.
The violence also claimed a diplomatic victim with UN Sec-Gen Kofi
Annan announcing that Iraq was too dangerous for the world body to
make an early return.
The UN pulled out of Iraq last Sep after 2 bombings, including one in
Aug that killed 22 people, among them Annan's envoy in Iraq, Sergio
Vieira de Mello.
A bitter row also continued to divide the holy city of Najaff with
supporters of firebrand Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada Sadr halting Fri
prayers for the 2nd wk running.
Sadr's supporters, who a wk earlier stoned moderate clerics at Shiite
Islam's holiest shrine in the city, said they would stop anyone
preaching without permission from the grand ayatollahs.
"We will stop anyone who does not have authorisation, even oral, from
the Marjaiya [Iraq's top Shiite authority], from preaching Fri
prayers," Ahmed al-Shaibani, a Sadr rep, told AFP.
The move blocked leading Sadr critic, Sheikh Saddredin al-Kubbanji,
from preaching.
Sadr, whose militia was engaged in a fierce rebellion against
coalition rule until early Jun, also raged against PM Sheikh Gazi
al-Yawar's meeting with US Pres George W Bush in Georgia this m.
"My heart was filled with deep wrath when I saw the so-called
president of the Iraqi interim govt shaking hands with US Pres Bush",
Sadr said in remarks made on his behalf during a sermon in Najaff's
twin city of Kufa.
Violent attacks continued Fri with 2 insurgents killed by US troops
after firing RPGs nr Baquba, NE of Baghdad.
3 civilians were wounded in a roadside bombing in the northern city of
Mosul and 3 police officers hurt in an overnight explosion in the S
city of Nasiriyah.
A Brit military rep said a Brit soldier and 2 Filipino security guards
were wounded in a mortar attack in Amara, S Iraq, late Wed as shelling
continued Thu night.
But the release of Lebanese hostage Jamal Dib, who was seized Mon,
provided a glimmer of good news.
Otherwise, Seoul announced the deployment of about 3,000 troops to N
Iraq on a relief and rehabilitation mission from Aug, while Japan said
it would join the multinat'l force to patrol the country after the hand over.
Sec Council repairs image with Iraq vote, but challenges remain
The US and Brit famously walked away from the UN Sec Council when they
could not gain support for a resolution authorising war in Iraq. But
they were recently praised by council members for their flexibility
following the unanimous adoption of a resolution endorsing Iraq's
restoration of sovereignty. Experts at the UN say the case of Iraq
shows that despite clashes that have raised doubts about the Sec
Council's legitimacy, it remains central to key security matters.
UN (RFL/RL). The passage of UN Security Council Resolution 1546 on
Iraq on 8 Jun prompted an outpouring of sentiment that the council
had regained prestige.
Several council ambassadors said they hope the dialogue that produced
the resolution signalled a new commitment to multilateralism.
UN Sec-Gen Kofi Annan said the episode showed that the US needed the
"unique legitimacy" of the UN to help create a credible interim govt
in Iraq.
A little more than a y ago, the council was side-lined by the Iraq war
and challenged by US officials for its relevancy. The unanimous vote
appeared to mark a UN revival of sorts.
But experts on the UN say there was little doubt all along that the
council would decide on the postwar arrangements for Iraq. It was also
clear, they say, that Washington would make sure to gain UN support
for the political transition.
In some ways this recalls the council's role in Kosovo. The council
did not authorise the NATO air campaign yet it created the UN mandate
that still runs the province.
The Iraq resolution did not mark any shift in positions about the war,
nor did it trigger any new commitment of military forces. But it might
have helped repair relations between the permanent 5 veto-wielding
members who engaged in rare public clashes over Iraq, says David
Malone, president of the Internat'l Peace Academy.
"Iraq has undermined the role of the UN as well as the prestige of the
US internat'ly," Malone says. "There have been no winners on
Iraq. It's not as if Russia and France have done fantastically well
out of Iraq. They haven't. So, all parties are bruised as a result of Iraq."
2 previous UN resolutions -- also unanimous -- authorised the
occupation of Iraq and called for a vital UN role in the country's
reconstruction. Russia, France, and Germany have stressed after each
resolution their refusal to commit peacekeeping troops.
Max Boot is a snr fellow on nat'l security studies at the Council on
Foreign Relations, an independent policy institute. He tells RFE/RL
that it is too early to say whether the latest resolution is meaningful.
"This is the 3rd unanimous Sec Council resolution since the invasion
of Iraq [in 2003]. The 1st 2 didn't produce much by way of action. I
think it remains to be seen what the effect of this one will be. It's
certainly good that it was unanimous, it's good that it was passed,
but we shouldn't necessarily assume that this will miraculously
transform the attitudes of member states or change reality on the
ground in Iraq," Boot says.
But council members stress that despite their differences over Iraq,
they have remained engaged on a variety of issues. Since the invasion
of Iraq, the council has widely expanded peacekeeping operations,
particularly in Africa.
In that time, the US has also worked closely with China to advance
talks on N Korea; it has coordinated with Russia and France to
strengthen counter-terror and non-proliferation measures; and it is
engaged with Germany in peacekeeping in Afghanistan.
France's UN ambassador, Jean-Marc de La Sabliere, commented on the
broader cooperation.
"On Iraq, we [now] agree. But let's not forget on all other matters we
have worked even during the Iraqi crisis very well between France and
the US. For example, the resolution on non-proliferation was possible
because of a very good cooperation between some delegations and, in
particular, France and the United States and the UK," de La Sabliere said.
France, Brit, and the US are also working together to pressure Iran to
comply with an investigation into its nuclear program by the
Internat'l Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). So far, the diplomacy has been
confined to Vienna, where Iran has faced repeated criticism by IAEA members.
But the issue could be referred to the Sec Council, which has the
power to authorise sanctions or even military action if necessary. Boot
says the Sec Council's relevancy could again be called into question.
"I think one key test will be the case of Iran, which seems to be
violating an agreement on limiting its nuclear production and has been
called out by the Internat'l Atomic Energy Agency and the question is
what, if anything, the UN Sec Council will do to uphold the
non-proliferation treaty and the authority of the IAEA," Boot says. "I
think that's going to be a big test."
The architects of the UN Charter and Sec Council attempted to impose
binding internat'l law on the use of force. Some internat'l law
scholars say the wars in Kosovo and Iraq highlighted the flaws in the
model. But others say for all its difficulties, the Sec Council is
working according to the design of UN founders.
Michael Doyle is an expert on internat'l affairs who teaches at
Columbia University in NY. He tells RFE/RL that states that defy the
council risk losing the banner of internat'l legality because the
council claims a monopoly on the use of force other than in self-defence.
"That contradiction was built in from the very beginning. It should be
a signal to a state when they can't get a consensus that their
diplomacy has to move very carefully," Doyle says.
Doyle served as a UN assistant Sec-Gen in the period prior to the Iraq
invasion. He believes the Iraq experience has shown the US the value
of consensus on the Sec Council in terms of the claim on internat'l
legitimacy.
"It's worth the diplomatic effort and the US eventually came back to
that view, especially as it experienced difficulties in Iraq and saw
that the Council's support could help make the transition somewhat
smoother," Doyle says.
So far Resolution 1546, which will formally end the US-led occupation
on 30 Jun, has not coincided with a slowdown in violence in Iraq. Car
bombs yesterday killed more than 40 people, prompting Annan to
reassert that circumstances do not permit a return of UN staff to Iraq
to aid in the transition.
Withdrawal would increase local terror risk: PM
Mr Howard says Iraq is the front-line in the war on terrorism.
Canberra. PM John Howard says that Labor's policy to pull troops out
of Iraq by Christmas would damage the American alliance and increase
the threat of terrorism in South-East Asia.
Mr Howard put forward his points as to why AUS should remain involved
in Iraq during a major foreign policy speech in SYD this evening.
He says the alliance with the United States has never been more
important and Opp'n leader Mark Latham's policy of removing troops
from the country would damage AUS's interests.
"Given the significance of Iraq to US nat'l security at the present
time, any decision by a coalition partner to withdraw troops before
the job is completed will not surprisingly be seen as a less than
friendly act," he said.
He also defended his Govt's decision to join the US-led 'coalition of
the willing' in Iraq as correct and consistent with AUS's interests
and values.
"But whatever your view on the war -- and I understand there are
differing views in this room -- winning the peace in Iraq is now
vital," he said.
"To give up on Iraq would be to create a haven for extremists, a
sanctuary from which they can spread their ideology of totalitarianism
and terror.
"This alone makes it vital that Aussie forces remain in Iraq until
their task is completed.
"Where we stand today, Iraq is not a diversion from the war on terror.
It is the frontline."
Mr Howard says a coalition defeat in Iraq would encourage terrorist groups
such as Jemaah Islamiah (JI), operating in the South-East Asian region.
"Does anyone doubt for a moment that a failure in Iraq would give
enormous comfort to Jemaah Islamiah -- with all its reach in our
region," he said.
But the Fed Opp'n's rep for Foreign Affairs, Kevin Rudd, rejects the
PM's view that the terrorism risk would increase if AUS pulled out of Iraq.
"The bottom line is this, because of our involvement in the Iraq war
and because of the Iraq war overall, JI has been able to recruit more
terrorists in South-East Asia and furthermore the overall terrorist
threat in S E Asia has increased."
Militia takes Afghan town
Kabul (AP). Warlords overran a provincial capital in central
Afghanistan, officials said, forcing the governor to flee and
reportedly leaving 10 people dead in the latest burst of infighting in
this war-fractured nation.
The attack highlights the challenges US-backed Pres Hamid Karzai faces
in trying to extend his writ to the countryside. It was also further
evidence of slipping security ahead of key elections scheduled for Sep.
Fighters armed with machine-guns and RPGs seized Chagcharan, the main
town in remote Ghor province 220 km W of Kabul, on Thu, a leader of
the offensive and a govt official said.
Gov Mohammed Ibrahim fled to the W city of Herat, leaving his deputy
and a group of nominally loyal militiamen and police to regroup in a
village a few km to the N of Chagcharan.
Din Mohammed Azimi, the governor's deputy, said at least 10 of his men
were killed and that the remainder were regrouping for a counterattack.
But Ghulam Yahya, a former Ghor police chief who claimed Fri he was
back in his old job, said he knew of only one fatality.
The fighting follows wk of tension between allies of provincial
military cmdr Ahmad Murghabi, who was also driven out, and rival
tribes over positions in the local Admin.
Azimi said a group led by a cmdr called Rais Salam launched the attack
after rejecting an offer of control of 4 govt depts, including police
and intel.
He said a delegation from Kabul had left Chagcharan only on Wed.
But it was unclear whose side the central govt was on.
Azimi said he had appealed to Defense Min Mohammed Fahim and other
officials in Kabul.
"They promised to help but nothing came. The central govt is very
weak, it's useless," he said, also calling for NATO and the US
military to send troops.
A Defense Ministry rep said he knew of the incident only from media
reports. Other govt officials could not be reached for comment.
Yahya described the battle as a "popular uprising," and said a council
of tribal leaders would now decide how to organise the province's affairs.
"I'm chief of police and Raise Salam has taken over the military HQ,"
Yahya said.
Israel arrests 3rd teenage girl over planned attacks
Jerusalem. Israeli security forces have arrested 7 Palestinians,
including a teenage girl, on charges of planning terrorist attacks.
The 18-yo is the 3rd teenage girl arrested by Israel this week.
Sweeping into the W Bank town of Jenin, Israeli soldiers detained 6
Palestinians suspected of being members of the militant al Aqsa
Martyrs Brigades, while in Nablus troops arrested high school student
Ritab Aslan. The Israeli military says the 18-y old woman was
suspected of involvement in terrorist activities. Earlier this wk 2
other Palestinian girls were also arrested in Nablus on charges of
volunteering to become suicide bombers. Meanwhile, Israeli intel
sources say Palestinian militants have developed a longer range and
more powerful rocket. One of the rockets was fired at the S Israeli
town of Sderot this wk, landing in a family's backyard.
Court rejects Samudra appeal
Jakarta (AFP). Indonesia's Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by
Bali bombings mastermind Imam Samudra against his conviction and death
sentence, a judge was quoted as saying.
"We have made a decision on his appeal case. We rejected that appeal,"
German Hudiarto was quoted as saying by Indo Pos newspaper.
If the report is confirmed, Samudra would be the second key bomber on
death row to have his appeal rejected by the supreme court, after Amrozi.
Amrozi is seeking a judicial review of his conviction by a different
panel of supreme court judges in a final attempt to escape a firing
squad, Samudra's lawyer Wirawan Adnan told AFP he had not been
notified of the court's ruling but was not surprised.
"Rejected or not, it does not matter. What remains to be seen is
whether the govt has the guts to execute him," Adnan said.
Investigators believe Samudra is a leading member of the
al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah (JI) militant group, which staged the
attack on 2 crowded nightclubs to avenge W oppression of Muslims worldwide.
The bombings on Oct 12, 2002, killed 202 people, mostly W
holidaymakers -- 88 of those killed were Aussies.
The Afghanistan-trained Samudra had once said he would welcome death
as bringing him closer to God.
Samudra, 34, attended planning meetings, selected the blast targets in
Bali and assigned tasks to the bombers as part of a holy war against
the US and its allies, prosecutors said.
A 3rd bomber called Mukhlas is also on death row and has also said he
will appeal.
A 4th key bomber, Ali Imron, escaped with a life sentence after
expressing remorse. He is a brother of Mukhlas and Amrozi.
Chinese "police" arrested in HK
Honkers (AFP). HK's chief executive demanded an explanation from
Beijing after 7 men claiming to be mainland Chinese police were
arrested while apparently spying in a rich neighbourhood of the city.
Tung Chee-hwa expressed "serious concern" about reports that the men
were conducting investigations in the former Brit colony and said it
was "absolutely unacceptable" if the claims were true.
"He [Tung] has asked the Secretary for Security to approach the
relevant Mainland authorities to obtain more info and follow up the
matter," a HK govt statement said.
The arrests were made on Wed after police received complaints from a
resident in Mount Davis Road, a quiet area where many wealthy
businessmen live, about "suspicious" males hanging around the area.
HK police declined to comment further and the men were all later
released on bail.
Media reports said local residents noticed 2 cars full of people which
had been parked outside a building block for several days. They seemed
to be spying on someone, the reports said.
A resident finally informed the police and 7 men were arrested on the
spot. They told police they were "working" and claimed to be public
security officers from China, according to the Chinese-language
newspaper Apple Daily.
They later showed police their mainland police passes and requested to
see snr HK officers, the newspaper said.
HK Security chief Ambrose Lee declined to provide further info about
the case, but he stressed that the territory did not allow law
enforcement officials from outside HK to operate on its territory.
He reiterated that China and HK were committed to upholding the "One
Country, 2 Systems" principle under which the territory was allowed a
high degree of autonomy in running its affairs after it returned to
China from Brit in 1997.
"Any law enforcement officers outside HK do not have the right to
enforce the law here. We will follow proper procedures to deal with
any illegal activities," he said.
German "samurai" attacks hikers
Berlin (Reuters). A camouflage-clad German man wielding a samurai
sword attacked at least 7 hikers in forests W of Berlin, performing
sword tricks before ordering them to leave the woods. Police suspect
a 46-yo local man who trained in martial arts and survival skills in
camps in PNG and Vietnam to be the attacker. "He's dangerous and has
been hard to find because he wears camouflage," said Catrin Feistauer,
rep for the Nauen police dept. Police have used infrared cameras
mounted on helicopters to try and track him down. The man pushed 2
elderly people off their bikes and flashing his sword shouted at them
to leave the forest. He later tried to drive a young couple out of
the woods. No one was seriously hurt.
Brit minister sees EU constitution deal "soon"
Brussels. Brit's Europe Min Denis MacShane says he expects EU leaders
to agree a first-ever constitution shortly, as the bloc's Irish
presidency drew up a final version of the historic text. "We're going
to come to a close soon and Europe will be able to move forward," he
told reporters in the sidelines of a Brussels summit dominated by
bruising wrangles over the long-disputed constitution. He was
speaking shortly after a diplomat from the European Union's Irish
leadership said it was preparing to present a final version of the
constitution to EU leaders. The diplomat added that Dublin was
optimistic about a deal.
EU clinches historic constitution deal
Brussels (Reuters). EU leaders have clinched a landmark deal on a 1st
constitution for Europe on Fri, ending m of tortuous negotiation over
power-sharing in a bloc that now stretches into formerly communist
Eastern Europe.
The accord on a constitution for the newly enlarged 25-nation European
Union of 450 mn citizens will be seen as a victory by the leaders
after a wave of public apathy and Euroscepticism in last wk's European
Parliament elections.
The threat of rejection by any one of several member states due to
hold a referendum on the treaty could still sink the constitution,
over which outstanding disputes were wrapped up at the end of a 2-day summit.
Relief over the deal was tempered by a failure to agree on a new
president for the European Union's executive.
The Irish EU presidency postponed the decision and set no new date.
"It's just been agreed this second," a rep for the EU's Irish
presidency said as the 25 heads of state toasted the deal with champagne.
The leaders gave a standing ovation to Irish PM Bertie Ahern, who
resurrected negotiations that collapsed last Dec and steered them to
success through Dublin's 6-m presidency of the bloc.
The constitution will give the bloc stronger leadership with a
long-term president of the European Council and a foreign minister to
represent it on the world stage, more powers for the European
Parliament and more decisions taken by majority vote.
Brit fought a successful rearguard battle to preserve nat'l vetoes on
key policy areas such as taxation, social security, foreign and
defence policy and criminal law.
France, Germany and the Netherlands found a last-minute compromise on
how much-flouted EU budget deficit rules should be policed.
But Poland and other Roman Catholic countries failed to secure a
reference to Europe's Christian heritage.
Simmering acrimony among the key players flared earlier when Brit
PM Tony Blair fired a broadside at the leaders of France and
Germany, telling them they did not run Europe alone or with some inner circle.
"We are operating in a Europe of 25... not 6 or 2 or one," Mr Blair's
official rep told reporters.
Diplomats said Mr Ahern would seek the advice of counterparts on
whether to seek a solution to the impasse over a successor to Italian
Romano Prodi as European Commission president.
* Bust-up feared
Several leaders were urging Mr Ahern not to push the question to a
vote, fearing a bust-up that could take the gloss off their
constitution treaty success.
Mr Blair and several other leaders blocked the Franco-German candidate
for the top EU job, Belgian PM Guy Verhofstadt, at an ill-tempered
summit dinner on Thu night that revived the splits of the Iraq war.
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder accused conservatives of "playing
party political power games" to block Mr Verhofstadt.
Diplomats said the stand-off had reopened bitter divisions within the
bloc between supporters and opponents of the US-led war in Iraq,
pitting supporters of a more fed EU against those who want a Europe of
nation states.
Brit opposed Mr Verhofstadt because of his federalist view of EU
integration and his anti-American stance over Iraq.
Paris and Berlin resisted the alternative candidate put forward by EU
conservative and Christian Democratic leaders -- Brit EU External
Relations commissioner Chris Patten.
US signs treaty to save Titanic
Washington (AFP). The United States has signed an accord aimed at
protecting the wreck of the Titanic in the N Atlantic from souvenir
hunters and undersea tourists, the State Dept said.
The United States will join with Brit, Canada and France in new efforts
to preserve the 92-yo wreck where renewed damage has been reported.
"Under the agreement, the Titanic is designated as an internat'l
maritime memorial, recognising the men, women and children who
perished and whose remains should be given appropriate respect," a
State Dept statement said.
The 4 countries started negotiating a deal in 1997, it added.
Brit signed the accord in Nov 2003 and it becomes effective once 2
countries sign it.
"Parties will also protect the scientific, cultural and historic
significance of the wreck by regulating, within their jurisdiction,
dives to the Titanic shipwreck, including the hull, cargo and other
artefacts at the wreck site," the statement said.
The wreck is 3,600 m below sea level.
On a recent expedition, Robert Ballard -- the expert who discovered
the wreck in 1985 -- found it had been damaged by people trying to get
to the wreck, in many cases to get souvenirs which command huge prices
on internat'l markets.
Mr Ballard "attributed newfound damage to the wreck to submarines
landing on the deck for salvage operations, filming and tourism."
The protection agreement, which in the US must now be approved by
Congress, does not cover the 6,000 Titanic artefacts known to have
been brought to the surface.
About 450 items were auctioned in NY last wk.
A menu from the final 1st class dinner aboard the Titanic before it
sank sold for $US88,500.
The luxury liner hit an iceberg and sank in the N Atlantic on Apr 14,
1912 on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York.
About 1,490 passenger and crew died.
Another 711 passengers survived.
The blockbuster 1997 James Camer n film Titanic sparked renewed
interest in the wreck.
Olympic prison controversy stirs in Greece
Athens. Greece says it is constructing a temporary jail to house
foreigners, including tourists, arrested during the upcoming Olympic
Games. The conservative govt has vigorously denied opp'n criticism
that the new facility resembles a concentration camp. Greece's
Justice Min Anastassis Papaligouras said with over a mn tourists
expected to visit the country in Aug alone, it was vital that a new
jail be built, because statistically it was certain that some would
break the law. Designed to hold up to 250 people, the new jail will
be constructed at a former US military base outside Athens.
Addressing parliament, the Min strenuously denied opp'n claims that
the ruling conservatives were building a concentration camp for
beggars, drug addicts and immigrants who would be targeted ahead of
the games.
Anglican Synod must address victims interests: Rann
Adelaide. SA Prem Mike Rann says the Anglican Synod meeting in Adel
today must focus on the interests of victims of sexual abuse.
He has called on the former Archbishop Ian George to confirm or deny
that letters, obtained by the ABC, were sent to a paedophile chaplain
who fled the country after admitting to abusing a boy.
The report led to the resignation of Archbishop Ian George last wk.
Mr Rann says the synod must act decisively.
"My message to the Anglican Synod is this, that you know it is now time
to put the interest of the victims first, to put the interests of the
kids 1st and to stop all of these cover-ups and to actually get on with
the job of implementing all of Justice Olsen's recommendations," he said.
The interim head of the Church, Archdeacon John Collas, says the
adjournment has given time for reflection on the best way for the
Church to respond.
Archdeacon Collas says compensation for abuse victims will be
addressed, but not solely the form of cash payments.
"What we want to do is enable those who have been victimised, who have
been abused to get on with their lives," he said.
"Whatever they need we will address. If it happens to be what you call
compensation, you can't compensate people for what's happened to them,
it's not a concept I can understand we just cannot do that."
Rail union says 200 Hunter jobs could go
Newcastle. A Newcastle rail union official says the takeover of
freight lines in the Hunter Valley by the Aussie Rail Track
Corporation (ARTC) could cost up to 200 jobs in the region. The Rail
Tram and Bus Union has organised a rally at the start of this
weekend's Country Labor Conference in Bathurst, to protest at the loss
of rail jobs across NSW. A focal point of the protest will be the
State Govt's rural branch line closures. The Union's Newcastle
representative, Mick Schmitzer, says while the ARTC will spend $mns
upgrading the Hunter's rail freight network, it is also likely
to cull jobs. "There's going to be job losses, particularly in the
Admin area, they've really got no jobs," he said. "There are other
areas where we've had jobs here at Hamilton and some of that might be
able to be picked up in the metropolitan area, but you're probably
talking 200 people being affected."
ATSIC employees fear for jobs
Brisbane. Employees at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Commission (ATSIC) and its Services (ATSIS) unit are afraid they will
lose their jobs once the group is absorbed into the mainstream. ATSIC
and ATSIS wind up in less than a fortnight. South E Qld commissioner
Rob Williams says there is a lot of uncertainty about the delivery of
services after the hand over. Mr Williams says many staff members feel
left in the lurch. "They're uncertain about where they'll be going
and as many of them are saying, if they're treating us like this
now... how will they treat us when we go to the mainstream depts?" he
said. "Will it be a worry that they'll just get our money and then in
12 m time they'll reclassify the jobs?"
Kids choose fruit when offered: survey
Sydney. A new survey released today indicates the eating habits of
young Aussies are improving. A Roy Morgan Poll shows 56% of children
nominated salads and soups as an enjoyable meal and they are snacking
more on fruit and playing sport. With obesity still a major problem,
their favourite food remains hot chips or fries, closely followed by
pizza, pies and hamburgers. Angela Brooks from Roy Morgan says the
survey shows children are developing a taste for healthier food.
"They like to eat healthy food where it's offered," she said. "When
they have a choice, fruit is the main snack that they will choose, so
the main thing for parents, the main message is, give them a choice
and give them a healthy choice wherever possible."
Beached whale freed
W Tassie. A 14-m sperm whale has been successfully freed from a
sandbank in Macquarie Harbour on Tas's W Coast. During the night the
whale beached itself for the 2nd time on Fraser Flats, one km inside
the harbour. Wildlife officers have been trying to steer the whale
back into the ocean since last Tue when it entered Macquarie Harbour.
Warwick Brennan from the Parks and Wildlife Service says rescuers
worked quickly to help free the whale. "What they did is, using
marshaling boats around it, making quite a bit of noise on the water,
the whale actually started to move again and they've now got it back
into the channel area," he said. "Currently what we're doing is
assessing the whale's condition, it appears to be moving freely and
well in the water which is obviously a much better sign than earlier
this morning."
Stranded whale faces fitness program
W Tassie. A whale stranded on Tas's W coast could soon be forced to
exercise. The sperm whale has been stranded in Macquarie Harbour
since Tue. Thunderstorms yesterday hindered attempts to return the
whale to the ocean with stormy weather likely to continue over the
weekend. The Environment Dept's Warwick Brennan says they are
concerned the shallow water could thwart the whale's chances of
leaving the harbour. He says that if it remains stranded in the area,
they will look at developing some kind of physical fitness program for
it. "Occasionally make it move about, swim about, just to get itself
moving, so in case we do get an opportunity that the whale's not all
stiffened up, and we can seize that opportunity if it comes along," he said.
Think tank criticises energy package
Canberra. A public policy centre has used research on Aussie
greenhouse gas emissions to criticise the Fed Govt's energy white
paper. The AUS Institute says the nation had more than 27 tonnes of
carbon dioxide emissions per person in 2001, more than double that of
most industrialised countries. The report identifies electricity
generation, the aluminium industry and road transportation as sectors
of concern. Institute executive director Clive Hamilton says despite
a 7% decline in emissions since 1990, AUS's energy policy has
manifestly failed. "I'm afraid there are no good signs in the latest
energy white paper from the Govt that their policies will have an
effect on AUS's future emissions," he said. "What we'll see is the
gap between Aussies emissions and the rest of the industrialised world
will just increase and that will intensify internat'l pressure on AUS
to take some serious action."
NT says weeds need greater attention
Darwin. The NT Environment Centre says the Fed Govt should be using
subsidies to the pastoral industry to fight the weed problems in AUS.
On a 2-day tour of regional Qld, Conservation Min Ian Macdonald said
people living in cities do not have a true understanding of AUS's weed
problems. The centre's Peter Robertson said the pastoral industry has
introduced 5 out of the top 10 weeds in the N Territory including
buffel, gamba and mission grass. He says the Min Ian Macdonald should
be redirecting some of the agricultural funding into weed control and
eradication. "The subsidies that are continually being handed out the
agricultural industries for example should be redirected to weed
control, because in many cases it's the agricultural sector that's
been responsible for the weed problem in the 1st place," he said.
Crick suicide prompts no charges
Brisbane (AAP). Witnesses to Nancy Crick's controversial suicide say
the 69-yo great-grandmother didn't die in vain.
Family and friends described the decision by Qld police not to lay
charges as a significant step forward in the campaign for those
terminally ill or suffering to be allowed to take their lives with
loved ones by their side.
"I'm out of jail," said Mrs Crick's son Daryle as he proposed a toast
to his mother in the backyard of the home where she died 2 y ago.
"My own mother's death was lovely. It was just beautiful. She didn't
want anyone to get in trouble and no one is," he said, tears welling
in his eyes.
Qld Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said there was insufficient
evidence to charge anyone in relation to Mrs Crick's death.
"We've taken this investigation as far as we can," he told
journalists.
"Being present when someone takes their own life does not in itself
constitute an offence."
Pro-euthanasia activist and suicide witness John Edge, whose Tweed
Heads home was raided during the police investigation, said it was the
end of a frustrating wait.
"The commissioner has come down and said just because a group of
people are present when a person takes their life doesn't mean it's a
crime," said Mr Edge.
"Whether the courts are going to accept that remains to be seen. It
still has to be tested.
"It's a big step in the right direction and it's a first step in
getting some form of change in society."
Mr Edge is now planning to write a "warts and all" story about Mrs
Crick's suicide.
One of only 2 witnesses to offer a full statement to police, retired
93-yo dairy farmer Fred Short said commonsense had prevailed.
"I think it could be an encouragement to other people who are
contemplating ending their lives and want their loved ones around when
they die," Mr Short said.
"Nancy died a gracious, useful and courageous death. We are all proud
of her and she didn't die in vain."
Mrs Crick became a nat'l figure in the euthanasia movement when she
said her life wasn't worth living because of the effects of bowel
cancer and its treatment.
But an autopsy report found she had no cancer in her body at the time
she died in May 2002 at her Gold Coast home.
Nitschke welcomes decision not to prosecute Crick case
Brisbane. Leading voluntary euthanasia campaigner Phillip Nitschke
says a decision not to prosecute relatives and friends at the bedside
of Nancy Crick when she took her own life is a win for the movement.
The 69-yo Gold Coast grandmother died at her home 2 y ago surrounded
by family and friends. Police say none of Mrs Crick's supporters will
be charged and the file has been passed to the coroner. Dr Nitschke
admits the legal fraternity will not recognise a police decision as a
"legal precedent", but he says it will still have implications. "That
will give people more confidence to speak out and do the kind,
compassionate and loving thing and actually be with someone when they
decide to end their own suffering, so they're not doing this alone,"
he said. "Nancy has made that difference."
2 Perth escapees recaptured, one still at large
A massive manhunt has been conducted after a breakout from a court
holding cell in Perth.
Perth. Police have recaptured 2 of remaining 3 escapees who fled
holding cells at the Perth Supreme Court during a mass break-out more
than a wk ago.
The men -- James Sweeney and Laurie Dodd -- were arrested shortly
before 8.00 pm AWST on the corner of Collins Street and Canning
Highway in Kensington.
Police say several patrol cars were damaged during the operation, but
no-one was injured.
Police arrested 5 people at the scene, including 2 women and a 15-yo boy.
It is believed that Sweeney and Dodd were behind the robbery of a TAB
in S Perth on Mon.
Sgt Mike Gough says the men will be questioned by police before they
are returned to custody.
"It was following a fairly major police operation, which I won't go
into the details of, but suffice to say that they were identified,
they were stopped and they were apprehended without any injury caused
to any person," he said.
Robert Geoffrey Hill, 25, is the only escapee still at large.
He faces 2 charges of armed robbery at a W Perth brothel and a bank in
Osborne Park.
Police rescue 8 after boat sinks in Derwent
Hobart. A tragedy has been avoided by Tas marine police who rescued
eight people from their sunken boat on the Derwent River. The alarm
was raised at 2.10 am when the new 7-m half-cabin cruiser
went down and left 7 men and one woman in cold water about 500 m
off Taroona. Police say the boat was only carrying 3 or 4 life
jackets. It took police 40 minutes after the 000 call to find 3
people. Acting Sgt Peter Gibson from Police Communications says it
took another 30 minutes of searching until the remaining 5 were
rescued. He says things may have ended tragically if it was not for a
19-yo girl who guided police on her mobile phone. "I believe she was
talking to one of the operators up here -- she was doing a wonderful
job, telling him that she could see lights and directing police to
where she was," he said. The 8 people have been taken to Royal Hobart
Hospital to recover from the cold. Sgt Gibson says it is unclear why
the new boat sank, saying that conditions were calm.
Don't condemn accused lawyer: Law Institute
Melbourne. The Law Institute of Vic maintains a high profile lawyer
who surrendered his practising certificate last night is entitled to
the presumption of innocence. George Defteros was arrested and
charged with conspiracy and incitement to murder earlier this wk,
along with another man, Mario Condello. Defteros maintains he is
innocent and has been released on bail. Institute chief executive
John Cain says it is now out of their hands until the court process is
completed. "It's really hard to speculate about the course these
things might take," he said. "He's of course entitled to the
presumption of innocence and we'll just review the situation at the
conclusion of the other matters."
Aphrodite heading for line honours in Big Bird Race
A race with a difference is continuing across the S Ocean as 18
albatross from Tas wing their way to S Africa.
Hobart. The unique research project known as the "Big Bird Race" aims
to raise money for sea-bird conservation while at the same time
allowing scientists to track the migratory movements of the albatross.
A bird nicknamed "Aphrodite" is expected to take line honours but has
been disqualified due to the failure of her satellite-tracking device,
which is only signalling intermittently.
The race has attracted worldwide media attention since beginning in Apr.
18 albatross from 3 Tasn Islands are competing in what organisers
describe as the world's toughest endurance race.
The birds cross Bass Strait, contend with the Roaring 40s, the
Southern Ocean and then fly on to S Africa.
It has captured the imagination of royalty and celebrities who have
been supporting the race, betting on which bird will finish first.
All the albatross have been fitted with a small satellite tracking
device to help determine exact flight paths.
The event aims to raise awareness of the perils albatross face from
longline fishing and the need for global conservation to protect the
19 species of albatross facing extinction.
Italy school foils cheats by blocking phone signals
Rome (Reuters). Mobile phone-savvy teenagers tempted to cheat on
exams by sending text messages or scanning pictures of tests could be
thwarted by a device that jams signals inside the school walls.
The Enrico Tosi Technical Institute school in N Italy has found a way
to foil the next generation of would-be cheats with the help of
military technology.
"Most schools try and confiscate phones before exams, but this way we
can be sure nobody slips through," said Benedetto Di Rienzo, the head
of the school in Busto Arsizio which is testing the devices for the
Edu Ministry during exams this wk.
The box-like units, called C-Guard, were developed by experts from the
military and defence industries for Netline Communications Technologies.
They jam signals in a 262-foot radius in enclosed spaces.
They could eventually be installed across Italy to prevent cheating
during university exams.
Di Rienzo said they have been so successful that the school plans to
start using them during regular classes -- a measure likely to ruffle
feathers in mobile phone-obsessed Italy where not even the teachers
like to be left incommunicado.
"We hope to keep complaints to a minimum by turning the instruments
off during lunch breaks," he said.
Private rocket plane aiming for space flight prize
Seattle (Reuters). As the world's 1st privately funded rocket plane
is being readied for a run at making history by climbing out of
earth's atmosphere, its builders are already eyeing their next goal:
winning a $10 mn prize for pioneering commercial space flight.
The SpaceShipOne project, backed by Paul Allen, the billionaire
co-founder of Microsoft Corp, and aviation expert Burt Rutan, will
send a rocket plane 100 km, or 100 km, into the air and back down
again in California's Mojave Desert on Jun 21.
If all goes well, they are expected to announce their next goal after
that flight, the Ansari X Prize, which is offering $10 mn to the 1st
team that sends 3 people, or an equivalent weight, on a manned space
vehicle 100 km above the earth and repeats the trip within 2 wk.
Although Allen and Rutan's SpaceShipOne team are registered as entrants,
they have so far avoided committing to making a bid for the X Prize.
The prize's co-founder, however, believes that a few teams are close
enough to win the prize and that 2004 will be remembered as the y when
commercial space flight was born.
"I think we'll have an X Prize winner in the next 3 to 4 m,"
Peter Diamandis, president of the X Prize Foundation, told
Reuters. "This is a pivotal y for space flight."
For some X Prize hopefuls -- there are 26 teams registered -- the $10
mn pot will end up being only a fraction of the money spent in
developing, building and flying the winning space craft.
Diamandis said, however, that the teams are not really driven by a
need to recoup their investments but rather by the chance to take
their place in history, much as Charles Lindbergh did when he made the
1st solo non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean in 1927.
That achievement won him fame and a $25,000 prize, but more importantly,
is credited for ushering in the era of modern commercial air travel,
Diamandis said.
"I was amazed at how aviation got started by these prizes," said
Diamandis, "9 teams spent 16 times the prize amount."
Of the other teams vying for the X Prize, only one or 2 others are
considered to have the capability to win the challenge this y.
Canada's Da Vinci Project is also aiming to capture the prize this
summer by launching a rocket suspended from a helium balloon at an
altitude of 80,000 feet.
But many observers and experts have their bets on SpaceShipOne, which
was designed by a team led by Burt Rutan, who designed the Voyager
airplane that was flown nonstop around the world in 1986 by his
brother Dick Rutan and Jeanna Yeager.
SpaceShipOne will be carried to an altitude of 50,000 feet by a larger
carrier airplane, and then released to fire a rocket that will burn
for 80 seconds to take it into the final stretch.
At its peak altitude, if all goes as planned, the test pilot of the world's
1st privately funded space craft will experience about 3 and a
half minutes of weightlessness and see the black expanse of outer space.
Sprint claims "world speed record" for Internet
LA (AFP). US telecom group Sprint and a Swedish partner say they have
set a new world speed record of data transport over the Internet of
4.23 gigabits per second.
"This result is almost 3 times better than the current record listed
in the 2004 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records," Sprint
said in a statement.
"For Internet users whose need for speed is a priority, this feat
would be equal to streaming 600 full-length movies simultaneously out
to movie theatres," director of data systems engineering for Sprint,
Chase Cotton, said.
Sprint said its engineers and a team from the Swedish Nat'l Research
and Education Network (SUNET) in Apr sent nearly 840 gigabytes of data
from a computer in San Jose, California, roughly halfway around the
globe to associates at another PC at the University of Lulea in N
Sweden in under 27 minutes.
The data travelled across Sprint's Internet backbone and the SUNET
network at 4.23 gigabits per 2nd "using commercial networks and
commonly available computer networking hardware".
The feat was verified by a judging committee of the Internet2
consortium, which sponsors an ongoing data-transmission speed contest,
the statement said.
{{
Midnight.
In WA, police have re-captured 2 of 3 remaining escapees. They were
taken into custody around 8 pm. Police arrested 5 people at the
scene, incl a woman and a 15 yo boy. 2 police cars were reportedly
damaged in the arrests. 25 yo Robert Hill remains at large.
SYD. Students at a SYD high school are still in a state of shock after
a student put a gun to her head and pulled the trigger yesterday
afternoon. The girl's friends say they had no idea she was suicidal.
The girl is in hospital in a serious condition.
The BBC reports Nek Mohammed was tracked down by his sat phone signal.
While the tribal leader and former Taliban cmdr had agreed to renounce
militancy, he had also vowed jihad against the Pakistan govt. While
Pakistan says Nek Mohammed had been protecting foreign fighters, he
said he only hosted local mujahideen. He said the Pak govt had
arrested 200 people in the border region, claiming they were foreign
militants, but had later released them when they found they were not.
Local people today say they saw a drone aircraft in the sky shortly
before the leader's compound blew up. Observers say it may indicate
the US was involved in the targeted assassination.
Speaking to the BBC, a provincial police cmdr in N Afghanistan says 10
civilians and a policeman had been wounded after a day of fighting.
He said a disgruntled police cmdr had started the fighting after his
men had beaten up a visiting Kabul official. The cmdr had later fled
to Harat.
1 am
The former conservative govt of Spain has accused the Socialist govt
of destroying the dream of S Spain by using a special decree to abort a
water diversion plan.
5 am
Saudi insurgents have beheaded a US captive after the govt refused to
meet their demands and release 700 suspected al-Qaeda militants.
Analysts say the US is pushing for immunity for peacekeeping troops
because they are loathe to prosecute their own soldiers for Geneva
Violations. Kofi Annan has come out strongly against the US pressure.
Tip of the iceberg. A human rights group is worried that US prisoners
are being shuffled between secret jails -- some of them belonging to
other nations -- in order to hold them beyond the reach of internat'l
law. The group says statements from US officials say the aim of the
process is to allow the prisoners to be interrogated more rigorously
than they would be under other conditions.
6 am
Wall St has closed in positive territory, helped by stabilising oil
prices. At the close, the DJIA was up 39 pts and the Nasdaq up 3.
The FTSE ended up 13 pts -- the 4th positive day in a Dow. The AUD
has lifted 1 c to 68.95 on a record $165 bn US trade deficit for the
Mar Q. Gold was higher at $US395.70/oz. Oil is down, investors
factoring in the Iraqi repair news. Late data was down 17 to $US36.29/bbl.
US Sec of State Powell has condemned the apparent execution of 49 yo
engineer Paul Johnson as "an act of barbarism".
3 suspected terrorists have been shot dead by security forces in
Riyadh. The news came after the execution of an American hostage.
Coal'n officials in Iraq say oil exports could begin as early as
tomorrow. Repairs were expected to take 10 days. But officials say one
of the oil pipelines that was attacked by insurgents could be
repaired as soon as tomorrow. Observers warn of an environmental
disaster, as surrounding land has been swamped by oil.
Israeli authorities have arrested 7 people, incl an 18 yo woman, on
charges of planning and involvement in terrorist attacks. The 18 yo
high school student was arrested in Nablus.
PM Howard has stepped up pressure on Opp'n policy to pull out soldiers
by the end of the y. He said the policy would damage the relationship
with the US regime, and send "the worst possible signal at the worst
possible time to the worst possible people". What a way to talk about
those nice Republicans!
John Faulkner has told the Senate up to 6 Aussie cyclists at the Aust
Inst of Sport in Adel had locked themselves in a room at the Inst, and
shot up drugs night after night. He asked why the Inst had not done
something about the practice, and has called for an independent
inquiry. 2 of the cyclists that trafficked and used the drugs -- incl
some intended for horses -- are said to be potential Olympic medallists.
6.20 am
Within the last 20 mins an Israeli chopper has made a strike inside
Gaza City. There are no reports yet of cas or a confirmation from the
Israeli military.
The US State Dept says it doesn't know what Pres Putin is talking
about when he claimed Russia passed on intel that Iraq was planning
terrorist attacks after 9/11 within the US and around the world.
Turkish police have arrested 4 al-Qaeda suspects and discovered
bomb-making equipment. The swoop comes ahead of a NATO meeting in Istanbul.
10 S African soccer refs have been arrested by police on suspicion
they're involved in massive match-fixing.
Saudi police are continuing the search for al-Qaeda suspects after
the beheading of an American hostage. The murder came despite huge
sweeps of Riyadh by security forces. Observers say there's a huge
question mark over Saudi police -- whether they're fully committed to
fighting terrorism in the Kingdom. As a police state, they say it's
incredible Saudi police don't know what's going on or who's involved
in terrorist rings.
NYMEX oil has closed up to $US38.75/bbl. Traders were worried about
the Iraqi sabotage and a strike in Norway, the No 3 oil exporter.
6.50 am
Brussels. The 25 EU leaders have agreed on the adoption of the first
Constitution. Despite heated disagreements between Blair and Chirac the
group is reportedly toasting the historic agreement with French champagne.
7 am
Saudi officials in Washington say fighting is now underway between
security forces and an al-Qaeda group in Riyadh.
8 am
Saudi police say they've killed 3 al-Qaeda terrorists, incl the head
of the organisation in Saudi Arabia. A fire-fight had started when
security forces came across the militants as they were trying to
dispose of the body of a murdered American contractor.
[Later report quote "al-Qaeda" saying their cmdr in Saudi Arabia has
not been killed].
Midday.
AUS will sign up to the US missile def shield next m. Def Min Sen
("what POW abuse?") Hill says the agreement will result in development
co-operation for 25 y, incl the development of over-the-horizon (OTH)
radar for missile defence systems. The Opp'n says it will reverse or
re-negotiate the policy if it wins power.
Baquba. Sporadic fighting is continuing. A US military rep says
insurgents launched an RPG attack on the 1AD in the NE corner of the
town. 1 US soldier was killed in a gun battle there yesterday. Us
cmdrs say 7 insurgents were killed today. The local hospital says
several civilians were killed in the crossfire.
Brazil has been hit by foot and mouth for the first time in 3 y.
Brazil is the home of the world's largest beef herds -- 165 mn head.
3 infected cows have been found in the N of the country. Russia has
banned Brazilian beef imports on the news of the outbreak.
Confirmation is a major blow. Brazil has been trying to push into new
markets. AUS rates Brazil as a "medium term threat [?]" in internat'l
markets.
7 pm
MEL. About 4,000 residents of Camberwell, Box Hill and Baldwin were
forced to the polls today to vote on whether a 75 y ban on alcohol in
the suburb would be overturned. Two restaurants want to overturn the
1920 prohibition. Results will be known later this evening.
8 pm
10 suspected al-Qaeda militants have been arrested by Saudi authorities
after a crack down following the execution of a US chopper engineer.
One of those arrested is said to be connected with the attack on the
USS Cole in which 17 American seamen died in 2002.
10 pm
At least 20 people have been killed and another 4 injured after a
house "blew up" in Fallujah, 50 km W of Baghdad. Some say the
compound was hit in a US chopper strike.
Rangoon. 400 people have converged on NLD HQ today to call for the
release of Aung San Suu Kyi from detention. It was also the Nobel
laureate's 59th b'day.
}}
----------------------------------------
Sun, 20 Jun 2004.
It's World Refugee Day and concentration camp security is well!
HEADLINES:
UK probes reports troops abused dead Iraqis
Nepal rebel attack on police patrol kills 18 people
At least 20 Iraqis killed in US air strike: reports
Al Qaeda confirms Muqrin's death
US strikes 'Al Qaeda safe house' in Iraq, 22 dead
Turkey Against Kurdish Autonomy In Iraq
Real victims of violence in Iraq
NATO force with 3,000 Brit troops to go to Iraq
Japan PM Under Fire For Lax Diplomacy In Joining Iraq Security Force
Iraq plan, exit strategy underway
Bush touting progress in Iraq
30 local Marine reservists called up to Iraq again
3 die in Iraq bomb blast
2 mn families to receive lump sum payments
2 survive light plane crash
Abbott says Labor should back FTA bills
Ambulance service says ban puts lives at risk
Anglican church to apologise in Adel services
Armed Kurds abduct 10 taxi drivers
Asylum seeker hospitalised after overdose
Brit MPs accuse Israeli troops of firing at them
Brit honours Nazi hunter Wiesenthal
Burmese democracy icon marks 59th birthday in detention
C'wealth responsible for detention centres: prison watchdog
Chavez, media boss lay ground rules for recall
Coalition slowly coming to senses
Doctor blasts Red Nose Day fund raising
Failure to catch bin Laden my greatest disappointment: Clinton
Filipino to be extradited on murder charges
Freed whale to be monitored
Hill working on Defence communication
Human Rights Commissioner marks World Refugee Day
India, Pakistan agree to reduce risks of nuclear row
India, Pakistan begin nuclear talks
Inquiry to probe ALP's Centenary House deal
Iran to review uranium enrichment program
Israeli army probes Brit MP's shooting claim
Israeli helicopters attack Gaza Strip
Jim Bacon dies aged 54
Labor conference continues amid protests
Latham wants debt warnings on cards
Police swoop on paedophile network
Protests mark Suu Kyi's birthday
Refugee activists enter Nauruan waters: report
Syria to impose sanctions on US
Teenager charged with father's murder
Tug-of-whale erupts in Canada
US Missiles Kill 20 Fallujah Residents
US says airstrike aimed at al Qaeda
Union critical of latest nurse's pay deal
Vanstone unswayed by Nauru hunger strike
Yacht crew determined to land on Nauru
Human Rights Commissioner marks World Refugee Day
Canberra. The Fed Human Rights Commissioner is urging people to stop
and consider the plight of refugees today, World Refugee Day.
Dr Sev Ozdowski says it marks the misery experienced by 1000s of
oppressed people who are desperately seeking a better life.
"It's about people who need to escape from their own countries because
of who they are, because of their beliefs," he said.
"AUS is a lucky country, we do not produce refugees, but we are also a
country which is receiving refugees and therefore we've got to celebrate it."
He renewed calls for an overhaul of the Govt's policy of detaining
would-be immigrants and asylum seekers.
Dr Ozdowski says mandatory detention, especially of children, does not
comply with internat'l human rights laws, and is also wrong on moral
and practical grounds.
He says he is delighted the PM has announced he intends to reduce the
number of children held in detention centres to zero, but wants the
young detainees should be released as soon as possible.
"We shouldn't delay it for one more day than necessary," he said.
"We know their health conditions, we know they do not constitute a
security threat to AUS, it's important to allow them to wait in the
community for their decisions."
Coalition slowly coming to senses
Op/Ed (Gulf News). The coalition marched into Baghdad with an
announced vision of how to change Iraq. But their lack of planning,
unwillingness to offer Iraqis a substantial role in the process and
their determination to exclude the United Nations meant that within
days they had lost their way, and lost control of the political
process, which drifted into chaos.
However, the Americans running the coalition have slowly begun to see
that they cannot manage Iraq without the Iraqis, and have begun to
hand over some areas of govt to them. The formal shift of sovereignty
comes at the end of the month, and although that will not change much
-- since the incoming govt has been appointed by the US -- it will
give Iraq's friends a chance to start again and work with the system
to improve the country's chances.
This has also been recognised by Moqtada Al Sadr, who has sent his
fighters home, and is talking of forming a political party to prepare
for the elections, which the incoming interim govt has to hold by Jan
2005. He will use the extra credibility that his 10-week-long
insurgency has given him amongst some Iraqis to get extra votes in the
future assembly.
The desperate security situation in Iraq has meant that armed forces
have become the face of the coalition to most Iraqis. This is the
coalition's largest failing, and while some very hard work has been
done for the future, the lack of engagement by the coalition in Iraqi
life has meant that the real Iraq has gone its own way.
The leaders of the different communities have been mustering their
forces, either armed or democratic, and are ready to jump whichever
way the country goes.
NATO force with 3,000 Brit troops to go to Iraq
London (Hindustan Times/AFP). London and Washington are drawing up a
plan to send a NATO force including up to 3,000 Brit troops to Iraq to
support the interim Iraqi govt as it takes over power, a Brit
newspaper said on Sat.
The troops would be "temporarily extracted" from NATO and labelled a
Brit-led internat'l force to make it more politically acceptable to
members of the alliance, notably France and Germany, that were opposed
to the war, The Guardian said.
The force would come from NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, based in
Germany under the command of a Brit general, Richard Dannatt,
reinforced by a Brit battle group, the newspaper said.
About 60% of the corps are Brit, it added.
Officials told The Guardian that the plan is to be formally agreed at
the NATO summit in Istanbul on the eve of the official hand over of
sovereignty on Jun 30.
Defence Min Geoff Hoon announced on Thu that Brit is to send an extra
270 troops to Iraq as part of a rotation of forces based there.
More than 600 Royal Marine commandos will be sent to Iraq from next
wk, replacing 2 other units whose tour of duty is about to end.
30 local Marine reservists called up to Iraq again
Indianapolis (Indy Star). A local US Marine Corps unit is being
tapped for communications assistance in Iraq for the 3rd time this y.
30 Marines from Detachment Communications Company, HQ Battalion, 4th
Marine Division, based in Indianapolis, will arrive in Iraq within the
next 2 m, said Marine Lt Col Charlie Haislip.
The troops are specialists in radio and data communications, Haislip said.
They are to report Mon and might ship out to California by Thu.
They will be activated for one year, with 7 m in Iraq.
It will be the 2nd trip to Iraq for about half of the Marines.
"Those Marines returned last Father's Day and now they are going back
right around Father's Day," Haislip said. They spent their last tour
in Ramadi, Iraq.
The other half are new to the unit but are "anxious to put their
training to the test,." Maj Alison Thomas, officer in charge and
company executive officer, said in a written statement.
2 contingents from the company already are headed for Iraq: 4 Marines
are awaiting deployment at Camp Pendleton, Calif.; 10 others are just
arriving in Iraq.
Reserve troops make an 8-y commitment to the military.
Japan PM Under Fire For Lax Diplomacy In Joining Iraq Security Force
Tokyo (AFP). Japan's premier came under fire Sat for committing
troops to a UN-backed security force in Iraq after Tokyo only got a
verbal agreement from Brit and US officials to its conditions for
joining the multinat'l force.
The conditions, among them that Japanese troops do not use force and
stay under Japanese command, were approved by Brit foreign ministry
and US State Dept diplomatic officials on Jun 8-9, the govt said.
"This is a matter that should have been discussed between Prime Min
Junichiro Koizumi and US Pres [George W] Bush," Katsuya Okada, the
main opp'n Democratic Party of Japan leader said Sat.
"A verbal promise at the ambassadorial representative level is the
same as saying nothing at all," he told reporters in N Akita.
For Min Yoriko Kawaguchi told a parliamentary panel Fri the verbal
approval was a "diplomatic custom".
"Not everything must be confirmed with written documents," she said.
The govt said its decision to participate in the multinat'l force
would not change the mandate of some 550 Japanese troops in southern
Iraq now providing humanitarian and reconstruction aid.
The liberal Asahi Shimbun newspaper called the cabinet decision Fri
the latest in an "installment plan" in which Japan's troops could be
drawn into combat alongside some of the 150,000 US-led troops in Iraq.
"Trying to solve the issue with a verbal promise between diplomatic
officials is symbolic of the scariness of the 'Koizumi way'," it said
in a front-page editorial.
It also criticised the govt for avoiding formally consulting
Parliament, which ended its 150-day regular session Wed.
The paper called for voters to express their disapproval in a Jul 11
election in which half of Parliament's 242 upper house seats are at stake.
Bush touting progress in Iraq
Washington (Mercury News). With Iraq looming over the presidential
campaign, for the past m the Bush Admin has been trying to tout
positive developments there before the Jun 30 transfer of limited
sovereignty to the interim Iraqi govt.
But since the Whitehouse public-relations offensive began with a major
speech by Pres Bush on May 24, it has been inundated by bad news.
Violence like this wk's suicide bombings in and around Baghdad, which
killed dozens of Iraqis, continues to be the dominant image of Iraq in
America, overshadowing the emerging democracy there, Secretary of
State Colin Powell said Fri in an interview with the Mercury News and
4 other newspapers.
"It's hard to get that good news out when you have this security
problem," he said. "We've got to get on top of the security problem or
it will continue to make news every day and it will continue to
undercut what the new govt's trying to do."
Echoing Bush, Powell said he hoped that the hand-over of sovereignty
would quell some of the violence, "because if the Iraqis on the first
of Jul see it is their leaders who are in charge and they have
control of their own destiny, then who are they attacking?"
There was one bright spot for Bush: Despite the bad news from Iraq, a
poll released this wk by the Pew Research Center found that 57 percent
thought the military effort in Iraq was going well, up from 46% in May.
But it may be that people have tuned out: The poll also found that 39%
followed news from Iraq very closely in Jun, down from 54% in Apr.
Rep Ellen Tauscher, D-Walnut Creek, said the Bush Admin is trying to
use "rosy" rhetoric to cover deep problems in Iraq, such as not having
enough troops to provide adequate security.
"This is an Admin led by a president unencumbered with self-doubt, no
matter how the facts contradict with what they're saying," she said.
Tauscher cited the Sep 11 commission findings released this wk, which
concluded that meetings between Al-Qaeda and Iraqi officials in the
1990s did "not appear to have resulted in a collaborative
relationship," contradicting a key pillar of the Admin's rationale for war.
The report has caused some Democrats like Tauscher and Sen Dianne
Feinstein, D-Calif, who voted to authorise the war in 2002, to
question the case the Bush Admin made to them.
"Absolutely, I feel I was misled," Feinstein said. Top Admin
officials, including Bush, Powell and VP Dick Cheney, all said this wk
that they still believe there was a relationship between Al-Qaeda and
Iraq that was not contradicted by the Sep 11 commission report. They
insisted they never made a direct connection between former Iraqi
leader Saddam Hussein and Sep 11.
Powell reiterated that Fri, saying that while people could "argue
about the words 'ties,' 'links' or "connections,' " the Admin never
overstated its case.
But statements by the Admin implying a link with Al-Qaeda have taken
hold, Tauscher said.
In a NY Times/CBS News poll in Apr, 39% said they thought Saddam was
personally involved in the Sep 11 attacks.
With a presidential election coming this fall, the Admin has to build
more domestic support for its policy in Iraq. Charlie Black, a
Whitehouse adviser, expects Bush and other top officials to continue
their media offensive throughout the summer.
Iraq plan, exit strategy underway
Op/Ed (Oregonian). I take issue with people decrying the Admin's
handling of the proceedings in Iraq. These people are yelling for a
plan, an exit strategy.
Haven't they been listening? Our president's plan was to oust Saddam
Hussein's regime (mission accomplished), to install an interim Iraqi
govt [and to grant limited sovereignty] on Jun 30.
Pres Bush has called for free elections in Iraq in early 2005. After the
elections, it will be up to the duly elected of Iraq to determine if
the US, UN or any other presence is needed or wanted in Iraq by the Iraqis.
If in 2005 the people of Iraq say to us, "Thank you for freeing us
from the oppression of a thug. Please leave," then it will be time for
the US-led coalition to get out. If at that point the Iraqis let
another thug take over, they will deserve him.
I lived in a foreign land for 5 y. I had, as did the citizens of that
country, considerably fewer freedoms and rights than I possess living
in America.
-- GEORGE M SAMPSON McMinnville
Failure to catch bin Laden my greatest disappointment: Clinton
NY (AFP). Former US president Bill Clinton says in his soon to be
released memoir, that his failure to capture Al Qaeda leader Osama bin
Laden was his "biggest disappointment," Newsweek magazine said. In an
online exclusive, Newsweek reported that Mr Clinton said he met with
his successor George W Bush before leaving office and told him what
his "5 biggest security problems would be", naming Osama bin Laden and
Al Qaeda 1st and Iraq last. He told Mr Bush his own failure to get
bin Laden was "my biggest disappointment". Mr Clinton also urged Mr
Bush to visit N Korea in an effort to seal an agreement that would get
that nation to end its nuclear program. Mr Clinton says Mr Bush
listened, then quickly changed the subject, Newsweek reported, citing
the memoir.
Chavez, media boss lay ground rules for recall
Atlanta (Reuters). Venezuelan Pres Hugo Chavez has held talks on an
upcoming referendum on his rule with a Venezuelan media magnate and
with former US Pres Jimmy Carter, the Carter Centre said.
Mr Carter organised the meeting on Fri between the left-wing president
and billionaire Gustavo Cisneros, who owns TV channel, Venevision,
which regularly broadcasts criticisms of Chavez's govt.
They discussed the upcoming Aug 15 recall vote and media coverage of
it, the Atlanta-based Carter Centre said in a statement released in Caracas.
"There was a mutual commitment to honour constitutional processes,"
the statement added.
Mr Chavez, Mr Carter and Mr Cisneros discussed the need for a nat'l
dialogue after the recall vote to establish strategies to fight
poverty and promote health, education and economic opportunities in
the world's 5th largest oil exporter.
They also agreed to back talks between Mr Chavez's govt and Venezuela's
private media to guarantee "an adequate climate" for the referendum,
the Carter Centre said.
The populist Venezuelan president, who has been twice elected, has
accused Mr Cisneros of conspiring to overthrow him with the help of
the United States, Venezuela's biggest oil client. The US govt and Mr
Cisneros deny this.
Mr Carter, the 2002 Nobel Peace prize winner, has acted as a key
mediator and observer in Venezuela's referendum process.
Critics of Mr Chavez say he is dragging Venezuela towards Cuba-style
communism and have staged one coup and a business blockade in failed
attempts to oust him. Mr Chavez accuses private media like Mr Cisneros'
Venevision channel of waging "media terrorism" against him.
The talks followed police raids ordered by Venezuelan authorities
against Cisneros properties.
A Jun 11 search of offices rented by Venevision found arms and
ammunition. Venevision said it had nothing to do with the arms.
Mr Chavez's govt has been investigating what it says was an opp'n
conspiracy to topple or kill Mr Chavez using Colombian paramilitaries.
Critics accuse the president of using the case to crack down against
political opponents.
Nepal rebel attack on police patrol kills 18 people
Kathmandu (AFP/Reuters). At least 14 policemen and 4 civilians have
been killed and 4 injured in SW Nepal when their bus hit a landmine
planted by Maoist rebels, according to a snr police official. The
rebels triggered an explosion as the patrol passed along a road in
Nepal's W plains, a rebel stronghold, blasting a civilian vehicle as
well, a police rep said. A short gunbattle followed, but there was no
word of any rebel casualties. In another incident in the region, a
civilian bus was blown up by a landmine nr the town of Tulsipur,
killing one passenger and injuring 13, the official said. The Maoists
have been fighting since 1996 to turn the Hindu kingdom into a
communist republic in an insurgency that has left more than 9,500
people dead.
Al Qaeda confirms Muqrin's death
Riyadh (Reuters). Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia has confirmed the killing
of its leader Abdul Aziz al Muqrin and 3 other militants by Saudi
security forces in Riyadh, the al-Qalaa website said.
"On Fri, the leader Abdul Aziz al Muqrin was martyred along with 3
others...in an ambush carried out by the soldiers of the despot [in
Saudi Arabia]. They opened fire on them in a sudden way which led to
their killing," said a statement attributed to Al Qaeda in the Arabian
peninsula.
"The Mujahideen are continuing the jihad [holy struggle] that they
have pledged to God and the killing of their brothers will not weaken
their resolve but only increase their determination and commitment,"
it added.
The snr rep for Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah says the killing of Al
Qaeda's regional leader and 3 other prominent militants has
substantially weakened the organisation in his country.
Adel al Jubeir says the Saudi people are outraged by the acts of Al
Qaeda including the beheading of American contractor Paul Johnson.
Mr al Jubeir says the actions of Saudi authorities have forced Al
Qaeda to change its tactics.
"We believe that as a consequence of this continuous hunt by Saudi
security forces, Al Qaeda changed its strategy from large scale
spectacular attacks that require a lot of logistics and planning and
technical capabilities, to random acts of murder," he said.
"We have to persevere and continue and we have to eliminate this threat."
The US ambassador in Riyadh has hailed Saudi authorities for killing
the terrorists.
Ambassador James Oberwetter says the death of al Muqrin removes a
significant threat from the Saudi peninsula.
"He was among one of the most vicious of the current Al Qaeda crop on
the peninsula," he said.
"He was involved in a number of activities against Americans and other
Westerners. Investigation by Saudi authorities will reveal the full
extent of these terrorist activities that he conducted."
The leader of Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia is not dead according to a
statement posted on a website which regularly published statements
from the Al Qaeda terror network.
UK probes reports troops abused dead Iraqis
London. Brit is investigating reports that its soldiers mutilated the
bodies of Iraqi civilians after a vicious gun battle last m, the
Defence Ministry said on Sat.
A ministry rep said Brit "categorically denied" Brit soldiers had
abused the bodies after the firefight nr the southern Iraqi town of
Majar-al-Kabir on May 14.
"We are investigating evidence that has been given to us and should
the outcome of that require it, we will commence a formal
investigation into the incident, but at the moment we have no reason
to believe that that's the case," she added.
The Sun Telegraph newspaper said an Iraqi judge had ordered that some
of the bodies be exhumed for further examination after families of the
dead lodged formal complaints.
It said Iraqi doctors who examined the bodies said they had seen
injuries including mutilated genitals, gouged eyes and severed hands
and had called for an independent examination of forensic evidence.
The ministry said earlier this wk that a complaint had been received
from the Internat'l Committee of the Red Cross about the treatment of
prisoners captured after the same battle, which it was also investigating.
Brit has said 14 Iraqis died in the battle after a patrol was attacked
by followers of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Iraqi officials put the
figure at 20, the paper said.
It is investigating a total of 75 instances of deaths or injury to
Iraqi civilians involving its forces since the beginning of the
invasion of Iraq last y.
On Mon, the A-G announced Brit would prosecute 4 soldiers for assault
and indecent assault for sexually abusing Iraqi prisoners.
Armed Kurds abduct 10 taxi drivers
Samarra, Iraq (AFP). Armed Kurds have abducted 10 taxi-drivers from
Samarra to avenge the murders there last wk of 5 Kurdish Iraqi army
recruits, a police rep said.
"Armed Kurds abducted from Kirkuk bus station 10 taxi drivers from
Samarra, where 5 Kurds were recently kidnapped, killed and their
bodies burnt," the police officer said.
He said he did not know where the taxi drivers had been taken.
A Kurdish official here announced the deaths of the 5 Kurdish recruits
on Mon.
Their car had broken down nr Samarra, 100 km N of Baghdad and they
were heading to a garage for repairs when they were attacked, he said.
Kirkuk, 255 km N of Baghdad, is known for tension among its Kurdish,
Turkmen and Arab populations.
Turkey Against Kurdish Autonomy In Iraq
Istanbul (AFP). Turkey's PM says his country remains opposed to
granting autonomy to Kurds in N Iraq. PM Recep Erdogan said today
that Turkey's policy remains the same, saying: "There is no change."
He was responding to recent comments by Kurdish leader Massud Barzani,
the head of one of the 2 main Kurdish factions in northern Iraq, that
Turkey has dropped its opp'n to Iraqi Kurdish autonomy. Turkey has
traditionally resisted efforts by Iraq's Kurds to achieve broad
autonomy, fearing that success could encourage similar demands by
Turkey's own Kurdish minority.
US Missiles Kill 20 Fallujah Residents
Baghdad (AP). A US military plane fired missiles Sat into a
residential neighbourhood in Fallujah, killing at least 20 people and
levelling houses in the restive Sunni Muslim city, police and residents said.
It was the 1st significant US military action in the city since
Marines ended a bloody 3-wk siege against insurgents. Since the US
forces left, residents have said that extremist influence in the city,
west of Baghdad, has only grown.
US Marines declined comment and referred queries to the US command,
which said it had no comment.
Elsewhere, US troops battled insurgents for a 4th day nr the city of
Baqouba, NE of Baghdad, in fighting that has killed at least 6 Iraqis
and one American soldier, the US military and witnesses said. In
southern Iraq, a roadside bomb killed at least 2 people, including a
Portuguese security officer.
In the Fallujah strike, at least 2 houses were destroyed and 6 others
were damaged in the poor neighbourhood.
At least 20 bodies were counted, and they were taken for burial
immediately at the city's "martyrs' cemetery in accordance with
Islamic custom of burying the dead quickly. At least 3 women and 5
children were among the dead.
2 other people died at the hospital, officials there said.
"At 9.30 am, a US plane shot 2 missiles on this residential area,"
said the Fallujah police chief, Sabbar al-Janabi, as he surveyed the
wreckage. "Scores were killed and injured. This picture speaks for itself."
It was not clear what the target was, but US officials have said
Jordanian-born terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi may be hiding in the city.
Al-Zarqawi has been blamed for the string of car bombs across Iraq,
including the Thu that killed 35 people and wounded 145 at an Iraqi
military recruiting centre in Baghdad.
In Fallujah, rescue workers combed the scene, searching the rubble for
other victims. Slabs of concrete and steel reinforcing bars were
up-ended and twisted, Associated Press Television News footage showed.
Water pooled from a 20-foot-crater in front of one of the destroyed
houses, apparently from where one of the missiles struck. One man
displayed several Qurans burned in the strikes.
Outraged residents accused the Americans of trying to inflict maximum
damaged by firing 2 strikes -- one 1st to attack and another to kill
the rescuers.
"The number of casualties is so high because after the 1st missile we
jumped to rescue the victims," said Wissam Ali Hamad. "The 2nd missile
killed those trying to carry out the rescue."
US Marines besieged Fallujah in Apr after 4 American security
contractors were killed in an ambush in the city and their bodies mutilated.
10 Marines and 100s of Iraqis, many of them civilians, died before the
siege was lifted and security was handed over to an Iraqi volunteer
force, the Fallujah Brigade.
The clashes NE of the capital began Wed in Buhriz when insurgents
fired on US troops after they met with the mayor to discuss projects
"designed to improve the quality of life" for local residents, 1ID rep
Maj Neal O'Brien said.
Buhriz is located on the outskirts of Baqouba, about 55 km NE of
Baghdad, Clashes have continued intermittently in the Baqouba area
ever since. One American soldier died of wounds suffered Fri in
Buhriz, O'Brien said.
The clashes spread Sat to Tahrir, also nr Baqouba, where insurgents
fired RPGs at a US patrol, wounding 2 US soldiers, O'Brien said. The
soldiers were evacuated to the 31st Combat Support Hospital.
Dr Nassir Jawad of the Baqouba General Hospital said at least 6 Iraqis
were killed and 54 were wounded in the Buhriz fighting. Municipal
officials had said 13 Iraqis died. US officials put the Iraqi death
toll at 10 in the Thu fighting and 5 on Fri.
In S Iraq, a roadside bomb killed at least 2 people, including a
Portuguese security official working for the state-run Oil Products Co
and an Iraqi policeman guarding him, police Capt. Diaa Hussein said.
The 2 were driving on a road from the S city of Basra to nearby Zubayr
when the blast destroyed their vehicle. One civilian driving behind
them was also injured, Hussein said.
It was the 2nd attack in 4 days against people involved in protecting
Iraq's oil industry. On Wed, gunmen killed the security chief of the
state-run N Oil Company, Ghazi Talabani, in Kirkuk.
Insurgents have also targeted Iraq's strategic pipeline system,
cutting off all exports from the S oilfields in bombings this wk. Iraq
hopes to resume partial exports this weekend.
Exports from Iraq's other field nr Kirkuk were halted last m due to
sabotage on the pipeline to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, Turkey.
Iraq had been exporting about 1.5 mn barrels of crude oil a day
through 2 S pipelines, both of which were damaged. A coalition rep
said Fri the smaller pipeline had nearly been repaired but full
exports would probably not resume before Wed.
The pipeline attacks are part of a stepped up campaign of violence in
the run-up to the Jun 30 transfer of sovereignty to the interim Iraqi govt.
Meanwhile, NY-based Human Rights Watch said in a statement it would be
unlawful for the US to hold detainees, including Saddam Hussein, after
the Jun 30 power transfer without charging them with crimes.
The US military has said it will continue to hold 1000s of prisoners
detained since it invaded Iraq last y and that it could do so legally
until a "cessation of hostilities."
"The Bush Admin can't have its cake and it too. If the occupation is
over, so is the US authority to detain Iraqis without criminal
charges," said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch.
US says airstrike aimed at al Qaeda
Fallujah (Reuters). The US military says an airstrike in the Iraqi
city of Fallujah which killed about 20 people targeted a safe house for
fighters led by Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi, a militant accused of links to
al Qaeda.
Brig Gen Mark Kimmitt said he did not dispute Iraqi accounts that
around 20 people were killed in the strike.
He said there was "significant intel" members of Zarqawi's Muslim
militant network were in the house, but there was no evidence that he
himself was there.
The US military has said Jordanian-born Zarqawi has played a major
role in bombing attacks in Iraq and maintained a network in Fallujah,
the country's most rebellious town.
The airstrike on Fallujah left victims crushed under rubble after 2
missile strikes demolished the house, witnesses said on Sat.
Relatives brought 22 bodies for burial to a cemetery after the blast.
"An American plane hit this house and 3 others were damaged.
Only body parts are left," one witness told Reuters.
Fallujah residents say US troops have deployed hard-line tactics in the
town that have killed scores of civilians and created new enemies.
Iraqis dug through the rubble of the flattened house, looking for
survivors of Sat's strike.
At Fallujah Martyr's Cemetery, town residents set up a row of 22 graves
covered by cement slabs in keeping with the Muslim tradition of quick burial.
"They brought us 22 corpses, children, women and youth," said cemetery
worker Ahmed Hassan.
US Marine cmdrs have said pacifying Fallujah, one of Iraq's most
rebellious cities, is crucial for stabilising Iraq as the US
occupation formally ends on Jun 30 and sovereignty is handed over to
a new Iraqi interim govt.
In Apr, 100s of Iraqis were killed in fierce fighting between US
Marines and guerrillas in Fallujah, 50 km W of Baghdad.
A truce was later agreed, under which an Iraqi force was put in charge
of security in the city.
After Sat's attack, a man sat on the floor weeping as someone asked
him how many members of his family were killed.
"I don't know. Maybe 10," he said.
At least 20 Iraqis killed in US air strike: reports
Fallujah (ABC, Matt Brown). Hospital officials in Fallujah, W of
Baghdad, say more than 20 people have been killed in a US military air
strike on the town. The US military has made no comment on the claims
but eyewitnesses say 2 missiles struck a house in Fallujah. Local
people have dug through the rubble to recover the dead and
injured. Body parts litter the scene and rescue workers are searching
for other bodies. A worker at Fallujah Martyrs cemetery said the
corpses of 22 people, including women and children, had been brought
for burial. Fallujah has been a centre of resistance to US-led forces
since Apr. Hundreds of Iraqis have died there in fierce fighting
between insurgents and US soldiers. Security in the town has been
turned over to an Iraqi force led by a former general in Saddam
Hussein's regime but the area has not been brought under control.
US strikes "Al Qaeda safe house" in Iraq, 22 dead
Fallujah (Reuters). US forces have launched an air strike on what
they say was a safe house linked to elusive Al Qaeda operative Abu
Musab al Zarqawi in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, killing 22 people in a
"precision strike".
US military officers said there was no sign Zarqawi himself -- who has
a $US10 mn price on his head -- was in the house when it was destroyed.
Furious Iraqis said the dead included women and children.
Brig Gen Mark Kimmitt said in Baghdad the house was being used by
fighters loyal to Zarqawi, accused by Washington of leading a bloody
campaign of suicide bombings and of decapitating a US hostage last m.
"We have significant evidence that there were members of the Zarqawi
network in the house," Brig Gen Kimmitt said.
"Today coalition forces conducted a strike on a known Zarqawi safe
house in SW Fallujah based on multiple confirmations of actionable intel."
Zarqawi, the most wanted man in Iraq, is portrayed by the Americans as
a key figure in terror attacks destabilising the country at a critical
time before the US occupying power hands over sovereignty to an Iraqi
interim govt on Jun 30.
There have been no tangible signs that the military is closing in on
him in Iraq, described by the US as a key front in its war on terror.
That campaign may have failed in Fallujah on Sat but the pro-American
authorities in neighbouring Saudi Arabia said they had killed Al
Qaeda's leader in the kingdom, Abdulaziz al Muqrin, and 3 other
prominent militants.
The Saudi operation came hrs after the group carried out its threat
to behead US hostage Paul Johnson on Fri.
Traumatised residents of Fallujah seemed too busy counting their dead
to follow the winners and losers in the war on Zarqawi and other
Muslim militant leaders bent on driving the US out of the Middle E.
They said 2 missiles had been fired at the house by a US plane on Sat
morning, flattening the building.
Brig Gen Kimmitt said the US strike had caused secondary blasts as
ammunition inside the house exploded.
"An American plane hit this house and 3 others were damaged. Only body
parts are left," a witness said, as rescuers dug through the rubble of
the shattered house for survivors.
"They brought us 22 corpses, children, women and youth," Ahmed Hassan,
a cemetery worker, said after the blast.
Real victims of violence in Iraq
Baghdad (Bahrain Tribune). A spate of car bombings hit Iraq this m
and weekend's toll of over 40 dead, the deadliest in recent weeks, is
the biggest blow to prospects of enforcing peace and order whether in
the capital city Baghdad or other cities in Iraq. The Thu attacks in
Baghdad left a sorry sight with dozens lying dead or wounded amid the
debris and rubble of destruction. The casualties are neither militants
nor potential high-profile targets. They were civilians lining up to
take jobs at an army recruitment centre.
There is the view that the bombing was intended to target the queue --
to tell ordinary Iraqis they should not be collaborating with the US
Admin -- but this could hardly be any issue at the moment. The one big
issue that remains is that the efforts to stabilise and normalise
peace and order in Iraq are hard to come by. To forge peace
immediately is by all indications nothing easy and with increasing
death tolls due to suicide bombings, the entire country remains to be
practically under siege.
While there are deadlines to beat to resuscitate the country,
observers are worried that Iraq is headed towards its own political
implosion that can only descend into further chaos.
A US military rep have announced nonchalantly that there were no US
military casualties in the Thu attacks. But definitely that does not
ease the pain off the incident.
There were casualties, there were deaths, and casualties are
casualties whether they're Iraqi, American, or of whatever
nat'lity. Deaths are deaths. A car bomb attack is an attack; the
situation is still horrendous.
More than a y in the country they occupied, the US-led coalition
forces have only proven that they could not, and cannot, by any means
bring immediate stability to the country. For many, what's worse is
that it is either coalition forces' continued presence or their lack
of a viable plan in occupying Iraq that is escalating the violence in
the country.
There are so many forces to contend with in Iraq.
The unabated killing is leaving administrators in Iraq with mouths
wide open, pondering the "who's-doing-what-to-whom" question. Suddenly
policy-makers on Iraq seem to be facing a blank wall. There is a
crisis that's staring them and to compound the situation they are
facing more questions than answers. For the US Admin, the feeling
could be worse -- the explosions on Thu happened less than a day after
release of a 9/11 report in the US stating that there really wasn't
even any connection at all between 9/11 and the occupation in
Iraq. That is another story but that definitely is another blow to
justifying US presence in the oil-rich nation.
The pressure in the meantime is felt not only much by the Americans or
the clique of Iraqis newly installed in power via an American
lobby. The spiralling incidents of killings and mounting tensions are
putting pressure on the ordinary Iraqis, who are at the sorry end of
suffering in a country rocked by violence, and more violence.
3 die in Iraq bomb blast
Basra (AFP). A Portuguese telecommunications worker and 2 Iraqis have
been killed in a roadside bombing nr the S Iraqi city of Basra,
according to police and hospital sources. "The body of a Portuguese
man, registered under the name of Roberto Carlos, working for
(telecommunications) company Al-Atheer was brought to Basra hospital
after an attack on the road to Zubair," said Ismail Mulla, an official
with the emergency services. An Iraqi policeman assigned to protect
oil installations and an oil worker were also killed in the attack,
which happened about 3 km S of Basra, a local police officer
said. The Iraqi driver of the all-terrain vehicle belonging to
Al-Atheer, which runs telecommunications services in S Iraq, was
wounded, he said. Another police officer, who did not want to be
named, said the driver of another car caught in the blast was also hurt.
Iran to review uranium enrichment program
Tehran (Reuters). Iran says it will review its suspension of uranium
enrichment. The country's chief nuclear negotiator, Hassan Rohani,
has told a news conference Iran will announce a final decision in
coming days. The move follows a UN resolution sharply rebuking Iran
for failing to cooperate fully with its nuclear watchdog, the
Internat'l Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Mr Rohani repeated that Iran
has no secret uranium enrichment sites and will continue to cooperate
with the IAEA. The United States has said Iran's nuclear program is a
front for building an atomic weapon. Iran denies this, insisting its
ambitions are limited to generating electricity.
Burmese democracy icon marks 59th birthday in detention
Rangoon (AFP). Hundreds of Burmese pro-democracy supporters have
gathered to mark detained opp'n leader Aung San Suu Kyi's 59th
birthday as Washington led renewed calls for her to be freed
"immediately and unconditionally".
More than 400 people from around the country converged on the Yangon
HQ of Ms Suu Kyi's Nat'l League for Democracy (NLD) party, where a
dawn ceremony saw monks offer prayers and receive alms prior to
speeches by NLD representatives.
"The whole world demands the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, not only the
NLD," Hla Pe, an ageing member of the party's central executive
committee, said in a brief speech.
The Nobel peace laureate remains under house arrest since her
detention more than one y ago and has now spent nearly 9 of the past
15 y in some form of detention.
NLD secretary and rep U Lwin said they were not only campaigning for
Ms Suu Kyi's release but also that of her deputy chairman Tin Oo and
all other political prisoners.
"In the future we have to struggle. Even we feel there are so many
difficulties but we have to go ahead," U Lwin told AFP.
"We have waited 15 y, and maybe we have to wait another 15 y."
9 peace doves were released from small cages during the commemoration,
which culminated with about 300 of Ms Suu Kyi's supporters marching to
the Shwedagon Pagoda, Burma's most prominent religious site, to offer
birthday prayers for their leader.
The marchers filed peacefully through the streets of Yangon, with
about a dozen uniformed riot police following in vehicles.
With Jun 19 being observed by opp'n groups as Burma's women's day,
the NLD's Women Central Committee representatives oversaw the function
and spoke out about the appalling conditions in the country.
"As far as women are concerned, all we have so far are slogans and
nothing else," committee member Leh Leh told the crowd.
Demonstrations calling for Ms Suu Kyi's freedom were also staged in
neighbouring Bangladesh and India, where 100s gathered in the
countries' capitals.
Ms Suu Kyi and her aides were taken into custody after deadly clashes on
May 30 last y when her convoy was set upon by a junta-backed mob in N Burma.
Dissidents who escaped the melee said as many as 100 people were killed.
The Govt claims 4 people were killed and 50 injured.
The incident triggered a crackdown on the NLD and the detention of
dozens of other opp'n party members, most of whom have since been
released, including 6 NLD members set free on Fri.
Renewed calls for the democracy icon's freedom also came from abroad.
"The United States salutes Aung San Suu Kyi on her 59th birthday,"
said Adam Ereli, the State Dept's deputy rep.
"We look forward to the time when she will be able to celebrate her
birthday in a free and democratic Burma."
Israeli helicopters attack Gaza Strip
Gaza (BBC). Israeli helicopters have carried out attacks in the Gaza
Strip. They have fired missiles at 2 buildings the Israelis say were
being used to build rockets for Palestinian militants. Late in the
evening, helicopters were heard coming in low over the strip's main
population centre, Gaza City. The aircraft circled for some time
before striking twice in the eastern suburbs. Both times, workshops
were targeted and each of them was hit by 2 missiles. Both premises
are thought to have been empty and there are no serious casualties.
The Israeli defence forces said afterwards that their mission was aimed
at destroying what they say were sites being used to manufacture weapons.
Brit MPs accuse Israeli troops of firing at them
Gaza (AFP). 3 Brit MPs have said that Israeli troops had fired at
them twice during a visit to the S Gaza Strip town of Rafah, a rep for
the Brit Consulate told AFP. "The MPs said they were fired at [by
Israeli troops] while inside a UN car in Rafah and also when they got
out of the car," he said. "They are still in the country and we will
take this incident up with the Israeli authorities." There was no
immediate comment from the Israeli army. The rep did not name the
MPs, but a report on the BBC website identified them as Huw
Irranca-Davies from the ruling Labour party, Crispin Blunt from the
opp'n Conservatives and the Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Northover.
He said the Israeli authorities were well aware that the cross-party
group was on a working visit to the area, which was the scene of a
massive army offensive last month, during which more than 40
Palestinians were killed.
Brit honours Nazi hunter Wiesenthal
London (Reuters). Brit has awarded an honorary knighthood to Nazi
hunter Simon Wiesenthal for a "lifetime of service to humanity" by
helping bring Holocaust perpetrators to justice, the Foreign Office
said on Sat.
Wiesenthal, 95, spent the best part of 5 decades tracking down more
than 1,000 Nazi war criminals responsible for the mass murder of Jews
in World War II and played a role in the capture of one of Adolf
Hitler's henchmen, Adolf Eichmann.
"Mr Wiesenthal has been un-tiring in his service to the Jewish
communities in the UK and elsewhere by helping to right at least some
of the awful wrongs of the Holocaust," For Sec Jack Straw said when
the honour was announced in Feb.
Some 90 members of Mr Wiesenthal's family perished in the Holocaust
and he himself weighed just 50 kgs when liberated from the Austrian
concentration camp Mauthausen by US soldiers in 1945.
The Simon Wiesenthal Centre, an internat'l Jewish rights organisation,
was established in 1977 in honour of his work.
Brit's ambassador to Austria, John Macgregor, presented the award to
Wiesenthal on Fri, a Foreign Office rep said.
Honorary knighthoods are given to those who have made an important
contribution to Brit interests but are not Brit citizens.
Israeli army probes Brit MP's shooting claim
Jerusalem (AFP/Reuters). The Israeli army will investigate claims
that its troops fired at 3 Brit parliamentarians during a UN
coordinated visit to a refugee camp in S Gaza.
An army rep said it was looking into the account of the shooting at
Rafah, a militant stronghold where troops launched a 6-day offensive
last m which the United Nations said rendered 575 Palestinians homeless.
Baroness Lindsay Northover of the Liberal Democrat party said she and
2 other parliamentarians, Huw Irranca-Davies from the ruling Labour
party, Crispin Blunt from the opp'n Conservatives, had visited Rafah
on Fri with a UN convoy.
Baroness Northover, rep on Internat'l Development in the House of
Lords, the upper house of the Brit parliament, said they suddenly
heard a burst of machine gunfire from the direction of an army
observation tower in front of them.
"A UN official who was supervising us told us to quickly return to the
vehicles because we were being shot at," she said.
"He said they were probably firing warning shots. We had come down
there in clearly marked UN vehicles with UN flags on them."
The Israeli rep said the army was "not aware of the incident in question
at this point" and that the delegation had not coordinated its arrival
in Rafah with either the foreign ministry or the defence ministry.
"We were not aware that these Brit MPs were in Rafah because it wasn't
officially coordinated through us," a Foreign Ministry rep told AFP.
"We have spoken with the Brit embassy and are checking with the army
what actually happened."
A Brit consular rep said that due to the rigorous security checks on
entering Gaza, the Israeli authorities would have been aware the
cross-party group was on a working visit to the area.
The ministry 1st became aware of the incident through media reports,
and a formal complaint was filed on Sat afternoon.
Baroness Northover said Palestinian children had been running around
and that the 6 Brit and UN officials were the only adults present.
She said the shots had to have come from the tower because nearby
there was only a wall and wasteland.
"Suddenly there was another shot over my head," she said.
"It shot the side of a house and a bit of it came down the wall beside
me. I knew about at that point they were shooting at us.
"We got to the car, having to come around the vehicles. I was between
the vehicles and the observation post and at that point I thought
there was a strong likelihood I would get shot at again, but it didn't
happen and we got in the vehicles."
Baroness Northover said she and the other parliamentarians would lodge an
official complaint to the Israeli govt when they returned to Brit on Mon.
Both Israeli troops and Palestinian militants have been accused of
firing at diplomatic convoys touring flash-point areas in the W Bank
and Gaza several times since a Palestinian uprising began in Sep 2000.
Syria to impose sanctions on US
Damascus (AP). Syria is preparing a law that would prohibit trade
dealings with the US in response to US sanctions imposed on the Arab
country last m, Syrian legislators said.
More than 130 members of the 250-seat legislature have prepared a
draft of the America Accountability Act that would impose "strict
sanctions" on American interests in Syria.
In a statement faxed to The Associated Press in Damascus, parliament
officials said the draft law is a response to "Washington's policy in
the region and its unlimited support and bias for Israeli policies and
practices and to the Syria Accountability Act".
Muhammad Habash, a lawmaker with moderate Islamic affiliations who is
one of the campaigners for the draft law, said the law was meant to
maintain the dignity of Syrians.
"We are not simple minded to the degree that we imagine we can affect
the great American economy," he said.
"But we are able to maintain our dignity and slap the Americans so
they know that if they continue with their arrogant policies, people
everywhere around the globe will spit at them."
Last month, US Pres George W Bush banned all US exports to Syria
except for food and medicine and banned Syrian flights to and from the
United States after longstanding complaints that Syria was supporting
terrorism and undermining US efforts in Iraq.
The sanctions were based on the Syria Accountability Act, a law passed last
y that calls for sanctions against Syria for its alleged support of
terrorism. Syria denies the US claims and says the sanctions are political.
The parliament statement said lawmakers would submit the draft law for a
vote on Jun 27 during a parliament session in which For Min Farouk
al-Sharaa will explain the Syrian govt's rationale for imposing the
sanctions.
The statement said the law was expected to pass overwhelmingly.
It would have to be ratified by Pres Bashar Assad before becoming law.
The statement did not give details on the nature of the sanctions
Syria will impose.
Lawmaker Suleiman Haddad said the sanctions may be in the form of
boycotting American goods but would not be a complete boycott of the
US, although he said some members of parliament supported that option.
"We in Syria believe that there is still a thread between us and
America," Haddad said in a telephone interview. He said the sanctions
would not impose restrictions on US companies working in his country.
There are several US companies operating in Syria, which in the last y
has signed oil exploration deals with American companies worth $US34
mn [$A50 mn].
Trade between the US and Syria amounts to only $US300 mn [$A440 mn] a y.
India, Pakistan begin nuclear talks
New Delhi (BBC). India and Pakistan began their 1st ever talks on Sat
on how to reduce the risk of nuclear war, 6 y after each successfully
tested nuclear bombs.
The 2 days of meetings in New Delhi come a wk before broader
high-level talks.
"Both sides approached the talks in a positive framework, aimed at
taking the process forward, and making them result-oriented," India's
Foreign Ministry said in a brief statement after the 1st day's session.
"They [India and Pakistan] also exchanged views on their respective
security concepts and nuclear doctrines," it said.
New Delhi's stated nuclear policy is not to strike 1st with nuclear
weapons, but Pakistan, worried about India's growing conventional
military superiority, has made no such pledge.
"The differences in these 2 doctrines is a major obstacle that must be
dealt with in these and future talks," said Pran Chopra, South Asian
analyst and commentator.
The 2 sides were also are expected to discuss the establishment of a
hotline to prevent any sudden nuclear escalation.
Pakistan's acting foreign secretary, Tariq Osman Hyder, is leading an
eight-member team with snr Indian Foreign Ministry official Sheel Kant
Sharma and other officials.
The delegations also paid a courtesy call on Indian For Min Natwar
Singh and Nat'l Security Adviser Jyotindra Nath Dixit.
The nuclear talks were delayed a m by India's elections.
They precede discussions next Sun between the civil servants in charge
of foreign ministries on issues including disputed Kashmir.
The conflict in the scenic Himalayan region has delayed the nuclear
talks for 6 y.
"Nuclear trust is so important. It will create a better atmosphere and
form a stronger basis for proceeding on other issues including
Kashmir," Mr Chopra said.
India, Pakistan agree to reduce risks of nuclear row
New Delhi (BBC). India and Pakistan have begun talks on reducing the
risk of a nuclear conflict and the accidental use of weapons. This
comes 2 y after coming close to war over the disputed territory of
Kashmir. They are the 1st substantive discussions the 2 countries
have had on that risk since becoming nuclear powers. An Indian
Foreign Ministry rep, Navtej Sarna, says the first meeting between the
govt of Pres Purveiz Musharaff and the newly-elected Congress govt in
India has been productive. "The 2 delegations identified areas of
convergence," he said. "They also exchanged views on their respective
security concepts and nuclear doctrines and agreed to elaborate and
work towards confidence building measures."
Anglican church to apologise in Adel services
Adelaide. Anglican churches around Adel will this morning be read a
statement from the church's governing body, apologising to survivors
of sexual abuse within the church.
The statement comes from a resolution passed at the Adel Synod yesterday.
All 280 members of the Synod stood while the resolution was read out.
It apologised for the way the church worked against and discouraged
those who had come forward to report sexual abuse and acknowledged it
only took notice when the survivors of abuse became a threat.
The Synod also responded to the Independent Board of Inquiry's report
into the abuse allegations, with 9 of the 11 recommendations adopted
or already in place.
It was also told of the church's plan to compensate victims.
Diocese administrator John Collas says he expects to be advised that
certain church workers should be suspended or dismissed for their
conduct, and that still more people are likely to come forward to
report allegations of abuse.
Meanwhile, Archbishop of Bris Philip Aspinall hopes the resignation of
his Adel counterpart can help the church move forward after criticism
of its response to child sex abuse allegations.
Ian George resigned last week, while the ABC this wk obtained letters
he had exchanged with an alleged paedophile chaplain who had fled the country.
Archbishop Aspinall says Dr George's role in the handling of sex abuse
matters was thoroughly considered by the inquiry into the issue but
the church has more work to do.
"I hope his action will contribute to the healing process that needs
to go on for victims and that it will clear the decks in a sense for
the church to take strong and decisive action towards putting in place
proper process and doing what needs to be done," he said.
Union critical of latest nurse's pay deal
Canberra. ACT nurses will discuss the latest pay offer from the Govt,
but union officials say they are not confident of a positive vote. It
is the 4th salary package that has been presented to nurses in an
attempt to finalise enterprise bargaining by the end of the month.
Health Min Simon Corbell says the new pay offer includes an expansion
of the number of clinical development nurses. Colleen Duff from the
Aussie Nurses Federation says members will consider the latest
changes. "It's a total package which will be considered but if there
are sticking points, and we can see 3 major sticking points at the
moment, they are going to be considerable in the nurse's
consideration," she said.
Yacht crew determined to land on Nauru
Sydney. Crew from 2 Aussie yachts say they will not back away from
their plans to illegally enter Nauruan waters and land on the Pacific
island this morning to highlight World Refugee Day.
They say they will deliver gifts to the children of asylum seekers
which Nauru has detained on behalf of the Aussie Govt.
A rep for the Nauruan Govt says fishing boats will meet the Aussie
yachts on the edge of Nauruan waters to accept the gifts.
The Flotilla of Hope is in support of asylum seekers in detention on
the island under the Howard govts Pacific Solution.
But speaking on satellite phone, the rep and a crew member of the 2
Aussie yachts, Stavros Georgopoulos, says they want to make their
presence felt on land.
"We've got piles and piles of toys and gifts to give to the refugees
and personal messages from people from AUS to give to the refugees,"
he said.
"There's a lot of people counting on us to deliver the messages."
A Nauruan Govt rep says the fishing boats will have asylum seekers on
board to receive the gifts, so it won't be necessary for the Aussies
to break Nauruan law by entering the nation's waters without a visa.
Mr Georgopoulos says he is determined to dock at the island.
"We haven't travelled 4,000 km just to be fobbed off at some arbitrary
12-mile zone [20 km]," he said.
The 2 yachts, The One Off and Eureka, set sail for Nauru in May.
Meanwhile the Nauruan Govt has confirmed that 7 asylum seekers on the
island remain on a hunger strike.
Vanstone unswayed by Nauru hunger strike
Canberra. Imm Min Amanda Vanstone says a hunger strike by 7 Iraqi
detainees on Nauru will not make any difference to the assessment of
their asylum claims. The hunger strike has been underway for almost a
wk and all detainees have received hospital treatment for dehydration.
Sen Vanstone has told Channel 10 they are all in good health. "We've
been through this before with a hunger strike," she said. "At the end
of the period of time that people have been on a hunger strike all
every medical person could say is how surprised they were that they
were in such good condition."
Refugee activists enter Nauruan waters: report
Sydney. There are reports the 2 Aussie yachts on a refugee protest
mission have entered waters within 1 nm mile of the small Pacific
island of Nauru.
A local contact of the refugee activists says the crew of the so
called "Flotilla of Hope" arrived early this morning and took photos
of the sunrise.
The rep says the Nauruan officials then approached the boat and
ordered it back to the 20 km internat'l zone.
She says one of the boats has had engine trouble and is in need of oil.
The crews plan to land illegally on the island to deliver messages and
gifts for asylum seekers still held in detention there for the Aussie
Govt to highlight World Refugee Day.
The Flotilla of Hope is in support of asylum seekers in detention on
the island under the Howard govts Pacific Solution.
The 2 yachts, The One Off and Eureka, set sail for Nauru in May.
Meanwhile the Nauruan Govt has confirmed that 7 Iraqi asylum seekers
on the island remain on a hunger strike.
The hunger strike has been underway for almost a wk and all detainees
have received hospital treatment for dehydration.
Immigration Min Amanda Vanstone has told Channel 10 they are all in
good health and that the hunger strike will not make any difference to
the assessment of their asylum claims.
"We've been through this before with a hunger strike," she said.
"At the end of the period of time that people have been on a hunger
strike all every medical person could say is how surprised they were
that they were in such good condition."
C'wealth responsible for detention centres: prison watchdog
Perth. WA's independent prison watchdog says the Fed Govt is
ultimately responsible for what happens in AUS's detention centres
despite private operators running them. The Human Rights Commission
says its recent critical report into immigration detention centres is
likely to be used in support of compensation claims by detainees
against the Govt. WA Custodial Services inspector Richard Harding
says former operator, Australasian Correctional Management, is not the
only party liable for the ill treatment of detainees. "You always
come to the fact that this is being allowed to happen by the persons
with the responsibility in internat'l law in duty of care terms (and)
in political terms for running a decent operation, DIMIA [Dept of
Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs] and ultimately
the Min and the Fed Govt," he said.
Asylum seeker hospitalised after overdose
Pt Augusta. A man held at the Baxter detention centre in SA is
recovering in hospital in Adel after an incident at the facility
yesterday. The man climbed onto the roof of the centre at about 6.00
am ACST yesterday and took an overdose of pills. An Immigration Dept
rep says the man, an Iranian asylum seeker, was brought down and taken
to the Port Augusta Hospital Last night he was air-lifted to the Royal
Adel Hospital where he is in a stable condition.
Ambulance service says ban puts lives at risk
Melbourne. Vic health officials fear patients' lives are being put
at risk because of an escalation in bans involving dozens of
ambulances across the state. Last week, the Ambulance Employees
Association either banned or imposed speed restrictions on dozens of
metropolitan based GMC ambulances, because of a fuel problem that
could cause the engine to stop. Late yesterday those bans spread to
the Rural Ambulance Service, affecting half its fleet. Both ambulance
services are fixing the problem and say there is no need for the
industrial action. The Rural Ambulance Service's Paul Bird says the
bans on the country fleet came out of the blue and could have dire
consequences. "These bans have the potential to put lives at risk,
they certainly have a serious impact on our ability to deliver
emergency services, emergency ambulance response throughout rural
Vic," he said. The Rural Ambulance Service has been granted an urgent
hearing in the Industrial Relations Commission later today to try to
resolve the issue.
Doctor blasts Red Nose Day fund raising
Aussies are being urged to snub Red Nose Day and efforts to raise
funds for cot death research.
Brisbane. NZ consulting chemist Dr Jim Sprott says there is no need
to raise funds for research as the cause of cot death is known.
Dr Sprott says it has been proven that children die from poisonous
gases in the bedding and the solution is to wrap the baby's mattress
in a protective cover.
He says people should not give money to Red Nose Day on Jun 25 and he
has accused organisers of ignoring his findings.
"The people who are asking for money know this and are aware of the
success of the process known as mattress wrapping in NZ," he said.
"This has been in use here for over 9 y, during that time about 650
babies have died of cot death here in NZ, but not one of them when
parents have adopted this simple technique."
However the Aussie Medical Association has dismissed Dr Sprott's theory.
Qld president Dr David Molloy says Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
is a tragic ongoing problem and research into the problem is essential.
"I think this view is way too simplistic," he said.
"Cot deaths are incredibly distressing, they're a major cause of
infant mortality and I think the theory they're caused by poisonous
gases is just really way to simple and we really genuinely need more
research into this terrible phenomenon."
Jim Bacon dies aged 54
Former Tasn premier Jim Bacon has died in Hobart, aged 54.
Hobart. Mr Bacon was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer in Feb and
died in the Calvary Hospital in Hobart at 2.15 am.
Jim Bacon dominated Tasn politics until lung cancer cut short his
career in Feb.
He stepped down a day short of exactly 8 y in Parliament, 6 of them
as premier.
PM John Howard has paid tribute to Mr Bacon.
In a statement, Mr Howard has extended his deepest sympathies to Mr
Bacon's wife Honey and his other family members.
Tasn Prem Paul Lennon said his predecessor and close friend gave Tas a
new direction.
"This is obviously a very sad occasion for us all," he said.
"Jim Bacon was one of the great Tasn premiers. The Tas of today would not
exist without Jim Bacon. His leadership and his vision were for a new
Tas -- a Tas more confident, more tolerant, more progressive and stronger."
Fed Labor leader Mark Latham says the death of Mr Bacon is a great
loss to the party and the country.
"Jim was not only a great Labor man, he was a great Aussie, he had a
tremendous sense of humour, a sense of fun, even in his courageous
battle against cancer," he said.
"Our movement, our nation today is so much weaker for the passing of
Jim Bacon."
Former Tasn Labor premier Michael Field has told the ABC's Insiders
program the death of his close friend is sad news for Tas.
"I think it'll be a big shock to Tasns. Even though Jim's been ill for
sometime there was an expectation that he was going to go on for
awhile," he said.
"I think people will be shocked about it and I think it's a sad day
for the state."
Born in 1950, James Alexander Bacon was educated at MEL's Scotch
College and Monash Uni.
He came to Tas in 1980 as state secretary of the Builders Labourers
Federation (BLF), which he had joined 7 y earlier.
He became head of the Trades and Labour Council in 1989 and in 1996
made the move to state politics, topping the ticket in the southern
seat of Denison.
In 1998 he was elected premier, forming the state's 1st majority Labor
Govt in 20 y.
Speaking about the lung cancer caused by 35 y of smoking, Mr Bacon
urged others not to follow his lead.
"I have been an idiot. I have not listened, I have kept smoking," he said.
"I do want to say something, particularly to young Tasns. If they're
thinking about taking up smoking, don't."
Labor conference continues amid protests
Bathurst, NSW. The NSW Country Labor conference continues today after
protests marked yesterday's opening session. However organisers of
the conference in Bathurst have welcomed the dissent. The protest
groups ranged from registered clubs to unionists, including the Aussie
Manufacturing Workers Union's (AMWU) Vince Overton who was angered at
being unable to talk to state MPs. "We want to go in there and talk
to a couple of our ministers and apparently they won't let us in," he
said. The Teachers Federation's Phil Bradley says the protests send
the right message to Labor. "This is a good expression to the Carr
Govt, that they need to wake up and start addressing the needs of the
people," he said. But conference chairman Warren Mundine says the
gathering accepts all. "I wish to also even welcome our demonstrators
out the front here who like to express their democratic rights," he
said. Fed Labor leader Mark Latham will speak at his 1st country
conference this morning.
Hill working on Defence communication
Canberra. Defence Min Robert Hill says his dept is exploring
administrative options to improve the flow of communication after its
failure to pass on info about Iraqi prisoner abuse to the Govt.
The Fed Opp'n will move a censure motion against Sen Hill in Parliament
on Mon after it was revealed Aussie defence officials in Baghdad knew
about the mistreatment of prisoners as far back as Jun last y.
Sen Hill says he is embarrassed by the Defence Dept's failure to pass
the info on to the Govt.
He has told Channel 7 it is the only major breakdown in communication
since the children overboard affair 3 y ago and it should be weighed
against the Dept's success.
"If it was systemic, then a lot of change would be necessary, if there
are occasional failures, we've got to look at what is necessary to
correct those failures," he said.
"When I make a judgement on the performance of the dept, I will judge
the occasion a mistake against all its successes. To do otherwise is
grossly unfair."
Inquiry to probe ALP's Centenary House deal
Abbott denies it's another pre-election ploy.
Canberra. The Fed Govt has announced it will recommend a Commission
of Inquiry into the Centenary House lease in CBR.
Centenary House is a CBR building owned by the Labor Party and leased
back to the Govt at above market value.
The Labor party is expected to receive in excess of $5 mn from the
deal this y alone and the Govt says it is the most expensive office
space in the country.
The Govt's leader in the House of Reps, Tony Abbott, has described the
deal as a rip-off.
Speaking on Channel Nine, Mr Abbott has rejected suggestions the move
is an election gimmick.
"This was a motion in the Senate moved not by the Govt, but by the
Democrats' Andrew Murray, who's long been concerned about this rip-off
and the Govt will be responding to that motion later today with a
judicial inquiry," he said.
But the announcement is likely to increase speculation of an Aug poll.
Govt Sen, Amanda Vanstone has told Channel 10 she would not be
surprised by that.
"We're just about up to 3 y, we have 3 y govts," she said.
Talk of an early poll has also been heightened with 2 mn families set
to receive the $600 per child payment from the Govt by Tue this wk.
A Labor Party entity called John Curtin House entered into the
Centenary House lease with the Nat'l Audit office in 1993.
An escalation clause specified the rent would rise by 9% pa or
market rates, whichever was greater.
Since then, CBR rates have risen by an average of around 2 to 3% per year.
In March this y the Senate passed a motion to instigate a review of
the findings of a 1994 Royal Commission into the deal.
Today, A-G Philip Ruddock says he will recommend to the
G-G a Commission of Inquiry re-examine the lease.
It is expected the honourable David Hunt QC will head the Inquiry.
2 mn families to receive lump sum payments
Canberra. Almost 2 mn Aussie families will receive the fed Govt's
$600 per child family payment by Tue this wk. The money was announced
in the May budget and will be deposited directly into a family's bank
account. The Family and Community Services Min, Kay Patterson has
told the ABC's Insiders program the Govt has been advertising the
payment so Aussies are not confused by where the money has come from.
"People need to know it's there, they need to know why it's there,"
she said. "We need to reduce the number of people ringing to find out
why they've got $1,200 in their bank account, because the average
family gets $1,200 with 2 children they get $600 each and we're
informing them about this payment."
Abbott says Labor should back FTA bills
Canberra. Fed Govt front-bencher Tony Abbott says if the Labor Party
supports the alliance with the US, it should also support the US free
trade agreement. The Govt will introduce 2 bills to the House of
Representatives this wk to implement the free trade deal. Labor says
it wants to wait for a report by a Senate committee into the deal. Mr
Abbott has told Channel 9 there is nothing stopping Labor from
supporting the bills. "If you take my own area for instance of the
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), Labor says that they are very
concerned about drug prices rising," he said. "Drug prices won't rise
under the free trade agreement, the PBS legislation won't change."
Latham wants debt warnings on cards
Latham has launched Labor's banking policy.
Bathurst. Fed Opp'n leader Mark Latham has launched Labor's banking
policy which he says will better protect consumers from increasing
fees and charges and declining services.
Mr Latham was speaking at the ALP Country conference in Bathurst, in
the C-W of NSW:
Mr Latham wants banks to take greater responsibility for large credit
card debts facing many Aussie families.
A Latham Labor Govt would require banks to provide low cost bank
accounts to pensioners and low income earners.
Banks would also have to inform customers about the extra interest
they are paying to institutions with minimum payments on credit card debt.
Mr Latham has told the Labor Party country conference the Aussie
competition watchdog should also play a greater role in the banking sector.
"If increasing a fee or charge, banks will be required to notify the
change to the ACCC [Aussie Competition and Consumer Commission] to
justify any increases," he said.
Under the policy, banks would also be required to justify branch
closures in rural and regional areas.
2 survive light plane crash
Brisbane. 2 people have survived a light plane crash at Gladstone on
the Central Qld coast. Ambulance officers say the plane crashed just
N of the runway on a road. The 2 people on-board managed to escape
unharmed and were able to walk around the wreckage. Emergency crews
are on hand and investigations are underway.
Teenager charged with father's murder
Hervey Bay, Qld. A 17-yo man has been charged with murdering his
father at Qld's Hervey Bay. Police found a 58-yo man stabbed to death
in a house at Pialba at around 10.00 pm. The man's son presented
himself to police shortly after the incident. He allegedly gave
police a knife. The teenager is due to appear in Hervey Bay
Magistrates Court tomorrow.
Police swoop on paedophile network
SA police will give more details later today.
Adelaide. Several arrests have been made in SA by the Police
Paedophile Task Force. It is understood there have been as many as 9
arrests with more details expected to be given later today by the
officer heading up the task force, Supt Grant Stevens. The
task force was set up by Police Commissioner Mal Hyde in May last year
and has been investigating complaints made directly to it, as well as
to the abuse hotline set up by the Anglican Church. As a result of
more than 200 allegations, many relating to alleged offences dating
back up to 40 y, investigations have been made into 47 people of
interest associated with the Anglican Church or the Church of England
Boys Society. Late last y the task force's terms of reference were
widened to include allegations involving other organisations. A man
has also been detained in Mackay in N Qld as part of the SA taskforce
investigation.
Filipino to be extradited on murder charges
Sydney. A Filipino man wanted for murder in AUS is to be extradited
to face trial for the 2002 killing of Tongan nat'l 40 yo Tangiketatau
Palatavake Taueli. Alejandro Almirol, 40, from the N Philippines is
flying to SYD on Mon. The Nat'l Bureau of Investigation (NBI) says
Almirol surrendered to authorities and submitted himself to voluntary
extradition, allegedly to prove his innocence. The suspect is a
former worker of an Aussie cheese factory and was one of 2 Filipinos
suspected of killing their Tongan co-worker in Dec, 2002. The other
suspect, identified as Prehector Keith Trocio, was arrested in AUS in
Apr last y. NBI agents say Almirol claimed to be a mere witness to
the crime.
Freed whale to be monitored
W Tassie. The Env Dept says it will monitor the progress of a sperm
whale which was returned to the S Ocean yesterday afternoon. The
whale had been stranded in Macquarie Harbour on Tas's west coast since
Tue. The Environment Dept's Warwick Brennan says the 14-metre whale
appeared to be in good condition when it left the area. "There'll be
a lot of ongoing monitoring going on," he said. "The chances for the
whale are obviously much greater now that it's out in deep water
again, because it is a deep water animal. "An important thing for us
to do is continue to monitor the coast along here, because there are
still a few difficult shoals and areas outside there along ocean beach."
Tug-of-whale erupts in Canada
Gold River, Canada (BBC). Attempts to rescue a lost whale in Canada
has caused a row between marine biologists and an Indigenous tribe.
The killer whale, who is known as Luna, has been living in the harbour
of the small town of Gold River on Canada's Pacific coast. Officials
say it is a safety hazard and believe the whale should be returned to
its family. But a local Indigenous group says the whale is the
returned spirit of their former chief and they want it to stay.
{{
Midnight.
MEL. Canterbury has voted "yes" to allow alcohol in the city limits, but
Balwyn has given a Lebanese restaurant there the thumbs down. The
Balwyn restauranteur says the decision could damage his business, and
is talking about laying off staff.
2 am
Gen Mark Kimmitt says the US had "significant intel" that a
Jordan-born al-Qaeda leader was staying at a Fallujah compound when a
missile strike was made on the safe house. The attack killed at least
20 people, incl women and children.
Saudi TV has shown the body of an al-Qaeda leader security forces
killed after the execution of a US engineer earlier this wk. 3 other
bodies were also shown. They incl 1 suspect connected with the
kidnap and killing of 23 people in Khobar last m.
the Pres of Sudan has ordered the disarmament of all armed groups in
Darfur. Less than 24 hrs ago the US had threatened to impose
sanctions on Sudan over what it called ethnic cleansing.
Iran says it will "review" its suspension of U enrichment programs.
Iran's chief negotiator said Tehran will announce its decision in
the next few days.
India and Pak have held the first day of talks on how to reduce the
threat of nuclear war. The 2 sides said they were looking to take the
peace process forward.
The Vatican has expressed its disappointment over the EU const'n for
not acknowledging what it calls "Europe's Christian roots".
8 am
Former Tassie Prem Jim Bacon has died this morning, aged 54. A 35-y
smoker, Bacon had been diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer in Feb.
He died in hospital this morning at 2.15 am.
Insurgents in Fallujah have denied US reports that an al-Qaeda leader
was killed in a US bombing raid yesterday. The attack reportedly
killed at least 20 people When the missile hit what the US say was a
"safe house". 4 nearby houses were also damaged in the attack. The
insurgents admit the compound was a training camp for fighters. Of
the 36 people that were staying there at the time of the attack, 18
were killed, say the group. 8 of the dead were foreign fighters.
Midday.
A NT refugee advocacy group says local communities can play a big role
in assisting genuine asylum seekers in gaining permanent residency in AUS.
Immig Min Amanda Vanstone says a hunger strike by 7 Iraqi
detainees on Nauru will not make any difference to the assessment of
their asylum claims.
The UN is marking World Refugee Day on Sun by calling on countries to
resettle mn of refugees, especially from Asia and Africa, and to break
down barriers that have sometimes led to a hostile welcome.
The Fed Human Rights Commissioner is urging people to stop and
consider the plight of refugees today, World Refugee Day.
WA's independent prison watchdog says the Fed Govt is ultimately
responsible for what happens in AUS's detention centres despite
private operators running them.
5 pm
The Saudi govt says its killing of 4 al-Qaeda militants has weakened
the group in the Kingdom. But on its web page the group says its
holy war on infidels and against the govt will continue, regardless.
In Baghdad, 3 people have been injured in a blast outside a C Bagdad bank.
In Fallujah, residents are disputing the US account of a missile
attack on a compound. The missile attack destroyed 1 house and
damaged several others. Early reports say women and children are among
the dead.
Israeli forces have fired missile at a camp in Gaza. A workshop was
damaged, say the Army, and at least 1 person was wounded. It's the
3rd strike on Gaza within the past 24 hrs. Israeli says the machine
ship was a weapons factory.
India and Pak have concluded a 2nd day of talks between the 2 nuclear
neighbours. In Delhi, Indian officials said both sides wanted
results. The 2 countries have fought 3 wars since their independence.
Fed Labor leader Mark Latham has announced the Oppn's banking policy.
He wants bank accounts with no fees, no fees on balances or inquiries,
and banks to notify communities before branch closures. Banks must
also put on statements how long it will take to pay off credit card
debts. Treas Costello has dismissed the policy, saying the main worry
would be int rate rise under a Labor govt.
6.30 pm
Members of the IGC have flown to the S oilfields to inspect sabotage
damage. Pollution to water and ag damage is "really gigantic", said a
rep. Damage to infrastructure is estimated at $1 bn.
In C Baghdad, women have demonstrated, calling for an end to violence
and the US occupation.
Saudi authorities say they still have not found the body of a
murdered US engineer. Prince Abdullah warned all other extremists
they would face extermination unless they changed their course. But
questions remain unanswered . Contrary to earlier reports, Paul
Johnson's remains have not been found. US reps say they believe
Saudis did everything they could to save Johnson. Relatives say the
facts don't just hang together, because the news of the deaths of 3
insurgents had come on the exact day Saudi authorities prev predicted
there would be "good news".
Adelaide. 9 men, incl Anglican priests and a Salvation Army worker,
have been detained in 3 states on child sex charges. The arrests were
made over the past few days, and were sparked by the resignation of
the Anglican Archbishop of SA, Ian George. The SA police pedophile
taskforce launched the operation on behalf of 23 victims, with chagres
dating back 50 y. The Anglican church today asked parishioners for
forgiveness.
Michael Moore has urged Canadians not to vote conservatives there into
power, as it would boost the chances of Pres Bush Jr. Elsewhere, a
new slew of movies with a liberal message have hit the screens. From
post-Armageddon warnings about GW with a pro-oil Dick Cheney
look-alike, to remakes of the "Manchurian Candidate", to a infomentary
about the plot to "get Bill and Hilly", Republicans do not approve of
the movie business making films with a message. The movies are
supposed to reflect who Americans are, not tell them who they should
vote for, say the wowsers. However, making it harder for free market
conservatives to criticise, most of the new crop are destined to live
or die by the box office.
The Olympic torch has ended its US tour in Times Square, NYc. 1000s
of Greek Americans turned out to see runners carry the flame around
the city, starting in Queens.
7 pm
On World Refugee Day Aussie Immig Min Amanda Vanstone is facing
renewed calls to release detained immigrants -- especially children --
from govt detention camps. Vanstone misleadingly said today no
refugees were in the centres. But she simply is assuming none will be
found to be genuine refugees. There are renewed calls tonight to end
privately-run detention facilities altogether, after a damning report
into the out-sourcing. Vanstone said she was not pleased about
aspects of the report, which maintains a large part of the $1/2 bn in
fees was wasted. Despite initial refusals -- and a vow from PM Howard
that it would never happen -- Nauru's Afghan refugees are now being
allowed into AUS.
7.30 pm
More than 70 cm of snow has fallen at Mt Hotham and Falls Ck. Both
have have seen a good opening for the Vic ski season.
9 pm
Head on crash claims family. 4 teen girls and man in his 40s have
died nr Castlemaine in C Vic. A family car and a truck collided
head-on at an intersection of the Midland Highway at 5 pm. The major
collision unit is on the scene, investigating. A 52 yo truck driver
was treated at the scene for a fractured arm and then taken to hospital.
The ACA has welcomed the Labor banking policy. The Assoc says Labor's
policy would help restore accountability in the system. Profits have
increased 3-fold since 1997, mostly on the back of higher fees, say
the bleeding hearts.
5 people, incl 2 Aussie parachutists, are believed to be dead after
a light aircraft plunged into a lake, S of Jakarta. Locals say the
group stood little chance. It's now 4 hrs after the crash. Divers
have tried to reach the wreckage on the muddy bottom.
11 pm
Iraq's interim PM has announced the creation of a new nat'l guard.
The force will consist of 50 battalions -- about 50,000 men. The army
will have an elite unit that will concentrate on internal security
operations. The cmd structure will integrate all military and
paramilitary operations in Iraq. Control of the military and police
will be combined under the control of the PM. He says the govt will
consider emergency powers in some areas. Elsewhere, a security
committee official in Tikrit has been killed in an ambush.
A typhoon is expected to hit the Japanese Is of Honshu tonight. It's
packing winds of 160 kph. 3 people are already confirmed dead. 1 is
missing.
}}
----------------------------------------
Mon, 21 Jun 2004.
HEADLINES:
US denies Aussie election interference
Barrier Reef basins listed for oil exploration
Iraq oil pipeline repair completed
S Korea to dispatch troops to Iraq
Negroponte Will Help Iraq Prepare for Vote, Post Says
Former Desert Storm POW hopes claim against Iraq won't end
Iraq to take custody of Saddam very soon after end-Jun: coalition
Clinton backs Bush on Iraq
9/11 panel: Info on Iraq, al Qaeda welcome
9/11 commissioner claims Iraqi officer, Al Qaeda link
"NY Times" pans Clinton memoir
2 Aussies killed in Indonesian plane crash
ACA welcomes, banks pan Latham plan
ACOSS urges family payment extension
ACOSS wary of govt's $600 payouts
ATO crackdown on interest income
Al Qaeda threatens to behead S Korean
Al-Qaeda admits Muqrin is dead
Army to dismiss pair over drug use
Back to the future
Brown urges intervention in lawyer harassment claims
Chaney appointed to NAB board
Church expects to be in the clear following arrests
Court hears hospital error left baby with brain damage
Democrats support Govt's super legislation
Deputy PM urges states to sign water deal
First private rocket ready to go
Former Anglican priest in court on indecent assault charge
Free advertising "helping coalition"
Govt defends Centenary House deal inquiry
Govt dismisses fortnightly family payment calls
Hacker hits defence research
Hicks lawyers in US "harassment" dispute
IAG completes share buy-back
Israel bans Brit journalist after Vanunu interview
Israel to consult Egypt over Gaza trench plan
Israeli warplanes strike S Lebanon
Landholders protest Daintree development ban
Latham accuses Govt of rushing FTA
Megawati faces re-election battle
PBL ups casino offer
PM welcomes poll boost
Police hunt continues for gunman
Police name horror crash victims
Privately developed rocket launched
Radical cleric invited to forum
Record commodity export earnings expected
S Korea unswayed by beheading threat
SARS virus discovered in tears
Saddam hand over due "very shortly": US
School exercise to be tied to funding: Nelson
Search on for elusive white whale
State funeral for Jim Bacon
Stolen dinosaur eggs returned to China
Telstra plans $1.5 bn in shareholder returns
Telstra shares push stock market to new high
Iraq oil pipeline repair completed
Baghdad (Reuters). A team of engineers has finished repairing a
sabotaged oil pipeline in S Iraq and expects partial exports to resume
early Mon, an official in contact with the crew said. "They are test
running the pipeline now. How much flow the pipeline can sustain will
be known in the morning," said the official, who asked not to be identified.
Barrier Reef basins listed for oil exploration
Canberra. 3 sensitive offshore basins on the edge of the Great
Barrier Reef have been listed by the Fed Govt as a high priority for
oil exploration.
The "Securing AUS's Energy Future" policy identifies the Eastern,
Marion and Townsville Plateaus, just outside the Great Barrier Reef,
as priority areas for petroleum drilling.
Member for Herbert, Peter Lindsay, says it could send the wrong signal
to oil companies.
"My message to oil drillers is look, go and find somewhere else to
drill," he said.
North Qld conservationist James McLellan says it is only a matter of
time before the Govt allows oil drilling off the reef.
"The simple fact that they've got it in there shows that they are
considering it," he said.
Mr Lindsay says fed laws will ensure that any activity does not harm
the reef.
"There's a very large area out there stretching from the tip of the
Cape down to Rockhampton and it referred to the petroleum potential,"
he said.
"I just want to make it quite clear that the Aussie Govt's not going
to allow anything that could in any way damage the values of the world
heritage area that lies off our coastline."
2 y ago Norwegian company TGS Nopek abandoned a plan to drill on the
Townsville trough.
2 Aussies killed in Indonesian plane crash
Canberra. The Dept of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that 2 Aussies
have died in light plane crash in Indonesia. The Aussies were among 5
people killed when their aircraft nose-dived into a lake, S of Jakarta.
The bodies of the Aussies have been recovered and taken to a nearby
hospital. Consular officials are now attempting to confirm the
identity of the Aussies.
S Korea to dispatch troops to Iraq
[Polls show 60-70% of Korean public is opposed. ABC TV says about 50% of the
ruling party, incl possibly the President, are also against the deployment].
Seoul (AFP). S Korea said it would go ahead with its troop deployment
to Iraq, despite a threat from an Islamic group to behead a S Korean
hostage unless the plan is scrapped.
"We will go ahead with the troops dispatch as planned. There are no
changes to our plan," a defence ministry rep said.
In a video tape screened on al-Jazeera television an armed Islamist
group threatened to behead the hostage unless Seoul promised within 24
hr to send no more troops to Iraq.
Footage showed the hostage identified as Kim Sun-Il pleading for his
life in English.
"Please get out of here, I don't want to die ... My life is
important," he said.
3 masked, armed men standing behind him said they belonged to the
Tawhid wa al-Jihad (Unification and Holy War) group, led by al-Qaeda
operative Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi whom Washington blames for a long list
of attacks in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein.
According to media reports here quoting S Korean diplomats in Iraq,
Kim was an employee of a Korean military-supplies provider for the US army.
The video was broadcast 2 days after S Korea, which already has 660
army engineers and medics in S Iraq, said it would start deploying
3,000 troops in early Aug to help rebuild the N Kurdish region.
The hostage's mother in a radio interview here begged the Islamist
group to free her son.
"He is my only son. Please bring him back to us," said Shin Young-Ja
on CBS radio.
South Korea's foreign ministry said Kim was abducted on Jun 17.
S Korea unswayed by beheading threat
Seoul (AFP). South Korea has said it would go ahead with its troop
deployment to Iraq, despite a threat from an Islamic group to behead a
S Korean hostage and any captured soldiers.
An armed Islamist group on Sun threatened in a video tape screened on
Al Jazeera television to kill the hostage unless Seoul promises within
24 hr to send no more troops to Iraq.
"We will go ahead with the troops dispatch as planned. There are no
changes to our plan," a S Korean defence ministry rep said.
Footage showed a sitting prisoner with 3 masked, armed men standing
behind him.
The men said they belonged to the Tawhid wa al-Jihad (Unification and
Holy War) group, led by Al Qaeda operative Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi whom
Washington blames for a long list of attacks in Iraq since the fall of
Saddam Hussein.
"Do not send any more troops to Iraq or we will send you the head of
this Korean and it will be followed, God willing, by the heads of your
soldiers," said one of the men in Arabic in the Al Jazeera video.
"We give you 24 hr starting from Sun Jun 20, 2004 to agree to the
demand," he said.
South Korean Pres Roh Moo-Hyun's Nat'l Sec Council has held an
emergency session to evaluate the situation, council rep Lee Ji-Hyun said.
Media reports quoting S Korean diplomats in Iraq said the South
Korean, identified as Kim Sun-il, was an employee of a Korean
military-supplies provider for the US army.
The 33-yo Kim had arrived in Baghdad on Jun 15 and worked for the
Gana General Trading Company, part of the S Korean Gana industrial
group, in the Iraqi capital, Yonhap news agency reported.
The group is a leading supplier of heavy machinery for civil
engineering projects.
On the Arab news station footage Kim was showed pleading for his life
in English.
"Please get out of here, I don't want to die ... My life is important,"
he said.
The video was broadcast 2 days after S Korea, which already has 660
army engineers and medics in S Iraq, said it would start deploying
3,000 troops to Iraq in early Aug to help rebuild the N Kurdish region.
On Sat, the foreign ministry issued an advisory to S Koreans to avoid
travel to Iraq, saying they were possible terrorist targets following
the announcement of the troop deployment.
The beheading threat came just 2 days after an American hostage was
decapitated by Al Qaeda militants in Saudi Arabia after their 72-hr
deadline ran out for the release of 100s of militants detained in the
oil-rich kingdom.
The war in Iraq was unpopular in S Korea and the Govt's pledge to
deploy troops there in support of the US-led coalition sparked
protests that intensified following revelations of abuse of Iraqi
prisoners by US forces.
An opinion poll by the Korean Hankook daily this wk showed 57.5% of
respondents were opposed to the dispatch of extra troops, while 40%
were in favour of it.
Clinton backs Bush on Iraq
Clinton, Bush get 9/11 blame
Washington. Former Pres Bill Clinton backed the US decision to invade
Iraq, saying significant amounts of chemical and biological weapons
were unaccounted for, but said in an interview released on Sun that he
would have waited for UN weapons inspectors to finish their job.
"I have repeatedly defended Pres [George W] Bush against the left on
Iraq, even though I think he should have waited until the UN
inspections were over," Clinton told Time magazine.
"I would not have done it until after [chief UN weapons inspector]
Hans Blix finished his job," he said in the interview given days
before Tue's publication of his memoirs.
Clinton said substantial quantities of botulinum and aflatoxin, as
well as chemical nerve gases like VX and ricin, were unaccounted for
when UN weapons inspectors left Iraq in 1998.
"I never really thought he'd [use them]. What I was far more worried
about was that he'd sell this stuff or give it away," he said.
"So I thought the president had an absolute responsibility to go to
the UN and say, 'Look, guys, after 9/11, you have got to demand that
Saddam Hussein lets us finish the inspection process'," Clinton said.
"I don't believe he went in there for oil. We didn't go in there for
imperialist or financial reasons.
"We went in there because he bought the Wolfowitz-Cheney analysis that
the Iraqis would be better off, we could shake up the authoritarian
Arab regimes in the Middle East, and our leverage to make peace
between the Palestinians and Israelis would be increased," he said.
VP Dick Cheney and deputy defence secretary Paul Wolfowitz were
staunch advocates of the invasion.
Clinton said it was too soon to tell whether the results of the war
were worth the cost.
"If you have a pluralistic, secure, stable Iraq, the people of Iraq
will be better off, and it might help the process of internal reform
in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere," Clinton said.
"Right now, getting rid of Saddam's tyranny, ironically, has made Iraq
more vulnerable to terrorism coming in from the outside. But any open
society is going to be more vulnerable than any tyranny to that," he said.
Negroponte Will Help Iraq Prepare for Vote, Post Says
Washington (Bloomberg). John D Negroponte, Pres George W Bush's
appointee as ambassador to Iraq, has told colleagues and friends he
will focus on helping the interim Iraqi govt prepare for elections by
Jan, the Washington Post said.
Negroponte, until recently the US ambassador to the United Nations,
will present his credentials to interim Iraqi govt authorities on Jul
1. He intends to speed the delayed reimbursement of funds for Iraq's
reconstruction, said the paper, citing what he has told friends and
colleagues.
Negroponte declined to be interviewed for the story, the paper
said. The Washington Post cited an unidentified snr State Dept
official involved as saying Negroponte will help show Iraqis that govt
can help them with jobs, electricity and safety.
The paper quoted a Whitehouse official, also unidentified, as saying
there will be a period of the US stepping back as long as the Iraqis
show they will build Iraq on democratic principles.
Megawati faces re-election battle
Jakarta (AFP). Indonesia's Pres Megawati Sukarnoputri faces an uphill
battle for re-election next m despite belated attempts to re-connect
with the "little people" who once supported her so fervently, analysts say.
Efforts to shed her aloof and taciturn image by visiting markets and
appearing for television interviews have failed to win much public
favour and have even exposed her shortcomings, they said.
Indonesians will for the 1st time vote for their president directly on
Jul 5. A run-off will be held on Sep 20 if no candidate wins more
than 50% of the vote.
Opinion polls show Megawati is far behind her former security minister
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the preferred president.
Voters deserted her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle in droves
in the Apr 5 parliamentary election, punishing her for lacklustre
growth, rising prices, high unemployment and continuing widespread
corruption.
"The more she appears in public the more she's in trouble," said Denny
Januar Aly, director of the Indonesian Survey Institute.
"During television interviews she seemed to have failed to present
herself as a modest, intelligent person willing to listen to other
people's opinions," he said.
In a recent interview, Megawati appeared to get easily irritated and
even scolded her interviewer when he asked a sensitive question.
Megawati has promised to create almost 13 mn new jobs and cut poverty
rates by almost half if she secures a 2nd term.
In an equally bold campaign pledge, she wrote an article on the Euro
2004 football tournament in Mon's Koran Tempo newspaper promising to
make the Indonesian nat'l side the equal of the Europeans.
But Daniel Sparingga, a political analyst from Airlangga University,
said her efforts to win back voters were ineffective. "In fact there
is a widespread negative impression."
In a recent television talk show, "she was seen as extremely
defensive, emotional and to some extent could be seen as aggressive,
too," Sparingga said.
Megawati, 57, is a daughter of founding president Sukarno but lacks
his charisma and electrifying eloquence.
The so-called "wong cilik" or "little people" voted the party of the
former opp'n leader into top place in parliament in 1999, a y after
the fall of dictator Suharto. She became president in Jul 2001.
"We had told them so many times to take care of the poor, take care of
what they call the wong cilik, but they had estranged themselves,"
said H.S. Dillon, executive director of Partnership, which advises the
govt on reforms.
"NY Times" pans Clinton memoir
NY (AFP). "Sloppy, self-indulgent and often eye-crossingly dull," was
the verdict of the New York Times on the publishing event of the year,
Bill Clinton's 957 page memoir My Life.
In a particularly scathing review, the NYT critic denigrated the book
as a mirror of Mr Clinton's presidency, with its "lack of discipline
leading to squandered opportunities [and] high expectations,
undermined by self-indulgence and scattered concentration".
The autobiography goes on sale on Tue and follows Mr Clinton's
evolution from Arkansas schoolboy to Rhodes scholar and eventually
president, concluding when he leaves office in early 2000.
For the NYT reviewer, however, it is mainly the sound of "one man
prattling away, not for the reader, but for himself and some distant
recording angle of history".
Referring to the $US10 mn advance the publishers paid the author, the
NYT said the unprecedented sum was understandable, given Mr Clinton's
obvious intel, charm and powerful grasp of language, coupled with his
colourful life.
Unfortunately, the NYT said, the finished product reads more like a
"messy pastiche" of everything Mr Clinton remembered, including lists
of meals and a description of getting up early one morning to watch
the inauguration of Nigeria's new president on television.
"It devolves into a hodgepodge of jottings: part policy primer, part
12 step confessional, part stump speech and part presidential
archive," paper said.
"All, it seems, hurriedly written and even more hurriedly edited."
The only bright spot, according to the newspaper, was the "pleasing
emotional directness" of the section of the book dealing with Mr
Clinton's youth in Arkansas.
While admitting his sexual encounters with Whitehouse intern Monica
Lewinsky were "immoral and foolish," Mr Clinton devotes far more pages
to lashing out at Kenneth Starr, the special prosecutor who
investigated the former president's alleged perjury over the affair.
According to the newspaper, interesting sections of the book, such as
Mr Clinton's efforts to negotiate a Middle E peace settlement, are
counter-balanced by dreary descriptions of debates over car license
fees when he was still governor of Arkansas.
Mr Clinton's main concern, the reviewer concluded, was to establish
his legacy and boost the political career of his wife, Sen Hillary Clinton.
US denies Aussie election interference
Canberra. US Ambassador and Bush mouthpiece to AUS Tom Schieffer says
America is not trying to influence the outcome of the Aussie fed
election. Earlier this month, in a joint press conference with PM
John Howard, US Pres George W Bush described Labor's plans to withdraw
troops from Iraq by Christmas as "disastrous". Labor's fed president,
Carmen Lawrence, has accused the US Govt of supporting Mr Howard's bid
for re-election. Mr Schieffer has told a fed parliamentary inquiry
that is not the case, saying Mr Bush could not have given a different
response. "His answer was an up-front answer to an up-front question
and it probably has to stand on its own," he said. "I don't think
that it was an attempt to try to influence the Aussie election. "I
think what it was a reflection of what the US believed what its own
interests were with regard to Iraq."
Al-Qaeda admits Muqrin is dead
Riyadh (AFP). Al-Qaeda has confirmed that its leader in Saudi Arabia,
Abdulaziz al-Muqrin, has been killed by security forces on Fri, the
day his group carried out its threat to kill a kidnapped American engineer.
In a statement on an Islamist internet site, the group said: "Fighting
cmdr Abdul Aziz bin Issa al-Muqrin fell as a martyr on Fri ... in an
ambush laid for him by the soldiers of tyranny in the Malaz district
of Riyadh."
The statement was signed "al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula", the term
Muqrin's group has used to identify itself in the past.
Saudi Arabia's interior ministry had said Muqrin was one of 4
militants gunned down Fri night in an operation targeting the
perpetrators of recent attacks against Westerners.
But the report had been initially denied in a communique on an
internet site attributed to al-Qaeda.
Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz warned
that other extremists would face the same fate unless they changed course.
"Where the group that lost its way is concerned, you saw what
happened... We tell them to come back to their senses, or else this is
what awaits them, and worse," he told visitors, according to the
official SPA news agency.
The offensive came shortly after Muqrin's "al-Qaeda in the Arabian
Peninsula" carried out its threat to execute American aeronautics
engineer Paul Johnson, in a fresh attack on a Westerner rendered even
more grisly by gruesome photos of the beheaded victim posted on
Islamist websites.
After wk of apparent inability to stop the anti-Western terror
unleashed in early May, authorities said Fri night's gun battle in
Riyadh had also left 2 gunmen directly involved in the attacks dead
and netted 12 suspects.
The killings and arrests were "a major blow to al-Qaeda in Saudi
Arabia," Adel al-Jubeir, foreign policy adviser to Crown Prince
Abdullah, said.
"This group of individuals was responsible for a series of attacks,"
he told reporters at the Saudi embassy in Washington.
"Our people are outraged by their actions, our people are saddened by
the horror that they have witnessed over the last 4 or 5 y, ...
and our people derive satisfaction from the fact that we have killed
those responsible," he said.
Muqrin's death had been reported by security men at the site of the
night-time clash.
Authorities responded by airing photos of the bloodied corpses of
Muqrin and the other slain militants along with the interior ministry
statement announcing their killing.
The ministry identified another of the slain gunmen as Faisal bin
Abdul Rahman al-Dakheel, a militant on a most-wanted list who appeared
in footage on websites showing the killing of an American resident.
9/11 panel: Info on Iraq, al Qaeda welcome
Cheney has suggested he has details the panel does not
Washington (CNN). The 9/11 commission wants to see whether Vice Pres
Dick Cheney can provide any additional info about possible ties
between al Qaeda and Iraq, the panel's chairman said Sun.
Commission Chairman Tom Kean said he doesn't see "any serious
conflicts" between the commission's staff reports and the White House
over whether Iraq played a role in the Sep 11, 2001, attacks on NY and
Washington.
Both have said there is no evidence to suggest that then-Iraqi leader
Saddam Hussein's govt was involved in those attacks.
"We believe in the commission that there were a lot more active
contacts, frankly, with Iran and with Pakistan than there were with
Iraq," Kean told ABC's "This Week."
"Our investigation is continuing. We're not finished yet. If the Admin
has materials that we still need to see, I'm sure we'll see them."
The panel -- known formally as the Nat'l Commission on Terrorist
Attacks Upon the US -- interviewed Cheney and Pres Bush for their
report on Apr 29 at the Whitehouse.
In an interview Thu on CNBC, Cheney said "we don't know" whether Iraq
was involved in the 9/11 attacks. Asked whether he had info the panel
did not, Cheney said, "Probably."
Cheney rep Kevin Kellems said the VP's office has not yet received any
request for additional info.
"The Admin has cooperated fully with the commission and given them
unprecedented access to highly classified info," Kellems said.
The 9/11 commission issued a staff report last wk stating that
preliminary contacts between al Qaeda and Iraq in the 1990s went
nowhere. Commissioners urged the Admin Sun to share any other info
they might have, and they emphasised that the staff statements were
not the commission's final conclusions.
"The chairman and the vice chairman invited the VP to produce that
info for our review," commissioner Richard Ben-Veniste told reporters
Sun. "It remains to be seen if he will take us up on that. We're in
the mode of finishing up on loose ends and any info will be considered
if it warrants it."
And commissioner John Lehman said the commission's report would be
updated with new intel "right up until we go to press."
"As you know, there are continuing sources of intel, like the
interrogations and the captured documents and so forth," he said.
"And the Whitehouse has promised to see that we receive them as soon
as they do."
Lehman also decried the fact that "everything we come out with, one
side or the other seizes on to make a political point."
Critics have accused the Admin of exaggerating contacts between Iraq
and al Qaeda in order to support the US-led invasion that deposed
Saddam in 2003.
Vice Chairman Lee Hamilton said the commission was unable to find
evidence supporting comments by Pres Bush that Iraq provided al Qaeda
with chemical and biological weapons training or that an al Qaeda
operative "was sent to Iraq several times in the late 1990s for help
in acquiring poisons and gases."
Bush's comments were part of a radio address in Feb 2003, the month
before the invasion.
"I know there was a request by Osama bin Laden for training," Hamilton
told ABC. "I'm not sure about the poisonous gases. And our info, at
this point in time, is that Iraq did not respond," Hamilton said.
Bush said Thu that the Admin never claimed the 9/11 attacks were
"orchestrated" between Iraq and al Qaeda, but that "there were
numerous contacts" between the 2 under Saddam.
He noted that Iraq also supported Palestinian militant groups and paid
bounties to the families of suicide bombers, and he accused Saddam of
harbouring fugitive Islamic militant leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, now
blamed for numerous bloody attacks on US troops and Iraqi civilians.
Bush has tried to portray the war in Iraq as the "central front" in
the war on terrorism that began with the 9/11 attacks.
But in Sep -- after Cheney asserted in a televised interview that Iraq
had been "the geographic base of the terrorists who have had us under
assault now for many years, but most especially on 9/11" -- Bush said
there was no evidence that Saddam's govt was connected to those attacks.
Cheney also said last wk that the US has never been able to "knock
down" an un-corroborated Czech report that 9/11 plot leader Mohammed
Atta met with an Iraqi intel agent in Prague before the attacks.
The 9/11 commission found no evidence to support that allegation,
Hamilton said, but "We're open to evidence on it."
Hamilton said there was no evidence that Iraq had responded to any of
al Qaeda's requests for assistance from Iraq in the 1990s, but they
had "a very difficult, complex relationship."
"At one point, Osama bin Laden was actually supporting anti-Saddam
Islamists in Iraq, and then he evolved in a different direction. So
it's not easy to sort out," he said.
9/11 commissioner claims Iraqi officer, Al Qaeda link
Washington (Reuters). The commission investigating the Sep 11, 2001,
attacks has been given new evidence that "a very prominent member" of
Al Qaeda served as an officer in Saddam Hussein's militia, a panel
member has said.
Republican commissioner John Lehman told NBC program Meet the Press
that the new intel, if proven true, buttresses claims by the Bush
Admin of ties between Iraq and the militant network believed
responsible for the Sep 11 attacks on the US.
Mr Lehman said the info contained in "captured documents", was
obtained after the commission report was written that stated there was
no evidence of a "collaborative relationship" between Iraq and Al Qaeda.
"Some of these documents indicate that [there was] at least one
officer of Saddam's Fedayeen, a lieutenant colonel, who was a very
prominent member of Al Qaeda," Mr Lehman said.
"That still has to be confirmed, but the VP [Dick Cheney] was right
when he said that he may have things that we don't yet have," said Mr
Lehman, a former Navy secretary. "And we are now in the process of
getting this latest intel."
Mr Cheney and US Pres George W Bush continued to insist that Iraq had
ties to Al Qaeda after the commission report issued last wk found no
evidence that Iraq collaborated with Al Qaeda.
Mr Lehman did not say whether the additional info was given to the
commission in response to demands from the panel's chairman, Thomas
Kean, and vice chairman, Lee Hamilton.
The 2 called on Mr Cheney late last wk to turn over any intel reports
that would support the Whitehouse's insistence.
Critics have accused the Bush Admin of using faulty intel about
alleged WMD and Iraqi links to Al Qaeda to push the nation to war.
Mr Lehman said there was no evidence Saddam was involved in the Sep 11
attacks, but he said the recent info about the Fedayeen officer
"demonstrates the difficulty that we've had in this commission".
"We're under tremendous political pressures, everything we come out
with, one side or the other seizes on in this election year," Mr
Lehman said.
The conclusion of the commission staff report, released last Wed,
contradicted Bush Admin contentions before and after the US-led war on Iraq.
Mr Bush argued a connection with Al Qaeda constituted an unacceptable
threat to the US.
Some officials, including Mr Cheney, have suggested an Iraqi role in
the Sep 11 attacks carried out by Al Qaeda.
Mr Bush later ruled out that possibility, but many Americans still
believe it and critics have accused the Admin of misleading the public.
Mr Bush's Democratic challenger, Sen John Kerry, said last wk the Pres
owed the American public "a fundamental explanation about why he
rushed to war for a purpose it now turns out is not supported by the facts".
Democratic commission member Richard Ben-Veniste told the NBC program
he hoped Mr Cheney would provide "on a current basis" info "with
respect to the individual that John Lehman has talked about".
Mr Ben-Veniste also claimed there was no political motivation behind
the commission's conclusions.
"This was not an effort to discredit or modify someone else's
statements," he said.
Al Qaeda threatens to behead S Korean
The Al Jazeera broadcast features a S Korean man begging for his life.
Baghdad (Reuters). An Iraqi group has threatened to behead a S Korean
hostage if Seoul does not end cooperation with US occupying authorities,
a videotape aired on Arabic television station Al Jazeera has said.
"We ask you to withdraw your forces from our land and not to send any
more troops, and if not we'll send you this Korean's head," one of a
group of armed, masked men standing around the S Korean man said.
The group said S Korea had 24 hr from Sun night to withdraw its
decision, made last wk, to send troops to Iraq, Al Jazeera said.
A banner in the background named the group as Jama'at al-Tawhid and
Jihad, the name of the militant group led by Al Qaeda operative in
Iraq Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
The video showed the S Korean shouting violently at the camera:
"Please get [me] out of here, here, here. I don't want to die."
South Korea's YTN television named the hostage as 33-yo Kim Sun Il, an
employee of a S Korean trading firm.
It quoted govt officials as saying he had only very recently gone to Iraq.
Yonhap news agency said Mr Kim worked for Gana General Trading and
went to Iraq on Jun 15.
The company has 12 employees in Iraq and supplies military equipment
to US troops in Baghdad, the agency said.
South Korean Pres Roh Moo-hyun's Nat'l Sec Council held an emergency
meeting on Mon to discuss the apparent kidnapping in Iraq of a S
Korean businessman, an official said.
South Korea said on Fri it would start to deploy 3,000 troops to the
Arbil area in early Aug to help rebuild the N Kurdish region.
There has been vocal opp'n in S Korea to Seoul's decision to send
troops to Iraq.
South Korea already has about 670 military engineers and medics in
southern Iraq, and they will join the larger deployment in the North.
About half the troops are combat-ready forces.
Mr Roh views the deployment as a crucial gesture to support Seoul's
main ally, the US, which has 37,500 troops in S Korea to deter N Korea.
Beheading prisoners or cutting their throats has been a shock tactic
among Al Qaeda militants for some time.
On Fri, Al Qaeda militants in Saudi Arabia beheaded American hostage
Paul Johnson.
Last month, Zarqawi's group beheaded American hostage Nick Berg in
Iraq and in 2002, Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl was
beheaded in Pakistan.
SARS virus discovered in tears
PAAIN (AAP). Scientists have discovered the deadly SARS virus
in the tears of patients, it has emerged.
The worldwide outbreak of SARS -- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome --
saw 100s of deaths and 1000s of cases of the virus appear in 2003.
The latest study, published in the Brit Journal of Ophthalmology,
tested samples swabbed from the tear ducts of 36 patients, mostly
health workers, with suspected SARS in Singapore in Apr 2003.
8 of the patients subsequently turned out to have probable SARS.
A chemical analysis confirmed the presence of the SARS coronavirus in
3 of the patients -- 2 elderly men and one young female health worker.
In the women the virus was only found in her tears and through no
other tests.
The patients who tested positive had only recently become infected --
they were tested within 9 days of their symptoms starting.
No evidence of the virus was found in the tears of the other 5 patients.
But the researchers said their symptoms had started more than 11 days
earlier, suggesting that the tear duct sampling may be a sensitive
test for the early stage of infection.
The team, led by Dr Seng Chee Loon from The Eye Institute in
Singapore, said their study -- the first to detect SARS in tears --
had important implications for the way doctors dealt with patients
with suspected SARS.
The virus, which was 1st detected in China, spread quickly around the
world thanks to internat'l air travel, hitting countries including
Canada, HK and Singapore. There were no confirmed cases in the UK.
Health officials faced problems screening travellers arriving at
airports, especially those with no obvious symptoms.
"The ability to detect and isolate the virus in the early phase of the
disease may be an important diagnostic tool for future patients and
tear sampling is both simple and easily repeatable," the researchers said.
"Many healthcare workers are in close proximity to the eyes of
patients and this may be a source of spread among healthcare workers
and inoculating patients."
The team added: "Ophthalmologists examine patients at close distances
and inadvertent physical contact with patients' eyes is inevitable.
Hicks lawyers in US "harassment" dispute
Lawyers representing Guantanamo Bay detainees, including Aussie David
Hicks, are claiming harassment by the US govt.
Adelaide. Both the US military and Aussie lawyers representing Hicks
are accused of breaching their ethics by US Office of Military
Commissions, which will try Hicks, because they publicly stated that
their client said he had been abused.
In an e-mail to 7 colleagues, the rep for the Office of Military
Commissions, Maj John Smith, complained Maj Michael Mori and
Adel-based lawyer Stephen Kenny were grandstanding.
The official says if the claims are scurrilous, the 2 should be
investigated by relevant ethics agencies.
One of Maj Michael Mori's colleagues has labelled the complaint as
harassment and intimidation.
Mr Kenny has also rejected the criticism.
"I have been a lawyer for 24 y and I take my ethical obligations very
seriously," he said.
Mr Kenny says while he has publicly raised Hicks' complaints, he is
still awaiting permission to release the details.
"I have not spoken out about the specifics of those allegations and I
have specifically sought permission from Gen Hemmingway to provide
that info to members of the US Congress," he said.
"I am still awaiting receipt of that permission."
Maj Mori has declined to comment.
One of his colleagues, military lawyer Phil Sundel, says there is a
campaign of harassment and intimidation being waged against the
Guantanamo defence team.
"This isn't the 1st complaint about the strident way the military
defence lawyers, including Maj Mori, have criticised the military
commissions process," he said.
The US ambassador to AUS does not believe an investigation is being
contemplated into Maj Mori.
Ambassador Tom Schieffer has told a Fed Parliamentary inquiry there
are concerns Maj Mori raised the abuse claims with Aussie
authorities, but not with the US govt.
"What that may be referring to is an effort to get him to present
whatever allegations he has to the Defence Dept so they can be
properly investigated," he said.
"I don't think anybody is contemplating that Maj Mori himself is
being investigated on a personal basis or whatever, I'm just not sure
about that at all."
The Howard Govt says is not aware of any concerns about the conduct of
the legal team representing Aussie detainee David Hicks.
Justice minister Chris Ellison does not expect Hicks's legal team will
be bullied by the US authorities.
"They don't strike me as the sort of people to be intimidated and I'm
sure they would not be by the US authorities in any event," he said.
Mr Ellison says the Aussie Govt is not aware of concerns by US
officials about the conduct of Hicks's lawyers.
Brown urges intervention in lawyer harassment claims
Canberra. Greens leader Bob Brown has called on PM John Howard to
stop the alleged US Govt harassment of lawyers representing Guantanamo
Bay detainee David Hicks. A US military official has complained about
the conduct of Maj Michael Mori after he and Aussie lawyer Stephen
Kenny aired allegations their client may have been abused while in
American custody. The official says if the claims prove to be false,
the 2 should be investigated by relevant ethics agencies. Sen Brown
says it is a serious case of intimidation before David Hicks trial in
Aug. "It's an attempt to nobble the prosecution," he said. "If that
was happening in AUS, it would be a scandal and where is the PM to say
this mustn't happen?"
Former Desert Storm POW hopes claim against Iraq won't end
Dothan, Ala (AP). Former POW Daniel Stamaris' fight for damages
against Iraq for his 1991 captivity hasn't ended, despite a fed
appeals court ruling against the claim.
Stamaris, a former Blackhawk helicopter crew chief, is among 17 former
Desert Storm prisoners of war whose suit against the Republic of Iraq
has been dismissed by a fed appeals court.
"It's just very ironic that our own govt would step in on behalf of
Saddam Hussein and Iraq to get our case overturned," said Stamaris of
Headland. "Our own govt stepped in, using tax dollars, and fought
against us."
Govt lawyers had argued that huge legal judgements against foreign
govts would hamper diplomacy efforts as the US wages its war on terror.
The POWs won the suit by default in Jul 2003, because Iraq's govt did
not show up for the court proceedings. The judgement was $959 mn from
Iraq's frozen assets to be divided among those who sued and their families.
But the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit earlier this month
overturned the lower court ruling's decision that said the POWs were
entitled to the damages under a fed statute allowing suits involving
countries that financed or aided terrorists.
The 3-judge panel said the statute only allows lawsuits for pain and
suffering if they are filed against agents and officers of those
foreign states responsible for the torture who are not acting on
behalf of their govt.
Thus, even though the suit also names Saddam Hussein, he is immune
because the POWs sued him for his alleged activities as Iraq's
president, the panel said.
Turning to Congress for help, Stamaris said it's a "double standard"
for the US govt now to offer compensation to the Abu Ghraib prison
abuse victims.
"This is creating a double standard that will only perpetuate a cycle
of abuse," Stamaris said.
He said it sends the wrong message.
"This just emboldens other countries that would think about mistreating
POWs in the future. They see right now that there's a possibly that
our own govt will stand up for them instead of its own people, and
that's just not right," Stamaris told The Dothan Eagle last wk.
The suit was possible because of the much debated 1996 amendment to
the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act, called the "Flatow Amendment,"
which makes it possible for plaintiffs to declare a cause of action
against foreign officials or employees who are responsible for
state-sponsored terrorism.
This is the same legislation used by Sep 11 victims who are
successfully suing the Iraq govt.
However, the money owed the POWs was to be awarded through Iraq's
frozen assets, which is now being used to rebuild the infrastructure
of Iraq.
"It is irresponsible, to say the least, for our own govt to rule
against such a noble cause as this and rule in favour of a tyrannical
regime under the auspices of rebuilding Iraq," Stamaris said.
The court used a previous ruling, Cicippio-Puleo v Islamic Republic
of Iran, to justify the decision to dismiss Stamaris' suit, titled
Acree v Republic of Iraq.
"Congress makes the law and we go by the law and do what Congress
tells us to do, and yet it gets overturned because another court case
was ruled in the other direction," Stamaris said.
A discouraged group of POWs is now seeking justice in the entity that
originally offered compensation to those who suffered brutal and
inhumane treatment as prisoners of war. They are writing Congress.
"We are getting some help from Congress, but I don't seem to be
getting a lot of help from the Alabama congressmen," Stamaris said.
The POWs in the lawsuit say they endured severe beatings, starvation,
electric shock, threats of amputation and dismemberment, and continual
death threats.
Nearly 125 pages of the complaint detail the servicemen's stories,
including those of Marine Maj Michael Craig Berryman, who said his
legs were beaten with a metal pipe and a wooden ax handle. Marine Col
Clifford Acree said he was so nr starvation that he could "feel his
body consuming itself."
Radical cleric invited to forum
Baghdad (AFP). Shi'ite Muslim firebrand cleric Moqtada Sadr had been
invited to the Jul political conference to select a nat'l council
that will advise Iraq's interim govt, an Iraqi official said.
"An invitation has been sent to Moqtada Sadr," said Fuad Maasum, the
chair of the committee preparing the conference.
"Moqtada Sadr has begun to transform his militia into a political
organisation, which is considered a positive step, and his movement
has roots in the country," Maasum said.
He added that a thousand people would be invited to the conference,
which aims to have representatives of political movements, tribes and
regions from across Iraq to select the country's 100-member interim
nat'l council.
The council will serve until Jan elections and have the power to
approve the nation's 2005 budget, call ministers in for questioning
over policy and pick a new president or deputy president if one dies
in office.
The US-led coalition has previously called for Sadr to stand trial
before an Iraqi court for the murder of a pro-US cleric in Apr 2003 in
the holy city of Najaff.
The fundamentalist preacher led a 2-and-1/2 m revolt against US
forces in central and southern Iraq.
US officials have retreated from initial demands in Apr that Sadr "be
killed or captured" and now refer to his trial as an internal Iraqi matter.
The young cleric signalled more than a wk ago his willingness to accept
the new govt, and his aides said Sadr's followers were now organising
a political party.
Iraq to take custody of Saddam very soon after end-Jun: coalition
Baghdad (AFP). Iraq will take legal custody of Saddam Hussein and 9
other high-profile prisoners soon after the country gains sovereignty
on Jun 30, but US-led jailers will continue to guard them, a
coalition official said Sun.
"The plan now is to transfer approximately 10 high-profile, high-value
detainees, legally transfer them to the Iraqi interim govt as soon as
they request them which will probably be very shortly after Jul 1,"
the snr official told AFP, adding that the former dictator would be
one of the 10.
Meanwhile, in LONDON, the head of the Iraqi tribunal which will judge
Saddam Hussein said Sun he was still negotiating with US authorities
for custody of the ousted dictator.
"We're negotiating quite intensively with the coalition forces," Salem
Chalabi said.
"We believe [Saddam's hand-over] is going to be relatively soon, after
the transition."
Saddam has been in US custody since his capture on Dec 13, but talks
about his transfer to the interim govt, which is supposed to take
power in Iraq in only 10 days, have been ongoing for weeks.
US Pres George W Bush has refused to commit to the Jun 30 date the
hand over of the prisoner, who remains uncharged, expressing fears that
the Iraqis could not guarantee Saddam stayed behind bars.
Chalabi stressed that his special tribunal for war crimes would be up
to the task of trying Saddam and fellow indictees, brushing aside
reports of a lack of competent judges or willing witnesses.
"There are literally 100s, if not 1000s, that come in on a regular
basis trying to give info," he said on BBC television in a telephone
interview from Baghdad.
But, in an acknowledgement of the predominant security concerns in the
violence-wracked country, he said only one office had been opened for
witnesses until better protection could be provided.
A 30-man team was in the process of creating a witness protection
programme, he said.
Still, in a sign of the perils to the tribunal, Chalabi admitted to
moving around constantly.
When asked if he -- like Saddam -- slept in a different bed every
night, Chalabi claimed it was "not exactly true" but added: "I don't
stay around in any particular place".
The US-trained Chalabi described the Iraqi judiciary as "pretty decent".
"The Iraqi judicial system was set up by the Brit back in the 1920s
and it's actually a pretty decent system. It just was played around
with by the previous regime," he said.
But his judges were undergoing training and, since "it will take some
time before we get to the trials", they still had "a y or so" to get
up to speed on internat'l law, he added.
Saddam is likely to be tried for the persecution of Shiite Marsh Arabs
in southern Iraq in the 1980s and 1990s, as well as for war crimes
against Kuwait during and after the Aug 1990 invasion, which triggered
the first Gulf War.
The once-feared Iraqi leader could face the death penalty in
sentencing by the tribunal, provided the govt change the current law,
Chalabi said.
The top US administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer, suspended the death
penalty. "But if the suspension imposed by ambassador Bremer is lifted
then there is the possibility of the death penalty being imposed," he said.
The internat'l Red Cross says that, under the Geneva war conventions,
US officials must charge or free Saddam and the other "high-value"
detainees from Saddam's old regime.
Saddam hand over due "very shortly": US
Baghdad (AFP/ABC, Matt Brown and agencies). An official from the
US-led coalition has said former Iraq dictator Saddam Hussein would be
transferred to Iraqi legal custody "very shortly" after the country
becomes sovereign on Jun 30.
A snr coalition official said Iraq will take legal custody of Saddam
soon after independence but the former dictator will remain guarded by
US-led forces.
"The plan now is to transfer approximately 10 high profile, high value
detainees, legally transfer them to the Iraqi interim govt as soon as
they request them which will probably be very shortly after Jul 1,"
the snr official told AFP, adding that the former dictator would be
one of the 10.
"Physical custody of the detainees would remain with the multinat'l
force because we have the capacity to ensure they are safeguarded and
treated in accordance with internat'l law and are protected," the
official said.
"But the legal responsibility would shift to the Iraqi interim govt."
After the legal transfer, the captives would become criminal detainees
instead of prisoners of war, explained the official.
"They would be subject to Iraqi criminal procedures and they would be
prepared for trial before the Iraqi special tribunal," he said.
The head of the Iraqi tribunal which will judge Saddam Hussein says
the former leader could face the death penalty, despite a suspension
of capital punishment by the US.
The tribunal head, Salem Chalabi, says intense negotiations are still
underway for Saddam's hand over at the end of the month.
Insurgents loyal to the former regime continue to mount attacks on a
daily basis and Mr Chalabi says 100s of witnesses have come forward to
offer evidence against Saddam.
But only one office has been opened to hear their claims amidst
security fears and a 30 man team is organising a witness protection program.
US president George W Bush has said he wants to be sure Iraq's former
dictator will be securely held and put on trial after he is
transferred to Iraqi custody.
Back to the future
Iraq's PM announces major reorganisation of Iraq's security forces to
fight terrorism.
Baghdad (AP). Iraq's interim PM announced a restructuring of the
country's security forces Sun, grouping all Iraqi troops under a
central command whose chief duty is tackling insurgents plaguing the country.
PM Iyad Allawi also said his govt was considering imposing "martial
law" in Iraq's trouble spots to help police and paramilitaries bring order.
He made a plea for more internat'l help in Iraq's guerrilla war,
asking outside countries to send troops and donate military hardware
to bolster Iraq's beleaguered forces.
"Until our forces are fully capable we will continue to need support
from our friends," Allawi told reporters.
Allawi has made security his top priority, with violence persisting as
his govt prepares to take sovereignty from Iraq's American occupiers
on Jun 30. On Sun, a roadside bomb in Baghdad killed 2 Iraqi
soldiers, and US clashed with insurgents in the city of Samarra, N of
the capital, where 3 days of fighting has killed 10 Iraqis.
The incoming govt is considering an amnesty for Iraqi guerrillas who
haven't taken direct roles in killings of US-led occupation forces or
Iraqis, Interior Min Falah Hassan al-Naqib told reporters, offering
few details.
The security plan announced by Allawi focused on a strengthening of
the Iraqi military, bolstering its role in fighting the insurgency. US
administrators had envisaged the military as a small force, meant
solely to deal with external threats rather than violence within
Iraq's borders.
Allawi said the May 2003 decision by US occupation chief L Paul
Bremer to disband the Iraqi army was a mistake.
The Iraqi army, once the largest and among the best-equipped in the
Arab world, began a long decline after losing the 1991 Gulf War. The
army all but disintegrated during the US-led invasion in 2003, its
barracks and weapons stores looted and tanks, planes and other
hardware destroyed.
Now, Allawi intends to resurrect aspects of Iraq's former military,
enlarging the overall army while creating police and paramilitary
units focused on fighting terrorists and insurgents and controlling riots.
The paramilitary Iraqi Civil Defense Corps which US administrators
created as a force distinct from the military to battle insurgents
would be redesigned as a nat'l guard force and placed under army
control, along with border guards and other independent units.
The country will also build an army special forces capacity and an
Iraqi Intervention Force for counterinsurgency operations.
The chief duties of Iraq's fledgling air force, with just 2 small
surveillance aircraft in its inventory, will be to monitor pipelines,
electrical transmission lines and borders, Allawi said.
As a last resort, Allawi said he would send Iraq's army, meant to
protect the country against foreign invasion, to fight the guerrillas.
"They are trying to destroy our country and we are not going to allow
this," he said.
Allawi said his ministers are also discussing the imposition of
emergency law in parts of Iraq. "We might impose some kind of martial
law in some places if necessary in accordance with the law and in
respect to the human rights and the internat'l law," he said.
Sen Joseph Biden, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee, expressed concern over the idea of martial law, saying
Iraqi troops were not strong enough to enforce it and that US forces
could be dragged into doing so.
"I'm not so crazy about this," Biden, who met Allawi during a one-day
visit to Iraq on Sat, said on ABC's "This Week."
"A govt should never lay down an order they can't enforce. I am
positive that Allawi is not in a position to enforce such a law now,
without the US doing it," he said.
Biden urged NATO countries, particularly France and Germany, to help
Iraq on security. Refusal to do would be "irresponsible," he said.
As part of the restructuring, Allawi announced creation of a
ministerial-level nat'l security committee, including among others the
ministers of defence, interior, foreign affairs, justice, and finance.
Allawi said he discussed the revamping with US Deputy Def Sec Paul
Wolfowitz, who is visiting Iraq this wk.
Allawi also announced establishment of a Joint Operations Center, and
regional and local security offices that will coordinate Iraqi
military actions with the US-led coalition.
US Army Lt Gen Thomas F Metz, cmdr of Multinat'l Corps Iraq, will
retain overall control of Iraq's security, even after Iraqis regain
sovereignty on Jun 30.
There is still little evidence of coordination between US military and
Iraqi forces, although both sides have agreed to consult each other
before launching large operations.
More than a day after US airstrikes on a suspected safe house in
Fallujah killed at least 16, Allawi said he had little info on the attack.
"I don't have the full details," he said. "I am getting them."
The US military said the airstrikes destroyed a hideout used by allies
of Jordanian terror suspect Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. But a snr officer of
the US-backed Fallujah Brigade said there was no evidence foreigners
used the building.
The PM said he welcomed US strikes on "any terrorist forces" in Iraq,
but that he had no say in the matter. He said he was informed of the
impending airstrikes "a short time before the action took place."
"As you know, sovereignty is not yet transferred to the govt of Iraq,"
Allawi said. "This pattern will change once sovereignty is transferred."
Allawi's comments at a news conference came amid a surge of bloody
attacks intended to undermine his fledgling regime before the hand over
of power at the end of this m.
Many of the attacks have targeted police and other security services,
who have been slowly taking over security tasks in the wk before the
transfer of sovereignty. One of the most vicious attacks occurred Thu,
when a car bomb exploded outside a military recruitment station,
killing 35 and wounding 145.
More than 300 people have been killed in attacks on police stations
and recruitment centres since Sep.
Israeli warplanes strike S Lebanon
Beirut (Reuters). Israeli warplanes have struck what the army said
were Hezbollah anti-aircraft batteries in S Lebanon on Sun evening,
causing no casualties.
Hezbollah TV station al-Manar said the planes struck a hill in SW
Lebanon where an Israeli military base stood until the army withdrew
from S Lebanon in May 2000.
Lebanese residents said they heard several explosions and a Beirut
security source said nobody was hurt in the strike.
The Israeli army issued a statement in Jerusalem saying the air force
attacked Hezbollah gunners that had fired anti-aircraft shells into
northern Israel earlier in the day.
The shells hit an army base but caused no casualties.
"Following the Hezbollah attack, the Israeli Air Force targeted and
destroyed a Hezbollah outpost in the W sector of southern Lebanon,
from which a canon was used to fire on N Israel ... under the guise
of anti-aircraft fire," the army said in a statement.
The army accused Hezbollah of deliberately firing anti-aircraft shells
at a low trajectory into Israel in order to attack its citizens.
Hezbollah has said the salvos are aimed at Israeli warplanes that have
violated Lebanese air space.
"The State of Israel is determined not to allow attacks from Lebanese
territory and to hold the govts of Lebanon and Syria responsible for
these actions," the army said.
The incident was the latest flare-up on the Israeli-Lebanese border in
recent days.
On Jun 8, Hezbollah struck Israeli positions in the disputed Shebaa
Farms area, a day after Israeli warplanes raided a Palestinian base
near Beirut.
That strike followed what Israel called an attempt by Lebanese
guerrillas to shell its naval craft.
Israel bans Brit journalist after Vanunu interview
Jerusalem (Reuters). Israel has banned a Brit journalist from
entering the country because it believes he poses a security risk due
to his connection to nuclear whistle-blower Mordechai Vanunu, an
Israeli official has said.
Int Min Avraham Poraz decided to bar Peter Hounam from Israel after
concluding the journalist "could act in Israel to reveal sensitive and
important info that could harm nat'l security", a ministry rep said.
Mr Hounam, who broke Mr Vanunu's account of Israel's nuclear secrets
in Brit's Sun Times newspaper in 1986, left Israeli officials red-faced
last m after he was briefly arrested for helping arrange a TV
interview with Mr Vanunu.
Mr Vanunu was barred from having contact with foreign reporters for 6
m when he was released from prison in Apr.
He served an 18-y prison term for espionage and treason for his
revelations about Israel's nuclear program.
Israeli officials accused Mr Hounam of bypassing the ban by arranging
for an Israeli journalist to interview Mr Vanunu for a report that was
broadcast on the BBC and published in the Sun Times last m.
Mr Hounam's 1986 interview with Mr Vanunu, a former technician at
Israel's Dimona atomic reactor, led independent analysts to conclude
the Jewish state had amassed between 100 and 200 nuclear weapons, the
makings of a military superpower.
There was no immediate comment from Mr Hounam, who left Israel shortly
after his arrest by the Shin Bet security service last m.
An Int Min'y source said the decision to bar Mr Hounam was taken after
he applied to re-enter Israel.
Israel to consult Egypt over Gaza trench plan
Jerusalem. Israeli PM Ariel Sharon has promised not to go ahead with
the construction of a giant trench along the Gaza border until he
consults with Egypt. Army chiefs hope the ditch will stop arms smuggling
through tunnels dug under the border. Israel's Defence Ministry has
called for tenders for the building of a giant, waterless moat along
the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip. The trench would be up
to 25 metres deep and 4 km long, but after criticism of the plan, Mr
Sharon told his cabinet that the ditch would only be dug after consultation
with Egypt. Israeli defence chiefs have also backed away from the
plan, saying no orders have been given to start the construction.
Search on for elusive white whale
Townsville. Southern Cross University (SCU) whale researchers are
monitoring the waters off the NSW mid-north coast for a white whale,
after reports it is heading north. The whale is believed to be
Migaloo, which was injured in a encounter with a trimaran off
Townsville in N Qld last y. SCU researchers at the time successfully
applied for a 500-metre exclusion zone around the whale. The animal
was 1st reported off Byron Bay, in N NSW, in 1992 by the Aussie Whale
Conservation Society -- it has been sighted off Hervey Bay, in SE Qld,
in 1992-93 and 1998. There were reported sightings of the white whale
off SYD late last week. SCU researchers say it is probably an adult
male, about 10 metres long and it is thought to be the only albino
whale in the population that travels the E coast. Anyone who spots
Migaloo is asked to contact SCU's whale research centre.
Stolen dinosaur eggs returned to China
Canberra. AUS has handed back to China dozens of illegally exported
dinosaur eggs. In all, 32 fossilised eggs, some aged up to 160 mn
years, are being returned. Many of them were imported into AUS via
the Internet. They were seized in police raids at Madurah S of Perth
last wk. At a ceremony in CBR today, the Justice and Customs Min
Chris Ellison handed over some of the eggs to the Chinese ambassador.
Sen Ellison says offenders face penalties including 5 y in prison and
a $100,000 fine. He says the smuggling is part of a well organised
criminal concern. "There is a great deal of organised criminal
activity in progressing and growing this trade but the purchasers are
often unaware of the significance of the items concerned and the
illegality involved," he said.
PBL ups casino offer
Perth. Kerry Packer's company Publishing and Broadcasting Limited
(PBL) has increased its takeover offer for Perth's Burswood Casino
today. PBL says it will raise its bid for Burswood Limited by 6 cents
a share to $1.46. Th offer is conditional on PBL acquiring at least
90% of Burswood shares and on the casino's operator board unanimously
recommending the offer. PBL has declared the price is its final offer
and has extended the closing date to Jul 16. It says its current 16%
stake in the Burswood Casino would prevent another bidder from moving
to compulsory acquisition and so a competing offer appears unlikely.
Burswood board last m recommended shareholders reject an offer from
PBL of $1.40 per share, valuing the company at $686 mn, describing it
as inadequate. This led to a war of words between the 2 companies,
with PBL claiming the casino's info to shareholders about the takeover
bid was misleading.
Chaney appointed to NAB board
[Mick Chaney!]
Melbourne. The Nat'l AUS Bank (NAB) has confirmed the appointment of
Michael Chaney to its board. He will join the bank in Dec and the
bank says he will move into the role of chairman in Sep next y. Mr
Chaney recently announced he intended to retire as managing director
of Wesfarmers after 13 y in that position. In May, NAB's finalised a
three-y contract new chief executive officer John Stewart with a
salary package valued up to $7.1 mn a year. Mr Stewart was moved into
the top job in Feb, after the departure of Frank Cicutto amid the
Nat'l's $360 mn currency trading scandal.
Latham accuses Govt of rushing FTA
Canberra. The Fed Opp'n has accused the Govt of trying to rush its
proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with the US through Parliament for
political purposes.
This week, the Govt will introduce 2 bills to implement the agreement.
Labor is yet to decide whether to back the deal, saying it is waiting
for the final report of a senate inquiry, which is due in Aug.
Opp'n leader Mark Latham says his party will not be pushed into making
an earlier decision.
"The senate committee hasn't even got all the fine detail yet, so
we're not going to be rushing in with a decision about a matter that's
obviously being used by the Govt for a political purpose, and they're
the ones that are rushing," he said.
But Coalition MPs including Peter Dutton say it is a further sign that
Mr Latham does not support the alliance with the US.
"His best interest I think being overridden by his hatred toward the
US," he said.
Liberal backbencher Warren Entsh agrees.
"Latham says, 'No I hate the Americans so much I'm not prepared to do
a deal with them,'" he said.
A Senate inquiry into the free trade deal is due to release its
findings in Aug.
IAG completes share buy-back
Sydney. About 31,000 Insurance Aussie Group (IAG) shareholders have
successfully taken part in the company's $400 mn share buy-back. The
final price has been set at $4.40 per share and is comprised of a
capital component of $1.78 and a fully franked dividend of $2.62. IAG
has bought back just over 94 mn shares, or 5.6% on its stock on issue,
for a total of $414 mn. Payments to shareholders will be mailed, or
directly credited, next Mon.
Record commodity export earnings expected
Canberra. AUS's commodity export earnings are predicted to jump to
record levels in the next 12 m. Reflecting a higher rate of global
economic growth, AUS's export earnings from commodities are forecast
to rise to $93.4 bn in 2004/05. The Aussie Bureau of Agricultural and
Resource Economics (ABARE) says that would be a 14% increase from this
financial year. It says the forecast is underpinned by higher mineral
and energy prices and greater volumes shipped. In its Jun quarter
publication of Aussie Commodities, the value of mineral and energy
exports is forecast to reach $63 bn, up almost 19%. Farm exports are
predicted to bring in $26.7 bn which is up 6 per cent on stronger crop
earnings and a slight fall in livestock product exports.
Police name horror crash victims
Campbell's Ck, Vic. Vic police have released the names of a Bendigo
family of 4 who died in a head-on crash with a truck in central Vic
yesterday Killed were 45-yo Richard Ervin, his 46-yo wife, Anne and
daughters 17-yo Brooke and 14-yo Jade.
A 15-yo French exchange student in the car was also killed, but her
name has not been released.
Brooke was driving the family's powerful V8 Club Sport Holden and her
father Richard was sitting next to her when she lost control and
collided with an oncoming truck.
The truck driver was taken to hospital with a broken arm.
The accident happened at an intersection on the Midland Highway,
outside Campbell's Creek about 5.00 pm yesterday.
Rural Ambulance sent a helicopter, an intensive care unit and 3
other road ambulances to the crash but there was little they could do
for the victims.
The duty officer at Bendigo, Peter Collins, says a horrific scene
confronted paramedics.
"Unfortunately, in this situation, there wasn't really anything anyone
could do," he said.
The Major Collision Squad is investigating and Sgt Michael Talbot says
it is not yet known why the crash occurred.
"A light truck from Castlemaine has been heading S to Daylesford, a
silver Commodore sedan has been heading in towards Castlemaine heading
north," he said.
"For an as yet unexplained reason, the driver of the Commodore has
lost control, crossed to the incorrect side of the road and into the
path of the truck."
A report is being prepared for the coroner.
Rural ambulance manager Peter Collins last night questioned why
learner drivers are legally allowed to control powerful cars, when
P-platers are not.
"She can drive a Ferrari or any sort of car she likes, with whatever
sort of motor, as long as she has a fully-licensed driver sitting
beside her," he said.
Ken Ogen from the RACV says there is no need to change the existing
rules for L-plate drivers and that accidents are very rare.
"On the other hand it's very important that L-platers get a lot of
experience, and it may well be that the only vehicle available within
the family is a V8, so for that reason we think it would in fact be
counter productive to put a restriction on L-platers," he said.
"P-platers are quite different, but L-platers we think that the law as
it stands, should stay as it is."
Telstra plans $1.5 bn in shareholder returns
Sydney. Telstra is planning returns to its shareholders of an extra
$1.5 bn pa. For the next 3 y, the Telstra board expects to declare
special dividends and/or share buy-backs amounting to $1.5 bn annually.
That is in addition to ordinary dividends of around 80% of normal
profits, after tax. Telstra says the new capital management policies
have been adopted because the company expects future cash flows from
operations to remain robust.
Telstra shares push stock market to new high
A surge by Telstra shares to a 5-m high has helped propel the Aussie
stock market to new record level.
Sydney. Investors have welcomed plans by Telstra to declare special
dividends and/or share buy-backs amounting to $1.5 bn annually over the
next 3 y. Telstra shares have gained 23 cents, or 4.8%, to
$5.03. The All Ordinaries index is up 18 points at 3,541 after
reaching an all-time high of 3,544. The payout will be on top of a
higher ordinary dividend of about 80% of normal after-tax profits.
Telstra's chief executive officer Ziggy Switkowski says the company
has taken note of comments from shareholders about the conservative
nature of its balance sheet. "Today's announcement is good news for
all shareholders," he said. "Mums and dads and retirees can look
forward to higher dividends [and] professional investors will
appreciate the consistent and certain capital management framework."
The share price rise will be welcomed by the Fed Govt which has been
waiting for better times to offload its 51% stake.
Army to dismiss pair over drug use
Townsville, FNQ. The Aussie Army will dismiss 2 Townsville soldiers
for illegal drug use. The pair were among 9 soldiers who tested
positive earlier this year. The 9 soldiers tested positive to illegal
drug use after a group of personnel were targeted for drug testing at
the Lavarack Barracks in Townsville. A defence rep says the cases
against the other 7 are still being considered after earlier
disciplinary and or administrative action. One of the 9 is due to
appear in a Townsville court next wk on charges of possessing 2 tabs
of ecstasy at a private property. A Defence Force rep says the Army
is committed to its zero tolerance policy on the use of illegal drugs.
Court hears hospital error left baby with brain damage
Melbourne. A MEL court has been told a baby suffered permanent and
severe brain damage after he was given the wrong intravenous drip
solution at the Royal Children's Hospital.
One-mo Nathan Liu was admitted to the Royal Children's Hospital for
severe vomiting in Sep 2001.
It is alleged the baby was given 10 times the recommended dextrose
rehydration solution, causing severe brain damage.
His parents are suing Women and Children's Health for pain and
suffering, economic loss and future care.
Their lawyer has told the Supreme Court the boy cannot walk or use his
arms, cannot eat properly, has severe vision impairment and significant
sleep disturbance.
He told the court the boy's parents were traumatised when the overdose
occurred and the father had to reject a highly paid position at a US
university because of the care the boy would need.
The hearing continues.
School exercise to be tied to funding: Nelson
Canberra. The Fed Govt is set to announce minimum levels of exercise
that Aussie schools will be required to set for students.
The measure will be part of legislation to be introduced by the Govt
this wk, which will see a number of requirements attached to more than
$30 bn in school funding over the next 4 y.
The Govt says the funding will also be dependent on schools adopting
nat'l reading and writing standards, a simplification of reporting to
parents and a move towards a uniform school starting age.
Edu Min Brendan Nelson says PM John Howard will announce further
details of school exercise requirements later this week, but it is
aimed at addressing growing obesity levels among children.
"We certainly will be placing requirements on schools to make
absolutely sure that our kids get exercise while they're at school and
we'll be defining some minimum levels of exercise that we want," he said.
"The schools can deliver those, of course, during school hours or
indeed after school hours. We just want to make sure that our kids are
fit in both mind and body."
ACOSS wary of govt's $600 payouts
Canberra (AAP). Families might not necessarily be better off with the
federal government's one-off $600 family benefit payments, the
Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) says.
The government is delivering the final batch of $600 per child
payments to eligible families this wk as part of its family benefits
package announced in last month's Budget.
But ACOSS says parents could end up receiving less cash support from
the government in the future.
"Firstly, arrangements for the new $600 supplement will actually lead
to lower fortnightly payments in the future for families, including
the poorest," ACOSS president Andrew McCallum said.
"The fact the $600 is withheld to the end of the year, combined with
changes to the way the payment is indexed, will see lower increases to
fortnightly payments than would have been expected."
Mr McCallum said the other major concern was that, because wages
growth was expected to outstrip inflation in the next few years, the
new indexation rules for the benefits meant they would rise slower
than under current arrangements.
"The value of the $600 increase will be washed away," he said.
Mr McCallum said ACOSS wanted the families on social security payments
to receive the $600 as a fortnightly payment so they would not be
worse off in the future.
Family and Community Services Min Kay Patterson said about 2 mn
families were eligible to receive the $600 payment, which began being
transferred from the government to parents last week.
The final batch of payments is due to be made by Tuesday.
"The families don't need to do anything to claim their money," Senator
Patterson said.
"It will be paid automatically into their bank account."
ACOSS urges family payment extension
The Fed Govt is being urged to consider delivering its annual $600
family payment in fortnightly blocks rather than a lump sum.
Canberra. The measure was announced in last m's Budget and means up
to 2 mn families can receive $600 per child each year.
Aussie Council of Social Service (ACOSS) president Andrew McCallum says
the money would be better used if it was given to families every fortnight.
"People on low income need the money on a constant ongoing basis," he said.
"For them to actually have to wait to get it and find that it might be
eroded, the true value of the $600 gets eroded over a number of years
[and it] does not meet the needs ... the Govt was probably intending
in the 1st place."
ACOSS is also calling on the Fed Govt to extend the payment to
families with teenage children.
Mr McCallum says the Govt needs to recognise that families with
dependent teenagers on Youth Allowance still face high costs.
"We're saying that the cost of teenagers does grow, I mean the cost of
raising children does grow as the kids get older," he said.
"Teenagers are more expensive for families, especially fixed income,
low income families and we're saying that that $600 should be
available to families where their children are on Youth Allowance."
Govt dismisses fortnightly family payment calls
Canberra. The Fed Govt has rejected calls for it to consider
delivering an annual $600 family payment in fortnightly blocks rather
than a lump sum. The measure was announced in last m's Budget and
means up to 2 mn families can receive $600 per child each year. The
Aussie Council of Social Service (ACOSS) says the money should be
handed out every fortnight because families on low incomes need the
payments on an ongoing basis. Family Services Min Kay Patterson has
dismissed the proposal. "We're giving families a $600 increase in
family tax benefits each year," she said. "We're giving the $600
bonus per child, this y and into the future. "Labor has failed to
guarantee it past next financial year."
ATO crackdown on interest income
The Aussie Taxation Office has reportedly begun cracking down on
undeclared dividend and interest income.
Canberra (AAP). The crackdown came after an audit revealed about 2.7 mn
taxpayers under-reported their interest income by more than $700 mn
last year, The Aussie Financial Review reports.
Companies, trusts and superannuation funds had also underestimated
their income, according to a report by the Aussie Nat'l Audit Office.
As well, the audit found 20,000 self-managed super funds did not lodge
tax returns in the 2001-02 FY.
Systemic problems were also identified with the data provided to the
ATO by banks and other financial institutions in their annual
investment income reports (AIIR).
The tax office uses AIIR data on taxpayers' bank interest, capital
gains, dividends, debentures, money held in trust for real estate
transactions and royalty payments in its efforts to identify
under-reporting of income.
The ATO has started matching records of property sales in Vic with
capital gains tax records, the newspaper said.
Free advertising "helping coalition"
A govt spending spree on advertising may be responsible for increased
support for the coalition in an opinion poll, Opp'n Leader Mark Latham said.
Canberra (AAP). An ACNielsen poll published in Fairfax newspapers
showed increased voter support for PM John Howard while Labor's lead
over the coalition was narrowing.
According to the poll, Labor had 52% support on a 2-party preferred
basis, compared to 48% for the coalition.
Labor led the coalition 56% to 44% in last m's ACNielsen poll.
In the preferred PM stakes, Mr Howard led Mr Latham 50% to 41%,
compared to 47% to 43% last m.
Mr Latham said he was more interested in talking about policy than
polls but a $100 mn govt advertising program may have boosted support
for the govt.
"These polls come and go, but certainly a govt that's throwing so much
taxpayer money at quasi-election advertising, that's got to have an
impact, it's got a be consideration," Mr Latham told ABC radio.
"And it's one of the appalling things about this govt that they're
abusing the process so badly with all that taxpayer's money for
political purposes."
Mr Latham said Labor would be ready to fight the fed election whenever
it was called.
"We're obviously expecting an election in the second half of this y
and we're getting ourselves prepared for that," he said.
"The main thing is not to engage in commentary and to get out there
advocating our policies -- to save Medicare, to improve bulk billing,
improve the affordability of the education system, do things that are
good for the country."
PM welcomes poll boost
The Coalition has jumped ahead of Labor in the latest AC Neilson poll.
Canberra. PM John Howard has welcomed a boost in the polls for
the Coalition amid mounting speculation that he is preparing to call
an Aug election.
The Fed Parliament has resumed today for what will be its last sitting
week, if the PM decides to hold the election in Aug.
Mr Howard is taking comfort from the latest AC Neilson poll,
describing it as better than the last result.
"The numbers for us are higher, we've gone up 4, they've gone down
one," he said.
"I always like polls that are like that."
In today's result, Labor has 42% of the primary vote, while the
Coalition has risen to 43% but Labor is still in front after
preferences are distributed.
Opp'n leader Mark Latham says he is ready for an election.
"We are obviously expecting an election in the 2nd half of this year
and we are getting ourselves prepared for that," he said.
He says one factor helping the Coalition at the moment is a Govt
advertising blitz, worth more than $100 mn.
Democrats support Govt's super legislation
Govt, Democrats deal to usher in changes to super legislation.
Canberra. The Fed Govt has reached an agreement with the Aussie
Democrats to pass superannuation legislation which has been stalled in
the Senate.
The new laws will give workers the right to choose their own
superannuation fund and are designed to increase competition and
efficiency in the superannuation industry and to improve returns on
superannuation savings.
PM John Howard says in return for the Democrats support, a tax will be
removed from a wide range of death benefit payments for inter-dependent
and same-sex relationships.
Mr Howard says the Govt has been trying to get its "super choice"
changes through the Senate since 1996.
"It will come into operation on the 1st of Jul 2005 and will, over
time, lead to people taking a more active interest in their own
superannuation," he said.
The Democrats say they have won key concessions from the Fed Govt in
return for supporting superannuation laws which have been stalled in
the Senate for years.
The Democrats say the Govt has agreed to its request to remove parts
of the legislation that they believed discriminated against same sex
couples and to force the industry to fully disclose fees and charges.
Leader Andrew Bartlett says it is a significant win for both parties.
"It's a perfect example of why the Democrats approach of negotiating
with the Govt of the day, even where we have areas of strong
disagreement, delivers results for the Aussie people," he said.
"There are mn of Aussie workers who will have an opportunity to choose
where their superannuation goes."
State funeral for Jim Bacon
Hobart. The state funeral for Tas's former premier Jim Bacon will be
held on Thu. Mr Bacon died at Hobart's Calvary Hospital yesterday,
aged 54, after a brief battle with cancer. Tasn Prem Paul Lennon has
paid tribute to his long-time friend and colleague, and has vowed to
continue Mr Bacon's legacy. "It was a brief but spectacularly
successful political career," Mr Lennon said. "I've had the great
privilege of a close friendship and close working relationship with
him. "So much was achieved in this state by Jim, but the job is not
yet complete."
ACA welcomes, banks pan Latham plan
Latham wants to overhaul consumer banking.
Canberra. The Aussie Consumers' Association says the Labor Party's
banking policy will have a positive impact on customers, however the
Bankers' Association has not been as complementary.
Labor leader Mark Latham says he wants to deliver accessible and
affordable banking services and under Labor, banks would have to show
credit card holders how much they are paying in fees.
In the plan, banks would only be allowed to increase credit card
limits if customers request it.
Aussie Bankers' Association rep David Bell says the issue of credit
card debt is being exaggerated and has criticised Labor for the lack
of consultation.
"There are extremely low default rates on credit cards and the
overwhelming number of people use their credit cards responsibly," he said.
"We were promised a consultation, but unfortunately that didn't occur."
Mr Bell says the policy does not recognise the efforts banks are
making to address community concerns.
In the plan, banks would also have to offer low cost accounts.
ACA's rep Catherine Wolthuizen says it is time someone stood up to the banks.
"Measures designed to not only improve access, improve affordability,
but also reign in some of the practices that are drawing people into
un-sustainable debt, are all going to have an enormous practical
impact," she said.
She says the policy would increase competition.
"Over nearly a decade, the banks have been able to get away without
very much scrutiny or accountability being applied to them and
customers have suffered as a consequence," she said.
She believes it will help restore accountability to the banking sector.
The Aussie Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) would monitor
bank fees and banks would be required to justify branch closures.
Govt defends Centenary House deal inquiry
The Fed Govt says a judicial inquiry into the Labor Party's Centenary
House rental deal could release its findings within 3 m.
Canberra. The Labor Party has described the inquiry as a pre-election
political witch-hunt.
Labor rents Centenary House in CBR to the Govt under a deal struck 15 y ago.
Under that arrangement, the rent increases by 9% a y and the Govt says
Labor is now charging almost 300% above market value and wasting
taxpayers money.
A royal commission into the matter 10 y ago cleared the Labor Party of
any wrong doing and Opp'n leader Mark Latham says an inquiry now is
politically motivated.
A-G Philip Ruddock says it has been recommended by the Senate and it
will consider any failings of the previous royal commission, including
"whether the inquiry was properly resourced to carry out its functions".
Opp'n leader Mark Latham says it would not be right for an inquiry
into a rent deal between Labor and a Govt agency to continue, once the
election is called.
Mr Latham has branded the inquiry a witch-hunt.
"I'd think it's inappropriate to have an inquiry that runs through the
course of the election campaign," he said.
"The Prime Min's got to set the election date, we'll see what that is.
"The idea that the Labor Party's got to fight not only a fed election
campaign, but send its officials down to be part of this inquiry seems
to be quite extraordinary."
Retired NSW Supreme Court judge David Hunt will head the inquiry.
Deputy PM urges states to sign water deal
Canberra. Deputy PM John Anderson says the nat'l water agreement must
be signed at this wk's Commonwealth of Aussie Govts (COAG) meeting.
Mr Anderson has delivered the opening address at the Nat'l Farmers
Federation annual conference in CBR. He says the proposed nat'l water
initiative is an historic opportunity for all govts to provide water
users with a secure supply. While also providing water for
environmental flows he has urged state leaders to put politics aside
and sign up to the nat'l water initiative at Fri's COAG meeting. But
he has refused to discuss how much money the Govt is prepared to give
to compensate farmers if their access to water is reduced in the future.
Police hunt continues for gunman
Perth. A 26-yo man wanted over the shooting of another man in the
northern Perth suburb of Stirling is still on the run. Police want to
question Cameron Francis Kelly after the incident which left another
26-yo man in hospital with bullet wounds to his leg. Officers from
the Tactical Response Group stormed a house on Karrinyup Road about
6 pm AWST yesterday where they believed the man was barricaded with a
gun. Police found the house empty but recovered a handgun they
believe was used in the shooting. Police have described Mr Kelly as
175 centimetres tall, medium build, wearing dark blue track pants and
top and a similar coloured peaked cap. They have urged anyone with
info regarding Mr Kelly's whereabouts to contact police.
Church expects to be in the clear following arrests
Adelaide. Administrator of the SA Anglican church diocese Archdeacon
John Collas says he expects more people to be arrested over
paedophile-related offences. Archdeacon Collas made the claim after 9
people were charged yesterday, among them 2 former Anglican ministers,
for offences dating as far back as 50 y. He remains satisfied that
the Anglican church is clear of any potential suspects who are being
investigated by the SA police paedophile task force. "I am pleased to
hear that those who are persons of interest to the police are not
working in any way in the church," he said. "They may be sitting in a
pew somewhere, I don't know that, but they are not working in the church."
Former Anglican priest in court on indecent assault charge
Adelaide. A 59-yo former Anglican priest extradited from Qld has
appeared in the Adel Magistrates Court charged with indecent assault.
He was granted bail to return to Mackay in N Qld on a number of strict
conditions. He was excused from attending court in Adel on the next
occasion when witness statements will be filed.
Landholders protest Daintree development ban
Landholders nr far N Qld's World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest
are threatening legal action over a council decision to ban development.
Daintree R, FNQ. The Douglas Shire Council has placed the ban on 450
blocks of land north of the Daintree River. The council says it is
trying to protect bio-diversity and the region's tourism industry. On
Sat, about 200 angry landholders vented their concerns in the first
public meeting since the plan was released earlier this m. Dixie
Philpot is heading the legal challenge, saying: "We're collecting
money because we're checking the legality of it". Douglas Shire mayor
Mike Berwick says he is not deterred. "There's people here that fully
intended to protect the rainforest but it's alright for one or 2, or
20, but 500? You can't put another 500 houses here. Landholders have
so far collected $4,000 for the fighting fund.
Hacker hits defence research
Seoul (AFP). A hacker has broken into computers at sensitive S Korean
research institutes and govt agencies, cyber security authorities said.
The Nat'l Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said the anonymous hacker had
broken into computers at the Agency for Defence Development, which
develops weapons, the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, the
Korea Institute for Defence Analysis and 3 other govt agencies.
"NCSC recently found some PCs at state agencies have been contaminated
by a variation of the Peep Trojan hacking program and had taken
emergency measures," the agency said in a statement. A total of 64 PCs
were affected.
The govt agencies included the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and
Fisheries, the maritime police agency and the agency for small and
mid-sized firms.
The cyber security centre, in cooperation with the defence ministry,
Nat'l Police Agency and the info ministry, blocked the hacker's
posting site to prevent sensitive data being stolen.
"Currently, there is no danger of data being stolen as the site which
was used by the hacker has been blocked," the cyber security centre said.
But it failed to mention whether any info had been stolen before they
took action.
The author of Peep Trojan, 30-yo Taiwanese Wang Ping-an, was arrested
in May by Taiwan's Internet crime investigation task force, the centre said.
Wang did not steal data himself but when he was unable to sell his
data-stealing virus, he posted it on hackers' Web sites for free.
The virus operates in attached e-mail files and jumps into action when
a user opens these files and the hacker can get access to the victim's
computer data.
First private rocket ready to go
A dreamer and a billionaire have teamed up to send the world's first
privately-owned rocket into suborbital space on Mon.
Edwards AFB, Cal (AFP). Burt Rutan an aerospace engineer and Paul
Allen, Microsoft's co-founder, hope that SpaceShipOne, will fly 100 km
up to see where the immense blackness of space meets the blue line of
the atmosphere.
In doing so they hope to take the 1st steps to breaking a govt
monopoly on space travel and introducing space for the masses.
The pilot of the rocket will only be named Sun.
The journey will begin at about 6.30 am [local] at Edwards Air
Force Base in California, in the middle of the Mojave Desert.
A jet mothership known as The White Knight will be launched and
initially carry the rocket underneath its belly for an hr, soaring
up to 15,450 m.
White Knight will then release SpaceShipOne, which weighs less than 3 tonnes.
The hybrid liquid and combustible solid-powered engine will then fire
for about 80 seconds taking the rocket up to about 50 km at a speed of
more than 3,500 kph.
SpaceShipOne will then glide up to about 103 km, when it will lose the
momentum from the engine and start to fall back to Earth.
During this time, the pilot will feel weightlessness as do astronauts
in space. The zero gravity effect, lasting 3 minutes, will continue
until SpaceShipOne returns to about 60 km.
The pilot will gradually take control again and from 25 km altitude,
the craft will glide for about 17 minutes back to a landing at Edwards
Air Base at between 10.30 am and 11.30 am.
The design of this particular prototype, decorated with painted blue
stars, will make re-entry easier, because the aircraft will be able to
fold its wings, reducing resistance and allowing the air to propel it
back down like a badminton shuttle, Mr Rutan said, whose company
Scaled Composites designed the spaceship.
The characteristics of this suborbital flight reduce the risks at
takeoff and reentry back into earth, as illustrated in both the 1986
Challenger and 2003 Columbia catastrophes.
In 1986 Mr Rutan engineered the US Voyager, the 1st aircraft to travel
around the world without refuelling.
They say their main aim is to end the govt's monopoly on space
exploration and put it in the reach of all those who can pay the price.
Plans so far are to charge $US100,000 dollars a flight in the first
years of business and then eventually lower the fare to $US10 with the
arrival of other spaceships planned for 2010.
Privately developed rocket launched
Mojave Airport (AP). Aviation enthusiasts have begun gathering in the
high desert, hoping to see the 1st flight into space by a privately
developed and manned rocket.
Thousands of people will watch the exotic jet-engined airplane White
Knight as it takes off from Mojave Airport carrying the
rocket-propelled SpaceShipOne.
If SpaceShipOne is successful, designer Burt Rutan and his Scaled
Composites development company will use the craft to make a run at the
$10 mn Ansari X Prize, a formal competition intended to spur
commercial development of space flight.
White Knight, carrying the rocket plane slung under its belly, was
scheduled for a 6.30 am PDT [1330 Z] takeoff, followed by a climb to
50,000 feet [15,000 m], where it would release SpaceShipOne about
7.30 am PDT [1430 Z].
SpaceShipOne's pilot, flying solo, would then ignite the rocket and
pull up into an 80-second powered climb. After the rocket motor shuts
down, the craft is to coast up to a target altitude of 100 km
above the Earth, then re-enter the atmosphere and glide for 15
to 20 minutes to a landing back at Mojave.
Wind or clouds could force a postponement.
SpaceShipOne reached an altitude of 64 km on a test flight in May.
Mr Rutan's team is one of more than 20 around the world aiming at the
X Prize.
To win, a privately financed spacecraft capable of carrying 3 people
must climb to 100 km and land safely, then repeat the feat within 2 wk.
The 3-seat requirement demonstrates the capacity for paying
customers, and the quick turnaround between flights demonstrates
re-usability and reliability.
While the flight will not be an X Prize attempt, officials of the X
Prize Foundation will be watching closely.
"This will be the 1st time that any piloted private spaceship ever
goes into space, so it's of pivotal importance to the X-Prize
Foundation, and it certainly puts Scaled Composites' team front and
centre in the public's view as a front-runner," said Gregg Maryniak,
executive director of the foundation.
NASA also is interested, said Michael Lembeck, requirements division
director of the space agency's Office of Exploration Systems.
"We need people like Burt Rutan with innovative ideas that will take
us to the moon and Mars," he said from NASA HQ.
"Folks like Burt bring a different way of doing business."
{{
Midnight.
8 people have been killed, incl police, in clashes in Samarah, N of Baghdad.
1 person has been killed and several others wounded in a bomb attack
on a Baghdad C bank.
The Algerian army says it's killed the surviving members of an al-Qaeda
group. The Army has killed 7 Islamist rebels involved in the 12 y
Islamic insurgency that's claimed 10,000 lives.
For the first time in 3 m 500 Pal workers will be allowed to cross
from Gaza into Israel to work. They've been barred since the
assassination of Sheikh Yassin in Mar. The move shows Israel's fears
of an Hamas attack has lessened.
India and Pak have agreed on steps to reduce the threat of nuclear
war. The countries have re-affirmed a moratorium on nuke tests, and
have set up hotline links for FM's as well as military cmdrs. The
moratorium would not apply in certain circumstances, say reps, where
"extraordinary events" threaten nat'l interests. The testing of missiles
will continue, however. India has a no first use policy. Pak retains
that option.
In a worrying new development, the DRC govt is sending 10,000 troops
to fight the insurgency in the E of country. The Rwanda govt has been
warning in recent days that Congo was planning an "invasion".
1 am
2 people have been killed in Baquba when a mortar fell into a resid'l area.
2 am
A US Marine has been killed in Anbah prov, W of Baghdad. The US
military gave no other details.
A human rights group says a Syrian court has jailed an Internet user
for 2 y for passing on info about a web site banned in Syria.
After 6 wks, results have been announced for the Philippines election.
A Congressional Committee has declared provisional results from the
Presid'l election. It says Gloria Arroyo has beaten rival Po by more
than 1 mn votes. The Committee took 2 wks to tally the votes. The
announcement paves the way for the full Congress to declare Arroyo Pres
for another 6 y.
6 am
The US military has announced a deal to hand over Saddam to the interim
Iraqi govt, following the Jun 30 hand over. Saddam and 9 others will
be turned over to the interim Iraqi govt some time after Jun 30. No
timetable for the trials was announced.
A new ACNielsen poll shows the Coal'n has edged ahead of the ALP on
primary votes for the first time since Mark Latham became Labor
leader. On primary, the govt is ahead 43% to 42%. But in TPP, Labor
still looks set to win, at 52% to 48%. Mr Howard retains as handy
lead on Mr Latham as preferred leader -- 50% to 41%. But voters
appear to support the idea of Peter Garrett joining the ALP. 59% say
they support Garret. But 66% say the Garrett factor won't affect their vote.
Oil is trading higher, at $US38.75/bbl.
Midday.
David Hicks' lawyers reportedly are being intimidated by the US govt.
Maj Mori USMC could face an investigation after his conduct was
questioned by a Pentagon official.
There are claims the legal team is being subject to a campaign of
harassment and intimidation.
Accusations of POW abuse from the defence lawyers angered Maj John
Smith, who sent an email to 7 defence officials, complaining about
"grandstanding" and asking whether Maj Mori and Kenny should be
investigated by ethics committees.
The criticism sparked an angry response from Lt Cmd Phil Sundel, who
sent his own email, complaining of harassment.
Maj Mori has declined to comment about the row.
Smith's is not the first complaint into the legal defence for Guatmo
detainees. 3 of 5 lawyers have faced questions about how they handled
their cases. There have been at least 2nd complaints about Maj Mori's
defence. He was referred to an inquiry in Jan when he publicly
complained about "vested interest" involved in the military trials.
Those interests were interested only in conviction, Mori had told a
press conf.
Sundel says defence lawyers now fear for their careers.
A US govt rep says its intention is not to intimidate.
As the Iraqi PM was calling for held from the internat'l community --
especially with weapons -- and claiming he would re-organise the
country's security forces, insurgents carried out at least 2 attacks on
Iraqi police and civilians, and then melted away. Officers in the
Iraqi army -- a force only 6 m old -- says it's practically
defenceless. It has no heavy weapons. The enemy is already well
organised. In Sadr City, Baghdad, guerrillas were openly showing off
their own heavy arms this afternoon.
On Arab TV a S Korean hostage has pleased with his govt to take troops
out of Iraq, in order to save his life. Insurgents who've kidnapped
the worker, say the Korean govt has 24 hrs to pull out its forces or
their hostage will be executed. SK has already promised to send
3,000 more troops in Aug.
A new message from al-Qaeda says the Saudi govt had helped them
kidnap their latest US victim. The statement says Saudi security
forces were accomplices in the killing, said the "Voice of Holy War"
site. Security police had supplied terrorists with uniforms and
patrol cars, it says. The insurgents has used the props to stop
chopper engineer Johnson at a phony checkpoint nr the airport. They
then drugged and kidnapped him. Saudi reps say the group was trying
to project more support for itself inside the govt and security forces
than there really was. If they had the support they claim, said
Prince Abdullah, they would be conducting far more spectacular attacks.
Analysts say the Saudi govt's protests are "highly suspect: after
terrorists were able to repeatedly escape" from security police in
recent ms.
Telstra will return $4.5 bn to investors after they complained about
expensive boondoggles in Asia and the US. After m of bitter boardroom
debate how to spend shareholder's money, the company has announced 80%
of its cash pile will be returned in ordinary dividends. The rest
will be in special dividends and buy-backs. The announcement comes
just wks after Telstra took another hit over a failing Asian investment.
It also eases the pressure on Chair Switkowski, and calms voices of
big institutional investors who have been calling for his head.
Telstra shares rose 4.5% on the open. It's presently up 2 c at $5.01.
ABARE has predicted higher exports of commodities next y.
The All Ords is up 16 pts at 3,540 -- trading at record highs. In
Japan, the Nikkei is up 2.5%. The AUD is higher at 68.95 US c. The
euro is down against the greenback. Gold is down $1/2 at $US394.35/oz.
Oil is steady.
6.30 pm
3 days of hearing have kicked off in Baghdad. 3 US soldiers are
charged with POW abuse. Possible prison terms are reported to range
from 8 to 25 y. A ruling indicates top military cmdrs may have to
give testimony. Outside Abu Ghraib, relatives said they didn't think
the trials will result in justice. We want the court to be held by
the UN, said one man.
Opp'n parties in the Senate have forced through a censure motion
against Def Min Hill over the POW abuse scandal.
9.30 pm
4 American soldiers have been killed W of Baghdad. The soldiers'
bodies were found on a building site in Ramadi.
An Aussie cyclist has been banned for life after being found guilty of
using and trafficking in a proscribed drug [horse growth hormone, I
believe]. But under new AOC/IOC rules, the life ban could be reduced
to 8 y if an athlete fingers other users. It's understood the accused
has indicated there are at least 5 other cyclists he knows have used
prohibited drugs.
10 pm
The AUS Fed govt has ordered an inquiry into the cycling drugs scandal.
Kenmore High says it has a "zero tolerance" policy to illegal drugs.
7 students were expelled last y for using. But a Ch 7 news program
featuring student-shot video shows pot smoking is open, and teachers
apparently turn a blind eye to it.
10.30 pm
Newspoll puts Labor back in front. In a surprise result 2 wks ago
Newspoll had the govt 6 pts ahead of the opp'n on a TPP basis. But
Labor is now back in front -- 52% to 48%. That's the same result as
the latest ACNielsen poll. On primary vote, the new poll shows the
govt and opp'n neck and neck, with Labor closing a 10 pt gap.
Iran's TV networks are broadcasting the country has seized 3 Brit
naval vessels off the Iraq/Iran border. 8 seamen have reportedly been
arrested and weapons seized.
In pre-trial hearings, a US military judge in Iraq has ruled Abu
Ghraib is a crime scene and can't be demolished. He's also ruled the
defence lawyers for 3 accused prison guards have the right to question
any military cmdr in the Iraq theatre -- even Lt Gen Ricardo Sanchez.
Lawyers for the defendants say they won't allow their clients to be
made scape goats. The accused have admitted committing abuses, but
were following orders. wanted rummy and bush but judge refused
Saudi security forces have launched a massive search for murdered US
engineer Paul Johnson's body. They're also searching for more
al-Qaeda insurgents.
11 pm
100s of peace activists have gathered in Seoul, calling on the govt to
withdraw troops from Iraq, and save the life a a hostage being held by
insurgents in Saudi Arabia.
Iraq has resumed pumping oil to its S Basra port, 6 days after an
attack. Capacity is 1 mn bpd -- about 1/2 the rate before the attack.
The 2nd largest pipeline is still out of action. News of the repair
has led to a fall in oil prices in London. There's little spare
capacity in other suppliers. While Iraq's S terminal represents only
2% of world demand, it's loss brings spare capacity down to only 1%.
Brit says it has no naval vessels operating in the area where Iranian
TV claims they've been seized. If anything, a Brit MoD rep said they
could be small patrol boats.
In news just in, Iran has confirmed it's seized 3 patrol boats and a
number of Brit seamen. The boats entered territorial waters without
permission, says Tehran. The seamen are to be Interrogated.
An aircraft is about to be launched in the Mojave desert that could
catapult private enterprise into LEO.
A former exec of Vivendi has been arrested by French police. The
France-based company was built up from a water bottler into a
multimedia conglomerate before going bust.
NAB shares ended the day at $29.74 [bought in at $35, DAMN!] on news
of a new chair. Telstra added 22 c to $5.02 after the company announced
a massive share buy-back program. In Japan, the Nikkei added 218 pts.
The Hang Seng closed down 10 pts. Oil lost 20 c to $US38.56/bbl on news
Iraq is back online. The AUD is presently trading around 68.92 US c.
11.30 pm
Tehran has launched a crackdown on the hookah. It's seen as "corrupting".
Locals say summer is a time hard-liners worry about young people
"committing sins", and the crack-down on using the water pipe is apparently
part of that. The moral police will also check for women wearing make-up,
and men wearing short-sleeved shirts. Locals say the crack-down will
probably only last 10 days and not achieve anything -- as usual.
Soul says it's making every diplomatic effort to secure the release of a
hostage in Saudi Arabia. But it's rejected calls to withdraw troops from Iraq.
Burkina Faso's Ag Min has urged other African countries to "jump
aboard the moving train" and plant GM crops. He was speaking at a GM conf.
}}
========================================
(*) Who is responcible for W.A.R.S? A small group of dedicated
sandgrubbers, bannana-lickers and 5th columnists on the run from
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!
Special discount for obvious sock puppets!
All speling macroizated for correctitood by Mcrosotf Speelchek.
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