Yes, it's getting worse...
-- Sec of State Colin Powell, 26 Sep 2004.
   Contradicting PM Allawi, Def Sec Rumsfeld, Powell and Gen Abizaid admit the
   obvious -- the violence is getting worse.

It is not my policy to run a budget deficit... in ANY year.
-- PM John Howard, Wayback Machine, 2001.
   Well, not counting 2002. After the 2001 election spending spree.

Labor goes into deficit -- we don't -- it's as simple as that.
-- PM John Howard, 27 Sep 2004.
   Tax and spend. The govt has gone on the offensive over its $6 bn spending
   spree, saying 1/2 of it is tax cuts and not real spending.

I've had no experience of lying to the Australian people... he's right.
-- Aussie Opp'n leader Mark Latham, 25 Sep 2004.
   The opp'n leader has laughed off claims by Treas Peter Costello he's not
   had enough experience being PM.

We will implement all of them.
-- PM John Howard, 27 Sep 2004.
   The PM was asked which of his promises were core and which non-core.

Not a large room for error.
-- Treas Peter Costello, 27 Sep 2004.
   Asked "If the world economy down-turns, do you break your promises or go
   into deficit"?

He's a bionic vote-buying machine...
-- Mark Latham, 27 Sep 2004.
   The Opp'n spending plan is set for release Wed.

----------------------------------------
Sat, 25 Sep 2004

	HEADLINES:
US troops can leave before Iraq peaceful: Rumsfeld
Iraq insurgency more virulent than expected -- Armitage
Bush orders to remove Iraq from terrorism sponsor list
US strikes Iraqi rebel town of Fallujah: residents
US clashes with Iraq over Saddam trial date
US Democrats target Iraq security as kidnappings increase
UN unhappy with Rumsfeld's Iraq election comments
No Pakistani troops in Iraq
Rebels pledge to try siege warlord
Man killed in Israeli rocket attack: witnesses
Israeli killed in Gaza mortar attack: Army
Navy charges 3 more SEALs in Iraq abuse
Iraq mortar explosions wound 2
Toddler killed in SYD house fire
"For y the defendant inflicted despicable harm on young, innocent
6 Egyptian telco workers snatched in Baghdad
ACCC warns online firms against warranty rorts
Allawi seeks help to 'defeat forces of terrorism'
Brit envoys head to Baghdad
Child pornographer gets 100 y
China executes head of baby trafficking ring
Coalition's regional plan described as 'pork-barrelling'
Downer unfit for office, Latham says
Fifth embassy bombing suspect arrested
Firecracker incident sparks airport security questions
Govt accused of promoting 'user pays' education system
India, Pakistan leaders to seek Kashmir settlement
Insurance group seeks Labor guarantee on private health rebate
Investigation begins into fatal unit fire
Judges arrive for Pitcairn Is sexual abuse trial
Labor denies delaying anti-terrorism ads
Labor makes $48 mn cancer pledge
Man charged after alleged bomb threat
Media denied O'Shane hearing documents
Much a do about Shakespeare's first folio
No bail for alleged drug importer
Oliver handed 2-y suspended ban for Robbins slap
Police threatened me over Redfern inquiry: officer
Poll shows rise in Coalition support
Research points to heart muscle regrowth
Sierra Leone court sets bail for Aust police officer
Teen's homemade firecracker sparked Virgin scare
UN official urges Sudan to grant autonomy to Darfur
US stock market closes on a high
Wife of Malaysian JI leader questioned over bomb attacks
Winemaker Garrett declared bankrupt


@US stock market closes on a high
The Nasdaq has closed higher on Wall St.
NY.  US blue-chip stocks ended barely higher on Fri as a spike in oil
prices to nr record levels pared earlier gains and renewed concerns
about the effect of high energy prices on consumer spending and
corporate profits.  NY's Dow Jones index closed up almost 9 pts at
10,048.  Investors sold off semiconductor related stocks after
Europe's top consumer electronics group Philips predicted much smaller
growth for the semiconductor industry next y.  The high-tech Nasdaq
composite index is nearly 7 pts higher at 1,880.  For the wk, the Dow
fell 2.3%, the S&P 500 lost 1.6%, while the Nasdaq dropped 1.6%.
It was the 2nd straight losing wk for the Dow, which is
languishing around 5-wk lows.  The Nasdaq's drop snapped a string of 5
weekly gains.  London's FT-100 index has finished at 4,578 a gain of
10 points.  At 7.50 am the AUD was buying 71.39 US cents, 39.55 pence
sterling, 58.11 euros, 79.08 yen and $1.07 NZ.

@UN official urges Sudan to grant autonomy to Darfur
UN (BBC).  The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Ruud Lubbers, says
the Sudanese Govt should grant more autonomy to Darfur to end
continuing violence there.  Observers say the idea of a loose fed
political system in Sudan is something rebels in Darfur have been
advocating for years.  Mr Lubbers, who is on his way to Sudan,
acknowledged that it might be controversial for a top UN official to
speak out in this way.  "My gut feeling is the best would be that
Sudan find itself in a way where it accepts relatively autonomy as a
region," he said.  Sudan's ambassador to London says a political
system that would suit Sudan is being discussed.

@No Pakistani troops in Iraq
Islamabad (NZ Herald).  Pakistani Pres Pervez Musharraf has ruled out
sending troops to help restore stability in Iraq, rebuffing pleas from
the Iraqi interim Govt and the US.  "Our domestic environment is not
conducive," Musharraf said. "We cannot be seen as an extension of the
present forces there."

@US troops can leave before Iraq peaceful: Rumsfeld
Donald Rumsfeld has suggested US troop reductions in Iraq will be
possible once Iraqi security forces were trained to take over their job.
Washington (Reuters).  The US Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld,
has suggested US troop reductions in Iraq will be possible once Iraqi
security forces were trained to take over their job.
Mr Rumsfeld made the comments following a meeting with interim Iraqi
PM Iyad Allawi at the Pentagon.
He says it would be unrealistic to wait for Iraq to be peaceful before
removing US led forces from the country, adding that Iraq had never
been peaceful and perfect.
"The number's now about 100,000 and it's increasing and expected to be
closer to 150,000 during that period," he said.
"So, we know forces are going up and the question is [whether] you
match the coalition forces, the US forces, the Iraqi forces against
the circumstances on the ground at that time and make judgements and
that's what we'll do, we'll make judgements."
Mr Rumsfeld gave no timetable for any possible drawdown of US troops
from the costly and controversial Iraqi deployment that has stressed
America's military and taken centre stage in the US election battle
between Pres George W Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry.
But another snr defence official, who asked not to be identified, said
that the number of US troops in Iraq is likely to increase slightly in
late Dec and Jan as new American troops are sent there to relieve
soldiers winding up a current y on duty.
"You are likely to see a spike before the troops who are being
relieved leave the country," said the official.
Mr Rumsfeld and other Admin officials have carefully avoided putting
any timetable on a withdrawal from Iraq and Mr Bush said after meeting
with Mr Allawi on Thu that Iraq would "stay the course" in what he has
called a major part of the US-declared global war on terrorism.
"It's not my decision -- it's the Pres's and the Iraqi govts," Mr
Rumsfeld said Rumsfeld of any US drawdown in troops from Iraq.
Private military analysts and experts have suggested that large
numbers of US troops could remain in Iraq for up to 5 y or more as
that country moves toward democracy.
Democrats have charged that the Admin not only did not foresee a
deadly insurgency that has killed more than 1,000 American troops and
controls several cities in Iraq, but has no "exit strategy" from the country.
Mr Rumsfeld said the US wanted Iraq as "a single country -- not broken
in pieces, that was at peace with its neighbours and didn't have
weapons of mass destruction and had fashioned a govt that was
respectful of ... all of the diversity that existed in that country."

@UN unhappy with Rumsfeld's Iraq election comments
UN.  The head of the United Nations commission organising Jan's nat'l
election in Iraq, Carlos Valenzuela, has criticised comments made by
the US that the poll might not go ahead as planned.  The US Secretary
of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld says some areas of Iraq might be excluded
from next y's elections if security can not be guaranteed.  Carlos
Valenzuela has indicated Mr Rumsfeld should not have made those
comments.  "The commission has found so far that it hasn't been
helpful speculating whether certain parts of the country will be able
or not to participate in the election and whether the election would
be legitimate or not," he said.

@Iraq insurgency more virulent than expected -- Armitage
Washington (VOA).  A snr State Dept Official has told Congress that
the Bush Admin underestimated the difficulties of post-war
Iraq. Despite the problems, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage
says elections should go ahead in Jan so every Iraqi has the
opportunity to vote. Some members of Congress are sharply questioning
the way the Admin is handling security in the run up to the election.
Deputy Secretary Armitage said the US "miscalculated" the level of
terrorism in Iraq, describing the insurgency as more "virulent" than expected.
While he downplayed the possibility of civil war in Iraq, quoted as
one possible scenario in a recent CIA assessment, Mr Armitage says an
increase in attacks can be expected in the run-up to the elections.
"I do expect an increase in attacks," he said. "The intel will show
that they are planning to get more virulent. They don't want the Iraqi
govt to become democratically-elected."
On Thu, Pres Bush and visiting Iraqi PM Iyad Allawi said they expect
the election to go ahead on schedule in Jan, despite the recent
upsurge in violence.
Mr Armitage told lawmakers he believes elections should be open to all
citizens and he said he knew of no plans to hold partial elections
that exclude parts of the country controlled by insurgents. His
comments came one day after Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said
elections should go ahead but may be impossible in some areas where
the violence is too great.
The violence in Iraq has forced the Admin to request authority from
Congress to shift funding from reconstruction projects to security in
the run up to the election.
Of about $18 bn designated by Congress for reconstruction in Iraq
since the ouster of Saddam Hussein, only about $1 bn has been spent so far.
Congress must still approve an Admin request to shift $3.5 bn intended
for Iraqi water, electricity and other reconstruction needs to what
the Admin calls the predominant need at present, training Iraqi
security forces and assisting preparations for elections.
Democrats are using the request, as well as a recent pessimistic CIA
assessment quoted in media reports, as a basis for more criticism of
how reconstruction has been handled.  Congresswoman Nita Lowey is snr
Democrat on the House Foreign Operations Subcommittee.
"The situation in Iraq today is the result of a colossal and tragic
miscalculation that has required constant policy changes as we have
struggled to secure the country," she said.
"It serves no one to continue to mis-lead Congress and the American
people, on what is possible, the pace at which security can be
restored, or the costs."
The funds transfer request is assured of approval because lawmakers
recognise the need to support US troops in Iraq.
However, even the Republican subcommittee chairman, Congressman Jim
Kolbe, expressed concern saying while there is no alternative to
reallocating money to security, Congress will keep a close eye on how
funds are spent.
"We will scrutinise the new programs, with a purpose of getting
tangible results," he said. "We will ask questions, we will probe, and
we will not hesitate to call this or any other Admin to account for
failure to implement a reconstruction program that offers the only
hope for long-term stability in Iraq."
This wk, a snr US military cmdr came as close as anyone has in recent
m to saying that more troops may be needed in Iraq.
After briefings for lawmakers, General John Abizaid said he hopes most
of these new forces will come from newly-trained Iraqi security
forces, but said he could not "discount" more US soldiers being required.

@US Democrats target Iraq security as kidnappings increase
6 Egyptian telecommunications workers have been the latest taken
hostage in Iraq.
Washington/ The Egyptian foreign ministry has confirmed the abduction
of 6 Egyptians employed by an Iraqi unit of the Egyptian telecom giant
Orascom.
The ministry expressed hope the hostages would be released "immediately
in light of the brotherly relations between the Egyptian and Iraqi
people, in conformity with the religious and moral values" they share.
Orascom issued a statement later saying it had no info on the identity
of the kidnappers nor had it received any demands.
Meanwhile, the desperate security problems in Iraq continue to be the
focus of the election campaign in the US.
Democrat presidential candidate John Kerry has escalated his attacks
on the Bush Admin over Iraq in a fortnight during which 2 Americans
were beheaded by extremists in Baghdad.
There has been no word from the captors of a Brit hostage, Ken Bigley,
who was kidnapped along with the 2 Americans.
Mr Kerry says Iraq was a profound diversion from the war on terror.
"Instead of finishing the job in Afghanistan, the Pres rushed into a
new war in Iraq," he said.
He also criticised the Pres for not confronting Saudi Arabia about the
financing of terrorism.
"Since 9/11 there have been no public prosecutions in Saudi Arabia and
few elsewhere of terrorist financiers," he said.
The Bush Admin says it accepts it is facing a tough mission in Iraq.
But today the Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld reiterated his view
that elections will go ahead on time in Jan.

@Bush orders to remove Iraq from terrorism sponsor list
Washington (Xinhua).  US Pres George W Bush instructed on Fri that
Iraq be removed from the US list of "state sponsors of terrorism".
Citing the downfall of ex-Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, Bush said in
a memorandum to Secretary of State Colin Powell, "There has been a
fundamental change in the leadership and policies of the Govt of Iraq.
"Iraq's govt is not supporting acts of internat'l terrorism...Iraq's
govt has provided assurances that it will not support acts of
internat'l terrorism in the future," Bush said in the statement, which
the Whitehouse made public.
To remove Iraq from the list of "state sponsors of terrorism", Powell
has to inform the Congress of Bush's certification that Iraq no longer
supports terrorism.
For now, in addition to Iraq, Cuba, Iran, Libya, the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea, Syria and Sudan are on the US list of
"state sponsors of terrorism".

@Rebels pledge to try siege warlord
Moscow (AFP).  Chechnya's rebel leader Aslan Maskhadov says warlord
Shamil Basayev would be put on trial for masterminding the hostage
siege in Beslan, once fighting has stopped in the breakaway republic.
The siege killed at least 339 people, more than half of them children.
"Unfortunately, in conditions of war it is practically impossible to
bring people guilty for such terrorist acts to justice," the former
Chechen president said in a statement on a rebel web site.
"However, I responsibly announce that after the end of the war,
individuals guilty of illegal acts will be handed over to a court,
including Shamil Basayev."
Basayev has claimed responsibility for the 3-day hostage taking
earlier this m at a school in Beslan, S Russia.
Mr Maskhadov, whose influence within the Chechen separatist movement
has been eclipsed by extremists accused of links to global Islamic
terror groups like Basayev, is calling for the creation of an
internat'l tribunal to try war crimes on both sides.
"But I have to point out that such acts [as Beslan] are a consequence
and response to the genocidal war waged by the Russian leadership
against the Chechen people, in which the Russian army has killed
250,000 people, including 42,000 children," he said.
Russian troops have been fighting a brutal guerrilla conflict in
Chechnya since Oct 1999.
It is the 2nd such war in a decade in the S Russian republic, which
enjoyed de facto independence after the 1st 1994-96 conflict.
Russian Pres Vladimir Putin has angrily dismissed calls from some
Western countries to hold negotiations with the less radical Chechen
rebel leaders such as Mr Maskhadov, accusing them of double-standards
in the fight against terrorism.

@Fifth embassy bombing suspect arrested
Jakarta (Reuters).  Indonesian police say they have a 5th person in
custody, who is believed to be linked to the bombing of AUS's embassy
in Jakarta.
The bombing, which occurred earlier this m, killed 9 people.
The 5, detained under anti-terror laws, include 3 arrested before the
Sep 9 blast but who are believed to have had knowledge of it.
Police previously said 4 people were being held for links to the blast.
"The suspects who were detained [after the blast] are AAH and IR,"
Suyitno Landung, head of the police's criminal investigation dept, said.
He also mentioned the initials of the 3 other suspects.
"We are now focusing on the place where the explosives were stored
before they were transported to Jakarta," he said.
"The place where they prepared the suicide bombers in W Java and Banten."
He says police are also questioning 14 other people over the blast.
In a report today, prominent local newspaper Media Indonesia names 2
men it says are believed to have been suicide bombers in the van that
exploded outside the Aussie embassy gate.
It also quotes a police source who says a suspect identified by the
initials AAH had helped unravel the case.
Police have said they believe the bombing was the work of Malaysian
engineer Azahari Husin and fellow countryman Noordin Top.
Both are fugitives wanted in connection with previous bombings linked
to South-East Asian militant network Jemaah Islamiah.
The paper reports the 2 recruited around 10 Indonesians and used a
local Jakarta courier company to support the bombing preparation.
Mr Landung confirms that a courier firm was involved in the operation,
but says the police are still collecting evidence to complete dossiers
on the suspects.
Azahari is believed to be the chief bomb-maker of Jemaah Islamiah,
which security experts have linked to the Al Qaeda network of OBL.
Azahari is also accused of building the bombs used in last y's attack
on the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta that killed 12 people, and the
2002 Bali nightclub blasts that killed 202, many of them foreign tourists.
Police blame both those attacks on Jemaah Islamiah.

@China executes head of baby trafficking ring
Beijing.  China has executed the leader of a baby trafficking ring that
sold more than 200 infant girls.  Li Guoju was a farmer from central
China who also sold babies.  Chinese authorities say he was executed
this wk for his role in leading a child trafficking ring that sold
more than 200 baby girls.  The children were bought from medical
workers and baby smugglers.  The gang was uncovered last y after 28
newborn babies were found in several bags on a bus, with their arms
and legs tied.

@Wife of Malaysian JI leader questioned over bomb attacks
The bombing outside the Aussie embassy in Jakarta caused a lot of damage.
Jakarta (ABC, Tim Palmer).  Indonesian police have questioned the wife
of one of 2 Malaysian Jemaah Islamiah (JI) leaders wanted over a
series of bomb attacks, including the Aussie embassy bombing earlier
this m.  Indonesia's nat'l chief of detectives Suyitno Landung
revealed that 2 men from E Java that police had suspected of
carrying out the suicide attack on the embassy had been ruled out by
DNA tests.  Police have since taken DNA samples from the relatives of
4 other men in Java, including the family of one man who wrote letters
to his wife and parents explaining he was to become a martyr.  Another
man who police identified by the initials IR who carried those letters
has been arrested by police -- only the 2nd man to be detained since
the bombing.  Indonesian police have also revealed they have
questioned the wife of Noordin Mohammad Top, one of 2 Malaysian JI
leaders thought to have planned the attack.

@Research points to heart muscle regrowth
Scientists work on regenerating heart tissue.
Rio.  Medical researchers in Brazil say they have found that patients
with diseased hearts can apparently regrow heart muscle and arteries
after being injected with bone marrow stem cells.  Researchers at the
Pro-Cardiac Hospital in Rio de Janeiro, working with the Texas Heart
Institute in the US, treated 14 patients with bone marrow cells
between Dec 2001 and late last year.  The doctors say 4 patients who
needed transplants now no longer require them, and when one patient
died after 11 m of treatment, the autopsy showed tiny new arteries in
the heart and also what looked like new muscle tissue.  Until now, it
has been thought that heart tissue could not regenerate.  The
Brazilian research is to be submitted to the medical journal Circulation.

@Navy charges 3 more SEALs in Iraq abuse
Shiites and Sunnis attended a prayer session together outside the Abu
Ghraib prison complex, Fri Sep 24,
The joint prayer was held to protest the abuse of prisoners by US
prison guards and to urge for the release of prisoners held there.
Washington (Seattle Post-Intelr/AP).  The Navy said Fri it has filed
assault and other criminal charges against 3 more of its elite SEAL
commandos in connection with probes of prisoner abuse in Iraq.
The 3, whose names were not released, are in addition to 4 SEALs
charged Sept. 2 with assault and other alleged offences in connection
with the death of a prisoner last Nov.
At the time of the reported abuse, all 7 were members of a
Sea-Air-Land, or SEAL, unit known as SEAL Team-7, a counterterrorist
group that sometimes operated in Iraq with CIA officers. It is based
at Coronado, Calif, and reports to the Naval Special Warfare Command
in San Diego.
In addition to the Nov 2003 death, an undisclosed number of SEALs were
involved in the case of a detainee who died Apr 5, 2004 under
suspicious circumstances at a US Army logistics base nr the N city of
Mosul, an Army preliminary investigation report said.
At least one of the 3 SEALs charged Fri is accused of involvement in
the Apr case, said a snr defence official who discussed the case on
condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing.
According to a brief portion of the Army investigation report reviewed
by The Associated Press, the death occurred at Logistics Support Area
Diamondback, nr Mosul, and the snr defence official said the detainee
was at the 67th Combat Support Hospital at Diamondback.
The individual was detained by SEALs "after a struggle," the report said.
After he was interrogated by a person the report did not identify, the
detainee was "allowed to sleep."
At 1.37 am on Apr 5, the detainee was checked and "found to be
unresponsive," the report said without elaborating. He was not then in
the SEALs' custody, the defence official said.
An autopsy was ordered but the result was unknown when the Army report
was written. The detainee's name was not mentioned.
The charges against the 3 SEALs are assault, aggravated assault with
intent to cause death or serious bodily harm, conduct unbecoming,
obstruction of justice, assault with a dangerous weapon, maltreatment
of detainees, dereliction of duty and failure to report abuse to
superior authorities.
All of the charges are punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Cmdr Jeff Bender, a rep for Naval Special Warfare Command, said he
could not say which charges were filed against which of the 3 SEALs.
The 1st 4 SEALS charged Sept. 2 have requested but not yet received
legal counsel from the Navy, Bender said, and investigating officers
have yet to be assigned to those cases. Thus their Article 32, or
pretrial, hearings have not yet been scheduled.
The Army has taken most of the criticism for the mistreatment of
detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan because it was the main service
involved at Abu Ghraib, where prisoners were physically abused and
sexually humiliated by military police and intel soldiers last fall.
The abuse associated with the 4 SEALs charged Sept. 2 did not happen
at Abu Ghraib, although the detainee who was beaten, Manadel
al-Jamadi, eventually died at Abu Ghraib, officials have said.
Al-Jamadi was thought to have been connected with an attack on an
Internat'l Committee of the Red Cross facility. In detaining al-Jamadi
on Nov 4, 2003, a SEAL subdued him by hitting him on the side of the
head with the butt of a gun, according to an Army report released last
m that probed the role of Army intel units in Iraq prisoner abuse.
2 CIA personnel brought al-Jamadi to Abu Ghraib and put him in a
shower room with a sandbag on his head. He was dead 45 minutes
later. An autopsy determined he died of a blood clot in his head,
probably caused by being hit with the gun, the Army has said.
A day after al-Jamadi died, US personnel sneaked the body out of the
prison on a stretcher, disguised so the dead person would appear to
other inmates only to have been sick, the Army report said.

@6 Egyptian telco workers snatched in Baghdad
Baghdad (Reuters).  Gunmen have seized 2 Egyptians from their Baghdad
office, the 3rd in a new series of audacious operations to kidnap
foreigners in the Iraqi capital this m.
In a separate attack that could be related, 4 Egyptians working for
the same company as those seized in Baghdad were abducted W of the
capital, an Egyptian diplomat in Baghdad said on Fri.
The attacks follow the kidnapping of 2 Americans and a Briton last wk
from their Baghdad home and the abduction of 2 Italian aid workers
from their office earlier this m.
A group led by the US' number one enemy in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi,
says it will kill Briton Kenneth Bigley, 62, unless all Iraqi women
are freed from US-run jails.
Zarqawi's group has already beheaded the 2 Americans taken with Bigley
-- Eugene Armstrong and Jack Hensley -- and posted footage of the
killings on the Internet.
In Baghdad, Iraqis handed out 1000s of leaflets with a photo of
Bigley, pleading in Arabic for word on his whereabouts.
The series of abductions, coupled with deadly clashes, has raised
fears that elections due in Jan could be postponed.
Speaking in Washington on Thu, PM Iyad Allawi said the poll would go
ahead on time despite the violence and said the situation in Iraq had
been exaggerated. Critics said he was trying to paint too rosy a
picture of the crisis.
Earlier this m, gunmen kidnapped 2 female Italian aid workers. Internet
statements from 2 guerrilla groups say they have been killed, but
Italy's govt dismissed the claims.
Police said the Egyptians were snatched in their office late on Thu by
gunmen who overpowered and tied up their guards. A rep for Egyptian
telecoms company Orascom, whose Iraqi unit employed the men, said the
kidnappings were not political.
Besides hostage-takings by guerrilla groups, many criminal gangs in
Iraq have successfully kidnapped people for ransom.
An Egyptian diplomat said 4 Egyptians and 4 Iraqis were also kidnapped.
Police said the 8 were seized in Fallujah. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry
confirmed 6 Egyptians working for Orascom had been kidnapped in Iraq.
More than 100 foreign hostages have been seized since Apr in a
deepening campaign. Most have been released, but around 30 have been
killed, several by being beheading.
Until this m, almost all the kidnapped foreigners were snatched on
Iraq's perilous roads. But the capture of foreigners in Baghdad in
operations that seem carefully planned is an escalation that has
alarmed foreign embassies and firms.
* "NOTHING'S PERFECT"
Pres George W Bush said on Thu that he and Allawi would "stay the
course" in Iraq and insisted elections would be held in Jan despite
the violence and kidnappings.
Yet Def Sec Donald Rumsfeld conceded some areas that are guerrilla
strongholds may be excluded from voting, with polls going ahead in
"3/4 or 4/5" of Iraq.
Allawi said the elections would be free and fair. "They may not be the
best elections that Iraq will ever hold," he said. "But they will take
place and they will be free and fair."
In a speech to Congress in Washington, Allawi said Iraq's fledgling
security forces would prevail against the insurgents.
"In Iraq, we confront both an insurgency and the global war on terror,
with their destructive forces sometimes overlapping," he said. "I can
tell you today they will not succeed."
But Democrat presidential contender Sen John Kerry said: "We have an
Admin in disarray." The "true test of leadership" is how to respond
when things go wrong, he added.
He also questioned Allawi's optimism on whether polls could proceed,
prompting criticism by Vice Pres Dick Cheney.
"I was appalled at the complete lack of respect Sen Kerry showed for
this man of courage when he rushed out to hold a press conference and
attack the PM, the man America must stand with to defeat the
terrorists," Cheney said.
Some analysts shared the scepticism over Allawi's view.
"It looked like a publicity stunt for Bush's election campaign. The
reality on the ground does not conform to his wishful thinking," Baria
Alamuddin, foreign editor of the pan-Arab al-Hayat newspaper, said of
Allawi's speech.
"It will go down badly in Iraq, where people are being bombed and
bombarded every day. Allawi may be a sincere man, but he will be seen
more and more as an American stooge."
In Fallujah, US aircraft bombed targets in the city on Fri, residents
said. The US military has launched repeated air strikes on Fallujah,
usually targeting what it says are hideouts used by Zarqawi's
followers in the city.
In central Baghdad, a mortar attack killed 4 people and wounded 14 in
a busy square, police said.

@Brit envoys head to Baghdad
London.  The snr Islamic body in Brit, the Muslim Council of Brit, has
sent 2 envoys to Baghdad to try to secure the release of the kidnapped
engineer Kenneth Bigley.  The council says the hardline militants who
seized the 62-yo might be holding out for something in return for his
freedom.  The 2 envoys say they will to speak with Islamic scholars
and community leaders in Baghdad who might be able to tell them if Mr
Bigley is alive.  Mr Bigley was taken 9 days ago with 2 American
colleagues who have since been murdered.

@US clashes with Iraq over Saddam trial date
Baghdad (IOL).  Worsening security, legal complexities and the lack of
an Iraqi lawyer willing to represent Saddam Hussein make it impossible
for the ousted dictator and 11 others to stand trial any time soon, a
US official said today.
While refusing to provide a possible date for the trials, the official
all but dismissed a recent statement by interim PM Ayad Allawi that
they could start as early as Oct.
The official did not rule out the possibility the trials may not begin
for another y -- or more.
"The likelihood of trials in the nr future is remote," the official said.
It was the 2nd time this wk that US and Iraqi officials differed over
legal issues.
On Wed, Iraq's Justice Ministry said that Iraqi and coalition
authorities had decided to release Rihab Rashid Taha, the female
scientist known as "Dr Germ" for helping Iraq make weapons out of
anthrax. But the US Embassy insisted no such decision had been
made. Allawi confirmed no release of detainees was imminent.
Militants holding foreigners hostage, including Brit engineer Kenneth
Bigley, have demanded the release of all Iraqi women from jail.
US officials and Iraqi nat'l security adviser Qassim Dawoud also
disagreed over who had custody of Taha.
Analysts said such disputes are likely to increase as Iraqis look to
take full control of their country.
"The US is used to being in control and we don't give up control
easily," said Rachel Bronson of the NY-based Council on Foreign
Relations. "The fact that it has broken out in public twice this wk
suggests there are differences between the 2."
The differences over timing came a day after the tribunal's ousted
director, Salem Chalabi, accused Allawi of trying to take over the
court and pushing for "show trials" to boost his popularity ahead of
elections in Jan.
The US official dismissed the claim. The Americans play a key advisory
role in the tribunal and work alongside Iraqi authorities to gather evidence.
A defiant Saddam appeared in court on July 1 where he was presented
with 7 preliminary charges, including killing rival politicians,
gassing ethnic Kurds in 1988, invading Kuwait in 1990, and suppressing
Kurdish and Shiite uprisings in 1991.
But prosecutors have yet to issue specific indictments, the official
said. He said there were 49 potential slots for judges, and 39 of them
had now been filled.
The official said escalating violence across Iraq has made it
difficult to collect evidence, such as excavating mass graves. It has
also forced authorities to set up elaborate security for judges and
potential witnesses.
Authorities have already had to abandon plans to hold the trial at one
venue because it was not secure. A new one is under construction at an
undisclosed location.
Another problem delaying the proceedings is that no Iraqi lawyers have
agreed to take on Saddam's defence -- a requirement under the court's
statutes. The official said if one is not found quickly, authorities
will probably ask the Iraqi bar association to appoint an attorney.
Although Iraqis may not want to defend Saddam for fear of retribution,
nearly 2 dozen foreigners have put their names forward.
Since his capture in Dec, Saddam has been held at a US detention
centre in Iraq. Iraqi officials have indicated he could be put to
death if found guilty.
11 of Saddam's top lieutenants also face trial, including Ali Hasan
al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali" for his role in chemical weapons
attacks against the Kurds; Sultan Hashim Ahmad, Saddam's defence
minister; Taha Yassin Ramadan, a former VP and Tariq Aziz, former
deputy PM and foreign minister and the internat'l face of Saddam's regime.

@Iraq mortar explosions wound 2
Baghdad (AFP).  5 mortars have exploded nr the Italian embassy in
Baghdad, wounding 2 Iraqi women and damaging homes, an Iraqi neighbour
whose building was hit says.  Ahmed al-Samarrai says 5 mortars were
fired at the Italian embassy at 8.20 am local time, falling on 4
houses in the neighbourhood and wounding 2 women.  A mortar strike on
July 3 targeting the embassy injured 6 Iraqi civilians.  The latest
attack comes as the lives of 2 Italian female hostages in Iraq hangs
in the balance.  2 claims about the murder of the Italian aid workers
were posted on the Internet this wk, but Italy says it no proof had
been found to authenticate that the women had been executed.  Simona
Torretta and Simona Pari, who worked for the Bridge to Baghdad charity
organisation, were snatched on Sep 7 from their office along with 2
Iraqi aid workers.  Italy, with 3,000 troops, is the 3rd largest
contributor to the US-led multinat'l force in Iraq.

@US strikes Iraqi rebel town of Fallujah: residents
Fallujah (AFP).  US artillery and aircraft have pounded sectors of the
Iraqi rebel city of Fallujah, sending up clouds of smoke, according to
residents.  The smoke shrouded the SE industrial zone, which houses
mainly metal and mechanical workshops, as residents charged that US
forces had lobbed artillery into the area.  Within minutes, the
artillery fire was followed by an air strike on the Shuhada district
in S Fallujah.  A marine rep confirmed artillery had been fired on the
outskirts of the city after troops spotted insurgents in a vehicle
with a mounted weapons system.  The vehicle managed to flee, he added.
The US military has intensified its strikes on Fallujah this m,
targeting suspected hideouts of the insurgency and alleged top Al
Qaeda operative Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi.  The city, 50 km W of Baghdad,
has been a no-go zone for US troops since a deadly offensive in Apr on
the Muslim fundamentalist enclave ended in a stand-off.

@Allawi seeks help to 'defeat forces of terrorism'
[Forgets he's insisted its "only small problem"].
UN (AFP).  Iraqi Prime Min Iyad Allawi asked world leaders at the
United Nations to help "defeat the forces of terrorism" and build the
future of Iraq.
"I appeal to all representatives from the countries gathered here to
help Iraq defeat the forces of terrorism and help Iraq build a better
future for the people of Iraq," he said in a speech at the UN General
Assembly in NY.
He said his nation was facing "a struggle between the Iraqi people and
its vision for the future of peace and democracy and the terrorists
and extremists and the remnants of the Saddam regime who are targeting
this noble dream".
Speaking to an audience filled with opponents of the war that brought
down Iraq's former leader, Saddam Hussein, Mr Allawi acknowledged that
some nations did not agree with the US led invasion but said that
should be no "obstacle" to helping Iraq now.
"We look forward to help from our neighbours and all our friends in
the internat'l community," Mr Allawi said.
Allawi also took aim at "foreigners who infiltrated Iraq from
neighbouring countries" to take part in the insurgency that has
complicated Iraq's baby steps toward self-rule, in particular
elections scheduled for Jan.
"We are committed to this time-line despite the complexities and
difficulties, and we are capable of meeting that deadline thanks to
your help," he said.
"Holding the elections is a vital and necessary matter to improve the
security situation in Iraq. We hope that all Iraqis will participate
in those elections."
After his speech, Mr Allawi was set to meet UN Sec-Gen Kofi Annan, who
earlier this m cast doubt on whether credible elections could be held
in Iraq given the uncertain security situation.
Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said elections should go ahead even
if they cannot be held in cities held by anti-US rebels, and then was
contradicted by Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage on Fri.
In addition to help with the insurgency, Mr Allawi said Iraq needed
help from the United Nations in the trial of Saddam and that his
country was looking for debt relief to try to spur economic development.
"Without your assistance we will not be able to reconstruct Iraq," he
said. "We appeal to the donor community that pledged generous
financial assistance to fulfil their obligations."

@Israeli killed in Gaza mortar attack: Army
Gaza (AFP).  An Israeli woman died after being seriously wounded in a
Palestinian mortar attack today on a Jewish settlement in the Gaza
Strip, an Army rep says.  "A woman was killed by a mortar shell that
landed on her house in the Neve Dekalim settlement," the rep said.
"Another mortar landed in an open field and 3 more in the Morag
settlement but did not cause any damage or casualties."  Military
sources said earlier that a man had been lightly wounded in the strike
on Neve Dekalim.  The attacks were claimed by both the radical Islamic
Jihad and its larger rival Hamas in telephone calls to AFP.  An
Islamic Jihad militant was among 3 hardline fighters who were shot
dead during an infiltration attack into Morag on Thu in which 3
Israeli soldiers were also killed.  Palestinian security sources said
that Israeli tanks fired on the Palestinian town of Khan Yunis, nr the
2 settlements, shortly after today's mortar attacks.

@Man killed in Israeli rocket attack: witnesses
Khan Younis (Reuters).  An Israeli helicopter has fired a missile into
a Palestinian refugee camp in Gaza, killing an elderly man and
wounding at least 3 people, Palestinian witnesses and medics said.
The Israeli army said it had taken out a group of militants in Khan
Younis preparing to fire a rocket into a nearby Jewish settlement
where a mortar bomb launched from the same spot on the edge of the
camp killed a 24-yo woman on Fri.
Khan Younis residents said the missile crashed nr a mosque and the
camp's hospital said a 60-yo civilian man was killed and 3 other
civilians were wounded by flying shrapnel.
An Israeli army rep said Khan Younis militants had fired several mortars
from the same location at the adjacent Neve Dekalim settlement on Fri
and the helicopter swooped to pre-empt another attack just after midnight.
"Before they managed to launch that projectile, we identified the
terrorist cell from the air and fired at it, scoring a hit on at least
2 men, although we know there at least 4 of them," the rep said.
The Islamist militant group Hamas said it had targeted Neve Dekalim, a
day after 3 Palestinian gunmen killed 3 soldiers on the fringes of
another settlement to the south.
Violence has surged in Gaza ahead of the planned withdrawal of Israeli
settlers and soldiers by the end of 2005.

@India, Pakistan leaders to seek Kashmir settlement
Manmohan Singh speaks with Pervez Musharraf at a bilateral meeting
during the 59th session of the UN General Assembly.
NY (AFP).  Pakistan's Pres General Pervez Musharraf and India's Prime
Min Manmohan Singh have met in NY on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
It is the 1st time the 2 leaders have met.
A joint statement says the leaders had agreed to explore options to
solve the dispute over Kashmir and had discussed a joint gas pipeline project.
Dr Singh described the meeting as historic.
"We have made a new beginning and I feel confident that despite the
difficulties on the way, I and Pres Musharraf will together walk and
succeed in writing a new chapter in history of our 2 countries," he said.
A carefully-worded joint statement read by General Musharraf said the
2 sides had agreed to explore possible options for a peaceful
negotiated settlement of the Kashmir dispute "in a sincere spirit and
purposeful manner".
They also agreed that all confidence building measures under
discussion between their 2 govts should be implemented in an attempt
to normalise relations.
The discussions, which were described as "constructive and frank,"
also touched on a proposed $US3.5 bn pipeline designed to transfer gas
from Iran to India through Pakistan.
Dr Singh and General Musharraf had originally planned to brief the
press separately, and officials from both sides said their joint
appearance and the agreement on a joint statement was a sign that the
talks had gone as well as could be expected.
The meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly was aimed at
injecting some momentum into a peace process that has made little
progress since General Musharraf met with Dr Singh's predecessor Atal
Behari Vajpayee 8 m ago.

@Judges arrive for Pitcairn Is sexual abuse trial
Pitcairn Is, C Pacific.  Judges and court staff have arrived on
Pitcairn Island in the South Pacific ahead of a sexual abuse trial set
to begin next wk.  The Pitcairn community was founded in 1790 by
Fletcher Christian, leader of the mutiny on the Bounty.  7 men on the
Brit territory will face a total of 96 charges.  The charges range
from indecent assault to the rape of a 5-yo girl.  The cases will be
heard by NZ judges and lawyers who have only just arrived after a
2-day boat trip from Tahiti.  The 7 men have been remanded on bail.
Many of the women who have made allegations of sexual abuse no longer
live on the island and will give evidence from Auckland via a video
link.  The trial is due to start on Thu.

@Much a do about Shakespeare's first folio
London (AFP).  When Brit housewife Anne Humphries got a call from a
lawyer saying she had inherited an old book from an unknown relative,
her expectations were modest.
Little did she realise the dusty tome she eventually collected was one
of the few 1st edition collections of William Shakespeare's plays,
described as perhaps the most important book in the English language.
The mother of 3 from Stockport, NW England, now plans to auction the
book, only 6 of which are known to exist in private hands, she said.
Although the auctioneers are coy about how much the book could make,
the last such copy to go under the hammer in 2001, admittedly in
better condition, fetched more than $10 mn.
The Shakespeare First Folio of Comedies, Histories and Tragedies from
1623 belonged to a widow in London who died in 2002, leaving no known family.
It took a genealogist 2 y to track down Ms Humphries as the closest
living relative, at which point she was telephoned by a solicitor
saying she could come and collect an "old book".
"I was told it was William Shakespeare. I thought 'Oh, right it's just
going to be a copy,'" she said.
"But when I got hold of it, I thought Oh God! I don't think it is a
copy. It is just so captivating, the paper and the writing and everything."
She took it to an auctioneers in London, where staff were shocked when
they realised what the book was.
"A Shakespeare First Folio is what every auction house dreams of," said
Rupert Powell of Bloomsbury Auctions, which will sell the book on Oct 7.

@Child pornographer gets 100 y
Miami (AFP).  A child pornographer who taped himself molesting
children in Latin America while carrying the AIDS virus was sentenced
to 100 y in prison, said US authorities.

@"For y the defendant inflicted despicable harm on young, innocent
victims," said Marcos Daniel Jimenez, US prosecutor for southern
Florida.
"Predators of this type are now on notice that their horrible crimes
will be severely punished."
Angel Rafael Mariscal got 100 y in prison for sexually abusing
children so that he could make and sell child pornography.
Prosecutors said he travelled repeatedly to Ecuador and to Cuba where
he filmed the pornography and videotaped himself sexually abusing
minors, some under the age of 12, over a 7-y period.
More than 100 victims were filmed exposing their genitals or engaging
in sexual activity with Mariscal.
Prosecutors said the US Interests Section in Havana was able to obtain
birth certificates from Cuban authorities.
Prosecutors also offered evidence at the sentencing hearing that
Mariscal had engaged in sexual acts with the children while knowing
that he carried HIV, since 1994.
None of the children contracted the disease.
Mariscal sold the child pornography for between $830 and $1,390 per
videotape and DVD, prosecutors said.

@Winemaker Garrett declared bankrupt
Adelaide.  Adel-based winemaker Andrew Garrett officially has been
declared bankrupt.  Late today the Fed Court made a sequestration
order, handing over all Garrett's remaining funds and assets to a
trustee in bankruptcy.  The decision was welcomed by a group of
Garrett's creditors sitting in court.  The court found Garrett could
not pay his debts and could not meet his obligations to creditors.
The order for bankruptcy was sought by the Deputy Commissioner for
Taxation, who is claiming $80,000 in unpaid tax.  Garrett has been
offering his creditors bills of exchange drawn on a unknown Swiss
bank.  Today the court was told the Reserve Bank had refused to
negotiate the bills and they were not worth the paper they were
written on.  Garrett had blamed his predicament on the Nat'l AUS Bank,
which this wk seized his Hills estate, and a conspiracy of creditors
who are owed more than $2 mn.

@Oliver handed 2-y suspended ban for Robbins slap
Melbourne.  Olympic rower Catriona Oliver has received a 2-y suspended
ban for slapping crew-mate Sally Robbins on the shoulder at a function
in SYD 2 wk ago.  Rowing AUS imposed the penalty at a disciplinary
hearing in MEL today.  Robbins plunged the sport into crisis and
catapulted herself into the headlines when she stopped rowing during
the final of the women's 8s in Athens last m.  AUS finished the
race last, almost 10 seconds behind the leading crews.  Oliver is
getting married on Fri, and has apologised for breaching the sport's
Code of Conduct.

@Teen's homemade firecracker sparked Virgin scare
No threat: Police will not charge the teenager.
Sydney.  Aussie Fed Police (AFP) say a teenager is responsible for the
suspect device found on a Virgin airlines plane this wk on a flight
from Maroochydore to SYD.
However, they will not be laying any charges.
The parents of the young teenage boy came forward after publicity
about the discovery.
A baggage handler had come across a plastic bag in the hold of the
Virgin Blue plane, which turned out to contain a cardboard roll filled
with a flammable powder and a sparkler for a fuse.
The find sparked questions about security at domestic airports and
whether or not an airport worker with a grudge was responsible.
An AFP rep says the device was a homemade firecracker, which the
teenager was carrying in his hold luggage.
It is believed to have fallen out.
No action is to be taken as the firecracker did not pose a threat to
the plane and police are satisfied there was no malicious intent.
* No apology
Fed Transport Min John Anderson has refused to apologise for linking
the device to airport workers.
Mr Anderson had said he could not rule out the possibility the
incident was a union stunt to raise awareness of transport security issues.
Now Mr Anderson denies he tried to link the Transport Workers Union to
the affair.
"I didn't say it was the unions," he said.
"They didn't rule out the possibility either it might have been an
inside job.
"I said I had suspicions and right through I have to say this did not
stack up as a terrorist activity or incident in any shape or form."

@Firecracker incident sparks airport security questions
Airport security questioned after firecracker found on plane
Teenager not to be charged but incident prompts airport security concerns.
Canberra.  The Fed Transport Min has criticised a teenage boy and his
parents for bringing a home-made firecracker on-board a plane earlier this wk.
No-one will face charges over the incident, which has sparked
questions about airport security.
Fed police say they will not be taking action over the device, found
in the hold of a Virgin plane in SYD, convinced the firecracker simply
fell out of the teenager's luggage and that there was no malicious intent.
But Transport Min John Anderson is not impressed.
"I am concerned that in this day and age a teenager didn't know that
this was a very silly thing to do and their parents were not careful
enough to make sure it didn't happen," he said.
Labor's Martin Ferguson says security lessons must be learned.
"Obviously the incoming govt has got to pay more attention to the
issue of security passes at airports, and whether or not adequate
training has been given to all ground staff," he said.
Mr Anderson says staff training will be stepped up and other changes
put in place.
* No apology
Mr Anderson had denied accusing airport workers of planting a suspect
device on the plane earlier this wk, and refused to issue an apology.
Before the item was found to be a home-made firecracker, Mr Anderson
said he could not rule out the possibility the incident was a union
stunt to raise awareness of transport issues.
But now Mr Anderson denies he made that link.
"I didn't say it was the unions, they didn't rule out the possibility
either that it might have been an inside job," he said.
Mr Ferguson says the minister has egg on his face.
"John Anderson has sought to cast a slur on the integrity of aviation
workers and the unions that represent them but he's proved to be the
small man as a result of that incident," he said.

@Poll shows rise in Coalition support
Latest poll shows a boost in support for PM John Howard's Govt.
Canberra.  A new opinion poll shows a surge in support for the
Coalition with the Govt now 8 pts in front of the Labor Party.
With 2 wk to go until election day, the ACNielsen poll published in
the MEL Age and The SYD Morning Herald newspapers this morning has
support on the primary vote for the Liberal and Nat'l parties up 2 pts
to 50% with Labor 14 pts behind on 36%.
The Greens are steady on 8 pts with the Democrats on 1%.
After preferences the poll shows the Coalition is well ahead by 8
points, 54 to 46, and if the election had been held this wk the
Liberal and Nat'l parties would have won with an increased majority.
As preferred PM support for John Howard is up 3 points to 52 with Mark
Latham on 39.
Today's Nielsen poll is at odds with this wk's Newspoll which had
Labor narrowly in front and support for Mr Latham improving.
Campaigning continues today with Mr Howard and Mr Latham attend the
AFL grand final breakfast in MEL. They will also attend the match at
the MCG.
The Nat'ls' leader John Anderson will be in Gunnedah in northern NSW.

@Labor denies delaying anti-terrorism ads
Canberra.  The Fed Opp'n has denied holding up the release of new
anti-terrorism advertisements.  The ads urge Aussies to be more safety
conscious on public transport.  The Govt needs approval from the Opp'n
to run the ads because of the caretaker provisions in place during the
election campaign.  The PM wants the ads to air as soon as possible,
saying it is a request from the Aussie Fed Police.  John Howard says
Labor is making unreasonable demands about their scheduling.  Labor
rep John Faulkner has also had a briefing from the fed police and ASIO
and says Labor is happy for the ads to run.  But he says how often
they are aired is a decision not made by the agencies, but by the Govt
in consultation with the Opp'n.  And Labor wants them aired, not in a
2 wk blitz during the rest of the election campaign, but stretched out
over several ms.

@Coalition's regional plan described as 'pork-barrelling'
Canberra.  The Fed Opp'n has described the Coalition's $160 mn plan
for regional AUS as pork-barrelling, designed to help the Nat'l Party
hold onto its seats.  Under the policy, a re-elected Coalition govt
would create 6 regional icon projects to create jobs and generate
business opportunities.  Other elements of the plan include increasing
the annual school boarding allowance, and creating a medical
infrastructure fund to help recruit and retain GP's in regional areas.
The fed Nat'ls leader John Anderson denies the program has been aimed
at marginal seats.  But Labor's Martin Ferguson is not convinced.
"It's more a plan aimed at trying to get the Nat'l Party re-elected in
a small number of seats," he said.  "I think the Govt is condemned for
that because good policy is about Govt ensuring all Aussies have
access to decent services not pork-barrelling in a few marginal seats
as the Howard Govt would do," he said.

@Insurance group seeks Labor guarantee on private health rebate
Sydney.  The Health Insurance Association says it wants assurances
from Labor it would resist pressure from the Greens to scrap the
private health insurance rebate if the minor party wins the balance of
power at the election.
The association's website shows a Labor letter from earlier this m
committing Labor to keep the rebate.
A rep for Labor's shadow minister for health Julia Gillard says the
party has been unequivocal in its statements on the issue.
But chief executive Russell Schneider says he wants to hear the
guarantee again.
"Mr Latham has said he intends to keep the rebate and I respect that,
but I am very concerned that the Greens could do this," he said.
"Mr Latham has to just rebut what they're saying, he has to repudiate
this and assure the public that he will not bow to pressure from the
Greens or anyone for that matter to take the rebate away and he'll
stick to his promises."
Labor has accused the private health insurance industry of trying
again to beat up a fear campaign over the private health insurance rebate.
Ms Gillard says the association is openly campaigning for the Liberals
and Labor's policy is well stated.
"These claims are simply absurd. Labor has given an ironclad guarantee
we will be keeping the 30% private health insurance rebate."
Ms Gillard says Mr Schneider has already been given assurances that
Labor will not touch the rebate.
"Mark Latham has made it perfectly clear, that we are not in a policy
exchange arrangement with the Greens," she said.
"Labor's policies are Labor's policies, we are taking them to the
election, and if there is a Labor govt, they will be the policies of a
Labor Govt.
"Russell Schneider is simply beating up a fear campaign about an
absurd proposition."

@Labor makes $48 mn cancer pledge
Melbourne.  The fed Opp'n is promising to invest $48 mn on a plan to
fight cancer, including more clinical studies and better treatment
plans.  The Labor leader today visited the Royal Children's Hospital
in MEL.  Mark Latham has already promised $8 mn to improve facilities
there -- now he has announced plans to spend $36 mn over 4 years
paying for case conferences for newly diagnosed cancer patients.  That
will involve a team of health professionals who will together develop
a treatment plan.  Case conferences for rural patients could be held
remotely and Mr Latham has promised $12 mn over 4 y for new clinical
trials to help develop better cancer treatments.

@Govt accused of promoting 'user pays' education system
A 2nd Coalition MP is under fire from Mark Latham.
Canberra.  The fed Labor leader has accused a 2nd Coalition MP of
promoting a user pays education system.
Mark Latham has seized on reported comments by Nat'l Party MP Deanne
Kelly, proposing a school voucher system.
Yesterday Mr Latham attacked govt backbencher Kay Hull for suggesting
rich parents should pay to send their children to public schools.
Now he has hit out at parliamentary secretary and Nat'l Party Member
for Dawson in Qld De-Anne Kelly who has reportedly suggested the govt
issue parents with school vouchers valid at either public or private schools.
"It's another form of user pays where if a parent hasn't got the
adequate voucher off govt they have to top it up with their own money
to try and get into the govt school of their choice," Mr Latham said.
"So day after day we've got evidence of the Howard Govt wanting to go
down the user pays approach in school education."
Mr Latham says Labor believes Aussies should be entitled to free
education for their children at govt schools.

@Downer unfit for office, Latham says
Canberra.  Fed Labor leader Mark Latham has accused Foreign Min
Alexander Downer of being unfit for the job, after he suggested
Indonesia would be entitled to launch a military attack in AUS in
certain circumstances.  Mr Latham says that is horrifying.  The Govt
has been arguing it would be prepared to launch a pre-emptive strike
in a neighbouring country, as a last resort to stop a planned
terrorist strike against AUS.  Yesterday the Foreign Min suggested
countries like Indonesia would also be entitled to strike in AUS, if
that was the only way they could prevent an attack.  Mr Latham is
appalled.  "He's made a lot mistakes as For Min, I don't think he's
fit for the job," he said.  "I find it horrifying that a foreign
minister would be publicly taking about circumstances where it's
understandable that another country attack AUS."  He says Mr Downer
should instead be talking about ways to make the country safer.

@ACCC warns online firms against warranty rorts
Canberra.  Aussie businesses trading online have been warned against
duping customers out of refunds and warranties.  The Aussie
Competition and Consumer Commission says the Internet is not exempt
from the Trade Practices Act.  More than half of 260 sites surveyed by
the ACCC tried to block warranty rights or limit consumer liability.
The commission's deputy chairwoman, Louise Sylvan, says businesses
caught breaching the Act face big fines.  "We are talking in
particular about the rights of consumers to warranties on their
products, the rights of consumers to seek refunds if there is a
problem with the product," she said.  "These are matters that are
guaranteed under the Trade Practices Act regardless of how consumers shop."

@Police threatened me over Redfern inquiry: officer
A parliamentary inquiry is investigating the Redfern riot.
Sydney.  An Aboriginal liaison officer has told a parliamentary
inquiry into the Feb riot at Redfern in inner SYD that he has received
death threats from the police to warn him off giving evidence.  2
Aboriginal liaison officers have told the inquiry that they warned
senior police that trouble was brewing the day before the riot broke
out.  An internal police report, known as the Coburn report, found
police did not receive enough warning.  Derek Wilson says he told
Inspector Bob Emery that locals in the Block area were angry about the
death of teenager TJ Hickey.  Mr Wilson says he warned that police
should stay away.  His fellow liaison officer, Paul Wilkinson, dropped
a bombshell.  He claimed a police report into the riot was a cover up,
and TJ Hickey had been "rammed" by police.  "I've had me house burnt
down as a result of the crap that's gone on, I've had death threats
stating to stay away from this inquiry," he said.  "And you may ask
who from? The police."

@No bail for alleged drug importer
It is alleged Bris man Christopher Currell planned to bring enough
drugs into AUS to manufacture more than $1.6 mn worth of amphetamines.
Darwin.  A Darwin man has been refused bail after appearing in the
Magistrates Court on several drug charges, including attempts to
import drugs from Indonesia to AUS.
Raymond Thomsen, 29, is charged with possession and supply of a
precursor as well as the production and supply of a commercial
quantity of methylamphetamine.
He is also charged on 2 fed matters relating to the importation of
ephedrine, which is a prohibited substance.
The court heard Thomsen was arrested yesterday after he paid $2,500
cash to an undercover police officer for 3,000 actifed tablets.
The court heard Thomsen is married to an Indonesian woman, has 2
children and works as a delivery driver in Darwin.
The Magistrate refused bail saying there was a strong case against the
defendant.
* Second arrest
A 37-yo Bris resident was also arrested yesterday in Denpasar after
43,000 ephedrine tablets and half a kg of the drug were seized from
his hotel room.
The Foreign Affairs Min Alexander Downer says AUS will offer consular
assistance to the man.
Mr Downer says the operation shows the regional approach that is now
being applied to law enforcement.
"This is a classic illustration of a point we've been making, that
there is close cooperation between Aussie law enforcement authorities,
our police and our customs and their counterparts in Indonesia," he said.
"This simply illustrates the success of the regional cooperation that
we've established."
Northern Territory police have described the bust as one of the most
significant in the region.
Acting Police Cmdr Colleen Gwynne says the drugs had a potential
street value of $1.5 mn.
"We've prevented not only the possession of it, but the manufacture of
it, which we see as extremely significant because of the dangers
involved," she said.

@Toddler killed in SYD house fire
Sydney.  A toddler has been killed in a house fire and explosion at
Campsie in SYD's SW.  4 people who were inside the house have been
taken to hospital with severe burns.  Another 4 bystanders have
suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation.  Georgie Wells from Police
media says they are investigating the cause of the fire.  "Police and
fire brigade investigators are yet to determine the cause of the fire
and explosion.  "2 children, a boy and girl, were taken to Westmead
hospital and an man and a woman were conveyed to Concord Hospital
where they are all in a critical condition.  "The body of the toddler
was discovered in the unit after the blaze was extinguished," he said.

@Investigation begins into fatal unit fire
Sydney.  An investigation is underway into a fire in a unit at Campsie
in SYD's SW which left a 2-yo dead and 4 others in her family
critically injured.  The unit was well alight when firefighters
arrived just 4 minutes after the alarm was raised about 7.00 pm
yesterday.  Superintendent Bob Murray says once firefighters had
doused the flames they made a grim discovery.  "Unfortunately one
young girl has been discovered in the premises deceased, 8 other
people were taken to hospital, 4 are in a critical condition and 4
suffering minor injuries," he said.  4 of those injured are believed
to be the girl's parent and her 2 brothers.  Neighbours who raised the
alarm reported hearing an explosion around the time the fire started
and initial reports suggest there may have been an LP gas cylinder involved.

@Sierra Leone court sets bail for Aust police officer
Freetown (AFP).  A court in Sierra Leone has set bail of nearly
$100,000 for a senior Aussie police officer accused of sexual
assaulting a minor.
Peter Halloran, 56, was detained in Aug and is facing charges that he
had an illegal sexual relationship with a 13-yo girl he allegedly
hired to work in his home.
The Vicn police officer, employed by the UN-backed war crimes tribunal
in Sierra Leone, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Judge Samuel Ademusu agreed to release Peter Halloran, 56, on bail but
asked that a Sierra Leone surety should serve as a guarantor to ensure
that he does not flee the country.
His passport will remain in the hands of the police.
Prosecution arguments continued with testimony from 2 Sierra Leone
police officers, one of whom took a statement from Halloran on July 3
denying he had any improper relationship with the young girl.
His housemate and colleague Mandy Cordwell, who 1st filed the
complaint against Halloran, was called by the prosecution.
She told the court that she 1st saw the young girl on May 31 and
learned from Halloran that he had engaged her to work as a nanny for
his girlfriend's toddler who was to arrive in the coming m on a visit.
3 days later she saw the girl in Halloran's room, sitting on the bed
eating a bowl of rice.
"I asked the girl how long she had been there and she replied 2 days,"
Ms Cordwell testified, adding she had broached the subject with one of
the other court employees who also shared the house.
"I was concerned that the girl was still in the room on June 3 so I
went upstairs and found her making the bed. I later collected a pair
of black shoes, a blue school uniform and blue jeans from Halloran's room."
Ms Cordwell said she presented her concerns to the Special Court's
chief of investigations Allan White.
Halloran is on a y long UN contract serving as a prosecution
investigator for the tribunal charged with trying those who bear the
"greatest responsibility" for atrocities committed during the west
African state's decade of civil war that ended in 2001.
In custody at Freetown's maximum security prison since last m,
Halloran has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The girl's 2 brothers also face charges of procurement, according to
the indictment.

@Media denied O'Shane hearing documents
Magistrate Pat O'Shane has stood down from her position until assault
charges against her are heard.
Sydney.  An application by media organisations to gain access to court
documents relating to charges against NSW magistrate Pat O'Shane will
continue next wk.
O'Shane was not in Ryde Local Court yesterday when a common assault
charge and an interim apprehended violence order (AVO) against her
were heard for the 1st time.
Both matters relate to O'Shane's husband Allan James Coles who she is
alleged to have assaulted last Fri night.
Media at the court were allowed access to the charge sheet for the
assault charge, but were not allowed to see documents given to the
magistrate in support of the continuation of the interim AVO.
Several media organisations made a special application for access, but
magistrate Joanne Keogh adjourned the matter to the Downing Centre
Local Court next Tue.
She said she did not have enough time to make an informed decision in
the case and O'Shane and the Dept of Public Prosecutions should be
made aware of the application.
O'Shane has chosen to stand aside from the local court until the
assault charge is heard.
The 63-yo's lawyer, Stephen Stanton, told the court his client wanted
it known she had made the choice to stand aside from the local court bench.
He said she would vigorously and strenuously defending all allegations
against her.
"She has maintained her innocence, and she will maintain it obviously,"
he said.
"She's not guilty and she will defend these charges as is her right
and as is her entitlement."
The assault charge will be heard in Nov, as there is a requirement to
deal with cases against the judiciary as quickly as possible.

@Man charged after alleged bomb threat
Perth.  Police have charged a man with disorderly conduct after a
passenger on board a flight in the NW of W AUS allegedly made a threat
which prompted the pilot to turn back.  The Qantas flight took off
from Paraburdoo en route to Perth last night when the man allegedly
made a comment about a bomb in his bag.  The pilot turned the flight
around and returned to Paraburdoo where the plane was emptied and
searched.  The flight was delayed for about 1 hr before it took off
and flew safely to Perth.  George Putland from police media says it
was a hoax.  "A passenger was taken from the plane to be interviewed
by police and the plane was subsequently searched and then the plane
resumed the flight to Perth without incident," he said.  The 33-yo man
will appear in court in Paraburdoo on Tue.

{{
Midday.
Indon police have questioned the wife of 1 of 2 wanted Malaysian
leaders of JI.  They located her in a village S of Java.  Police want
to know when she had her last contact with her husband.  The Nat'l
Chief of Dets revealed the 2 men from E Java were suspected of the
Jakarta suicide attack but have now been ruled out by DNA tests.  DNA
samples have been taken from 4 other men in Java, incl 1 man who wrote
a letter saying he would "become a martyr".  Another man has also been
arrested in connection with the embassy bombing.

The US govt continues to send out mixed messages on the Iraqi
election.  Richard Armitage has contradicted Def Sec Rumsfeld, saying
a free and fair election means it would be open to all Iraqis -- even
in the troubled areas.  Mr Armitage was appearing before a
Congressional committee when he made the statement.  Earlier, Rumsfeld
said the Jan elections might not involve the C region of Iraq, where
much of the insurgency is operating.  Observers say a partial
elections would invalidate the process.  OTOH, telling the majority
of Iraqis they can't vote unless there is total peace could upset the
majority of the pop'n, who already resent the occupation.
}}

----------------------------------------
Sun, 26 Sep 2004

	HEADLINES:
US soldier given 25 y sentence for Iraqi nat'l guard murder
9 Afghan soldiers killed in attacks
Pinochet questioned over political killings
US air strike targets militants in Fallujah
Website says Brit hostage in Iraq killed but London dismissive
Blair says he'll do what he can to help Brit hostage in Iraq
4 US marines killed in Iraq
Bush reveals plans for stabilising Iraq
7 killed, 11 wounded in fresh US airstrike in Iraq
6 die in separate accidents on Qld roads
5 killed in Perth car collision
16 killed in weekend accidents
NZ's Iraq force returns home
Iraq set to join Arab natural gas grid
Iraq complicated war on terror: Pres Musharraf
Foreign troops not the answer in Iraq: Musharraf
Aussie PM responds to Iraq warning report
Armitage faces hostile questions over Iraq election
6 dead after 2 road accidents in WA
Academics call for truth, accountability in govt
Assaulted pizza delivery man dials rescue from car boot
Brit Govt sceptical over website claim of hostage's execution
Business council condemns Labor's industrial relations policy
Coalition set to launch $290 mn vocational education plan
Costello challenges Labor to release independent tax report
Costello tight-lipped on leadership aspirations
Darfur refugees fear returning home: UN
Florida residents batten down
Forestry policy won't be part of Democrats package for Tas
Former ACCC head calls for hospital system revamp
Former F-111 maintenance workers suspicious about report delay
Half a mn urged to leave home ahead of hurricane
Howard outlines 4th term vision
Hurricane Jeanne batters the Bahamas
Israel destroys Palestinian homes in Gaza
Janette Howard stands by her man
Mental health groups urges boycott of pizza chain
Min urged to apologise following airport security scare
Port Adel party on
Port heading for victory
Power surge to maiden AFL flag
Sauvage bows out with silver
Specialist urges Tas Govt to declare water contamination risks
Strategic missile for Iranian forces


@Iraq set to join Arab natural gas grid
Cairo (AP).  Egypt's Oil Min Sameh Fahmi says Iraq will become the 5th
country in the region to join a natural gas network stretching from
Egypt and expected to reach Europe.
In remarks carried by Egypt's Middle E News Agency, Fahmi said he and
oil ministers from Jordan, Lebanon, Syria agreed to an Iraqi request
to join the grid.
The ministers didn't say how Iraq will fit in the grid plan, but
Syria's oil minister, Ibrahim Haddad, said his country's pipeline will
feed the Iraqi one.
Egyptian natural gas is already flowing to Jordan through an
underwater pipeline to Aqaba. Under the Arab Gas Pipeline Project
signed in 2001, Egypt is to supply Jordan, Syria and Lebanon with
natural gas for 30 y. The pipeline is projected to cost $US930 mn
[$A1.3 bn].
The 1st 2 phases of the project brought the pipeline to N Jordan. In
the 3rd phase, which is expected to begin next y, the pipeline will be
extended to Syria and Lebanon. There is a plan for it to run to Turkey
and ultimately link up with supplies to Europe.
Egypt has potential natural gas reserves of 70 trillion cubic feet. It
is destined to become one of the world's top 10 natural gas exporters
in the next 2 y.
No date was set for Iraq to join the network.
Iraq's Oil Min, Thamer al-Ghadhban, said despite the security problems
his country is facing, it is planning ahead. When peace prevails, he
said according to MENA, Iraq will be able to export natural gas and
raise its oil production to 6 mn bpd.
Iraq currently is struggling to maintain its production of more than
2.5 mn barrels of oil a day, 2 mn of which is exported daily.
Iraq's oil industry, which provides desperately needed money for
Iraq's reconstruction efforts, has been the target of repeated attacks
by insurgents.
The natural gas grid "will give Iraq flexibility in consumption and
exports. Iraqi natural gas can be a relief for the export of Egyptian
and Syria gas," al-Ghadhban said, according to MENA.

@Darfur refugees fear returning home: UN
UN (AFP).  Many refugees in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region still live
in a climate of fear and are reluctant to return home as they do not
trust the govt to protect them, according to the United Nation's (UN)
human rights chief.
"The stories we heard in all 3 states of Darfur convey an acute sense
of insecurity," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said.
Many refugees "continue to live in a climate of fear".
An estimated 50,000 people have died and 1.4 mn have been displaced in
Sudan's W Darfur region where UN officials say pro-govt Janjaweed
militias have carried out a scorched earth campaign of ethnic
cleansing against non-Arab minorities.
Ms Arbour returned to Geneva after spending a wk in the region with
the UN's special envoy on genocide, Juan Mendes and is due to present
a report and recommendations in the coming days to UN Sec-Gen Kofi
Annan and the UN Sec Council.
The UN has been putting pressure on the Sudanese Govt to disarm the
Janjaweed and increase security in the area so refugees may return
home, but Ms Arbour said "displaced people cannot envisage returning
home because they do not trust the govt of Sudan to protect them".
"At best they feel the authorities respond inadequately to their concerns,
and at worst that they are in collusion with their abusers, including
armed groups and militias generally described as Janjaweed," she said.

@Strategic missile for Iranian forces
Tehran (AP).  Iran says it has successfully test-fired a "strategic
missile" and delivered it to its armed forces, state-run radio has reported.
"This strategic missile was successfully test-fired during [the
recent] military exercises by the Revolutionary Guards and delivered
to the armed forces," Defence Min Ali Shamkhani was quoted by the
radio as saying. The wk-long exercises began Sep 12.
The announcement came days after Israel said it was buying from the US
about 5,000 smart bombs, including 500 one-tonne bunker-busters that
can destroy 1.8-metre-thick concrete walls.
In 1981, Israel bombed Iraq's nuclear reactor before the reactor could
begin operating and the smart bombs are believed to be capable of
destroying Iranian nuclear facilities.
The elite Revolutionary Guards staged military manoeuvres earlier this
m nr the border with Iraq, with top military officials saying the
exercise was designed to reinforce Iran's resolve to defend itself
against "big powers."
During the manoeuvres state-run radio described the missile as a
"long-range missile" that would be test-fired. Later, there was no
official confirmation of the test.
The radio said Shamkhani refused to give details about the missile for
"security reasons," but said Iran was "ready to confront all regional
and extra-regional threats."
In Aug, Iran said it test-fired a new version of its ballistic missile
Shahab-3, which is already capable of reaching Israel and US forces
stationed in the Middle East. Iran's Defence Ministry didn't give its
range, but Israeli sources speaking in Jerusalem later said it was
more than 2,000 km.
Sat's report did not say whether the test and delivery was of the same
new version of the Shahab-3 or a different missile.
The older version of the Shahab-3, a medium-range missile that Iran
last successfully tested in 2002 before equipping its elite
Revolutionary Guards with it in July 2003, has been the Persian
state's longest-range ballistic missile. It has a range of 1,296 km.
The Iranian missile, whose name "Shahab" means shooting star in
Persian, can reach Israel and several other countries in the region,
fanning fears in the Jewish state that Tehran may strike at it.
Earlier this m, Ofek-6, an Israeli spy satellite, plunged into the
Mediterranean Sea shortly after launch dealing a severe blow to
Israel's attempts to closely monitor Iran.

@Armitage faces hostile questions over Iraq election
Washington (BBC).  Political opponents of the US Govt have questioned
its ability to ensure that full elections are held in Iraq in Jan.
The Dep Sec of State, Richard Armitage, has insisted that the election
should be open to all Iraqi citizens.  Earlier, Defence Secretary
Donald Rumsfeld had said only limited elections might be possible
because of the level of violence.  Appearing before a Congressional
Committee, Richard Armitage admitted that any election in Iraq would
be messy.  But he insisted all Iraqi citizens should be able to cast
their votes.  He said he had heard nothing of a plan to limit the
elections, avoiding the most violent areas.  The Dep Secretary faced
some hostile questions from Democrats on the committee.  Congressman
Dave Obe told him it was time to can the phoney optimism and added it
was going to take a minor miracle for the Iraqi elections to take
place on time in Jan.

@Foreign troops not the answer in Iraq: Musharraf
Pakistani Pres Pervez Musharraf says the war in Iraq has made the
world a more dangerous place.
Washington (AFP).  The war in Iraq has made the world a more dangerous
place and sending in more foreign troops is not the answer to the
tenacious and escalating violence there, Pakistani Pres Pervez
Musharraf said.
"I think the visibility of any foreign troops is not at all welcome in
Iraq. Nobody likes foreign troops," General Musharraf told Newsweek magazine.
"The answer lies not in bringing in more foreign troops but in raising
the army in Iraq itself so it can take over security. Everything
should lead to an exit strategy."
Earlier he told CNN the war in Iraq had "certainly not" made the world
a safer place.
"No, it's more dangerous," he said.
"It has aroused actions of the Muslims more. It's aroused certain
sentiments of the Muslim world, and then the responses, the latest
phenomena of explosives, more frequent for bombs and suicide bombings."
He said Pakistan, which has offered to train Iraqi troops, would not
send its own troops to Iraq.
He also said the US-led invasion "has complicated the situation in the
Islamic world. It has increased the opp'n to the US in the Islamic world".
General Musharraf suggested Washington "close down fronts" in the war
on terrorism.
"You have opened too many fronts [such as] the Palestinian front," he said.
"The Palestinian front is affecting the entire Muslim world. All
terrorist and militant activity in the world today has been initiated
because of the Palestinian problem. This is because of the sense of
hopelessness, alienation and powerlessness."
The Pakistani president said he was "reasonably sure" that Osama bin
Laden, head of the Al Qaeda terror network, was still alive, but that
he "couldn't say with confidence" that he would be captured or killed.
He said Pakistani authorities and the US Fed Bureau of Investigation
(FBI) were working "very closely" in the hunt for bin Laden.
But he denied there was any increased pressure from the Admin of Pres
George W Bush, who is seeking re-election, to find bin Laden before
the Nov 2 election.
"No, not at all," he said. "There's no pressure on us whatsoever."

@Aussie PM responds to Iraq warning report
Canberra.  PM John Howard has responded to reports that he was warned
by a snr defence officer shortly before AUS went to war against Iraq
that Saddam Hussein did not have any banned weapons.  The newspaper
reports say Bob Mathews from the Defence Science and Technology
Organisation wrote to Mr Howard arguing that there was not even any
circumstantial evidence that Iraq had substantial stockpiles of
so-called WMD.
Dr Mathews warned that AUS would face an increased risk of terrorist
attacks if it took part in the invasion.
In a statement, Mr Howard says the decision to join the war against
Iraq was based on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to
intel assessments.
The PM says in reaching its decision, the Govt took into account the
full range of intel available, including assessments from the Defence
Science and Technology Organisation.
Earlier, Labor leader Mark Latham said Mr Howard should have listened
to Dr Mathews.
"Bob Mathews was right in saying that there were big question marks
over the WMD," he said.
"Mr Howard ignored that advice in the letter and decided to go in
search of WMD that didn't exist.
"It's a shocking thing for the Aussie Govt to commit young Aussies to
war for a purpose that wasn't true and in so doing make AUS less safe
in the war against terror, make us a bigger target."

@Bush reveals plans for stabilising Iraq
[In his weekly radio address, Pres Bush promised on Sat that more than
$9 bn would be spent to rebuild Iraqi schools, hospitals and upgrade
the power grid and communication system].
Washington.  The US Pres George W Bush has detailed his plan for
stabilising Iraq during his weekly radio address.  Included in the
plan is increased infrastructure funding and a call for more
internat'l support for US forces.  Mr Bush acknowledged that serious
problems remain in several Iraqi cities, but he says the interim Iraqi
PM, Iyad Allawi, and his govt have accomplished a great deal.  "The
govt's strategy is to surround and isolate enemy militias, reach out
to the local population and negotiate from a position of strength," he
said.  "Prime Min Allawi believes this combination of decisive action
and outreach to peaceful citizens is the most effective way to defeat
the killers and secure the peace and America stands with him."

@Iraq complicated war on terror: Pres Musharraf
Washington (Reuters).  Pakistan's Pres Pervez Musharraf said on Fri
the US-led invasion of Iraq had made the world a more dangerous place
and complicated the war on terror.
Musharraf was asked in an interview on CNN if he thought the war in
Iraq was a mistake. "It has ended up bringing more trouble to the
world," said the Pakistani leader. "[The world] is more dangerous
... because [the Iraq war] has aroused the passions of the Muslims
more," he said, describing the US-led coalition as "bogged down" in Iraq.
"[The war in Iraq] has complicated the war on terror ... it has made
the job more difficult," said Musharraf. On NBC, he said the issue was
greater than the removal of Saddam Hussein and that the US had to do
more to resolve the Palestinian conflict.
"The deeper issue is ... all political disputes involving Muslims,
where Muslims are being seen on television, daily, being killed.
Palestinians, we see every day what is happening there. All these are
images which have created an antipathy against the US in the Islamic
world," said Musharraf, who met Pres Bush on Wed.
Musharraf said that even if the US succeeded in Iraq, the region's
problems would not be resolved until the Israeli-Palestinian issue was
dealt with.

@Pinochet questioned over political killings
A judge has interviewed Augusto Pinochet.
Santiago.  A judge in Chile has interrogated the former military ruler
Augo Pinochet as part of an inquiry into a campaign of politically
motivated killings by S American govts in the 1970s, known as
Operation Condor.  Judge Juan Guzman arrived at the general's house 5
minutes before the formal interview was due to start and left an hr
later.  There was tight police security and the judge entered and
departed by car without making a comment.  He finally interviewed the
general on the 3rd attempt after it was twice delayed by legal
arguments.  The purpose of the interview was to question the general
over allegations he was responsible for the kidnapping and torture of
some 19 Chileans through Operation Condor.  Last m the supreme court
stripped the former president of his legal protection raising the
possibility he could be put on trial for the 1st time.  The formal
questioning of the general is another step in that direction.

@Mental health groups urges boycott of pizza chain
Melbourne.  A peak mental health group is calling on people to boycott
a popular pizza chain during the AFL grand final because they have
received complaints that their recent advertisements are insulting.
Executive Director of SANE AUS Barbara Hocking says SANE runs a
Stigmawatch program and it has received a lot of calls from people
across AUS upset and offended by Domino Pizza's advertising campaign
that brands their new pizza range as maniac pizzas.  She says there
are also visuals and characterisations of people on the ad acting
eccentrically and this combined with the name of the pizza provides a
drip down effect on the way people perceive mental illness.  "So
that's why we've then been calling upon those same people, plus many
others who haven't maybe seen the ad, to boycott Dominos pizzas to
send a very strong message to them that people with mental illness are
absolutely fed up with having their illness and their character
demeaned and trivialised in this way," she said.  Dominos has
apologised for the advertisement and says the company will be more
careful in future.

@Blair says he'll do what he can to help Brit hostage in Iraq
London.  Brit PM Tony Blair says his govt will do whatever it can to
help secure the release of a Brit man kidnapped in Iraq 10 days ago.
Mr Bigley, a 62-yo civil engineer, was captured at gunpoint in Baghdad
with 2 American colleagues who have both since been killed.
Mr Blair praised the Bigley family for the way they had been handling
the crisis.
"Obviously we've been in touch with the Bigley family and I think
everyone is amazed at how dignified they have been over the last few
days and we will continue to do whatever we can, he said.
"If you will forgive me, I don't think there is much more I can or
should say at the moment."
Earlier the Irish PM, Bertie Ahern, released a statement to the Al
Jazeera TV network calling for the release of Mr Bigley, whose mother
was born in Dublin.
A 2 man delegation from Brit's biggest Muslim group has arrived in
Iraq on a quest to free Mr Bigley.
One of the 2 men making the journey, Musharraf Hussain, has admitted
it may be difficult to secure his release.
"As Muslim brothers to these captors we are Muslim brothers to them,
as a global nation we want to give the message that our religion is
one of compassion of love of non-violence," he said.
"A believer always maintains hope in the mercy of Allah and we are
hopeful that Mr Bigley's alive and that we will be able to exert some
influence with those who hold him hostage."
An Islamic website earlier posted a claim saying that Mr Bigley had been
killed, but the Brit foreign office says the claims can not be substantiated.
Meanwhile, Mr Bigley's 86-yo mother, Lil, who was visibly strained on
Thu when she begged for his release in a televised plea, had to be
taken to hospital Sat for the 2nd time this wk.
* Italian hostages
In other developments, the Italian Govt is urging caution over reports
that 2 female aid workers being held captive in Iraq have been killed.
The 1st claim also appeared on an Islamic web site that has proved to
be unreliable in the past.
A 2nd claim on a different web page that has previously been used by
Iraqi terrorists mentioned a video tape, but the tape never materialised.

@Website says Brit hostage in Iraq killed but London dismissive
Group claims killing of 2 Italian hostages in Iraq but Italy cautious
Dubai (Channelnewsasia/AFP).  A website, which this wk published a 2nd
unsubstantiated claim that 2 Italian aid workers held hostage in Iraq
had been murdered, reported that Brit captive Kenneth Bigley had been killed.
But the Brit govt swiftly dismissed the announcement.
"Tawhid wal Jihad [Unity and Holy War] announces the execution of the
Briton and gives the good news of the kidnapping of 7 Brit soldiers,"
said a brief statement on the website www.alezah.com/.
It said that a "cassette" would soon be made available.
The authenticity of the statement could not be verified.
The official site of the Unity and Holy War group, headed by suspected
Al-Qaeda operative Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi, and other Islamist websites
used by Zarqawi's group did not immediately carry any news on Bigley.
In London, the Foreign Office said it did not take the claim seriously.
"We are aware of the site called Alezah which is running that story,
but it is a discredited website. We don't think it is to be taken
seriously at this point," a FO rep told AFP.
The 62-yo Bigley was snatched Sep 16 along with 2 American colleagues
who have since been executed.
He has not been seen since he appeared in a fuzzy video Wed on an
Internet site, in which he appealed directly to PM Tony Blair to intervene.
On Thu, the Alezah website carried a statement from a second group that
claimed to have beheaded 2 women Italian aid workers held hostage in Iraq.
"The heads of the 2 Italian criminals, Italian intel agents Simona
Terretta and Simona Pari, were mercilessly cut off with a knife," said
the latest statement attributed to a group calling itself Ansar al-Zawahiri.
Earlier, another statement on the Internet that appeared Wed night
from a group calling itself the Jihad Organisation claimed it had
"slaughtered" the 2 women.
Pari and Torretta, both 29, were kidnapped from their offices in the
Iraqi capital on Sep 7.

@Brit Govt sceptical over website claim of hostage's execution
London (AFP).  Brit officials say they do not take seriously a claim
on an Islamic extremist website that a Brit hostage held in Iraq had
been murdered, adding the site in question was "discredited".  "We are
aware of the site called Alezah which is running that story, but it is
a discredited website. We don't think it is to be taken seriously at
this point," a Foreign Office rep told AFP.  Ken Bigley, a 62-yo Brit
engineer, was abducted on Sep 16 from his home in Baghdad along with 2
US colleagues.  The Americans have since been murdered by their captors.

@US soldier given 25 y sentence for Iraqi nat'l guard murder
Washington (AFP).  A US soldier has been sentenced to 25 y confinement
for the murder of an Iraqi nat'l guard nr the N town of Tikrit, the US
military said.  "Specialist Federico Merida pled guilty to murder and
making false official statements during court martial proceedings at
Forward Operation Base Danger, Tikrit, Iraq," it said.  A military rep
said the sentence had been reduced from 30 to 25 years, one of the
heaviest sentences handed to a US serviceman since the start of the
war in May 2003.  The soldier was found guilty of murdering an Iraqi
nat'l guard last May in the town of Ad-Dawr, nr Tikrit.  In addition
to the sentence, Merida was demoted to private and was given a
dishonourable discharge, the statement said.

@US air strike targets militants in Fallujah
Fallujah (Reuters).  United States aircraft have launched a new air
strike in the rebel-held city of Fallujah aimed at killing supporters
of a Jordanian militant who has led a campaign of suicide bombings and
kidnappings in Iraq.
The US military said the attack targeted supporters of Abu Musab
al-Zarqawi and no innocent civilians were in the area.
But doctors at Fallujah's main hospital said at least 7 civilians were
killed and 13 wounded, including women and children.
Reuters TV showed a crowd of Iraqis digging through the ruins of a
destroyed building, and pulling out survivors including 2 women and 2 children.
"Intel sources reported that Zarqawi terrorists were using the site to
plan additional attacks against Iraqi citizens and multinat'l forces,"
US forces said in a statement.
"There were no innocent civilians reported in the immediate area at
the time of the strike," it said.
"Multinat'l forces took multiple measures to minimise collateral
damage and civilian casualties."
Zarqawi's group said this wk it had killed American hostages Eugene
Armstrong and Jack Hensley, and posted video footage on the Internet
showing them being beheaded.
The Tawhid and Jihad group says it will also kill Briton Kenneth
Bigley, 62, unless Iraqi women are released from US-run jails.
Mr Bigley was snatched along with the 2 Americans at their house in
Baghdad last wk.
Prominent Brit Muslims were expected to arrive in Baghdad this weekend
via Kuwait to plead for Bigley's life.
An Islamist website has posted a statement saying Bigley had been slain.
The Brit Foreign Office said the claim lacked credibility.
* Air strikes
US forces have mounted repeated air strikes on Fallujah targeting
supporters of Zarqawi, who has a $US25 mn price on his head.
The city, 50 km W of Baghdad, is seen as a haven for insurgents and
foreign fighters.
After heavy fighting in the city in Apr killed 100s of Iraqis and
sparked widespread anger, US marines pulled out, handing responsibility
for security to an Iraqi force.
That force has collapsed and the city is controlled by insurgents.
The US military has conceded it is not in control of rebel strongholds
like Fallujah and nearby Ramadi, but says it will launch a campaign to
retake them ahead of elections in Jan.
Meanwhile, 4 US marines were killed in 3 attacks in the Iraqi province
that includes Fallujah and Ramadi.

@7 killed, 11 wounded in fresh US airstrike in Iraq
Fallujah (AFP/Reuters).  Doctors in the Iraqi city of Fallujah say at
least 7 people have been killed and 11 wounded in a fresh US airstrike.
The US military said in a statement that the target was a meeting
place for operatives of the Jordanian born militant, Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi.
"We have received 7 dead and 11 wounded including women and children,"
Dr Ali Hiyad at the main hospital in Fallujah, W of Baghdad, said.
The US military statement said an airstrike targeted at about 10.00 pm
local time [1800 Z] "terrorists meeting in the Jolan district of Fallujah."
"Intel sources indicated that approximately 10 terrorists were meeting
at this location to plan operations targeting innocent Iraqi civilians
and multi-nat'l forces," said the statement.
Earlier a separate air strike in Fallujah killed at least 8 people and
injured 15.
And in the province of al-Anbar, which includes Fallujah, 4 US marines
were killed in separate incidents.
* Air strikes
US forces have mounted repeated air strikes on Fallujah targeting
supporters of Zarqawi, who has a $US25 mn price on his head.
The city, 50 km W of Baghdad, is seen as a haven for insurgents and
foreign fighters.
After heavy fighting in the city in Apr killed 100s of Iraqis and
sparked widespread anger, US marines pulled out, handing
responsibility for security to an Iraqi force.
That force has collapsed and the city is controlled by insurgents.
The US military has conceded it is not in control of rebel strongholds
like Fallujah and nearby Ramadi, but says it will launch a campaign to
retake them ahead of elections in Jan.

@4 US marines killed in Iraq
Baghdad (AAP).  4 US Marines were killed in 3 separate incidents W of
Baghdad, the US military said today.  The 4 were assigned to the 1st
Marine Expeditionary Force and were killed yesterday while conducting
security operations in Anbar province, the military said. No further
details were provided.  As of yesterday, 1042 members of the US
military have died since the beginning of the Iraq war in March 2003,
according to the Defence Dept.  Of those, 792 died as a result of
hostile action. The figures include 3 military civilians.

@9 Afghan soldiers killed in attacks
Helmand Prov, S Afghanistan (Reuters).  Suspected Taliban militants
have launched a string of attacks on security posts in S Afghanistan,
killing 9 soldiers, an official said.
The attacks came 2 wk before a landmark presidential election Islamic
militants have vowed to disrupt.
Haji Mohammad Wali, rep for the governor of Helmand province, said an
unspecified number of gunmen launched raids on 3 security posts.
3 soldiers were killed in the 1st attack, 6 in the 2nd and there were
no casualties in the third.
Mr Wali blamed the "enemies of Afghanistan", a phrase often used to
describe remnants of the ousted Taliban militia, which opposes the
election and has been accused of launching a wave of violence that has
claimed more than 1,000 lives since Aug last y.
Taliban fighters were also linked to a rocket attack on the helicopter
of Pres Hamid Karzai as he made his 1st election campaign trip outside
Kabul earlier this m.
The hardline Islamic militia was ousted from power in a US-led war in
late 2001, after it failed to hand over Osama bin Laden, leader of the
Al Qaeda network who helped coordinate the airliner attacks on the US
on Sep 11 that year.

@Israel destroys Palestinian homes in Gaza
Gaza.  Israeli bulldozers have destroyed 35 Palestinian homes in the
Gaza refugee camp of Khan Yunis a day after mortars fired from the
camp killed an Israeli woman in a nearby settlement.  The Israelis say
the incursion was to stop militants firing more mortars.  Israeli
troops, tanks and bulldozers moved into the edge of the Khan Yunis
refugee camp soon after midnight.  One Palestinian was killed in a
helicopter missile attack.  Then the bulldozers began destroying
homes, shanties and abandoned buildings.  The United Nations says that
60 families, around 230 people altogether, lost their houses or
shelters.  An army rep said the UN's figures for the scale of
destruction were very much exaggerated.

@NZ's Iraq force returns home
Wellington (AFP).  New Zealand troops serving in Iraq for the past y
have returned home, with PM Helen Clark indicating it was unlikely
there would be any further deployments.  However, Wellington would
consider involvement at the UN HQ in Baghdad, she said.  New Zealand's
Light Engineer Group had been working on reconstruction projects in
Basra, but spent much of the last m confined to barracks because of
the deteriorating security situation there.  "This Govt said from the
start that New Zealand would be prepared to provide humanitarian and
reconstruction assistance in Iraq," Ms Clark said in a statement.  The
troops were always due home around the end of Sep, and while "no
further deployments of this kind to Iraq were being considered" NZ
would consider formal requests from the UN for assistance in its HQ in
Iraq, the statement said.

@Port heading for victory
Lions forward Alastair Lynch clashes with the Power's Darryl Wakelin.
Melbourne.  Port Adel leads Bris by 17 pts with 1/4 remaining in the
AFL grand final at the MCG.
The Power kicked the last 4 goals of the 3rd quarter to lead 12.8 (80)
to 9.9 (63) at the final change.
Both sides are looking to create a piece of history. Bris is
attempting to win its 4th straight premiership, a feat only achieved
by Collingwood from 1927-30.
Port Adel, meanwhile, is aiming for its 1st flag after only 8 seasons
in the AFL.
In an opening quarter punctuated by a series of one-on-one brawls,
Port showed they intended to go hard for the man in defence and while
giving away early free kicks, they refused to be physically
intimidated by the Lions.
Daniel Bradshaw and Clark Keating registered the opening pts of the
quarter, both kicking behinds, but it was Port's Josh Carr who kicked
the 1st major of the match.
His running effort was just reward for the Power's hard working
midfield and he was soon backed up by Brendon Lade's goal from a set
shot on the left forward flank.
Port's momentum continued to grow with a goal from captain Warren
Tredrea, which put the Power ahead by 3 majors.
But Bris pegged 2 goals back through 2001 Brownlow Medallist Jason Akermanis.
The controversial midfielder marked strongly on the right flank and
goaled with relative ease. He scored his 2nd only minutes later after
receiving a free kick for a push in the back, just inside the attacking 50.
Byron Pickett closed out the term for Port, running into an open goal
to kick the Power's 4th major.
At the 1st break, Port Adel led 4.5 (29) to the Lions' 2.2 (14).  Bris
started the 2nd quarter indecisively, with their midfield playing in
an almost pedestrian manner and their shots on goal lacking accuracy.
Alastair Lynch had left the field towards the end of the 1st quarter
and his absence showed, as the Lions lacked a definite target in the
attacking 50.
But despite a long range goal to Pickett which increased Port's lead,
the Lions gradually clawed their way back into the match through 4
unanswered goals.
Keating and Bradshaw made up for early misses with a goal apiece and
the momentum had definitely swung in favour of Bris when Akermanis
kicked his 3rd.
Working with a tight angle on the left forward flank, he slotted a
goal to level the scores and they were soon ahead through Tim
Notting's 1st major.
Port finished the term in the right frame of mind, however, with a
goal to Toby Thurstans.
His major left the score at the main break 6.7 (43) to 6.6 (42) in
favour of Bris.
The Power started the 3rd quarter positively, gaining a free kick
before the bounce.
Soon after they kicked the 1st goal of the term through Thurstans,
after Darryl White gave away a free inside Port's attacking 50.
Thurstans' 6 pointer wrested the lead off Bris, as both side's began
to swap goals.
Notting kicked a double to regain the upper hand for Bris before
Pickett got one back for Port.
Bradshaw responded for Bris and he was matched by Josh Mahoney, who
kicked his 1st goal of the match.
With behinds having also been exchanged during the term, scores were
now level but a goal from a set shot to veteran Gavin Wanganeen's put
the Power back in the lead.
Shaun Burgoyne extended Port's pts advantage to 12 pts with his
late-quarter major and Wanganeen's 2nd gave his side a 3-goal lead.
A minor score to Akermanis was the only impression Bris could make
before the final change.

@Power surge to maiden AFL flag
Pt Adel celebrates its 1st AFL premiership.
Melbourne.  Port Adel has won its 1st ever AFL premiership after
defeating the Bris Lions by 40 pts in the grand final at the MCG.
In only their 8th season in the AFL, the Power put to rest the tag of
'finals chokers' by winning the season decider 17.11 (113) to 10.13 (73).
The Lions led by a single point at half-time, but were simply overrun
by a hungrier Port outfit who ruined their chance of winning 4
straight premierships.
Port were ably led by veteran Gavin Wanganeen who kicked 4 goals late
in the 2nd half, a performance reminiscent of Darren Jarman's
inspirational effort in the Adel Crows' maiden premiership in 1997.
He was well-assisted by Byron Pickett and Toby Thurstans, who both
kicked 3.
Jason Akermanis, Daniel Bradshaw and Tim Notting all registered a trio
of goals for Bris.
Port Adel coach Mark Williams said the Lions pushed his team to victory.
"The quality of the play that we played was based on the fact that
they [Bris] made us play that quality," he said.
"It's easy to get caught up in it all, but they've been just such a
wonderful team, the best team we've been unfortunately, I suppose, to
be in the same era as them."
Pickett's tally of 3 goals helped him take out the Norm Smith Medal
for best player on ground, a deserved award for a hard working display
from the former Kangaroo.
Pickett said Port were determined to play through to the final siren
to confirm the win.
"You don't know whether you've won or lost against Bris, because
you've always got to fight back, but probably the last 3 or 4
minutes we thought we had it," he said.
Bris coach Leigh Matthews told the after-match press conference that
the Lions were simply outplayed.
"Their [Port Adel] aggression at the ball is why they ended up winning
the game," he said.
"They were very good, we matched them for a while but in the end we
just couldn't match them. In the last quarter and a half they did
things much better than us."
Matthews also confirmed at the press conference that Bris full forward
Alastair Lynch had announced his retirement from the AFL.
* Port flying start
In an opening quarter punctuated by a series of one-on-one brawls, the
Power showed they intended to go hard for the man in defence and while
giving away early free kicks, they refused to be physically intimidated
by the Lions.
Bradshaw and Clark Keating registered the opening pts of the quarter,
both kicking behinds, but it was Port's Josh Carr who kicked the 1st
major of the match.
His running effort was just reward for the Power's hard working
midfield and he was soon backed up by Brendon Lade's goal from a set
shot on the left forward flank.
Port's momentum continued to grow with a goal from captain Warren
Tredrea, which put the Power ahead by 3 majors.
But Bris pegged 2 goals back through 2001 Brownlow Medallist Akermanis.
The controversial midfielder marked strongly on the right flank and
goaled with relative ease. He scored his 2nd only minutes later after
receiving a free kick for a push in the back, just inside the attacking 50.
Pickett closed out the term for Port, running into an open goal to
kick the Power's 4th major.
At the 1st break, Port Adel led 4.5 (29) to the Lions' 2.2 (14).
* Lions roar back
Bris started the 2nd quarter indecisively, with their midfield playing
in an almost pedestrian manner and their shots on goal lacking accuracy.
Alastair Lynch had left the field towards the end of the 1st quarter
and his absence showed, as the Lions lacked a definite target in the
attacking 50.
But despite a long range goal to Pickett which increased Port's lead,
the Lions gradually clawed their way back into the match through 4
unanswered goals.
Keating and Bradshaw made up for early misses with a goal apiece and
the momentum had definitely swung in favour of Bris when Akermanis
kicked his third.
Working with a tight angle on the left forward flank, he slotted a
goal to level the scores and they were soon ahead through Notting's
first major.
Port finished the term in the right frame of mind, however, with a
goal to Thurstans.
His major saw Bris's lead reduced to 6.7 (43) to 6.6 (42) at the main break.
* Exciting quarter
The Power started the 3rd quarter positively, gaining a free kick
before the bounce.
Soon after they kicked the 1st goal of the term through Thurstans,
after Darryl White gave away a free inside Port's attacking 50.
Notting kicked a double to regain the upper hand for Bris before
Pickett got one back for Port.
Bradshaw responded for Bris and he was matched by Josh Mahoney, who
kicked his 1st goal of the match.
With behinds having also been exchanged during the term, scores were
now level but a goal from a set shot to veteran Gavin Wanganeen's put
the Power back in the lead.
Shaun Burgoyne extended Port's pts advantage to 12 pts with his
late-quarter major and Wanganeen's 2nd gave the Power a 3-goal lead.
A minor score to Akermanis was the only impression Bris could make
before the final change.
In front 12.8 (80) to 9.9 (63) at 3/4 time, the Power looked headed
for victory.
* Port Power on
Port powered out of the blocks in the final term with Wanganeen adding
2 quick goals.
His 4th was the result of an excellent snap from 40 metres out,
leaving the Bris defence dumbfounded.
Bradshaw tried to revive the Lions' hopes with his 3rd goal, but 3
straight majors to Thurstans, Stuart Dew and Adam Kingsley
extinguished any chance of a 4th Bris premiership.
Williams said Port had now proven they can perform in finals football.
"I'm very proud of our club," he said. "We were under a lot of
pressure for almost a whole year, almost this day last y there was a
fair bit of pressure put on the club and in particular the players and
coaching staff, and I really appreciate the efforts of everyone concerned."
Matthews, who suffered his 1st grand final loss as a coach in 5 outings,
said it was disappointing to fall short of a 4th straight premiership.
"It's a lost opportunity, a lost opportunity more than anything," he
said. "Lost opportunity in that there was something that was available
to us that we weren't able to get."
Port's 1st flag now means they have moved out of the shadow of their
cross-town rivals the Crows, who won back-to-back premierships in 1997
and 1998.

@Port Adel party on
Adelaide.  Port Adel will continue their celebrations today after
winning their 1st premiership in yesterday's AFL Grand Final.  Port
Adel won the match 17.11(113) to Bris's 10.13 (73).  The Power partied
long and hard in MEL last night.  Captain Warren Tredrea says he will
be partying as hard as he trains.  "Don't worry, I'll be preparing
myself well tonight, don't worry there," he said.  Coach Mark Williams
says it may be difficult for the club to get its mind back on football
following the celebrations.  "It'll be up to this club to see how well
we can rebound from getting a hell of a lot of pats on the back and
telling us how good we are," he said.  Port Adel fly back to Adel this
morning for a family day at Alberton while the Lions will meet their
MEL fans in Fitzroy before flying back to Bris.

@Sauvage bows out with silver
Athens.  9-time gold medal-winning wheelchair athlete Louise Sauvage
farewelled Paralympic competition with a silver medal in the 400
metres in Athens overnight.  The Aussie was denied a 10th career gold
by arch-rival Chantal Petitclerc of Canada, who also took 2 seconds
off Sauvage's world record.  "I came off the track there and really
knew that was the last time I'd be in that position, but I'll be there
again IN Beijing, perhaps from a different perspective," said Sauvage,
who now plans to go into coaching.  AUS's only gold medal during day 8
of competition was won by 18-y Richard Coleman in the 800 m.  Heath
Francis took out silver in the men's 100 m, while AUS also won 3
bronze medals in the pool.  Overall, AUS remains in 3rd place with 71
medals, including 20 golds.

@5 killed in Perth car collision
Police are investigating a collision which claimed 5 lives in Perth.
Perth.  5 people have died overnight in a car crash at Mirrabooka in
Perth's N suburbs.  6 ambulances, 4 fire trucks and several police
cars raced to the scene after an E bound car crashed into the right
side of a south bound car late last night.  Inspector Gary Kosovic of
the Perth police says 4 people died at the scene.  "It turned out to
be a horrific crash, with 4 persons in a Nissan found to be deceased
at the scene," he said.  A 5th person was dead on arrival at Sir
Charles Gairdiner hospital shortly after.  All fatalities were in the
S bound car with 2 people from the other car also being taken to
hospital with serious injuries.  Speed is believed to be a factor in
the crash.  The police major crash section is investigating.

@6 dead after 2 road accidents in WA
Perth.  6 people have died in 2 separate car accidents in Western AUS.
Police say speed appears to be a factor in a crash involving 2 cars on
Beach Road in the Perth suburb of Mirrabooka about 10.00 pm AWST.  An
8-yo boy, 2 women and 2 men, aged between 48 and 62, died.  Inspector
Garry Kosovich says the 2 couples may have been related but police are
yet to confirm that.  5 people were travelling in the other car
involved in the accident - they are all in hospital in a stable
condition.  In another accident, a 32-yo man from Kambalda in the WA
Goldfields died when his car rolled over on the Gordon Adams Road
about 11.00 pm.  Police say the man had been charged with
drink-driving 2 hr earlier and released.  The matter will be the
subject of an internal investigation.

@6 die in separate accidents on Qld roads
Brisbane.  6 people have died on Qld roads this weekend.  Most of the
deaths happened in single vehicle accidents.  Last night 2 men, aged
26 and 19, were killed when their car clipped a concrete barrier nr
Nerang on the Gold Coast and crashed into a power pole.  An 18-yo man
died when the car he was a passenger in ploughed into a parked truck
in the Bris suburb of Alexandra Hills while an 18-yo woman was killed
after she lost control of her car on the road to Bargara beach E of
Bundaberg in SE Qld.  A 24-yo man also died last night after falling
from his skateboard and being struck by a vehicle at Coolangatta.  A
55-yo man was killed yesterday when his 4 wheel drive hit a power pole
at Wilston on Bris's northside.

@16 killed in weekend accidents
Sydney.  The nation's weekend road toll has risen to 16 with reports
that a young female driver lost her life in a road crash on the
Pacific Highway N of Grafton in N New S Wales early this morning.
There were 2 other fatalities in NSW, one nr Newcastle and another nr
Port Macquarie.  The fatality follows an horrific accident in a N
Perth suburb last night in which 5 occupants of one car died when they
hit another car.  Another man died when his car rolled in W AUS's
Goldfields at Kambalda.  In Qld there have been 6 road deaths in the
past 24 hr.  In the latest incident a 24-yo was killed after falling
off his skateboard and being hit by a car at Coolangatta.  At King
Island off NW Tas a man has been killed by a car in a hit and run accident.

@Specialist urges Tas Govt to declare water contamination risks
Hobart.  Tas's foremost cancer specialist says the public's health
must take precedence over the state's forest industry.  Professor Ray
Lowenthal from the University of Tas is urging the Govt to declare any
potential risks associated with aerial spraying of forestry
plantations and its effect on drinking water feeding some of the
state's small towns.  Professor Lowenthal has told Channel 9 questions
need to be answered.  "I would certainly call on the forestry industry
and the Govt to let us know what really are the facts about the use of
these potential dangerous chemicals and if there is reason to be
concerned," he said.  "If there is significant level of contamination
of the water supply then obviously the chemical use should be
suspended until all the facts are known."

@Former F-111 maintenance workers suspicious about report delay
Canberra.  Former F-111 maintenance workers say they are suspicious
about the delay in releasing the findings of a study into their health.
The report is crucial to compensation claims by men who worked on
stripping the plane's fuel tanks and are now seriously ill.
The Aussie Defence Force says the general health and medical study is
being considered by the Govt and will be released after the election.
Former RAAF maintenance worker Rob Solomon says it is very frustrating.
"Perhaps they're hoping there'll be a change of govt and it won't be
their problem," he said.
"I don't know but there's 100s of people who are waiting to find out
and in our case, we've just spent 4 y of our life and just, let's face
it, when you have illnesses, 4 y is a long time."
Another former RAAF maintenance worker, Frank Cooper, says the workers
just want it sorted out.
"We would like to have been compensated y ago. We're in our 4th
year of litigation now. The compensation thing just seems to stall. It
doesn't seem to go anywhere. We're constantly sort of chasing it," he said.

@Former ACCC head calls for hospital system revamp
Allan Fels says it is time to look at revolutionising AUS's hospital system.
Sydney.  The former high profile head of the Aussie Consumer and
Competition Commission (ACCC), Professor Allan Fels, says it is time
to look at revolutionising AUS's hospital system.  Professor Fels says
the nation is in the grip of an aged care crisis and by 2050 more than
a quarter of Aussies will be over 65 y of age.  Speaking on Channel
Nine, Professor Fels said the public hospital system is now under
"enormous" pressure and the situation will get worse.  "It's time we
seriously considered a nat'l public hospital system to end the current
blame shifting between CBR and the states and remove bureaucratic
duplication," he said.

@Academics call for truth, accountability in govt
Canberra.  A large and diverse group of academics from across the
nation have joined forces to call for AUS's political leaders to
restore honesty and independence in govt.  The group comprises 380 snr
academics including 160 professors and includes a representative of
every public university in AUS.  They have signed a letter to the PM
John Howard and Opp'n Leader Mark Latham urging them to use the fed
election to pledge that they will insist on truth and genuine
accountability in govt.  Emeritus Professor Stuart Rees from SYD
University says to achieve that aim a new approach to the public
service is needed.  "They would have to guarantee that they would stop
the bullying, they would stop the political intimidation, that they
would see that it's in the nature of a vibrant democracy to have an
independent public service so that they could receive advice without
fear or favour and clearly that standard and that tradition has been
eroded," he said.

@Howard outlines 4th term vision
Brisbane.  PM John Howard has unveiled his vision for the Coalition's
4th term.
The Liberal and Nat'l parties held their official campaign launches in
the key election battleground of Bris.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside City Hall to try and disrupt
proceedings.
Mr Howard's Liberal deputy Peter Costello had the Labor leader in his
sights as he warmed up the audience.
"His job interview with the Aussie people goes a little
like...previous private sector experience -- nil. Previous ministerial
experience -- nil," he said.
"Mr Latham wants you believe you can trust your mortgage to him.
"Economic management is not an accident and it's not a fluke.
"You can't trust Mark Latham with your mortgage and you can't hand
over economic management to Simon Crean."
* Howard
As Mr Howard entered City Hall he was given a standing ovation.
He told the party faithful his 8 y as PM have been a great experience
and he has learnt from the Aussie people.
"It has been a great experience, it has been humbling experience," he said.
"It has been a journey to reinforce my values as an Aussie."
Mr Howard also reinforced his govt's economic credibility.
"Our reforms have yielded great results," he said.
"I have no prouder claim as PM than to say over the last 8 and a half
y that real wages have rise 13 to 14%.
"The Coalition has been a better friend to the workers of AUS than
Labor could ever dream of being."
Mr Howard announced the establishment of 24 Aussie technical colleges
to accelerate nat'l skills development in traditional trades.
The colleges would provide tuition for more than 7,000 students in
grades 11 and 12 offering both academic and vocation education.
Mr Howard said the colleges would be established in regions with
serious skill shortages and high unemployment and supported by a
significant industry bases.
These include Darwin, N Tas, Adel, Perth, northern Bris, Gold Coast,
Gladstone in central Qld and Townsville.
"These colleges will operate independently of the state education
systems," Mr Howard said.
"They will be run by the principal and teachers will be recruited on
the basis of performance-based pay."
* Anderson
Nat'ls leader John Anderson promised people living in country areas
will never be forgotten as long as the Coalition is in govt.
Mr Anderson said the Nat'ls had achieved a lot for country people and
he detailed the Govt's economic record, arguing the Coalition has
delivered low interest rates and rising employment in country areas.
"Over our time in office more than 440,000 new jobs have been created
in regional AUS and unemployment is down from 9.3% in March of 1996 to
6.1% today compared with 5% in our capital cities," he said.
"Let me state this, we aim to bring it down further."
He says there is a sense of resurgence in the regions with new
opportunities and jobs.
Mr Anderson has promised better services for people living in country areas.

@Coalition set to launch $290 mn vocational education plan
PM John Howard expected to unveil a $290 mn plan to address a nat'l
shortage of skilled workers.
Brisbane.  The PM is today expected to unveil a $290 mn plan to
address a nat'l shortage of skilled workers.
John Howard will make the announcement when he and the Nat'ls leader
formally launch the Coalition's election campaign in Bris.
As many as 1,200 supporters are expected to attend today's launch,
which the govt hopes will give the Coalition the momentum it needs as
it heads into the last 2 wk of the election campaign.
The Prime Min will set out his vision for a 4th term in govt.
The Govt describes the vocational education and training plan as a
"revolutionary overhaul" of AUS's vocational and education system.
24 technical colleges would be set up in regions suffering from a
shortage of skilled workers.
Each college would provide training for up to 300 Year 11 and Year 12
students in areas such as construction, commercial catering and
electrical trades.
Nat'ls leader John Anderson will launch his party's campaign outlining
the Coalition's plans to improve services in country areas.
The ALP's rep for employment services and training, Anthony Albanese,
says if the PM is serious about addressing the trade skills shortage,
he would start with the TAFE system.
"TAFE throughout AUS trains 1.7 mn Aussies and it's been undermined by
a govt that refused to put any growth funding into it, that is
operating now without an agreement that was supposed to be finalised
and begin on the 1st of Jan this y," he said.
The manufacturing union is also critical of the Coalition proposal.
The Nat'l Secretary of the Aussie Manufacturing Workers Union, Doug
Cameron, says the Govt has neglected funding to existing training programs.
"They have certainly not put the appropriate funds into TAFE and now
they suddenly discover there's a problem," he said.
"They have put money into a whole range of areas which are not about
creating quality apprenticeships in this country and we've been
warning the Govt of this for years."

@Min urged to apologise following airport security scare
The TWU wants the Fed Transport Min to apologise personally to members
after it was discovered a teenage boy was responsible for an airline
security scare this wk.
Sydney.  The Transport Workers Union (TWU) wants the Fed Transport Min
to apologise personally to members after it was discovered a teenage
boy was responsible for an airline security scare this wk.
Fed police say they will not be taking action over the device, found
in the hold of a Virgin plane in SYD, convinced the firecracker simply
fell out of the teenager's luggage and that there was no malicious intent.
Yesterday John Anderson refused to apologised and said he simply
refused to speculate about whether the device could have been planted
in a stunt to expose problems with aviation security.
The TWU's Hughie Williams says that is not good enough.
"That was an insult to those workers, an insult to those hard working
people who do a damn good job on airports of AUS, making sure the
public are safe and making sure that they get [to and] from their
destination," he said.
"I think the Deputy PM should get out there and get out there very
loud and clear to every media outlet of AUS and profoundly apologise
to those people."
Mr Anderson says in light of the incident staff training will be
stepped up and other changes put in place.
Labor's Martin Ferguson says security lessons must be learned.
"Obviously the incoming govt has got to pay more attention to the
issue of security passes at airports, and whether or not adequate
training has been given to all ground staff," he said.

@Forestry policy won't be part of Democrats package for Tas
Canberra.  The Aussie Democrats say the forestry debate is attracting
too much attention in the lead up to the fed election.  Democrats
leader Andrew Bartlett says a forestry policy will not be part of the
party's Tas package which will be released tomorrow.  Sen Bartlett
says while the forestry debate is important there are many other
environmental issues that are being ignored.  "The problem with the
over emphasis on forestry is that many other important environmental
issues get diminished and we've seen that in the rest of AUS forestry
is being seen as the major environmental issue," he said.  "Of course
it's important, it's one the Democrats have put a lot of work into in
the Senate but we've also covered a full range of other issues that
are being ignored and that in many respects are actually more serious
a problem."

@Janette Howard stands by her man
Sydney.  The Prime Min's wife, Janette Howard, has defended her
husband against allegations in the children overboard affair during
the last election campaign.  Mrs Howard has told a Sun newspaper she
was present during telephone conversations between Mr Howard and a snr
adviser in the last days of the campaign.  Mike Scrafton was an
adviser to the then defence minister Peter Reith.  He recently claimed
to have had 3 telephone conversations with Mr Howard 3 days before the
last election telling him there was no evidence to support claims that
asylum seekers had thrown their children into the sea.  Mr Howard has
denied that and govt senators at a hearing into the claims say the
PM's telephone records show there was not time for the detailed
conversations described by Mr Scrafton.  Mrs Howard has told the Sun
Age magazine she was there at the time and supports that view.

@Costello challenges Labor to release independent tax report
Peter Costello has stepped up his pressure on Labor over its tax and
family policy.
Canberra.  Fed Treasurer Peter Costello has stepped up his pressure on
Labor over its tax and family policy now claiming the shortfall could
be as high as $2.6 bn.
Earlier Mr Costello had put the figure at $700 mn saying a low income
tax offset had not been included.
2 independent economic modellers who checked Labor's policy before it
was released confirmed the tax offset was in the calculations.
But Mr Costello has told Channel 7 his assessment is correct and he
has challenged Labor to release the report by independent economic
modelling group Natsem.
"I think the hole is much bigger than 700, I think the hole is 4
components, participation dividend," he said.
The Fed Opp'n will give its tax and family package to the Treasury by
the middle of the wk.
Labor's Simon Crean says he stands by the policy, and denies it has
been held back from Treasury until attention is focused on the
party's campaign launch on Wed.
"That's not the determining factor, I mean we had to wait for the
pre-election economic forecasts which showed a significant increase in
the size of what was available to govt," he said.

@Costello tight-lipped on leadership aspirations
The Fed Treasurer Peter Costello has again refused to speculate on his future.
Canberra.  Before the election campaign Mr Costello was forced to
declare he would not challenge John Howard for the leadership in the
next term of govt.  Mr Howard for his part will only say he will stay
for as long as the party wants him.  Mr Costello has told Channel 7 he
would like more time with his children.  "I would like to to see them,
I would like to spend some time with them you know," he said.  "I've
got 3 kids and they are growing up, the teenage kids are going through
the end of school.  "I would like to spend some time with them, I feel
I haven't probably spent enough time with them and I'm sure we'll be
talking about family things as you can imagine," he said.  But Labor's
Simon Crean has told the ABC's Insiders program the comment shows Mr
Costello still wants the leadership.  "This is a duo that has tried to
say that the leadership tensions are behind them," he said.  "That
comment by Peter Costello shows he's far from happy, he believes he's
entitled to the leadership so it's yet again confirmation that a vote
for John Howard is vote for Peter Costello."

@Business council condemns Labor's industrial relations policy
The Business Council of AUS says it opposes Labor's IR policy.
Sydney.  The Business Council of AUS says it is opposed to Labor's
industrial relations (IR) policy.  Speaking on Channel Nine, the
council's president Hugh Morgan stressed he was not urging Aussies not
to vote for Labor.  But Mr Morgan says voters should scrutinise
Labor's IR policy including the proposal to give the Industrial
Relations Commission the power to again settle long running,
intractable disputes.  "Handing that back to the Industrial Relations
Commission, I think we can all recall what it was like, it just
doesn't work, it takes time and the outcomes of secondary boycotting
was very adverse in terms of community observations of how things took
place," he said.  Mr Morgan says AUS ranks within the top 6 nations of
the world when it comes to productivity and he fears that progress
will be harmed by Labor's industrial relation policies.  "It's very
important that we maintain the momentum of competitiveness and reform
and we've got to make sure that people understand what a quite
dramatically different platform would mean or could mean for the
community," he said.

@Assaulted pizza delivery man dials rescue from car boot
Sydney.  A pizza delivery man used his mobile phone to call police
from the boot of a moving car after being stabbed and robbed last
night in SYD's SW.  The 32-yo was set upon by 2 men and a woman after
he left his car to make a delivery at Cabramatta about 9.00 pm.
Despite his injuries, he managed to call 000 from the boot of his car
which was being driven around by the attackers.  He managed to free
himself after the car stopped in Wakely.  He is recovering in
Liverpool Hospital and is expected to give police a full statement
today.  Meanwhile at Armidale in the NSW N 3 youths aged, 13, 14 and
16 have been charged over the armed robbery of a 19-yo pizza delivery
woman on Fri night.  They have been granted bail to appear in the
Armidale Children's Court on Oct 18.

@Half a mn urged to leave home ahead of hurricane
Miami.  Authorities in the Bahamas and the US State of Florida have
urged more than 500,000 people to leave their homes as Hurricane Jeane
approaches.  The storm has strengthened since it passed through Haiti
last wk.  Jeanne, which may have killed 2,000 people when it caused
devastating floods in Haiti last weekend, was churning W through the
Atlantic Ocean with top winds of 160 kph.  It is expected to
arrive in the Bahamas in the coming day before reaching Florida, where
a state of emergency has been declared.  It will be the 4th hurricane
to hit Florida in 6 wk.

@Hurricane Jeanne batters the Bahamas
Miami.  Hurricane Jeanne has arrived in the Bahamas battering the
islands with ferocious winds and torrential rains.  It is expected to
reach Florida on the US E coast later today and mn of residents in the
area have evacuated their homes, anticipating their state's 4th
hurricane in 5 wk.  No US state has been struck by 4 hurricanes in one
season since Texas in 1886.  Florida Governor Jeb Bush has urged
residents not to be complacent.  "We are preparing, we are recovering
and we are providing relief, all the while those residents begin the
hard work in each one of these phases, in some cases preparing for the
storm while they're recovering from another," he said.  "This is a
time for us to band together as a state and show the rest of the world
what Florida's made of."

@Florida residents batten down
Surf pounds the coast line as Hurricane Jeanne moves towards Florida.
Miami (AFP).  Residents along Florida's E coast braced as the 1st
squalls of strengthening Hurricane Jeanne slammed the coast with
stinging winds and driving sheeted rain, the 4th major storm to hit
the state in 6 wk.
A mn people have been ordered to evacuate as the storm approached the
NW Bahamas threatening to batter areas still recovering from Hurricane
Frances earlier this m with heavy rain, floods and damaging waves.
Most of Florida's Atlantic coast was under a hurricane warning with
officials urging residents not to let fatigue or complacency hinder
preparations ahead of expected landfall before dawn on Sun local time.
A tropical storm watch was in effect for the state's W coast along the
Gulf of Mexico.
The Nat'l Hurricane Centre in Miami called Jeanne a "dangerous
category 3 hurricane ... with sustained winds nr 185 kph and higher
gusts.
"Coastal storm surge flooding of 1.2 -- 2.1 metres above normal tide
levels, along with large and dangerous battering waves can be
expected," the centre said in its 9.00 pm [Z] updated hurricane bulletin.
"Preparations to protect life and property in the hurricane warning
area should be rushed to completion," the centre warned.
"There are some reports that people are not evacuating as they have
been asked to," Florida Governor Jeb Bush said.
"This storm will be stronger than Frances."
Governor Bush said he had asked US Pres George W Bush, his brother, to
declare Florida a disaster zone for the 4th time in 6 wk to "help us
expedite additional support".
Many residents were still desperate to protect homes already damaged
by Hurricane Frances from the approaching storm.
Hurricane Ivan last killed more than 130 people in the eastern United
States and Caribbean nations.
Before that, hurricanes Charley and Frances killed dozens and
destroyed 1000s of homes after slamming into Florida's E coast.

{{
4.30 am
4 US soldiers have been killed in separate incidents across the C Iraqi
prov that incl Fallujah.

Iran has announced it has delivered a missile to the military after a
successful test-firing.  No details of the make or range were given in
the statement.

Brit Muslims are being issued a special booklet on their rights.  1 mn
copies will be distributed in mosques starting this wk.  Muslims say
they have noticed an increase in unjustified searches and targeted by police.

Hurricane Jean is starting to impact the Bahamas.

4 pm
TV pix have showed Jean to be even bigger than Francis as it hits the
Fla Treasure Coast.

4.30 pm
The UN says an important milestone has been reached in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
1 mn people have now returned after the end of the 9 y civil war.

5 pm
7 are dead and 11 injured in the latest US bombardment of Fallujah.
The US military says it is only targeting insurgents.  But locals say
the dead and wounded incl women and children.  Doctors say 8 were
killed and 15 wounded in the yesterday's attack.

A snr cmdr of the Taliban has been killed in an ambush in Afghanistan.
He had been held at Guatmo for more than 2 y.  He was killed with 2
followers in an ambush.

An Aussie Army chopper has hit a power-line and sparked a fire in a
paddock in rural Qld.  The fire brigade was called to put the fire
out.  The military says it was a minor incident and no-one was hurt.

Hurricane Jean has picked up strength.  Officials say warnings to
evacuate S Fla have been heeded.  It's the first time since records
began in 1851 that 4 hurricane have hit a US state in a single y.  Gov
Jeb Bush has written his bro for more money.  Gusts are now register
up to 200 kph.

5.45 pm
Police in London have arrested 4 men accused of planning a terrorist attack.
They were allegedly trying to buy rad material to on-sell to terrorists.

6.30 pm
US aircraft have struck in Sadr City, Baghdad.  Witnesses say bombing
has damaged shops.  They say children are among the casualties.

N of Baghdad, a police chief has been ambushed and killed in Baquba.

The head of the Coal'n in Afghan has warned that insurgents plan to
disrupt the Afghan elections in 2 wks.  He says intel reports show
al-Qaeda are infiltrating from Pak, intent on sabotaging the poll.
The new warnings came as 9 Afghan soldiers were killed in the S of the
country in a series of attacks targeting security posts.  The Taliban
has claimed responsibility.  Security has been stepped up in Kabul
after attacks on US personnel there.  Al-Qaeda has prev said it will
target all 18 presid'l candidates.  Pak is reported to have diverted
more troops to the border region.  But that hasn't eased the nerves of
some presid'l candidates.  Some have led calls to postpone elections
for security reasons.

Taiwan.  1000s have protested govt plans to buy 1000s of hi-tech
weapons from the US.  100,000 marched in Taipei, calling on the govt
to drop a $1.4 bn deal to buy US anti-missile systems, planes and
subs.  It was the start of a wasteful arms race, said protesters.
Opp'n parties also say the money could be better spent on education
and welfare.  The govt says the weaponry is necessary to maintain the
balance of power.  If the deal falls though, the govt warns, China
would have capability to attack in 2 to 3 y.  China says the deal
breaches the long-standing Sino-US agreement.  China was involved in
war games today.  10,000 members of the Red Army fought a mock battle.
"Iron Fist 2004" was executed before military observers from 30
countries.
}}

----------------------------------------
Mon, 27 Sep 2004

	HEADLINES:
16 killed in Iraq clashes as Powell says situation getting worse
More killed in Iraq attacks
Pakistan kills militant wanted for Musharraf plot
Israel blamed as Hamas militant killed in Syria
Fijian soldiers to guard UN in Iraq
US soldier gets 25 y for murder of Iraqi Guardsman
US troops arrest snr Iraqi cmdr
Troops return from Iraq: "no further deployments"
Must Iraq poll be nationwide?
Iraqi general arrested for aiding insurgents
Iraq to adopt new oil policy bringing in majors: expert
Iraq dogs Blair as party conference starts
Insurgency worsening in Iraq: Powell
In Iraq, prospects fade for a legitimate election
Envoys in Iraq on mission to save Brit hostage
Disbanding Iraqi army was a mistake, says Blair
AUS's Howard pledges to keep troops in Iraq
Accused pleads not guilty in backpacker murder case
Anti-terrorism ads draw Latham's concern
Bigley still alive says brother
Bomb alert prompts emergency landing for Greek plane
China's Communist Party attacks itself
Coalition to boost access to after-hrs doctors
Costello ignites leadership speculation
Desperate Haitians loot aid
Frenchman shot dead in Saudi Arabia 'terror attack'
Govt to abolish fisheries tariff protection
Greens call for aerial spraying inquiry
Haitian flooding death toll hits 1,650
Hamas vows revenge after leader's death
Howard begins $6 bn sales pitch
Howard defends $6 bn spending plan
Hurricane Jeanne pounds Florida
Indonesia police defend mine pollution arrests
Iran calls for Europeans to negotiate nuclear standoff
Jeanne downgraded after pounding Florida
Jeanne pounds US coast
Labor slams 'crazy John's end of career clearance sale'
Latham to release ALP child care policy
Merger tipped for Earth Sanctuaries as head retires
Millions lack power after US hurricane
Multiplex unveils $bn Ronin bid
Nauru broke after US loan: minister
Oil price nears record high
Police officers to stand trial on drugs charges
SA whiting laws ineffective, says Opp'n
Stuttle trial to begin in Bundaberg
Sudan sentences 3 to death for Darfur crimes
Sweden to return Indigenous remains
Tas water contamination concerns mount
Telstra confirms $750 mn share buy-back
US continues Fallujah strikes
Voting begins in Top End's vast electorate


@Oil price nears record high
Oil prices nr Aug's highs.
NY (Reuters).  Oil prices pushed above $US49/bbl on Mon, approaching
record levels as worries about the stability of supplies from Iraq,
Nigeria and Russia compounded concerns over low US fuel stocks ahead
of winter.
US light crude climbed to $US49.25/bbl, up 37 US c and just 15 US c
below the all-time intra-day peak set in late Aug at $US49.40.
Oil was driven higher last wk by a big dip in US oil stockpiles, at a
time when inventories should be building ahead of winter ms.
Dealers shrugged off as too little some short-term oil loans by
Washington from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
Hurricane Ivan has delayed oil shipments and disrupting offshore
production after thrashing through the Gulf of Mexico and into Florida.
Clashes in Saudi Arabia between security forces and suspected Al Qaeda
members at the weekend, along with continued attacks on oil
infrastructure in Iraq, have heightened concerns over the potential
for a severe disruption to crude flows from the Middle East.
Rebels in Nigeria, Africa's top oil exporter, said at the weekend they
would extend an uprising across the country's entire oil-producing
southern delta, where Royal Dutch/Shell has evacuated more than 200
staff from 2 oilfields due to increasing violence.
There is still uncertainty over the stability of supplies from Yukos,
Russia's top exporter, after the company's battle against bankruptcy
led to hiccoughes in output and deliveries last wk.
The OPEC producers' cartel, which controls more than half of global
crude exports, is producing close to 30 mn bpd, the highest level
since the late 1970s.
Qatari Oil Min Abdullah al-Attiyah said on Sat that OPEC had done all
it could to cool prices.
"The increase in prices is not due to a supply shortage but concern
that supplies are not stable," Mr Attiyah told reporters.

@Iraq to adopt new oil policy bringing in majors: expert
Dubai (Channelnewsasia/AFP).  Iraq is drawing up plans to involve the
private sector and foreign oil majors in its state-run oil industry in
order to generate funds for rehabilitation and expansion in the sector
estimated at 50 bn dollars over 10 y, an Iraqi oil expert said.
The govt alone cannot come up with enough money to restore the oil
industry, "the power house of the Iraqi economy," which has been left
run down by successive wars and years of UN economic sanctions, Sabah
Jumah, a former oil ministry director-general, told a conference on
the Iraqi oil sector here.
A revived state-owned Iraq Nat'l Oil Company (INOC) -- a body
abolished in 1987 by ousted president Saddam Hussein -- would have
"full ownership and control of its existing producing assets", said
Jumah who now runs an oil consultancy in Baghdad.
"Ownership of the key pipeline network for both oil and gas, including
export terminals, will [also] remain in state hands for the
foreseeable future," he said.
But the private sector will play the big part in "new activity,
exploration, development of undeveloped fields, major refinery
refurbishment, new refinery construction and petrochemicals ... Joint
ventures between Internat'l Oil Companies [IOCs] and Iraqi private
sector companies will be encouraged."
Jumah said this was how the Iraqi petroleum industry was shaping up,
according to published plans by the oil ministry and guidelines
recently given by interim PM Iyad Allawi to the newly formed Supreme
Council for Oil Policy.
The council is in the process of finalising a new policy which will be
submitted to the cabinet for approval, he said.
Issam Chalabi, who had just taken over as oil minister when INOC was
dismantled, said the company "did a great job" from the time it began
operating in 1968 as a result of its financial independence and the
powers it enjoyed. There was no point resurrecting it unless it
enjoyed similar independence, he said.
Saadalla al-Fathi, an oil consultant and one of the panelists, said
Iraqis should primarily rely on themselves to rehabilitate the oil
industry, as they had done in the past, given that waiting for
external aid had resulted in "nothing being done."
But he said other countries could help by offering Iraqis education
and training.
"All countries in the world want to train our police and our nat'l
guard ... But I didn't hear one country saying we will take 20 Iraqi
students," Fathi said.
Iraq is now producing about 2.4 mn bpd of crude but has to import
gasoline and other products despite the fact that it sits on the
world's 2nd largest reserves, estimated at 113-to-115 bn barrels, with
probable reserves topping 200 bn barrels, panelists said.
The conference, which began Sat with a discussion of reconstruction
prospects in Iraq, ends Mon.

@Haitian flooding death toll hits 1,650
Pt-au-Prince.  The death toll in disastrous flooding in Haiti has
risen to about 1,650, with about 800 people still missing, a govt
official said on Sun.
Hurricane Jeanne, which hurtled ashore on Florida's E coast on Sat,
lashed Haiti with torrential rains as a tropical storm a wk ago.
Flood waters and mud cascaded into the N city of Gonaives and other
parts of the N and NW, leaving tens of 1000s of people with nothing in
the poorest country in the Americas.
Carl Murat Cantave, a Haitian govt official, said the toll was now 1,650.
The toll could rise well above 2,000 as more bodies are recovered from
Gonaives, a port city of 200,000, and outlying areas.
Efforts to distribute food, water and other relief supplies have been
hampered by security problems and on Sat a convoy of govt trucks
bringing aid was attacked by gunmen and people with machetes as it
entered the city, officials said.
There have been several incidents of attacks by gangs in the city, as
well as scuffles among people desperate for food and water.
Street gangs rule many of Haiti's squalid slums, and helped lead a
bloody revolt that forced former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide to
flee into exile on Feb 29 this y.
United Nations peacekeepers are in the city to protect food
distribution centres and help with logistics.
They are part of a Brazilian led UN force sent to maintain order in
the country after Mr Aristide's ousting.
A wk after the flooding engulfed much of Gonaives, many people were
still living on the roofs of their homes.
A rep for the World Food Programme, Anne Poulsen, said that over the
last 3 days, some 120 tons of food had been distributed, enough food
for about 200,000 people for a day.
"What we did so far is only a beginning. We'll keep on getting food in
there, what we hope is to get resources to help at least 100,000
people for at least 5 m, that's our estimation."
"There are areas up N of Gonaives where people are completely
isolated, the roads are washed away."
"We used donkeys and mules after the trucks couldn't go any further."
"This is a tragedy for the people of Gonaives and for Haiti," she said.
Haiti is prone to deadly floods because 98% of its forests have been
chopped down, largely to make charcoal for cooking.
In May, about 2,000 people died in flooding in the S of the country.

@Sudan sentences 3 to death for Darfur crimes
Freetown (AFP).  A court in Sudan's troubled Darfur region has
sentenced 3 militiamen to death and 6 others to up to 5 y in prison
for murder and pillage, the Sudanese Media Centre said on Sun.
"The 3 militiamen were sentenced to death by hanging after they were
found guilty of murder, pillage, arson and illegal possession of arms
in S Darfur state," the news agency said.
"6 others were sentenced to prison terms of between 3 and 5 years for
involvement in the same crimes," it said without giving further details.
Forty more people are due to be tried in the next couple of days for
similar crimes at the special court in the state capital of Nyala, it added.
The Khartoum Govt set up the court to try pro-govt militiamen accused
of crimes in Darfur, after undertaking a mission to disarm the
militias and bring those responsible for human rights violations to justice.
In July, 200 militiamen accused of ethnic cleansing in Darfur were
tried by the same court, with some receiving death sentences.
The fighters from different Arab tribes were found guilty of waging
war, assault and armed robbery.
In Aug, the Sudanese Govt gave the UN a list of 30 of its militia and
police allies in Darfur suspected of having committed serious human
rights abuses, including rape.
"The Govt does not deny that human rights abuses occur and it will not
protect those who commit them," Justice Min Ali Mohammed Osman Yassin
said at the time.
Despite the Govt's undertakings, the crisis in Darfur continues to
simmer, with those in displaced persons' camps continuing to accuse
the militias of serious abuses.
The United Nations has called Darfur the world's worst current
humanitarian crisis, and the US and Germany have described the brutal
campaign waged by state-sponsored Arab militias in Darfur as "genocide".
The bloodshed began in Feb 2003 when rebels rose up against Khartoum
to demand an end to the marginalisation of their region -- mainly
inhabited by non-Arab minorities and one of the poorest region's in Sudan.
The Sudanese Govt's response was to give Arab militias, known as the
Janjaweed, a free rein to crack down on the rebels and their suspected
supporters in minority villages.

@Iraq dogs Blair as party conference starts
Blair suffers poll blow before conference
Brighton (Reuters).  Iraq has overshadowed the start of Tony Blair's
Labour Party conference despite the PM's efforts to turn attention to
the domestic agenda ahead of a general election expected next y.
Blair wants to show party and public he has a raft of new policies on
childcare, pensions and education, but rising bloodshed in Iraq and
the threat of death hanging over a Brit hostage continued to stalk him.
Party members, divided over Blair's decision to back the US-led invasion,
backed a motion on Sun to debate the Iraq war on Thu -- a move that
will keep Iraq in the headlines and could prove embarrassing for Blair.
But the fate of 62-yo Kenneth Bigley, whose captors in Iraq have
threatened to behead him, took the spotlight as his brother Paul spoke
via telephone to a packed anti-war meeting on the fringe of the conference.
"I've received info this evening that Ken is alive," Bigley said via
telephone from the Netherlands, saying the govt had done little to try
to free his brother, who has been held for some 10 days.
"I'm not asking you to negotiate, simply to communicate. Just simply
send a lousy, bloody fax," he added.
Paul Bigley, who broke down during the call, said Blair's silence over
Bigley was a "kiss of death" for his brother.
* NO APOLOGY
Mins strained to keep policy in the shop window.
"It is inevitable for decent people to be concerned about the war and
the terrible torture that Ken Bigley's family is going through,"
Health Secretary John Reid said. "That has to be dealt with alongside
the domestic agenda."
Blair stood firm on his Iraq policy on Sun and rebuffed reports that
he considered resigning about 6 m ago, saying he had new vigour for
the country's top job.
"I'm not the wobbling sort," Blair said on BBC TV's Breakfast with
Frost. "I'm restless to do more and do better."
"If we manage to stabilise Iraq and give it the chance to become a
democracy this will be of huge importance to our own security," Blair said.
The size of Blair's parliamentary majority and the failure of the
opp'n to capitalise on his vulnerability over Iraq, make pollsters
cautiously confident of a historic 3rd win for Labour in the election
expected in May.
But an opinion poll by MORI on Sun put Labour a point behind their
Conservative opponents, a result, which if mirrored at the next
election, would slash Blair's majority to just a handful of seats.
The PM's personal trust ratings have slumped as many voters do not
believe the reasons he gave for war.
A y and a half after the toppling of Saddam Hussein, the headlines are
full of bloodshed in Iraq.
But Blair refuses to apologise for Brit's involvement in Iraq, a move
that could assuage critics. Blair prefers to win his party back by
focusing on Labour's domestic policy plans.
Keen to draw attention to a strong economic record, low unemployment
and high investment in schools and hospitals, Blair said this wk would
see fresh plans for childcare, pensions and tackling youth unemployment.
"I still think the single biggest passion for the govt is education,"
said the PM.

@AUS's Howard pledges to keep troops in Iraq
Brisbane.  Aussie PM John Howard has launched his campaign for next
m's election, promising to keep Aussie troops in Iraq as long as
necessary and to increase govt spending on education.
Mr Howard's conservative coalition has been in office since 1996. He
told supporters in the N city of Bris Sun that sending troops to Iraq
was the most difficult decision his govt has faced, but he is
convinced it was the right course of action.
The PM's main challenger, Labor Party leader Mark Latham, has promised
to bring AUS's 850 troops home before the end of this y by Christmas,
Dec, 25, if he is elected.
The opp'n is formally launching its campaign for the Oct 9 election on
Wed. The campaign has been under way for 1 m already, but such
ceremonies give party leaders a platform to outline their policies.
On domestic issues, PM Howard says AUS is facing a "nat'l skills
shortage" in traditional trades. He intends to establish a network of
technical colleges throughout the country to provide training
opportunities and strengthen the nat'l economy.

@Troops return from Iraq: "no further deployments"
Ohakea AFB (NBR).  PM Helen Clark and Min of Defence Mark Burton
turned out as part of an emotional gathering Sat night to welcome home
NZ's Iraq detachment of 61 defence personnel.  "What a relief it is to
have you home safe and sound. We worried a lot," said Helen Clark.
The group exchanged very touching haka greetings with family and
friends at Ohakea Air Force base after their flight touched down.
In a statement issued just before the defence force team arrived,
Helen Clark said no further deployments of personnel to Iraq were
being considered, although NZ would consider formal requests from the
UN for assistance in its HQ in Iraq.
"Working alongside Brit forces, NZ's Light Engineer Group has
contributed to over 40 projects to restore key infrastructure,
including the repair and refurbishment of hospitals, health clinics,
schools, police stations, law courts, and municipal and govt buildings.
"Our personnel have also rebuilt bridges and water pipelines, worked
to restore electric reticulation systems, and constructed supply
reverse osmosis water plants that are bringing clean water to over
200,000 people for the 1st time in a generation," Helen Clark said in
that statement.
A worsening security environment had seen the detachment confined to
base in Basra for most of the last m.

@Fijian soldiers to guard UN in Iraq
Nadi (AFP).  Fiji will start posting soldiers and bodyguards to Iraq
next m to guard UN staff in the war-torn country.  Fiji will provide
155 soldiers to protect UN buildings and 24 bodyguards for officials,
Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) rep Captain Neumi Leweni said,
adding that the advance party would leave for Baghdad next m.  RFMF
will supply the arms and equipment and the UN pay travel costs.  "This
has been the UN terms since the E Timor mission where countries are
supposed to provide their own equipment and the UN will reimburse them
later," he said.  The UN closed their Baghdad HQ after a car bomb in
Aug last y killed 22 people, including mission head Sergio Vieira de
Mello.  Earlier this y a smaller UN team returned to Iraq.  Nearly 500
former Fiji soldiers are believed to be working in Iraq for private
security organisations.

@In Iraq, prospects fade for a legitimate election
Op/Ed (NYT).  Iraq's interim PM, Ayad Allawi, acknowledges that those
elections he and Pres George W Bush have vowed would take place next
Jan "may not be perfect." Def Sec Donald Rumsfeld acknowledges that
they may not be held at all in 20% to 25% of Iraq because of
continuing violence.
Meanwhile, as Dexter Filkins of The NY Times has reported from
Baghdad, Iraq's most influential cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, is
increasingly concerned that even where voting does take place, the
choices will be rigged in advance in ways that under-represent Iraq's
Shiite majority and thwart democratic choice.
These are far from trivial issues, despite Rumsfeld's curiously
undemocratic remark that if some substantial portion of Iraqis cannot
vote, "so be it." With the original rationales for the Iraq war now
discredited and with a spreading insurgency killing scores of American
soldiers and 100s of Iraqi civilians every m, the prospect of
holding democratically legitimate elections in Jan is about the only
thing the Bush Admin could hope for as a sign of eventual success.
Yet the 6 political parties that Washington has promoted all along are
not making that any easier. These parties, which are rooted among the
exiles who left Iraq during the Saddam era and lack broad popular
support, are now discussing a plan to run as a single unified ticket
rather than competing among themselves on the ballot. That could
create essentially a one-party election unless Iraq's fragmented
independents manage to organise themselves into an effective new
political force. Otherwise, Iraq's 1st free election may look
uncomfortably like the plebiscites choreographed to produce 98%
majorities for Saddam Hussein.
Had the US occupation not worn out its welcome so fast and so
thoroughly, there would be a good argument for delaying those
elections until more representative and competitive political parties
could organise themselves and conditions became more secure. But as
things now stand, any postponement would probably make matters even
worse. Washington and Allawi's appointed govt have fallen under a
Catch-22: The only hope of quelling the insurgency depends on progress
toward democratic govt and the only hope of meaningful elections
depends on greater progress in quelling the insurgency.
The best thing the Admin can do now is to salvage as much legitimacy
as possible for the elections. Sistani's biggest concern is that a
unified slate would effectively parcel out seats in the new assembly
in back-room deals before any votes are cast, using a formula that he
feels would give the Shiites fewer seats in the new assembly than they
are entitled to based on their present share of the Iraqi
population. That would be less likely to happen if the parties agreed
to compete against each other at the polls, letting the voters
themselves decide how many seats to give to each party.
Building legitimacy for the elections in the Sunni areas will be
considerably harder. Some of these areas are not now under govt
control, and, even if they are by Jan, they may be in no condition for
a free vote. Even the more peaceful Sunni regions do not feel
adequately represented by any of the 6 main parties: 2 Kurdish, 2
Shiite and 2 nonsectarian. It is imperative that Baghdad, with help
from the UN, use the next 4 m to try to bring new elements from these
areas into the political arena.
If the elections cannot be held in much of the Sunni heartland and are
boycotted elsewhere by Sunnis and Shiite followers of Sistani, the
prospects for holding Iraq together, let alone creating enough
stability to withdraw US troops anytime soon, would turn desperately bleak.

@Must Iraq poll be nationwide?
Washington (BBC).  US Def Sec Donald Rumsfeld has said that Iraq may
only be able to hold limited elections in Jan, as it might not be
possible to hold voting in places where violence has been severe.
He told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the cmdr of US forces
in the region might also ask for reinforcements during elections.
Earlier interim Iraqi PM Iyad Allawi and US Pres George W Bush had
ruled out delaying the vote.
However, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry accused both Mr
Bush and Mr Allawi of trying to fool American voters by saying things
were getting better in Iraq.
Should the Iraqi elections in Jan be held nationwide? Would it be
sufficient to hold them in selective areas until the violence on the
ground subsides? Would Iraqis, and the rest of the world, consider a
selective election valid? Send us your comments.
The following comments reflect the balance of opinion received.
Partial elections with the promise of a 2nd election within a short
period conditioned by the establishment of security is better then nothing.
Raakesh, Florida, USA
People who are now critical of a partial election would be equally
critical if Rumsfeld had said that elections will be postponed
indefinitely until security is established everywhere. Partial
elections with the promise of a 2nd election within a short period
conditioned by the establishment of security is better then
nothing. If even 75% of the people cast their vote and begin seeing
and believing that Democracy is truly at work then it will infect the
rest of Iraq with positive change instead of the current disease of
terrorism.
Raakesh, Florida, USA
Many of the comments posted are naive because they fail to appreciate
who would gain most by a delay or modified elections.  Clearly the
Sunnis would like to see no elections and the Shiites (60% of the
population) want one-man, one-vote elections as scheduled. This is a
war for power once the Americans leave Iraq, not for democracy.
Robert Harper, Toronto, Canada
I wonder how US citizens would feel if someone suggested that, say,
Florida should be excluded from the forthcoming presidential election?
Not very happy, I imagine. Besides which, Rumsfeld seemed to be giving
the impression that you could, in effect, just fence of a specific
chunk of Iraq and exclude it from the election. The impression I get
is that, far from being confined to a specific region or set of
regions, the current violence is geographically widespread, even
though it is only perpetrated by a minority of the population. Maybe
this is yet another example of how the US tendency to be
inward-looking blinds its citizens to the real facts.
David Hazel, Fareham, UK
There is no doubt that a nat'l election with no geographic exclusions
is desired. However, it is not necessary. For decades elections in the
US excluded women, blacks and a significant number of S states. Does
that imply that, say, Abraham Lincoln's election was invalid?
TM, Virginia, USA
The situation in Iraq is so unique that it calls for extraordinary
measures. In a free and democratic society, elections should be
conducted on a nationwide basis. But in Iraq that scenario might
produce the wrong leaders. It is far better to have the Jan election
constrained to geographic/cultural areas where the results would be
more predictable and acceptable. Going forward, Iraq requires good,
strong leaders like Allawi and restrictions in the voting would ensure
the satisfaction of that requirement.
S Treach, Woodstock, NY
More needs to be done to improve security before elections take place.
Scott, Belfast, UK
I must agree with Dave here. You can't have elections in areas where
militants and Coalition Forces are actively exchanging fire, it's just
not practical. Saying that, the 75-80% figure given out by Rumsfeld is
to low to represent all the factions inside Iraq. More needs to be
done to improve security before elections take place, the only way I
see this happening is if the US/Coalition sends more troops to secure
more of the country.
Scott, Belfast, UK
America and it's allies did not set the date the UN did. Allawi's govt
is determined to have the elections by that date. As I understand it,
this would not be the 1st time a nation didn't have "full"
elections. It apparently happened once here in the US as well. For
those who would argue there will be fodder for more complaints about
legitimacy. There will be complaints regardless of how it is done. You
can count on it. Iraq is a highly partisan issue no matter what
country's soil you are standing on.
Sean, Washington, USA
What difference will it make in terms of instability after the
elections? Zip. Zilch, Nada, Zero. The mess is all set to worsen; be
it under Allawi and Co or someone else elected after Jan
elections. The problem to deal with should be insecurity not partial
or complete elections. Even if it will be nationwide, it will still
not be credible at all...not to forget bloody and painful for all concerned.
Bhawan, Baghdad, Iraq
What many people don't understand is that during the American Civil
War, elections were not held in 11 of the states from 1862-1864.  This
was because it was impossible due to all of the violence. Iraq should
have elections, even if it isn't in every province. To suggest
otherwise ignores history.
David, Philadelphia
Is an incomplete election worse than one marred by violence and intimidation?
Dave, Sheffield, England
I am saddened that so many contributors seem to think that this is a
cynical attempt by the US to rig the elections. As I see it, the US is
trying to sort things out in very difficult circumstances. Is an
incomplete election worse than one marred by violence and intimidation?
Dave, Sheffield, England
Anything less than a full, fair election will only give dissidents
another excuse to continue to undermine attempts to bring peace to Iraq.
Keith, Uxbridge, UK
As an Iraqi living in the UK, what better way to cause tension amongst
Iraq's diverse communities than to hold elections in mainly Shia and
Kurdish areas but not to hold them in Sunni cities like Fallujah,
Ramadi, Samara and Baquba. I am sure in this scenario elections will
be counter-productive and the outcome will create more problems than
they will solve.
Mohammed Rahman, Oxford, UK
This sounds like the 1st steps in an American attempt to delay or
cancel the elections, or to provide only candidates that they approve
of. Of course selective elections would not be considered valid either
by Iraqis or the rest of the world. I agree with Kerry about trying to
fool American voters -- they should know that events in Iraq are
spiralling out of control.
Richard Absalom, La Roche Sur Yon, France Well spotted Richie UK, yes
Iraq was handed over, but as many have already stated it was to a
US-picked puppet. The elections to be legal must be held nationwide,
otherwise it is another coalition-led farce.
George, Tangmere UK
"Selective elections" have no validity. By now our presence in Iraq
probably has no validity among most Iraqis and, to the rest of the
world, we are unfortunately more than ever "ugly Americans."
Laurel Sparks, Madison, USA
The poll should definitely be held nationwide, under the supervision
and protection of the European and American forces. Iraq has never had
a democratic govt and will therefore be in need of some guidance from
the democratic nations of this world. It's just a shame it's not the
French, Germans, Italians or any other European countries giving the
advice as they could be much more impartial than the USA.
Dave, Slough, UK
They need not be nationwide; many of the people in these areas have no
interest in democracy anyway as their actions to date have
proven. People who want to vote will understand they'll have to
wait. If, however, someone can get away from the danger zones they
should certainly be allowed to participate. The key issue, of course,
will be power-sharing and how it's done: Sunni, Shia and Kurd are
going to have to work together or it's all doomed.
I McVay, Toronto, Canada
The voice of all Iraq must be heard or the election must be delayed.
There are to many varied ethnic groups in Iraq to accept any portion
of one unable to vote because of conflict. This would
disproportionately affect the Sunni and Shia who are embroiled in
rebellion against the Americans. Putting the shoe on the other foot
America, would you accept an electoral vote with Florida unable to
cast because of a massive terrorist strike or some other disaster?
Would Rumsfeld's attitude be the same then? If its not good enough for
America, its not good enough for Iraq. If anything should be as close
to perfect in this world, it should be a democratic election for
goodness sake!
Jason Dimmell, Ottawa Canada
The US is just trying to rig the Iraq elections by denying the vote to
people who would support candidates opposed to the US occupation.
Peter, London, UK
The elections must be held nationwide, if it will really be possible
to do so without being disrupted by those gangs of assassins who are
only there to take the lives of innocent people.
Chernor Jalloh, Almeria, Spain
Of course the election must be nationwide. The US is just trying to
rig the Iraq elections by denying the vote to people who would support
candidates opposed to the US occupation. A fully democratic Iraqi govt
will face enough problems as it is. An Iraqi govt supported by only
some of the people will be in the same situation as the US appointed
one is now, with all the same problems.
Peter, London, UK
Holding limited elections may be all that is possible, but if that is
the case it will simply add fuel to the fire. In all probability any
govt formed by limited elections will leave some segments of the
population unrepresented -- pretty much the situation that existed
before our intervention. My feeling is that this is the "light the
fuse and stand well back" policy.
Paul, Belgium
Iraqi people should be the one deciding to conduct the poll at an
appropriate time, not America and its allies.
Jahangeer K A, Singapore
The notion that a limited poll would result in a legitimate regime is
ludicrous. The resulting Admin would be no more legitimate than the
American puppet regime now installed. Thankfully the election date is
after the American election and if there is any sanity in the American
public we will see a change of policy in the states that will result
in a change of policy toward the rest of the world.
Bill Hamilton, Canada
"Limited elections"? Does this mean you only let people vote who will
vote for your puppet? So much for "freedom".
Frank, Germany
The unsafe areas are those areas specifically not supportive of the US
occupation. To exclude these areas from an election then defeats the
entire purpose of a democracy.
Rachel, USA (ex UK)
Mr Rumsfeld said: "Well, so be it, nothing is perfect in life, so you
have an election that's not quite perfect. Is it better than not
having an election? You bet." Wasn't that how Bush got elected?
John, Leicester
It is the responsibility of the coalition to bring security to the
region. They are failing miserably to do this. The US proclaimed that
Iraq will the model state for the rest of the Middle E and democracy
will triumph. They have failed to bring security and now they may not
be able to hold elections in the 'no go' areas. This statement by
Rumsfeld is merely a symptom of a wholly failing ill-thought-out
policy in Iraq, pre and post war. Sadly, it's the people we are
supposed to be helping who suffer the most.
Jock, Blackwood, Gwent
The Americans have repeatedly promised free elections. However, now we
find out that these free elections will only be held in areas which
support the Americans? And to think I actually supported this farce last y.
David Russell, Glasgow
It would seem Donald Rumsfeld has come up with a new form of
democracy. It's called Selective Democracy and will be held in "safe"
areas where voting will be in the areas that support the present
puppet govt.
Clive, Dartford, UK
Any step towards democracy is important and should be supported by all Iraqis.
Vincent, France
Any step towards democracy is important and should be supported by all
Iraqis. It is not hard to afford peace in some troubled regions to be
able to make elections. Just some will, and some tanks, for 12 hr, and
that's it. Tanks can get out after.
Vincent, France
It has to be, because if it isn't nationwide then it isn't democracy,
even by the fairly narrow standards of W representative democracy.
Rick, Bury, Greater Manchester, UK If some areas don't want their own
elected official then fair enough. But what if the Americans disagree
with the candidate list or winners if they may put an Islamic govt in power?
Phillipellis, UK
I guess this is American-style democracy, very much like Florida where
polling stations were opened later and closed early, thereby
disenfranchising voters (mostly Afro-American Democrats).
Jo,
Is it a coincidence that it is the most violent parts of Iraq that
have the strongest opp'n to the American occupation? It's just a sly
way of keeping those who disagree with Americans away from the ballot
box -- some democracy.
Pete, York, England
If the poll is not nationwide, it will lead to the disintegration of
Iraq into many nations.
Richard, London
It will be very interesting to see if the Iraqi people elect someone
the Americans don't like, if the Americans will again force regime
change in the name of democracy even though democracy has spoken.
Anonymous
how can you possibly have a selective election and then say that this
is what the people have voted for? Surely this will only cause more
anger and hatred. Allow the so called insurgents and militia to have
their nominated candidates and if the Iraqis don't want them in power
they won't vote for them. Simple as that.
Rizwan Saleem, UK
What does this have to do with Rumsfeld? I thought the USA had "handed
over sovereignty" to Iraq?
Richie, UK

@Frenchman shot dead in Saudi Arabia 'terror attack'
Riyadh (AFP).  A Frenchman was shot dead in the Red Sea city of Jeddah
in what Saudi officials said was a "terrorist attack", the 2nd
shooting of a Westerner in the oil-rich kingdom in 10 days.  "We can
say through the preliminary investigation that it is a terrorist
attack," Interior Ministry rep Mansur al-Turki told AFP.  Sources in
the kingdom's French community identified the victim as Laurent Barbot
employed with French defence electronics company Thales, which is
working on a military project in Jeddah and the eastern industrial
city of Jubail.  Mr Turki confirmed the victim worked for Thales,
formerly known as Thomson CSF, and said he was shot twice with a
machine-gun.  He said the Frenchman was found dying and covered in
blood at the wheel of his jeep which was blocking a lane on a road.
French diplomats in Saudi Arabia could not be immediately reached for comment.

@Bomb alert prompts emergency landing for Greek plane
London (Reuters).  A bomb threat has prompted a Greek Olympic Airlines
passenger plane to make an emergency landing, escorted by Brit air
force Tornado jets, at London's Stansted Airport.
An airlines rep said the pilot of the Airbus A340 travelling from
Athens to NY was informed over France of a call to a Greek newspaper
that a bomb was on board.
"There were 293 passengers on board and 12 crew, all of whom have been
evacuated safely," Olympic rep Melina Pitta said.
"We do not yet know if it was a hoax call or not," she said.
RAF Tornado jets were scrambled to escort the plane into the airport
NE of London, said a rep for Brit's MoD.
A Greek civil aviation official told Reuters that Brit security forces
had swept about 80% of the plane and had not found anything suspect.
"The caller appeared to give a specific point as to where the bomb
was, and that's why they decided the plane had to land," said a
Stansted airport rep.
He said he did not know if the caller had used a code word.
"We knew there was almost no chance for a bomb on board but we did
everything and took all necessary measures to be on the safe side,"
Olympic airlines flights manager Konstantinos Vardakis told reporters.
He said if the all clear is given, the plane would probably depart for
NY later on Sun.
Olympic Airlines managing director Odysseas Vlamis told reporters:
"The passengers are mainly Greek. The incident is most likely a hoax
but we were obliged to get the plane down safely.
"The security at Athens airport and at our company are of internat'l
standard, so there was never a concern regarding the flight, but we
had to make sure and that is why we told the plane to land."
Athens internat'l airport is still on heightened alert because of the
Paralympic Games, which end on Mon.
Hundreds of armed security guards, sniffer dogs and bomb experts
patrol the airport.
Security analysts said it was unusual for planes to be diverted in
mid-course on the basis of a telephone tip-off.
They agreed that in the current climate of fear, where many people in
western Europe and the US view themselves as targets of a possible
terror attack, airlines were taking no risks.
"There has been continued concern about aviation attacks, going back
to Sep 11, 2001, most recently with a string of transatlantic flight
cancellations at the beginning of this y and end of last year," said
Kevin Rosser, a terrorism expert at Control Risks Group.

@Pakistan kills militant wanted for Musharraf plot
Karachi (Reuters).  Pakistan's security forces have shot dead an Al
Qaeda militant accused of an assassination attempt on Pres Pervez
Musharraf and involvement in the killing of a US journalist.
Info Min Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said Amjad Hussain Farooqi, who had a
price of 2 mn rupees [about $A47,000] on his head, was killed in a
clash in the small S city of Nawabshah, 130 km NE of Karachi.
"Farooqi was killed and 2 or 3 people were arrested after the
encounter," Mr Ahmed told Reuters from Amsterdam, where he was
accompanying Mr Musharraf on an official visit.
He declined to give further details.
Farooqi was alleged to have masterminded an assassination attempt that
Mr Musharraf narrowly escaped last Dec 25, the 2nd on him in 2 wk.
Suicide car bombers attacked his motorcade in Rawalpindi, killing 15
people and wounding 45.
Interior Min Aftab Ahmed Sherpao described the raid as a major success
for the security agencies.
Intel officials have said previously that Farooqi, a suspect in the
2002 murder of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, was also the
alleged mastermind of a bloody suicide bombing on the US consulate in
Karachi in 2002.
Farooqi's brother Javed told Reuters that police had informed the
family of his death.
Pakistani officials say Farooqi, who was in his 30s, was a friend of
Brit-born militant Sheikh Omar, who was sentenced to death for Mr
Pearl's murder.
Residents of Farooqi's village in Punjab province say he joined
militants fighting Indian rule in Kashmir in 1988 and recruited about
200 Pakistanis to fight US forces in Afghanistan in 2001.
Intel officials say he once served as a bodyguard to Maulana Masood
Azhar, a militant linked by India to a suicide attack on the Indian
Parliament in Dec 2001 that brought India and Pakistan to the brink of war.

@US soldier gets 25 y for murder of Iraqi Guardsman
Washington (Reuters).  A US soldier has been sentenced to 25 y in jail
for the murder of an Iraqi Nat'l Guard soldier nr Tikrit in May, the
US military said in a statement.  "Specialist Federico Merida pleaded
guilty to murder and making false official statements during court
martial proceedings," the statement said.  He was also handed a
dishonourable discharge and reduced in rank to private, the statement
said.  In a separate case last wk the US military said 2 soldiers in
Baghdad were under investigation for premeditated murder in the
wrongful deaths of 3 Iraqis. It gave no further details.  The Iraqi
Nat'l Guard is part of security forces being trained by US-led forces
to eventually take control of the country.

@Bigley still alive says brother
Brighton (AFP).  The brother of the Brit hostage held in Iraq said
yesterday he had received info that engineer Kenneth Bigley was still
alive, and said PM Tony's Blair handling of the affair was "the kiss
of death" for the hostage.
"I have received info this evening that Ken is alive," Paul Bigley
told members of Blair's Labour Party at their annual conference in Brighton.
"Help me keep him alive," he said, speaking by telephone from the
Netherlands to a group of Labour members opposed to the Iraq war.
"Mr Blair's silence for the past 10 days is a kiss of death to my
brother," he said.
"Mr Blair, you're doing it the wrong way."
His comments followed a statement a short time earlier by the director
of London's Islamic Observatory which also said the hostage was still alive.
"We have learned, through an Iraqi envoy who told Tawhid wal Jihad
[Unity and Holy War] about our appeal, that Kenneth Bigley is still
alive," Yasser al-Serri told AFP, referring to a plea he issued last
wk for the hostage to be freed.
Unity and Holy War is the name of the group holding Bigley, headed by
alleged Al-Qaeda leader in Iraq, Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi.
Brit's Foreign Office earlier said it could not confirm reports that
Bigley was still alive.
2 envoys from Brit's leading Muslim organisation arrived in Iraq Sat
to try to secure the release of Bigley, who was abducted on Sep 16
along with 2 American colleagues who have since been beheaded.
Earlier Prime Min Blair said false hope should not be raised about the
62-yo engineer.
"There is no point in raising false hopes because of the nature of the
people we're dealing with," Blair said from Brighton.
"We're doing everything we properly and legitimately can."

@Envoys in Iraq on mission to save Brit hostage
Baghdad.  2 members of the Muslim Council of Brit are in Iraq planning
to meet Muslim leaders in Baghdad in an attempt to seek the release of
the Brit hostage Ken Bigley.
But correspondents say the 2 men are unlikely to make contact with his
captors.
Mr Bigley was kidnapped in Baghdad a week-and-a-half ago along with 2
American colleagues who have both been beheaded.
One of the 2 men from the Muslim Council of Brit, Musharraf Hussain,
has cautioned against expecting great hopes from their mission.
"We believe in the power of prayer turning people's heart," he said.
"We can only have that trust and reliance on our God and we believe
that if they have faith in their hearts and the seeds of true
submission to God then there will be some change.
"God can change and miracles do happen."
* False hopes
Brit Prime Min Tony Blair has warned against raising false hopes for
Mr Bigley.
Mr Blair says his 1st reaction is to feel real sympathy for Mr Bigley
and anger at how he is being held.
"The hope, the earnest hope, despite all the difficulties we can do
something, but I just don't know whether we're able to or not," he said.
"And insofar as it's possible to do things, we are doing them. I won't
go into details on that for obvious reasons, but we're doing everything we
properly and legitimately can and I think and hope people understand that."

@Insurgency worsening in Iraq: Powell
[Contradicting PM Allawi, Def Sec Rumsfeld, and Pres Bush].
Washington (AFP).  US Sec of State Colin Powell has warned that
organising Iraqi elections in Jan could prove difficult because of
spiralling violence in the country, where he acknowledged the
insurgency was "getting worse".
The top US military cmdr in the region, General John Abizaid, also
warned that "we will fight our way through elections" in Iraq, and
that he cannot predict that the entire country would be able to vote.
"Yes, it's getting worse," Mr Powell told the US ABC TV network.
"And the reason it's getting worse is that they are determined to
disrupt the election. They do not want the Iraqi people to vote for
their own leaders in a free, democratic election."
"Right now our goal is, and I think it's an achievable goal, is to
have full, free and fair elections across the whole country."
Their remarks stood in sharp contrast to the optimistic scenario
painted by US Pres George W Bush and Iraqi PM Iyad Allawi, who vowed
last wk that elections would go ahead and insisted that "we are
succeeding in Iraq".
Mr Powell told CNN TV program Late Edition that: "There will be
polling stations that are shot at. There will be insurgents who will
still be out there who will try to keep people from voting".
"I think what we have to keep shooting for, and what is achievable, is
to give everybody the opportunity to vote in the upcoming election, to
make the election fully credible, and something that will stand the
test of the internat'l community's examination".
His remarks came after Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told a
congressional committee on Thu "so be it," if unrest prevents
elections from being held in parts of Iraq.
"You have an election that's not quite perfect. Is it better than not
having an election? You bet," he told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Mr Powell said on Sun that "it has to be seen as a comprehensive,
full, free and fair election in order to get the kind of credibility
that we want it to have".
Gen Abizaid said he believed that "elections will occur in the vast
majority of the country".
"I can't predict 100% that all areas will be available for free fair
and peaceful elections," he said on NBC TV program Meet the Press.
"I assume that there will be certain areas of the country that will
have to be fought over in order to have the elections take place."
In an editorial, The NY Times said the mounting insurgency left
Washington and Mr Allawi in a Catch 22.
"The only hope of quelling the insurgency depends on progress toward
democratic govt and the only hope of meaningful elections depends on
greater progress in quelling the insurgency," it said.
"With the original rationales for the Iraq war now discredited and
with a spreading insurgency killing scores of American soldiers and
100s of Iraqi civilians every m, the prospect of holding democratically
legitimate elections in Jan is about the only thing the Bush Admin
could hope for as a sign of eventual success," the newspaper said.
Mr Powell said that an internat'l conference on Iraq could take place
in late Oct or early Nov in a city in the region, possibly Amman or
Cairo, to build support for the country.
Participants could include Iraq's neighbours as well as several
industrialised nations, he said.
"It will be a conference in the region ... so that all of Iraq's
neighbours can sit with Prime Min Allawi and his Cabinet and discuss
why it is in the interest of the whole neighbourhood for there to be a
stable Iraq with an elected govt, resting on the basis of a democratic
system that is no threat to any of its neighbours," Mr Powell said.
Aside from the conference, Mr Powell said talks were under way on securing
the Iraqi-Syrian border, bringing together the US and the 2 neighbours.
"That is happening, and we're calling them tripartite talks on the
border. It's a very porous border. It's not an easy border to control."
"But with additional technical equipment put in place and with
cooperation between the sides, we can do a better job," he said.

@Disbanding Iraqi army was a mistake, says Blair
Brighton (BBC).  The Brit PM, Tony Blair, says it had been a mistake
to disband the Iraqi army completely, after the fall of Saddam
Hussein's regime.
The PM was speaking in Brighton on the eve of the annual conference of
his ruling Labour Party.
Mr Blair rejected claims that the US-led coalition was ill-prepared
after the war, but says at the time there was enormous pressure to act.
"I do accept that there was probably one, as I've said before, one
error that was made, which is that, I think in retrospect, to disband
the Iraqi Army in its entirety and to 'de-Baath-ify', in other words
to remove all elements of the Baath Party from positions of authority
in Iraq was done too quickly," he said.
"I mean simply at the time, of course, there was enormous pressure to
do that."
Mr Blair has also warned against raising false hopes for a Brit
engineer held hostage in Iraq.
Kenneth Bigley, 62, was abducted along with 2 American colleagues who
have since been beheaded.
Mr Blair says his 1st reaction is to feel real sympathy for Mr Bigley
and anger at how he is being held.
"The hope, the earnest hope, despite all the difficulties we can do
something, but I just don't know whether we're able to or not," he said.
"And insofar as it's possible to do things, we are doing them. I won't
go into details on that for obvious reasons, but we're doing
everything we properly and legitimately can and I think and hope
people understand that."

@Iraqi general arrested for aiding insurgents
Baghdad (Reuters).  The US military has arrested the head of the Iraqi
Nat'l Guard in the city of Baquba on suspicion of collaborating with
insurgents.
Lt Gen Talib al-Lahibi headed the Iraqi Nat'l Guard in the violent
Diyala province and commanded 3 battalions before being arrested on Thu.
"Lahibi was detained by multinat'l forces [on] Sep 23 for having
associations with known insurgents," the US military said in a statement.
"Talib is currently in multinat'l forces control."
Lahibi had been appointed to his new post only a wk before US forces
arrested him.
He had been nominated by other snr nat'l guardsmen and then appointed
by the Americans.
His predecessor was gunned down along with his son last m.
Baquba, a mixed Sunni and Shiite town 65 km NE of Baghdad, has been a
hotbed of the insurgency in Iraq.
Iraqi police and the Nat'l Guard operate there while the US military
also maintain a presence.
Lahibi's arrest highlights the problem the US and Iraq face in
building Iraqi security forces capable of creating a stable state, so
that elections can be held in Jan.
The US military has voiced concerns in the past about the
effectiveness of Iraqi security forces when pitted against fellow countrymen.
In Apr, many security forces refused to join the fight against fellow
Iraqis, with some even switching sides and joining the insurgents.

@US troops arrest snr Iraqi cmdr
Baghdad (AP).  Insurgents have exploded 2 car bombs outside an Iraqi
Nat'l Guard compound W of Baghdad, wounding American and Iraqi forces,
and the US military has announced the arrest of a senior Iraqi cmdr
for alleged ties to the insurgency.
The developments underscored the obstacles toward building a strong
Iraqi security force capable of taking over from US troops and
restoring stability to the country.
Militants tried to ram 2 cars loaded with explosives into the base
located in Kharma, a town on the outskirts of the insurgent stronghold
of Fallujah, a US military official said.
The 2 attackers died in the blasts. The number of US and Iraqi
casualties was not immediately clear.
Insurgents have targeted Iraqi security forces because they are seen
as collaborators with the Americans and their allies in the interim govt.
American troops have staged repeated attacks in Fallujah on sites that
the US military says are being used by followers of Jordanian-born
terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
But US troops have not entered Fallujah since the end of a 3-wk siege
in Apr that killed 100s.
Brig-General Talib al-Lahibi, who previously served as an infantry
officer in Saddam Hussein's army, was detained on Thu in the province
of Diyala, NE of Baghdad, the US military said.
Al-Lahibi was the acting head of the nat'l guard for the province,
said Major Neal O'Brien, rep for the Army's 1ID.
The military declined to provide details on the general's suspected
ties to militants waging a 17-m campaign to topple the interim Iraqi
authorities and oust coalition forces from the country.
Violence persisted, as a rocket slammed into a busy Baghdad
neighbourhood, killing at least one person and wounding 8, hospital
officials and witnesses said.
Hours after the attack, another loud blast shook the area nr the Green
Zone, site of the US embassy and the interim Iraqi govt. Smoke rose
above the zone and alert sirens sounded. It was not clear if anything
had been hit.
Meanwhile, an Egyptian diplomat pressed an influential Sunni cleric to
help win the release of 6 Egyptian telecommunications workers abducted
last wk in Iraq.
Diplomat Farouq Mabrouk refused to speak to reporters after his
30-minute meeting with Harith al-Dhari, who heads the Association of
Muslim Scholars, an organisation that has helped win the freedom of
foreign captives.
Gunmen abducted 2 of the Egyptians on Thu in a bold raid on their
firm's Baghdad office -- the latest in a string of kidnappings
targeting engineers working on Iraq's infrastructure. 8 other company
employees, 4 Egyptians and 4 Iraqis, were seized outside of Baghdad on Wed.

@16 killed in Iraq clashes as Powell says situation getting worse
Baghdad (Channelnewsasia/AFP).  At least 16 people were killed in
rebel attacks in Iraq as US Secretary of State Colin Powell warned
that organising promised elections for Jan could prove difficult
because the insurgency was "getting worse".
The arrest of a top nat'l guard cmdr with links to the insurgency
dealt a further blow to a fledgling security apparatus under pressure
to secure Iraq in time for the elections, as Brit admitted dismantling
Sadam Hussein's old army was a mistake.
And as efforts continued by Brit Muslim leaders to secure the release
of kidnapped Briton Kenneth Bigley, his brother said he had received
info that the engineer was alive.
4 Iraqis were killed and 10 wounded in clashes between US marines and
insurgents in the rebel bastion of Ramadi, W of Baghdad, according to
medical sources, although the US military said it had no immediate
reports of any clashes in the area.
A further 10 people were killed in an attack on a convoy of petrol
tankers in Latifiya, another insurgent base immediately S of Baghdad.
Iraqi security sources said a group of attackers sprayed gunfire on
the trucks, setting fire to all 5 and sparking a fierce firefight with
nat'l guardsmen escorting the convoy.
In further unrest, one Iraqi was killed when a mortar round ploughed
into a busy shopping district of Baghdad and a farmer was killed in an
exchange of fire N of Baghdad.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell acknowledged that the poll
timetable could be difficult because of what he described as a
worsening insurgency.
"And the reason it's getting worse is that they are determined to
disrupt the election. They do not want the Iraqi people to vote for
their own leaders in a free, democratic elections.
"There will be polling stations that are shot at. There will be
insurgents who will still be out there who will try to keep people
from voting," Powell told CNN.
His remarks contrasted with the rosy picture of growing stability in
Iraq painted by interim PM Iyad Allawi during his visit to Washington
last wk to address the US Congress and meet Pres George W Bush.
The fledgling Iraqi security forces -- long a target of suspicion from
US-led troops -- suffered a fresh blow to their credibility as the US
military announced it had detained a senior nat'l guard cmdr for
eastern Iraq on suspicion of links with insurgents.
The officer, a former general in Saddam's army, was one of the most
snr Iraqi security personnel detained for alleged involvement in
anti-coalition attacks.
The coalition has been struggling to recruit, fund and train a
credible force capable of relieving US-led troops and Brit PM Tony
Blair acknowledged for the 1st time in an interview Sun that
disbanding the old army completely might have been a mistake.
"I do accept that there was probably one error that was made, which is
that, in retrospect, I think to disband the Iraqi army in its entirety
and to ... remove all elements of the Baath party from positions of
authority in Iraq, was done too quickly," Blair told the BBC.
Partly under pressure from exiled opp'n parties, one of the 1st moves
of the coalition after the March 2003 invasion was to disband Saddam's
army and undertake a vast "de-Baathification" operation.
Yet the move pushed many experienced military officers into the arms
of insurgent groups that are now posing the most serious challenge to
the Iraqi govt's authority and to the organisation of elections in Jan.
As Brit Muslim leaders stepped up efforts to secure captured Briton
Bigley's release, his brother said he had received info he was still
alive, and said Prime Min Tony's Blair handling of the affair was "the
kiss of death" for the hostage.
"I have received info this evening that Ken is alive," Paul Bigley
told members of Blair's Labour party at their annual conference in Brighton.
"Help me keep him alive," he said, speaking by telephone from the
Netherlands to a group of Labour members opposed to the Iraq war.
"Mr Blair's silence for the past 10 days is a kiss of death to my
brother," he said. "Mr Blair, you're doing it the wrong way."
His comments followed a statement a short time earlier by the director
of London's Islamic Observatory which also said the hostage was still alive.
"We have learned, through an Iraqi envoy who told Tawhid wal Jihad
[Unity and Holy War] about our appeal, that Kenneth Bigley is still
alive," Yasser al-Serri told AFP, referring to a plea he issued last
wk for the hostage to be freed.
Unity and Holy War is the name of the group holding Bigley, headed by
alleged Al-Qaeda leader in Iraq Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi.
Brit Muslim leaders seeking Bigley's release meanwhile launched an
appeal comparing the hostage Briton's plight to that of civilians in
Fallujah, where US air strikes on Sat left 15 dead, including women
and children.
"We are appealing to those holding him captive to have a rethink," a
tearful Daoud Abdullah, assistant secretary general of the Muslim
Council of Brit told reporters in Baghdad.
"It is un-Islamic to ask someone to bear the sins of another, whatever
mistakes, errors, sins, crimes that the Brit govt committed and in
this sense Mr Bigley is a victim as much as civilians in Fallujah are
victims and we convey our pain about what we see on the television screens."

@More killed in Iraq attacks
Baghdad.  Reports from Iraq say 10 people have been killed and 26
wounded in an attack on a convoy of petrol tankers in the town of
Latifiya, S of Baghdad.  The head of the general hospital in the city
of Hilla, 100 km S of the capital, says he has received 3 dead
and 23 wounded.  Doctors at a 2nd hospital in the area say 6 dead
bodies and 3 wounded have been brought in.  There have also been more
US air strikes on the town of Fallujah, with at least 7 people killed
on top of the 8 who died in raids the day before.  The US military says
it has been targeting insurgents loyal to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in the city.

@US continues Fallujah strikes
Fallujah (AFP).  United States air strikes in Fallujah have left 15
dead while an insurgent attack in another troubled Sunni town has
killed 10 more, as Brit and Egypt stepped up efforts to secure the
release of hostages in Iraq.
The latest air strike targeted what cmdrs said was a meeting place for
militants of suspected Al Qaeda operative Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi's
Tawhid and Jihad group, which is holding Briton Kenneth Bigley hostage.
Medics in the town, W of Baghdad, said women and children were among
the casualties.
2 hospitals in the city reported receiving 8 dead and 22 wounded,
while residents said many victims remained under the rubble.
"We don't target innocent civilians but there's always a chance the
Zarqawi network or other criminal elements use facilities or weapons
storage sites that are in close proximity to Iraqi people," a senior
US military official said.
An earlier US air strike on another alleged hide-out killed 7 Iraqis,
again including women and children, according to medics.
Following the air strikes, twin car bombings struck US and Iraqi
security forces E of Fallujah, causing casualties of both nat'lities,
a US cmdr said.
No further details were immediately available.

@Iran calls for Europeans to negotiate nuclear standoff
Tehran (AFP).  Iran said it was not planning to hold any negotiations
with the United States over its nuclear program, and called on the
Europeans to avoid using "threatening language" in response to the standoff.
"No negotiations with the Americans are on the agenda, but we call on
the Europeans to discuss with us," foreign ministry rep Hamid Reza
Asefi told reporters.
"The Europeans should negotiate and not use threatening language
against us, because this is pointless," he added.
"We have to find a bridge between our legitimate rights and the
concerns of the Europeans."
Iran is under threat of being hauled before the UN Sec Council amid
widespread suspicions it is seeking the capacity to develop nuclear
weapons.
In a resolution passed on Sep 18, the Internat'l Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) called on Iran to halt its uranium enrichment-related
activities, a part of the nuclear fuel cycle that can be directed to
both energy and weapons purposes.
Nuclear fuel cycle work is permitted under the Non-Proliferation
Treaty if it is for peaceful purposes, but the IAEA wants such
activities stopped pending the completion of its more than 18-mo
investigation.
The 3 main European powers which have been spear-heading talks with
Iran -- Brit, France and Germany -- and want Iran to give up its
fuel cycle work altogether.
Iran suspended enrichment itself last year, but has continued to
advance on other parts of the fuel cycle and insists on its "right" to
resume enrichment at any time.

@Israel blamed as Hamas militant killed in Syria
Damascus (BBC/AFP).  A leading member of the militant group Hamas has
been killed in the Syrian capital Damascus.
The car bomb exploded in the al-Hakleh neighbourhood in S Damascas, nr
the Palestinian camp of Yarmouk.
The explosion killed Izz el-Deen al-Sheikh Khalil, a leader of the
radical Palestinian group Hamas.
Mr Khalil was driving his car when the explosion took place.
It is still unclear what caused the blast, but the victim's car has
reportedly been completely destroyed.
Mr Khalil used to work for Hamas in the Gaza Strip, but was expelled
by Israel several y ago.
A rep for Hamas in Gaza said that the car bomb was a cowardly crime by
the Zionist Mossad, referring to Israel's intel agency.
"We blame Mossad for putting a bomb in his car," Mushir al-Masri, a
rep for Hamas, told AFP in Gaza City.
Israel has frequently threatened to strike Hamas militants at home and
abroad, including Damascus, where a number of the movement's senior
officials are based.
Israeli officials and the army said they had no info about the strike,
although a snr source close to PM Ariel Sharon said: "It is obvious
that Damascus is little more than a sanctuary for terrorists."
Syria's Interior Ministry said 3 passers-by had also been wounded in
the blast.

@Hamas vows revenge after leader's death
Jerusalem (ABC, Jane Hutcheon & Mark Willacy).  Islamic militant group
Hamas has vowed revenge following the assassination of one of its
leaders in the Syrian capital Damascus.
Izz el-Deen al-Sheikh Khalil, 40, was a snr figure in the military
wing of Hamas and was killed as he turned the keys in his car's ignition.
3 pedestrians were also wounded in the blast which gutted the front of the car.
Israel deported Mr Khalil from Gaza 12 y ago and he has been based in
Damascus together with other snr Hamas figures, including the group's
leader Khaled Meshal.
It is understood the leadership has come under increasing pressure in
recent wks, with Mr Meshal currently in Egypt in the wake of a the
twin suicide bombing in the Israeli city of Be-er Sheva last m.
Arabic media have reported that Israel's internat'l intel agency
Mossad recently received info on the Hamas leadership from an Arab
state, including details of their residence, past times and favourite food.
However, the Israeli Govt is refusing to respond to claims that it is
behind the killing.
Israel has long accused the Syrian regime of harbouring Palestinian
militant groups, and after a double suicide bombing last m, Israel
vowed to hit Hamas leaders wherever they were, including Damascus.
Meanwhile, a Hamas rep in Lebanon has denied the leadership had taken
the decision to strike Israeli interests abroad following the assassination.
The militant group accuses Israel of trying to broaden the conflict by
targeting leaders beyond the Palestinian Territories.
Israel in turn claims Hamas's strategic planning is now being almost
totally conducted in Damascus.
There has been no official reaction in Syria to the attack.

@Indonesia police defend mine pollution arrests
Jakarta (Reuters).  Indonesian police have defended the detention of 5
employees, including one Aussie, of a subsidiary of the US' Newmont
Mining Corporation over pollution accusations, but did not rule out
releasing them on certain conditions.
The employees have been detained at police HQ in the capital, Jakarta,
for several days over accusations the unit's gold mine, PT Newmont
Minahasa Raya, polluted a bay in the N Sulawesi province and people
had become ill.
The US has criticised the detention saying there was no need to hold
the officials as they had fully cooperated and the detention could
further harm the already weak investment climate in Indonesia.
Those detained are American Bill Long, the Minahasa site manager,
Aussie Phil Turner, manager for production and maintenance at the
mine, and 3 Indonesian staff.
"There is enough preliminary evidence for us to detain them. Whether
they are guilty or not, it is the court that decides, not the police,"
head of the nat'l police criminal investigation dept, Suyitno Landung,
told Reuters.
He declined to elaborate on the evidence.
None of those detained have been charged.
Police have said Newmont had been accused of violating environmental
regulations that carry jail terms of up to 10 y for pollution.
That rises to 15 y if people are proven to have died or become
seriously ill as a result.
Under Indonesian law, the police can hold suspects for up to 20 days
without charges.
"It is possible if they are, for example, cooperative, for their
families to ask for the detention to be deferred. Yes, we can defer
the detention, or change it into house or city detention," Mr Landung said.
Denver-based Newmont, the world's largest gold miner, has strenuously
denied the accusations made by villagers in the province.
Media reports this m said a govt panel reported on Aug 31 that Newmont
had illegally disposed of mine waste laced with arsenic and mercury
into Buyat Bay nr the mine site.
In a statement this m, Newmont said it had regularly reported
results of its environmental reports on the area adjacent to the mine,
which has ceased operations, to the Govt.
The company said the environment ministry had "consistently
maintained" Buyat Bay was not polluted.

@China's Communist Party attacks itself
Beijing (AP).  China's Communist Party says some of its leaders lack
integrity and competence and the party's "life and death" could hang
in the balance.
The urgent tone of the appeal, in a report by the party's Central
Committee, reflects the leadership's fear that rising anger at rampant
corruption could undermine public acceptance of communist rule.
The report was issued after a party meeting this m that sealed
Pres Hu Jintao's leadership by appointing him head of China's
military, succeeding former leader Jiang Zemin.
It acknowledged that corruption is "quite serious" despite a multi-y
crackdown in which 1000s of officials have been punished, and some executed.
The report called on party members to "develop a stronger sense of
crisis" about reform, warning that communist rule "will not remain
forever if the party does nothing to safeguard it," the official
Xinhua News Agency quoted the report as saying.
The party's ability to govern has "a bearing on the success of China's
socialist cause, the future and destiny of the Chinese nation [and]
the life and death of the party," the report said.
It affirmed the party's commitment to capitalist-style reforms that
have drastically raised Chinese living standards, saying it would
"take economic development as the top priority."
After insisting for decades that it was infallible, the 68 mn-member
party has tried in recent y to mollify public frustration by talking
openly about China's problems and its struggle with corruption and
other failings.
But even by that standard, the statement Sun was sweeping in its
criticism of party members.
"Some leading party members don't have a strong sense of
responsibility, personal integrity, a down-to-earth style of work or a
close connection with the general public," it said.
Some lack "the competence to deal with complicated problems," it said.
The sections of the 36-page report cited by Xinhua didn't say how the
party would improve its ability to govern.
But Hu, party leader since 2002, has made increased responsiveness to
public needs a key theme of his rule. He has called repeatedly for
officials to master skills needed to manage wrenching social and
economic change.
Many outsiders cite the communist monopoly on power as the root of
many of China's entrenched problems of corruption, official
incompetence and enduring rural poverty.
Although the report called for expanded "socialist democracy," it gave
no indication the party was relenting in its opp'n to multi-party democracy.

@Nauru broke after US loan: minister
Nauru (AAP).  The tiny Pacific nation of Nauru was dealt an
"unconscionable" loan from a major US financing company and is now
basically broke, its govt says.
Emergency re-financing deals by Aussie firms have also failed and
receivers now look set to sell the island's prized assets, a range of
top-level sources told Chris Masters of the ABC's 4 Corners program.
"The govt is basically broke," the island's health minister Kieren
Keke told the program, to be aired Mon night.
Residents on the island, once considered among of the world's
wealthiest people because of hefty phosphate royalties, now live worse
than the roughly 100 asylum seekers in detention centres there under
the Aussie govt's controversial Pacific solution.
"The facilities they provide in those centres are better than we can
provide for our own people," said the nation's finance minister, David Adeang.
"One thing's for certain. They eat better than us.
For a lot of us we are going by with one meal a day."
The island's dire economic status comes despite the $29 mn believed to
have been paid by the Aussie govt to house asylum seekers in 2001.
3 y earlier, according to 4 Corners, the Nauru govt had sought to pay
a mounting debt by taking out a massive loan with the giant General
Electric Corporation.
As collateral, Nauru put up its impressive property portfolio, which
included several hotels in MEL and SYD and a range of shopping centres.
The loan was due to be repaid in full at the beginning of this y.
As well as a $1 mn management fee and 9% interest, according
to the program, there was a clause giving GE a bonus of $18 mn for its
share of the appreciation in property value.
"It was an unconscionable clause," Mr Adeang said.
The island's former finance minister, Aloysius Amwano, and its former
minister for economic development, Remy Namaduk, also described the GE
clause as unconscionable.
Once it became unlikely the loan could be repaid, Nauru hired
SYD-based lending broker Business AUS Capital Finance (BACF) to
refinance the GE facility.
But when the govt changed, the BACF deal was re-examined by the new
finance minister, Fabian Ribauw.

@Multiplex unveils $bn Ronin bid
Sydney.  Property developer Multiplex has unveiled a $1.3 bn bid for
Ronin Property Group.  Multiplex says the merger with the office
building owner is important for growth and diversity.  If the deal
goes ahead the new entity will become the 4th largest property trust
listed on the Aussie Stock Exchange.  It is the latest in a series of
merger proposals involving property trusts in AUS.

@Govt to abolish fisheries tariff protection
Sydney.  Fed Fisheries Min Ian McDonald has reaffirmed the Fed Govt's
commitment to abolishing tariff protection for the fishing and
aquaculture industries.  Opening the Australasian Aquaculture
conference in SYD today, the Min said the industry was the fastest
growing employer of all primary industries and has played a part in
reducing unemployment, especially in regional AUS.  Sen McDonald told
delegates banning imports is not the way forward for a country which
relies on exports.  "If we move away from our long-held policy on
tariff abolition, we will not only suffer retaliation in the global
markets but we'll also loose all credibility in the very important
trade negations we have to be involved in," he said.

@Tas water contamination concerns mount
Hobart. A Tasn cancer specialist says the forestry sector should
reduce its level of chemical spraying until more info about its
effects is known.  The call comes amid growing fears that St Helens'
water supply is being contaminated by aerial spraying and people are
becoming sick.  Professor Ray Lowenthal says the Govt must investigate
the extent of water contamination at St Helens, and if a disease
cluster is forming.  "Spraying should be minimised, or if it can't be
totally stopped, until the investigations are carried out," he said.
Greens Sen Bob Brown says a fed judicial inquiry is needed.  "Ask the
people who's health is suffering, ask the people whose neighbourhoods
are being cut down," he said.  The Govt is assuring residents that
they will be advised of any irregularity.

@Sweden to return Indigenous remains
Sydney.  Aboriginal elders from W AUS, Qld, NSW and Vic will leave for
Sweden today to collect ancestral remains removed a century ago.  The
skeleton parts were removed by Swedish anthropologist Eric Mjoberg in
1910 and have been in storage at the country's museums.  It was not
until a book was published by leading anthropologist Dr Claes Hellgern
that the story was exposed.  Dr Hellgern says he is pleased that his
writing has helped to right the wrongs of the past.  "Usually when you
write a book, nothing much comes out of it," he said.  "I mean you're
glad the book [is] finished, but it's very seldom that it gets this
kind of result.  "The reaction, well there was a lot about it here in
Swedish newspapers and radio and TV actually. People have become a lot
more aware of the situation of Aboriginals around the world.  "That
this is very important for the Aboriginals and also for us I believe,
I mean we have to redress things."

@Telstra confirms $750 mn share buy-back
Telstra shareholders could receive up to $4.65 per share.
Sydney.  Telecommunications giant Telstra has announced details of a
$750 mn share buy-back, part of a program to return $1.5 bn a y to
shareholders for the next 3 y.  Shareholders wanting to participate
can expect to receive a price between $4.05 and $4.65 per share,
depending on demand.  Of that, $1.50 will be a capital component,
while the rest will be a tax effective, fully franked dividend.
Telstra's chief financial officer John Stanhope says the off-market
buy-back was intended to reward and benefit all shareholders, whether
or not they elect to participate.  "While this buy-back is similar to
Telstras 2003 buy-back, there are some differences that shareholders
should be aware of including the issue of a new Tax Determination
under which the capital loss that may arise from selling shares in the
buy-back may be reduced," Mr Stanhope said.  Booklets outlining all
details will be sent to Telstra's 1.7 mn shareholders in mid-Oct and
the tender will close on Nov 12.  The final buy-back price will be
announced on Nov 15, the company said.  Telstra is 51% owned by the
Fed Govt.

@Anti-terrorism ads draw Latham's concern
Canberra.  Fed Opp'n Leader Mark Latham says he believes the Govt and
not the Aussie Fed Police (AFP) asked for new anti-terrorism ads to
air in the next couple of wks.
PM John Howard says the decision on the advertisements is being driven
by advice from the Fed Police after the Jakarta bombing.
Labor says it is worried about the timing of the campaign so close to
the election.
The AFP will not reveal what advice has been given to the Govt about
the new ads, but Mr Latham says after his briefings with the police he
has no doubt about where the idea came from.
"My understanding is that the idea for this came out of the Prime
Min's own dept," he said.
"Labor has looked at it and thought about it and said that the
campaign can go ahead but we don't see it as a new campaign, it's a
continuation of the previous one.
"That's the way in which it should be presented and structured in
terms of media placements for the Aussie people to look at."

@SA whiting laws ineffective, says Opp'n
Adelaide.  It is claimed the SA Govt's new whiting regulations will do
nothing to save fish stocks, because many people continue to break the
law.  After a fisheries operation this m found 25% of
recreational fishers are taking blue swimmer crabs illegally, the
Opp'n says it is probably the case for other species as well, such as
King George Whiting.  Shadow Fisheries rep, Caroline Schaeffer, says
new whiting catch limits are futile, because they will still be
ignored by those truly responsible for threatening fish stocks.  "Why
Min McEwen, why doesn't he put on a few more, or a lot more compliance
officers so that we can actually stop the black market and stop the
illegal trade before we start punishing the genuine people, both
recreational and commercial who try to do the right thing?" she said.

@Voting begins in Top End's vast electorate
Ther Alis.  Voters in the expansive N Territory electorate of Lingiari
have this morning been the 1st to cast their vote in the fed election.
Despite early voting other Lingiari constituents will also be the last
to cast their votes.  Mobile polling got underway in the Territory's
remote areas this morning.  Voters in the tiny central Aussie
communities of Alyuen N of Alice Springs and Wallace Rockhole to the W
were among the first.  Lingiari is held by Labor's Warren Snowdon by
5.3%.  The seat is AUS's 2nd largest electorate and is stretched over
3 time zones.  It takes in 1.3 mn square km of the N Territory outside
Darwin and Palmerston.  Lingiari includes the Indian Ocean Territories
of Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands.  They will be the last to
vote on election night, up to 1-and-1/2 hr after votes are cast in Perth.

@Costello ignites leadership speculation
Canberra (AAP).  Treasurer Peter Costello prompted renewed speculation
over Liberal Party leadership tensions when he admitted longing to
spend more time with his teenage children.
Mr Costello also brushed off questions about his long-term ambitions,
saying only that he had displayed loyalty during his 10 y as deputy
leader of the Liberal Party.
It prompted Labor treasury rep Simon Crean to argue Mr Costello was
eyeing off PM John Howard's job.
The treasurer's job is often considered the hardest in fed politics,
requiring long hrs away in CBR and without the advantage of the PM who
can live with his family in the Lodge.
Labor is using some of its election campaign advertising to focus on a
possible hand-over from Mr Howard to Mr Costello should the coalition
be returned at the Oct 9 election.
Mr Howard has failed to commit himself to fully serving out another
full term, while Mr Costello has constantly had to hose down
speculation about his longer term ambitions.
In a reflective mood, Mr Costello said he would discuss a range of
issues when the family met around the Christmas dinner table later this y.
"They're probably wondering whether I ever come home and I would like
to see them, I'd like to spend some time with them," he told the 7 network.
"You know I've got 3 kids, they're growing up, the teenage kids are
going through the end of school, I'd like to spend some time with them.
"I feel I probably haven't spent enough time with them and if I get
the opportunity to do that, sure we'll be talking about family things,
as you can imagine."
Mr Costello, who opened the coalition campaign launch in Bris, said
all his actions in recent ys showed him to be loyal to the Liberal Party.
"I thought my record actually was a record of loyalty to the Liberal
Party and its leadership over 8 and a half years," he said.
"I would say over the last 8-and-1/2 y, the period I've been
deputy leader over 10 y, the Liberal Party has been as stable as its
ever been."
But Mr Crean said the comments displayed Mr Costello's continuing
desire to be PM.
"I think it's a clear indication he still wants the leadership, and
he's sending out a very strong signal," he told ABC TV.

@Howard begins $6 bn sales pitch
Big spender: John Howard pitches for 4th term.
Canberra.  As the Howard Govt begins its pre-election spending spree
sales pitch, it has received approval from business groups, but been
slammed by advocates for low-income earners and has failed to convince
many community organisations.
Prime Min John Howard is in Bris selling his new $multi-bn package of
initiatives unveiled at the Coalition's campaign launch.
The PM goes into the final wk of the campaign with a promise to spend $6 bn
on schools, after hrs GP services, families, small business and the aged.
Mr Howard has told Channel 9 that his Govt can afford the big spending
promises.
"It is because we have run a strong economy and kept the Budget in
surplus and we are able to afford sensible, targeted initiatives
designed to address problems," he said.
Labor has described the additional spending as reckless and a blatant
bid to buy votes.
Mr Howard has promised to spend $2 bn on families, including a 30 per
cent rebate on out-of-pocket child care expenses, $1 bn on upgrading
school classrooms and libraries, over $1 bn to help small business,
nearly $400 mn to encourage GPs to work after hrs and $900 mn for
technical education.
Labor leader Mark Latham accuses the Coalition of being irresponsible.
"This is the mother of all clearance sales," he said.
"Everything goes all in a last ditch attempt to buy votes, so it's a
reckless spending spree. It's not economic policy for the nation, it's
not good for the nation, it's all about politics."
Mr Latham argues the Coalition spending will bite into the budget
surplus and that that will put upward pressure on interest rates.
* Cheers and jeers
Andrew McCallum from the Aussie Council of Social Services is not
convinced by the package.
"On 1st blush I can't see a lot for low income earners," he said.
But Peter Hendy from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry is impressed.
"Any initiative that will reduce the tax burden or simplify the tax
system will be welcomed by small business," he said.
Sidelining states in a bn dollar handout to upgrade schools has
outraged Sharryn Brownlee from the Parents and Citizens Association.
"Enough of this politicking and to stop the argy bargy between the fed
and state govts," she said.
Similarly, Judith Bundy from the Council of State Schools Organisation
said: "I'd suggest that this would require a larger bureaucracy in CBR
to be delivering this."
Also, the Aussie Education Union does not like new technical colleges
with performance based contracts for teachers, and Catholic Health AUS
says the Coalition's promises do nothing to address public hospital
waiting lists.
The Aussie Medical Association's Mukesh Haikerwal prefers the
Coalition's after hrs GP incentives to Labor's plan.
"There is a bit of re-jigging that could be done with the Labor
package to make it more equitable.
"This Govt package is a significant improvement on what currently
exists in the system," he said.
Morrie Mifsud from the Combined Pensioners and Superannuant's
Association says there should have been more for Medicare.
"They'd do much better addressing that question and making our
Medicare universal once again."
Joanne Schofield from the Childcare Union says a 30% tax rebate has a downside.
"It could have the effect of fuelling further increases in fees," she said.
The Aussie Families Association wanted more than the promised $2 bn
for families.

@Labor slams 'crazy John's end of career clearance sale'
Canberra.  The Fed Opp'n has accused Prime Min John Howard of
attempting to play Santa Claus on the eve of the election, with a
reckless spending spree.
Mr Howard says his $6 bn plan, unveiled at the Coalition campaign
launch yesterday, is fully costed.
Mr Howard says many of the plans for small business, families, health
and education are tax breaks, not spending.
He says the Govt's good economic management has delivered surpluses,
making the plan affordable.
Labor families rep Wayne Swan says the promises will do nothing for
the long-term benefit of AUS.
"There's no doubt that this is crazy John's end of career clearance
sale and this Govt will say anything, do anything and spend any amount
of money to try and bribe the electorate," he said.
"I don't believe the electorate will be bribed by this Govt.
These spending proposals are not credible nor are they enduring and
what they will do is put pressure upwards on interest rates.
"We won't be raiding future surpluses to the tune of $12 bn like Mr
Howard," Mr Swan said.
Mr Swan recalled a warning by Treasurer Peter Costello that this type
of spending was guaranteed to put upward pressure on interest rates.
"We've got responsible, fully-costed, fully-funded long-term plans,
not short-term political fixes like Mr Howard," Mr Swan said.
"I think Mr Howard ought to be certified after his performance this morning
claiming that large sections of his spending yesterday weren't spending.
"This Prime Min is spending like a drunken sailor. He's taken a vacuum
cleaner down to the Treasury and he's spraying it out across the
marginal electorates of AUS, but none of it is going to have a
long-term effect of easing the financial squeeze on Aussie families."
Responding to the childcare initiatives announced by the Govt, Mr Swan
said it another short-term political fix.
"His proposal will deliver to the average family only about $15 a
week, so if you took a family on $55,000 a y, compare that to
Labor's proposal for those families without better family payment
plan, where they would get about $120 a week," Mr Swan said.
"We are going to address in a real way affordability and accessibility
in childcare.
"But buyer beware with John Howard, it looks like with yesterday's
announcement that people will not be able to access this money on a
weekly or fortnightly basis. It's only going to be available at the
end of the y, so it's not going to ease immediately the
affordability crisis that so many families are facing."
Mr Howard says everything in the package is within the Govt's means.
"When all of our election commitments are fully costed, added up and
everything, the surpluses we will project will be larger than the
surpluses that were announced at the time of the May Budget," he said.
"This is affordable, it's the dividend of good economic management,
unlike Labor which ran 5 deficits in its last 5 budgets."

@Howard defends $6 bn spending plan
Canberra (AAP).  PM John Howard is selling his $6 bn spending
promises, defending his decision to bite into the budget surplus and
bypass the states on some of his election pledges.
Mr Howard made multi-bn promises on schools, health, child care and
small business at the official launch of the coalition's re-election
campaign, leading the opp'n to accuse him of putting pressure on
interest rates with his unfunded pledges.
But Mr Howard said that even with the spending, the budget would still
be in bigger surplus than it was at the start of the election campaign
following the pre-election fiscal outlook which found a bigger surplus
than forecast.
"After our commitments have been made in this election campaign, the
surpluses for this y and the next 3 y will be larger than we announced
at election time," he told the 9 Network's Today show.
Mr Howard accused Labor of not submitting its tax and family policy to
Treasury for costing so that any funding holes were not spotted until
the last minute.
"My suspicion is they're holding that back to as late as possible so
that by the time the verdict of Treasury comes out, it will be so
close to the election that if it's an adverse verdict it won't have
any impact at all," he said.
Mr Howard said the coalition's spending promises were specifically
targeted at areas of real need, particularly the plan to set up a
network of technical high schools to train students towards a trade to
tackle the skills shortage.
"These are the sort of issues that must be tackled immediately if we
are to maintain the momentum of our strong economic growth over the
past few years," he said.
Opp'n Leader Mark Latham could never have made the promises as Labor
had run up a cumulative budget deficit of $70 bn over its last 5 y in
office in the 1990s, Mr Howard said.
"It is because we have run a strong economy and we've kept the budget
in surplus that we've delivered the lowest interest rates in 30 y and
we are able to afford sensible, targeted initiatives designed to
address problems," he said.

@Coalition to boost access to after-hrs doctors
Brisbane.  A re-elected Coalition Govt would spend nearly $400 mn on
improved access to after-hrs doctors.  Prime Min John Howard has told
the Coalition official election launch in Bris the Govt would put more
than $72 mn over 4 y towards after-hrs GP clinics.  The money would
be used for already established clinics, and would include start up
funds for new services.  Mr Howard says the Govt would also spend $321
mn encouraging doctors to provide after hrs services, with a new $10
loading.  "Labor's preferred solution is after-hrs GP clinics
co-located with public hospitals but this is a partial and limited
approach," Mr Howard said.  "The Coalition's after-hrs plan will
encourage a range of models including GP cooperatives, mobile medical
locum services and dedicated freestanding after-hrs clinics."

@Latham to release ALP child care policy
Sydney.  Fed Opp'n Leader Mark Latham says he will release Labor's
plan for child care in Perth today.  Prime Min John Howard announced
his plans for a 30% rebate on out of pocket child care expenses when
he launched the Coalition's election campaign yesterday.  But Mr
Latham says the Govt is simply throwing money at the problem for
short-term political gain.  Mr Latham has told S Cross Radio he will
deliver a more comprehensive policy.  "It is a genuine plan for the
future, not just tossing money at the sector," he said.  "It's
actually building up quality, seeing child care as more than child
minding, it's got to be early childhood development so we've got money
for education programs, for quality for access.  "I mean the rebate Mr
Howard's put forward is no use to people if they can't find a place
and there's a significant shortfall of long day care places in AUS."

@Stuttle trial to begin in Bundaberg
Bundy.  The trial of a man charged with the murder of Brit backpacker
Caroline Stuttle begins in Bundaberg, in SE Qld, today.  Ian Douglas
Previte, 32, was charged with the murder and robbery of the 19-yo
after a 10 m police investigation.  Her body was found under the
Burnett River traffic bridge in Apr 2002.  Ms Stuttle's father Alan,
brother Richard, travelling companion Sarah Holiday and former
boyfriend Ian Nelson will attend the trial in the Supreme Court in
Bundaberg.  Today the prosecution will give a detailed account of the
matter and call a Bundaberg pathologist and scientific police to give
evidence.  Later this wk the jury will inspect the area where Ms
Stuttle's body was found.  Up to 80 witnesses could be called during
the trial, which is expected to last 3 wk.

@Accused pleads not guilty in backpacker murder case
The Supreme Court trial of a man charged with the murder of a Brit
backpacker has begun in Bundaberg, in SE Qld.
Bundy.  The body of 19-yo Caroline Stuttle was found under a bridge in
Bundaberg in Apr 2002.  This morning, 32-yo Ian Douglas Previte
pleaded not guilty to robbing and murdering her.  Miss Stuttle's
brother Richard is attending the trial, along with nat'l and
internat'l media.  Her father Alan will arrive next wk.  Outside the
courthouse, Richard Stuttle said he was nervous about the trial.  "We
miss her, every day it gets a little easier but it's still very, very
difficult most days," he said.  "We just hope now that this can draw a
line under it and we can put our memories to rest."  Police are
providing extra security outside the courtroom.  The trial has been
adjourned until this afternoon while legal matters are discussed.
More than 80 witnesses will be called over the next 3 wk.

@Police officers to stand trial on drugs charges
Melbourne.  The 4 pleaded not guilty and were released on bail.  3 MEL
police officers and a former colleague have been ordered to stand
trial on drugs and money laundering charges.  Detective Snr Constable
Ian Ferguson, Detective Snr Constable Glen Sadler and former Detective
Sgt Steven Cox are facing numerous drugs charges including trafficking
heroin.  It is alleged the suspended officers conspired with a police
informer to traffic 10 kgs of heroin and that Ferguson's wife, Senior
Constable Joanne Ferguson, laundered the proceeds of the crime.  The
MEL Magistrates Court has ordered them to stand trial in the Supreme
Court.  Magistrate Lisa Hannon dismissed drugs charges against Mrs
Ferguson, leaving her to face only the money laundering counts.  It is
alleged money was put into bank accounts which were in her maiden name
and a BMW and properties were also registered to her.  All 4 have
pleaded not guilty and have been released on bail.

@Merger tipped for Earth Sanctuaries as head retires
Earth Sanctuaries campaigns for endangered wildlife.
Melbourne.  The founder of Earth Sanctuaries, the world's 1st publicly
listed conservation company, has announced his retirement.
John Wamsley founded Earth Sanctuaries 16 y ago and it was floated on
the stock market in 2000.
A shareholder meeting in Nov will vote to merge with a Vicn
conservation group, ES Link.
Dr Wamsley says Earth Sanctuaries will remain viable with the merger
and continue his vision of protecting and nurturing endangered wildlife.
"When we started nobody knew what bilbies and bettongs and woylies
were, and now they learn about it at school, and we were at the
forefront of that," he said.
"It was a privilege to be able to do it.
"I was fortunate enough to be able to do something with my life and I
am very honoured to have been able to do it."
Dr Wamsley says the merger is expected to be supported by
shareholders, which would involve a cash deal totalling almost $2 mn.
"I think it's the best direction," he said.
"I think that you've got to change a bit as you go on, you can only do
what you can do, and I think it's the best direction and I support it
very strongly.
"I look forward to more happening in that world."

@Greens call for aerial spraying inquiry
Greens leader Bob Brown has renewed a call for a royal commission into
Tasn forestry operations.
Hobart.  As pressure mounts on the Tasn Govt to intervene, Sen Brown
says any inquiry must be done by the Fed Govt.
More claims were raised yesterday that chemical spraying by Gunns over
water catchments at St Helens was contaminating the town's water
supply and could be a public health risk.
Sen Brown says the suggestion again demonstrates the Regional Forest
Agreement (RFA) is flawed.
"It's a Labor-Liberal outcome where 7 y later we're finding no
control, poisoning of waterways, a terrible public health dilemma, yet
another negative spin-off from this industry in Tas that absolutely
needs fed intervention, should've happened a long time ago," he said.
State Govt tests conducted in July found no trace of pesticides or
herbicides.
In a statement, the Tasn Govt says a committee was set up 4 wk ago
to examine the way chemicals impact on the environment.
The statement says a discussion paper will be put together and sent to
"stake-holders and interested parties".
Liberal Sen Bill Heffernan has called for more comprehensive testing
of water catchments in Tas to rule out chemical contamination.
Sen Heffernan says current tests do not reveal the effects of exposure
to small amounts of chemicals over time.
"The testing regime that's being used has difficulty in identifying
chemicals at a homoeopathic level, down to the level where it slowly
poisons you rather than taking a gut full of poison, which you're
inclined to sick up," he said.
"It'll kill you slowly. I'm not sure that the testing regime enables
them to pick up levels of poison at those levels."

@Desperate Haitians loot aid
Gonaives, Haiti (AP).  UN peacekeepers fired into the air to try to
keep back crowds of hungry flood victims who mobbed and looted trucks
arriving with aid shipments one wk after devastating floods that left
a deepening humanitarian crisis.
The death toll rose on Sat to an estimated 1,500, with many more
missing and presumed dead.
One boy was struck and killed by a relief truck on Sat as crowds
pressed up against the gates of a warehouse storing food aid, said
Roseline Corvil, an official of the aid agency CARE Internat'l.
The boy, believed to be 13, was hit as the driver attempted to
leave. "I presume that he did not see the child," Corvil said.
Peacekeepers were bringing in reinforcements to try to keep order in
the NW city of Gonaives, where the floods brought by Tropical Storm
Jeanne took their deadliest toll.
Interim PM Gerard Latortue estimated more than 1,500 dead, said Paul
Magloire, an adviser. The final toll could be much higher.
Officials had recovered 1,286 bodies, and listed 1,129 others as
missing, said Dieufort Deslorges, a rep for Haiti's civil protection agency.
About 300,000 are homeless, most in Gonaives.
Magloire said the govt was considering a rotating evacuation of the
mud-coated city to allow cleanup operations. He said the plan was still
under discussion, but the idea was to move people temporarily to tent
camps while workers cleaned and disinfected one neighbourhood at a time.
With gang members trying to steal food out of the hands of people at
aid centres, 140 Uruguayan soldiers were on their way to reinforce
about 600 peacekeepers already in Gonaives, said Toussaint
Kongo-Doudou, a rep for the UN mission.
"Security is one of our major concerns," he said.
At least 3 aid trucks were attacked in Gonaives on Sat, and
distributions descended into chaos.
As one truck carrying bottled water drove through downtown, 100s of
people swarmed in, and when they refused to back off Argentine troops
fired several shots in the air and threw a smoke grenade. The crowd
retreated, then returned.
When the driver decided it was fruitless to resist, people climbed all
over the truck, some gulping bottles of water, others throwing boxes
to friends.
Only part of a govt aid shipment was handed out because the crowd grew
too unruly, said Youri Latortue, a cousin of the PM and his security adviser.
After handing out food, water and clothes from 8 trucks, he
decided to send 6 other trucks to a warehouse to give workers time to
better organise. "I don't want people to get injured," he said.

@Millions lack power after US hurricane
Miami (AP).  Hurricane Jeanne -- the latest in a relentless parade of
hurricanes to pound Florida -- sliced across the state on Sun with
howling wind and rain, turning streets into rivers, peeling off roofs
and rocketing debris from earlier storms through the air.
At least 3 people died in the storm, which came ashore in the same
area hit by Frances 3 wk ago. More than 1.5 mn homes and businesses
were without power.
By late afternoon, Jeanne had weakened to a tropical storm.
The devastating 4th punch to the state in just 6 wk was an ordeal no
state has endured since 1886, when Texas was the target. And the
hurricane season still has 2 m to go.
"The last 3 wk have been horrific," said mobile home park owner Joe
Stawara. "And just when we start to turn the corner, this happens."
The hurricanes have prompted the largest relief effort in the Fed
Emergency Management Agency's history, eclipsing responses for the
1994 earthquake in Northridge, California, and the 2001 terrorist
attacks, director Michael Brown said.
"You're going to have some areas that have been hit once, twice and
sometimes maybe 3 times," Brown said. "That's very frustrating, I
know, for those who live in those communities."
Frances was larger, while Charley and Ivan were more powerful. But
Jeanne was bad enough, once again sending the Sunshine State into a
state of emergency.
Rain blew sideways, light poles fell and some bridges from the
mainland to the Atlantic coast's barrier islands were flooded and
impassable.
Houses, condominiums and other buildings lost roofs, and a deserted
community centre in Jensen Beach was destroyed.
A mattress floated through a neighbourhood in Vero Beach, where at
least 30 centimetres of water rushed through some streets.
Gov Jeb Bush sought to reassure weary Floridians.
"This will become a memory," he said. "This does come to an end, and
when it does we can probably use the term 'normal' again."
Seawater submerged the bottom floor of condominiums on Hutchinson
Island, where Josh Lumberson rode out the storm.
The parking lot was under 1.5 metres of sand and water, and sand rose
to the kitchen cabinets inside first-floor condos. The ocean, once 75
m away, lapped at the foundation.
"It sounded like the whole building was coming down," Lumberson
said. "You could hear every metal screw coming out of the walls."
As the wind subsided, the clang of metal siding could still be heard
on the barrier island.

@Jeanne pounds US coast
Miami.  Hurricane Jeanne has reached the American state of Florida,
battering a coastline which has already suffered severe damage from
another hurricane 3 wk ago.  The area being hardest hit is the
Treasure Coast, and particularly the towns of Stewart and Fort Pearce.
Reports suggest is that this one is in fact even stronger and even
more devastating than the previous hurricane.  TV pictures have been
showing storms with great swirls of rain looking like blizzards of
snow almost.  Cars are being blown along streets, debris is flying and
some people who are living in apartment buildings there have actually
moved into the stairwells because the winds are so fierce.  Once the
strongest winds have passed, there are more dangers because the
rotating storm system can fire off tornados which are expected to head
in a northerly direction perhaps towards the city of Orlando.  There
is also a danger of flooding because the storm has brought with it
high seas and heavy rains.  Officials said about 700,000 people were already
without power and in many cases it could take wk before it is restored.

@Hurricane Jeanne pounds Florida
Miami (BBC).  Hurricane Jeanne has hit the US state of Florida,
pounding the region with driving rain and winds of up to 160 kph.
The hurricane is now moving inland, with the city of Orlando in
its path and still clearing up after previous storms.  Along Florida's
E coast, trees have been torn down and roofs have been blown off
houses and a hospital.  Reports are coming in of buildings and
apartment blocks collapsing.  People have been hiding in stairwells to
protect themselves.  A Florida police rep says Jeanne appears to be
causing more damage than Hurricane Frances, which hit the state 3 wk
ago.  "It appears at least at 1st sight that there's more damage than
what was done during Frances.  "We've seen a lot of roofs that have
been taken off, we've seen a lot of wires across the roadways and
stuff.  There's definitely much more flooding than what there was the
last time around. Several streets are almost impassable," he said.

@Jeanne downgraded after pounding Florida
Hurricane Jeanne pounded Florida.
Miami (AFP).  Hurricane Jeanne has battered the US state of Florida,
smashing homes, tearing off roofs, flooding streets and leaving one mn
people without electricity.
Jeanne, which hurtled ashore on Florida's E coast on Sat, lashed Haiti
with torrential rains as a tropical storm a wk ago and the death toll
there has risen to about 1,650, with about 800 people still missing.
The 4th hurricane to pummel Florida in 6 wk, Jeanne made landfall at
the same spot where Hurricane Charley slammed into the US SE coast
earlier this m.
When it crashed ashore, it was a powerful category 3 hurricane with
winds of 193 kph.
By 1800 GMT, Jeanne lost strength and was downgraded to a tropical
storm, with maximum sustained winds dropping.
"Continued weakening is forecast over the next 24 hr," the Miami-based
Nat'l Hurricane Centre said in an advisory.
Jeanne's centre was located some 32 km SE of Brooksville, Florida,
moving towards the NW at 16 kph.
Forecasters expect the weakened Jeanne to move over N Florida in the
next 24 hr.
As soon as the worst of the storm was over, police and rescue workers
cruised the sodden, debris-strewn streets.
Authorities imposed curfews to help emergency teams move faster, and
to deter looters from plundering boarded up homes and businesses.
They also sealed off bridges leading to barrier islands as they
scoured the area for possible victims, even though residents were
among the 3 mn who had been told to evacuate.
Forecasters warned of tornadoes and said the storm had pushed 1.2 to
2.1 metres of ocean water onto land as torrential rain poured yet more
water onto saturated ground.
Early indications suggested that faster, fiercer Jeanne was dealing a
bigger blow to Florida than did Frances.
Florida Governor Jeb Bush asked the US Pres -- his brother George W
Bush -- to declare the state a disaster zone for the 4th time in 6 wk
to "help us expedite additional support".
Forecasters were awed by the number of powerful storms making landfall
this hurricane season, which lasts from June to Nov.
"It's unbelievable. This y is going to be one to tell your
grandchildren about," said Max Mayfield, director of the Miami-based
Nat'l Hurricane Centre.
Last wk Hurricane Ivan killed more than 130 people in the eastern US
and Caribbean nations.
Before that, hurricanes Charley and Frances killed dozens and
destroyed 1000s of homes after slamming into Florida's coasts.

{{
Midnight.
A snr Hamas leader has been killed in an explosion in Damascus, Syria.  He
had been exiled from Gaza for 10 y by Israel.  Police have thrown up a
tight security cordon around the scene of the blast.  But witnesses
say at least 2 cars were wrecked by the explosion.  Eyewitnesses say
they saw the man get into car, answer his cell phone, and then the car
blew up.  The blast came from under the seat and threw body parts
across the road.  Neighbours were shocked at the attack in the quiet
Pal neighbourhood of the Syrian capital.  Police are carrying out an
investigation.  Israel has made no official comment, but had
threatened to strike Hamas leaders anywhere.  Hamas now says it will
hit Israelis abroad.

The US military says it's arrested a member of the Iraq security force
who's joined the insurgents.  The Gen is now under arrest on suspicion
of collaborating with the enemy.  He had only been appointed to lead 3
bat'ns nr the town of Baquba, just 2 wks ago.  He was appointed after
his predecessor was assassinated.

2 delegations from Brit and Egypt are trying to free hostages in Iraq.
An Egyptian diplomat has met with Sunni clerics about releasing 6
telecom workers snatched in the past 24 hrs.  2 reps from the Brit
Muslim community have been meeting the Iraqi Pres on behalf of Brit
hostage Ken Bigley.

Turkish Parl is meeting in special session to pass a raft of measures
to liberalise the country's penal code.  Turkey was under pressure
from the EU to withdraw an adultery measure.  When the Opp'n threatened
to vote on the measure independently, the govt had withdrawn the
whole leg'n package.  But the liberalisation leg'n has now been
re-intro'd and is expected to pass easily.

Hurricane Jean is continuing to batter Fla.  1 mn are without power.
Roofs have been torn off.  The hurricane is weakening as it moves N.
Residents say they're exhausted after a 4th storm.  Many are too tired
and too broke to leave danger areas.

In Switzerland, voters have rejected a measure to relax the country's
strict naturalisation laws.  57% voted against the proposal -- a
severe blow for the govt.  The referendum sought to make it easier
for children of immigrants to get citizenship.  A 2nd measure was
aimed at allowing 2nd gen residents to get citizenship. It was also
rejected.  Tough Swiss regulations mean 20% of the pop'n are forced to
remain non-citizens.  Under Swiss law 12 y of residency is required
before they can apply for citizenship.  Right-wing parties ran a
strong campaign that claimed Switzerland would be over-run with
Islamic militants if the laws were passed.

1 am
Colin Powell on "This Week" has admitted the insurgency in Iraq is
getting worse.  Appearing to contradict Pres Bush and PM Allawi, Mr
Powell says the US will have to increase its efforts to beat the
insurgents.

A number of US and Iraqi soldiers have been injured in an explosion nr
Fallujah.  Reports say insurgents had surrendered a coal'n vehicle that
was travelling in a small convoy nr the restive city.  Fallujah
itself is said to be quiet after a 2nd night of US air raids.

Turkey's Parl is still locked in debate over liberalisation measures.
The session began several hrs ago.  An indep MP says debate only
demonstrates Turkey's eagerness to join the EU.  Turkey was
"supporting all kind of actions needed to join the EU", he added.

11 am
Hurricane Jean has claimed 5 lives in the US.

The deportation of Yufuf Islam [AKA Cat Stevens] from the US was
apparently due to a "spelling error".  US officials have made the
admission o'night.  Officials had prev claimed Islam had funded terror
organisations.  He's now reportedly suing the US govt.

Brit media has gathered in Qld to hear what's expected to be a 3 wk
court case of the murder of an English student in Bundaberg.
Reporters say in the Brit mind, it's now "common" for Brit
back-packers to be attacked in AUS.

2 men have been charged with the murder of a 32 yo homeless man
outside a MacDonald's restaurant in MEL yesterday.  The stabbing
reportedly followed an argument.

Brit fighter jets have escorted a Greek airliner to a London airport
after a number of bomb threats were phoned in.  The 300 passengers
were moved to a secure location at Stansted airport soon after
landing.  3 anon calls were made to a Greek newspaper 2-and-1/2 hrs
into the flight.  Essex police told a news conf the passengers had
remained calm throughout.  It's still not clear if it's a hoax.
Police are now searching all luggage.

The AUS embassy in Beirut was apparently the target of a bomb plot.
Lebanon police say they've arrested at least 2 suspects.  The Brit and
Italian embassies were also targeted in the plot.  The AUS embassy is
investigating the reports.

AUS Post has issued a new stamp to celebrate Port's win over the
Lions.  But it's only for die-hard fans.  You get $5 worth of stamps
for $15.  In Adelaide, a new beer can has been struck in honour of the win.

The All Ords is up 6 pt.  Telstra is up 5% after announcing details of
its $750 mn buy-back program.  Cochlear is up 17% after a US rival
issued recall.  The AUD is trading around 71.36 US c.  Gold is $2.27
lower at $US407.65/oz.  Oil is up .46 at $US48.83/bbl.  It's up for a
7th session on "supply issues".  Woodside is up 32 c at $A19.55.  In
Japan, the Nikkei is down 78 pts.  The Hang Seng has just opened,
and is down 30 pts.

Midday.
A bionic vote-buying machine.  That's how the opp'n has described PM
Howard after he promised $6 bn in spending if he was re-elected.
Over a sign reading "Keeping Interest Rates Lower".  Today Mr Howard is
saying it's not really spending -- 1/2 of the money is tax breaks.
Elsewhere, Mr Howard denies plans to create 24 new fed-controlled tech
colleges will hurt the TAFE system.  The PM has also promised $1 bn in
school funding over 4 y by paying families and schools directly --
by-passing state govts.  Mr Howard said his spending package was
affordable and a dividend of good economic management.  But the money
is based on predicted surpluses over the next 4 y.

Pak has killed an al-Qaeda leader in a 4-hr gun battle in the S of the
country.  Officials say the dead man is thought to be personally
responsible for the beheading of an American hostage.

The Pres of the NSW Parents Assoc says with $19 bn in assets in NSW
alone, the promised Coal'n $1 bn in spending won't go far.  It might
enable PTA's to create a school garden, she said.  In any case, PTA's
and school principles should be co-ordinating on education outcomes,
not managing money.  They have little experience in that area, she
says, doubting the plan will by-pass extra bureaucracy, as claimed by
the PM.  The money would have to go through some state dept, says
argued, and maybe an additional directorate would need to be created
at fed level.

From the state with the first smog controls, there are new proposed
rules in Cal to reduce greenhouse from automobiles.  If the rules
become law they could reduce CO2 by 30% over 11 y in new cars.  NY and
6 other E states have or plan similar standards.  Between them, the
states represent 1/3 of the US new car market.  Car makers say the
laws are "extreme" and there will be no additional health benefits.
They will also add $US1000-$US3000 to the cost of a new car, say ind'y
reps.  There are many road blocks before the laws can be enacted.  Gov
Arnie Schwarzenegger -- who supports the standards -- said everyone had
to fight for clean air and water.  Opinion polls show almost 60% of
Cals say they would pay extra for cleaner cars.

An Oslo chef has opened 30 oysters in 2 min 39 sec, taking the title
from a bloody Swede.  Competitors lost pts for damaged oysters or
traces of the opener's blood in the result.

4 pm
Fiji says an advance party will leave for Baghdad next m.  Fiji is to
provide 170 soldiers to protect UN facilities in Iraq, and 24
bodyguards for Iraqi and Coal'n officials.

A range of state and parents groups have lambasted Mr Howard's plans
to give $1 bn in funding direct to schools.  Parents groups say they
don't want the responsibility of becoming grounds keepers and asset
inspectors at their schools.  They also question whether schools where
parents can't submit an acceptable grant application will be
disadvantaged.  The states have also said the measure is anti-state,
with money by-passing state govts.  Mr Howard has defended the
package, saying "very little" extra fed bureaucracy would be required
to manage the $700 mn pa in grants.

A govt MP says house prices would rise 30% under a Labor govt.  The
price rise was linked with Labor's support of a return to the
IRC-mediated system.

A price monitoring group predicts fuel prices in SYD will rise to
$A1.15/L by the end of the wk due to Hurricane Ivan.  Traders are
nervous and will put up price by the weekend, said a rep.

In Brighton, the Labour Party is trying to re-focus public attention
on domestic issues.  But Iraq is again threatening to overshadow
proceedings, with Ken Bigley still hostage in Iraq and his brother
attending the conf.  Left-wingers are also holding an "emergency
meeting" on Iraq -- against the express wishes of the party
leadership.  Brighton is expected to be the the last party conf before
the next nat'l elections.

The All Ords is down 3 pts. Gold is trading at $US407.25/oz.

4.30 pm
The first votes have been cast in the Aussie nat'l election.  50
voters went to the polls nr Alice Springs at a remote aboriginal
community.

2 former Vic Police and 1 serving officer have been sent to the
Supreme Court to face trial for a $multi-mn heroin trafficking
business.  One of their wives is also charged with money laundering
and trafficking.  One officer is also accused of stealing $100s of
1000s during a drug raid.
[Later reports say all were committed to stand trial on numerous
charges.  The woman had chagres of trafficking dropped, but will stand
trial on money laundering].

The Labour govt in Brit has indicated it is prepared to write off all
3rd-world debt.

Ken Bigley's brother says Ken is still alive in Iraq.  The news was
also confirmed by a London-based Islamic activist.

Gen Abizaid has warned the American people to prepare for a decade of
war in the Middle E and C Asia.  Speaking on US TV, he says some areas
of Iraq will have to be ruled out of the Jan elections, despite his
soldiers' best efforts.

6.30 pm
1 person has been killed and 8 wounded in a rocket attack in Baghdad.
Elsewhere, a car bomb hit a patrol in Mosul, killing several Iraqi
Nat'l Guards.

Residents say at least 18 people have been killed in the US bombing of
Fallujah over the weekend, incl women and children.

Israeli troops have started a major incursion in Jenin.  Soldiers and
bulldozers, backed by more than 70 tanks and choppers arrived in the
early morning.  A number of militants have been arrested in what
Israel says is a "routine operation".

Insurance losses in Fla for the 4 hurricanes so far this season is
estimated at $A33 bn.  There are still 2 m of hurricane season 2004 to go.

Brit police are still questioning 4 men on terrorism charges.  The
News of the World reportedly filmed the group trying to buy purported
"nuclear material" from an undercover reporter.  They told him the
material would be used in an attack on the UK or US.

The All Ords is down 3 pts.  Telstra is up 1%.  Cochlear is up 3.8%.
Copper is up 1%.  In Japan, the Nikkei is down 36 pts ahead of a Bank
of Japan survey to be released tomorrow.  In HK, the Hang Seng is
down 1.2%.  The AUD is at 71.20 US c and steady.  Oil about $US49/bbl
for the 2nd time in history.  In NY, it was up .83 at $US49.20/bbl on
worries about Gulf of Mexico prod'n.

7 pm
The Edu Min says teachers at the proposed network of fed govt trades
colleges will be paid on a performance basis.  Teachers' groups have
said they will probably put in a play claim now, to catch up with
trade specialists that will be brought in at higher salaries.

Syria has accused Israel of state terrorism over the assassination of
a Hamas leader in Damascus.

8.30 pm
In the run-up to the US Presid'l elections, questions have been
raised over the standards of a crucial US state.  Writing in the
WashPost Pres Carter -- who's monitored dozens of elections around the
world -- says some of the basic requirements to meeting world election
standards are missing in Fla.  He says that like the last Presid'l
election, state electoral officials are apparently closely associated
with the Rep party and the presid'l campaign.
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