From the World-Wide Resourses of the Western Australia
Reserch Senter(*)
OIL THE NEWS THAT FITS MY VIEWS #188
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In the Run-Up to World War III, Reliably Reporting the News Relevant
to Extreme Right-Wing Democratic Socialists Everywhere
(validated for RiteThink(tm) by the Office of Our Man in Can-berra).
Our Home Page:
The Undeniable Evidence:
Even More Uneniable Evidence:
US Centcom News Releases:
Iraqi Body Count: [8,902+ as at 22 Apr 2004].
UN Mailing List:
Some Of The News, Some Of The Time:
This Stuff Blogged:
Also Kindly Archived:
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Selecting latest news stories and other data for you...
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They want to kill innocent life to get us to quit... and we're not
going to.
-- Pres Bush Jr, 28 Apr 2004.
Stabilisation, security, and an imminent full-scale assault on
Fallujah. "Mission Accomplished".
This barbaric deed was engineered by America and Australia.
-- Abu Bakar Bashir rep, 30 Apr 2004.
Bashir re-arrested. Indonesian police say they have a document that
places the Islamic cleric at a terrorist training camp and
directing the appointment of militia cmdrs.
It was wide-ranging... it was {er} important... [...] I'm glad I did it.
I'm glad I took the time.
-- Pres Bush, 29 Apr 2004.
After ms trying to weasel out of testifying, the Pres says he and
Cheney managed to answer all the questions convincingly.
If we had something to hide, we would never have met with them in the
first place.
-- Pres Bush Jr, 29 Apr 2004.
Mr Bush said it was important for the Commission to see the body
language between him and VP Cheney. The secret questions were not
recorded or televised. The Pres will also get to redact anything
in the report he doesn't like.
Either Allan Jones... or the PM... is a liar.
-- John Laws, 29 Apr 2004.
I understood this to be an inclusive or.
I think it's very sad... Some of these things are inspired by anger
or jealousy... I don't know what it is.
-- Telstra rep Allan Jones, 29 Apr 2004.
Jones says he can't recall telling party guests he threatened the
PM he'd stop his pro-govt comments on radio unless the govt
re-appointed a friendly broadcasting chief.
It's a serious attempt to tackle some of the structural problems.
-- PM John Howard, 29 Apr 2004.
The Howard govt has put up another $1/2 bn for the sugar industry
in marginal Queensland seats. The govt says distortions in world
markets (a technical term for "too many bilateral trade agreements")
are to blame.
I don't accept that Allan Jones has pulled strings with me.
-- PM John Howard, 30 Apr 2004.
Prof David Flint has stepped down amid a row over whose idea it was
to appoint him.
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Thu, 29 Apr 2004.
INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
"System wide" mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners: report
6 charged over Iraqi prisoner abuse
Annan warns US raids making Iraq stand-off worse
Washington Unleashes Bloodbath in Iraq
US rushes more tanks to Iraq
US expects mandate for more troops for Iraq
Syria's Assad sees "legitimate resistance" in Iraq
Spain discusses Iraq resolution in Berlin
Powell defends force used in Iraq
Marines fight Iraq rebels at Fallujah train station
Iraqis grumble at prospect of sovereignty without authority
Iraq modifies new flag after protests
Iraq contracts give major boost to Halliburton revenues
Death toll rises as Iraq violence continues
CBS broadcasts images of US troops mistreating Iraqis
Bremer considering coup in Iraq
Blair faces tough questions on support for US tactics in Iraq
Blair defends US tactics on Iraq
Apple notches 70 mn music downloads
Bush diverting enviro funds into fossil fuels
Canada dollar drops
Colombia backhoe crush kills 23, hurts 36
Comcast withdraws Disney bid
DNA computer detects, treats test tube disease
Fallujah strikes continue despite ongoing talks
Flying saucer fever grips Iran, theories abound
Indonesian attack claims rejected
Israel confirms IAEA visit
Lawyers challenge Bush's authority in detainee case
Mars rovers complete missions, head for hills
Mbeki includes more women in new cabinet
Neanderthals not as slow as once thought: study
New charges laid against 9/11 suspect
Risk rises with Hollywood budgets
Supreme Court hears enemy combatant case
Thai troops sent S to quell unrest
UN council adopts terrorist arms ban
US concerned over Thailand
US forces renew strikes in Fallujah
US issues travel warning to Israel
AUSSIE HEADLINES:
ALP commits to mentor young Aussies
AUS may send vehicles to Iraq
Alan Jones denies the political interference claims
Amex ads to promote Aussie tourism
Aussies advise Nauru in asylum case
Aust considers sending military equipment to Iraqi army
Clark challenges suspension despite ATSIC scrapping
DPP wants further inquiries into model's death
High Court overturns children in detention decision
Howard defends joint strike fighter
Jones hits back at claims
Kyoto benefits outweigh negative impacts, Latham says
Laws claims there are more Flint letters
Markets unsettled as Aussie dollar tumbles
Military barrister wants defence concerns aired at inquiry
New rum rebellion over US bourbon
PM poised to announce sugar rescue deal
PM unaware of fighter jets cost blowout
Santos sales hit by Moomba explosion
Sugar industry receives $444 mn sweetener
Toohey continues attack on DIO
Union boss to meet Mitsubishi AUS's managing director
Union concerned Labor plan undermines female teachers
Witnesses will back me up: Laws
Woman dies after bag snatching incident
Markets unsettled as Aussie dollar tumbles
NY/Sydney.
Renewed fears about rising US interest rates have unsettled financial
markets overnight.
Wall St has also been unsettled by the escalating Iraq conflict.
There is a new focus on the possible overheating of China's economy
and the measures being taken to head it off.
Shares in US metal and mining companies have been sold off amid
concerns that borrowing restrictions in China could dampen demand for
raw materials.
On the NYSE, the Dow has slumped 136 points to close at 10,343 -- a
slide of 1.3%.
Prices on the high-tech Nasdaq exchange have suffered a 2.1% decline,
with the Nasdaq composite index losing 43 points to 1,990.
The Brit market has registered its biggest fall in 5 wk as UK
investors also weigh up the implications of possibly lower demand for
metals out of China.
Consumer goods giant Unilever has been in the firing line after
uninspiring sales figures.
London's FT100 index has ended 51 points lower at 4,525.
Yesterday, the Aussie market edged lower again, in a holding pattern
ahead of US economic growth figures due out tonight.
The All Ords slipped 2 points to 3,450.
On foreign exchange markets the USD has strengthened against most
major currencies ahead of tonight's Gross Domestic Product measure, as
a strong reading will prompt further speculation that American
interest rates will soon rise.
The AUD has tumbled overnight. At 7.15 am it was quoted at 72.22 US c.
The gold price has slumped to $US385.40/oz and West Texas crude was at
$US37.26.
Canada dollar drops
Stocks plunge on Nortel firings, earnings.
Toronto (Bloomberg). Canada's dollar fell to a 7-m low against the
USD as Canadian stocks took their biggest plunge in 13 m after Nortel
Networks Corp reported the firing of top executives and accounting
"mistakes" [!?].
Shares of Nortel, the eighth-biggest company in the Standard and
Poor's/TSX Composite Index, which trades in $C, dropped 26%. The
telephone equipment maker said it may have to reduce by half the
profit it reported for 2003. Currency declines were extended on
concern about slowing Chinese demand for commodities, as well as a
possible narrowing of Canada's interest-rate advantage over the US
"Nortel is by far the most traded stock in Canada and the TSX is down
much more than other stock markets today," said Carsten Fritsch, a
currency strategist at Commerzbank Securities, a unit of Germany's
third-biggest bank by assets, in Frankfurt. "Isolated, that has a
short-term negative effect on the Canadian dollar."
At 2.25 pm in Toronto, the Canadian dollar fell 1.3% to 72.99 US
cents, the lowest since Sep 17, from 73.97 US cents late Tue. One
USD buys $C1.3701. The currency fell the most since Apr 8, when Canada
announced the 2nd straight m of job losses.
Canada's dollar also declined after China's State Council yesterday
reduced the%age of debt companies may use in funding steel, cement,
aluminium and real estate projects, state- run China Central Television
reported. Materials and energy companies comprise about 1/3 of the
S&P/TSX index, which plunged as much as 2.6% today.
* Cooling in China
Today the vice governor of the Chinese central bank said efforts to
cool economic expansion are working, and she asked banks to help by
curbing loans to businesses.
Other so-called commodity currencies, including the Aussie and NZD and
S Africa's rand, declined between 1.4% and 3.9% against the USD today.
"Sentiment toward the traditional sectors, namely the
commodity-related sectors that have been some of the best performers
since the equity market rebound began in Mar of last y, has
deteriorated sharply over the past 2 wk," Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc
currency team noted in its weekly "Global Relative Value" report to
clients.
Canada's dollar will weaken and stay above $C1.3440, where sell orders
are clustered, as traders await labour reports in Canada and the US
next Fri, said Richard Franulovich, a NY-based currency strategist at
Westpac Banking Corp, AUS's 4th-largest lender. It will rise if the
Canadian indicators surpass the US, he said.
* Stronger US Growth
Reports this m on US retail sales, inflation and durable goods have
exceeded economists' expectations and have led all 16 major currencies
to fall against the USD. Canada's dollar declined 4.6%, as the
anticipated shrinking Canadian yield advantage over the US curbed
demand for C-dollar assets.
"As long as the USD is supported across the board by rising rate
expectations the Canadian currency will decline," Franulovich said.
Yesterday, Canada reported that overall retail sales advanced in Feb
by 2.3%, for the fastest pace since Dec 1997, driven by a 7.7% rise in
new motor vehicle sales that month. The govt has also reported gains
in its trade surplus, manufacturing shipments and leading indicators.
"It's really going to be a USD story rather than a Canadian dollar
story," said Ian Gunner, head of foreign- exchange research in London
at Mellon Financial Corp, which manages about $612 bn. "The inability
of the Canadian dollar to strengthen after yesterday's [retail] number
was testament to that."
* Rate Comparison
Commerzbank's Fritsch described the effect of US rates as "the
underlying factor" contributing to the Canadian dollar's drop, while
the news from Nortel "must be the special factor today."
The US benchmark rate is at 1%, compared with 2 percent for Canada.
The Canadian dollar has risen 5.6% in the past 12 m against the USD as
some investors flocked to higher-yielding Canadian debt securities.
Canada's rate premium, which reached as high as 2.25 percentage points
in the past year, would diminish with a US rate increase.
"There was a lack of yield support" after the Bank of Canada cut rates
5 times since last Jul, including 3 times this y, Westpac's
Franulovich said.
The 3% bond maturing in Jun 2006 fell 7 cents to $C100.33, according
to HSBC Securities Canada Inc Its yield rose almost 4 basis points, or
0.04 points, to 2.83%. Canada's 2-y bonds yield 62 basis more than their
US counterparts, down from 223 basis points reached in the past 12 m.
The yield on the Sep Eurodollars futures contract, a gauge of expected
US interest rates, is 1.730%.
Eurodollar futures settle at the 3-m London interbank offered rate, or
Libor, which has averaged about 22 basis points more than the Fed's
benchmark rate since 1994.
Investors pushed the yield on the Canadian bankers' acceptance
contract due Dec. 13, also an interest-rate future, to 2.50%,
suggesting Canada's target rate may rise by Dec.
Bankers' acceptance futures settle at Canada's 3-m lending rate,
which has averaged 20 basis points above the target rate since
Bloomberg started tracking the spread in Dec 1992.
New rum rebellion over US bourbon
Bundy (AAP). Forget the rum rebellion -- the proposed free trade deal
between AUS and the US threatens to become a bourbon war.
AUS's iconic rum producer, the Bundaberg Distilling Company, has
raised fears the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will give its American
bourbon producing rivals a huge leg up.
And it believes a special Aussie ruling is giving US producers a
significant price advantage.
Under the FTA agreed upon by AUS and the US, the 5% tariff on American
bourbon will disappear as soon as the deal comes into force.
On a $A40 bottle of Jack Daniels the tariff reduction is worth about $A2.00.
But the chairman of the Bundaberg distilling company, Tony Scanlan,
said that under the deal his rum company will have to wait 18 y before
tariffs on its products sent to the US will be finally lifted.
Mr Scanlan said the biggest problem was the very definition of bourbon
used by AUS.
While bourbon is recognised globally as being at least 40% proof, a
1975 Aussie decision means the dark alcohol needs only to be 37% proof
to be called bourbon.
Mr Scanlan said bulk bourbon brought in from the US was effectively
being watered down to 37%, and in the process saving importers
$mns in excise fees.
In a letter to a parliamentary committee investigating the FTA, Mr
Scanlan said this difference had to be examined and rectified.
"Bundaberg requests the committee to take account of the inconsistencies
in the treatment of US bourbon and Aussie rum which will result from
the proposed FTA, and the manner in which competition in the distilled
spirits market will be affected as a result," he said in the letter.
"At the very least, in order to mitigate some of the adverse effects,
Bundaberg requests the committee to insist that as part of
implementing the FTA, all bulk bourbon imported into AUS be bottled
and sold in accordance with the geographic indication for bourbon
including a minimum alcohol content of 40%."
At stake is a key regional employer.
Bundaberg has been making rum since 1889, and today sells about 600,000
bottles of full strength rum and 4 mn cases of ready to drink product.
Mr Scanlan said the issue was vital to Bundaberg, and the FTA was
doing little to help.
Comcast withdraws Disney bid
LA (Reuters). The largest US cable TV company has withdrawn its
unsolicited $US48.4 bn offer to buy the Walt Disney Company after the
entertainment conglomerate steadfastly refused to open negotiations.
Comcast's stock price rose slightly after the decision, which came
amid pressure from wary shareholders and drew praise from analysts and
investors.
Comcast did not answer where the fast-growing company might look to
expand next, or whether the failed bid might hamper its growth plans.
"Unfortunately it has become abundantly clear that Disney does not
share our interests," Comcast chief executive Brian Roberts said on a
conference call.
"I am very comfortable with our decision to withdraw even though it is
not the outcome I had hoped for."
The decision handed a major victory to embattled Disney chief
executive Michael Eisner, who still faces a revolt from share holders
contending he does not have a strategy to ensure long-term growth.
A Disney rep did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
The entertainment and media conglomerate's board contended Comcast's
offer severely undervalued the company.
Philadelphia-based Comcast may one day re-emerge with a new bid for
Disney, analysts said. But for now, Mr Roberts said he will look for
other ways to expand in content, distribution and technology.
"We're moving on," Mr Roberts said. "Our desire is to find attractive
ways to grow. We have an enviable footprint that opens up
opportunities."
Mr Roberts opted to make the Disney bid public in Feb after Mr Eisner
rejected his initial overture.
Disney shares immediately jumped well above the offer price, but Mr
Roberts said he would wait for the stock to move to a more rational level.
The combination of Disney's refusal to negotiate and concerns by
Comcast share holders about the size of the bid led Mr Roberts to
decide to withdraw the bid on Tue night after consulting with a
tight-knit group of advisers for 2 days, sources close to the company said.
"This was Brian's decision," one source said. "Our shareholders have
been speaking pretty clearly. The board was entirely supportive."
The Disney bid had led some analysts and investors to question whether
Comcast believed it could sustain a cable-only strategy going forward.
Mr Roberts acknowledged those concerns, but said he did not share them.
"Some of our shareholders felt that we were signalling that we had
lost confidence in the cable business," he said.
"I'd like to make one critical point. We love the cable business. We
have never been more bullish about cable and its potential for growth
from the future."
The withdrawal of the bid comes a day after Disney's board reiterated
support for its embattled chief, Mr Eisner, who has faced sharp
criticism from high profile shareholders.
Mr Eisner lost his chairman title after a contentious annual meeting last m.
Colombia backhoe crush kills 23, hurts 36
Bogota (AP). A construction backhoe tumbled down a steep hillside and
landed on a school bus Wed, killing at least 21 elementary students
and 2 adults, officials said.
A crew was towing the large earth mover along a section of road higher
up the hill when it rolled off a ledge and plunged 70 feet before
crushing the bus on the highway below, said Claudia Cubillos, a rep
for the Bogota Health Min'y, which oversees rescue efforts.
The bus was taking the 7-to-12-yo students from the Agustiniano school
to their homes in the capital's middle-class Suba district when the
accident occurred during the afternoon rush hour.
Traffic behind the wreck was backed up for several km.
Around a hundred emergency workers and police used heavy machinery to
try to clear the mangled wreckage. Ambulances with sirens wailing rushed
the injured to hospital. There were reports of some children still trapped.
Police, meanwhile, struggled to keep back panicked families desperate
to find out if their children were among the victims.
Mayor Luis Eduardo Garzon sped to the scene of the accident by
motorbike to show solidarity with the victims and their families.
"This is a dramatic, terrible tragedy," Garzon told reporters at the
scene of the crash.
Sgt Alberto Cantillo, a rep for the Bogota Police Dept, said it was
not immediately clear whether the 2 adults were travelling inside the
bus. The bus driver survived unharmed, while the backhoe's driver was
in a critical condition.
It was not immediately clear why the excavator tumbled off the road,
though witnesses said the driver lost control of the vehicle.
Police said an investigation was under way.
UN to keep terrorists from WMD
UN (AFP). The UN Sec Council has unanimously passed a resolution
intended to keep nuclear, biological and chemical weapons out of the
hands of terrorists.
The resolution calls on the 191 UN member nations to stop terrorists,
black market traders and all so-called "non-state actors" from
acquiring such weapons or the materials and technology to make or
deliver them.
It also calls on them to adopt laws to prevent sensitive materials and
technology from getting into their hands.
The 15-0 vote approved the measure, crafted in months of negotiations
by the council's 5 permanent members -- Brit, China, France, Russia
and the US -- all of which are nuclear powers.
The text was revised 3 times to answer objections from some of the
council's 10 non-permanent members and finally won the support of the
last holdout, Pakistan, which is also a nuclear-armed state.
US Pres George W Bush 1st called for the resolution in Sep in a speech
before the UN.
"Today's vote was an important step," White House rep Scott McClellan said.
"This will help make the world safer and better."
Pakistani UN ambassador Munir Akram said his country strongly
supported efforts to stop the spread of nuclear, biological and
chemical weapons but said the Sec Council took on "exceptional
responsibilities" in adopting the measure.
Diplomats said there was broad agreement on the need to close the
loophole in existing internat'l treaties on non-proliferation, which
touch on states but not on individuals.
But many nations argued treaties were the better way to address the
issue. Pakistan in particular had raised concern about what actions
might be taken to enforce the resolution's provisions.
After wk of diplomatic haggling, the final draft said that the Sec
Council would monitor implementation and "take further decisions which
may be required".
The mastermind of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program, AQ Khan,
confessed in Feb to passing nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya and N Korea.
The US said on Wed that it was seeking several other nations which may
have been his "customers".
Akram again stressed Pakistan, which is not a party to
non-proliferation treaties, would not allow inspections of its nuclear
facilities, and cited without naming its nuclear-armed rival and
neighbour India.
"Pakistan will not accept any demand for access, much less
inspections, of our nuclear and strategic assets, materials and
facilities.
UN council adopts terrorist arms ban
NY. The United Nations Security Council has voted unanimously for a
US-drafted resolution that would punish black marketeers who traffic
in nuclear, chemical and biological weapons components.
The measure would obligate all 191 UN member nations to punish
"non-state actors" dealing in parts and technology for WMD.
Even Pakistan, which had misgivings until the last minute, voted for
the resolution in the 15-nation council, giving the Bush Admin and its
allies a clean sweep.
Pakistan admitted this y that Abdul Qadeer Khan, a scientist revered
as the father of the country's nuclear bomb, had smuggled nuclear
secrets to N Korea, Iran and Libya, and was under house arrest.
In an effort to get Pakistan's vote, the resolution was not made
retroactive, a point noted by its UN ambassador, Munir Akram, in his
address to the council.
The measure was sponsored by Brit, France, Philippines, Romania,
Russia, Spain as well as the US.
At Sep's UN Gen Assembly, Pres George W Bush called for a
resolution to "criminalise the proliferation of weapons".
The resolution compels nations to adopt and enforce laws to prevent
terrorists and black marketeers from being able to "manufacture,
acquire, possess, develop, transport or use nuclear, chemical or
biological weapons and their means of delivery".
It was adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which makes it
obligatory for all nations and could allow for eventual sanctions and
the use of force.
In this case, it does not provide any sanctions if the states do not
comply. Instead, US officials said they relied mainly on "name and
shame" pressures on errant nations and Brit envoys said any
enforcement action would need another resolution.
Pakistan's ambassador Mr Akram earlier objected to the use of Chapter
VII enforcement provisions.
But Mr Akram said on Wed that revisions in the text made it clear the
council would not legislate for the world because it was not a
representative body.
The text now says it is up to individual nations to proscribe specific
legislation.
The US deputy ambassador, James Cunningham, told the council that "no
one nation can meet this challenge alone." He hoped states would
cooperate in efforts to "stop the flow of these deadly weapons."
The resolution was negotiated over 6 m by the 5 permanent members of
the council, the US, Brit, France, Russia and China.
It aims to fill a gap in the system of treaties negotiated since World
War 2 to halt the spread of nuclear and other unconventional weapons
to "non-state actors" rather than states alone.
In London, Brit For Sec Jack Straw said: "the importance of this
resolution cannot be underestimated" as a demo "of the internat'l
community's determination to tackle the threat posed by the
proliferation of WMD."
Among the concessions in the resolution was to lengthen from 6 m to 2
y the life of a Security Council monitoring committee. The shorter
period had raised questions of quick compliance in devising and
adopting new legislation.Reuters
Israel confirms IAEA visit
Jerusalem (BBC). Israel says the head of the Internat'l Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA), Mohammed El Baradei, is to visit the country in Jul.
Israel is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and
has never opened its nuclear facilities to internat'l inspection. It
refuses to confirm or deny that it has nuclear weapons. Israel's
permanent representative to the IAEA, Gabriella Guffney, told the BBC
Doctor El Baradei would be visiting Israel in Jul for what she
described as a routine visit. She said the trip was still in the
planning phase and that further details would be released at a later
date. A rep for the IAEA, Melissa Fleming, said this would be Doctor
El Baradei's 1st trip to Israel in 6 y. She said he intends to use
the trip to promote non-proliferation and a nuclear weapons free zone
in the Middle East.
CBS broadcasts images of US troops mistreating Iraqis
NY (AFP). CBS on Wed broadcast images of US troops mistreating Iraqi
prisoners, saying an army investigation had found "systemwide"
problems in the handling of captured Iraqis.
6 US soldiers are being court-martialed on charges stemming from the
investigation into abuse of prisoners at Abu Gharaib, said Gen
Mark Kimmitt, deputy chief of military operations in Iraq.
Abu Gharaib is infamous as a prison where former Iraqi dictator Saddam
Hussein's regime tortured and executed opponents.
Photographs aired by the network on "60 Minutes II" included one
showing a prisoner standing on a box with a hood over his head and
wires coming from his hands. The network said he was told he would be
electrocuted if he fell off.
Other pictures showed nude prisoners lying on each other and
simulating oral sex as US troops pointed and laughed.
"We're appalled. ... These are our fellow soldiers, these are the
people we work with every day, they represent us, they wear the same
uniform as us, and they let their fellow soldiers down," Kimmitt told
CBS in an interview from Baghdad.
"We expect our soldiers to be treated well by the adversary, by the
enemy, ... and if we can't hold ourselves up as an example of how to
treat people with dignity and respect, we can't ask that other nations
do that to our soldiers."
Army Reserve Staff Sgt Chip Frederick has been charged with
maltreatment, assault and indecent acts for posing for a photograph
while sitting on top of a detainee, striking detainees and ordering
detainees to strike each other, among other things, CBS said.
Frederick, a prison guard from Virginia in civilian life, and his
lawyer, Gary Myers, blamed the problems at the prison on the
atmosphere created by cmdrs.
"We had no support, no training whatsoever," he told CBS.
Indeed, the army investigation found a lack of leadership at the
prison and concluded soldiers at the prison, most of whom were
reservists, were not trained on rules for handling prisoners of war
under the Geneva Convention.
"System wide" mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners: report
CBS has aired graphic footage of soldiers abusing prisoners.
Washington (AFP). CBS has broadcast images of US troops mistreating
Iraqi prisoners, saying an army investigation has found "system wide"
problems in the handling of captured Iraqis.
Deputy chief of military operations in Iraq, Gen Mark Kimmitt,
says 6 US soldiers are being court martialled on charges stemming from
the investigation into abuse of prisoners at Abu Gharaib.
Abu Gharaib is infamous as a prison where former Iraqi dictator Saddam
Hussein's regime tortured and executed opponents.
Photographs aired by the network on 60 Minutes II include one showing
a prisoner standing on a box with a hood over his head and wires
coming from his hands.
The network says he was told he would be electrocuted if he fell off.
Other pictures show nude prisoners lying on each other and simulating
oral sex as US troops point and laugh.
"We're appalled. ... These are our fellow soldiers, these are the
people we work with every day, they represent us, they wear the same
uniform as us, and they let their fellow soldiers down," Gen Kimmitt said.
"We expect our soldiers to be treated well by the adversary, by the
enemy... and if we can't hold ourselves up as an example of how to
treat people with dignity and respect, we can't ask that other nations
do that to our soldiers."
Army Reserve Staff Sgt Chip Frederick has been charged with maltreatment,
assault and indecent acts for posing for a photograph while sitting on
top of a detainee, striking detainees and ordering detainees to strike
each other, among other things, CBS reports.
Frederick, a prison guard from Virginia in civilian life, and his
lawyer Gary Myers blames the problems at the prison on the atmosphere
created by cmdrs.
"We had no support, no training whatsoever," Mr Myers told CBS.
Indeed, the army investigation found a lack of leadership at the
prison and concluded soldiers at the prison, most of whom are
reservists, are not trained on rules for handling prisoners of war
under the Geneva Convention.
US troops humiliate Iraqi prisoners
Washington (AFP). US TV network CBS broadcast images of
American troops mistreating Iraqi prisoners, saying an army
investigation had found "systemwide" problems in the handling of
captured Iraqis.
6 US soldiers are being court-martialed on charges stemming from the
investigation into abuse of prisoners at Abu Gharaib, said Gen
Mark Kimmitt, deputy chief of military operations in Iraq.
Abu Gharaib is infamous as a prison where former Iraqi dictator Saddam
Hussein's regime tortured and executed opponents.
Photographs aired by the network on 60 Minutes II included one showing
a prisoner standing on a box with a hood over his head and wires
coming from his hands. The network said he was told he would be
electrocuted if he fell off.
Other pictures showed nude prisoners lying on each other and
simulating oral sex as US troops pointed and laughed.
"We're appalled... these are our fellow soldiers, these are the people
we work with every day, they represent us, they wear the same uniform
as us, and they let their fellow soldiers down," Kimmitt told CBS in
an interview from Baghdad.
"We expect our soldiers to be treated well by the adversary, by the
enemy... and if we can't hold ourselves up as an example of how to
treat people with dignity and respect, we can't ask that other nations
do that to our soldiers."
Army Reserve Staff Sgt Chip Frederick has been charged with
maltreatment, assault and indecent acts for posing for a photograph
while sitting on top of a detainee, striking detainees and ordering
detainees to strike each other, among other things, CBS said.
Frederick, a prison guard from Virginia in civilian life, and his
lawyer, Gary Myers, blamed the problems at the prison on the
atmosphere created by cmdrs.
"We had no support, no training whatsoever," he told CBS.
Indeed, the army investigation found a lack of leadership at the
prison and concluded soldiers at the prison, most of whom were
reservists, were not trained on rules for handling prisoners of war
under the Geneva Convention.
6 charged over Iraqi prisoner abuse
Baghdad (CNN). 6 coalition military personnel have been charged with
criminal offences after an investigation into the alleged abuse of
prisoners in Iraq. US Brig Gen Mark Kimmitt says the
investigation was launched in Jan, following complaints from another
coalition soldier. "I'm not going to stand up here and apologise for
those soldiers," he said. "If what they did is proven in a court of
law, that is incompatible with the values we stand for as a
professional military force, they will be tried before a court and
then those decisions will be made."
Powell defends force used in Iraq
Berlin (The Australian). US Secretary of State Colin Powell today
defended the scale of force being used against rebel fighters in Iraq
and slammed them for using mosques to launch attacks on US troops.
"We are being very careful on what we are doing in Fallujah and Najaff
and Karbala and elsewhere in the country," Powell told reporters on
the sidelines of an internat'l anti-Semitism conference in Berlin.
"We are being as careful as we can not to injure civilians and not to
damage holy places," he said.
"There would be no problem if these murderers and thugs were not using
holy places to store weapons, to use them as observation points and to
shoot at our troops and to shoot at innocent civilians from these places."
US marines have besieged the Sunni Muslim bastion city of Fallujah
west of Baghdad for about a m and troops have also clashed with
militias loyal to a radical Shi'ite Muslim based in the holy site of
Najaff, S of the capital.
Today, aircraft pounded for a 2nd day suspected rebel positions in Fallujah,
the scene of the fiercest fighting of the US-led occupation and where
scores of US soldiers and 100s of Iraqis have been killed this m.
The assault, much of it broadcast live by Qatar-based satellite TV
station Al-Jazeera, has been widely criticised in the Arab world.
On the political front, Powell said he was encouraged by the plans of UN
envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, who has been consulting on what interim govt should
take back sovereignty from the US-led occupation coalition on Jun 30.
"He is giving a course to move down. I think it is a good way to get
to the interim govt. We will wait to see what the (UN) Sec-Gen says
about Mr Brahimi's presentation" to the UN security council, Powell
said.
Later, after talks with For Min Joschka Fischer, he said that Germany
and S Korea stood as historical precedents showing the US could hand
over sovereignty and maintain military control.
"We want to return as much sovereignty to this interim govt as it is
prepared to handle," he told reporters. "I think it is a shared
responsibility to help the Iraqi people live in peace."
In other remarks, Powell said that he had received assurances from
Poland that it would remain by the US' side in Iraq, despite the
withdrawal of some other coalition countries.
Blair defends US tactics on Iraq
London (AP). PM Tony Blair on Wed defended US tactics in the assault
on the Iraqi city of Fallujah , rejecting a legislator's assertion
that the attack amounted to the "murder or mutilation of 100s of women
and children." Disagreeing with the description, Blair said: "There
is a situation in Fallujah where we have a large number of very
well-armed former regime elements, and probably some outside
terrorists as well .. and it is right that the American forces try to
make sure that order is restored to that city. "The people that have
been killing civilians in Iraq are not actually the American
soldiers," Blair added. "They are people who through car bombs,
suicide bombs, through attacks on innocent Iraqis as well as coalition
forces who are causing that death and destruction totally
unnecessarily."
Blair faces tough questions on support for US tactics in Iraq
London (Xinhua). Brit PM Tony Blair was put on the spot Wed in
parliament by opp'n parties questioning his support for US tactics in Iraq.
Brit PM Tony Blair was put on the spot Wed in parliament by opp'n
parties questioning his support for US tactics in Iraq.
Hours before, the US military launched new air strikes on some
positions in the Iraqi city of Fallujah, a stronghold of Iraqi insurgents.
The US attack amounted to the "murder or mutilation of 100s of women
and children," the opp'n Conservative Party member of parliament Peter
Tapsell asserted during a PM question and answer session at the House
of Commons.
"Does the PM support the murder or mutilation of 100s of women and
children in Fallujah as an appropriate response to the savage murder
of 4 American contractors?" Tapsell questioned.
Blair, the staunchest US ally on Iraq, defended the US tactics saying
US troops had every right to take action against former regime
loyalists and terrorists in the city.
"There is a situation in Fallujah where we have a large number of very
well-armed former regime elements, and probably some outside
terrorists as well...and it is right that the American forces try to
make sure that order is restored to that city," Blair told the lawmakers.
Charles Kennedy, leader of the opp'n Liberal Democrats, also pressed
Blair on the issue, asking why the PM failed to use his influence on
the US to find alternatives to the policy of "overwhelming" use of
force to deal with violence in Iraq.
Earlier, Blair received criticism from 52 former diplomats over his
support for US Mideast policy.
In a letter jointly signed by the diplomats, including ambassadors,
high commissioners and governors, Blair was urged on Mon to start
influencing America's "doomed" policy in the Middle E or stop backing it.
The diplomats said there was "no effective plan for the post-Saddam
settlement" and expressed their concern over the loss of lives during
the US-led war against Iraq.
They also attacked US Pres George W Bush for endorsing Israel's plan
to retain some settlements in the W Bank and criticised Blair's public
support for the policy which they believe is "one-sided and illegal"
and will "cost yet more Israeli and Palestinian blood."
Responding to the criticism, Blair answered that "we have a very clear
political and military strategy. The political strategy is to make
sure that there is a transition to a democratic Iraqi govt."
"The military strategy is equally clear. It is to make sure that we
can achieve sufficient security in Iraq for that political process to
work," Blair said.
Brit currently has 7,500 troops deployed in S Iraq.
US rushes more tanks to Iraq
Washington (Reuters). The United States military has rushed more
tanks and other armoured vehicles to Iraq after requests from cmdrs in
the bloodiest month for American troops since Saddam Hussein was
toppled. "That armour is either [in Iraq] now or is arriving as we
speak. So those requests were quickly filled," US Marine Maj Gen
John Sattler told reporters on Wed. Maj Gen Sattler said the requests
were made by cmdrs battling to stamp out guerrilla attacks in the
so-called Sunni Triangle N and west of Baghdad, including Fallujah
where US Marines launched new air and ground attacks. As US
helicopter gunships and jet aircraft pounded several districts across
Fallujah, Pres George W Bush said: "Our military cmdrs will take
whatever actions necessary to secure [the city]." The previous 24 hr
saw the most devastating display of US warplane firepower since
American forces encircled Fallujah 3 wk ago after the killing of 4
American contractors and the mutilation of their bodies in the city.
US expects mandate for more troops for Iraq
Washington (AFP). US Sec of State Colin Powell has said he hopes a
new UN resolution on Iraq will lead to new countries sending troops to
help maintain security.
Mr Powell said he expects a new UN resolution as power is handed over
to an interim govt on Jun 30.
"I expect that as we create the interim govt we'll get a UN resolution
supporting that govt and encouraging all nations to support that
govt," he said on the sidelines of an anti-Semitism conference in Berlin.
"Hopefully as a result of such a resolution, there may be more nations
that are willing to contribute to the force that's there under a
broader UN mandate," said Mr Powell.
The US-led coalition in Iraq has recently suffered 3 defections with
Spain, Honduras and the Dominican Republic pulling out their troops.
Mr Powell said he received assurances that Poland would stay in the
coalition during a meeting on Wed with Polish FM Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz.
Mr Powell heads to Denmark on Thu, where the govt has come under
strong criticism for supporting the US-led war and contributing 500 troops.
AUS may send vehicles to Iraq
Baghdad (AAP). AUS was considering sending military vehicles and
equipment to Iraq to help train the Iraqi army, Defence Min Robert
Hill said. After meeting with Iraqi Defence Min Ali Alawi and US
administrator Paul Bremer in Baghdad, Sen Hill told reporters in
Baghdad there had been a request for vehicles.
"There's been some discussion between the new ministry, the Iraqi
defence ministry, and our officials in relation to some of the Aussie
land equipment, particularly vehicles, but that hasn't got further
than exploratory discussion," he said.
"Our emphasis to date has been to help the new ministry become
established and to help with the training of the new Iraqi forces."
Sen Hill reaffirmed Aussie troops would remain in Iraq and said it was
time for more countries to send troops there.
"We think now is not the time to withdraw forces, partly because we
still think there's a lot of important work to be done but partly
because we also don't want to give those who wish to defeat the new
Iraq victory," he said.
"I've been pleased that many countries have come out recently, or come
out in the last few days, and said that despite the difficulties in
Fallujah and elsewhere they remain committed to continue to contribute
to the new Iraq.
"I think that that's very important.
"I would like to actually see the number of countries contributing be
expanded, that would really send a positive message."
Sen Hill denied an Aussie presence was in Iraq to take advantage of
the nation.
However, he said once the country was better restored, AUS hoped to
have a healthy trade relationship with it.
"I don't think we're specifically seeking a share of the Iraqi cake,
although when Iraq is again a flourishing, trading nation, we hope to
do business with Iraq in a way from which we can both prosper," Sen
Hill said.
"But our emphasis has really been in trying to assist and support Iraq
through a very difficult stage of its history and we think we do bring
experiences and skills that can be useful.
"Provided the Iraqi people believe that they are useful then we would
wish to make that investment in the new Iraq."
Aust considers sending military equipment to Iraqi army
Def Min Robert Hill says more countries should contribute forces to Iraq.
Baghdad. AUS Def Min Sen Robert Hill says AUS is considering sending
military vehicles and equipment to the new Iraqi army.
Sen Hill has made the comment at a news conference in Baghdad,
following a meeting with Iraqi Defence Min Ali Alawi and the US
civilian administrator, Paul Bremer.
He says AUS is also preparing to help with the rebuilding of the Iraqi
defence forces, provided it is the wish of the Iraqi community.
"There's been some discussion between the new ministry, the Iraqi
defence ministry and our officials in relation to some of the Aussie
land equipment, particularly vehicles, but that hasn't got further
than exploratory discussion," he said.
"Our emphasis to date has been to help the new ministry become
established and to help with the training of the new Iraqi forces."
Earlier, Sen Hill said Spain's withdrawal from Iraq has sent a
positive message to those seeking to destroy the emerging Iraqi democracy.
He reaffirmed AUS's military commitment to Iraq for at least one more
y and also said it is time for more countries to send in troops.
"I would like to think that in the future and maybe it will require
another [UN] Sec Council resolution first," he said.
"I would like to actually see the number of countries contributing be
expanded. That would really send a positive message."
Iraq contracts give major boost to Halliburton revenues
Halliburton welcomes US probe, insists it is saving taxpayers money.
Washington (AFP). Controversial US oil and services group Halliburton
said that its contracts in Iraq had helped boost the turnover by about
80% in the 1st 3 m of the y.
Support work to US military operations and US-funded reconstruction
projects made up $2.1 bn out of the company's $5.5 bn of revenue in
the 1st quarter, the Houston-based group said in a statement.
The contracts also contributed $32 mn of operating profit to
Halliburton, which was run from 1995 to 2000 by VP Dick Cheney.
The Defence Dept is investigating some of the work of Halliburton and
its Kellogg, Brown and Root subsidiary following allegations of
over-charging. The group has also seen 34 workers killed in Iraq since
the US invasion last y.
But Halliburton said it was determined to stay in Iraq.
Chief executive Dave Lesar said "we are committed to honour our
contracts and I am extremely proud of the tenacity, the courage and
sacrifice of our employees in Iraq. In the face of a hostile
environment, KBR performs well."
"I am disappointed that the allegations, by politicians and in the
media, have increased security risks for our employees."
"We are uniquely qualified to provide military logistical support. We
have been doing that for 60 years," Lesar told a conference call.
Halliburton, mainly through KBR, has about $6 bn worth of contracts in
Iraq, mainly for logistics -- food supplies for troops, base construction
and fuel deliveries. It is also helping to rebuild the Iraq oil industry.
It employs about 20,000 people in Iraq, directly or through sub-contractors.
On top of the 34 dead, truck driver Thomas Hammill is held hostage in
Iraq and 2 others are missing.
Lesar said the value of the contracts hit a peak in the 1st quarter
and would fall from now on, especially after the Jun 30 hand-over of
power by the US-led coalition in Iraq.
Halliburton said its overall revenues were about 80 higher than the
1st quarter of 2003 thanks to KBR's engineering and construction work
in the Middle East. It said energy services revenues were up 13%.
Consolidated operating profit was $175 mn in the first quarter against
$142 mn in the same period last y.
Halliburton recorded a 65 mn dollar loss because of funds put in to
pay for compensation for asbestos workers.
Bush diverting enviro funds into fossil fuels
Op/Ed (Daily Mis-lead). Pres Bush yesterday tried to deflect
questions about his environmental record by claiming that he supports
efforts to reduce America's fossil fuel usage. He said he had
"introduced ideas like a hydrogen-powered automobile, put money behind
it and research behind it" so that so that we will be "less dependent
on foreign sources of energy" and we will "improve the environment."
But Bush's hydrogen-automobile proposal is purposely engineered to be
fossil fuel dependent, and it is paid for by taking money out of
programs that are actually reducing fossil fuel use.
As Mother Jones reported, "the Bush Admin has been working quietly to
ensure that the system used to produce hydrogen will be as fossil
fuel-dependent -- and potentially as dirty -- as the one that fuels
today's SUVs. According to the Admin's Nat'l Hydrogen Energy Roadmap,
drafted last y in concert with the energy industry, up to 90% of all
hydrogen will be refined from oil, natural gas, and other fossil fuels".
Such a system, experts say, would effectively eliminate most of the
benefits offered by hydrogen because the Bush plan's use of
oil/coal/gas to create fuel cells would generate large amounts of
pollution. Not surprisingly, such a system would insure the massive
profits of the energy industry, which bankrolls Bush's campaign.
Bush is, in part, paying for this fossil-fuel-based program by
stripping funding from programs that are actually reducing fossil fuel
use in America.
As AP reported, Bush moved money into his hydrogen program at the same
time he "ended an 8-y program to help automakers develop
high-mileage, family size cars" such as the successful hybrids now
beginning to permeate the US market. Additionally, Bush proposed
reducing "fed funding for renewable energy and efficiency research
program by more than $200 mn in 2002".
Lawyers challenge Bush's authority in detainee case
Washington. The US Supreme Court is hearing another 2 cases
questioning Pres George W Bush's authority to describe people as enemy
combatants and indefinitely detain them. The hearing is similar to
the case involving Aussies David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib. The 2 new
cases involve Americans who have been jailed and denied access to the
US court system. Jose Padilla was arrested at Chicago airport on
suspicion of plotting to detonate a dirty bomb. Yasser Hamdi was
seized while fighting in Afghanistan. Lawyer Frank Dunham says the
White House has overstepped its authority. "We have never authorised
the detention of a citizen in this country without giving him an
opportunity to be heard," he said. But a lawyer for the Bush Admin
argued Congress had given the Pres, as cmdr in chief, wide ranging
powers to fight terrorism.
Supreme Court Hears Enemy Combatant Case
[Hamdi v Rumsfeld, 03-6696, and Rumsfeld v Padilla, 03-1027].
Washington (AP). The war on terrorism gives the govt power to seize
Americans and hold them without charges for as long as it takes to
ensure they are not a danger to the nation, the Bush Admin told the
Supreme Court on Wed.
Lawyers for 2 men detained by the govt argued in reply that fighting
terrorists cannot mean a president has unchecked authority to snatch
US citizens and hold them without a chance to plead their case.
"We could have people locked up all over the country tomorrow," said
Frank Dunham, lawyer for a Louisiana-born man captured while fighting
with the Taliban in Afghanistan.
2-and-1/2 y after the Sep 11 jetliner attacks that killed
1000s, the nation's highest court considered far-reaching questions
about civil liberties, law and America's security in a changed
world. By their words in court, a majority of justices seemed to give
at least qualified support to the Bush Admin.
The justices heard 2 cases about US citizens being held as "enemy
combatants." Yaser Esam Hamdi was born in Baton Rouge while his Saudi
father worked there, but grew up in the Middle East. Jose Padilla was
born in Brooklyn and raised in Chicago.
The American-born men, like foreign fighters also labelled enemy
combatants and held abroad, have been in nr solitary confinement,
without access to courts, lawyers or the outside world.
Only in the past month, with the Supreme Court about to hear their
cases, have they been allowed to meet with lawyers.
"We've had war on our soil before, and never before in our nation's
history has this court granted the president a blank check to do
whatever he wants to American citizens," lawyer Jennifer Martinez
argued on behalf of Padilla, a former gang member and alleged al-Qaeda
associate arrested at O'Hare Airport on suspicion of plotting to
detonate a radioactive bomb.
Govt lawyer Paul Clement countered that Congress gave the president
broad power to go after terrorists and head off future threats at home
or abroad. He likened Padilla to a "latter-day, citizen version of
Mohammed Atta," ringleader of the Sep 11 hijackings.
The open-ended detentions prevent the men from rejoining the fight
against the US and help the govt gather intel, Clement told the
justices. Prisoners of war in other conflicts haven't been able to
challenge their detentions in court, he said.
"But have we ever had a situation like this where presumably this
warlike status could last for 25 y, 50 y, whatever it is?" asked
Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.
Any wartime detention can seem indefinite, at least at the start,
Clement replied. "If you talk about a detainee in 1942, they're not
going to know how long World War II is going to last."
Several justices suggested it is impractical, perhaps impossible, to
expect the govt to hold extensive hearings before holding someone --
even a citizen -- who it suspects is fighting for the enemy.
"You want them to run down the members of the Afghan allies who
captured this man and get them to testify in a proceeding?" Justice
Antonin Scalia asked Hamdi's lawyer. "It's just putting unreasonable
demands upon a war situation."
Wed's back-to-back arguments were the last of the current Supreme
Court term. The justices are expected to rule in the Hamdi and Padilla
cases by Jul. Last wk the court heard a similar case about legal
rights of foreign enemy combatants held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and
that ruling is also expected by summer.
Taken together, the 3 cases give the court the opportunity to broadly
define how the govt may treat citizen and non-citizen terrorism
suspects picked up at home and abroad.
Hamdi was captured on an Afghan battlefield wk after the Sep 11 attacks.
The govt has presented no public evidence that Hamdi was a terrorist,
and his lawyer told the justices that if the govt had its way Hamdi
would never get the chance to defend himself.
"We have never authorised detention of a citizen in this country
without giving him an opportunity to be heard, to say, 'Hey, I am an
innocent person,'" Dunham argued.
Speaking to reporters later, Dunham said he was not optimistic.
The Bush Admin won its argument in a lower court in the Hamdi case,
but lost a fed appeals court fight in the Padilla matter.
Representing the govt in both cases Wed, Clement referred often to the
congressional statute passed a wk after the 2001 attacks that gave the
president authority to use "necessary and appropriate" means to fight
terrorism.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg worried that a broad reading of the
language could give a president unlimited power.
"What is it that would be a check against torture?" she asked.
Clement said that a US president wouldn't do that.
But "what's constraining? That's the point," Ginsburg replied. "Is it
just up to the good will of the executive? Is there any judicial check?"
Clement responded a president should have the authority to use his
military powers to fight terrorism, without "judicial micro-managing."
Clement also argued that a fed court in NY improperly ruled in
Padilla's favour because Padilla was being held in S
Carolina. Padilla's lawyer was appointed in NY.
New charges laid against 9/11 suspect
Madrid (BBC). A Spanish judge has filed new charges against a
Moroccan man wanted in connection with the Sep 11 attacks in the US in
2001. The man was initially accused of belonging to the Al Qaeda
terrorist network but is also alleged to have played a role in
planning the attacks and acting as a courier. This is the 1st time a
judge has directly linked a suspect connected with the Mar 11 train
bombings in Spain to the Sep 11 attacks on the US. Judge Baltasar
Garzon has charged Moroccan man Amer Azizi with multiple counts of
murder and for planning the attacks on mainland America. In this new
indictment, Judge Garzon says he is charging Azizi with as many deaths
and injuries as were committed on the Sep the 11 attacks. Azizi is
also accused of providing lodgings in Spain for the planners of the
Sep the 11 attacks, among them, suicide pilot Mohammed Atta, and
acting as a courier between the plotters.
Indonesian attack claims rejected
Jakarta (AP). Indonesia's military denied allegations that soldiers
had taken part in an attack on a church in the eastern city of Ambon,
which has been wracked by 5 days of Muslim-Christian violence.
Several witnesses told The Associated Press that uniformed infantrymen
fired into the air before ordering 7 families living close to the
city's Protestant church to leave their houses on Wed. Minutes later,
unidentified men torched their homes and the church.
The local newspaper, Ambon Ekspress, repeated the accusations on its
front page.
The claims -- the latest in a string involving Indonesia's poorly
trained military -- have angered Christians in this city, where
sectarian fighting since Sun has killed at least 34 people.
The bloodshed raised fears of a return to the scale of violence that
the eastern region saw 3 y ago when 9,000 people were killed and 100s
of 1000s displaced.
Sporadic gunfire rang out across the seaside city, the capital of the
Maluku islands, but there were no reports of large-scale clashes.
The allegations surrounding Wed's attack echo those made in relation
to the 2001 conflict, where elements in the army backed Muslim
radicals in their attacks on the Christian community.
Ambon military cmdr Col Tony Husodo told the AP the new allegations
were baseless.
"Soldiers were in no way involved in that attack," he said. Asked why
the villagers would lie, he said it was because their "education
levels" were poor.
Hours after the church was burned, about 100 Christians demonstrated
outside police HQ, demanding that Indonesian troops be withdrawn from
the province.
A police officer joined in the protest, at one point shouting "expel
the army".
Indonesia's police and military have a history of bad relations, both
in Ambon and elsewhere in the sprawling archipelago. Disagreements --
often sparked by control over illegal businesses -- regularly develop
into gunfights.
The security forces have long been accused of human rights
violations. Resumption of military ties between Washington and Jakarta
are on hold while alleged army involvement in the murder of two
American teachers last y in the country's independence-minded province
of Papua are investigated.
Fighting this wk in the religiously divided city has largely been
confined to a district that straddles the Christian and Muslim sectors.
Police and soldiers have not prevented fighters armed with homemade
guns and machetes from both sides from drawing up battle lines through
the district. Witnesses said that security forces appear to be joining
in the battles, rather than trying to prevent them.
Death toll rises as Iraq violence continues
Najaff (AFP). One woman has been killed and 6 other civilians wounded
in an exchange of gunfire between US soldiers and Shiite militiamen nr
the central Iraqi city of Najaff, a hospital official said.
"A woman was killed and 4 other people wounded when American soldiers
returned fire after shots from militiamen of the Mehdi Army of Moqtada
al-Sadr," said a member of staff at Hakim Hospital in Najaff.
"A rocket-propelled-grenade fired by the militia hit a house, wounding
two people, including a child," added Abbas Fadel Waddae, without
specifying exactly where the clash took place.
The situation is tense in Najaff where supporters of the radical Shiite
cleric have threatened to react violently if US soldiers enter the
holy city some 160 km S of Baghdad.
Cmdrs of the US occupation forces have sworn to capture or kill the
young cleric whom they accuse of involvement in the murder of a
political rival and of refusing to disarm his militia, which they
blame for bloody clashes early in Apr in the Shiite S and in Baghdad.
Meanwhile, a US soldier has died from wounds suffered in an ambush on
a vehicle W of the N Iraqi city of Mosul, the US-led coalition said in
a statement.
4 soldiers were wounded when a hand grenade was thrown at their
vehicle on Tue, according to a statement and a military rep.
3 of the soldiers were taken to hospital where one died. The 4th
suffered only minor wounds and returned to duty.
Washington Unleashes Bloodbath in Iraq
Fallujah (Tehran Times). With 1000s of troops massed outside the
besieged cities of Fallujah in central Iraq and Najaff in the south,
the Bush Admin has unleashed a bloodbath against the Iraqi people.
In Fallujah, US forces on Tue escalated their attack, with AC-130
gunships firing cannon rounds into crowded residential areas.
The city was also pounded by fire from helicopter gunships, jet
fighters, tanks and machine guns.
In one instance, tank fire was used to topple the minaret of a local
mosque. Marines reportedly closed the last entrance to Fallujah,
barring any more of the residents who had fled earlier fighting from
returning to their homes. The action was seen by observers as the
prelude to the renewal of a full-scale assault on the city of 300,000,
which has been a centre of resistance to the US occupation.
One Marine cmdr referred to the city -- comparable in size to
Birmingham, Alabama or Newark, NJ -- as a "huge rats' nest."
In Najaff, Pentagon officials claimed Tue that US occupation forces
killed scores of members of the Mahdi Army, a militia loyal to Shiite
leader Moqtada al-Sadr. Missile-firing helicopter gunships were called
in to mow down some 60 militiamen, according to US officials. Local
hospital staff, however, reported that the casualties included unarmed
civilians. It was also reported that US troops had seized a major
hospital and were denying access or supplies to those seeking to treat
wounded Iraqis.
In the aftermath of the clash, throngs of Najaff residents carried the
coffins of 7 of the slain fighters through the streets, vowing to
resist any attempt by US forces to take control of the city.
"We're going to drive this guy into the dirt," a commanding officer of
the US 1AD said of Sadr.
What is being prepared is a wave of mass killing aimed at terrorising
the Iraqi people into accepting the continued occupation of their
country by the US military. Lacking anywhere nr the forces necessary
to police a country of 25 mn people, Washington is determined to make
an example out of Fallujah and Sadr's movement, much in the same
fashion that the Nazi occupiers of World War II Europe levelled the
Czech town of Lidice and razed the Warsaw ghetto.
Given the sadism and backwardness of the occupant of the White House,
who is said to be making the ultimate decisions on the 2 sieges, the
looming assaults are no doubt also driven by a thirst for revenge. Since
the beginning of Apr, 122 US troops have lost their lives in
combat. During the same period, ten times as many Iraqis have been
killed, many of them women and children.
Laying siege to cities, attacking hospitals and mosques, denying
medical care, food and other essential services to entire civilian
populations and imprisoning close to 20,000 Iraqis without charges or
hearings are all war crimes, and they are being carried out in the
name of the American people.
The original pretexts advanced for invading and occupying Iraq -- from
WMD to supposed ties between Baghdad and Al Qaeda -- have long since been
proven lies. Now, the claim that Washington is seeking to bring "freedom"
and "democracy" in Iraq is being exposed as a fraud as the full horror
of Washington's dirty colonialist war becomes increasingly evident.
While mn of Americans oppose this war and watch with revulsion as the
killing escalates, the onslaught against the Iraqi people enjoys the
full support of the US establishment and both of its political parties.
That the bloodletting in Iraq is the consensus policy of the entire
ruling elite was made clear by editorials appearing in 2 influential
dailies this wk.
In an editorial entitled "The Fallujah Stakes," the Wall Street
Journal on Mon gave vent to the thirst for blood that predominates
among the right-wing Republican layers that are politically closest to
the Bush Admin. These elements are increasingly agitated over what
they see as a retreat from the Admin's unilateralist policy in
Iraq. This has intensified since Bush's announcement that he will
allow UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to effectively select the personnel for
the so-called interim govt that is to be installed on Jul 1. The
Journal, which in response to the 1st Persian Gulf war coined the
infamous slogan, "Force works," wants to see blood soon and in great
quantities. The newspaper warned Mon that the Bush Admin must not
"shrink from the military campaign that is inevitable." It continued:
"Sooner or later the Baath remnants, jihadists and criminals who have
used Fallujah as a sanctuary have to be killed. They can't be
bargained with, they can't be reasoned with, because for them a
peaceful transition to Iraqi control after Jun 30 means defeat...
[S]ooner or later the insurgents have to be defeated, and at the point
of a gun, not by diplomacy. If we're not prepared to do that, Mr Bush
might as well order the troops home now." The day before, the NY Times
published an editorial entitled "A Stronger Force in Iraq" that
corresponded in large measure to the positions taken by Democratic
presidential candidate John Kerry. It called upon the Bush Admin to
confront "unpleasant realities," including the prospect that an
additional 50,000 troops or more will have to be sent to occupy Iraq,
and that the occupation will continue well past 2006. It complained
that the Bush White House was denying "our forces and the Iraqi people
the protection that adequate troop strength would provide."
The editorial concluded: "We may, in the end, find that the task Mr
Bush has laid out for the brave men and women in the military and the
brave Iraqi citizens who are struggling to create a better future is
simply impossible to achieve. But we have not reached that point. This
is not the moment for retreat and it certainly is not the moment for
half measures."
The meaning of this last sentence -- written in the context of the
sieges mounted by the US military against Fallujah and Najaff -- is
unmistakable. No "half measures" means unleashing the full force of
the US military against a popular uprising that cannot be crushed
without massive civilian casualties. Both the Bush Admin's most
fervent right-wing backers and its supposed political opponents in
what passes for the liberal establishment have come together to employ
the same lies to justify the slaughter in Iraq. They both claim that
the US occupation forces are in Iraq as armed missionaries of
"freedom" and "democracy."
For the Wall Street Journal, the transition to "Iraqi control" is
possible only through the slaying of those Iraqis who are resisting
foreign occupation. For the Times, "security" for the Iraqis is to be
achieved through a massive escalation of a US occupation that has
already claimed the lives of well over 10,000 civilians.
This killing of Iraqis and the pointless sacrifice of 100s of young
American soldiers' lives is being carried out not for any of the
preposterous reasons -- freedom, democracy, security -- put forward by
the war's defenders. Rather, US imperialism has decided to conquer and
occupy an entire country and suppress its people in order to seize
control of its vast oil resources and assert its hegemony over one of
the world's most strategically vital regions.
In the run-up to what US officials and the American media describe as
"handing over sovereignty" to the Iraqi people scheduled for Jun 30,
the cynicism of the US colonial project is undeniable. In an interview
with Reuters news agency Mon, US Secretary of State Colin Powell made
clear that the so-called "sovereignty" of a new group of hand-picked
Iraqi officials will not extend beyond their desks. "It's sovereignty,
but [some] of that sovereignty they are going to allow us to exercise
on their behalf and with their permission," said Powell. "It is not as
if we are seizing anything away from them."
There will be nothing to seize. The US military will continue to
occupy the country, exercising powers amounting to martial law. And
Washington will resist any attempts by the new body to pass laws or
amend those decreed by the occupation authority. All political and
economic decisions will be made by the incoming US ambassador, John
Negroponte, who will be backed by an embassy staff approaching 4,000
-- the largest anywhere in the world -- and will exercise the
authority of a colonial viceroy.
That the US occupation is an expedition devoted to looting rather than
liberation was spelled out last m in a revealing interview by the
American official 1st placed in charge in Iraq. Retired Gen Jay
Garner told BBC reporter Greg Palast that the US Admin had drawn up
detailed plans for the privatisation of the Iraqi economy and its oil
wealth as early as 2001. Garner was removed from his post, he said,
because his call for early elections cut across US plans to implement
by decree this economic program of plunder and seizure. Nothing could
more clearly testify to the fact that the invasion and occupation of
Iraq have nothing to do with "democracy," and everything to do with
transferring the country's wealth into the hands of the US oil
monopolies, banks and corporations.
Part of the plan, Garner added, was to establish Iraq as a US military
base for operations throughout the Middle East. He said Iraq would
serve much the same function as the Philippines did in projecting US
naval power in the Pacific after the crushing of nat'list guerrillas
in that country at the end of the 1898 Spanish-American War.
"I think it is a bad analogy, but we should look right now at Iraq as
our coaling station in the Middle East, where we have some presence
there and it gives us a ... strategic advantage there," said Garner.
These words, from the horse's mouth, provide indisputable confirmation
that this war marks the resurgence of brutal and unabashed colonialism.
The cynicism and hypocrisy of the US ruling elite and its political
servants have no limit. One need only recall that Ronald Reagan in the
1980s hailed the CIA-funded Afghan mujaheddin who fought against
Soviet military occupation as "freedom fighters" and the modern
equivalent of America's founding fathers. Yet those who fight today
against the American military occupation of Iraq are branded criminals.
Tens of 1000s of Iraqis are resisting -- with undeniable popular
support -- the overwhelming military superiority of the occupation
forces. While they are routinely described by US officials and the
media as "terrorists," "thugs," and "extremists," they have every
right to fight for an end to the illegal occupation and colonial
conquest of their country.
The demand must be raised with redoubled strength in the US itself for
the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all US troops from Iraq
and the payment of war reparations to the Iraqi people. Those responsible
for dragging the American people into this war based on lies are
guilty of war crimes and should be subjected to criminal prosecution.
The "liberal" argument that the US occupation must continue because
without American troops Iraq would descend into civil war is as old as
colonialism itself, and merits only contempt. The worst alternative in
Iraq would be the "success" of this imperialist project. It would
entail the permanent occupation of Iraq and endless bloodletting,
while paving the way for new and even more catastrophic wars.
The Democratic and Republican parties are united in their determination
to exclude from the elections any debate over the continuation of the
US occupation. For both Kerry and Bush, the anti-war sentiments of tens
of mn of Americans are illegitimate and must be suppressed.
The struggle against war cannot be waged on the basis of the facile
politics of "anybody but Bush." It requires the building of a new and
independent mass political movement of American working people fighting
to unite their struggles with those of working people internat'ly.
Spain and Germany Discuss Cooperation on Iraq, EU
Berlin (DW-Radio). Spain and Germany Discuss Cooperation on Iraq, EU
Zapatero and Schroeder both opposed the US-led war in Iraq.
Spanish PM Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and German Chancellor Gerhard
Schroeder said on Wed they supported a new UN resolution for
Iraq. But they played down reports about a new European initiative.
Amid high expectations Zapatero had come to Berlin seeking support for
a new initiative to scale back the US role in Iraq within the
framework of the UN, the 2 leaders made clear they had only begun to
discuss the matter.
"We are having consultations with the German govt, the French govt and
the American govt about the perspectives for new suggestions in the UN
Security Council," Zapatero said at a joint press conference with
Schroeder. "The Spanish govt feels obligated to continue to work
in Iraq. We don't have a one-sided initiative."
The trip is Zapatero's 1st trip to Germany since being elected PM and
comes after his decision to withdraw all of Spain's 1,300 troops in
Iraq. Unlike the unflagging support of his conservative predecessor
Jose Aznar, Zapatero -- like Schroeder -- has been opposed to
the US-led war in Iraq.
Both leaders said they discussed working together in the European
Union and specifically on the European constitution, the passage of
which had stalled on the opp'n of the previous Spanish govt. But the
press conference was dominated by questions about the Iraq.
* Berlin then Paris
After meeting Schroeder in Berlin, the Spanish leader headed to
Paris to talk with French Pres Jacques Chirac on Thu. Germany and France
were the most outspoken opponents of last y's invasion to oust Iraqi
dictator Saddam Hussein and led the campaign against the war at the UN.
Spain is also currently a member of the Sec Council.
"At some point there will be a new resolution," said Schroeder.
"Naturally we will work closely with the Spanish and French govts. But
that doesn't mean we won't continue to discuss things with other
members of the Sec Council."
Zapatero had initially said that the UN should play the defining role
as a condition of its keeping Spanish troops in Iraq beyond Jun
30. But shortly after taking office earlier this m, he ordered their
withdrawal saying that a UN resolution seemed unlikely.
German FM Joschka Fischer spoke with his Spanish counterpart Miguel
Angel Moratinos earlier on Wed, who said the plan was still at "a very
early stage." He said the initiative was open to other nations,
especially the US.
Fischer said the plan outlined by UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to the Sec
Council on Tue should be the basis for any discussion of a new
resolution. The plan provides for a caretaker govt to oversee Iraq
from the time it takes power on Jun 30 until nat'l elections in the
end of Jan 2005.
"The question of a real transfer of sovereignty in this process and
keeping to the timetable should be the basis of this process," Fischer
said, according to the Associated Press.
Spain discusses Iraq resolution in Berlin
Berlin (AFP). Spain, Germany, France and the United States are in
"intense negotiations" on a new UN resolution on Iraq, Spanish PM Jose
Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has said. The new Spanish leader was speaking
at a press conference in Berlin following talks with German Chancellor
Gerhard Schroeder. "We are in intense negotiations with Germany,
France and the United States" on a new UN resolution on Iraq, he said.
Mr Schroeder said Germany, Spain and France have shown "great
cooperation" during the talks. Spanish For Min Miguel Angel Moratinos
said in Berlin earlier on Wed that the negotiations were "in early
stages". Mr Zapatero is to travel to Paris on Thu for talks with
French Pres Jacques Chirac that will include discussion on Iraq.
Spain had been at loggerheads over Iraq with the 2 European Union
heavyweights during the Admin of Mr Zapatero's conservative predecessor
Jose Maria Aznar. Since coming to power in an election last m, Mr
Zapatero has ordered Spanish troops to be pulled out of the country.
Bremer considering coup in Iraq
Op/Ed (Tehran Times). The rumours of the possible return to power of
former members of Iraq's disbanded Baath Party and US administrator
Paul Bremer's private meetings with a number of them are ominous
developments which have given rise to speculation that Bremer is
plotting a coup against the majority of the Iraqi people.
Over the past few days, Bremer has visited more than 1500 former
members of the Baath Party, including former Defense Min Gen
Hashim Ahmad, Gen Maher Abdel Rashid, who was the cmdr of the E
Tigris Regiment during the Iran-Iraq war, and some formerly
high-ranking officials of the party, namely Mohammad Zamam Abdel
Razaq, Aziz Saleh al Noman, Fazil Mahmud Gharib, Abdel Baqi Abdel
Karim Assa'dun, Yahya Abdellah al Abudi, Eqleh Abde Seqar al Kobeisi,
Rashid Ta'an al Azzawi, Hoda Saleh Ammash, Ghazi Hamud al Obeidi, and
Sa'd Abdel Majid al Faisal.
There are unconfirmed reports that Bremer asked the officials of the
former regime to return to their former posts and to help the US
forces establish peace and security in Iraq.
Bremer's strenuous efforts to establish security in Iraq are obviously
meant to give a boost to Bush's reelection campaign.
However, it seems that he is trying to achieve that goal by staging a
traditional Iraqi-style coup d'etat.
It is unfortunate that Bremer has learned nothing about Iraqi culture
during his stay in the country but is taking pointers from former
Iraqi dictators, even though he surely must know that most Iraqi
citizens regard this to be abhorrent.
The preliminary details for the coup against the Iraqi people have
been taken care of. It appears that the US, some regional countries,
and the UN representative in Iraq are the main players in the coup plot.
It is believed that the plan calls for the dismissal of prominent
members of the interim Iraqi Governing Council and preventing Shias
from becoming high-ranking officers in the future Iraqi armed forces.
The UN Sec-Gen's representative in Iraq, who has extreme nat'list
inclinations, is trying to legitimise the occupation and seeks to
establish an ethnically based neo-Baathist govt which would exclude
Shias. Analysts say the plan being prepared by US officials through
consultations with military and political experts from a number of
Arab states in the region will only be implemented as a last resort to
prevent a complete failure of the occupation.
This is the real reason why Bremer has been delaying handing over the
approximately 5000 former members of the Baath Party currently
detained by coalition forces to the Iraqi Governing Council for
prosecution.
Moreover, US Pres George W Bush is no longer blabbering about
establishing democracy in Iraq and recently delegated decision-making
power and responsibility for the establishment of the new govt in Iraq
to Bremer, Pentagon military experts, and the UN representative in Iraq.
Unfortunately, by failing to properly assess the internal situation in
Iraq, Bremer is playing with fire, a fire that not only threatens to
destroy Iraq but which could also spread to other countries in the region.
The possibility of the return to power of the wicked criminals of the
Baath Party has incensed the religious leaders of Iraq. If the plot is
implemented, the Iraqi people will definitely not remain silent. And
if nothing is done to remedy the situation, all this will certainly
lead to a civil war in Iraq.
Iraqis grumble at prospect of sovereignty without authority
Baghdad (AP). A govt that can't pass laws, a nation that doesn't
control its own armed forces. Many of Iraq's US-picked leaders wonder
just how sovereign a state Washington will give them on Jun 30.
The US says that Iraq will indeed receive its sovereignty on that
date, in the sense that the official US-led occupation will end.
But no one disputes that the new govt's authority will be limited.
"Let's separate sovereignty and let's separate out authority and let's
keep this in context that this is an interim representative body that
we are talking about," White House rep Scott McClellan said Tue of the
incoming govt.
Iraqi leaders may have been willing to accept a sovereignty in name
only several wk ago. Earlier this y, many Shiites were saying the Jun
30 Admin should only have limited powers until an elected govt is created.
But violence that has bloodied and battered Iraq for the past 3 weeks,
particularly in and around the cities of Fallujah and Najaff, has opened
a divide. The US appears ready to cede less power -- while Iraqi
leaders have become more insistent on seeing more authority in their hands.
Mohsen Abdel-Hamid, a Sunni Arab on the US-appointed Governing
Council, said the prospect of the US retaining some sovereignty is
"not acceptable, this is totally rejected."
If the Americans do not respect agreements on giving complete
sovereignty, "then the Iraqi people know what route to take," he said.
Asked if the Governing Council might call for resistance, Abdel-Hamid
told The Associated Press: "I hope that we will not be forced to do
that, and I hope that the Iraqi people won't be forced to do that
too. We hope to gain our sovereignty by peaceful means."
What does sovereignty mean for a nation? There are the tangible
elements: control over its armed forces and the work of govt; the
power to legislate and to manage the economy; the power to decide who
enters its territory.
Then there are symbolic elements such as embassies and recognition in
world bodies.
Iraq after Jun 30 looks like it will have much more of the latter
than the former.
US officials suggest that sovereignty will be full, but that Iraqis
should accept limits on power that simply reflect the reality in Iraq.
With the insurgency still running strong, well over 100,000 US troops
will remain on Iraqi soil, and the US ambassador-to-be, John Negroponte,
said Tue that the military will have authority over Iraqi security
forces. The US Embassy will manage $bns of reconstruction money in
consultation with the Iraqis, a huge influence on the economy.
Iraqi ministries will keep the work of govt running. But Negroponte
also said the new Admin may not be able to pass laws.
UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi -- whom the US has looked to for help forming
the post-Jun 30 Admin -- told the UN Security Council on Tue that a
caretaker govt made up of "honest, qualified" people should be
selected by the end of May.
Brahimi spoke only of a complete transfer of sovereignty, not a
limited transfer. And he said the relationship with the US military
should be spelled out in "crystal clear understandings" before the
hand-over takes place.
US occupation officials spoke in the past of drawing up a "Status of
Forces" agreement that would define relations between the US military
and the Iraqi security forces. It's not clear if that is now off the
table, but there is little talk of it.
Negroponte instead said "lines of communication" and diplomacy would
resolve disputes when the US military wants to go one way and Iraqi
leaders want to go the other.
The bloodshed since the beginning of Apr has taught both sides sharply
differing lessons.
For the Americans, it demonstrated that US-trained Iraqi security
forces are in no shape to face Sunni insurgents. About half the Iraqi
police and Civil Defense Forces either deserted or joined the insurgents.
An Iraqi Army battalion refused to fight in Fallujah.
But for some Iraqi leaders, the violence showed the danger of the US
military having too free a hand. The current council president, Kurdish
leader and close US ally Massoud Barzani, suggested he wouldn't have
launched the crackdowns in Fallujah and Najaff in the 1st place.
No one on the council is suggesting US forces leave. But they want
their voice to be guaranteed.
"Iraqis should have a bigger role in security ... in taking financial
decisions ... in running the Iraqi reconstruction fund," Ahmad Chalabi,
a council member and close Pentagon ally, told the Arab TV station
Al-Arabiya.
But the result may disappoint Iraqis who concluded from past US
promises that they would have sovereignty in the full sense of the word.
"I think the sovereignty will be weak and not complete," said council
member Mahmoud Othman. "The less sovereignty there is, the less the
possibility that the govt will be able to work and achieve its tasks."
Marines fight Iraq rebels at Fallujah train station
Fallujah (Bloomberg). US Marines are fighting insurgents in Fallujah
nr its train station with the support of combat helicopters. Pool
TV pictures showed a plume of black smoke rising from
buildings in the NW part of the Iraqi city, which has come to
symbolise entrenched resistance.
"This battle continues," US Army Brig Gen Mark Kimmitt said at a
briefing televised from Baghdad today. There have been "numerous
violations" in the past day of a cease-fire agreement with rebels,
Kimmitt said. "When we get shot at, we will respond."
The fighting followed a battle last night in the predominantly Sunni
Muslim city, in which air strikes and artillery were used to try to
quell insurgents who oppose the occupation by a US-led coalition. Fallujah
residents benefited from Saddam Hussein's Sunni-dominated regime, and
the area also has attracted foreign militants eager to fight US forces.
Kimmitt said political negotiations might yet resolve the conflict in
the encircled city. "The Marines still believe that the talks have
promise," the general said.
The US sent Marines into Fallujah after 4 civilian contractors were
killed and mutilated there Mar 31, in a challenge to coalition
control of the country. The US is also fighting against supporters of
Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in S Iraq, where Kimmitt said today
there were indications that another Shiite group is trying to drive
al-Sadr's militia out of Najaff, a city holy to Shiites.
Kimmitt said some Najaff residents were angered by intimidation from
al-Sadr's gun-toting loyalists.
* Republican Guard
The US says foreign terrorists, possibly including alleged al-Qaeda
associate Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, are fighting and hiding in and around
Fallujah, a city of about 250,000 people that is 56 km W of
Baghdad. Other fighters include members of the elite Special
Republican Guard forces that operated under Hussein.
Coalition forces in the air over Fallujah saw insurgents in a flatbed
truck and a sedan driving from intersection to intersection in the
city with their lights off, dropping off and picking up people,
Kimmitt said. That tactic had been used before previous attacks, and
coalition aircraft destroyed the vehicles and the ammunition they were
carrying, Kimmitt said.
The insurgents then took shelter in a building that coalition aircraft
fired on, producing secondary explosions that indicated "large amounts
of ordnance inside," Kimmitt said.
At least 280 people have been killed in Fallujah since Apr 5, Agence
France-Presse reported, citing the Iraqi health ministry. The agency
earlier this m cited an unidentified Fallujah hospital director as
saying more than 600 people had died in the city, most of them civilians.
"It was a fairly one-sided fight last night. And I think everybody saw
the video," Kimmitt said today in an interview with the "CBS Early
Show." "The Marines did quite well."
According to US Dept of Defense figures, 126 US soldiers and Marines
have died in combat this m in Iraq, more than the 109 killed during
the invasion phase that ended when US Pres George W Bush declared an
end to major combat operations on May 1.
* Shiites Fight Al-Sadr
In the holy city of Najaff, S of Baghdad, there are indications, based
on "anecdotal evidence," that other members of Iraq's Shiite Muslim
majority have been fighting al-Sadr's militia, which may be holed up
in mosques and shrines, in an effort to drive them out, Kimmitt said.
Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Ayatollah Ali Sistani, 73, earlier this m
called for calm and the restoration of order, Agence France-Presse
reported, citing aide Sheikh Abdel Mahdi al-Karbalai. Members of
Iraq's interim Governing Council have tried to negotiate a settlement
with al-Sadr, who wants US forces to leave the country.
The US military says al-Sadr, 31, is subject to an arrest warrant in
connection with the killing of a cleric. Iraq's Shiites make up 60% of
the country's 25 mn people.
US forces renew strikes in Fallujah
Fallujah (Reuters). US Marines have launched a fresh air and ground
assault in the besieged Iraqi city of Fallujah.
Thick black smoke rose above the palm-dotted Golan district, the
target of an overnight aerial bombardment. Marines told one reporter
they had stormed an area around a railway station. One witness said
aircraft also struck at least 2 other districts.
US cmdrs had earlier said they were holding off from an all-out assault
on the city of 300,000 in the hope of cutting a deal with the Sunni
Muslim insurgents they have had encircled in Fallujah for more than 3 wk.
Cobra attack helicopters strafed Golan after shelling and fierce
exchanges of gunfire broke out in mid-afternoon.
A US TV reporter with the Marines said the air strikes were in support
of troops on the ground after snipers fired on them.
Amid warnings from the UN's Iraq envoy of bloody consequences should
talks fail in Fallujah, an AC-130 gunship, 1st used in Vietnam, had
blasted Golan overnight.
The main US military rep in Baghdad, Brig Gen Mark Kimmitt, told
US ABC TV shortly before the new outbreak of fighting that he still
hoped for a deal.
"We are going to continue to push the political track as far as it is
going to take us and if it does not take us far enough, we are
prepared to use military means," he said.
"If they have to take this to a fight, that's going to be a one-way fight."
* Twin threats
A y after the fall of Saddam Hussein, who spent his 67th birthday in
the custody of US forces on Wed, American troops are trying to quell
twin threats to the new order in Iraq from Sunni Muslim guerrillas in
Fallujah and Shiite fighters in the S before "sovereignty" passes [;-)] to
Iraqis on Jun 30.
Cmdrs nr Najaff said an AC-130 attack late on Mon that they believed
had killed some 60 Shiite fighters, appeared to have demoralised the
guerrillas and was part of a strategy to persuade their wanted
religious leader to give himself up. Local forces, however, vowed to
resist any American incursions.
In Fallujah a y ago -- previously a public holiday in honour of
Saddam's birthday -- US soldiers killed and wounded dozens of
demonstrators in an early public relations setback.
The town, 50 km W of Baghdad, is now a byword for resistance by Iraq's
long dominant Sunni Muslim minority.
Some people in Fallujah, where civic leaders struck a truce with the
Marines 2 wk ago, are furious.
"This attack shows the frustration in the ranks of American soldiers
in Iraq and the American political defeat," Ali Abdullah said.
"We have uncovered the treachery and barbarity of the US army."
Local doctors say 600 people have been killed and many more have fled
the city since US retaliation began after the killing and mutilation
of 4 American security guards.
"Unless this stand-off is brought to a resolution through peaceful
means, there is great risk of a very bloody confrontation," envoy
Lakhdar Brahimi told the UN.
A fierce firefight also took place overnight in Khaldiya, W of Fallujah,
and US patrols appeared to have been stepped up in other towns in the
"Sunni triangle" N and W of Baghdad, Saddam's home region and a
bastion of his support.
Some 115 US soldiers have been killed this m, compared with fewer than
100 in the 3 wk it took to oust Saddam. At least 520 have died in
combat since last y's invasion.
A Ukrainian soldier was killed on Wed, in a reminder of the dangers
that have prompted some US allies to pull out.
* Najaff Dangers
US forces could face an even more delicate dilemma in Najaff, where a
radical cleric from Iraq's Shiite majority, Moqtada al-Sadr, has taken
refuge among the shrines with his Mehdi Army militia, several thousand strong.
An aide to Sadr was quick to echo local accusations that many civilians
died in Mon night's US attack nr Kufa, outside the city, the heaviest
in a 3-wk stand-off.
Qais al-Khazali said a move into Najaff itself would "transform the
situation into a Shiite Islamic confrontation with the Americans".
Sadr has vowed suicide attacks if they do.
Cleric Hussam al-Husseini warned against what he saw as a US attempt
to cut off Kufa, base for many fighters, from Najaff.
"All the land of Najaff region is holy and we have the right to defend
our holy sites," Mr Husseini told Reuters.
US cmdrs say they will only attack mosques if they are used in combat
-- in Fallujah, troops destroyed a minaret on Mon after saying snipers
were using it to fire on them.
"Our goal is to continue to pressure Sadr to understand that we are
not going away," said Col Brad May, cmdr of the 2AC Regiment outside Najaff.
"It is in his best interest to go ahead and lay down arms."
Fallujah strikes continue despite ongoing talks
US cmdrs say they are still committed to ongoing peace talks.
Fallujah (AFP). United States aircraft have pounded suspected
insurgent positions in the Sunni Muslim bastion of Fallujah for a 2nd
day but US cmdrs said they were still committed to ongoing peace talks.
US helicopters and planes rained missile and machine-gun fire onto
several buildings after heavy battles broke out in the N of the
besieged city, according to an AFP correspondent and a US military rep.
Plumes of black smoke could be seen rising from the buildings in the
afternoon as the helicopters made repeated raids and as US marine
snipers fired at unknown targets in the apparently deserted streets.
US Brig Gen Mark Kimmitt, speaking to reporters in Baghdad,
insisted the Marines were "rigidly adhering" to a fragile ceasefire
and remained committed to resolving the standoff peacefully.
"If this can be solved by not putting our soldiers' or Marines' lives
at risk so much the better," he said, referring to talks between
US-led coalition representatives and local community leaders.
"There is still a determined aspiration on the part of the coalition
to maintain the ceasefire and resolve this situation by peaceful means."
He warned that Marines, who he said killed 2 insurgents in battles
overnight, were prepared to resume offensive operations, unilaterally
suspended earlier this m.
"There is certainly no military problem that cannot be solved in
Fallujah," he said.
Fallujah has been the scene of the fiercest fighting of the US-led
occupation of Iraq, with scores of US soldiers and 100s of Iraqis
killed there this m despite the so-called truce.
Marines have besieged Fallujah since Apr 5 following the murders of 4
US civilian contractors, which triggered a bloody offensive.
The Iraqi health ministry said 280 people, including 24 women and 30
children, had been killed in Fallujah since Apr 5 but the figures did
not seem to include those who had not made it to hospital.
The injured were numbered at 820, the ministry said.
The UN refugee agency said some 50,000 residents were estimated to
have fled Fallujah, 50 km W of Baghdad, to temporary camps, mosques or
homes of families elsewhere in the country.
Capt Christopher Logan, a Marine rep, said insurgents had engaged
"multiple" coalition units on Wed and air strikes were called in to
support the troops on the ground.
"There were multiple close air support missions requested and
conducted," he said as fighter jets screamed overhead.
The Fallujah railway station was among the targets, said Col John
Coleman, chief of staff of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.
Insurgent positions were also pounded in a US air strike on Tue night
after Iraqi fighters opened fire on US troops with small arms and
RPGs, US officers said.
"Marines took RPG and direct fire and called air support to engage a
vehicle transporting weapons and personnel," said marine Maj T V Johnson.
He said a heavily armed AC-130 Spectre plane "hit the target ... the
anti-Iraqi forces fled to a nearby building. The aircraft shot at the
building."
Marine officers said that in both cases, in addition to the blasts
from the air strikes, there were also "massive secondary explosions"
which suggested ammunition stockpiles were also struck.
"We hit a sweet spot," said Col Coleman.
On Wed night, a US network pool reporter said live on CNN that an AC-130
had attacked a position on the NE edge of Fallujah, causing what appeared
to be a secondary explosion that shot flames and smoke into the sky.
He said it looked as if the strike might have hit an ammunition dump
but that there was no official confirmation.
He said that around nightfall a fighter jet had hit the same position.
Spectre gunships have previously bombarded guerrilla positions in Fallujah
but the footage shown live on US TV overnight renewed debate
about the proportionality of the US forces' military tactics in the town.
Brit Prime Min Tony Blair defended the air strikes on Wed, saying US
forces retained the right to fight back if attacked.
"I deeply regret any civilian deaths in Fallujah but it is necessary
that order is restored and the Americans are trying to do that," he
told Parliament during weekly question time.
"If it is the case that American soldiers have been fired on, American
soldiers are going to have to fire back and take action to ensure that
those insurgents, these former regime elements and terrorists, can't
disrupt the political process," he told the House of Commons.
Both sides accuse the other of breaking the ceasefire and US forces
insist they only fire in self-defence.
Coalition officials said they planned to stage joint US-Iraqi patrols
in the city on Tue but US overseer Paul Bremer said on Iraqi TV they
had been delayed until Thu due to training problems.
Marine officers on the ground said the decision was based on
sensitivity for the birthday of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein, which
falls on Wed.
Syria's Assad sees "legitimate resistance" in Iraq
Dubai (Reuters). Syrian Pres Bashar al-Assad, under pressure from
Washington to help stop attacks against US forces in Iraq, has said in
an interview that the Iraqi insurgency is legitimate resistance.
US forces in Iraq are trying to quell twin threats from Sunni Muslim
guerrillas in Fallujah and Shi'ite fighters in the south before they
hand over sovereignty to Iraqis on Jun 30.
"Certainly, what has happened on the popular level gives legitimacy to
the resistance and shows that the major part of what is happening is
resistance," Assad said in comments aired on Arabic satellite channel
Al Jazeera on Wed.
"You are talking now about resistance which is against the occupation
forces," Assad said. Asked if the resistance was legitimate, he said:
"Well, of course, it's understood that way".
The US has accused Syria of sheltering "terrorists" and not doing
enough to stop foreign fighters infiltrating from its territory into
neighbouring Iraq.
Syria says it has done its utmost to control the border and has helped
the US in its "war against terror".
Parts of the interview were shown by the Qatar-based channel which
Washington has accused of inflaming an anti-US revolt.
Iraq modifies new flag after protests
Baghdad (Reuters). Iraq's US-appointed Governing Council has unveiled
a modified version of the new nat'l flag after protests that the
original was similar to Israel's.
A pale blue crescent and 2 lines on the bottom were given a darker
shade of blue and some dimensions were changed, but it was not clear
if the new version would satisfy protesters. A yellow strip divides
the blue lines.
Many Iraqis, from Kurdish and Arab areas in the north to Sunni Muslim
towns in the centre and Shi'ite south, had decried the flag as
resembling Israel's, which has 2 pale blue lines on top and bottom and
a pale blue Star of David in the middle on a white background.
A Council rep said on Wed the white stood for peace and a new start
for Iraq, the crescent represented Islam, the blue strips represented
Iraq's main rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, and the yellow
represented its Kurdish population.
Annan warns US raids making Iraq stand-off worse
UN (AFP). United Nations Sec-Gen Kofi Annan has said US raids on
insurgents are worsening the situation in Iraq and called for
negotiations to help calm the situation.
"It's definitely time now for those who prefer restraint and dialogue
to make their voices heard," he said, a day after his Iraq envoy,
Lakhdar Brahimi, warned the security situation was hampering plans for
Iraq's political future.
"Violent military action by an occupying power against the inhabitants
of an occupied country will only make matters worse," he told a press
conference at UN HQ in NY.
"There is nothing cowardly or faint-hearted about this approach," Mr
Annan said.
"It takes courage and dogged determination to work for peace in a
violent world."
US forces on Wed again hammered the flash-point Iraqi city of Fallujah
as Pres George W Bush vowed to take "whatever action is necessary" to
secure the city, a bastion of Sunni Muslim resistance to the US occupation.
Fallujah has been the scene of the fiercest fighting since US-led
forces invaded Iraq in Mar last y at the start of the war that
brought down Saddam Hussein.
Scores of US soldiers have been killed since they laid siege to the
city on Apr 5 after 4 US civilian contractors were killed in an ambush.
The Iraqi health ministry says 280 Iraqis have died, including 24
women and 30 children, with 820 wounded, but the toll may be far higher.
Mr Annan said Mr Brahimi's briefing to the UN Sec Council on Tue was a
"very sober assessment" of the "deteriorating" security situation in
the country.
Mr Brahimi warned of the Fallujah stand-off: "Unless this stand-off is
brought to a resolution through peaceful means, there is great risk of
a very bloody confrontation."
He said the continuing bloodshed had raised the question of "whether a
credible political process is even viable under such circumstances" but
said the internat'l community had "no alternative" but to make Iraq work.
Mr Brahimi has been tasked with helping to craft an interim Iraqi govt
to take power on Jun 30 when the US-led occupation will formally come
to an end.
He said Iraqis should name the members of that govt by the end of May,
in order to give them at least a m to reach "crystal clear understandings"
on the role of US and other forces in Iraq after Jun 30.
Flying saucer fever grips Iran, theories abound
Tehran (Reuters). Is Iran about to be invaded by little green men or
are the Americans racing through the night sky in spaceships to spy on
the Islamic Republic?
Flying saucer fever has gripped Iran after dozens of sightings in the
last few days. Fanciful cartoons of alien spacecraft have adorned the
front pages.
State TV on Wed showed a sparkling white disc it said was
filmed over Tehran on Tue night.
More colourful Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) have been spotted
beaming out green, red, blue and purple rays over the N cities of
Tabriz and Ardebil and in the Caspian Sea province of Golestan, the
official IRNA news agency reported.
Newspapers and agencies reported people rushing out into the streets
in 8 towns on Tue night to watch a bright extraterrestrial light
dipping in and out of the clouds.
An airforce officer in the Revolutionary Guards was quoted in the
reformist Vagha-ye Etefaghiyeh daily saying Iran's Supreme Nat'l Sec
Council should investigate whether these visitors from afar had
hostile intent.
But Sa'dollah Nasiri-Qeydari, head of the Astronomical Society of
Iran, told Reuters the stories were unfounded.
"In my opinion, flying saucers do not exist," he said, insisting his
telescopes would have picked up invaders from outer space.
"The people who have seen these things are not experts -- farmers,
villagers and pilots," he added.
He said what people reported was consistent with the planet Venus,
whose intense light in its current position would be given different
hues by being filtered through the atmosphere.
Thai troops sent S to quell unrest
Dozens have been killed in Thailand clashes.
Bangkok (Reuters). Hundreds of troops have fanned out across S Thailand
to shut down the restive region after a day of carnage in which
security forces shot dead more than 100 gun and machete-wielding
Muslim militants.
Army chiefs ordered 2 extra battalions of soldiers into the country's
3 S most provinces, a predominantly Muslim region already crawling
with police and security officials after nearly 4 m of low-level unrest.
PM Thaksin Shinawatra said 107 "bandits" and 5 soldiers and police
died in the fighting, which started when gangs of black-robed young
men, some wearing Islamic slogans, launched dawn attacks on around 15
army and police posts.
In one of the worst incidents, troops fired teargas and stormed a
mosque nr the provincial town of Pattani, killing over 30 gunmen holed
up inside. An angry crowd gathered to watch as soldiers dragged their
bodies from the bullet-riddled building.
The impoverished region has a history of sometimes violent Islamic
separatism, but Thai officials have insisted local gangsters
manipulating drug-crazed youths are behind the unrest.
However, one of Mr Thaksin's security advisers, said the attacks could
have been coordinated by separatists.
"The incidents were pulled together by separatist movements and gangs
of drug dealers and contraband smugglers," Lt Gen Kitti Ratanachaya
told a Bangkok TV channel.
The region is a hotbed of crime, feeding off a lucrative cross-border
smuggling trade with neighbouring Malaysia, but analysts say that does
not explain why so many of Wed's attackers were young, Muslim and
appeared ready to die.
"Those who died must have believed they were dying for their
religion," said Ahmad Somboon Bualang of Pattani's University of
Prince Songkhla.
"They must have had an ideology beyond separatism, otherwise why would
they attack with their bare hands and swords?"
Analysts fear internat'l militant networks, such as Osama bin Laden's
Al Qaeda, might find the region's disaffected Muslim youth a fertile
recruiting ground.
Authorities appealed for calm as a debate over whether the Admin's
'get tough' policy adopted after a spate of violence erupted in Jan is
the right way to win over a local population with few ties to the
mainly Buddhist country.
Thai Defence Min Chetta Thanajaro did not point any fingers of blame
but said if authorities managed to build bridges with the families of
those killed they might dry up a local pool of disquiet.
"What we need to do next is reach an understanding with the families
of each of those killed, and to win over their cooperation with the
govt, so that those behind the unrest stop what they have been doing,'
Mr Chetta told reporters.
US concerned over Thailand
Washington (AFP). The US expressed concern over unprecedented
violence in S Thailand where more than 100 Muslim militants were
killed in clashes with security forces and a bloody raid on a mosque.
Washington said it was discussing the situation with the Thai
authorities and was prepared to provide any assistance they might need.
"We are concerned about the violence in S Thailand, and we are in
close contact with the Thai govt on the situation there through our
embassy," US State Dept deputy rep Adam Ereli told reporters.
In the worst violence ever seen in Thailand's troubled south, police
and soldiers battled armed groups who launched coordinated attacks at
10 police stations and security checkpoints in 3 provinces nr the
Malaysian border.
Thai Army cmdr Gen Chaisit Shinawatra said 107 attackers were
killed, 6 were injured and 17 were arrested. 2 soldiers and 3 police
were killed and another 15 security forces injured.
The attacks were the latest in a series of bombings, raids and murders
in Thailand's S provinces, which in the past 4 m have claimed the
lives of 65 security forces personnel, govt officials and Buddhist monks.
Asked whether the Thai military sparked the violence, Ereli said those
who attacked the Thai police stations were responsible for it.
"We, at this point, don't have info that any individual or group has
claimed responsibility for attacks against Thai police stations which
started this round of violence," he said.
"There's an investigation that's going on. And at this point, we're
not going to speculate about who might have been behind the attacks
against the 15 Thai police stations on S Thailand.
"There hasn't been anybody who's claimed responsibility so far."
Thai officials said the attackers were mostly teenagers, poorly armed
with only machetes and a few guns.
The last battle zone was at a mosque outside the southern Pattani
provincial town, where 32 rebels who had holed up there were killed
when troops stormed the mosque to end a 6-hr standoff.
"We are concerned about threats to public order and stability in S
Thailand represented by these attacks," Ereli said.
He said the US wanted to work with the Thai govt to bring the
situation under control "in a way that is responsive to the needs of
the citizens of that part of the country".
Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist nation but about 5% of the population
is Muslim, and most live in the 5 S provinces bordering Malaysia.
US issues travel warning to Israel
Washington (AFP). The United States has warned its citizens to avoid
all travel to Israel and the Palestinian territories and renewed
appeals for Americans to leave the Gaza Strip immediately, citing
terrorist threats stemming from Israel's killing of 2 militant
Palestinian leaders.
The State Dept updated an existing Mar 23 travel warning for Israel,
the W Bank and Gaza issued the day Israel assassinated Hamas founder
Sheikh Ahmed Yassin to include threats to avenge the Apr 17 killing of
his successor, Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi.
"In the aftermath of the killings of 2 Hamas leaders by Israel in less
than a month, statements have been made by some Hamas elements and
other terrorist groups threatening revenge against US interests, which
could include kidnappings," it said in a statement.
"The Dept of State warns US citizens to depart Gaza immediately and to
defer travel to Israel, the W Bank and Gaza due to current safety and
security concerns," it said.
Although the dept said it had no indication that the threats would
actually "be carried out at this time", it stressed the security
situation throughout Israel and the Palestinian territories remained
highly unstable.
"Ongoing violence over the last 3 y has caused numerous civilian
deaths and injuries, including to some American tourists, students and
residents, as well as to US mission personnel," it said.
"The potential for further terrorist acts remains high," it said.
"The situation in Israel, Jerusalem, Gaza and the W Bank remains
extremely volatile with continuing terrorist attacks, confrontations
and clashes."
The dept repeated longstanding advice for US citizens who choose to
stay to avoid public places such as restaurants, cafes, shopping and
market areas and malls, pedestrian zones, public buses and bus stops,
or other crowded venues.
Americans should also avoid large crowds and demos, it added.
The State Dept and the US embassy in Tel Aviv 1st urged Americans to
leave the Gaza Strip in Oct, after 3 Americans working as part of the
embassy's security force were killed in the roadside bombing of a
diplomatic convoy there.
The warning was issued following a suicide car bombing by a Hamas
militant that wounded 4 Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip.
Aussies advise Nauru in asylum case
Nauru (AAP). The 2nd day of a court hearing on the legality of
detaining asylum seekers on Nauru was under way, with 2 Aussie
solicitors advising a senior Nauruan lawyer.
The news comes a day after Nauru justice minister Russell Kun ordered
Aussie snr counsel appointed to represent the Nauru and Aussie govts
in the case to return home to ensure the hearing was fair.
A para-legal pleader, Reuben Kun, a former finance minister and the
uncle of Mr Kun, was appointed to represent the detainees after
Nauruan authorities barred the Aussie legal team that mounted the case
from entering the island nation.
The hearing will test the validity of the visas, which require asylum
seekers to remain locked up for all their time in Nauru.
Nauru govt rep Helen Bogdan said the two Aussie lawyers were advising
solicitors for the snr counsel were sent home on Wed.
She said they would advise the Nauru govt's lawyer, acting secretary
for justice Lionel Aingemere but would not address the court.
The Aussie legal team, headed by prominent MEL lawyer Julian Burnside,
QC, was barred from boarding a flight to Nauru on Sun to take part in
the hearing after their visas were cancelled by Mr Harris and Russell Kun.
On Mon, Russell Kun said he did not see the need for the team to
attend the hearing.
This left Reuben Kun pitted against Aussie QCs and snr counsel without
the ability to argue the case -- he could only read from papers
prepared by Mr Burnside.
But on Wed Ms Bogdan said Russell Kun had told her he had ordered
Aussie lawyers representing the Aussie and Nauru govts to leave to
ensure the hearing was fair.
In response, Mr Burnside on Wed said he was pleased the other legal
teams had been sent home.
"It makes it a fair fight again," he said.
Under the Pacific solution deal, signed in 2001, the Aussie govt
agreed to pay tens of $mns to the cash-strapped Pacific nation in
return for the right to keep asylum seekers there.
The Aussie govt last wk also signed a treaty with Nauru to help it out
of a financial crisis, after America's General Electric Capital
Corporation moved to recover debts of more than $230 mn.
Under the treaty, AUS will provide a snr treasury officer and
officials from the finance dept to help Nauru reorganise its finances.
Mbeki includes more women in new cabinet
Jo'burg (AFP). South African Pres Thabo Mbeki has unveiled a new
cabinet for his second and final term.
The cabinet includes more women and members of other parties but
retains the finance, defence and foreign ministers and his
controversial health minister.
"This is a very strong team. I'm glad that when I spoke to them all
last night and early this morning they responded well to the critical
challenge which is the implementation of policy," he said of the
50-member team.
22 of the team, which includes Deputy Pres Jacob Zuma, Cabinet
ministers and deputy ministers, are women.
"We've sought to address the matter of the gender issue to further
increase the number of women ministers and the number of women deputy
ministers compared to the 1999 cabinet," he said, adding that there
were 5 more women ministers.
"We haven't quite reached 50% yet but we're getting there."
Pres Mbeki retained Mosiuoa Lekota in the defence portfolio, Trevor
Manuel at finance and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma at foreign affairs, as
well as Health Min Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, who has sparked criticism
for advocating a quirky diet to fight HIV-AIDS, South Africa's biggest killer.
He dropped former home minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the leader of
the Zulu-dominated Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), who has clashed with
the president over new immigration rules and the outcome in the Zulu
heartland of Kwa-Zulu Natal of the Apr 14 vote.
Mr Mbeki's African Nat'l Congress (ANC) garnered 70% of votes cast in
the election, the 3rd since the end of apartheid.
Mr Buthelezi was replaced by his former woman deputy, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqaqula.
But there were 2 deputy ministers from the IFP in the new team and Mr
Mbeki said the ministerial team was broader-based with people from
more political parties such as the Azanian People's Organisation, the
IFP and the New Nat'l Party in the govt in keeping with his poll
pledge for a "people's contract" to face new challenges.
Pres Mbeki appointed Marthinus van Schalkwyk, the leader of the New
Nat'l Party -- the reincarnation of a party that formed the bulwark of
the apartheid regime -- as minister of environmental affairs and tourism.
Mr Van Schalkwyk's party, which jointly ruled with Mbeki's African
Nat'l Congress (ANC) party in the W Cape province, was routed in the
last elections, getting less than 2% of the total vote.
In the other cabinet position given to a member outside of that of the
ANC, the chair of Science and Technology went to Mosibudi Mangena of
the left-wing Azanian People's Organisation.
Mr Mbeki faces stiff challenges in his last term and has promised to
deliver on ambitious election pledges to fight poverty, unemployment,
the HIV-AIDS scourge and crime.
Unemployment hovers between 40 and 50%, according to various
estimates, while many say poverty has deepened in the last decade.
The governing ANC had made steep promises in its manifesto: creating 1
mn new jobs in 5 y; spending 100 bn rand [$A20 bn] to improve
infrastructure and halving poverty and unemployment by 2014.
Risk rises with Hollywood budgets
LA (Reuters). Rising movie production costs, which are nearing $US200
mn for some of the biggest blockbuster films, could lead to disaster
for the studios that make them, as a major flop would result in huge
charges, a top media executive has said.
News Corporation president and chief operating officer Peter Chernin
said few people were willing to talk about just how expensive movies
have become.
"The cost of these movies is the dirty secret of Hollywood," Mr
Chernin said at a Milken Institute conference in LA.
Were a movie to cost $US200 mn for production and then bring in only
about $US25 mn at the box office, Mr Chernin said, the fallout from
write-downs and charges would be shocking.
"It will rock the industry to its foundation and appropriately so," Mr
Chernin said.
Speaking on the same panel, Viacom chairman Sumner Redstone said his
company's movie studio, Paramount, would have a freer rein to make
big-budget pictures costing more than $US100 mn, though it would not
spend for the sake of spending.
"They will not be profligate," Mr Redstone said of Paramount's
executives.
The panel's group of executives also addressed entertainment
technology like broadband delivery, video on demand, digital video
recording and piracy.
The general consensus was that the movie industry was not suffering
from digital piracy in the same way as the music industry both because
of the larger file sizes for movies, as opposed to songs, and because
the movie business had embraced legal digital downloads of its products.
"It's ironic that you can buy a movie cheaper than you can buy the
soundtrack to that movie," Mr Chernin said.
He said digital video recorders, which allow viewers to watch programs
without the commercials, would change traditional TV advertising
models but not kill them.
"I don't think advertising is threatened, but I think the long block
of interruptions may need adjusting," he said.
Amex ads to promote Aussie tourism
Canberra. The Fed Govt has announced a $30 mn partnership with an
internat'l financial institution to attract more tourists to AUS.
Tourism Min Joe Hockey says American Express will use its client
database to promote Aussie tourism destinations. The campaign is
expected to attract 10,000 "high yielding" Americans to AUS over the
next 12 m. Mr Hockey says the campaign is likely to be extended into
other markets in the future.
Toohey continues attack on DIO
Canberra (AAP). Naval lawyer Martin Toohey continued his criticism of
AUS's spy agency the Defence Intel Organisation (DIO), saying it was
politicised and misled the public.
Capt Toohey has attacked the govt over its treatment of him and
whistle-blower Lt Col Lance Collins amid allegations of failures by the DIO.
He said he believed the govt was involved in a cover-up over the
Collins affair and said he wanted to appear at a parliamentary inquiry
into the military justice system.
Lt Col Collins, chosen by defence chief Gen Peter Cosgrove to
oversee intel in E Timor, was at the centre of allegations he leaked
sensitive material.
But a report by Capt Toohey cleared him of the claims and found
evidence of a pro-Jakarta lobby within the DIO.
The govt later released another report by Col Richard Tracey which
discredited the Toohey report.
Capt Toohey said he disagreed with the govt and said the Tracey report
was a cover-up.
He said the DIO was "misleading the govt and the people of Australia".
Capt Toohey said the politicisation of the DIO was life threatening
and the head of the organisation should be sacked.
"I believe that the head of DIO is politicised, I believe that he
really should be replaced," he told ABC Radio.
"DIO has been politicised and that is a very sad situation and indeed
a dangerous situation if we have another E Timor where the intel is of
such a poor standard again lives will be at risk."
Capt Toohey said he wanted to testify before a parliamentary inquiry
because the cover-up was a constant thorn in his side.
He also claimed to be the victim of a witch-hunt for the leaking of
the Collins report to the media.
"I've had 2 investigators from the defence security interview me,"
Capt Toohey said.
"I have no idea how it was leaked, I told them so.
Military barrister wants defence concerns aired at inquiry
Capt Martin Toohey says he wants to appear before a parliamentary inquiry.
Canberra. The military barrister who accused the Fed Govt of being involved
in a "shabby, tawdry cover-up" in relation to defence intel says he
wants to appear before a parliamentary inquiry to express his concerns.
Capt Martin Toohey claims he has been part of a witch hunt.
Capt Toohey's investigation which found the Defence Intel Organisation
(DIO) tailored its reports to suit govt policy was leaked to the media
earlier this m.
The Govt later released a document by a MEL QC contradicting the report.
Speaking to the ABC's AM program, Capt Toohey was standing by his findings.
"[The] DIO has been politicised and that is a very sad situation and
indeed, a dangerous situation," he said.
He told the program he is being investigated but was not responsible
for the leaking of the report.
"I've had 2 investigators from defence security interview me. I have
no idea how it was leaked, I told them so," he said.
"That's simply not good enough, it's a witch hunt and don't shoot the
messenger."
He wants to appear before a parliamentary inquiry into military
justice and says his concerns about bias in AUS's intel agencies are
supported by other snr military officers.
Witnesses will back me up: Laws
Broadcasters embroiled in ABA scandal.
Sydney (AAP). Radio broadcaster John Laws insisted he had witnesses
to back his claims that rival Alan Jones boasted of pressuring PM John
Howard to re-appoint the broadcasting watchdog.
Mr Laws on Wed claimed Mr Jones had boasted at a dinner party in 2000
about "instructing" Mr Howard to re-appoint Aussie Broadcasting
Authority (ABA) chairman David Flint in exchange for his support
before the 2001 fed election.
Both Mr Howard and Mr Jones, the prominent 2GB breakfast broadcaster,
have strongly denied any pressure was exerted to re-appoint Prof Flint.
Mr Jones challenged Mr Laws's recollection of events and denied ever
having spoken to Mr Howard about Prof Flint.
Mr Laws said people should believe him because of the number of
witnesses he had to Mr Jones's comments.
"The statement, I'm telling you, was made," Mr Laws said on his radio
2UE show.
Mr Laws on Wed said Mr Jones made the claim in front of several other guests
at a Nov 2000 dinner party, hosted by his (Laws') manager John Fordham.
On Wed night Mr Fordham backed Mr Laws' version of events at the
dinner party.
Mr Laws said Mr Jones had made his comments in front of him and 4
other people.
"All of us without exception were bemused to say the least by the
remark," Mr Laws said.
"And that's why it was printed indelibly on our respective memories.
"Now Alan predictably claims that he can't remember the occasion...
"Well, I'm quite sure that if any of you had been at a dinner party
and had gone through the dramas I had gone through with Prof Flint and
the ABA you would certainly remember a comment like that, wouldn't you."
Mr Laws said his rival was a highly intelligent man and had pretty
good recall.
"So it's really a simple matter of deciding who you believe," Mr Laws said.
Alan Jones denies the political interference claims
Sydney. Radio broadcaster John Laws is standing by comments he made
accusing fellow broadcaster Alan Jones of political interference.
Mr Laws claimed on Radio 2UE that Mr Jones told him at a dinner party
in Nov 2000 he had instructed John Howard to re-appoint Prof Flint.
Mr Laws said Mr Jones warned him not to criticise Prof Flint.
"Alan Jones then went on to say in fact, 'I was so determined to have
David Flint re-elected that I personally went to Kirribilli House and
instructed John Howard to re-appoint David Flint or he would not have
the support of Alan Jones in the forthcoming election'," Mr Laws said.
Mr Jones and Mr Howard both deny any such conversation took place.
Speaking on the ABC's 7.30 Report Mr Laws said he was quoting Mr Jones
pretty much verbatim when he made the comments.
He also said 5 people at the dinner party were witness to Mr Jones's
comments and can verify what he said.
Mr Laws also denied any professional jealousy of Mr Jones and said he
and his rival broadcaster disagree on only one thing.
"Well somebody has asked the question before and I answered it this
way, we only really disagree on religion, religious grounds, I refuse
to treat him like God," he said.
* Jones hits back
Mr Jones has accused Mr Laws of airing the allegations to boost
flagging ratings.
He told Radio 2GB the comments attributed to him were "ludicrous and
fanciful".
Mr Jones admitted attending the party but said he did not think he had
ever spoken to the PM about Prof David Flint.
"I don't think I've ever had a discussion with John Howard about David
Flint, ever," he said.
"For me to say that I actually went personally to Kirribilli House.
Now presumably you just walk through the gate do you, knock on the
door and say 'PM get out here, I've got a few lessons to teach you'.
"I instructed John Howard to re-appoint David Flint? I don't think that
I've ever had a discussion with John Howard about David Flint ever.
"That's as memory tells me."
Speaking in Bris, the Prime Min rejected claims Mr Jones tried to
influence him over the re-appointment of Prof Flint.
"As to the suggestion that he tried to heavy me under threats that if
I didn't re-appoint David Flint he wouldn't support me in the election
campaign is absurd and wrong," he said.
"No such conversation at Kirribilli House or anywhere else took place
between Mr Jones and myself.
"Indeed I can't recollect Mr Jones ever raising Mr Flint's position
with me."
"I totally reject any suggestion that I was heavied under threat if I
didn't do this somebody would not support me in an election campaign.
"No such threat has ever been made to me by Jones or anybody else and
if it were I would tell them to get lost."
However, Fed Labor leader Mark Latham said the allegations were
disturbing and required a full explanation from Mr Howard.
"This matter is very serious. It would, for example, be a serious
breach of the ministerial code of conduct at a minimum and more
serious matters could flow," he said.
"I think it's incumbent for the PM to give a thorough explanation to
the Aussie people."
* Letter of praise
ABC TV's Media Watch this wk revealed Prof Flint sent Mr Jones a
letter praising his extraordinary ability to express the opinions of
the majority.
Prof Flint told the ABC's 7.30 Report he wrote the letter after he was
inspired by comments made by a conference keynote speaker praising Mr Jones.
"This was to an assembly of people learned in this area. I thought
that was so interesting, I thought I would let Alan Jones know that
that view was being put about by another person," he said.
Prof Flint said when he wrote the letter he was not aware there would
be a cash for comment inquiry and certainly not one involving Mr Jones.
"[It] came in later into the radar of the investigation and I wasn't
aware at that time that I was writing, that there was any possibility
of an investigation by the ABA," he said.
Prof Flint said contact with Mr Jones was legitimate and it did not
compromise the inquiry.
"We don't exclude ourselves because we know the person involved," he said.
"We've had contact with them, we may have praised them. The question
is, 'had I previously taken a view in relation to personal sponsorships?'.
"I had not."
Prof Flint said he would not have written the letter, had he known the
cash for comment inquiry would be conducted.
Jones hits back at claims
Sydney. Radio broadcaster Alan Jones has used his breakfast program
this morning to hit back at claims that he boasted about instructing
Prime Min John Howard to re-appoint Prof David Flint to head the
Aussie Broadcasting Authority (ABA).
John Laws made the claims on a rival radio network yesterday after
Jones's program had ended.
It was not until 4 hours after Mr Laws made his claims that Mr Jones
took to the airwaves to deny them, but this morning, on his own program
on the Macquarie Network, he wasted no time in suggesting a motive.
"In many ways it's very sad I think that some of these things are
inspired by envy or jealously -- I don't know what they are," he said.
One talkback caller saw a grander conspiracy.
"I would suggest that it's been cobbled together by the ALP and its
electronic wing the ABC and a very sympathetic 2UE," the caller said.
On air this morning John Laws told S Cross listeners he has given an
honest account and he has 5 witnesses.
"Either Alan Jones or the PM is a liar," he said.
The Prime Min says Alan Jones is a friend but rejects Mr Laws's allegation.
"I specifically deny any conversation remotely resembling what has
been alleged," he said.
Mr Howard told S Cross Radio he does not know what took place at the
dinner party but there was no such conversation between himself and Mr Jones.
"If somebody approached me, somebody from the media with a threat that
they would withdraw support from me if I didn't do such and such I
would to use the Aussie vernacular tell them to get lost," he said.
Fed Opp'n leader Mark Latham has called for an independent public
inquiry into the allegations.
"We need an independent public inquiry, we've got 5 independent
witnesses on one side alleging improper influence and even
corruption," Mr Latham said.
"It's a very serious allegation, a very, very serious allegation and
when you've got 5 people alleging one side of the story and denials on
he other and Mr Howard's in the middle you can't have a cloud hanging
over the office of PM.
"You need an inquiry to establish the facts."
The Democrats support calls for an independent inquiry into the issue.
Laws claims there are more Flint letters
Laws claims he has seen other correspondence between Mr Jones and Prof Flint.
Sydney. The board of the Aussie Broadcasting Authority is due to meet
this afternoon amid continuing controversy over chairman David Flint
and the nature of his relationship with broadcaster Alan Jones.
There has been debate on Prof Flint's impartiality since ABC TV's
Media Watch program revealed a letter sent before the 'cash-for-comment'
inquiry, in which he praises Mr Jones.
Now broadcaster John Laws says he has been informed of the existence
and dates of 3 more letters between the men.
In one of those letters, Mr Jones is said to express a general
allegiance with Prof Flint.
Former ABA board member Kerry Henderson says Prof Flint should make
all the correspondence public.
"It would certainly help the debate if we could see the correspondence
and evaluate it all of the letters and take a view on that," he said.
"Otherwise, what I think David must do is no doubt what David is doing
-- considering very carefully what his position is and what he ought
to do."
* Jones denial
Earlier today, Mr Alan Jones used his breakfast program to hit back at
claims that he boasted about instructing PM John Howard to re-appoint
Prof Flint.
Mr Jones is very sure of Mr Laws's motive.
"In many ways it's very sad I think that some of these things are
inspired by envy or jealously -- I don't know what they are," he said.
One talkback caller saw a grander conspiracy.
"I would suggest that it's been cobbled together by the ALP and its
electronic wing the ABC and a very sympathetic 2UE," the caller said.
While Mr Laws is sticking by his claims, the PM has denied he was or
would ever be influenced in such a way.
"I specifically deny any conversation remotely resembling what has
been alleged," Mr Howard said.
"If somebody approached me, somebody from the media with a threat that
they would withdraw support from me if I didn't do such and such I
would to use the Aussie vernacular tell them to get lost."
The Opp'n and the Democrats are maintaining their calls for an
independent inquiry into the issue.
PM poised to announce sugar rescue deal
Canberra. The Prime Min will unveil a rescue package for the ailing
sugar industry today in Qld.
It is understood the package is worth more than $440 mn.
John Howard and the Deputy PM, John Anderson, will visit Bundaberg in
the marginal Nat'ls seat of Hinkler to make the announcement.
Mr Anderson has indicated the package will include funding to help
farmers and sugar mills diversify into other areas such as ethanol
production, and assistance for those who want to leave the industry.
"There's considerable emphasis in the package on helping people in the
sugar industry adapt to some of the new opportunities that we think
will be there for value adding and for other alternative uses for
sugar in the future," he said.
Mr Anderson hopes the rescue package will ease the frustrations of
sugar farmers who were left out of the free trade agreement with the US.
"I think that if they look at it objectively they'll recognise that
this is really of considerably more help in my judgement than the
relatively modest amounts of sugar we were likely to get in in the
short-term anyway," he said.
Mr Anderson says the sugar industry has lifted its productivity in
recent years, and the measures will help farmers make a living at a
time of very low world prices for sugar.
Meanwhile Nat'ls MP for Hinkler Paul Neville says he is confident the
funding package will help those who want to remain in the sugar industry.
"I don't think govts in the past have seriously addressed the
restructuring aspect of it or put any serious money into that," he said.
"I get the impression that John Howard and John Anderson have taken
that on board from the fed members and that Cabinet will have an
element of that restructuring in the package," he said.
Meanwhile, unions have vowed to fight any rescue package that leads to
further mill closures.
Aussie Manufacturing Workers Union rep Andrew Dettmer says any package
that means mills will close will be opposed.
"What I would hope for is a proper package which addresses all the
issues of the industry," he said.
"What I'm fearful of is, following their current form, you would think
that it'll only address part of the industry.
"That is, the only people that they have spoken to so far have been
the growers -- or certain sections of the growers -- and the millers.
"Of course that leaves out the sugar workers and their communities and
we think that any solution that doesn't take their interests into
account is no solution at all."
Sugar industry receives $444 mn sweetener
Farmers will have access to a one-off sustainability grant.
Bundy. The Fed Govt has announced a $444 mn sugar package aimed at
reviving the cash-strapped industry.
Cane growers and millers will have access to a $146 mn one-off
sustainability grant, which equates to about $30 per tonne of cane
produced this y.
The package includes re-establishment grants and re-training
assistance for cane growers and mill workers.
Prime Min John Howard has told 100s of cane farmers in the southern
Qld city of Bundaberg, that one-off grants for growers leaving the
industry will be increased from $45,000 to $100,000.
He says $75 mn will be available over 3 y to help explore
diversification and value-adding opportunities.
"It is a large package but it is necessarily so," he said.
"A half-hearted response would not have been enough.
"It is a combination of generous assistance in the short-term to keep
people going, but also a recognition that in the medium to longer term
change and restructuring will be necessary."
Sugar Industry Task Force chief De-Anne Kelly says the generous
package will give all sectors of the industry a range of options.
"That $146 mn will be based on a price of $30 per tonne of sugar and
then growers have a number of choices," she said.
"For those growers who have decided they don't want to grow sugar cane
anymore...there's a re-establishment grant of $100,000."
Canegrowers general manager Ian Ballantyne says the package will be
the catalyst for change but he believes farmers will not decide
overnight whether to stay or leave the industry.
"They've got to look at forecast prices that may be coming down the
stream over the next ys," he said.
"What the options they may have on farms, what types of change may be
brought about within their own district, now these things are not
going to be revealed tomorrow.
"It is my view it will take some m before some of the regional plans
are completed before some of the consequences of these things are understood."
Qld Prem Peter Beattie says the fed package ties in with the state's
reforms to the industry.
"Without our reforms, then the money allocated by the Commonwealth
would have been just like a pack of cards it would have fallen over,"
he said.
"So what we now sensibly have at the end is appropriate reforms that
can value add and create jobs for the future, and that's very important,
and secondly we now have a reform package so I'm pleased about that."
Santos sales hit by Moomba explosion
Sydney. Santos has released 1st quarter results showing the financial
impact on the oil and gas producer of the New Year's Day explosion and
fire at Moomba in SA's far NE. Total production for the 1st 3 m of
2004 was down a little over 3 mn barrels when compared with the 1st
quarter last y. That translates to a drop in revenue of $106 mn, a
result Santos says is directly linked to the devastating Jan
explosion. General manager of business development Graeme Bethune
says production is getting back on track. "The good news is that
Moomba is back up to full gas production now and has been since the
end of Mar, and we're going to get back to full liquids production
over the period between May and Jul," he said. He says full y
production will also be down but the company remains confident of
building production to record levels over the next few years.
Union boss to meet Mitsubishi AUS's managing director
Adelaide. Mitsubishi workers in Adel are dealing with yet another
threat to their jobs.
The Aussie Manufacturing Workers Union's (AMWU) fed secretary will
meet Mitsubishi's Aussie managing director in Adel this morning.
Doug Cameron wants to find out from Tom Phillips what the future holds
for more than 3,000 Mitsubishi staff in Adel.
The concerns for the company's 2 Adel plants have been caused by
cancellation of a $multi-bn recovery plan to help its overseas businesses.
Mr Cameron says he wants to see deeper involvement by the Fed Govt to
ensure Mitsubishi's S Aussie interests are secure.
"We want to sit down around the table with the Govt, the Fed Govt, the
State Govt and Mitsubishi AUS to look at what are the key issues to
maintain the viability of Mitsubishi AUS," he said.
"I've written to the PM asking for such a meeting to take place."
Union concerned Labor plan undermines female teachers
Perth. WA's State School Teachers Union in concerned a Fed Opp'n plan
to increase the number of male teachers could undermine the work of
their female counterparts.
Fed Labor has promised to spend $9 mn on a mentoring program for boys
and to attract male high school students to teaching as a career.
The Fed Govt has already outlined a similar plan.
The vice-president of the union Anne Gisborne says while she has no
objections to increasing the number of male teachers in the public
system, it is dangerous to assume male teachers can have a big impact
on the development of boys.
"It puts an incredible amount of responsibility on any males that may
come into the system and I think it puts also at risk any sense that
the responsibility for boys may well be with 1/4 of the profession as
opposed to the whole of the profession," she said.
"As far as I know there's been no research that indicates that females
or males are better than each other.
"I think we need to keep our eyes focused on the individual and the
individual's capacity to deliver the best education for our students."
Clark challenges suspension despite ATSIC scrapping
Geoff Clark: fighting on.
Warrnambool. Former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
(ATSIC) leader Geoff Clark is continuing his Fed Court challenge over
his suspension as chairman, despite the body ceasing to exist. Geoff
Clark was suspended after being convicted of obstructing police during
a pub brawl in the Vic town of Warrnambool. The MEL hearing is
centring on the legislation Indigenous Affairs Min Amanda Vanstone
used to terminate his appointment.
High Court overturns children in detention decision
Adelaide. 5 juvenile asylum seekers housed by a Catholic welfare
agency in Adel are facing immediate return to detention after a High
Court decision today.
A lawyer for the family is seeking an urgent hearing in the Fed Court
to stop the children's removal.
The 5 children were shifted to a home in Adel's eastern suburbs after
the full court of the Family Court rejected a Fed Govt appeal.
The Family Court had intervened to protect the children and ordered
their release from detention housing in the outback town of Woomera.
The Fed Govt then appealed to the High Court. In its judgement today
the High Court said the family court had no jurisdiction.
It said the language of the Migration Act was intractable and didn't
differentiate between children and adults.
Neither could the migration act make allowances for internat'l law.
The High Court judgement reaffirmed that mandatory detention was
clear, valid and applicable to children.
The headmaster of an Adel school the 2 boys attend has called on the
Fed Govt to act with compassion and understanding and allow the boys
to continue their education there.
He described the ruling as disappointing, saying it was semantic and
the opinions of the judges notwithstanding, it is against all principles
of natural justice and decency to keep children and people who have
committed no crime, behind wire.
Acting Immigration Min Gary Hardgrave says the arrangements for the
children will remain in place for the time being.
"We're not going to make public announcements about their
circumstances on the run," he said.
Mr Hardgrave says it is a complex judgement and the Govt will review
implications for the children before making a decision.
Howard defends joint strike fighter
Canberra (AAP). PM John Howard described the joint strike fighter
project with the US as "a fantastic concept", following reports of
cost blowouts in the program.
The Aussie newspaper said the $16 bn fed govt plan to buy a fleet of
US-made fighter jets was being undermined by a blowout in costs,
production schedules and design problems.
The report said the fighter jets were losing US congressional support
and were about 680 kg overweight in the design stage.
The Fed Govt has invested $205 mn in the fighter jet design program.
Mr Howard, in Qld to launch his govt's sugar industry rescue package,
said he did not know whether the basis of the report was correct.
"You get a lot of these reports about cost blowouts," Mr Howard told
4BC radio in Bris.
"Cost blowouts do occur and have always occurred in every country in
relation to the development of new technology connected with new weaponry."
Mr Howard said the deal, in which AUS planned to buy up to 100 of the
aircraft in the largest govt purchase since Federation, was "very big
and very valuable".
"It's a fantastic aircraft concept, it really is, and it will give an
enormous defence reassurance to the Royal Aussie Air Force when we get
it," Mr Howard said.
PM unaware of fighter jets cost blowout
PM John Howard says cost blowouts are not uncommon.
Canberra. PM John Howard says he is not aware of a cost blowout in a
plan to buy a new fleet of US fighter jets. There are reports that
the bn dollar project, which is said to be the largest in AUS's
history, is being undermined by cost concerns. Mr Howard has told S
Cross radio the aircraft will give the Aussie Air Force enormous
capacity within the next decade. He says cost blowouts are not
uncommon. "The cost blowouts do occur, they always have occurred and
occur in every country in relation to the development of new
technology connected with new weaponry," he said. "It's often
difficult to forecast and foresee in advance what's going to happen."
ALP commits to mentor young Aussies
Melbourne. Mark Latham aims to have 10,000 mentors trained by 2006.
Fed Opp'n leader Mark Latham has committed a future Labor govt to a
$33 mn program to train mentors for young people. Mr Latham says the
program includes the establishment of a nat'l mentoring foundation to
distribute funding for mentoring programs He says it will have 10,000
new mentors trained and practising by the end of 2006. He made the
announcement after visiting a mentoring program at the Traralgon
Secondary College. "We need to work constructively with communities
to provide social solutions to problems," he said. "We have young
people who have difficulties through their adolescent years who need
better guidance and social support, so to build mentors around them is vital."
Woman dies after bag snatching incident
Melbourne. A 77-yo woman has died after suffering serious injuries
during a bag snatching incident in the MEL suburb of Croydon yesterday
afternoon. The incident occurred on Mt Dandenong Road shortly after
2.00 pm. The alleged offender was arrested after a witness chased the
man to Croydon railway station. The Mooroolbark woman, who was in
hospital in a critical condition, died early this morning. A 34-yo
Bayswater man charged with robbery and recklessly causing injury in
relation to the incident, has been remanded to face court today.
DPP wants further inquiries into model's death
Sydney. The New S Wales Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has
requested police conduct further investigations into the death of SYD
model Caroline Byrne. Police from Strikeforce Irondale have forwarded
a brief of evidence to the DPP. The 24-yo was found at the bottom of
a cliff at The Gap in SYD's E in 1995. In a statement, Nicholas
Cowdery QC says advice will not be given until that action is complete
and the results assessed.
Kyoto benefits outweigh negative impacts, Latham says
Opp'n leader Mark Latham has backed the Kyoto Protocol.
Melbourne. Fed Opp'n leader Mark Latham has rejected suggestions that
signing the Kyoto Protocol and limiting greenhouse gas emissions would
have disastrous consequences for the Latrobe Valley power industry.
He has also rejected support for a carbon tax rumoured to be under
consideration by the Vicn Govt.
Mr Latham says the Kyoto Protocol is all about good environmental
policy and he disagrees with the analysis made by the Nat'ls Member
for Gippsland, Peter McGauran.
He says Labor believes the overall benefits to AUS from signing the
Kyoto Protocol would outweigh any negative impact.
"The Kyoto Protocol is all about good environmental policy, which has
important economic benefits for this nation as well, in terms of
saving the Great Barrier Reef, in saving the Kakadu Nat'l Park," he said.
"We believe overall, the benefits for the Aussie economy would be
quite strong."
He says the benefits from signing the protocol would outweigh any
impact it might have on the brown coal power industry.
"We're always keen to make assistance for the Latrobe Valley," he said.
"We'll have other initiatives and good policies to help the Latrobe
Valley economy and building up basic services as a key part of that."
Mars rovers complete missions, head for hills
LA (Reuters). 2 robot-geologists have successfully completed the
assignment they were sent to do on Mars and have been sent exploring
for extra credit, scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said on Wed.
The twin rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, are in good condition after
enduring more than 3 m of extreme temperature swings and dust storms
on the Red Planet, mission manager Matt Wallace said.
Scientists at the Pasadena, California, laboratory were surprised to
find that the vehicles' solar-powered batteries were degrading faster
than expected due to use and dust accumulation, he said.
The 6-wheeled vehicles were designed for 90-day missions but the JPL
team expects them to operate twice as long.
The golf cart-sized rovers captured the world's attention with their
dramatic landings in Jan on opposite sides of Mars, and with their
discovery of geologic evidence that salt water once covered parts of
the barren planet.
Opportunity completed its 90th Martian day, or sol, on Mon -- a
landmark achieved by Spirit on Apr 5. NASA has approved funding to
extend the missions through Sep.
During the primary mission, Opportunity drove more than 1 km,
snapped nearly 12,500 images with its on-board cameras and used its
instrument arm to drill into 5 rocks.
The rover, now roaming on a flat gray expanse nr Mars' equator known
as Meridiani Planum, spent most of its primary mission studying a
rocky outcrop in the small crater where it landed.
Opportunity has since climbed out of the crater and is headed for
another small crater nicknamed named Endurance about 246 feet away
where scientists have spotted some "tantalising" rocks, science team
member Scott McClennan said.
In about 10 sols, engineers plan to test Opportunity's "deep sleep"
mode in hopes of cutting a power drain caused by a heater on the
rover's instrument arm that has been stuck in the "On" position since
the start of the mission, Wallace said.
From its landing site in the massive Gusev Crater, Spirit has wandered
about 1.2 km along the lip of a crater nicknamed Bonneville and into
a field of small rocks and depressions.
Spirit's ultimate destination is a range of hills nicknamed the
Columbia Hills that are more than 2 km away.
Scientists said they hope the formation will yield rock layers older
than the volcanic plain Spirit has been crossing.
Apple notches 70 mn music downloads
SF (Reuters). In its 1st year, Apple's online music store has sold
more than 70 mn songs, short of its original 100 mn song target but
more than anyone else, the company has said.
Apple, maker of the Macintosh computer and the wildly popular iPod
digital music players, also upgraded its iTunes digital jukebox
software with new features such as "iMix", which lets customers
publish their play lists on the iTunes online music store, which other
customers can then purchase.
"We're very, very excited about the results from the 1st year," Steve
Jobs, Apple's co-founder, chairman and chief executive said, adding
that the Cupertino, California-based company has sold more than 3 mn
iPods since they were introduced in Oct 2001.
"If there is a keystone here, it's iPod," said Phil Leigh, an analyst
with market research firm Inside Digital Media.
"As long as Jobs can maintain market share there, he has a good chance
at remaining number one in online music."
Apple had initially set a goal of selling 100 mn songs in its first y
of operating the store, but Jobs said the company was not at all
disappointed with 70 mn songs.
In fact, the computer maker is offering a free song to customers for
the next 8 days to mark the store's anniversary.
"If a y ago anyone had predicted iTunes would have sold 70 mn songs,
they would have been laughed out of town," Mr Jobs said.
Apple now sells about 2.7 mn songs per week.
Mr Jobs also said that the company has no current plans to start
offering a subscription-based online music service, while many of its
rivals do.
"Subscription services are not succeeding," Mr Jobs said, adding that
the iTunes music store had a "small profit" in its most recent quarter.
"When you subscribe to music you don't get a chance to put it on your
portable player and take it with you."
Mr Jobs said that Apple's online music store now has more than 700,000
tracks available for purchase, an increase from 200,000 when it
launched the service a y ago.
Tracks cost US99 cents each and about 40% of the music sold is in the
form of albums, rather than individual tracks.
Apple has led the online music industry in the legal purchase and
downloading of music, scoring agreements with all 5 major record
labels with the launch of iTunes.
The iPod has nearly 50% of the market for all MP3 players, Mr Jobs
said, including $US50 players that use Flash memory to store media.
However, Apple said last m it would delay global sales of its new iPod
mini digital music player until Jul due to a problem with its supplier.
Apple's iPods cost $US249 to $US499 and can store 1,000 to 10,000
songs and use hard disk drives for storage.
Neanderthals not as slow as once thought: study
Paris (Reuters). Neanderthals may conjure up images of an
uncivilised, brutish species but they were surprisingly early
developers, researchers have said.
Although Neanderthals disappeared from Europe about 30,000 y ago,
scientists at the French research institute CRNS in Paris have
uncovered new details about them by studying fossilised remains.
The findings were reported in the science journal Nature and suggest
Neanderthals reached adulthood by the age of 15, about 3 y before
early modern humans, probably ate a high calorie diet and were a
distinct species from modern humans.
"Neanderthals, despite having a large brain, were characterised by a
short period of development," said Fernando Ramirez Rozzi.
Creatures with large brains tend to have lengthier growth periods and
take longer to mature, but Mr Ramirez Rozzi and his colleague Jose
Maria Bermudez de Castro found that the opposite applied with Neanderthals.
"Until now the idea was: the longer the growth, the bigger the brain
but in Neanderthals this relationship is completely broken," Mr
Ramirez Rozzi said.
"This difference in growth between Neanderthals and modern humans is,
I think, very strong proof of 2 different species," he added.
Why they developed so quickly is a puzzle but Mr Ramirez Rossi suspects
Neanderthals had a high mortality rate because of the hostile conditions
in which they lived, and they adapted to this by maturing quickly.
Dental growth records contain biological info and give an overall
indication of the maturity of a species.
Ramirez Rozzi and Bermudez de Castro studied the series of ridges,
called perikymata, on teeth fossils.
They compared teeth fossils from Neanderthals dating from 130,000 to
28,000 y ago, earlier samples dating between 800,000 and 400,000 years
and teeth fossils of homo sapiens that were 20,000-8,000 y old.
"Neanderthals were characterised by having the shortest period of
dental growth," said Mr Ramirez Rozzi.
Whether Neanderthals evolved gradually into modern humans or were displaced
or killed off by them is a question still being debated by scientists.
Some researchers believe there may have been inter-breeding to some degree.
Neanderthals lived in caves or huts, used fires and tools and ate a
variety of animals. They may have been cannibals and could have
communicated with speech.
Jan Kelley, of the University of Illinois in Chicago, said in a commentary
in the journal that more studies on teeth fossils are needed to support
the conclusions reached by Mr Ramirez Rozzi and Mr Bermudez de Castro.
"Nonetheless, these authors have opened up what should prove to be a
fruitful line of research into both the relationships and the
palaeobiology of Neanderthals," Kelley said.
DNA computer detects, treats test tube disease
Tel Aviv (Reuters). Scientists have come a step closer to creating a
minuscule DNA computer that may one day be able to spot diseases like
cancer from inside the body and release a drug to treat it.
Prof Ehud Shapiro and researchers at Israel's Weizmann Institute
constructed the world's smallest biomolecular computer a few years ago.
Now they have programmed it to analyse biological info to detect and
treat prostate cancer and a form of lung cancer in laboratory experiments.
"We've taken our earlier molecular computer and augmented it with an
input and output module. Together the computer can diagnose a disease
and in response produce a drug for the disease in a test tube," Prof
Shapiro told Reuters.
The microscopic computer is so minuscule a trillion could fit in a
drop of water.
Its input, output and software are made up of DNA molecules which
store and process encoded info about living organisms.
"Our work represents the 1st actual proof of concept and the first
actual demo of a possible real-life application for this kind of
computer," Prof Shapiro added.
The findings, which are published online by the science journal Nature
and were presented at a symposium in Brussels, could transform how
diseases like cancer are treated in the future.
Instead of biopsies to remove cancerous tissue, which then must be
analysed in the laboratory, the DNA computer could potentially
diagnose the disease within the tissue in the body.
"Our medical computer might one day be administered as a drug, and be
distributed throughout the body by the bloodstream to detect disease
markers autonomously and independently in every cell," Prof Shapiro said.
It could enable doctors to treat cancer in its earliest stages before
tumours have formed and to deliver drugs to hard to reach cells if the
disease has spread to other parts of the body.
Different inputs could be used to detect other diseases.
"It could work for any illness for which there is a particular pattern
of over-expression or under-expression of genes which is characteristic
for the disease," according to Prof Shapiro.
He readily admits that a DNA computer roaming around the body spotting
and treating disease is still a long way away.
"There are many, many hurdles. It could take decades," Prof Shapiro
said, adding that he and his colleagues had not expected to accomplish
this step so quickly.
Prof Shapiro's DNA computer is a molecular model of one of the
simplest computing machines, the automaton, which can answer certain
yes or no questions.
It uses enzymes, which manipulate DNA, as the computer's hardware. The
computer is pre-programmed with medical info and detects markers, or
concentrations of certain molecules of RNA [a cousin of DNA] which are
overproduced or under-produced to detect the cancer.
If the markers signify a disease, the output releases a molecule
similar to an anti-cancer drug to destroy the cancerous cells.
Leonard Adleman, of the University of S California, pioneered the
field of DNA computers a decade ago by using DNA in a test tube to
solve a mathematical problem.
{{
1 am
The battle for Fallujah continues. After several hrs of relative quiet,
Marines and insurgents have against been engaged in a series of firefights.
1.45 am
UN Sec Gen Kofi Annan has appealed to all parties in Iraq to refrain
from violence. He also warmly endorsed a report from UN envoy Brahimi
on plans for a transitional govt.
2 am
Fallujah. Witnesses say they've seen missile and machine gun fire.
There's heavy gunfire nr a railway stn in the N of the city. The
Iraqi Health Min'y says 280 Iraqis have died in the fighting. The
US-led Coal'n is talking to local leaders, trying to have them
persuade local guerrillas to lay down their arms.
Black-clad bandits have attacked police stns in the S Provs of
Thailand. The govt is blaming the attacks on S Islamic militants.
150 people have died in fighting in the S since early Jan.
Berlin. An anti Semitism conf in Berlin has been warned of growing
anti-Jewish feeling in Europe and around the world. The 2 day event
was called in response to a rise in anti-Jewish attacks and propaganda in
several EU countries. Colin Powell is attending.
WHO teams have arrived in Beijing to help limit the spread of SARS
ahead of the May Day holiday. At a press conf in Singapore, WHO reps
said Chinese authorities are doing their best to curb the spread of the
disease. All cases in the latest outbreak are linked to a Beijing lab.
Relief is pouring into N Korea. NK has put the death toll at 151 with
1,300 others injured. SK has sent a ship of supplies and medical
equipment. But it's criticising NK for requesting TVs rather than
medical aid. Many victims in the huge blast have been left blind and deaf.
3 am
Pres Bush has said the US will do "whatever it takes" to regain
control of Fallujah. He says the insurgents in the city were trying
to derail the "hand over of sovereignty" on Jun 30. On the ground, US
cmdrs are saying the cease-fire is still holding. But observers say
there are on-going fire-fights. US forces are directing air-power and
tank fire against any locations they suspect insurgents may be hiding.
Observes say US cmdrs are making the "cease-fire is holding" for
political reasons.
Najaff. There's been sporadic gunfire around the city. 1 woman has
been killed and at least 8 other injured when they were caught in
cross-fire between US forces and Shia militants.
Comcast has pulled its $multi bn hostile take-over of Disney. The CEO
admitted he'd mis-calculated, complaining Disney officials had refused
to even talk about the offer. Eisner has dodged another bullet.
6 am
Pres Bush and VP Cheney have been drilling with advisors before they
appear before the 9/11 commission tomorrow. They will not be sworn to
tell the truth. They will appear together. The Whitehouse says this
will reduce the number of questions. Observers say they want to
minimise the chance they give conflicting evidence. The Whitehouse
has also not allowed any public record to be made of the testimony.
This is allegedly because secret intel may be discussed.
The Dow has dived more than 100 pts on news of a new corporate fraud.
Despite good profit news, Nortel says it's sacked its CEO because of
profit over-statements. The company has had to re-state its profits
several times. Analysts say exec bonuses were linked to profits.
China has announced a credit squeeze in cool its rampaging economy.
There are now fears that China is over-heating and demand for raw
materials will slump. The news has put pressure on related
currencies, incl the AUD. Meanwhile, NZ has raised its int rates
o'night. The C bank hiked the cash rate 25 basis pts to 5.5%. The
AUD has bounced off 72.16 and is presently at 72.28. London gold has
slumped below $386/oz -- down $11.60 in the last 24 hrs. Base metals
are also weaker. In NY, the Dow slumped 136 to 10,343. The Nasdaq
also closed down 1.75%. In London, the FTSE ended down 51 pts. The
Dax lost 1.7% on poor profit news. Oil is down on profit taking after
hitting a 3-y high. NYMEX closed at $US37.46/bbl.
8 am
Witnesses at a John Laws' party came forward saying they remember
Jones boasting he'd told the PM to re-appoint Flint. Allan Jones and
PM Howard continue to deny there was a deal to install David Flint as
chief of the broadcasting authority, although their memories are
developing the shakes. PM Howard says he can't remember what Jones
said to him. But his memory is good enough to remember he can't
remember ever having a conversation with Jones about Flint. Mr Howard
says if Jones had said something that sounded like a threat he would
have told him to get lost. Jones has hit the air-waves this morning,
putting the Laws claims down to jealousy. But he also says he can't
remember what he said at the time. Callers to Jones' morning talk
program are putting it down to an ALP conspiracy.
Thai police have seized 11 fake NZ passports. 2 men have been arrested
in Bangkok with forged passports. They were trying to sell them to
pain-clothed police. The haul included a couple of European passports.
Russia. Moscow prosecutors have accused 4 doctors of preparing to
murder a patient. The group was nabbed by police just as they were
about to remove both kidneys from a 50 yo for transplant into another
patient. The "donor" was in hospital for head injuries. One doctors
is charged with attempted murder. The head of hospital's ICU is
charged with "abuse of power".
A 12 yo US boy is charged with the strangulation death of an 8 yo
neighbour girl. He could be tried as an adult.
Berlin. US Sec of State Powell says criticising Israel is not
anti-semitic, but using Nazi symbolism is. He was speaking at OSCE 2
day anti-Semitism meeting. Delegates also were told that with 57
nations present, the conf on stopping religious hatred needs to be
more inclusive. Maybe Muslims will be invited next time.
In Mosul, 1 US soldier has been killed and 4 wounded when a
hand-grenade was thrown at their vehicle outside the town. One of the
injured soldiers later died of his wounds. In the city centre, 1
Iraqi policeman was killed and several others wounded in another attack.
In Baghdad, Aussie Def Min Robert Hill has indicated AUS may supply
vehicles to the new Iraqi army. Sen Hill has met with provisional
Iraqi Mins and US Gov Bremer.
For a 4th night, explosions and gunfire have been heard across Ambon.
Several buildings were set on fire. 32 people are dead and more than
100 injured in the latest round of violence. Govt officials flew in
to assess the security sit'n, but observers say they didn't visit the city.
6 US soldiers have been charged with abusing prisoners in Iraq. Brig
Gen Mark Kimmitt said he wasn't going to defend them. But he claimed
the group were not given proper training. He begged his audience not
to judge the whole US military by the US officers that had been
running the notorious Saddam-era prison. One of the accused is a Gen.
6 Coalition military personnel have been charged with criminal
offences after an investigation into the alleged abuse of prisoners in Iraq.
Fed Treas Peter Costello has ruled out a further financial bail out
for car maker Mitsubishi, saying the company's troubles are out of
AUS's hands.
A woman has been killed and 6 other civilians wounded in an exchange
of gunfire between US soldiers and Shiite militiamen near the central
Iraqi city of Najaff, a hospital official said.
UN Sec-Gen Kofi Annan has said US raids on insurgents are worsening
the situation in Iraq and called for negotiations to help calm the situation.
Midday.
Analysts expect the main US attack on Fallujah to come over the weekend.
CBS TV has shown pix of US soldiers abusing prisoners in the notorious
Abu Gharib prison outside Baghdad. 6 soldiers have been put on
charges, incl the Brig Gen in charge of the prison. The defendants
claim they had never received proper training to run a prison. The
pix showed soldiers posing with naked prisoners forced into positions
simulating group sex. Another man was forced to get onto a box with a
hood over his head, and told if he fell off the box he'd been
electrocuted. Other excuseniks claim the CIA had asked the military
to "toughen up" the soldiers by exposing them to the human rights
abuses. "It was intoxicating" said one appeaser on "60 Minutes". The
program comes as a new Iraqi poll shows more than 50% of Iraqis say
the US military is doing more harm than good in the country. But 60%
think the removal of Saddam is worth the continued abuse.
An Iranian court has ruled a veterans' compensation case will go
forward. The veterans are claiming poison gas used against them by
Saddam Hussein was sold to Iraq by the US. They're claiming $800 mn in
compensation. The claim has been passed to the Swiss embassy in
Tehran. The Swiss have been the go-betweens since 1980 when the US
closed its embassy in Iran.
Lawyers for 5 children released from an Aussie concentration camp by
the Family Court face an uncertain future after the High Court ruled
the decision was not in the jurisdiction of the Family Court. The
High Court says the immigration act is the only legislation that
applies, and it makes no distinction between an adult or a child
asylum-seeker who are to be locked up for an indefinite period. The
children's lawyers plan to appeal the decision and are calling on the
govt not to lock them up. The Fed Court will consider the application
tomorrow. The temporary Im Min says the govt won't be making any
immediate decision.
5 pm
In Kut, 2 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed when insurgents attacked
their convoy.
The US military says fighting inside Najaff seems to be another group
attacking Moqtada al-Sadr's militias. There were no details about the
new group.
In Fallujah, a local reporter for NPR said there were firefights in
the N of the city where Marines are located. He also said airstrikes
were called in and dropped 10 bombs in the S of the city. Others
bombs were dropped in the E. There was no info of US casualties.
Marie cmdrs said they would not start joint patrols for at least 24
hrs. There are concerns the Iraqi police and CDF don't have enough
experience for the patrol job. The reporter said they were being
given an extra day of training [!!]. The report contradicts Pres
Bush's earlier comments. He had said that most of the city was quiet.
6.30 pm
A CBS/NYT poll says Pres Bush would lose to John Kerry if an election
were held now. It should support for the Iraq war and Pres Bush at
all-time lows.
Opinion polls in Israel show the Likud party will reject Sharon's
withdrawal plan. A party vote on the Gaza pull-out plan is due soon.
Elsewhere, the Israeli A-G has indicated he will not proceed in a
bribery case involving PM Sharon and 2 of his sons. There's not
enough evidence, he says.
7 pm
PM John Howard says he's "reviewing correspondence" concerning ABA
chief Prof David Flint. It's the first sing Flint may be sacked.
Tonight, Prof Flint survived an extraordinary ABA board meeting.
DIO head Frank Lewingcamp has to go, says Martin Toohey. He's a
political appointee, says Toohey, and is skewing the intel. The
defence investigator wants to appear before a parliamentary
investigation after he was pilloried for defending Lt Col Lance
Collins. Capt Toohey denies he leaked his report about the Collins
investigation. Elsewhere, the Defense "establishment" is closing ranks
about any investigation into Aussie intel.
In Italy, all 9 defendants recently arrested in connection with
terrorism have been freed by the courts. The court ruled the govt did
not present enough evidence. In England, 7 men who'd been detained
for questioning under the UK's new terrorism legislation have also been
freed without charge.
The Thai govt is under pressure over its use of deadly force in
pursuing alleged Islamic militants in the S provs. The govt originally
claimed to have shot dozens of militants in self defence. Now it's
emerging the army lured ate least one group into a trap. Another group
of 30 men was shot to death in a mosque. It was found they were armed
only with knives and machetes. The Malaysian govt has expressed
reservations about the violence crossing the border.
In another major embarrassment for PM Howard, a letter of support sent
to Allan Jones over the latest "cash for comment" and "peddling influence"
row was accidentally sent to John Laws who's now leaked it to the
press. The letter says the govt admires Jones and he should hang tough.
10.30 pm
8 US soldiers have been killed in a car bomb attack, S of Baghdad.
The deaths take the US toll for this m to 126.
11 pm
BBC World News. Has there been a peace deal in the siege of Fallujah?
US forces say they've reached an agreement, after several wks of heavy
fighting. Quoting US Marine cmdr Lt Col Burns the BBC says the US
forces will withdraw and a new force will replace the Marines around
the city. 1,100 Iraqi soldiers -- "The Fallujah Protection Army" --
headed by a Gen from the Saddam Hussein era will enforce security.
And the US forces would "protect" the new troops. But there's been no
official word about the plan from Baghdad.
Relatives of 3 security guards kidnapped in Iraq are planning to
demonstrate in Rome. They're calling on the population to support
their protest. A tape from the kidnappers said if the Italian people
held protests against the War and PM Berlusconi the mens lives would
be spared.
Pres Bush and VP Cheney continue to prepare for questioning by 9/11
commission. The Whitehouse says the meeting shows the Pres is
"committed to helping the inquiry", but opponents say Mr Bush only
agreed under weeks of intense pressure.
At a news conf to rally support for the EU expansion, French Pres
Chirac was non-committal about a referendum on the EU Const'n. He
described the expansion as "a giant step" that would "turn Europe into
a world economic power".
The Nikkei was closed today. Oil is down .70 to $US37.46/bbl. The
AUD continues to sink, trading around 71.76 US c.
Likudniks are angry that "The Bulldozer" wants to U-turn and pull out
of Gaza. Israeli PM Sharon has warned Likud if it rejects his plan it
will be a victory for Yassar Arafat and militant Palestinians. He
stopped short of threatening to resign if his plan is rejected. The
party can't support him and oppose his plan at same time, he says.
The Bush/Sharon plan calls for the 7,500 settlers from Gaza to leave,
but 400,000 in the W Bank and Jerusalem would stay where they are.
There are growing concerns the families of about 108 Muslim men killed
in the S provs of Thailand will launch revenge attacks.
}}
----------------------------------------
Fri, 30 Apr 2003.
INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES:
Bush and Cheney testify in secret
Terror attacks "at 30-y low"
8 US soldiers killed in Baghdad area, US military says
Filipino civilian contractor killed in Iraq
US to ease Fallujah siege, Iraq death toll leaps
US says terrorism down, but not in Iraq
US general under scrutiny in Iraqi prisoner case
SA confirms 5th nat'l killed in Iraq
Pope, Italians appeal for release of Iraq Hostages
Polls reveal Iraqi opp'n and fall in US support for war
Many Italians are opposed to the invasion and occupation of Iraq
Bush losing public support over Iraq
Brit mulls bigger role in Iraq as US errors raise the stakes
Bashir rearrested as supporters riot
Book studying cultural gap between Canada and the US wins Donner Prize
British police release terrorism suspects
CIA angers Russia by predicting break-up of state within 10 y
Canada claims victory in wood export row with US
Canada to decide on whether to join US missile defence by fall: Martin
China on holiday SARS alert at airports, stations
Colombian school bus accident claims 22 lives
Diesel fouls marsh near SF
Fiji mourns Mara
Google float forecast to raise $2.7 bn and turn founders into billionaires
Manifesto may hold key to Blair's future
New searchable database charts Bush/Cheney lies
PM costs Italy its media ranking
Police request calm after Bashir's re-arrest
Post workers defended after 70,000 thefts
Scientist believes Atlantis found off Cyprus
Sesame Street heads to Afghanistan
Space station trio return safely to Earth
Stock prices slide as US rates speculation continues
Thai extremists warn tourists to stay away
US military "pressuring" journalists
US stations to boycott troop tribute
US terrorism report condemns Iran, praises S Arabia
US troops pull back, bombing Fallujah on bloody day
AUSSIE HEADLINES:
ALP vows to protect coastline
Australia welcomes new Mitsubishi head
Children won't automatically return to detention: Howard
Community service for AFL ticket scalper
FTA offers marginal economic benefits: ALP
Filmmaker drops Blue Mountains appeal
Govt urged to condemn alleged Iraqi prisoners abuse
Govt warns under-performing job providers
Housing loans jump by 2.1%
Howard condemns Iraq prisoners' alleged treatment
Howard disputes intelligence concerns
IAG announces share buy-back details
Lack of university places 'wastes talent'
Latham renews calls for ABA inquiry
Mental health problems no longer taboo, AMA says
Ministers plan plea for Mitsubishi future
Mitsubishi set for extraordinary shareholders meeting
More funding announced to tackle drug problem
New study ramps up FTA benefits
Nothing untoward about Jones friendship, PM says
Nurses strike set to escalate
PM distances himself from Telstra price rise
Panel formed to continue delivery of Indigenous services
Regional intelligence spot on, says Howard
Site of Portuguese shipwreck to stay secret for time being
Telstra defends price increase
Wheat price claims worry Vaile
Stock prices slide as US rates speculation continues
NY/Sydney. There has been a further slide in stock prices on Wall
Street as conjecture increases about a rise in American interest rates.
A key inflation indicator has further spurred speculation that a move
by the US Federal Reserve is only m away.
The US Commerce Department has released economic growth figures
showing American Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rose at an annual pace
of 4.2% in the Mar quarter.
That is below the 5% rate that had been widely touted on
financial markets.
Within the figures, the PCE index, which is an inflation gauge based
on personal consumption spending and excluding volatile food and
energy prices, has almost doubled.
At the same time, first time claims for unemployment benefits have
fallen by 18,000 in the latest week.
The situation in Iraq has also kept investors wary.
The equity market weakness has come despite more reasonable profit
reports from the likes of Exxon Mobil and Time Warner.
On the NYSE, the Dow has surrendered early gains and fallen a further
70 points to close at 10,272.
Prices on the high-tech Nasdaq exchange have also succumbed, dropping
1.1% overall.
The Nasdaq composite index has lost another 31 points to 1,959.
Meanwhile, the search engine Google has named Morgan Stanley and
Credit Suisse First Boston as lead brokers to its $US2.7 bn share
market float, the documents for which have now been filed with US regulators.
The British market has slipped a touch lower with London's FT100 index
falling 5 points to 4,520.
Yesterday, the Australian market followed Wall Street's lead with
investors fretting about moves by China to put a break on its
overheating economy.
Lead by resource heavy weights, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, the All
Ords tumbled 43 points to 3,408.
On foreign exchange markets and the AUD has regained some ground.
At 7.30 am it was quoted at 72.10, up almost 0.4 c on the night.
Gold is priced at $US387.90/oz and a barrel of West Texas intermediate
crude oil is worth $US37.52/bbl.
Google float forecast to raise $2.7 bn and turn founders into billionaires
LA (Guardian). Google, the world's largest web search engine, marked
a coming of age last night when it filed to become a public company, a
move expected to raise $2.7 bn and make billionaires of its 2
30-something founders.
In a filing to US regulators, the 6-yo business also revealed the
state of its finances for the 1st time, info likely to be seized on by
rivals Microsoft and Yahoo!
The Californian company is expected to be valued at up to $25 bn in the
much-trailed flotation, expected to take place "as soon as practicable".
According to the SEC filing, the company made a net profit of $105.6 mn
last year on revenues of $962 mn, up from $347 mn a y before.
Founders Larry Page, 31, and Sergey Brin, 30, plan to retain a
controlling stake in the company through a two-tier share structure
echoing that of large media companies. Their stake, undisclosed last
night, is likely to be valued in the bns.
Googlers, the title adopted by company employees, will also share in
the bonanza.
In a folksy introduction to the prospectus, the founders emphasise the
importance of the company's culture, summed up as: "Don't be evil."
A letter to shareholders headed An Owner's Manual says: "Google is not
a conventional company. We do not intend to become one ... Our goal is
to develop services that improve the lives of as many people as possible --
to do things that matter."
The letter combines the wisdom of Warren Buffett, the famed Nebraskan
investor, with the accoutrements of a W Coast technology firm.
Staff perks such as free meals, doctors and washing machines will be
preserved.
In a swipe at the scandals that engulfed corporate America, the
founders promise not to massage quarterly figures to meet market expectations.
The letter quotes the Sage of Omaha: "If earnings figures are lumpy
when they reach HQ, they will be lumpy when they reach you."
Other existing investors in the company include members of the Sun
Valley gliterati such as Sun Microsystems co-founder Andy Bechtolsheim
as well as venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and
Sequoia Capital.
Investment bankers led by Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse First
Boston are expected to share $100 mn of fees.
Last night's announcement had been heralded with the sort of
anticipation much more common at the height of the internet boom.
Google, which accounted for more than 50% of all internet searches at
the end of last y, handles more than 200 mn web inquiries a day.
Figures issued last night show that the company made a pre-tax profit
of $155 mn on revenues of $389 mn in the 1st quarter of this y, against
$85 mn profit a y earlier.
The filing revealed that chief executive Eric Schmidt received
$552,000 in salary and bonus last y while founders Sergey Brin and
Larry Page were each paid $356,556 in salary and bonus.
Yesterday's release was attended by an extensive health warning
outlining the risks to investors if they decide to buy shares in the
company. Among the warnings was one about potential copyright violations.
Google also said that it was sued in 2002 by Overture Services, which
claims patent infringement related to advertisement placement processes.
Google said it believed the lawsuit was without merit.
Google is going public because new fed rules require companies with
more than 500 shareholders and $10 mn in assets to disclose more info
about their business.
The company makes money by displaying advertising alongside search
results, but it has also recently started a free email service, Gmail.
Canada claims victory in wood export row with US
Ottawa (AFP). Canada claimed a key victory in a bitter row over its
softwood lumber exports to the US, on the eve of PM Paul Martin's 1st
official visit to the White House.
A N American Free Trade Agreement dispute panel ruled that despite US
claims, American lumber producers had not suffered any damage as a
result of Canadian imports.
The long-running dispute has been a key sticking point in US-Canada
relations, and was likely to be a key bone of contention when Bush
hosts Martin Fri at the White House.
The lumber industry is a weighty political constituency in US states
and Canadian provinces important for both leaders in looming election
battles.
"This supports what Canada has been saying all along: Canadian
softwood lumber exports do not threaten to injure US producers," said
Canadian Internat'l Trade Min Jim Peterson in Washington.
"Once again, the panel has ruled in our favour. This is a significant
victory for Canada."
The US however defended its claims as said it was "disappointed" with
the ruling.
The NAFTA panel ruled there was no evidence to support a May 2002
determination by the US Internat'l Trade Commission, a quasi-judicial
US trade body, that Canadian imports would increase or depress prices.
It also ruled that claims that the US lumber industry was threatened
with material injury by subsidised or dumped Canadian imports were
"not supported by substantial evidence."
Following the commission's determination, the US Dept of Commerce
imposed countervailing and anti-dumping duties on Canadian lumber.
A US trade official in Washington however defended the ruling.
"We continue to believe that the ITC acted in accordance with US law,"
the official said.
"We continue to believe that it is in the interests of producers on
both sides of the border to reach a durable, long-term solution to the
lumber dispute."
The World Trade Organization has also ruled in Canada's favour in the
dispute, but its determination is not binding.
The US lumber industry is expected to push for an appeal of Thu's
verdict, but pressure will now mount on Ottawa and Washington for a
negotiated settlement.
"We will consider our options, including to pursue this matter further
in an extraordinary challenge," the US trade official said.
Colombian school bus accident claims 22 lives
Bogota (AFP). Residents from the Colombian capital Bogota are in
shock, one day after a 50-tonne excavator fell from a slope onto a
school bus, killing 22 children on their way home from school and one adult.
Colombian prosecutors have announced they are opening a manslaughter
investigation against the machine's operator, Reinaldo Blanco, 55, who
was undergoing surgery after suffering head injuries in Wed's accident.
The children who died in the accident were aged between 4 and 17 y old
and another 30 people were injured.
"There are no words to describe this. It is profoundly painful," mayor
Luis Eduardo Garzon, who declared Fri a day of mourning, said.
The city blamed the accident on the consortium operating the machine,
saying it violated security regulations for excavators.
Grieving parents claimed their children's bodies, while students at
Agustiniano Norte College awaited a funeral for their 22 fellow students.
Tragedy befell the city again on Thu when 2 children and one adult
were killed in two other accidents involving school buses.
Another 52 people were injured.
Canada to decide on whether to join US missile defence by fall: Martin
Washington (CP). Canada will decide by this fall whether to take part in
the US ballistic missile defence system, PM Paul Martin said Thu.
Asked about it at a news conference in Washington, Martin denied he
was trying to put off a contentious decision until after the fed
election. Talks on the issue must 1st resolve whether the proposed
missile defence system should come under Norad, the N American
Aerospace Defence Command -- as is preferred by Canada. A decision on
that should come in the early summer, Martin said.
And by this fall, "a decision on whether we are going to sign the
missile defence agreement or not will be taken," Martin said.
"Essentially, these are the time periods that have been set out to
take those decisions."
Martin's comments followed Defence Min David Pratt's remarks in the
House of Commons earlier Thu in Ottawa. Pratt said talks with the US
on the missile defence system are continuing and it likely will be
fall before a decision is made.
"They are fairly complex discussions," Pratt said. "They deal with a
number of complex issues which we are working hard to resolve."
Opp'n MPs quoted a published report saying Canada had agreed to sign
on to an aerospace early-warning system and that this almost ensures
it will join the missile defence system.
Pratt rep Darren Gibb said Canada has participated in space-based
early warning systems with the US for decades as part of Norad.
Pratt wrote to US Def Sec Donald Rumsfeld in Jan proposing talks on
the defence system.
"I made it clear that on behalf of the govt we were interested in
pursuing discussions with the US," Pratt told the House. "That did not
mean that we were ready to sign on to ballistic missile defence, not
by any stretch of the imagination."
The US plans to have the 1st handful of ground-based interceptors in
Alaska and California on line by fall. The system is supposed to
defend against a missile fired in error or by some rogue state. It is
not big enough to handle a full-scale missile assault.
One concern of the Canadian military is that if Canada refuses to
participate in the missile shield system, Norad will be marginalised. The
organisation has been a linchpin of Canadian defence policy for 50 y.
Opp'n MPs said the govt is hiding the announcement of participation in
missile defence to avoid it becoming an election issue.
But Pratt responded: "We have not signed on to ballistic missile defence."
Bush and Cheney testify in secret
Washington (Independent). Behind closed doors and without even a
recording being made of what they said, Pres George Bush and his
deputy Dick Cheney were questioned yesterday by the 11 Sep commission
about the Admin's failure to prevent the al-Qaeda attacks.
Before the private session began, the American public had been unsure
about the extent to which Mr Bush and his officials were warned about
the threat of Osama bin Laden's terror network; afterwards, they were
barely better informed. The only concession to the historical record
agreed by the White House was to allow 2 staff members of the
commission to take written notes.
Mr Bush had never wanted to face the commission he set up to
investigate the circumstances of the attacks. The Admin eventually
agreed that he and Mr Cheney would appear together, neither under
oath, in a single, closed-door session with the 10 commission members
in the Oval Office of the White House.
That was hailed as a breakthrough by the commission but, in exchange
for that concession, its chairman had to agree that Mr Bush, Mr Cheney
and no other snr officials would face further questioning. After the
three-hr session Mr Bush told reporters: "I'm glad I did it; it's important."
Asked if had been advised by his lawyer not to answer any specific
questions from the commissioners, he added: "I answered every question
they asked ... It's probably best I not go into the details of the
questions and let them incorporate [that] into their report ... If we
had anything to hide we would not have met them." The testimony of Mr
Bush and Mr Cheney has gripped Washington, with critics claiming the
Pres is trying to protect himself from scrutiny.
His defenders say presidents rarely testify in such circumstances and
the former president Bill Clinton -- also under scrutiny for what he
did and not do to tackle the threat from al-Qaeda -- also spoke to
the commission in private.
"This is a good opportunity for the Pres to sit down with members of
the commission and talk with them about the seriousness with which we
took the threat from al-Qaeda, the steps we were taking to confront
it, and how we have been responding to the attacks of 11 Sep," Mr
Bush's rep, Scott McClellan, said.
The commissioners arrived at the White House at about 9.15 am and
gathered for photographs around Mr Bush and Mr Cheney. Alberto
Gonzales, a snr White House lawyer and 2 unidentified members of his
staff were also present. The session began at 9.30 am.
There was much for the commission members to ask. Timothy Roemer, a
former Indiana Congressman and one of 5 Democrats on the commission,
said he would ask Mr Bush about the contents of an intel briefing
entitled "Bin Laden determined to strike in US" that was given to him
on 6 Aug, 2001, and what he did with that info. "Why wasn't [the
threat level] higher, given the threat levels in spring and summer
[of] 2001?" he said.
Some relatives of those killed in the attacks on NY and Washington
said they were looking for answers. "The purpose is not to lay blame
but to assess possible reforms," said Kristen Breitweiser, from NJ,
whose husband, Ronald, was killed.
The White House has been thrown on the defensive by claims that it did
not take seriously warnings about the growing threat from al-Qaeda in
the spring and summer of 2001. Richard Clarke, Mr Bush's former
counter-terrorism chief, and FBI whistle-blower Sibel Edmonds say
warnings were ignored.
CIA angers Russia by predicting break-up of state within 10 y
Moscow (Independent). Russia's political elite has been stung by a
recently de-classified CIA report that suggests the world's largest
country could fall apart at the seams in a decade and split into as
many as 8 different states.
The report, Global Trends 2015, has sparked a lively debate in Russia
about the country's territorial integrity and triggered passionate
denunciations from some of Russia's leading politicians. Its
unflinchingly bleak assessment of Russia's prospects has angered many
at a time when the Russian govt is doing its best to talk up the economy.
The fact that the gloomy prognosis comes from its old Cold War enemy
makes it all the harder for Russia to swallow. But many ordinary
Russians seem to share the CIA's pessimism.
An opinion poll conducted by radio station Ekho Moskvy earlier this wk
revealed that 71% of those surveyed [3,380 people] thought that the
disintegration of the motherland was a "real threat".
Yesterday's Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper printed a map for its
readers showing how Russia might look by 2015 if the CIA is right. It
showed Siberia broken up into 4 different countries, with W Russia
similarly partitioned.
It is not for nothing that president Vladimir Putin's party is called
United Russia. According to the CIA, some of Russia's eastern regions
are so rich in natural resources such as oil and gas that they will
opt to break away from Moscow, which they have long accused of poor governance.
Komsomolskaya Pravda was dismissive of the report. "Either the CIA has
super perspicacious analysts who can see what mortal Russians,
including politicians and political scientists, cannot, or someone has
got it wrong," it said.
Boris Gryzlov, the speaker of the Russian parliament, said: "I
completely reject the possibility of Russia breaking up.
"Over the past 4 y, a lot has been done to strengthen vertical power
and legislation in the constituent parts of the Russian Federation was
brought into line with the constitution a long time ago."
According to the CIA report, a falling birth rate meant that the
country's population was likely to decline to 130 mn by 2015 from 146
mn today. It also painted a picture of Russia as a terminally ill patient.
"The Soviet economic inheritance will continue to plague Russia," the
report said. "Besides a crumbling physical infrastructure, y of
environmental neglect are taking a toll on the population, a toll made
worse by such societal costs of transition as alcoholism, cardiac
diseases, drugs and a worsening health delivery system. Russia's
population is not only getting smaller, but it is becoming less and
less healthy and less able to serve as an engine of economic recover."
Dmitry Orlov, the director of Russia's political and economic
communications agency, claimed the CIA had an ulterior motive. "The
conservative wing of the American Republican party is interested in
the maximum weakening of Russia's position and maybe even in its
fragmentation," Mr Orlov told the Izvestia newspaper.
PM costs Italy its media ranking
Rome (Guardian). Silvio Berlusconi's hold on the media was blamed
yesterday for Italy being downgraded in a global survey of press and
TV freedoms, to the same "partly free" class as Albania, Mongolia and
Burkina Faso.
The latest blow to its democratic credentials came as the senate gave
final approval to the controversial media bill which opponents of Mr
Berlusconi's govt say is tailored to the interests of his vast media empire.
The independence of TV in particular will be a key theme in
the campaign for the local and European elections in mid-Jun.
Earlier this wk one of country's best-known broadcasters resigned to
stand as a candidate for the centre-left, saying the publicly owned
RAI network was trimming its news coverage to please the govt as never before.
And earlier this m the European parliament singled out Italy as the
country in which the media was concentrated in fewest hands.
All 6 main TV channels are answerable, directly or indirectly,
to the PM, Mr Berlusconi.
Explaining its decision, Freedom House, a non-profit organisation
partly financed by the US govt, said yesterday: "Berlusconi's
substantial family business holdings control the 3 largest private
TV stations and one newspaper, as well as a significant
portion of the advertising market. As PM, he is able to exert
influence over public service broadcaster RAI as well."
Freedom House assessed 193 countries and ranked Italy 74th, below Mali
and Benin. The UK was 37th.
The last place went to N Korea. Jointly top of the list were Denmark,
Iceland and Sweden.
The organisation concluded that 5% less of the world's population now
lived in countries with media classed as free.
"Some of the most serious setbacks took place in countries where
democracy is back-sliding, such as Bolivia and Russia, and in older,
established democracies, most notably Italy," it said.
The legislation approved yesterday is a revamped version of a bill the
president, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, refused to sign last y. He is bound
by the constitution to approve the revised text.
US military "pressuring" journalists
Al-Jazeera: accused of taking an "anti-coalition stance"
Baghdad (Guardian, 14 Apr 2004). The US military has been accused of
threatening the media covering the conflict in Iraq and pressuring
journalists into presenting a one-sided picture of events.
Al-Jazeera, the Arab TV channel, made the accusations after a US army
rep, Brig Gen Kimmitt, accused the station and the Dubai-based
al-Arabiya news channel, of taking an "anti-coalition" stance in their
reporting.
The already fractious relationship between the US military in Iraq and
Arab media has been made more difficult by pictures of wounded
civilians within the besieged town of Fallujah. The American Admin in
Iraq accused al-Jazeera of exaggerating the number of civilian
casualties and helping to boost anti-coalition sentiment.
The US marine cmdr in charge of Fallujah has said the majority of the
estimated 600 people killed in the 4-day conflict were legitimate
targets, saying, "95% of those were military age males that were
killed in the fighting". However al-Jazeera and al-Arabiya have
repeatedly shown pictures of women and children among the dead and injured.
In a statement the TV channel said the US military was putting
"unjustified pressure on the media".
"Al-Jazeera rejects these accusations and considers them a threat to
the right of the media to cover the reality in Iraq amid a difficult
and complex situation on the ground."
Al-Jazeera's accusations follow suggestions that US soldiers fired on
a reporting team from the station based in Fallujah and had made the
removal of al-Jazeera's crew from the town one of its terms for a
ceasefire with the rebels.
A rep added that the station felt compelled to make it clear to
viewers that it was broadcasting an unbiased account of events in Iraq.
"We felt it was a grave accusation and wanted to set the record straight.
Al-Jazeera is determined to maintain its professional integrity and
reporting in a balanced way," he said.
Al-Jazeera's claims come amid increasing concern that the mounting
dangers facing W journalists in Iraq could mean the end of independent
reporting from the country.
* "We will not operate outside Baghdad"
James Hider, a Times reporter who is embedded with US Marines nr the
front line outside Fallujah, said the threat of kidnapping had become
so acute that the majority of W journalists were no longer venturing
beyond Baghdad.
"It was very serious even before the current situation, but for the
past month it has got much worse. The kidnappings and shooting are
coming thick and fast.
"We've more or less decided not to operate outside Baghdad. A lot of
pretty seasoned war correspondents have decided it's not worth the
risk," Hider told MediaGuardian.co.uk.
Hider, whose colleague Stephen Farrell was kidnapped and eventually
released last wk, said the only way he and a group of other W media
personnel had made it to Fallujah was on heavily armed US helicopter gunships.
Francis Harris, the deputy foreign news editor at the Daily Telegraph,
said the situation in Iraq could get to the stage where the paper
would consider withdrawing its reporters.
"It could come to that. What would trigger an exodus is something bad
happening to a Brit journalist.
"If that happens you'd get to a situation like Beirut in the 1980s,
when everybody left except a hardened few."
* "If bandits are after cash you are in real trouble"
Hider said the journalists who were most at risk of kidnapping were
those with little experience of the country or those who were on
short-term visits.
"A lot of people come in on short-term visits and pick up drivers and
translators not knowing who they are. There have been a few
kidnappings that have had the look of inside jobs. So we work with a
trusted pool of drivers and translators."
In spite of the increasingly serious situation in Iraq, Hider said he
believed the W press would stay even if journalists were restricted to
Baghdad and the Palestine Hotel, which is being used as a base by most
foreign journalists in the country.
"The Palestine Hotel is pretty much unassailable. It's unlikely
journalists would be driven out, it's just that then the danger is
that you couldn't get the story."
He said the real threat to journalists came from bands of Iraqi
insurgents unconnected with the main resistance group.
"The level of danger depends on who you get kidnapped by. If it's the
hard core resistance, they are fairly disciplined and want journalists
to come in and see what the US is doing. If you get taken by some
dodgy group that's little more than a group of bandits that have
decided to join up with the resistance movement or are after cash,
then you are in real trouble."
* Movement of Brit journalists restricted
The Daily Telegraph currently has its staff reporter, David Blair, and
freelance stringer, Jack Fairweather, on the ground in Baghdad, but
Harris said their movements were being hampered by the growing danger
from kidnappers and resistance fighters outside the capital.
"It has greatly limited their ability to travel outside Baghdad.
"They are being considerably more cautious than they were before this
trouble began. But inevitably in order to do the job, they need to
talk to people. It's never been the policy of this paper or any other
Brit paper to have reporters go around in forests of guns to guarantee
their security," he said.
"If it becomes too dangerous you end up with journalists locked up in
secure zones interviewing each other and relying on the authorities
for info," he said.
Over the past week, as well as Farrell, a French journalist, 2
Japanese and 2 Czech journalists have been kidnapped along with a
growing number of foreign contract workers.
Hider said most experienced journalists had been using ordinary Iraqi
cars and were accompanied by a trusted driver and translator when
venturing around Baghdad or to other towns.
But even with extra precautions such as tinted windows and disguises,
Hider said travelling on the roads to key areas such as Najaff and Kut
was now deemed too dangerous by most journalists.
On his last drive outside of Baghdad -- to Najaff -- Hider said he and
his colleagues had had to run the gauntlet of burning vehicles and
shooting on either side of the road.
"The danger has been being mistaken for a contractor. The number one
rule is, don't be driven around in a big white 4x4 like the ones used
by contractors, because they are basically bullet magnets.
Govt urged to condemn alleged Iraqi prisoners abuse
Canberra. The Fed Opp'n has called on the AUS Govt to be forthright
in its condemnation of the alleged mistreatment of prisoners at an
Iraqi prison. A US TV program has shown photos of naked
prisoners being forced to simulate sexual acts. Other pictures show a
man with wires attached to his genitals. Labor's foreign affairs
spokesman Kevin Rudd told the ABC's Lateline program, Australia has
responsibilities as an occupying power to help prevent such incidents
which have the potential to destabilise an already fragile situation.
"I think once this hits the Al Jazeera network and more widely across
the Middle East it's not going to help things," he said. "It may
attract further jihadists from outside Iraq into Iraq and in terms of
the existing fragile basis of support within Iraq, it's simply not
going to help."
US general under scrutiny in Iraqi prisoner case
The incidents are alleged to have occurred at Abu Ghraib prison.
Baghdad (Reuters). The US military is weighing disciplinary action
against the Army general who was in charge of a prison on the western
outskirts of Baghdad where American troops were accused of abusing
Iraqi prisoners, according to officials.
The CBS News program 60 Minutes II on Wed aired photographs
taken at the prison late last year showing American troops abusing
some of the Iraqis held at the Abu Ghraib prison, a notorious centre
of torture and executions under toppled president Saddam Hussein's govt.
The pictures showed US troops smiling, posing, laughing or giving the
thumbs-up sign as naked, male Iraqi prisoners were stacked in a
pyramid or positioned to simulate sex acts with one another.
One Iraqi man had a slur written on his skin in English. Another was
directed by Americans to stand on a box with his head covered, and
wires attached to his hands, and was informed that if he fell off the
box, he would be electrocuted.
Brig Gen Janice Karpinski, in charge of the prison, could be relieved
of her command, blocked from promotion or receive a letter of
reprimand after a non-criminal administrative investigation relating to
events at Abu Ghraib prison, said Col Jill Morgenthaler, a
military spokeswoman in Baghdad.
Brig Gen Karpinski, who left Iraq earlier this year as part of a
scheduled rotation of US forces, "might be determined to be
blameless", Col Morgenthaler said.
"We found it very abhorrent that American soldiers indulged in those
acts of humiliation. And second of all, they photographed these acts.
It's very shameful."
* Swift response
Lt Gen Ricardo Sanchez, the top US officer in Iraq, "responded
swiftly" upon learning of the conduct with criminal and administrative
investigations, Col Morgenthaler said.
The US military now holds several thousand prisoners at Abu Ghraib,
most of them rounded up on suspicion of carrying out attacks against
US-led forces.
The US military announced on Mar 20 it had brought criminal charges
against 6 soldiers with the 800th Military Police Brigade, which could
lead to court-martials.
The charges, stemming from a probe launched in Jan, relate to
accusations of abuses carried out in Nov and Dec 2003 on
around 20 detainees at the prison.
The charges included indecent acts with another person, maltreatment,
battery, dereliction of duty and aggravated assault, Col Morgenthaler said.
She said a non-criminal administrative investigation also has resulted
in recommendations of disciplinary action against 5 officers and three
other service members.
[After 36 hrs...]
Howard condemns Iraq prisoners' alleged treatment
Canberra. PM John Howard has condemned the treatment of Iraqi
prisoners by the United States military. Photographs were aired on an
American TV network yesterday, showing prisoners stacked in a
human pyramid and one detainee standing on a box with a hood over his
head and wires attached to him. The photos were taken at a prison
near Baghdad where US Military Police are holding and interrogating
hundreds of captured Iraqis. Six Military Police members are now
facing court martial over the prisoner's treatment. Mr Howard told
Southern Cross Radio what has allegedly occurred is not helpful. "I
was appalled but I note immediately they are court martialling
people," he said. "People who did far worse than that under Saddam
Hussein were promoted, they weren't court martialled. "They were
lauded, they were encouraged, it was an instrument of state policy to
do far worse than that."
US stations to boycott troop tribute
[In a fit of corporate projection, Sinclair officials say "Nightline"
has a political agenda. They say, instead of broadcasting the names
of dead soldiers, the program should recite the names of 1000s of
people that have died in terrorist attacks since 9/11, incl those who
died in the WTC attacks. "Nightline" has responded with "we have
already, STOO-pid"].
NY (Reuters). A major TV chain, the Sinclair Broadcast Group, is
barring its ABC-affiliated stations from airing a planned Nightline
tribute to fallen US troops in Iraq, saying the program is a political
statement disguised as news.
ABC News plans to devote Fri's entire Nightline segment to the
tribute, with anchor Ted Koppel reading aloud the names of hundreds of
fallen American servicemen and women as their photographs are shown.
The network's intentions drew a denunciation from Sinclair, a
Baltimore-based owner of 62 TV stations in 39 markets reaching
roughly 24% of US TV households.
Sinclair says the Nightline segment "appears to be motivated by a
political agenda designed to undermine the efforts of the United
States in Iraq".
In a statement posted on its website, the broadcast group accuses
Koppel and his show of seeking to "highlight only one aspect of the
war effort and in doing so to influence public opinion against the
military action in Iraq."
An ABC News spokesman says Sinclair's decision to pre-empt Fri's
Nightline on its stations would remove the program in at least 7
markets: St Louis, Missouri; Columbus, Ohio; Charleston, West
Virginia; Pensacola, Florida; Springfield, Massachusetts, and
Asheville and Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Sticking to its plans, ABC News defends the planned broadcast as "an
expression of respect which simply seeks to honour those who have laid
down their lives for this country".
In an interview with Internet media report Poynteronline, Koppel
himself rejects the notion that he is out to make a political point.
"Just look at these people. Look at their names. And look at their
ages. Consider what they've done for you. Honour them," Koppel said.
"I truly believe that people will take away from this program the
reflection of what they bring to it."
Sinclair's boycott drew a sharp rebuke from U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey,
a New York Democrat and leading congressional critic of newly relaxed
media ownership regulations adopted last year by the Federal
Communications Commission.
"The decision by Sinclair to keep this program off its stations is
being made by a corporation with a political agenda without regard to
the wants or needs of its viewers," Hinchey said.
"This move may be providing a chilling look into the future if we
allow media ownership to be consolidated into fewer and fewer hands."
A Washington-based liberal think tank, the Centre for American
Progress, cites campaign contribution reports showing Sinclair
executives have donated more than $130,000 to President George W Bush
and his political allies since 2000.
Bush losing public support over Iraq
...Americans have become much less positive about both the rationale
for the war and about the way the war is progressing
-- Gallup
NY (AFP/Aljazeera). Approval for Pres Bush's handling of Iraq
drops to 41% American support for Pres George Bush over Iraq is
wavering as unrest and the US death toll mounts.
The 100s of military deaths in the y since Bush declared major combat
over, the failure to find WMD and the fraying of the occupation have
all shaken many Americans.
But until recently a majority had shown confidence in Bush, who faces
a presidential election in 6 m.
According to a NY Times/CBS poll published on Thu, however, the number
of Americans who feel the 20 Mar 2003 invasion was justified has
fallen to 47%, from 58% a m ago and 63% in Dec.
Approval of Bush's handling of Iraq has dropped to 41% from 49% last
month and 59% in Dec.
* Lowest ratings
Bush's overall approval rating dropped to 46%, the lowest of his
presidency and 3%age points lower than last m. It was 89% after the
Sep 11 attacks, and 71% at the start of the Iraq invasion.
In the polls, 46% said the US should have stayed out of Iraq, up from
37% a m ago while 58% said the results of the invasion were not worth
the loss of American lives, up from 54% a m ago.
A USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll of 3,444 Iraqis released on Thu showed
they were growing weary of the occupation, with 57% wanting the US-led
occupation out immediately, despite fears it could place them in
greater jeopardy.
While 61% of Iraqis felt the invasion to oust Saddam Hussein as
president was worth it, 46% said it did Iraq more harm than good.
* Kerry struggles
But polls do not show a major swing of support for Democratic
presidential contender John Kerry as events in Iraq worsen.
A Gallup poll released this m found that 48% of adults supported the
Republican president, while 46% supported John Kerry.
"Over the last 12 m, Americans have become much less positive about
both the rationale for the war and about the way the war is
progressing," the Gallup organisation said.
"Yet even now, there is a majority [albeit a bare majority] who
support the basic concept of the US presence in Iraq. As long as that
majority holds, Bush will continue to be able to hold off his
critics," it added.
Poll: Americans' support for Iraq war falling
NY (VOA). A new poll finds that Americans' support for the war in
Iraq has dropped sharply in the last m.
Less than 1/2 of those surveyed, 47%, say the United States did the
right thing by taking military action in Iraq.
That number is down from 58% in Mar and 63% back in Dec.
The poll by The NY Times and CBS News measures Mr Bush's approval
rating at 46%, down 5% from the same poll in Mar and down more than
20% from 1 ya.
The drop comes after a m of attacks and clashes in Iraq that have
killed at least 125 US military personnel.
Like other polls, the new survey shows a close race between Mr. Bush
and his main challenger in the Nov election, Democrat John Kerry.
Asked who they would vote for if the election were held today, 46% of
registered voters said they would vote for Mr Kerry, 44% for Mr Bush.
When independent candidate Ralph Nader was factored into the race,
Mr. Bush came out slightly ahead, suggesting that Mr Nader is drawing
most of his support from voters who would otherwise support Mr Kerry.
The poll of 1,042 Americans was conducted last weekend.
Polls reveal Iraqi opp'n and fall in US support for war
Washington/Baghdad (Independent). In a particularly ominous turn for
Pres George Bush, opinion is hardening in both the US and Iraq against
his handling of the Iraq conflict, amid rumblings of unease in the
military and among diplomats at the course of events there and the
Middle E as a whole.
According to a NY Times/CBS News poll, for the 1st time less than half
of Americans -- 47% -- now believe it was the right decision to invade
Iraq. Support has slumped from 58% just last m, 63% in Dec, and over
70% when the war began.
That finding coincides with a no less alarming survey of the mood
within Iraq itself. The basic message of a new CNN-USA Today poll is
that ordinary Iraqis are glad that Saddam Hussein has gone but feel
less secure than when he was in power. They no longer regard US forces
as liberators, but as heavy-handed occupiers.
By a 56-37 majority, Iraqis would prefer US and Brit troops to leave
their country at once. Over 2/3 believe that, during military
operations, US forces are "not trying at all" to protect ordinary
civilians from being killed or wounded.
Almost 3,500 Iraqis, from all sections of the population, were
interviewed, in the biggest exercise of its kind yet. Opinion is split
on whether Iraq as a whole is better off as a result of the invasion,
although a clear majority say they personally and their families are
financially better off.
However, the poll includes the semi-autonomous Kurdish areas of Iraq,
where support for the invasion was almost 100%. In Baghdad itself, by
a 3 to one majority, people now believe the war has done more harm
than good.
2/3 of Baghdadis say the current attacks against US forces are
sometimes or always justifiable. Much of the polling, moreover, was
carried out before the latest upsurge in violence, and the flare-ups
in the cities of Najaff and Fallujah.
It is very difficult in Baghdad to find anybody willing to say a good
word for the US. "The Americans really have made a terrible mess of
it," complained Dr Mahmoud Othman, veteran opponent of Saddam Hussein
and a member of the US appointed Iraqi Governing Council in Baghdad.
"People in Baghdad, a y after the US took over, are afraid to leave
their homes even in the daytime. That is real failure."
Abu Amir, a shopkeeper in the middle-class Jadriyah district of the
capital, said: "Under Saddam, I sometimes did not make money in my
store but I could go home in the evening without worrying if my son
had got back safely. Now there is looting everywhere."
The mood is no better on the home front, on the eve of the 1st
anniversary of Mr Bush's "Mission Accomplished" appearance on the
aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, in which he announced an end to
"major combat operations" in Iraq.
Speaking in Denmark yesterday, Colin Powell, the Secretary of State,
conceded the US military had faced "tough" wk in Iraq. When casualties
were rising, he said, "this causes people to stop and think and
reflect, 'What are we doing?"
Gen Powell was speaking hours after 10 more US soldiers were
killed in Iraq, 8 of them in a car bombing nr Baghdad. At least 126 US
servicemen died in Iraq in Apr 2004, making it the bloodiest m of the
conflict by far.
During the 7-wk war proper, only 109 US troops were lost to hostile
action. During a teleconference with Mr Bush this wk, Gen John
Abizaid, head of US Central command and in overall charge of the Iraq
campaign, is said to have expressed his fear that if the Fallujah and
Najaff rebellions were quashed, the fighting might nonetheless spread.
Gen Abizaid is also worried that more Iraqis were not opposing the insurgents.
The Pentagon, meanwhile, is urgently shipping more heavy armour to
Iraq, after complaints by cmdrs on the ground that existing equipment
offers insufficient protection.
The growing criticism of the Admin's Iraq policies is not translating
into increased support for Sen John Kerry, Mr Bush's probable Presid'l
election opponent in Nov. According to the New York Times/CBS poll,
the 2 are still virtually tied.
Manifesto may hold key to Blair's future
London (Guardian). Tony Blair's long-term political future as PM may
depend on whether he can secure a radical third-term election
manifesto bearing his personal imprint, some of his closest aides believe.
They say that discussions under way at the top of the party will
decide whether he has to settle for a safety-first manifesto largely
based on the govt's successful economic record or achieves a
ground-breaking platform that might galvanise his demoralised troops.
Blairites fear that the "safety-first" mandate is the preferred option
of the chancellor, Gordon Brown. That assumption infuriates the Brown
camp: the chancellor's aides point out that he is pushing the radical
theme of personalised welfare services.
The dispute is unlikely to be resolved during the 3-y spending review
and the writing of dept'al 5 y plans.
Mr Brown and Mr Blair are cooperating better than for some time, but
the PM is suffering an unprecedented torrent of speculation that he
will be forced to stand down before the election, or soon after a 3rd
term victory.
The health secretary, John Reid, tried to end the speculation, saying:
"If the Brit people are willing and God is willing, Mr Blair will
serve a full 3rd term."
In truth, no snr Labour politician can say anything else, and few can
have any idea if they are speaking the truth.
The speculation has been given fresh impetus by the sense that Mr
Blair's authority has been drained by the muddled handling of recent
announcements and the sense that the decision to hold a referendum on
the European constitution was forced upon him.
Yesterday he won the support of 5 cabinet members on the referendum
decision, including that of Charles Clarke, the education secretary
and one of the bruised egos most aggrieved at the lack of consultation.
Mr Blair told the cabinet that some of the announcements made in the
past fortnight, including the European referendum, identity cards and
immigration, had been difficult, but would strengthen the party in the
long term.
Ground had been cleared for Labour to fight the European and local
elections on the party's economic and public services agenda, Downing St said.
The party is still convinced that there is a contrast between the
electorate's local optimism about the state of improving public
services and its nat'l pessimism.
Labour will launch its local election agenda on Tue, hoping to make
inroads in some of the metropolitan seats lost 4 y ago.
Yesterday's announcement of limited capping of "overspending councils"
may help.
The party is insisting that it will run distinctive European and local
campaigns, built around the theme that Brit is better under Labour:
Don't Let the Tories Wreck, a reversal of a familiar Tory postwar
election slogan.
The triumvirate of Gordon Brown, the party chairman Ian McCartney, and
the deputy PM John Prescott will take charge of the election grid, the
schedule by which the party plans announcements.
Mins know that they will have difficult talks on the future
constitution of Europe at important inter-govt'l talks during the campaign.
But Mr Blair is about to make a big speech on education on Sun, trying
to prove that he still has a strong vision for the domestic issue most
closely associated with him.
New searchable database charts Bush/Cheney lies
Op/Ed (Daily Mis-lead). As the Sep 11th Commission grills Pres Bush
and VP Cheney about their contradictory statements today, we wanted to
alert you to a powerful new tool to help journalists, activists and
the public compare the Bush Admin's claims against well-documented
facts. The Center for American Progress today launched a comprehensive
Claim vs Fact database at
that documents
statements from conservatives like Pres Bush, VP Cheney, Members of
Congress and Fox News personalities, and compares those statements to
the facts. Each fact is sourced, and in many cases includes a web
link directly to that source.
The database has more than 400 entries so far, but THEY NEED YOUR HELP
BUILDING IT. If you know of a lie, distortion or dishonest statement
from a Bush Admin official or another conservative that isn't already
in the database, please go to their submission page at:
or
There you can
submit an entry for addition to the database, so that the tool grows
and becomes a real-time tracker of lies.
US terrorism report condemns Iran, praises S Arabia
Washington (AFP/Dawn). The US on Thu again condemned Iran as the
world's leading "state sponsor of terrorism" but praised Saudi Arabia,
which it said had made significant strides in combating extremist violence.
As in prev ys, the State Dept identified Iran as the chief exporter of
terrorism in its annual "Patterns of Global Terrorism" report, accusing
the Islamic republic of fomenting terrorist attacks throughout the
Middle East, particularly against Israel.
"Iran remained the most active state sponsor of terrorism in 2003,"
the report said, maintaining that Tehran's intel and security services
were responsible for supporting extremist groups and that the country
had failed to meet pledges to act against Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.
Iran's "Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Min'y of Intel and
Security were involved in the planning of and support for terrorist
acts and continued to exhort a variety of groups that use terrorism to
pursue their goals," it said.
The most egregious of these actions were Iran's continued funding of
and arms transfers to Palestinian "rejectionist groups," its attempts
to thwart the efforts of the US-led coalition in Iraq and its refusal
to turn over al-Qaeda operatives it says are in custody, according to
the report.
"During 2003, Iran maintained a high-profile role in encouraging
anti-Israeli activity, both rhetorically and operationally," it said,
citing Tehran's backing for Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic
Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-Gen Command.
All of those groups are designated "foreign terrorist organisations"
by Washington and subject to US sanctions, as is Iran. The report said
Iranian officials had encouraged Palestinians to carry out suicide
bombings against Israeli civilians and cited comments by a member of
the country's conservative religious leadership urging Iraqis to
follow that model in combating the US-led coalition there.
It also suggested that after Saddam Hussein's ouster in Apr, Iranian
operatives tried to sow discontent with the occupation among Shias in
southern Iraq and that elements of the govt assisted members of
terrorist organisations in escaping the coalition.
Other Middle E nations, with the exception of Syria and Lebanon, had
positive records in fighting terrorism in 2003, with Saudi Arabia
being singled out for exceptional work after deadly suicide attacks in
Riyadh in May and Nov.
Saudi Arabia has come under heavy criticism from US lawmakers for its
alleged unwillingness to deal with extremism, which manifested itself
in the fact that it was home to 15 of the 19 hijackers involved in the
Sep 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the US.
* PRAISE FOR S.ARABIA
But the report lauds Saudi actions taken since then.
"I would cite Saudi Arabia as an excellent example of a nation
increasingly focusing its political will to fight terrorism," the
State Dept counter terrorism coordinator, Cofer Black, wrote in the
introduction to the report.
"Saudi Arabia has launched an aggressive, comprehensive and
unprecedented campaign to hunt down terrorists, uncover their plots
and cut off their sources of funding," he said. "I have been greatly
impressed with the strides they have made and their seriousness of purpose."
Jordan and Morocco -- both of which were sites of terrorist attacks in
2003 -- were also cited for their cooperation in the global war on
terrorism, as were Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Tunisia and the Gulf states
of Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Terror attacks "at 30-y low"
Washington (BBC). Saudi Arabia has cracked down after several attacks
US govt figures suggest that terrorist attacks have fallen to the
lowest level for more than 30 y.
The annual report records a slight fall in the number of internat'l
attacks last y and a dramatic decrease in the number of victims.
The report says that less than half the number of people lost their
lives in such attacks last y compared with the y before.
However, most of the violence in Iraq has not been included in the figures.
The US govt routinely labels many attacks on coalition forces as
terrorism, but these do not fit within the report's definitions.
* Progress
Nevertheless, the State Dept coordinator for counter-terrorism, Cofer
Black, said there had been significant progress since the US declared
a war on terror in the wake of the 11 Sep attacks.
He said that last y there had been unprecedented cooperation between
the US and foreign countries to defeat terrorism.
The report goes out of its way to praise the work of Saudi Arabia in
fighting terror in the wake of 2 major attacks in the country last y.
The State Dept says the attacks galvanised the Saudi govt into action,
although the clear implication is that Saudi Arabia was not doing
enough before then.
The report also criticises some familiar targets.
Iran and Syria are among the countries still condemned as state
sponsors of terror.
Such state sponsors, argues the report, provide a critical foundation
for terrorist groups.
US says terrorism down, but not in Iraq
Washington (AP). There were fewer internat'l terrorist attacks last y
than any other y since 1969, the State Dept said Thu, although it
didn't include most of the violence in Iraq.
Though Bush Admin officials frequently refer to Iraqi insurgents as
terrorists, most attacks in Iraq were not considered internat'l
terrorism because they were directed at combatants, the report said.
"Increasingly, the line between insurgency and terrorism has been
blurred by anti-coalition attacks that have included suicide car
bombings at police stations, an Italian military police base and the
HQ of the Internat'l Red Cross," the State Dept said in its annual
report on terrorism.
The 181-page Patterns of Global Terrorism Report offered a
country-by-country review of terrorist attacks and cooperation in
fighting terrorism.
In its introduction, the State Dept's top counterterrorism official,
Cofer Black, cited Saudi Arabia "as an excellent example of a nation
increasingly focusing its political will to fight terrorism." The
kingdom has frequently been criticised by members of Congress for not
doing enough to stop terrorism.
Black said terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia in May and Nov "served to
strengthen Saudi resolve."
Black also said al-Qaeda "is no longer the organisation it once
was. ... Most of the group's snr leadership is dead or in custody,
its membership on the run and its capabilities sharply degraded." He
said more than 3,400 al-Qaeda suspects have been detained worldwide.
In a news conference, he described Abu Musab Zarqawi, a Sunni
extremist believed responsible for attacks in Iraq, as "a little bit
of an independent actor," sharing al-Qaeda's goals but not requiring
its direct guidance.
Of the 7 nations designated as sponsors of terrorism, the report said
Libya and Sudan "took significant steps to cooperate in the global war
on terrorism." But Cuba, Iran, Syria and N Korea didn't do enough to
sever their ties to terrorism.
Iraq technically remains on the list, because it can't be removed
until it has a govt in place. Pres Bush has exempted it from sanctions
imposed on state sponsors of terrorism.
Black said Iraq would probably be removed from the list after an
interim Iraqi govt takes power Jun 30 and shows it is renouncing terrorism.
The US has been improving relations with Libya, which Black said could
be removed from the list if it demonstrates it has cut ties to
terrorist groups.
Among the findings in the report:
* There were 190 acts of internat'l terrorism last y, compared with
198 in 2002 and 346 in 2001. It was the lowest figure in 34 y.
* In those attacks last y, 307 people were killed, compared with 725
in 2002; 1,593 people were wounded, compared with 2,013 in 2002.
* 35 Americans died in 15 internat'l terrorist attacks. The deadliest
was a May 12 attack by suicide bombers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that
killed 9 US citizens and 26 people overall.
* Anti-US attacks increased slightly to 82 from 77 in 2002. But they
have declined sharply since the 219 attacks in 2001.
* Asia had the highest number of internat'l terrorist attacks, with
159 people killed in 70 attacks.
Black credited improved internat'l cooperation with the drop in
internat'l terrorism. "The world is a far better place now in terms of
how we interact with each other," he said.
The figures do not include attacks considered to be domestic terrorism
in which foreigners weren't among the victims. For example, the report
listed three people killed in internat'l terrorism attacks last y in
all of Latin America. A nightclub bombing in Bogota, Colombia, that
killed 34 people wasn't included because it was considered domestic terrorism.
Thai extremists warn tourists to stay away
Dozens have been killed in Thailand clashes
Bangkok (ABC, Peter Lloyd). An Islamic extremist group suspected of
involvement in this week's uprising in southern Thailand has warned
foreigners to stay away from the country's main tourist destinations.
Britain and Denmark have already upgraded travel advisories but the
information provided by the Federal Government remains unchanged.
The threat covers resorts popular with Australians including Phuket,
Phi Phi and Krabi.
The destinations were named in a statement posted on an Internet site
run by the Pattani United Liberation Organisation (PULO) an established
separatist group blamed for bombing a southern Thai train station 3 y ago.
It said the "Pattani people are not responsible for anything [that]
happens to you after this warning".
It came a day after 108 suspected Islamic separatists were killed in
clashes that followed raids on police and army checkpoints in
provinces bordering Malaysia.
Extra troops are being sent to the region amid fears of more attacks.
Meanwhile, the Thai Def Min revealed the authorities believe up to 500
Thai Muslims have been to Syria, Libya, Pakistan and Afghanistan for training.
It is the first time a senior minister has conceded the existence of
links between Thai separatists and foreigners.
Security analysts have long feared international militant networks,
such as Al Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiah, might find a fertile recruiting
ground among the impoverished region's disaffected Muslim youth.
British police release terrorism suspects
London. British police have released all 10 people who were detained
almost two weeks ago on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks. The
9 men and one woman were arrested in a series of anti-terrorism raids
focusing on Manchester in north-west England. At the time, it was
speculated that the police had foiled an attack against a Manchester
United football match at Old Trafford stadium despite the fact no
bomb-making equipment had been found. The security service MI5 and
Scotland Yard were also involved in the operation. Several of those
who have been released have been re-arrested on unrelated immigration
offences and one has been deported to North Africa. Police are
refusing to give further details.
China on holiday SARS alert at airports, stations
Beijing (Reuters). Airports and rail stations across China are
checking temperatures of passengers from Beijing and eastern Anhui
province for SARS as the week-long May Day holiday approaches, state
media said Fri.
The Health Min'y has reported 4 diagnosed and 5 suspected cases of
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in Beijing and Anhui in recent
weeks, including one suspected SARS patient who died on Apr 19 in Anhui.
One of the confirmed cases was in critical condition, the ministry said.
"Railway stations and airports have been ordered to check the
temperatures of all passengers from Beijing and Anhui," the China
Daily said Fri.
Several countries, fearful of a repeat of last y's devastating SARS
outbreak, have started screening visitors from China. China said it
had notified foreign visitors that a Beijing disease control
laboratory could be the source of the new outbreak.
The World Health Organization, which has a team of about 16 people in
Beijing and Anhui investigating the latest outbreak, said Fri there
was an apparent "chain of transmission" in the cases so far.
"What we are saying at the moment is that there is no significant
public health threat from SARS in China," rep Bob Dietz said.
Hundreds of people have been isolated for observation but life in the
Chinese capital is going on at its usual hectic pace, with some
getting an early start to the holiday in which scores of mn of people
will travel.
The China Daily, quoting a snr official with the Nat'l Tourism Admin,
said tour-related industries were expected to reap $4.2 bn from
countrywide travel next wk.
At Beijing's main railway station and airport, virtually no one has
been seen wearing face masks, ubiquitous during last y's outbreak of
the deadly disease that killed nearly 800 people worldwide.
Vietnam, where 5 people died last y, has resumed checks on
temperatures of passengers from China, a newspaper said Thu, following
a similar move by Thailand. Canada has introduced voluntary screening.
SA confirms 5th nat'l killed in Iraq
Johannesburg (AFP/Times of India). A S African was killed in Iraq on
Thu, the 5th nat'l to die in the conflict, the foreign ministry said.
"The S African diplomatic mission in Kuwait has confirmed the death of
yet another S African in the ongoing conflict in Iraq," a foreign
ministry statement said.
Foreign ministry rep Ronnie Mamoepa told the SAPA news agency that
Pretoria was concerned about the S African deaths in Iraq
"particularly after the call by Deputy Foreign Min Aziz Pahad on S
Africans not to go to Iraq ."
A Brit military official said in the S Iraqi city of Basra that a
civilian, believed to be S African, was killed in a shooting.
2 S Africans died in Jan in Iraq and 2 others were killed in Apr.
The defence ministry warned in Mar that S Africans offering security
or military services in Iraq without official permission could face
prosecution.
A former policeman from Pretoria and 5 other S Africans who worked for
a company that provides security services to US civilians in Iraq were
wounded in a suicide bombing in Jan.
A S African security firm, Erinys Africa, has won a $multi-mn contract
to protect Iraq 's oil infrastructure.
Filipino civilian contractor killed in Iraq
Manila (AP). A Filipino civilian contractor has been killed in Iraq,
becoming the country's 1st casualty there, the president said Fri.
Despite the incident, Pres Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, a staunch US ally,
said the govt won't pull out its 41 soldiers, police and health
workers from central Iraq, or order the evacuation of about 4,000
workers contracted in the country.
"He was a private employee who died in an attack while travelling with
other nat'ls," Arroyo said in a statement.
She gave no other details, saying the govt was trying to confirm the
victim's identity.
"Filipinos are in the line of fire helping the Iraqi people rebuild
their nation," she said.
"This incident does not call for the mass evacuation of our workers,
although we are prepared for a calibrated response to any emergency."
She added: "I am not inclined to order the pullout of our humanitarian
contingent in Iraq since its members are actively involved in ensuring
the safety and security of our nat'ls."
"Our commitment to democracy and reconstruction is undiminished."
Arroyo said earlier this m that the mounting violence in Iraq had
prompted her govt to study whether to withdraw its troops -- but she
later said they'd stay indefinitely.
Many Italians are opposed to the invasion and occupation of Iraq
Rome (AFP/Aljazeera). Pope John Paul II has called for 3 Italian
hostages to be freed in Iraq, as 1000s of people marched through Rome
demanding their release and protesting against the occupation.
The families of the hostages led the demo on Thu, stressing they were
sending a message of peace, and refused to allow the march to become
politicised.
Police estimated the turnout at about 3000.
The crowd carried a huge rainbow coloured flag, the internat'l symbol
of the anti-Iraq war movement, but remained silent throughout the march.
The 3 security guards should be freed "in the name of the one God who
will judge us all", the pope said in a message read out by his foreign
minister, Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, in Saint Peter's Square.
* Vatican prayers
Lajolo said the head of the Roman Catholic Church was praying for the
hostages in his private chapel.
At the end of the march, the Vatican allowed a small number of people
onto the square to express their views, though police stopped a group
carrying a banner demanding the immediate withdrawal of the 3000
Italian troops from Iraq.
Arrangements for the march were made before Italy's main unions
refused on Tue to yield to demands by the kidnappers that the
traditional 1 May labour marches be turned into protests against the
presence of Italian troops in the US-led occupation force in Iraq.
The kidnappers, who have already murdered one of 4 men they seized on
12 Apr, Fabrizio Quattrocchi, have threatened to kill the others if
the demand is not met.
Italy has about 3,000 troops in the US-led occupation force in Iraq and
PM Silvio Berlusconi has said they will remain there despite the kidnappings.
Pope, Italians appeal for Release of Iraq Hostages
Baghdad (Reuters). 10 US soldiers were killed in attacks around
Baghdad on Thu, 8 of them in an apparent suicide car bombing just
south of the capital, the US military said.
The deaths took to 534 the number of US soldiers killed in action
since US-led forces invaded Iraq 13 m ago. About 125 of them have been
killed in Apr, the bloodiest m for US forces in Iraq since the invasion.
The car bomb went off just S of Baghdad nr Mahmudia at about 11.30
am, the US military said in a statement.
"A driver in a station wagon approached the task force. Once he was
close enough to inflict injury he detonated the explosive device," it
said a statement, which did not make clear whether the driver was in
the vehicle when it exploded.
The soldiers, who were searching for roadside bombs which are a
favourite insurgent weapon, were all from the 1AD and the wounded were
flown to a Baghdad military hospital by helicopter, it said.
Shortly before dawn, a US soldier was killed in a rocket-propelled
grenade attack in eastern Baghdad, a separate statement said.
At around 10 a.m, a roadside bomb killed a US soldier and wounded
another in the town of Baquba, 65 km N of Baghdad. Iraqi police
said an Iraqi civilian was also killed in the attack.
With just wk to go before the US hands over sovereignty to Iraqis on
Jun 30, US-led forces face a growing insurgency.
New polls showed Iraqi civilian deaths combined with heavy US losses
this m have eroded support for Pres Bush's war plan both among Iraqis
and among the Americans who will vote on his re-election in Nov.
8 US soldiers killed in Baghdad area, US military says
Baghdad (AP). 8 US soldiers were killed Thu in the Baghdad area, a US
military rep said. Media reports said the troops were killed in a car
bomb attack, but the rep had no details.
The Arab TV network Al-Arabiya reported that the troops were
killed in a car bomb explosion in the town of Mahmoudiyah, S of
Baghdad. The rep could not confirm the report.
The deaths came after another US soldier was killed Thu by a RPG
attack on his patrol in eastern Baghdad, the military said.
Another soldier was killed and another wounded Thu when a roadside
bomb exploded nr their convoy outside the city of Baquba, about 40 km
N of the capital, the military said.
The deaths raises to 126 the number of US service members killed in
combat in Apr, the bloodiest m for US forces in Iraq.
The military announced that another soldier died in a vehicle accident
in W Baghdad. At least 736 US troops have died in Iraq since the war
began in Mar 2003. Up to 1,200 Iraqis also have been killed this m.
US to ease Fallujah siege, Iraq death toll leaps
Fallujah (Reuters). US Marines agreed to ease their grip on Fallujah
Thu, striking a deal to entrust security to former Iraqi army officers
in hope of ending a month-long siege which has cost 100s of lives.
But new explosions as US jets pounded 3 areas in the volatile city and
sketchy details from US officers and local police made it unclear
whether the battle with an estimated 2,000 Sunni Muslim insurgents was
indeed ending.
On one of the bloodiest days of the bloodiest m for US troops in Iraq
-- 10 soldiers were killed, including 8 by a car bomb -- any progress
toward a peaceful settlement would be welcome news in Washington.
Previous deals in Fallujah, notably a cease-fire, have broken down and
heavy US air strikes this wk and some tough talk by Pres Bush seemed
to herald a possible all-out assault. But Marines and police said
troops would now start withdrawing from their siege lines.
Fallujah police chief Sabar al-Janabi told Reuters the withdrawal would
be completed by Fri. He said US officers seemed to have backed away
from insistence on conducting joint patrols with Iraqi forces in the
city, where US cmdrs say about 200 foreign Islamic militants may also
be operating.
A Marine rep at Fallujah confirmed US forces were pulling back from
some areas under a security deal agreed with former officers of the
Iraqi army.
Thousands of people have fled Fallujah, where doctors say 600 died
during a first US offensive 3 wk ago in retaliation for the killing of
4 American contractors.
A Reuters journalist watched US Marines open fire on a minibus at a
checkpoint on the outskirts, setting the vehicle ablaze. Up to 4
civilians died, a policeman said.
* EIGHT SOLDIERS KILLED
8 soldiers of the 1AD were killed and 4 wounded by a car bomb nr
Mahmudiya, just S of Baghdad, a US military rep said, making at least
10 soldiers dead in 3 attacks Thu.
That took to at least 125 the number of US service personnel killed in
action this m, far outnumbering the toll in the 3 wk it took to dash
to Baghdad and topple Saddam a y ago. In all, 534 have been killed
since the invasion of Iraq in Mar 2003.
US troops pull back, bombing Fallujah on bloody day
Fallujah (Reuters). US Marines have eased their grip on Fallujah, but
details of a deal with former Iraqi army officers remain sketchy and
new air strikes on the besieged city show a mo insurgency was not over.
On another bloody day in the bloodiest m for US troops in Iraq, 10
soldiers were killed on Thu -- including 8 by an apparent suicide car
bomber -- in attacks around Baghdad.
Within hours of Marine officers and Fallujah's police chief saying
troops were pulling back from some siege positions around the Sunni
bastion W of Baghdad, US warplanes again pounded districts where as
many as 2000 guerrillas are holed up.
As darkness fell, gunfire crackled across streets where ambulances
raced to the scene of the bombings. Doctors say about 600 people have
been killed since Marines encircled the city at the beginning of Apr
after the killing of 4 American security guards, whose bodies were
then mutilated in public.
Previous deals in Fallujah, notably a cease-fire 2 wk ago, have broken
down and US air strikes this wk and tough talk by Pres Bush seemed to
herald a possible all-out assault. The Pentagon said it had sent more
tanks to Fallujah and other restive areas around Baghdad.
UN Sec-Gen Kofi Annan urged restraint.
US officials are keen to stabilise the country before handing over
sovereignty to an interim Iraqi govt on Jun 30. Annan, whose envoy is
helping form a new Admin, said more military force could stiffen
guerrilla resistance.
The 10 latest US combat deaths brought to at least 125 the number of
Americans killed in action this m, far outnumbering the toll in the 3
wk it took to dash to Baghdad and topple Saddam Hussein a y ago.
A total of 534 have been killed in action since the US-led invasion of
Iraq in Mar last y.
Faced with violence such as the Baghdad car bomb and armed defiance in
Fallujah and the S holy Shi'te city of Najaff, Bush signalled he had
given US cmdrs a free hand.
"Our military cmdrs will take whatever actions necessary to secure
Fallujah," he said on Wed.
Bush's opinion poll ratings have slipped in the run-up to the US
presidential election in Nov, but Secretary of State Colin Powell said
showing US troops were back on top in Iraq could reverse the trend.
"Apr has been a particularly bad m for casualties... You can expect
this to be reflected in the polls," Powell said.
"But I am also convinced that once we deal with this current difficult
situation in Fallujah and down in Najaf...people will recognise we are
on top of it and the polls will reflect that."
Fallujah police chief Sabar al-Janabi told Reuters the US withdrawal
would be completed by Fri. US officers seemed to have backed away from
insistence on conducting joint patrols with Iraqi forces inside the
city, he said.
There was no word on previous US demands that guerrillas turn in heavy weapons.
A Marine rep in Fallujah confirmed US forces were pulling back from
some areas under a security deal agreed with former snr officers of
Saddam's old Iraqi army.
But it was unclear who the men were or what influence they had over
the guerrillas, some of whom, US officials say, are foreigners.
Thousands of civilians have fled the siege, a focus for increasing
Iraqi dismay with the US-led occupation, especially among the Sunni
minority dominant under Saddam.
A Reuters journalist watched Marines open fire on a minibus at a
checkpoint on the outskirts, setting the vehicle ablaze.
Up to 4 civilians died, an Iraqi policeman said.
Such incidents have angered many Iraqis who welcomed the fall of
Saddam. A new poll conducted before the latest surge of violence
showed Iraqis who disliked the outcome of the US-led war to oust
Saddam slightly outnumbered those who felt life had improved.
Around Najaff, US forces set up roadblocks, tightening a squeeze on the
Mehdi Army militia loyal to anti-American Shi'ite cleric Moqtada
al-Sadr, who has taken refuge among the shrines.
US cmdrs believe they can isolate Sadr and turn factional differences
among Shi'ite leaders to their advantage.
Sadr is popular with young, disaffected Shi'ites impatient for the
power their 60% majority could give them after decades of oppression.
But he is wanted over the murder of a rival cleric in Najaff last year
and has plenty of Shi'ite foes.
In other violence on Thu, a S African civilian was killed in a
drive-by shooting nr oil company offices in the S city of Basra. The
head of security for the vital N oilfields was wounded in Kirkuk.
Brit mulls bigger role in Iraq as US errors raise the stakes
London (Reuters). Brit military planners may be concluding that the
only way out of Iraq is to plunge in deeper in the hope of reversing
dangerous US missteps.
A looming decision on whether Brit will send a contingent of troops to
replace withdrawing Spaniards could lead to a major shift in the
balance of power in Iraq, with London eventually assuming control of
the entire Shiite south.
This would amount to a major gamble for PM Tony Blair, who is caught
between plunging his country deeper into a costly and unpopular occupation,
or watching the occupation fail if heavy-handed US tactics backfire.
"Does Brit want to be sucked even deeper into this crisis? On the
other hand, it's becoming increasingly obvious that the Brits are very
worried about what the Americans could do," said Tim Ripley, a
military analyst at Lancaster University.
"There is a great, great worry about the whole thing completely
unravelling if there was a bloodbath ... And the idea that they could
take it over and be responsible for the Shiites -- yes, it's a bigger
commitment, but it might be safer," Ripley said.
As the main US ally, Brit bore a far greater share of the burden of
invading Iraq last year than it has in occupying the country since.
At its peak during the war to oust former Iraqi president Saddam
Hussein, Brit's force of 45,000 troops -- its largest deployment in 50
y -- was about 1/6 the size of the US invasion force. Today, Brit's
7,500 troops patrolling Basra are little more than a 20th the size of
the US presence.
Much of that slack was taken up by other allies, including Poles,
Italians, Spaniards, Bulgarians, Ukrainians, Salvadorans and others,
who together outnumber Brit forces 2 to one. That has unquestionably
cost Brit clout in Baghdad.
Brit patrols Basra, Iraq's comparatively quiet 2nd city in the south,
while a Polish-led internat'l force patrols the "south central" zone,
the Shiite heartland S of the capital.
Spain's withdrawal and an uprising by Shiite militia have led to
worries about the long term viability of the 15-nation Polish-led force.
"That Polish multinat'l division is slowly unravelling," Ripley
said. "The Spanish were part of it. Some of the others who were part
of it are either pulling out or thinking of pulling out, or have
proved to be militarily ineffective."
Brit is discussing sending troops to replace 1,300 Spaniards
withdrawing from the Polish-led division. But experts expect that
sooner or later London would probably take over command of the Polish
division as other allies peel away.
The Times of London has discussed a possible plan to send over a
Brit-run NATO divisional HQ from Europe.
Along with Basra, that would give Brit responsibility for the entire
Shiite-dominated S half of Iraq, giving London a more substantial role
in what has so far been a US-run occupation.
"Together that's half the country. It's where the Brit can be most
effective," said Col Christopher Langton, head of the Internat'l
Institute for Strategic Studies in London.
"I think the Brit will feel that if they get into the central-south
they are going to have more influence. The mood here at the moment is
that we've got this problem, we've got to look at ways of solving it,"
he said.
There are already signs of such a shift, most notably the arrival in
Baghdad 2 wk ago of Brit Maj Gen John McColl, who set up and
commanded a Brit-led peace force in Kabul after Afghanistan's Taliban
rulers were toppled in 2001.
McColl will now take the role of deputy to the US cmdr in Iraq.
Brit's military called his arrival "a slight increase in our representation."
Brit officers consider the peacekeeping and counterinsurgency tactics
needed in S Iraq to be their forte.
"They are better at it and have more experience than the Americans,"
said Ellie Goldsworthy, head of the UK Military Studies program at the
Royal United Services Institute. "It may be that it's a good thing for
the Brit to extend the area over which they are responsible, because
Brit forces are particularly good at managing these types of situations."
Langton said the belief was now widespread in the Brit military
establishment that heavy-handed US military tactics had made the
situation worse by inflaming Iraqi public opinion.
"Nobody wants to criticise the effort the Americans have made, but I
think they accept -- and the Americans themselves accept -- that they
are constrained by their own doctrine," he said. "US military doctrine
is a war-fighting doctrine."
Brit leaders may hope to persuade the US to exercise more
restraint. But the price of influence is boots on the ground, Ripley said.
"By skulking in Basra, in many ways they were seen as being peripheral
players. The main event is Baghdad, the Shiite holy places, the centre
of the country. There is a logic that says 'Get people in because you
have more of a say over what goes on,'" he said.
Sesame Street heads to Afghanistan
LA (AFP). Elmo, Cookie Monster and the Sesame Street gang will help
Afghan teachers educate their students, many of whom have never been
in a classroom, project sponsors announced on Thu.
About 400 kits will be distributed in Afghanistan. They were prepared
by the Sesame Workshop, the show's non-profit educational arm, and the
Rand Corporation, a non-profit think-tank based in Santa Monica, Cal.
The kits include 10 videotapes, each with a 20 minute episode of Koche
Sesame the Afghan version of Sesame Street, a teacher handbook, a
poster and school supplies.
Children will see a dubbed version of the Egyptian show called Alam
Simsim, with some material from the United States, said Beatrice Chow
of the Sesame Workshop.
"Because of the Taliban's repressive regime, a large majority of
Afghan children have little or no educational background," said Cheryl
Benard, who heads Rand's portion of the project.
"This material has been assembled specifically to address the needs of
a post-conflict society."
Rand and the Sesame Workshop got help from Afghanistan's Min'y of
Information and Culture, Afghan teachers and media groups and
Afghan-Americans in selecting material for Afghan children.
"We are very pleased with this gift," said Sekander Giyam, adviser to
the Afghan minister of education. "We need our children to have their
eyes and their minds opened to new ideas," he said.
The videos will be also shown in women's centres, orphanages,
children's centres and in specially equipped travelling vans.
Episodes will be broadcast on national and provincial TV but
few Afghan families have TV sets.
The episodes help teachers with instruction, foster awareness of other
cultures, highlight opportunities for women and increase student
interest in education and careers.
It is funded, in part, by Qatar, which is helping rebuild Afghanistan.
Fiji mourns Mara
Suva. A predominately Indigenous Fijian crowd has turned out in their
thousands in Suva for the memorial service for the late PM and
president Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.
The open air service on Albert Park has been led by the Catholic
Archbishop of Suva.
School children and ordinary members of the Fijian community sat on
the side of the road, heads bowed, as a funeral party led by soldiers
and traditional warriors accompanied the coffin from Government House
to Albert Park.
Thousands then sat in the blazing sun during the extended service.
Catholic Archbishop Petero Mataca says Mr Mara spent his life working
for the unity of Fiji, where every man saw every woman as his sister
and every man as his brother.
Mr Mara's body now will be taken by boat to his home island of Lakeba
for burial on Mon.
* "Impressive" atmosphere
Australia's FM Alexander Downer says he encountered a most impressive
funeral atmosphere at Government House in Suva this morning.
He went there to sign the condolence book ahead of the open air
funeral service.
Mr Downer says Fiji is remembering a great figure of the Pacific, a
very traditional and most impressive man who had enormous integrity.
This is how Mr Downer described the atmosphere at Government House:
"Women sitting down all dressed in black, blowing the shells. The
warriors standing by, some of them painted in black, looking like the
Grim Reaper really.
"It nevertheless is a profoundly impressive atmosphere in that it
underlines the sense of sorrow at the death of a truly great chief and
it comes through very strongly."
Police request calm after Bashir's re-arrest
Supporters of Abu Bakar Bashir demonstrate outside Jakarta prison.
Jakarta (ABC/Reuters, Tim Palmer). Indonesian police have asked Abu
Bakar Bashir's supporters to remain calm today after announcing the
radical Muslim cleric would be re-arrested rather than freed from
prison as scheduled. The hundred or so members of radical
militia-like groups have protested outside the prison all wk. The
protesters include the Islamic Defenders Front and Bashir's own
Indonesian Mujahedeen Council and will be joined by hundreds more
supporters, most arriving from central Java through the night. They
have warned there could be violent consequences if Bashir is not freed
today when his sentence for immigration charges ends. Police say
Bashir will be held under anti-terror laws, citing evidence of
Bashir's involvement in training camps and recruitment for the Jemaah
Islamiah movement.
[Police say they have a document that places him at a JI training camp
and appointing militia cmdrs].
Bashir rearrested as supporters riot
Jakarta (ABC/Reuters, Tim Palmer). Radical Muslim cleric Abu Bakar
Bashir has been released from jail but was immediately re-arrested
despite the violent protest of hundreds of his supporters.
Bashir was loaded into a grey armoured police vehicle carrying a
single black suitcase and taken from Jakarta's Salemba Prison,
presumably to the national police headquarters in Jakarta.
Police questioned him this week regarding the Oct 2002 bomb blasts
in Bali which killed 202 people, but it was not clear under what
charges he was re-arrested.
"He has been detained. He was released by the penitentiary and we
handed him the arrest warrant and then detained him," Maj Gen
Suyitno Landung, head of the police criminal investigation department,
told Reuters.
According to a police warrant shown earlier in the week to reporters
when Bashir was being questioned, the allegations against him include
terror conspiracy, plotting attacks and the role of Jemaah Islamiah in
terror cases.
At around midnight local time there were 50 to 100 Bashir supporters
outside the jail vowing to stop police taking him.
During the night they were joined by hundreds more and negotiations
with police began at daybreak.
Within half an hour the negotiations had descended into chaos with
police using water cannon and tear gas to hold back the stone throwing crowds.
They have now driven hundreds of supporters through the streets around
the prison and Bashir has been taken away in relative calm.
Post workers defended after 70,000 thefts
London (Guardian). Postal workers stole 70,000 items of mail last y,
resulting in some 300 prosecutions, according to internal Royal Mail
figures obtained by the Guardian.
The figures suggest that scores of workers could be stealing,
according to one industry insider, but Royal Mail said the stolen
items, down from just under 107,000 in 2001-02, were just a fraction
of the more than 25 bn letters delivered each year.
More than 200 items were taken each working day, when 82 mn letters are
delivered, but Adam Crozier, chief executive, said the vast majority
of the 105,000 delivery staff were "conscientious and honest" and "not
only trusted but held in great affection by the public and the company".
The revelation came as Royal Mail rounded on a Channel 4 Dispatches
programme which last night claimed to expose widespread fraud, theft
and ineptitude in the postal service.
Mr Crozier said: "If there are any issues raised of any wrongdoing
then, absolutely, these people will be dealt with very quickly but
also very fairly. We will root it out."
Royal Mail employed a team of investigators and prosecutors to monitor
postal staff's work, and uses undercover sting operations to weed out
thieves, he added.
Alex Ricketts, from Postwatch, the consumer watchdog, said: "Royal
Mail do vet their staff and the overwhelming majority are honest but
every now and then they will get a few bad apples, as you will in any
walk of life."
But Norman Candy, a London executive member of the Communication
Workers' Union, the postal workers' union, said desperate managers
were often forced to take on untrained agency or casual staff, many of
whom could not pass a basic language test and were given no security check.
The CWU claims people with criminal records have been employed and
gangs have been operating for up to 10 y.
Mr Ricketts said chequebooks, debit and credit cards were the thieves'
main targets: "If they're methodical they've got access to all the
correspondence, the PIN numbers and then the card."
There is also evidence that criminals targeting the mail are becoming
more organised. Royal Mail's internal figures show an increase of
43,000 instances of "fraudulent redirections" from the y before, where
thieves redirect mail to steal credit cards and PIN numbers.
In the Channel 4 programme an undercover reporter got a job in the
Paddington office, with the only check on whether he was a criminal
being a form he was asked to sign to say he did not have any convictions.
On camera the programme captured letters lying on the floor, untrained
staff wandering lost through the streets as they try to deliver mail,
untrained managers, and working practices reminiscent of the
1970s. One worker tells the undercover reporter that he is working too
hard, saying "make it stretch", meaning he should sort letters more slowly.
Managers are alleged to have to pay "ghost overtime" to get people to
work the 8 hr they are supposed to, otherwise they go home 3-and-1/2
hr early.
Postal workers are caught on camera playing football in the office,
one running a business selling mobile phones and SIM cards while he is
supposed to be working, and another allegedly selling counterfeit trainers.
Clumps of mail are dumped around the office rather than being sorted,
and letters are sometimes torn to shreds when they become snagged in
the antiquated machines: "They lose a lot of letters, trust me", says
one postal worker caught on camera.
Perhaps most alarmingly the programme also revealed a gang scouring
letters and parcels in search of credit cards, cash and passports.
Postal workers from one sorting office, who asked not to be
identified, denied that theft, laziness and weak management was typical.
One 20-y veteran, who takes home #260 for a 40-hr week, said: "It
doesn't happen in my office. You go down to any floor, there are no
letters or parcels lying around."
"You've got cameras all over the place in any sensitive area, it's all
recorded. How are you going to take anything?"
Another said stealing would be madness for those who want to stay
employed in the service: "Anyone working full time for the Post Office
would not think of it."
But complaints about missing mail are on the rise, according to
Postwatch, an independent postal users group.
In 2003-4 it received 8,500 complaints compared to 2,500 2 y before.
A rep for the mail industry regulator, Postcomm, said it would
investigate if Channel 4 had any hard evidence. He added: "As far as we're
aware from the Royal Mail figures, they are moving in the right direction.
We can't micro-manage Royal Mail."
One option could see enforcement action taken against the state-owned
company which already faces a hefty fine for missing service delivery
targets because of last autumn's strikes. Only 90% of first-class mail
is delivered on time, against a target of 92.5%.
Mr Crozier, who is due to announce annual operating profits of #200 mn
next month after losses of #1.8 bn in the previous 2 y, also took issue
with the programme's portrayal of a service in terminal decline,
claiming full govt -- and union -- support for the board's modernisation
programme. including the shift to a single daily delivery.
Productivity and efficiency measures have been agreed at 1,100 of
1,400 delivery offices while Royal Mail is also seeking an end to
restrictive practices at some 78 mail centres, although Mr Crozier
admitted that some offices were resisting the changes.
Book studying cultural gap between Canada and the US wins Donner Prize
Toronto (CP). Environics president Michael Adams has won the 2003
Donner Prize for his book Fire and Ice: The US, Canada and the Myth of
Converging Values (Penguin Canada).
The winner of the $35,000 prize was announced at an awards dinner Thu
night. In Fire and Ice, Adams draws on Environics research done in
both Canada and the US to show that the cultural gap between the
sometimes uneasy neighbours is widening in significant ways. He argues
that it is not inevitable that Canadian views will converge with
American views despite the presence of American mass culture, free
trade and increased economic integration.
"A Canadian way of living and thinking will endure well into the
future," he writes.
"Thought-provoking and well written, Fire And Ice addresses a critical
issue that underlies many current policy arguments," said Grant
Reuber, who chaired the jury. "Adams' research challenges conventional
views and will be widely used by those who make policy decisions --
his research is key to understanding how our fellow citizens perceive
the world around them."
The 3 other nominees for the prize each received $5,000. They were
Hidden Agendas: How Journalists Influence the News by Lydia Miljan and
Barry Cooper (UBC Press); Misplaced Distrust: Policy Networks and the
Environment in France, the US, and Canada by Eric Montpetit (UBC
Press); and The Canadian Senate in Bicameral Perspective by David
E. Smith (University of Toronto Press).
Filmmaker drops Blue Mountains appeal
Wilderness preserved: An appeal against the film ban will not be made.
Sydney. A film production company has withdrawn its appeal against a
Land and Environment Court decision banning it from filming its
Hollywood movie in the Blue Mountains. The court yesterday halted
filming of the war movie Stealth in the world heritage listed Grose
wilderness because the New South Wales Government's approval breached
the Wilderness Act. An appeal by the company and the State Government
was to be heard next Wed, with Premier Bob Carr promising to
introduce special legislation if it failed. But the company now says
it cannot wait until an appeal is heard. It has abandoned plans to
shoot in the area because it needs to find another location this week.
IAG announces share buy-back details
Sydney. The details of a $350 mn share buy-back have been announced by
Insurance Australia Group. The former NRMA Insurance will purchase
the shares off market with the final price expected to be in a range
of $4.00 to $5.00 a share. It will be a tax effective offer for
accepting shareholders with a capital component of $1.78 and the
remainder to be paid as a fully franked dividend. IAG shares closed
yesterday at $4.71.
New study ramps up FTA benefits
Trade Min Mark Vaile quotes the study as saying the free trade deal
will create 40,000 new jobs.
Canberra. The Fed Govt has [selectively] released a new study showing
the free trade agreement with the United States will provide more
economic benefits to Australia than previously thought. The analysis
by the Centre for International Economics suggests that 10 y after the
agreement comes into force it will be worth more than $6 bn to the
Australian economy. That is $2 bn more than the Government forecast.
Trade Min Mark Vaile says the study shows the agreement will also lead
to the creation of 40,000 new jobs and there will be no impact on the
operations of the pharmaceutical benefits scheme. Mr Vaile has again
reiterated the price of medicines will not rise. The trade deal is
currently being reviewed by two parliamentary committees with the
Govt hoping to put legislation before both houses of Parliament in Aug.
FTA offers marginal economic benefits: ALP
Benefit unknown: Estimates value the FTA at $1 bn to $7 bn.
Canberra. The Federal Opposition says a new study into the
Australia-US free trade agreement (FTA) shows the deal would provide
only marginal economic benefit to Australia.
The Centre for International Economics Report estimates the "most
probable" effect a decade into the FTA would be a $6 bn benefit to the
domestic economy.
That is $2 bn more than the Government forecast.
The study, which was commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade (DFAT), also suggests more than 40,000 jobs will be created.
Trade Min Mark Vaile says the analysis proves the agreement will
provide enormous economic benefits.
But his Opposition counterpart, Stephen Conroy, is not convinced.
"The Government's own report is heavily qualified, what it says is
that the benefits to Australia will probably be between $1 bn and $7
bn," he said.
"So there are a number of very heroic assumptions in there about the
impact on investment."
The trade deal is currently being reviewed by two parliamentary
committees with the Government hoping to put legislation before both
houses of Parliament in Aug.
PM John Howard says the latest figures puts renewed pressure on Labor
to support the deal.
"There is overwhelming evidence of great benefits to the Australian
economy, the aggregate figure is in fact bigger than the original
one," he said.
"I can't understand why the Labor Party doesn't immediately say this
free trade agreement is good for Australia and come out and back it."
Wheat price claims worry Vaile
Overpriced: The AWB is alleged to have been paying kickbacks to the
regime of Saddam.
Canberra. Trade Min Mark Vaile says he is concerned about reports
that the Australian Wheat Board (AWB) may have been selling wheat to
Iraq at inflated prices.
Newspaper reports claim the United States Defence Contract Audit
Agency believes the AWB has been "potentially over-pricing" its wheat
by as much as $20 mn.
The reports say the extra money was allegedly used to pay kickbacks to
Saddam Hussein's regime.
The AWB denies the reports.
Peter McBride, from the AWB, says they have done nothing wrong.
"AWB denies any allegations regarding any kickbacks to the former
Iraqi regime," he said.
"All the contracts were approved by the UN committee and they were all
vetoed and approved by the UN Oil-For-Food Program."
Mr Vaile says he has received guarantees from the AWB that its
dealings with Iraq have been above board.
"They have assured us that they have acted quite transparently and
with all probity in and propriety in their dealings in that area because
it's been under such public spotlight even before the war," he said.
Nurses strike set to escalate
Melbourne. The industrial chaos in Victorian hospitals will escalate
this weekend with more workers to impose bans.
An Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) spokesperson says thousands of
Division Two nurses have already imposed work bans to protest against
the introduction of "unqualified staff" in public aged care wards and
facilities, and secure a fair wage rise and appropriate nurse/patient
ratios.
The ANF's campaign has already closed more than 1,300 public hospital beds.
From Sun, Division Two nurses will stop transporting patients and
preparing beds which is expected to have a major impact on the running
of hospital wards.
Health Services Union spokesman Jeff Jackson says emergency departments
will be exempted but the nurses have yet to decide if the Children's
Hospital or cancer treatment services will be affected.
"It unfortunately will affect the processes inside the hospital," he said.
"So regrettably Victorians are having difficulty in getting a bed in
Victorian hospitals.
"Those who are lucky enough to get a bed unfortunately are going to
find some disruption because of this."
Govt warns under-performing job providers
Canberra. The Federal Government has released performance figures
comparing Job Network providers. They show that since Jul 2003,
385,000 job seekers have found employment and in the 4 m to Mar this
year, a record number of long-term jobs have been filled. Employment
Services Min Mal Brough says the new system of rating and comparing
different job network providers is working. He says those providers
who have been lagging behind will risk losing funding. "We will be
contacting Job Network members who have been under-performing in
relation to others saying to them that they run the very real risk of
losing some of their business and potentially all of their business to
better performing operators in the next 6 months," Mr Brough said.
Housing loans jump by 2.1%
[Another Aussie interest rate hike increasingly likely. Tipsters say
the RBA will add 25 pts next wk to bring the cash rate to 5.5%].
Canberra. There has been a renewed upturn in the amount of money
going into housing. The Reserve Bank of Australia has released
monthly credit figures showing a 2.1% jump in housing credit during
Mar. That is the sharpest rise in 5 m and on an annual basis, housing
credit has increased by a record 23.9%. Personal loans have slowed to
1% growth in the month and business credit has decreased by 0.5%. The
central bank will hold its regular monthly policy meeting next Tue.
Mitsubishi set for extraordinary shareholders meeting
Tokyo. Mitsubishi Motors in Japan is preparing for an extraordinary
shareholders meeting.
A major restructuring plan has been postponed.
Japan's 4th biggest carmaker is weighed down by huge debts.
It was planning to release a global review of its operations this
morning, but news that Mitsubishi's major shareholder, DaimlerChrysler,
would not be injecting cash has forced it formulate a new survival plan.
That means the uncertainty surrounding the carmaker's SA operations
will continue for a few more weeks.
An extraordinary shareholders meeting scheduled for today will go ahead.
It will consider partial amendments to Mitsubishi's articles of
incorporation and the election of two board members.
There have been unconfirmed reports that the group will redirect more
than $2.5 bn to develop new car models under a restructure.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union national secretary Doug Cameron
says he is positive but cautious about the South Australian operations
continuing after talks with Mitsubishi management in Adelaide yesterday.
"Our position is that we still have to fight to ensure that that new
model is built here, we will be writing to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
in Australia, we will be writing to Mitsubishi in Japan, we would be
prepared to take a delegation to Japan so that the Japanese company
understands the importance of the jobs for South Australians," he said.
Ministers plan plea for Mitsubishi future
Ministers have put politics aside in a bid to save jobs at Mitsubishi
Australia.
Canberra. A bipartisan delegation of high-level government ministers
will head to Japan within a fortnight to make a personal plea for
Mitsubishi's future in Adelaide.
Federal Ind Min, Ian Macfarlane, and South Australian Treasurer Kevin
Foley will hold direct talks with the company's new chief executive.
The ministers, from opposing sides of politics, have a meeting already
scheduled with the new Mitsubishi boss, even before he is officially appointed.
It will take place in Tokyo on Mon week and Mr Foley says it is an
unprecedented approach.
"I think it's important that politics is put aside and we demonstrate
that local politics means nothing at the end of the day when the
future of a work force is in question," he said.
"I think it's a good feature of Australian governments that we can
work so closely together."
The Australian ambassador to Japan, John McCarthy, will also meet the
Mitsubishi chairman on Mon to pave the way for the official party.
Australia welcomes new Mitsubishi head
Mitsubishi has appointed a replacement for Rolf Eckrodt.
Adelaide (ABC/AFP). Mitsubishi Australia's managing director, Tom
Phillips, has welcomed the appointment of a new president and chief
executive for the international car maker.
The head of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Yoichiro Okazaki, will take
over after last week's resignation of Rolf Eckrodt.
Mr Eckrodt's resignation follows last week's surprise announcement
that DaimlerChrysler has decided against putting more funds into the
car maker.
Mitsubishi shareholders approved 61-year-old Mr Okazaki's nomination
at an extraordinary meeting today.
The company had originally scheduled to announce a drastic restructuring
plan, supposedly backed by DaimlerChrysler, at the meeting.
The Mitsubishi conglomerate now plans to thrash out an alternative
plan within a month.
Mr Phillips says he has not met Mr Okazaki yet but he is pleased he
now has someone to put his case to.
"I know very little at this stage," Mr Phillips said.
"I've had a look at his CV, he's got a very extensive background in
manufacturing through Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and it seems to me
that he's a very qualified person to take on this role."
Shareholders at the meeting have approved an amendment to articles of
incorporation to allow the company to issue up to 3.5 mn new preferred
shares with no voting rights to raise fresh funds.
They have also voted to bring onto the board one executive each from
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan's largest heavy machinery maker,
and DaimlerChrysler.
In addition to Mr Okazaki, Mitsubishi has named Eckhard Cordes, widely
seen as the right-hand man of DaimlerChrysler chief executive officer
Jurgen Schrempp, to be a non-executive board member.
Mitsubishi group companies, including trading house Mitsubishi Corp
and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, have rallied around Mitsubishi Motors.
The company has been hit by slumping sales in the key North American
market and recall scandals.
Nothing untoward about Jones friendship, PM says
John Howard says Alan Jones has never threatened him.
Canberra. PM John Howard has defended his relationship with radio
broadcaster Alan Jones and says he is satisfied Professor David Flint,
head of the Australian Broadcasting Authority, is independent.
Radio broadcaster John Laws claims Mr Jones told him he pressured John
Howard to re-appoint Professor Flint.
Both Mr Jones and Mr Howard reject the allegation.
"At no stage has Alan Jones ever threatened me. He puts views about
things," Mr Howard said.
On Southern Cross Radio Mr Howard was questioned about the friendship.
"I know Alan Jones, I like him, I don't deny that, but it's perfectly
possible to have a friendship without that person exerting undue
influence," he said.
Mr Howard says he has had a private conversation with Mr Jones since
the row erupted but Mr Howard would not detail the nature of the discussion.
Mr Howard has also defended his Veterans Affairs Min Danna Vale, who
sent a letter of support to Mr Jones yesterday, urging him to "stay
brave and true".
Latham renews calls for ABA inquiry
Labor has questioned Professor David Flints re-appointment as chairman
of the ABA.
Canberra. The Federal Labor leader says the PM must call an
independent inquiry into the Alan Jones affair, after reports John
Howard personally intervened to have David Flint re-appointed as
chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA).
Mr Howard rejected claims this week that broadcaster Alan Jones
threatened to withdraw his support for the Government unless it gave
David Flint another term as ABA chairman.
But today Brisbane newspaper The Courier-Mail has quoted an unnamed
former federal minister saying Mr Howard ordered the then
communications minister to rewrite a cabinet submission recommending
that Mr Flint be replaced.
Labor's Mark Latham says the allegation is stunning.
"In those circumstances it demands an independent public inquiry to
get to the heart of the matter," he said.
"To get the facts out there and give the Australian people some piece
of mind that we haven't got corruption at the highest level of the
Federal Government."
Howard disputes intelligence concerns
John Howard says he does not agree with complaints by Lt Col Lance
Collins over intelligence failures.
Canberra. The PM has written to the Army's top intelligence officer,
Lt Col Lance Collins, disputing his claims that there have
been widespread failures by Australia's intelligence agencies.
Lt Col Collins wrote to the PM in Mar, complaining of intelligence
failures over the past 8 y, including the Bali bombings.
Mr Howard has released his response to the inquiry call from Army
Lt Col Lance Collins, as well as a report by the
inspector-general of intelligence.
In his letter to Lt Col Collins, Mr Howard defends Australia's
intelligence gathering and analysis on Iraq's banned weapons programs,
warnings about the Bali terrorist attack and the resumption of nuclear
testing by India.
The PM concedes it has taken too long to deal with Lt Col Collins's
concerns about his treatment by Defence.
Mr Howard says he doubts the letter will end the debate about
intelligence agencies.
"I've given him a full response, I promised him a conscientious,
courteous reply and that's what I've provided to him," he said.
"I'm satisfied on the information available to me that there is no
case to have a royal commission.
"We have an inquiry going on and that inquiry will report in due course."
* Regional accuracy
Mr Howard says Australian intelligence agencies have an excellent
record in the region.
He says Australian intelligence warned of the possibility of a coup in
Solomon Islands in 2000.
He also says Australian intelligence gave a comprehensive assessment
of developments in Papua New Guinea ahead of the Sandline mercenary
crisis in 1997.
Mr Howard says Australian agencies observed that Indonesia's President
Suharto might be compelled to resign some months before he left office.
Regional intelligence spot on, says Howard
Canberra. PM John Howard says Australian intelligence warned of the
possibility of a coup in Solomon Islands in 2000.
But Mr Howard concedes that Australia was fooled and did not forecast
the Indian nuclear tests in 1998.
Mr Howard made the comments in a letter rejecting a call for a royal
commission into Australia's intelligence services.
Mr Howard has released his response to the inquiry call from Army
Lt Col Lance Collins, as well as a report by the
inspector-general of intelligence.
Rejecting the call for an inquiry, the PM says Australian intelligence
gave a clear picture of the problems in Solomon Islands and warned of
the chance of a coup before it took place in May, 2000.
He also says Australian intelligence gave a comprehensive assessment
of developments in Papua New Guinea ahead of the Sandline mercenary
crisis in 1997.
Mr Howard says Australian agencies observed that Indonesia's President
Suharto might be compelled to resign some months before he left office.
But he says India's nuclear tests in 1998 were not forecast by
intelligence agencies.
Panel formed to continue delivery of Indigenous services
Canberra. A new national panel has been formed to ensure services to
Indigenous people in regional Australia are delivered.
The working party was established after a meeting of the heads of the
nation's 35 regional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Commission's (ATSIC) councils.
Earlier this month, PM John Howard announced ATSIC would be abolished
and the regional structure would be phased out next year.
Perth Nyoongar regional council chairman Gordon Cole and a former
state ATSIC chairman, Barry Taylor, will represent Western Australia.
Mr Cole says the panel will fight to make sure Mr Howard does not hand
pick the replacement body.
"We also will be advocating and negotiating for a structure at a
national level also to be in place," he said.
"Whilst ATSIC has been announced to be abolished we're also mindful of
the fact that we need a democratically elected representative national
body to represent the views of Aboriginal people across the country."
Children won't automatically return to detention: Howard
Return uncertain: The Govt is seeking advice on the High Court ruling.
Canberra. The PM says the 5 children involved in the High Court
decision that overturned a Family Court ruling releasing them from
immigration detention will remain where they are for the moment.
John Howard says the Federal Government did not believe the Family
Court had the jurisdiction to rule in favour of releasing the children
from South Australia's Baxter Detention Centre last year.
Mr Howard says the High Court decision validates the Government's
mandatory detention laws.
But he says the decision does not mean the Government will take the
children out of their current care arrangements.
"We're assessing it and the Minister and I have sought some advice on
that," he said.
"But people shouldn't assume that we are going to automatically
reverse the current arrangement."
The children are living in an Adelaide home.
They are attending school in Adelaide and are being cared for by
Catholic welfare agency Centacare pending a Federal Court challenge.
The children's guardian, Centacare director Dale West, says a
compromise is being worked out with the Department of Immigration.
"The model that we are discussing is that we would declare it a
detention facility and the people who are involved with the children
would need to be declared detention officers," she said.
"So that would mean that everyone who's in the house with them, they
would need to travel with designated people to school and back."
Telstra defends price increase
Sydney. Telstra customers under the company's most popular fixed-line
monthly plan will pay an extra $41 a year under a raft of price
increases announced yesterday.
Call connection fees will rise two cents, while customers will now be
charged extra for paying their bill by credit card.
Telstra's head of consumer marketing Jenny Young says the increases
are in line with the pricing schedule approved by the Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Ms Young says current fees do not cover the cost of providing the network.
"Apart from the reward options that we're giving back for our multiple
service customers we've provided continuous innovation with our fixed
line network, including talking text, free home messages, call
forwarding, call waiting and the list goes on," she said.
Ms Young says pensioners will be looked after with an increase in
concessions aimed at offsetting the effect of the rises.
The Australian Consumers Association has criticised Telstra's decision
to increase prices for its telephone services.
Association spokesman Charles Britton says the new charges,
particularly for line rental, are excessive.
"Well 30 bucks a month, it's quite a lot to be shelling out for a
fixed line phone rental," he said.
Telstra made a profit of $2.9 bn for the 6 m to last Dec.
Federal Opposition communications spokesman Lindsay Tanner says the
telephone is an essential service and Telstra is making it too expensive.
"These price increases are totally outrageous," he said.
"Over the past 4 years the price that ordinary families have got to
pay just for having the privilege of having a phone in their own home
has gone up by $200 a year.
"Under John Howard the telephone is becoming a luxury and lots of
taxes and charges are going up all the time."
PM distances himself from Telstra price rise
John Howard says it is ridiculous he should be expected to answer for Telstra.
Canberra. PM John Howard has distanced himself from Telstra's
decision to increase its phone rental prices.
From Jun, there will be an increase in line rental charges of between
60 cents and $3.45 per month for residential customers, and a fee for
telephone bills paid by credit card.
Mr Howard told Southern Cross Radio he can not control Telstra's
pricing decisions but the plan has been agreed to by the Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission.
"You've got to worry about the people who have invested in the company
and the share price is lower than what it was," he said.
"Every time the subject of Telstra comes up, I find myself in this
ridiculous position of... having to answer for the company."
Telstra says the increases are justified but the decision has being
criticised because the telecommunications giant has recently recorded
a profit of more than $2 bn.
A consumer law expert warns the latest price rise is souring the
company's relationship with the community.
Consumer Law Centre executive director Chris Field says Telstra should
take heed of the community's reaction when the banks introduced a raft
of higher charges a few years ago.
He says the telecommunications giant is now a political hot potato.
"Well it is very much given that this is an election year," he said.
"Given, of course, some real problems with the governance of Telstra
there is no doubt that is a serious political issue and one that
Telstra ought to take heed of."
Mental health problems no longer taboo, AMA says
Melbourne. The Australian Medical Association (AMA) says the latest
report from the Institute of Health and Welfare shows there has been
some success in making sure GPs do mental assessments on their patients.
The report from the institute found between 2001 and 2002, more than 3
mn Australians saw their GP for depression.
The report also finds that more than 10 mn GP consultations were for
mental health-related problems including depression, anxiety and
stress-related diseases.
The results suggest more women than men see their doctor for depression
and that help was most commonly sought after in the 25 to 44-year-old
age bracket.
AMA president Dr Bill Glasson says the results show mental health
problems are not the taboo subject they once were.
"We try and educate our patients that if they've got concerns either
physically or mentally to visit their general practitioner to discuss
the issue," he said.
"I suppose it reflects the success of our general practitioners in
this area in both identifying mental disorders and I'm sure in
treating those mental disorders even better."
More funding announced to tackle drug problem
Canberra. PM John Howard has announced additional funding of almost
$18 mn to help tackle the country's illicit drug problem. This latest
round of funding comes on top of the $1 bn allocated to the national
illicit drug strategy since 1997. Mr Howard used a gathering of
Queensland police, Liberal Party members including high-profile
candidate Ingrid Tall, and anti-drug campaigners in Brisbane to
outline further assistance specifically for non-government
organisations across the country to provide treatment. "We do know
for example that the number of people dying of heroin overdose is
continuing to fall," he said. This latest funding commitment comes on
the heels of yesterday's $444 mn package for the ailing sugar industry.
ALP vows to protect coastline
Protection: Labor has a variety of plans to save coastal regions.
Canberra. The Federal Opposition has promised to spend $31 mn
protecting Australia's coastline if it is elected to government. The
plan includes nominating new coastal world heritage areas like
Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia. Labor is also promising to
propose new wetlands for protection under the Ramsar Convention.
Environment spokesman Kelvin Thompson says where necessary the federal
Labor government would make strategic investments to protect high
conservation areas. "More than 85% of Australians choose to live on
or near the coast. But we are in danger of loving the coast to death,"
he said. "We've got problems with erosion, water quality, clearing of
remnant vegetation, so the policies that we are announcing today and
talking about are aimed at dealing with one of Australia's critical
environmental challenges - protecting the coast."
Lack of university places 'wastes talent'
Canberra. Federal Shadow Ed Min Jenny Macklin says the number of
would-be students missing out on a university spot is a waste of
talent. Her comments come as the Australian Vice Chancellors'
Committee releases its annual survey on university places. It finds
nationally that more than 24,000 applicants missed out on a university
spot despite meeting the admission criteria. Ms Macklin says in
Queensland more than 6,300 failed to get in. "These are students who
want to go to university. They've worked hard, they've got the
qualifications, yet they can't get a place at university just because
the Howard Government won't create the places," she said. "I think
the responsibility on government is to make sure that those students
who work hard can get into university and get the education they want."
Community service for AFL ticket scalper
Melbourne. A Melbourne man has avoided jail after he admitted to
selling stolen tickets for last year's Australian Football League
(AFL) grand final.
Michael Dvorkin, 21, of Caufield South pleaded guilty to handling
stolen goods and obtaining property by deception.
The County Court in Melbourne heard 100 AFL grand final tickets were
stolen from the St Kilda Football Club in Sep last year.
The court was told Dvorkin made more than $10,000 dollars by selling
21 of the tickets to footy fans.
The tickets were cancelled before the match.
Judge Elizabeth Curtain said it must have been extremely disappointing
and frustrating for the buyers when they were refused entry to the
Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Dvorkin was fined $3,000 dollars and ordered to perform 250 hours of
unpaid community work.
The man accused of stealing the tickets will face a committal hearing
in Jul.
Diesel Fouls Marsh Near SF
SF (AP). A pipeline that pumps petroleum from refineries in the SF
Bay area ruptured, gushing diesel fuel into a marsh that serves as a
key nesting ground for migratory birds.
The spill, which began Tue, prompted an emergency cleanup effort at
Suisun Marsh, about 50 km NE of SF. Several dead animals, mostly
ducks, were found at the scene, said Coast Guard rep Clare Maranda.
State officials estimated that 40,000 gallons of fuel spilled.
Initial worst-case estimates had put the spill 1 mn gallons.
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, the Houston firm that owns the
pipeline, estimated that 500 to 1,000 barrels, containing 42 gallons
of fuel each, leaked into the marsh, rep Jerry Engelhardt said.
The spill was mostly contained by Thu and was limited to a diked area
of roughly 600 acres, so the fuel couldn't easily escape to the rest
of the marsh, officials said.
About 50 workers from state, county and fed agencies were using
containment booms and absorbent pads to clean up the spill, which left
a sheen atop the water.
The pipeline, which carries fuel from SF Bay area refineries to Chico,
Sacramento and Reno, Nev, ruptured sometime Tue. Kinder Morgan noticed
a drop in pipeline pressure around 6 p.m. Tue night and shut down a
section of the pipeline, Engelhardt said. Environmental officials were
told about it Wed.
The broken section of the pipeline would be replaced and back in
service by Sat, but it could take several wk or even m to completely
clean up the spill, Engelhardt said.
The Suisun Marsh is considered California's second-largest natural
marsh, according to Greg Green, a biologist for Memphis, Tenn.-based
Ducks Unlimited, a wetlands conservation group. But it's also a highly
managed area, with large sections diked off to control the flow of water.
"It's an important area for biological purposes," Green said. The
marsh covers 57,000 acres and is frequented by about 700,000 birds,
including migratory shorebirds and raptors.
Site of Portuguese shipwreck to stay secret for time being
Perth. Marine archaeologists are examining the site of a Portuguese
shipwreck off Western Australia's northern coast. The Correio da Azia
was discovered yesterday by a Maritime Museum team after a hunt
lasting more than 16 y. WA Min for Culture, Sheila McHale, says it is
a significant find because it is the earliest historic Portuguese
shipwreck to be discovered in Australian waters. She says the
location will be kept secret for the time being. "There's likely to
be important artefacts on the shipwreck and we need to ensure that
those artefacts are recovered, they are identified and that there's a
management plan to ensure the site is preserved," she said.
Scientist believes Atlantis found off Cyprus
Cyprus. The quest to find the lost city of Atlantis has begun in
earnest off Cyprus's southern shores. A US-led team of explorers
claims the ancient city lies on the seabed between Cyprus and Syria.
With the aid of unique underwater maps, a US researcher claims to have
assembled evidence to prove the mythological island of Atlantis really
existed. Using sophisticated sonar technology, California-based
Robert Salmas says he has not only been able to pinpoint Atlantis to a
sunken land mass off Cyprus's southern coast, but even discern its
geographical features as described by Plato. The alleged discovery
has been greeted with barely concealed mirth by the Mediterranean
island's tourism office.
Space station trio return safely to Earth
The 3 have returned safety from the International Space Station.
Moscow (Reuters). A Soyuz space capsule has touched down safely in
the steppes of Kazakhstan bringing a Russian, a US astronaut and a
Dutchman back to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS).
NASA's Michael Foale and Russian Alexander Kaleri spent 6 m aboard the
16-nation, $US95 bn station. Dutchman Andre Kuipers, from the European
Space Agency, spent just 11 days there doing scientific experiments on
his maiden trip into space.
The craft landed near the northern Kazakh town of Arkalyk in the
Central Asian steppe at 4.11 am Moscow time (0011 GMT).
"Everything is stable, the cosmonauts returned to Earth," a spokesman
at mission control outside Moscow said by telephone. "It was a soft landing."
The capsule had disengaged from the ISS a few hours earlier and
started its return to Earth.
The start of Kaleri's and Foale's daunting 6-month mission last
Oct was heavily overshadowed by China's launch of its first spaceman.
But their return is being watched with avid interest amid intense
preparations for an operation to locate and find them quickly.
A similar Soyuz capsule carrying the US astronauts Kenneth Bowersox
and Donald Pettit and Russia's Nikolai Budarin back from the ISS made
a hard landing 100s of km off target last May because of a technical
glitch that caused an early re-entry.
The next ISS crew landed safely with clockwork precision last Oct,
even though one member of the crew had apparently hit a wrong button.
Gen Vladimir Popov, commander of the recovery operation, said two
all-terrain vehicles known as Bluebirds had already been sent to the
assumed landing area to check the density of the ground, atmospheric
pressure and weather conditions.
The capsule's bright orange parachute was due to unfold 15 minutes
before the landing, which should have been cushioned by the blasts of
several "soft landing engines".
Col Mikhail Polukhin, a coordinator of the recovery operation,
told Reuters in Kustanai, the main operation centre, that the
returning crew would have a satellite phone - a routine precaution
against getting lost.
Russia has borne the brunt of ferrying crews and cargo to the ISS
since Feb 2003 after the United States grounded its space
shuttles following the disintegration of the Columbia over Texas,
killing all 7 astronauts on board.
{{
1 am
Pres Bush and VP Cheney are meeting the 9/11 Commission. No photo, no
transcripts and no TV are the result of ms of haggling over the
ground rules between the Commission and the Whitehouse. The Bush Admin
got the better of the negotiations. The pair will be asked about the
priority they gave terrorism before 9/11. The latest opinion polls
show a large majority of Americans believe the Bush Admin didn't do
enough to prevent the attack.
1 US soldier has been killed in Baghdad, and another in Baquba.
The Malaysian govt has urged their Thai counterparts not to make the
sit'n in S Thailand worse by reckless military action. PM Badawi
said he was "really worried" about events in the S when 100 men were
killed by the Thai military and police after they allegedly conducted
raids on army and police posts. It's unclear who was responsible for
the attacks or what they were trying to accomplish. The PM says they
are bandits trying to take control of the drug trade. But that is
unlikely, say the Malaysians, given the mosque shoot-out in which 30
young men armed with machetes were killed by the army.
1.30 am
13,000 Cubans are preparing for the chess playing record. Castro and
Karpov are taking part.
4 am
Several 1000 family members and supporters have marched in Rome,
calling on the govt to pull soldiers out of Iraq. In an unusual move,
the crowd was allowed into the Vatican city to receive a message from
Pope JP2.
Al Qaeda is dangerous and hates us. We must be correct 100% of the
time. Therefore we are vulnerable. These were the words of Pres Bush
after he emerged from a 3 hr drilling by the 9/11 Commission. He
said the talks had been wide-ranging and "good", but refused to
indicate what had been discussed. We'll have to wait until the end of
July for the Commission's report.
For the first time only a minority of Americans think GWII was a good
idea. The NY Times poll found only 47% of Americans now back the
invasion of Iraq, down from 58% only 1 m ago.
Midday.
Prof David Flint has stepped aside amid a continuing row over the
political influence of some radio announcers. The ABA earlier today
said it was uncomfortable with the fan letters written by the chairman
to radio announcer Allan Jones. The ABA also says Flint will take no
part in a case brought by the Fed Govt against the ABC over alleged
one-sided reporting of the Iraq war. Flint had previously publicly
indicated he supported the govt position in the dispute.
6 pm
The "unofficial biographer" of Allan Jones has revealed up to 4
letters between David Flint and Allan Jones, expressing Flint's
gushing support. Observers say the missives should rule Flint out as
an arbiter of Aussie broadcasting standards. Flint has also come out
publicly against the ABC's coverage of GWII, claiming it was anti-American
and "biased". That is the same claim the ABA is meant to be investigating --
brought by former Comm Min Richard Alston and the AUS govt.
While Flint has not taken a backward step all week, today he
essentially backed down on every criticism. He said he'd "forgotten"
to declare his letters of support to Allan Jones -- ahead of an
investigation of Allan Jones -- due to an "oversight". He says he now
regrets writing the letters and they were a "mistake".
Someone claiming to be an al-Qaeda cmdr in Jordan has denied the
terrorist group was planning a chemical weapon attack in the country,
as claimed by the govt. But he ack'ed the group had plans to attack
the Intel HQ in Amman.
9 pm
PM John Howard has released a new intel report today that he believes
supports his lack of concern over the claims of Lt Col Collins.
A letter the PM wrote to Collins has also been leaked to the press.
In the letter, Mr Howard rejects all Collins' concerns. But he ack's
it's taken too long to address his mis-treatment by the AUS def dept.
The report is from an official investigation by the Inspector Gen of Intel.
While the PM intended it would provide more ammo for his own claims
there are "no problems" with Aussie intel and the Def Dept -- despite
the failure to predict India's nuclear weapons, Indon involvement in E
Timor, the overthrow of the Fiji govt, and the belief that Saddam had
WMD -- observers say it may eventually do the opposite.
The report reveals there were at least 5 more snr intel officers --
along with the 2 that have come forward so far -- that had the same concerns.
Mr Howard had prev tried to claim only a "couple of dissident voices"
claimed there were problems in the DIO.
The report also indicates the AUS govt had been kean in the past to
put the best spin on Indon operations in Timor, despite what the facts
on the ground indicated.
11 pm
Much of the talk in Fallujah today was aimed at ending 4 wks of
fighting. But the Marines were still hammering parts of the city.
In other suburbs, they were pulling back. Barbed wire was pushed
away, road blocks removed. An Iraqi force will take their place.
Much comment has surrounded the appointment of a Saddam-era General to
head the so-called Fallujah Protection Force. It's another
significant departure from past US policy. The General rec'd a hero's
welcome in Fallujah today. It's evidence how desperate we are, said a
US commentator. It's also not clear whether the desperate move will
pull the US' chestnuts out of the fire.
Today AUS Def Min Hill visited the HMAS Stuart off the Iraq coast. He
said Aussie forces are playing an important role there, and many more
countries should consider supporting the Coal'n efforts in Iraq.
}}
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support payments and sundry legalese in their home countries. Mention
us at any Uncle Harry's Suburban Bunker and get a 10% discount on cop-killers!
All speling macroizated for correctitood by Mcrosotf Speelchek.
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