AFP_ENG_19970418.0191

BANGKOK, April 18 , 1997 (AFP)

Polish FM says seeking more exports to Thailand, including arms

Poland is seeking to boost political ties and exports of military hardware, engineering and chemical products to Thailand and other southeast Asian countries, the Polish foreign minister said here Friday.

Dariusz Rosati told reporters Poland's broad industrial base stood the former Warsaw Pact nation in good stead for a regional market in Asia that holds "enormous potential and economic prospects."

"We should have much more trade and political cooperation with the (southeast Asian) region," he said, midway through a three-day official visit to Thailand.

Rosati noted Poland has a strong armament sector and discussions with Thailand would cover possible exports of Polish-made military hardware, which included tanks, guns, boats and helicopters.

He added Poland was also open for investment "in every field" from Thailand, including tourism, garment industries and electronics. Foreign investment in Poland was between six and seven billion dollars in 1996.

Part of Poland's regional strategy for reaching into southeast Asia was to join the Asian Development Bank (ADB), he said.

This had been discussed with bank officials in Manila in an earlier stop on the minister's current swing through southeast Asia. He was hopeful of Poland joining the ADB next year.

The foreign minister said he was "very satisfied" with discussions with Thai Prime Minister Chaowalit Yongchaiyudh Thursday, which included an exchange of views on the political situation in southeast Asia and the prospects for Poland's entry into NATO and the European Union.

He was holding talks Friday at the ministry of industry and trade and on Saturday was scheduled to meet with his Thai counterpart Prachuab Chaiyasarn.

They would sign an agreement on cooperation between the Thai and Polish justice ministries, regarding the enforcement of court sentences and the transfer of prisoners, Rosati said.

There are currently eight Poles serving sentences or awaiting trial in Thai prisons on narcotics charges.

Rosati's visit, which included earlier stops in Indonesia and the Philippines, is the foreign minister's first in southeast Asia. It follows a visit to Thailand by the Polish Premier Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz last year.

Two-way trade between the two countries in 1996 was worth 9.58 billion baht (369 million dollars), with the balance of trade more than one billion baht in Poland's favour, a Thai official said.

April 18 , 1997

Friday

next year

Thursday

Friday

last year

seeking

boost

said

told

stood

have

said

visit

noted

discussions

cover

added

investment

reaching

join

said

discussed

hopeful

joining

said

was

discussions

entry

holding

talks

scheduled

meet

sign

regarding

transfer

said

serving

trial

visit

stops

follows

visit

said


AFP_ENG_20061227.0080

MOGADISHU, Dec 27 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - RECASTS, ADDS WFP suspends air operations ///

Heavy fighting resumed in central Somalia Wednesday after retreating Islamist fighters opened fire on a force of government and Ethiopian troops, officials and residents said, as the conflict in the Horn of Africa nation entered its second week.

Hours after the UN Security Council failed to agree on the withdrawal of foreign troops, Islamists fighters in trenches near the town of Jowhar opened fire to stop Somali-Ethiopian troops from advancing further southwards.

"Very heavy fighting has erupted outside Jowhar. The Islamic forces say they will keep fighting," said Mohamed Abdi Ali, a resident of the town about 90 kilometres (55 miles) north of the Islamist-controled capital of Mogadishu.

"Ethiopians have not started using planes yet, but we do not rule that out," he added.

"Our Islamist fighters are showing strength, they are in their defensive positions. God willing we will drive back the Ethiopian invaders," said Islamist commander Sheikh Takow.

Fighting first erupted December 20 after the Islamists, who controled most of the country, demanded the departure of Ethiopian troops supporting the UN-backed, but feeble government.

Somalia has been wracked by conflict since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre.

The government Wednesday predicted Jowhar would fall as the allied Somali-Ethiopian forces consolidate their grip across the country's central and southern region with Islamic forces retreating.

"We expect to capture the town in the coming hours," said government spokesman Abdirahman Dinari.

Fleeing residents said rival sides deployed heavy artillery on the eighth day of duels that occurred 50 kilometres (31 miles) north of Jowhar.

"This fighting is very heavy, I have never heard such weapons used in Somalia, my wife and children are asking me to take them from the village because of the heavy artillery and mortar shells," said one resident, Hasan Doyow Nur.

The Islamists have retreated from their frontlines and accused Ethiopian forces of massacring civilians in the name of killing foreign fighters believed to be supporting the movement.

Witnesses said columns of Islamist forces had retreated to the heavily-fortified capital Mogadishu, where ruling clerics vowed to dig in for a long-lasting war with Ethiopian troops.

The Islamists said it was a "tactical retreat" that was forced by Addis Ababa's air assault on their positions.

The sustained clashes over the past week forced the UN World Food Programme to suspend its air operations and pull out its air-support staff.

"The WFP on Tuesday temporarily relocated two MI8 helicopters and 25 humanitarian workers from Kismayo to Nairobi," WFP spokesman Peter Smerdon told AFP Wednesday.

"The air operation had also become difficult because of an airspace ban into Somalia declared by the transitional federal government," he said.

"Therefore the helicopter operations and food airdrop from Antonov 12 into southern Somalia are currently suspended because of the airspace restriction," Smerdon said.

He emphasized the agency had suspended air but not land operations.

On Tuesday, Ethiopian Prime Meles Zenawi said his forces had killed more than 1,000 rival fighters, including Eritreans, forcing the Islamists to "full retreat", but added he was not aiming to take over Mogadishu.

In New York, the UN Security Council late Tuesday failed to agree on calling for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Somalia with key powers pressing for a ceasefire and a resumption of dialogue between warring Somali parties.

Washington, which accuses the Islamists of links to Al-Qaeda, put its weight behind Addis Ababa, but called on its regional anti-terrorism ally to exercise "maximum restraint."

Regional peacemaker Kenya, which helped form the Somali government in 2004, asked Ethiopia to cease military operations, as it announced plans to organise a regional meeting to discuss the escalation of the conflict in Somalia.

Dec 27 , 2006

Wednesday

second week

December 20

Wednesday

the eighth day

Tuesday

Tuesday

Tuesday

fighting

resumed

retreating

opened

fire

said

conflict

entered

failed

agree

withdrawal

opened

stop

advancing

fighting

erupted

say

keep

fighting

said

started

using

rule

added

showing

drive

said

erupted

controled

demanded

departure

supporting

wracked

conflict

predicted

fall

consolidate

grip

retreating

expect

capture

said

said

deployed

occurred

heard

used

asking

take

said

retreated

accused

massacring

killing

believed

supporting

said

retreated

ruling

vowed

dig

war

said

forced

assault

clashes

forced

suspend

pull

relocated

Smerdon

told

operation

become

declared

said

suspended

said

emphasized

suspended

said

killed

forcing

added

aiming

take

failed

agree

calling

withdrawal

pressing

resumption

warring

accuses

put

called

exercise

helped

form

asked

cease

announced

plans

organise

meeting

discuss

escalation

conflict


AFP_ENG_20061212.0392

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Dec 12 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - ADDS ISAF soldier killed ///

A suicide bomber blew himself up at a governor's house in southern Afghanistan Tuesday, killing eight people, in the latest bloodshed linked to a spiralling Taliban insurgency.

Separately, US-led security forces shot dead four suspected Taliban militants and a teenage girl, while elsewhere a soldier from a NATO-led force was killed in a firefight with insurgents.

The violence came as President Hamid Karzai attended a high-level security conference in Kandahar, the birthplace of the Taliban regime, to urge foreign forces to do their best to avoid civilian casualties.

Six bodyguards, a district chief and a civilian were killed when the suicide bomber sneaked into the heavily guarded residence of the governor of troubled Helmand province, provincial police chief Mohammad Nabi Mullahkhil told AFP.

"Governor Mohammad Daud was about to leave and as his motorcade and bodyguards were prepared the attacker penetrated into the governor's house and tried to approach the governor," Mullahkil said.

"The bodyguard suspected he might be an attacker and stopped him but then the man exploded himself," he said, adding that eight other bodyguards were injured.

The interior ministry also said eight people were killed in the attack, which took place during working hours at the house in Lashkargah, the provincial capital, but said seven of the victims were policemen and one was a civilian.

NATO troops rushed to the governor's house after the explosion but there were no casualties among foreign troops, said Jason Chalk, a spokesman for the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

"All we can say is that the governor is safe," Chalk said.

More than 30,000 NATO-led troops are currently hunting Taliban insurgents and their Islamic extremist allies, mainly in southern Afghanistan. Another 10,000 US-led troops are operating in the conflict-ridden country.

ISAF said one NATO soldier was killed in a gunbattle with insurgents in Helmand on Tuesday. It did not give the soldier's nationality or any more details but most of the troops in the province are British.

Separately on Tuesday, the US-led coalition and the Afghan army killed four suspected Taliban militants in eastern Afghanistan, the coalition said in a statement.

A 13-year-old girl was killed and an eight-year-old girl injured in the incident, when the soldiers raided a house near the village of Darnami in restive Khost province, where the alleged insurgents were hiding out, it said.

The wounded girl was taken to a coalition hospital, escorted by a family member, the coalition said. There were no casualties among the Afghan soldiers or coalition troops.

Karzai said he discussed the issue of civilian casualties when he held a meeting on security and reconstruction with NATO and US commanders, key foreign diplomats and government ministers in Kandahar, which borders Helmand.

"We discussed it. It was one of the very serious and main topics. We take it very seriously. NATO takes it very seriously," the president told reporters after flying into the restive city by US helicopter.

It was the first meeting of the so-called Policy Action Group that the beleaguered Afghan leader has attended and the first outside Kabul. Security was tight for the meeting, an AFP correspondent said.

Karzai said NATO commanders were holding a meeting later Tuesday to discuss ways to avoid civilian losses during their operations.

At least 1,000 civilians have died in Afghanistan's worst year of violence since the Taliban regime fell in late 2001 -- most through insurgent action but some in NATO and coalition operations, according to an official report.

The 2006 death toll -- taking into account civilian, militant, police, and Afghan and foreign troop casualties -- is more than 3,700, four times the number in 2005.

Dec 12 , 2006

Tuesday

Tuesday

Tuesday

later Tuesday

late 2001

blew

killing

bloodshed

linked

insurgency

shot

killed

violence

came

attended

conference

urge

do

avoid

killed

sneaked

told

leave

prepared

penetrated

tried

approach

said

suspected

stopped

exploded

said

adding

injured

said

killed

attack

took

said

rushed

explosion

said

say

said

hunting

operating

said

killed

give

killed

said

killed

injured

incident

raided

hiding

said

taken

escorted

said

said

discussed

held

meeting

discussed

take

told

flying

meeting

attended

tight

meeting

said

said

holding

meeting

discuss

avoid

losses

died

violence

fell

according

taking


AFP_ENG_20061228.0375

CARDIFF, Dec 28 , 2006, 2006

Wales' Williams free for Six Nations

Wales flanker Martyn Williams will be available for the start of this season's Six Nations Championship after avoiding a lengthy ban following a disciplinary hearing here Thursday.

The Cardiff back-row was sent-off for butting Neath-Swansea scrum-half Jason Spice during a Celtic League match last Saturday.

But Welsh Rugby Union disciplinary officials decided Williams's offence only merited a three-week suspension, which means the 64-times capped Wales forward can play again from mid-January.

He must now miss Cardiff's Celtic League clashes with Llanelli and the Borders, as well as the European Cup match away to English giants Leicester at Welford Road on January 13. But he will be available for the European tie with French side Bourgoin a week later.

Wales begin the 2007 Six Nations at home to Ireland on February 4.

"It was the first time I have been shown the red card in 12 seasons of playing rugby at senior level," said Williams.

"Consequently, I feel it was out of character and obviously I regret the incident. I would like to apologise to all concerned.

"I was disappointed with my reaction in the match, but I fully accept the findings of the (WRU) disciplinary sub-committee."

Dec 28 , 2006

Thursday

last Saturday

now

January 13

February 4

12 seasons

available

avoiding

hearing

butting

decided

merited

means

capped

play

miss

available

begin

shown

playing

said

regret

incident

like

apologise

disappointed

accept


XIN_ENG_20051108.0110

FALLUJAH, Iraq, Nov. 8 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Gunmen kill two Iraqi soldiers near Fallujah

Gunmen ambushed an Iraqi army patrol in a flashpoint town near Fallujah, west of Baghdad, on Tuesday, killing two soldiers and wounding five others, a local journalist told Xinhua.

The attack took place in the morning when unknown armed men opened fire at the army patrol in Ameriyat al-Fallujah town, south of Fallujah, Abdul Rahman said.

In a separate incident, a suicide car bomber drove his explosive-laden car into a US military patrol late last night in the Garma town, east of Fallujah, Rahman said.

The suicide attack destroyed a US Humvee, causing casualties among the soldiers aboard, he said.

The powerful blast prompted the US soldiers to open fire haphazardly, wounding two civilians and causing damage in several nearby houses, he added.

Fallujah, a city some 50 km west of Baghdad in the restive Anbar province, along with nearby towns and villages, has witnessed frequent insurgent attacks against the US and Iraqi forces in the past two and a half years of violence.

Nov. 8 , 2005

Tuesday

the morning

late last night

the past two and a half years

ambushed

killing

wounding

told

attack

took

opened

said

drove

said

attack

destroyed

causing

said

blast

prompted

open

wounding

causing

added

witnessed

attacks

violence


AFP_ENG_19970402.0208

WASHINGTON, April 2 , 1997 (AFP)

Chinese reporter commits suicide after planned defection foiled: daily

The Washington bureau chief of the New China News Agency, Xinhua, committed suicide over the weekend in Beijing after a collague discovered he was planning to defect, The New York Times said Wednesday.

China's state-run agency made no public mention of Wei Guoqiang's death, but it was confirmed by several of his colleagues in the Chinese capital, the daily said.

A Xinhua employee said Wei, 47, was called back to Beijing in late March, only one month after his usual yearly visit to the agency's headquarters.

"I heard he was back to discuss something with his superiors, and I was surprised because I had just read one of his articles from Washington," said Wei's colleague, who, like the others, asked not to be identified.

Another colleague said Wei was recalled after he had been discovered by a co-worker in Washington preparing documents to support a political asylum application for himself, his wife, and his 17-year- old daughter.

Once in Beijing, Wei was put under close watch at his home by a relative, but was left briefly alone over the weekend.

He chose that moment to hang himself in the bathroom of his apartment, the colleague said.

April 2 , 1997

the weekend

Wednesday

late March, only one month

the weekend

committed

suicide

discovered

planning

defect

said

made

mention

confirmed

said

said

called

visit

heard

discuss

surprised

read

said

identified

said

recalled

discovered

support

put

left

chose

hang

said


XIN_ENG_20051113.0236

MEXICO CITY, Nov. 13 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Grenade attack injures 2 police officers in Mexico

A grenade lobbed from a moving car at a police post injured two police officers in the Pacific resort city of Acapulco, Mexico, on Sunday.

The attack took place at a police barricade outside Tres Vidas, where conflict between a private hotel and farming interest has sparked a series of conflict.

Farmers who originally lived in the area claimed that they never agreed to sell their territory. Groups of peasants stormed the area in and around Tres Vidas in recent days, seizing land they claim was stolen from them.

The Tres Vidas police post is located in the city's Diamante beach section, a district popular with well-heeled tourists.

Acapulco was hit by a string of violence this year and grenade as well as shooting attacks have killed at least eight officials and injured six others.

Nov. 13 , 2005

Sunday

recent days

this year

lobbed

moving

injured

attack

took

conflict

sparked

lived

claimed

agreed

sell

stormed

seizing

claim

stolen

located

hit

attacks

killed

injured


AFP_ENG_20061230.0186

ROME, Dec 30 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - ADDS further reax ///

Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said Saturday he was "concerned" over tensions fanned in Iraq by the execution of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

"From the first hours, we've seen that the consequences have been an increase in tensions and violence, as you could have predicted," Prodi said outside his home in Bologna, the ANSA news agency reported.

"I hope it won't continue," he added.

Within hours of Saddam's dawn hanging in Baghdad, a car bomb exploded in a fish market in the central Iraqi Shiite city of Kufa, killing at least 31 people, but it was not immediately clear whether the attack represented the first reprisal from his supporters.

Prodi on Friday had issued a final plea against Saddam's execution, calling for "wisdom and magnanimity to prevail".

"No fault can determine one man to be the bearer of death to another. This is a principle that unites all civilizations and all religions. And it is the only principle that can allow the building of solid and lasting peace," he said.

"The decision to go ahead with the execution of Saddam Hussein fills us with horror. We had hoped that human pity and political sense would inspire wiser decisions," he added.

Other Italian left-wing commentators also denounced the execution, calling it "barbaric" and "a new political mistake."

Right-wing politicians echoed the left's opposition to the death penalty, but a Forza Italia official, Fabrizio Cicchitto, lamented that capital punishment practiced routinely in China and Cuba does not elicit such a vocal reaction.

Only the far-right Northern League hailed the execution, with former reforms minister Roberto Calderoli saying Saddam "had to pay for the barbarisms and crimes he committed."

Dec 30 , 2006

Saturday

Friday

said

concerned

fanned

execution

seen

consequences

increase

predicted

said

reported

hope

continue

added

hanging

exploded

killing

attack

represented

reprisal

issued

plea

calling

prevail

fault

determine

allow

said

decision

go

execution

fills

hoped

inspire

decisions

added

denounced

execution

calling

echoed

lamented

practiced

elicit

hailed

execution

saying

pay

barbarisms

committed


AFP_ENG_19970412.0213

SARAJEVO, April 12 , 1997 (AFP)

Police foil apparent attempt to kill pope

Police in Sarajevo on Saturday foiled an apparent attempt to kill Pope John Paul II, discovering 23 landmines wired to explode under a bridge the pope was set to cross later in the day.

The apparent attempt on the pope's life was found hours before the pope was set to arrive in the Bosnian capital for an historic two-day visit aimed at boosting reconciliation in Bosnia.

On arrival at the bridge on the main road into the city, "Bosnian police and the (UN) International Police Task Force found 23 mines connected to a detonator with additional plastic explosives and a remote control," said UN spokesman Alexander Ivanko.

The mines had apparently been planted there Friday night.

Police said they had arrested a man Saturday claiming he wanted to kill the pope. The pontiff was due to arrive in the city at around 5:30 p.m. (1530 GMT).

It was not clear whether the arrest of the man, whose name was not immediately released, was linked to the discovery of the explosives.

April 12 , 1997

Saturday

the day

Friday night

Saturday

5:30 p.m.

foiled

attempt

kill

discovering

wired

explode

set

cross

attempt

found

set

arrive

visit

aimed

boosting

reconciliation

found

connected

said

planted

said

arrested

claiming

wanted

kill

arrive

arrest

released

linked

discovery


AFP_ENG_19970427.0491

SUVA, April 28 , 1997 (AFP)

Fiji family killed in landslide

A 16-year-old girl was recovering in hospital Monday after seeing her sister and grandparents killed as their home was buried by a landslide, emergency authorities said.

Raja Ram, 61, his wife Kala Wati, 56, and five-year-old granddaughter, Priya Bandana Lata, were buried when the corrugated iron house in the Fijian hillside village of Saweni was hit by the landslide that followed heavy rain on Saturday.

They had just returned to the house from a family wedding, relatives told police.

Priya's sister, 16-year-old Payal, probably owes her life to swift rescue effort from Constable Peni Verekauta who was on duty at the nearby Sawani police post when the landslide occurred.

"I heard somebody screaming. When I located her she was half buried and a lemon tree had pinned her to the ground," said Verekauta, who freed the girl with the help of neighbours and an emergency unit which was called to the scene.

April 28 , 1997

Monday

Saturday

recovering

seeing

killed

buried

landslide

said

buried

hit

landslide

followed

rain

returned

told

owes

effort

occurred

heard

screaming

located

buried

pinned

said

freed

help

called


XIN_ENG_20051122.0242

SOFIA, Nov. 22 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Bulgaria sees bases deal with US next spring: defense chief

Bulgaria hopes to reach a deal with the United States on the deployment of US troops at Bulgaria's military bases by spring next year, Bulgarian Defense Minister Vesselin Bliznakov said on Tuesday.

"I hope all the details will be agreed and we can have a deal maybe in February or March," he said.

On Saturday, Lyubomir Ivanov, Bulgaria's chief negotiator and ambassador to NATO, said the two countries had agreed to jointly use the Novo Selo shooting range and the Bezmer airport, both in central Bulgaria.

Washington aims to pull about 70,000 troops out of Germany and Asia in the next decade and is planning to create small, flexible bases in Eastern Europe.

Bulgaria joined US-led NATO last year along with six other Eastern European nations. The United States is also in talks with Romania over the use of its military bases.

Nov. 22 , 2005

next year

Tuesday

February

Saturday

the next decade

last year

hopes

reach

deployment

said

hope

agreed

have

said

said

agreed

use

aims

pull

planning

create

joined

talks

use


XIN_ENG_20061120.0268

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 , 2006 (Xinhua)

U.S. says Syria should become "positive actor" in Iraq

The United States said on Monday that Syria should become "a positive actor" in Iraq and take actions necessary to help improve the situation in Iraq.

"What we would like to see the Syrians do is to take steps to become a positive actor in Iraq and not to do things that would foment violence or that would help support violence there," State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said at a briefing.

"And I think the most important thing for the Syrian government is to look to themselves and take the actions that are necessary to help improve the situation in Iraq," Casey said.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem, who is paying a landmark visit to Iraq, has called for the withdrawal of foreign troops out of Iraq to end the violence in the country.

However, the United States has accused Syria of allowing terrorists to go into Iraq to fight against the U.S.-led coalition troops in the country.

The U.S. military has alleged that up to 100 foreign fighters cross into Iraq from Syria every month.

Nov. 20 , 2006

Monday

said

become

take

actions

help

improve

like

see

take

become

foment

violence

help

support

violence

said

briefing

think

look

take

help

improve

said

paying

visit

called

withdrawal

end

violence

accused

allowing

go

fight

U.S.-led

alleged

cross


XIN_ENG_20061121.0286

NAIROBI, Nov. 21 , 2006 (Xinhua)

IOM to help internally displaced Sudanese return home

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday it had begun the registration of internally displaced Sudanese living in Khartoum who wants to return home after a peace agreement ended a 21-year-old civil war in the south.

In a statement issued in Nairobi, the organization said the registrations which will continue till next February, will allow the first rounds of organized returns to communities in southern Sudan, most likely next year.

About 100,000 households with an average size of six people per family are expected to register.

"As well as registering those IDPs (internally displaced persons) in Khartoum state who want to return home, IOM is also providing information and material assistance to the displaced, including facilitating transportation to destinations in the south, " it said.

"The Government of South Sudan and the United Nations have agreed that 150,000 people displaced in the north will be assisted through organized returns, with the IOM facilitating the transportation of 35,000 people," it added.

Another estimated 48,000 southern Sudanese IDPs, currently in southern Darfur and other states, will be assisted to go back home by the IOM between now and next July.

An estimated 4 million Sudanese are still displaced within their country as a result of the conflict in the south.

Nov. 21 , 2006

Tuesday

next February

next year

now

next July

said

begun

registration

displaced

wants

return

ended

war

issued

said

continue

allow

expected

register

registering

want

return

providing

facilitating

said

agreed

displaced

assisted

facilitating

added

estimated

assisted

go

displaced

conflict


XIN_ENG_20051111.0143

BEIJING, Nov. 11 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Chinese vice premier encourages oil, gas prospecting

Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan Thursday highlighted the prospecting of petroleum and gas as an important task of geological survey work.

Efforts should focus on prospecting of strategic mineral resources, especially oil, natural gas, uranium, iron, copper and aluminium, Zeng said at a conference on geological work held by the State Council in Taiyuan, capital of northwest China's Shanxi Province.

Zeng stressed the importance of the geological survey work, considering it key to easing the impact of resource shortages on economic growth.

He noted that major projects in geological surveying should be launched in accordance with the overall layout of national economic and social development. Enterprises are encouraged to take part in mineral prospecting.

He urged to continue the comprehensive survey and assessment of the geological environment in key economic zones and mineral belts.

Nov. 11 , 2005

Thursday

highlighted

task

work

focus

said

conference

held

stressed

work

considering

easing

impact

growth

noted

launched

development

encouraged

take

urged

continue


XIN_ENG_20051123.0113

DARES SALAAM, Nov. 23 , 2005 (Xinhua)

China-Tanzania relations ever strengthened: senior CPC official

China will join efforts with Tanzania to continuously strengthen and expand the time-tested friendly relations between the two countries, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said here Wednesday morning.

Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remark when holding talks with Philip Mangula, general secretary of the ruling Revolutionary Party of Tanzania.

Li said China and Tanzania has maintained a close relationship though the two countries are far apart. This time, he headed a CPC delegation to pay a goodwill visit to Tanzania in order to enhance mutual understanding, reinforce friendship, exchange experience and deepen cooperation, Li said.

Li spoke highly of the achievements that Tanzania and other African countries made in advancing social and economic development.

He said since African countries and their peoples are at a critical stage in all-round national construction and in the process of exploring development routes that suit to their different specific national conditions, China is ready to join hands with the African countries to seize the opportunities to promote China-Africa cooperation and South-South cooperation to a new level.

Li expressed the confidence that under the leadership of the Revolutionary Party of Tanzania, the Tanzanian people will surely be able to cope with various challenges and create a better future. China will as always work with Tanzania to continuously consolidate and expand their time-tested friendship, he added.

On the relations between the CPC and the Revolutionary Party of Tanzania, Li said both parties are ruling parties in their own countries. The relations between the two parties have withstood the test of times and kept vitality.

Li thanked Tanzania for giving long-term support to China on such issues as Taiwan. He emphasized that the CPC is willing to further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Revolutionary Party of Tanzania.

Li put forward four suggestions on further strengthening the friendly exchanges and cooperation between the two political parties.

First, Li said the two parties should maintain high-level contact so as to further enhance mutual understanding and political trust between their leaders.

Secondly, the two parties should strengthen exchange of experience on administration and governing the country and learn from each other, Li said.

Thirdly, he said the two parties should carry out personnel exchanges by exploring new ways and new forms in this respect.

Fourthly, Li said the two parties should continue to explore new areas of party-to-party cooperation that will help advance bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

Mangula warmly welcomed Li and the CPC delegation to visit Tanzania. He said the visit will push the friendly bilateral relations that established by older generations of leadership of the two countries to a new era.

Mangula agreed with Li's comment on the relations between the two countries and between the Revolutionary Party and CPC. He highly praised the four suggestions that Li put forward on advancing exchanges between the two political parties.

Mangula said the Revolutionary Party attaches great importance to exchanges and cooperation with the CPC. He said his party is ready to work with the CPC to explore new mechanisms and arrangements for deepening their relations.

Mangula reiterated that Tanzania will continue to stick to the one China policy. He expressed the wish that the Chinese people will realize the reunification of their motherland on an early date.

Li arrived in Dare Salaam Tuesday evening for a two-day goodwill visit to Tanzania.

Nov. 23 , 2005

Wednesday morning

an early date

Tuesday evening

join

efforts

strengthen

expand

said

made

holding

talks

said

maintained

headed

pay

visit

enhance

reinforce

cooperation

said

spoke

achievements

made

advancing

development

said

construction

join

seize

promote

cooperation

expressed

able

cope

create

work

consolidate

expand

added

said

ruling

withstood

kept

thanked

giving

emphasized

strengthen

put

strengthening

cooperation

said

maintain

enhance

strengthen

governing

learn

said

said

carry

exploring

said

continue

explore

help

advance

cooperation

welcomed

visit

said

visit

push

established

agreed

praised

put

said

attaches

said

work

explore

deepening

reiterated

continue

stick

expressed

realize

arrived

visit


AFP_ENG_20061213.0676

PARIS, Dec 14 , 2006, 2006

Weapons buyback massively cut gun deaths: Australian study

A weapons buyback in Australia dramatically ended gun massacres and sharply reduced the number of firearms deaths overall, a study published on Thursday says.

The initiative was launched in 1996, within days of a massacre of 35 people in Port Arthur, Tasmania, by a gunman using semi-automatic weapons.

Under the new law, the federal government banned semi-automatics and pump-action rifles and shotguns and offered to buy these weapons from gunowners, using a levy on income tax.

Tens of thousands of gunowners also voluntarily surrendered non-prohibited weapons, without compensation.

In all, more than 700,000 guns were destroyed in a country with a population of 12 million adults.

Looking back at the effects that this measure has had over the past decade, Australian public-health experts say the benefits have been enormous.

In the 18 years prior to the Port Arthur massacre, Australia experienced 13 mass shootings; there has been none since then, they say.

The rate of homicides, suicides and fatal accidents involving firearms had been declining in the 18 years preceding the new gun law.

After that, the decline doubled, with the biggest fall occurring among the tally of suicides.

"Removing large numbers of firearms from a community can be associated with a sudden and ongoing decline in mass shootings and accelerating declines in total firearm-related deaths, firearm homicides and firearm suicides," says the paper.

It appears in Injury Prevention, a journal of the British Medical Association (BMA). Lead author is Simon Chapman, a professor at the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney.

Dec 14 , 2006

Thursday

the past decade

the 18 years

the 18 years

buyback

ended

massacres

reduced

published

says

initiative

launched

massacre

banned

offered

buy

using

surrendered

destroyed

Looking

had

say

experienced

shootings

say

declining

preceding

doubled

tally

Removing

associated

decline

shootings

declines

deaths

says

appears


XIN_ENG_20061112.0025

TEHRAN, Nov. 12 , 2006 (Xinhua)

spokesman

Iran will give "destructive" response if its nuclear program is attacked by Israel, a Foreign Ministry spokesman vowed here Sunday.

Nov. 12 , 2006

Sunday

give

response

attacked

vowed


XIN_ENG_20061111.0128

BEIJING, Nov. 11 , 2006 (Xinhua)

cultural relics

A senior Chinese official has urged women's federations of different levels to promote the collection of cultural relics involving women and children and the building of the national museum for women and children.

This was remarked here on Saturday by Gu Xiulian, vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) and chairperson of the All-China Women's Federation, at a national conference on collection of these cultural relics.

The museum, which serve as an educational base and a platform for international exchanges, is now being built, and meanwhile, people of different circles are working hard to collect relevant cultural relics under the guidance of experts, Gu said.

Shan Jixiang, director of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, also spoke at the meeting, calling on cultural heritage departments of all levels to help gather relics for the museum, which will be the first of its kind in the country.

Nov. 11 , 2006

Saturday

now

urged

promote

remarked

conference

built

working

collect

said

spoke

meeting

calling

help

gather


AFP_ENG_20051214.0488

WASHINGTON, Dec 14 , 2005

///

The US military is mounting a 300 million dollar psychological operations campaign to sway international opinion of the US war on terrorism through messages placed in foreign media, officials said Wednesday.

Lawrence DiRita, the chief Pentagon spokesman, said the aim was to "provide factual, truthful information with some degree of transparency, whatever is appropriate."

He would not say specifically whether the psychological warfare experts charged with running the program have been authorized to place messages in foreign media without disclosing the US government as their source.

However, USA Today quoted the deputy director of the Joint Psychological Operations Support Element as saying the source of the material would not always be identified.

"While the product may not carry the label, Made in the USA,' we will respond truthfully if asked" by journalists, Mark Furlong was quoted as saying.

The campaign will target television, radio, newspapers, Internet websites with articles, advertisements and public service announcements, he said.

The latest disclosure comes amid an ongoing investigation of a military "information operations" campaign in Iraq that reportedly planted hundreds of favorable paid-for stories in Iraqi news media without disclosing their source.

The Lincoln Group, a defense contractor that was used to place the stories, is one of three contractors hired by the US Special Operations Command for the broader international campaign.

The Lincoln Group, Science Applications International Corp. and SyColeman Inc. were each awarded 100 million dollar contracts in June for the campaign.

The five-year contract was "for media approach planning, prototype product development, commercial quality product development, product distribution and dissemination, and media effects analysis for the Joint Psychological Operations Support element and other government agencies," an announcement at the time said.

DiRita said the US Special Operations Command has been granted authority to wage the campaign but was still planning how to carry it out, he said.

"We're in an environment where public information is being thrown out there in countries all around the world that say untruthful, inaccurate, harmful things about the United States, about the global war on terror," DiRita said.

"It is important we counter that, and we have to counter it truthfully, to some significant degree to counter it with transparency, and we are looking at all kinds of ways to do that," he said.

Dec 14 , 2005

Wednesday

June

mounting

sway

war

said

said

provide

say

charged

running

authorized

place

disclosing

quoted

saying

identified

carry

label

respond

asked

quoted

saying

target

said

disclosure

comes

investigation

campaign

planted

disclosing

used

place

hired

awarded

said

said

granted

wage

planning

carry

said

thrown

say

war

said

counter

counter

counter

looking

do

said


XIN_ENG_20051115.0235

LONDON, Nov. 15 , 2005 (Xinhua)

53 birds die of avian flu in Britain

Fifty-three birds have died at a British quarantine center hit by an outbreak of avian flu, according to a report released on Tuesday by the British Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The report said that within the species documented as coming from Taiwan, only the Mesias were infected with H5N1, adding that 53 out of 101 birds had died. It went on to say that the H5N1 virus was only transmitted between the Mesias,

There is no evidence of transmission to other species in the facility including the sentinel birds.

Announcing the publication of the report, Chief Veterinary Officer Debby Reynolds said, "This report contains significant epidemiological findings and helps to further our understanding of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

"In particular the apparent lack of transmission of H5N1 between species in the facility will be of interest to the international community."

In a written Parliamentary statement, Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett said, "This report will be fed into the independent review of avian quarantine procedures I announced on October 31 led by Professor Nigel Dimmock and to Essex County Council, who are conducting an investigation into events at the quarantine facility."

Nov. 15 , 2005

Tuesday

October 31

died

hit

according

released

said

documented

coming

infected

adding

died

went

say

transmitted

Announcing

said

contains

findings

helps

further

said

fed

announced

led

conducting

investigation


AFP_ENG_19970421.0411

DALLAS, Texas, April 21 , 1997 (AFP)

Texas Instruments sells software division for 165 million dollars

Texas Instruments is selling its software division for 165 million dollars in cash to Sterling Software of Dallas, Texas, the two firms reported Monday.

The transaction includes the sale of all Texas Instruments Software assets, including the stock of certain European subsidiaries, and the assumption of various liabilities related to the business.

Sterling Software expects to merge this business with its existing applications development business upon completion of the purchase, which is expected to be in mid June, Texas Instruments said.

The software of the computer and semiconductor maker has operations in 30 countries around the world.

Sterling Software produces software and services for applications management and systems management, as well as technical professional services for the US government.

In 1996 Sterling Software reported revenue of 439.2 million dollars. Texas Instruments Software reported revenue of about 250 million last year.

April 21 , 1997

Monday

June

last year

selling

reported

transaction

sale

expects

merge

completion

purchase

expected

be

said

produces

reported

reported


XIN_ENG_20061117.0393

JAKARTA, Nov. 18 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Indonesia's missing aircraft found but no survivals

A Twin Otter aircraft which had been missing since Friday morning in Papua province of Indonesia, have been found on Saturday morning with 12 passengers and crew seems to have died, a police officer said.

The plane was found broken to pieces in a deep ravine by a group of missionaries while traveling from Wamena regency to Mulia regency, all people on board predicted to have died, said provincial police spokesman Kartono Wangsa Disastro.

"The plane has been found, the missionaries said logically no one safe from the accident," Disastro told Xinhua by telephone from the province.

Bad weather and mountainous field were the cause of the accident, he said.

"After the plane lower its height preparing for landing, the weather changed to dark, afterwards, the plane crashed to a mountain," he said.

Disasto said that evacuation still can not be done, due to a poor weather condition.

"We wait for favorable weather for moving to the site," he said.

The plane belonging to Trigana Air Service lost contact with the airport 15 minutes after it departed from Mulia, the capital of Puncak Jaya regency on its way to Ilaga district on Friday, he said.

Mountainous terrain has been a serious threat for flight in the province, which has frequently caused accidents, the type of Twin Otter aircraft for instance has been four times smashed to the mountains.

Nov. 18 , 2006

Friday morning

Saturday morning

15 minutes

Friday

missing

found

seems

died

said

found

broken

traveling

predicted

died

said

found

said

accident

told

cause

accident

said

lower

preparing

changed

crashed

said

said

done

wait

moving

said

lost

departed

said

caused

smashed


XIN_ENG_20061113.0109

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov. 13 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Malaysia's IPI up 3.6 pct in September

Malaysia's Industrial Production Index (IPI) for September rose by 3.6 percent to 136.8 on a year-on-year basis, the Department of Statistics said Monday.

The positive growth was driven by the increases in the manufacturing and electricity indices, which grew by 5.9 percent to 143.7 and by 4.2 percent to 154.3 respectively.

The mining index, however, declined by 5 percent to 111.3, the department said in a statement released here.

Compared with the previous month, IPI for September decreased by 1 percent.

The decrease was due to the lower indices in all sectors, with the electricity index down 3 percent, mining index down 2.7 percent and manufacturing index, down 0.4 percent.

For the third quarter this year, the IPI rose by 5 percent to 137.2 compared with the same period last year.

From January to September 2006, the IPI surged by 5.6 percent to 133.7 as compared with the same period last year.

The IPI is the measure of the rate of change in the production of industrial commodities in real terms over time. These commodities are obtained from the manufacturing, mining and electricity sectors.

Nov. 13 , 2006

September

Monday

the previous month

September

the third quarter this year

last year

January to September 2006

last year

rose

said

growth

driven

increases

grew

declined

said

released

decreased

rose

surged

obtained


bbc_20130322_1353

2013-03-22

Israel PM apologies for Gaza flotilla deaths

Israel's prime minister has apologised to Turkey for "any errors that could have led to loss of life" during the 2010 commando raid on an aid flotilla that tried to breach the Gaza blockade.

Benjamin Netanyahu also agreed with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to compensate the families of the nine activists who were killed.

Mr Netanyahu had previously only expressed regret for the deaths.

The deal was brokered by US President Barack Obama during a visit to Israel.

Mr Erdogan's office said he had accepted the apology, "in the name of the Turkish people".

In the past, he has always given two conditions for restoring bilateral relations with Israel - an apology and compensation for victims' families.

Nine people were killed on board the Turkish aid ship, Mavi Marmara, when it was boarded by Israeli commandos while trying to transport aid supplies to Gaza in May 2010 in spite of an Israeli naval blockade.

The Israeli government admitted mistakes were made in intelligence-gathering and planning, but insisted its commandos used lethal force because activists had attacked them.

The activists said the troops had opened fire as soon as they boarded the vessel, which was in international waters at the time.

The incident provoked an international outcry and led to a major deterioration in relations between Turkey and Israel.

Before departing for Jordan on Friday afternoon, Mr Obama revealed that Mr Netanyahu and Mr Erdogan had just spoken by telephone.

the past

May 2010

at the time

Friday afternoon

apologised

errors

led

loss

raid

tried

breach

blockade

agreed

compensate

killed

expressed

deaths

deal

brokered

visit

said

accepted

apology

given

restoring

killed

boarded

trying

transport

admitted

mistakes

intelligence-gathering

planning

insisted

used

attacked

said

opened

fire

boarded

incident

provoked

outcry

led

deterioration

departing

revealed

spoken


XIN_ENG_20051124.0170

TIANJIN, Nov. 24 , 2005 (Xinhua)

joint statement

A four-day conference for young political leaders in Asia and Europe concluded here Thursday with the adoption of a joint statement featuring agreements on youth issues in the two continents.

The conference, jointly-hosted by the All China Youth Federation and Asia Europe Foundation, was aimed at implementing the proposals from Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the fifth Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM).

It was also the first of such activities among young political leaders in the history of the ASEM.

More than 100 young delegates from 34 countries and regional youth organizations attended the conference which started in Beijing on Monday and then moved to the neighboring port city of Tianjin.

Nov. 24 , 2005

Thursday

Monday

conference

concluded

adoption

conference

aimed

implementing

attended

conference

started

moved


AFP_ENG_20061215.0062

WASHINGTON, Dec 15 , 2006, 2006

Cuba's Castro is near death: US intelligence

Cuban leader Fidel Castro is very ill and close to death, the US Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte told the Washington Post on Friday.

"Everything we see indicates it will not be much longer... months, not years," Negroponte told the Post.

However Negroponte, the top US intelligence official, gave no details in the interview to back up his statement.

Castro, 80, handed over the reins of power on July 31 to his brother Raul Castro, the army chief, after undergoing intestinal surgery. He has not been seen in public since July 26.

Raul Castro has reached out to the United States in the past four months, calling for negotiations.

The United States and Cuba do not have full diplomatic relations, and Washington has an economic embargo on the only one-party communist state in the Americas.

On Wednesday the top US diplomat for Latin America indicated that the United States had yet to find a reformer in the communist Cuban government, but did not flatly rule out dialogue with Havana in the context of a political opening.

On Friday a bipartisan group of 10 US lawmakers, all supporters of easing US sanctions on Cuba, were to depart for Havana to meet with top Cuban officials.

Dec 15 , 2006

Friday

July 31

July 26

the past four months

Wednesday

Friday

told

see

indicates

told

gave

interview

back

statement

handed

undergoing

seen

reached

calling

negotiations

has

embargo

indicated

find

rule

easing

sanctions

depart

meet


XIN_ENG_20061115.0185

BAGHDAD, Nov. 15 , 2006 (Xinhua)

toll rises to three

The death toll rose to three and 12 others were wounded when a suicide car bomb struck a funeral ceremony in a southern Baghdad district on Wednesday, an Interior Ministry source told Xinhua.

"A suicide bomber drove his explosive-laden car into mourners of a funeral in the al-Saha neighborhood, killing three people and wounding 12 others," the source said on condition of anonymity.

Earlier, local police said that two people were killed and 12 others wounded.

In another incident, a car bomb parking near the Gailani gas station in Bab al-Sharji area exploded Wednesday, killing eight people and wounding 32 others.

Nov. 15 , 2006

Wednesday

Wednesday

rose

wounded

struck

ceremony

told

drove

killing

wounding

said

said

killed

wounded

incident

parking

exploded

killing

wounding


AFP_ENG_20061204.0211

PARIS, Dec 4 , 2006, 2006

ATTENTION - ADDS Gallois quotes on capital increase ///

European aircraft manufacturer Airbus is holding talks with partner European governments but no decision on state finance for the new A350 airliner programme is imminent, the head of Airbus said on Monday.

Airbus chief executive Louis Gallois, who is also co-chief executive of parent company EADS, told a press conference that "no decision has been taken or is imminent" concerning a contribution by partner countries to the A350 programme.

Gallois said: "We do not have an imminent need for finance."

He also said: "The board of EADS has asked us to study all possible instruments for financing ... A capital increase is one of them, but only one possibility."

A short time earlier French Economy and Finance Minister Thierry Breton had said that the four partner countries behind the Airbus programme, France, Germany, Spain and Britain, would accompany financing of the A350 programme.

The board of the European Aernoautic Defence and Space Company EADS decided late on Friday to go ahead with the programme to build the A350 series of airliners.

The aircraft was considered to be crucial to the future of Airbus as the main competitor to US manufacturer Boeing, but Airbus is in difficulties over delays of up to 24 months in its other key new programme, for the A380 superjumbo airliner.

Airbus has announced ambitious plans to save money, in part to release funds for the A350 project, but has yet to provide full details of how it will restructure.

Dec 4 , 2006

Monday

Friday

holding

talks

decision

said

told

conference

decision

taken

contribution

said

said

asked

study

increase

said

accompany

financing

decided

go

build

considered

announced

plans

save

release

has

provide

restructure


AFP_ENG_19970429.0207

LONDON, April 29 , 1997 (AFP) -

As Britain's general election campaign enters its final 48 hours we plan to file the following stories and portraits of leading figures:

LONDON:     Despite their mutual hostility during the

British election campaign, the ruling

Conservatives and the main opposition Labour

party have only one stark policy difference:

constitutional reform.

Britain-vote

660 words moved

by Jean-Louis Pany

LONDON:     British opposition leader Tony Blair

has managed to break the ruling Conservatives'

traditional stranglehold on the press,

reinforcing his Labour party's support in

Thursday's general elections

Britain-vote-press

600 words around 1115 GMT

By Henry Meyer

LONDON:     The Monster Raving Loony Party, the Elvis

Presley Party, the Legalise Cannabis Party

and a host of eccentrics have all been locked

in intense campainging for elections they know

they cannot win.

Britain-vote-outsiders

540 words moved

by Olivier Thibault

LONDON:     Once nicknamed "Bambi," today measured against

US President Bill Clinton, Labour leader Tony

Blair, 43-year-old barrister, appears likely

to be Britain's next prime minister.

Britain-vote-Blair

600 words around 1200 GMT

LONDON:     Although Tony Blair has transformed the face

of his party into "New Labour," there are

still plenty clinging to the party's

socialist roots, and to avoid losing those

votes, Blair has John Prescott at his side.

Britain-vote-Prescott

500 words around 1030 GMT

LONDON:     With his flame-red hair, permanent frown

and frequent and fiery proclamations, Robin

Cook, chosen by Labour leader Tony Blair as

his foreign secretary if the party wins.

Britain-vote-Cook

550 words around 1040 GMT

LONDON:     Gordon Brown, a 46-year old Scotsman who will

become Chancellor of the Exchequer if the

Labour Party wins May 1 elections, has

fostered the image of a "safe pair of hands"

in running the British economy.

Britain-vote-Brown

500 words around 1045 GMT

LONDON:     Marjorie "Mo" Mowlam, who will become

Northern Ireland Secretary if Labour wins
Thursday, is seen as more dynamic than her

Tory predecessor, but she will have little

room for manoeuvre in the embattled province.

Britain-vote-Mowlam

600 words moved

by Philippe Bernes-Lasserre

LONDON:     Cherie Blair, the wife of the man tipped to

become Britain's next premier, has tried hard

to avoid the reputation that dogs Hillary

Clinton, seen by many Americans as the real

power behind the throne.

Britain-vote-Cherie

450 words around 1100 GMT

LONDON:     His colleagues call him "Honest John," his

opponents label him "Gray Man." Prime Minister

John Major, all but dismissed as loser of the

general elections, leaves a legacy of

transition in Downing Street.

Britain-vote-Major

600 words around 1300 GMT

We have also moved:

Britain-vote-quotes

Britain-vote-Downing

April 29 , 1997

Thursday

Thursday

campaign

enters

plan

file

have

moved

managed

break

ruling

reinforcing

support

locked

know

win

moved

nicknamed

measured

appears

transformed

clinging

avoid

losing

chosen

wins

become

wins

fostered

running

become

wins

seen

moved

tipped

become

tried

avoid

seen

call

label

dismissed

elections

leaves

moved


XIN_ENG_20061107.0055

TOKYO, Nov. 7 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Tornado kills 9 in Hokkaido of northern Japan

A tornado hit eastern Hokkaido town of Saroma Tuesday afternoon, killing at least nine people and injuring 10 others at a tunnel construction site, Kyodo News said.

About 20 people were buried under collapsed prefabricated houses at the work site, police and firefighters said, adding that at least six other people are missing.

Some 10 buildings collapsed in the town when the tornado took place at 1 p.m., and electricity to part of the town and to the neighboring city of Kitami was cut off, local officials said.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's official residence has set up a liaison office at its crisis management center to deal with the accident.

Nov. 7 , 2006

Tuesday afternoon

hit

killing

injuring

said

buried

said

adding

missing

collapsed

took

cut

said

set

deal

accident


AFP_ENG_19970422.0733

LONDON, April 23 , 1997 (AFP)

Poll suggests Conservative voters returning to the fold

A newspaper opinion poll published Wednesday, eight days before the British general election on May 1, "electrified" the hitherto predictable campaign by appearing to suggest that previously discontented Conservative voters were returning to the fold.

An ICM poll for the left-of-centre Guardian newspaper suggested a dramatic fall in support for the main opposition party Labour to just five percent.

According to the survey, Labour's lead had fallen nine percent, with Labour support falling three points to 42 percent of voting intentions. The Conservatives were up six on 37 and the centrist Liberal Democrats on 14.

The result, the first time the Labour lead has been measured in single figures since Tony Blair took over as leader three years ago, was balanced by a Gallup poll in the right-wing Daily Telegraph which put Labour's lead at 21 percent.

This suggested Labour had increased its lead still further, rising three points to an absolute majority of 51 percent, while the Tories were down two points on 30 percent and the Liberal Democrats steady on 12 percent.

The last two Gallup polls have shown Labour steady at 16 points ahead but the latest survey of 1,129 voters on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday indicated a shift in mood.

The ICM poll was carried out on 1,004 voters on Sunday and Monday.

ICM reported that nearly half of voters who had chosen Conservative at the last election in 1992 but who had switched to Labour or Liberal Democrat at the beginning of the campaign almost five weeks ago now indicated they would vote Conservative again.

ICM also found John Major was judged to be the best prime minister ahead of Blair, and that the Conservatives would be the best party to handle the economy and represent Britain in Europe.

The result backs up assertions by Major that the polls, which have given Labour leads of up to 28 percent, do not reflect the reception Tory candidates have garnered around the country. A party spokesman declined to comment on the latest findings.

A Labour spokesman said: "It is extremely difficult to take any clear message from tonight's polls. They are so contradictory."

The British press claimed the ICM poll had thrown open the campaign. The Guardian called the result a "bombshell for Labour", the right- wing Daily Mail said the poll had "electrified" the campaign, and the Telegraph quoted Conservative sources who claimed it showed their tactic to focus on Europe and Blair's credibility were paying off.

ICM's result is the lowest any pollster has recorded for Labour for five years, but the company has consistently shown a Labour lead of at least 10 points lower than those reported in other surveys.

In the last election in 1992, polls predicted a Labour victory but the Conservatives eventually won.

In this election, sources from both parties have said the polls were still exaggerating the Labour lead and political analysts agree that there will be no landslide of the kind indicated by a 20-point lead.

Many have said the poll gap between the two main parties will narrow as election day approaches, as has happened in eight of the last nine general elections.

April 23 , 1997

Wednesday

eight days

May 1

three years ago

Sunday, Monday

Tuesday

Sunday

Monday

five weeks ago

now

five years

published

election

electrified

appearing

suggest

returning

fold

suggested

According

fallen

falling

measured

took

balanced

put

suggested

increased

rising

shown

survey

indicated

shift

carried

reported

chosen

election

switched

indicated

vote

found

judged

handle

represent

backs

given

reflect

garnered

declined

comment

said

take

claimed

thrown

called

said

electrified

quoted

claimed

showed

focus

paying

recorded

shown

reported

election

predicted

victory

won

said

exaggerating

agree

landslide

indicated

said

narrow

approaches

happened

elections


XIN_ENG_20051115.0405

LIMA, Nov. 15 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Andean Community chief calls for Latin American unity

Allan Wagner, secretary general of the Andean Community of Nations (CAN), called for unity among Latin American nations on Tuesday.

He said the unity among Latin American nations, a legacy left by South America's liberator Simon Bolivar, is a "great challenge" for the regional bloc.

"The great challenge for our nations is to obey Simon Bolivar's instruction to maintain the unity of Latin American people: nearly two centuries after he left it as a legacy," he said.

Wagner made the remarks in response to the statements made by Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez during his weekend radio and television show on Sunday. Chavez said his country had more in common with the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) than the Andean Community, where Venezuela is a full member.

Mercosur, in which Venezuela is an associate member, is made up of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.

Headquartered in Lima, the Andean Community groups Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Chile, which helped found the organization in 1969, quit in 1976.

Latin American countries are confronting a grave dilemma over how to solve the deep socio-economic divide, Wagner noted.

"This represents a serious situation: poverty, exclusion and inequality, far from improving, have worsened," the secretary general added.

Wagner said he is in favor of a new kind of international relations that will respond to development targets with "social equality."

"We should all be united in this task, because it is an enormous challenge," he said.

Wagner added that it is necessary to deepen the integration of the Andean countries with Mercosur and Chile to promote the development of the South American Community of Nations (CSN).

"We will all meet in the CSN and there we will grow in strength so that we can reach the targets, in terms of development and well-being, that our people are crying out for."

The CSN, established on Dec. 8, 2004, in the Peruvian city of Cuzco, groups Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Guyana, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Its establishment was considered as an important step toward South American integration.

Nov. 15 , 2005

Tuesday

nearly two centuries

Sunday

Dec. 8, 2004

called

said

left

obey

maintain

left

said

made

show

said

had

made

Headquartered

helped

found

quit

confronting

solve

noted

improving

worsened

added

said

respond

united

task

said

added

deepen

integration

promote

development

meet

grow

reach

crying

established

establishment

considered


XIN_ENG_20051113.0292

TAIYUAN, Nov. 14 , 2005 (Xinhua)

At least 10 killed in road accident in north China province

A road accident in north China's Shanxi Province killed at least 10 people, mostly students and teachers, early Monday morning, local police said.

A heavy-duty truck veered to one side of a village highway in Qinyuan county at around 6:00 a.m. Monday, hitting a group of students and teachers who were on their way to a nearby school, said Nan Xinyan, a spokesperson with the county's traffic police headquarters.

Nan said investigation is going on.

Nov. 14 , 2005

early Monday morning

around 6:00 a.m.

Monday

killed

said

veered

hitting

said

said

going


XIN_ENG_20061109.0149

NAIROBI, Nov. 9 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Thousands flee homes in Kenya slum fighting

Thousands of Kenyans are fleeing their homes in a fourth day of slum gang violence that has left at least eight people dead, witnesses and police said on Thursday.

The fighting between the proscribed Mungiki sect and the local vigilante group "Taliban" began Sunday as they competed for control of the illegal liquor market.

Police spokesman Gideon Kibunja said the death toll rose to eight late Wednesday when a gang member was beaten to death. However, Kibunja said riot police had taken control of most of the slum and were urging people to return home.

Kibunja said four people were hacked to death in skirmishes in Mathare slum between the outlawed Mungiki and Taliban groups while police then shot two people as they attempted to contain the battles that erupted over protection money the gangs levied on brewers of an illegal drink.

"We have arrested some members of the sect and this would continue until calm would be restored," Kibunja said by telephone.

Hundreds of people were expected to sleep outdoors because their homes were destroyed in parts of the slum where fighting between the two rival gangs and Kenyan police had taken place.

"At the moment the situation is under control. The police have normalized the situation and calm seemed to have returned last night," Kibunja said.

Moses Odhiambo, a slum dweller, said he was forced to relocate his family after his house was torched, saying he was afraid to return home due to insecurity.

"I cannot return home if what I saw last night is anything to go about. The gang struck at night because they fear daylight due to police patrol, but in the night the police are nowhere to be seen giving the gangs advantage to roam around," Odhiambo said.

Police has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the slum but many residents camped outside Nairobi's military air base overnight and many people continue to leave the area.

Nov. 9 , 2006

fourth day

Thursday

Sunday

Wednesday

last night

last night

the night

fleeing

violence

left

said

fighting

began

competed

said

rose

beaten

said

taken

urging

return

said

hacked

skirmishes

shot

attempted

contain

battles

erupted

levied

arrested

continue

restored

said

expected

sleep

destroyed

fighting

taken

normalized

seemed

returned

said

said

forced

relocate

torched

saying

afraid

return

return

saw

go

struck

fear

seen

giving

roam

said

imposed

camped

continue

leave


XIN_ENG_20061129.0098

DOHA, Nov. 29 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Factbox: Athletics in Asian Games

Athletic events represent sport at its purest and are often the centerpiece of major international sporting games. They are the embodiment of the Olympic motto, Citius, Altuis, Fortius - or Faster, Higher, Stronger - with athletes pushing themselves to the limit against their opponents and the record books.

Athletic events can be split into four main categories: track events, field events, road events and combined events.

Track events are running races that take place on a 400m outdoor track in the main stadium. The sprint races provide instant excitement, but look out for clever tactics and fast finishing in the longer races.

Field events are throwing and jumping competitions that usually take place inside the track. Strength, speed and agility are key, while tactics also come in to play in the jumping events.

Road events are long running and walking races that take place on public roads, although they often finish on the track inside the stadium. The men's and women's marathon races will take place along Doha's city streets and Corniche.

Combined events feature a selection of track and field events that take place over two days and are designed to find the best all-round athlete. As such, the decathlon and heptathlon are two of the most respected gold medals.

Track and field athletes are often the main stars of any major Games, and the 15th Asian Games.

History

The word athletics comes from the Greek "athlos" meaning " contest". A track running race, known as the "stade", was the first and only event at the first ancient Olympics in 776BC.

Later, more running distances were added, along with the long jump and a pentathlon event which introduced the discus and javelin.

The end of the ancient Olympics in AD393 also saw the end of organized athletics for more than 1,400 years. Running, jumping and throwing competitions continued, however, on an informal basis in most civilized cultures, often as a part of military training.

Interest in the Olympics was revived when archaeologists excavated ancient Olympia towards the end of the 19th century. Baron Pierre de Coubertain founded the International Olympic Committee in Paris in 1894, and the first modern Olympics followed in Athens two years later.

Track and field athletics was a major part of Athens 1896, although women did not compete until the 1928 Amsterdam Games, and then only in five events. The men's program has varied, but has become relatively standardized at all major games since 1928. Women's events, however, have gradually increased in number to almost match the men's.

The recent addition of women's pole vault, triple jump and 3, 000m steeplechase means the only exclusively male event is now the 50km race walk, although the women run over a shorter distance in the sprint hurdles, over lower hurdles in both events, and take part in a seven-event heptathlon rather than a 10-event decathlon.

The International Amateur Athletics Federation was formed in 1912 as a world governing body. IAAF has staged its own World Championships since 1983, allowing prize money from 1982. In 2001, it changed its name to the International Association of Athletics Federations.

Athletics has been a part of every Asian Games, starting at New Delhi, India, in 1951.

Sources: Doha Asian Games Organizing Committee, International Association of Athletics Federations, Xinhua Database

Nov. 29 , 2006

two days

more than 1,400 years

the end of the 19th century

two years later

the 1928

represent

pushing

split

running

take

provide

look

finishing

throwing

jumping

take

come

play

running

walking

take

finish

take

feature

selection

take

designed

find

comes

event

added

event

introduced

saw

athletics

jumping

continued

training

revived

excavated

founded

followed

compete

varied

become

games

increased

match

addition

walk

run

take

formed

staged

allowing

changed

starting


XIN_ENG_20051119.0168

ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 19 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Ethiopia registers 8.9 percent GDP growth last fiscal year

Ethiopia said Saturday an 8.9 percent growth in gross domestic product (GDP) was registered during the previous budget year that ended on July 7.

Fantahun Belew, head of Macroeconomic Policy and Management Department of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development ( MoFED), told journalists that the rapid growth was registered for the second time in a row.

Fantahun said the government has been exerting efforts to equitably distribute resources by undertaking the construction of roads and health facilities as well as expanding the provision of electric power and telecommunications services.

Out of the growth registered during the period, 12.3 percent was registered by the agriculture sector, while the share of the industry and service sectors stood at 6.3 and 5.3 percent, he said.

Fantahun said agriculture continues to play the leading role to the growth of the national economy, and added that the volume of agricultural export during the period has shown a 36.2 percent growth from that of the preceding year.

The growth in agricultural produces export is attributed to the rise of the coffee price in the international market, as well as the increase in the volume of other exportable produce, according to the official.

Fantahun said due to the better performance in the agriculture sector and the decline in the price of food items, inflation registered during the budget year was only 6.8 percent.

Meanwhile, Fantahun said, the import trade has shown a 4 percent increase during the budget year due to the rise in fuel price and increase in the volume and price of imported capital goods and construction materials.

The government has been engaged in various activities aimed at further developing the agriculture sector, including supply of agricultural inputs, expansion of extension services and irrigation development, among others, he added.

Expansion of small-scale agro-industries and expansion of investment that create job opportunities would also be strengthened, Fantahun said.

He said a large sum of budget was allocated during the current fiscal year in a bid to efficiently implement the poverty reduction efforts in the various regional states.

Ethiopia is an extremely poor and overwhelmingly agricultural country, with farm products accounting for over half of the country's GDP and 90 percent of its exports.

Officials say 46 percent of Ethiopia's 71 million people live below the poverty line, with many peasant farmers in the rural areas trapped in abject poverty.

Nov. 19 , 2005

Saturday

year

July 7

the budget year

the current fiscal year

said

growth

registered

ended

told

growth

registered

said

exerting

distribute

undertaking

construction

expanding

growth

registered

registered

stood

said

said

continues

play

growth

added

shown

growth

growth

attributed

rise

increase

according

said

decline

registered

said

shown

increase

rise

increase

engaged

aimed

developing

expansion

added

expansion

strengthened

said

said

allocated

implement

accounting

say

trapped


XIN_ENG_20061119.0042

HANOI, Nov. 19 , 2006 (Xinhua)

2nd Ld Writethru: Russia, US sign agreement on WTO deal in Vietnam

Russia and the United States Sunday signed a bilateral agreement on Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the sidelines of the ongoing Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in Hanoi.

The agreement was signed by U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab and Russian Minister of Trade and Economic Development German Gref.

Describing the agreement as an important milestone in Russia's bid to join the WTO, Schwab said the document signed will be presented to Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President George W. Bush, who were here attending the APEC leaders' meeting.

"I'm pleased that we have concluded this important agreement with Russia's WTO accession negotiations. This is a strong and far- reaching agreement that meets the high standards of President Bush 's market-opening trade agenda and moves Russia closer to full integration into the global, rules-based trading system," Schwab said.

Nov. 19 , 2006

Sunday

signed

agreement

accession

signed

agreement

bid

join

said

signed

presented

attending

meeting

pleased

concluded

agreement

negotiations

meets

moves

said


XIN_ENG_20051116.0158

NAIROBI, Oct. 16 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Marathon star Tergat foresees "world class battle" in London

World marathon record holder Paul Tergat thinks next year's London Marathon will provide an opportunity for a new world-class battle, local media reported Wednesday.

"I am looking forward to facing a great competition on a fast course. Everybody wants to be there," Tergat was quoted by newspaper Kenya Times as saying.

According to the newspaper, the World Food Program's ambassador against hunger and patron of the IAAF's "Athletes for a Better World" charity project, gave a special press conference in Milan in which he spoke about his dramatic win in the 2005 New York Marathon and his future running career.

The former five-time world cross country champion said he is looking forward to future challenges including the next London Marathon on April 23, 2006 which will feature a rematch with Hendrick Ramaala, and another encounter with Haile Gebrselassie who ran 2:06:20 in Amsterdam on October 16, the fastest time in the year.

The Kenyan marathon star also took a chance to look back at his New York achievement.

In one of the most memorable marathon finishes in history on November 6, he just managed to defeat defending champion Ramaala of South Africa after a breathtaking neck and neck battle which ended with his 2:09:30 victory.

"I am recovering from a grueling race which was really a dramatic and painful experience", said Tergat.

"It was a psychological fight in the final 60 meters. The final five miles run on a hilly course were very tough. The key for my success in the final sprint was my mind which enabled me to beat Ramaala into the finish line. It is from my mind that I found the strength to win this dramatic race. I never lost faith in my capabilities."

"When Hendrick Ramaala and Alberico Di Cecco launched their attacks to break away from the rest of the field I did not follow them but focused on running my own race."

Asked if it was more important for him to set a world record in Berlin or to win in New York, he said: "Berlin was very special for me. It was my first win in the marathon after some defeats in my first attempts over the distance and I broke the world record running 2:04:55."

"In New York, I came back from some hamstring problems after my eighth place in London Marathon, to take the second win of my marathon career at the end of an exciting and thrilling battle. I knew that millions of Kenyans watched me in New York via TV, so this win was very important for them."

Tergat also said he is not thinking yet about retirement. "I want to continue for some years. But at the moment it is unlikely that I will run at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. But I can't rule it out. It depends on my fitness. What motivates me is passion for running. It is not a question of age but of mind which is the key for my success."

Oct. 16 , 2005

Wednesday

April 23

October 16

the year

November 6

some years

thinks

provide

battle

reported

looking

facing

course

wants

quoted

saying

According

gave

conference

spoke

win

career

said

looking

feature

rematch

encounter

ran

took

look

managed

defeat

defending

battle

ended

recovering

said

fight

run

enabled

beat

found

win

lost

launched

attacks

break

follow

focused

running

Asked

was

set

win

said

win

marathon

defeats

attempts

broke

running

came

take

win

battle

knew

watched

said

thinking

want

continue

run

rule

motivates

running


XIN_ENG_20061128.0366

JOHANNESBURG, Nov. 28 , 2006 (Xinhua)

Voluntary HIV tests on the rise in S. Africa

More South Africans are voluntarily getting counseled and tested for HIV with figures rising annually, the country's health ministry said on Tuesday.

A total of 1.715 million people in South Africa, one of the world's hardest hit countries by HIV/AIDS, utilized the free pre- HIV test counseling and 80 percent of them volunteered for HIV tests between April 2005 and March 2006, the ministry spokesman Sibani Mngadi said.

"The trend is that it seems to be doubling every year," he said.

About 35 percent, or 479,086 people, of those who tested were found to be HIV positive. But Mngadi said this did not reflect prevalence within the general population.

More than 5.5 million South Africans, or 12 percent of the population, are infected with HIV. This number is the second largest in the world, only after India.

Mngadi said the government has launched a nationwide awareness campaign which encourages people to know their HIV status.

"The progress in increasing the uptake into VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) is largely attributed to the campaign," he said.

In 2004-05 one million participants were counseled and 866,000 tested. In the 2003-2004 period 690,000 people were counseled and 511,000 tested.

The uptake was also enhanced by the wide accessibility of VCT service across the country, Mngadi said. A total of 4,172 VCT service points are operational in both medical and non-medical sites in all nine provinces, and VCT is available in more than 90 percent of clinics.

A draft program for the World AIDS Day event on Dec. 1, issued by the health ministry on Tuesday, suggested that the South African government would launch a new HIV/AIDS-combating strategy in 2007-2011.

Local media revealed earlier this month that the strategy aims to halve the HIV-infection rate and provide treatment to 750,000 patients within the next five years.

Nov. 28 , 2006

Tuesday

April 2005

March 2006

every year

the 2003-2004 period

Dec. 1

Tuesday

this month

the next five years

counseled

tested

rising

said

utilized

volunteered

said

seems

doubling

said

tested

found

said

reflect

infected

said

launched

encourages

know

increasing

attributed

said

counseled

tested

counseled

tested

enhanced

said

issued

suggested

launch

revealed

aims

halve

provide


XIN_ENG_20051125.0065

SINGAPORE, Nov. 25 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Singapore shares end lower

The shares prices in Singapore ended lower on Friday with the benchmark Strait Times Index (STI) falling 10.6 points to close at 2,295.7 points.

The overall volume stood at 615 million shares worth 456.3 million Singapore dollars (about 269.6 million US dollars).

Losers led gainers by 236 to 194 with another 715 remaining unchanged.

On Thursday, the benchmark Strait Times Index rose 9.8 points to end at 2,306.3 points.

Nov. 25 , 2005

Friday

Thursday

ended

falling

close

stood

led

rose

end


XIN_ENG_20051125.0214

OTTAWA, Nov. 25 , 2005 (Xinhua)

Wild ducks found with avian flu viruses in Canada

Thirty-six wild ducks in Canada have tested positive for H5 and H7 strains of avian influenza viruses after two farms in the country's west part were found infected with H5 earlier this week.

The ducks, taken from an area along the border between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in the Atlantic coast, are among 710 birds tested as part of a national wild bird surveillance program, Canadian Press reported Friday.

Additional testing needs to be done to identify which strains of H5 viruses were found.

Health officials say it is unlikely the viruses are the same as the virulent H5N1 strain causing widespread outbreaks among birds in southeast Asia which has caused 68 human deaths.

Cases of H5 and H7 viruses have been found in Canada's British Columbia, Manitoba and Quebec provinces recently. Earlier this week, a low pathogenic North American strain of H5 viruses was found on two poultry farms in British Columbia, leading to the culling of more than 110,000 birds.

Nov. 25 , 2005

this week

Friday

recently

Earlier this week

tested

found

infected

tested

reported

identify

found

say

strain

causing

outbreaks

caused

found

found

leading

culling


AP900815-0044
AP-NR-08-15-90 1337EDT
u i PM-GulfRdp 8thLd-Writethru   08-15 1334
PM-Gulf Rdp, 8th Ld-Writethru,a0605,1368
Saddam Seeks End To War With Iran; Bush To Urge Jordan To Close
Port
Eds: SUBS 28th graf pvs, Crown Prince... to CORRECT spelling of
Hassan; pick up 29th graf pvs, `A CBS...'
LaserPhotos WX6,7,XSAV1,NY5,10,TOK1,XAAFB1,AMM1, LaserColor XAAFB1
By CHRISTOPHER BURNS
Associated Press Writer

   Iraq's Saddam Hussein, facing U.S. and Arab troops at the Saudi
border, today sought peace on another front by promising to
withdraw from Iranian territory and release soldiers captured
during the Iran-Iraq war.
   Also today, King Hussein of Jordan arrived in Washington seeking
to mediate the Persian Gulf crisis. President Bush on Tuesday said
the United States may extend its naval quarantine to Jordan's Red
Sea port of Aqaba to shut off Iraq's last unhindered trade route.
   In another mediation effort, the Soviet Union said today it had
sent an envoy to the Middle East on a series of stops to include
Baghdad. Soviet officials also said Soviet women, children and
invalids would be allowed to leave Iraq.
   President Bush today denounced Saddam's ``ruinous policies of
war,'' and said the United States is ``striking a blow for the
principle that might does not make right.''
   In a speech delivered at the Pentagon, Bush seemed to suggest
that American forces could be in the gulf region for some time.
``No one should doubt our staying power or determination,'' he said.
   The U.S. military buildup in Saudi Arabia continued at fever
pace, with Syrian troops now part of a multinational force camped
out in the desert to guard the Saudi kingdom from any new thrust by
Iraq.
   In a letter to President Hashemi Rafsanjani of Iran, read by a
broadcaster over Baghdad radio, Saddam said he will begin
withdrawing troops from Iranian territory on Friday and release
Iranian prisoners of war.
   Iran said an Iraqi diplomatic delegation was en route to Tehran
to deliver Saddam's message, which it said it would review ``with
optimism.''
   Saddam appeared to accept a border demarcation treaty he had
rejected in peace talks following the August 1988 cease-fire of the
eight-year war with Iran.
   The move seemed aimed at heading off more trouble with Iran,
which had condemned Iraq's invasion of Kuwait on Aug. 2 but also
criticized the multinational force dispatched to Saudi Arabia.
   Saddam said he sought to ``turn the gulf into a lake of peace
free of foreign fleets and forces that harbor ill intentions
against us.''
   In other developments:
   _The Pentagon said that Defense Secretary Dick Cheney is
considering urging Bush to order a national callup of armed forces
reserves for active duty because of the drain on units sending
soldiers abroad. Bush can call up to 200,000 reservists for up to
180 days without seeking congressional approval.
   _Soviet Foreign Ministry spokesman Yuri Gremitskikh said special
ambassador Mikhail Sytenko left Tuesday for consultations with the
governments of Syria, Jordan, Egypt and other Arab countries.
Sytenko, a former deputy secretary-general of the United Nations,
is also expected to visit Baghdad, Gremitskikh said at a regular
news briefing today.
   _The outlook darkened for about 3,000 Americans caught in Iraq
and Kuwait when Saddam sent his forces into the small, oil-rich
sultanate.
   The Iraqi ambassador to Greece said in Athens the Americans and
other stranded foreigners could leave ``as soon as the threats from
the United States and its allies are eliminated.'' ABC quoted an
Iraqi Foreign Ministry official in Baghdad as saying Americans in
Iraq are ``restrictees'' who will stay there until the crisis ends.
   _The Soviet Foreign Ministry said Soviet women, children and
invalids would be permitted to leave Iraq. Spokesman Yuri
Gremitskikh said the first group of 230 evacuees was assembling in
Baghdad today, but evacuation plans were hampered by desert heat
and lack of transportation.
   Nearly 9,000 Soviets were among the hundreds of thousands of
foreigners trapped in Iraq and Kuwait. Iraq has agreed to allow all
880 Soviets in Kuwait to leave, but only by a 1,200-mile road route
through Iraq and to the Iraq-Jordan border.
   _The British Foreign Office said today conditions in Kuwait
appear to be deteriorating. There have been reports of wholesale
looting but food and gasoline were still available, said a
spokesman, who by custom was not identified. Banks remained closed.
   _The Iraqi ambassador to Venezuela said on Tuesday that Iraq
would retaliate against Venezuela and other OPEC oil cartel members
if they boost oil production to fill the gap created by blocked
supplies from Iraq and Kuwait. With Kuwait now ``annexed,'' Iraq
has control of 20 percent of the world's oil reserves. A steep rise
in world oil prices followed the Kuwait invasion.
   The U.N. Security Council on Aug. 6 ordered a global embargo on
trade with Iraq as punishment for seizing Kuwait. Bush then sent
U.S. troops and planes to Saudi Arabia, saying Iraqi troops massed
nearby in Kuwait threatened Saudi Arabia and its vast oil reserves.
   Twelve Arab League nations voted for an Arab force to protect
Saudi Arabia, with the vanguard of Syria's contingent arriving
Tuesday, according to diplomatic sources in Riyadh, the Saudi
capital.
   Egyptian and Moroccan troops are already there.
   The predominantly Moslem nation of Bangladesh said today its
troops would join multinational forces in Saudi Arabia. The size of
the contingent was not disclosed.
   Turkey and Saudi Arabia in effect shut down Iraq's major oil
outlets through those countries, but according to Jordanian
officials, a smaller line into Jordan remained operating.
   Truckloads of goods rolled into Iraq from Jordan on Tuesday and
Iraqi-bound cargo was unloaded from ships at the Red Sea port
ofAqaba despite the U.N.-ordered sanctions.
   King Hussein was reportedly carrying a message to Bush from
Iraq's Saddam, with whom the king met Monday. The monarch will meet
Bush on Thursday in Kennebunkport, Maine.
   Crown Prince Hassan, King Hussein's brother and political
adviser, was asked today about the message the king was said to be
carrying. In an interview from Jordan on ABC, he declined to
discuss details, but said: ``I don't think that his majesty would
be traveling at this crucial moment if the Iraqi leadership did not
have a rational approach to the future.''
   A CBS News report citing unidentified Jordanian sources said
that Saddam's message called for an international conference to be
convened to discuss an Iraqi withdrawal from Kuwait. In exchange,
the buildup of U.S. forces in the region would halt. Bush, however,
says he sees no short-term hope for a diplomatic solution to the
gulf crisis _ at least until economic sanctions force Saddam to
withdraw his army.
   Bush held out the prospect of more aid to Jordan if it
cooperates with the trade embargo.
   On Tuesday, the United States and Soviet Union conferred in
Washington on putting an anti-Iraq naval blockade under a United
Nations umbrella.
   The United States has provided most of the naval vessels so far
to block Iraqi trade, with Britain, West Germany and Australia
among the other nations lending support at sea.
   The embargo is meant to cripple Iraq by cutting off its exports
of oil and imports of food and military supplies. Iraq imports
about three-quarters of its foodstuffs.
   U.S. allies and other U.N. members have objected that the
Security Council embargo resolution did not specifically authorize
such a naval operation.
   Bush told a news conference on Tuesday that the naval barricade
now in force might be extended to Jordan's Aqaba ``if it is a hole
through which commerce flows'' in and out of Iraq.
   In Saudi Arabia, today is the eighth day of ``Desert Shield,''
the operation designed to confront an estimated 200,000 Iraqi
soldiers now in Kuwait. Iraq boasts an army of 1 million members.
At least 50,000 U.S. troops are expected to be committed to Desert
Shield within weeks, including Marines, Army air assault forces,
paratroopers and infantry.
   Iraq said it invaded Kuwait because of disputes over oil and
money. It accused Kuwait of deliberately slashing Iraqi oil
revenues by overproducing oil and driving down prices, among other
charges.
   Iraq has 17 million residents, and Kuwait about 1.9 million.

08-15-90 1337EDT

today

today

Tuesday

today

today

some time

now

Friday

August 1988

eight-year

Aug. 2

up to
180 days

Tuesday

today

today

today

Tuesday

now

Aug. 6

Tuesday

today

Tuesday

Monday

Thursday

today

this crucial moment

Tuesday

Tuesday

now

today

eighth day

now

weeks

facing

sought

peace

promising

withdraw

release

captured

war

arrived

seeking

mediate

crisis

said

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shut

said

sent

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allowed

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said

striking

speech

delivered

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buildup

continued

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said

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left

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