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Deutsche Welle English Service News Dezember 23rd, 2001, 16:00 UTC Air passengers foil terrorist attack An American Airlines Boeing 767 with 197 passengers on board has landed safely at Boston's Logan International Airport after flight attendants and passengers overpowered a man who tried to ignite plastic explosives packed in his shoes. Flight 63 enroute to Miami was escorted by two F-15 fighter jets after the pilots reported the incident and the Pentagon was notified. The FBI has confirmed the man had a false British passport and enough C4 plastic explosives to destroy the plane. The man was noticed by a flight attendant after he lit a match. The almost two metre tall man of Middle Eastern appearance, became violent when he was tackled by cabin staff. He resisted and by biting one of the female flight attendants. Several passengers came to the crew's assistance by strapping the man into a seat, some of them using their belts, where two doctors then sedated him with valium. French Aviation Officials Embarrassed Security officials at Paris's Charles de Gaulle airport said they could not explain how a man with a false passport, no luggage and c-4 plastic explosives stuffed in his shoes could have passed through their security without being noticed. Officials of the Air and Frontier Police (PAF), embarrassed by how the man slipped through security and tried to blow up a Paris to Miami flight on Saturday, disputed suggestions their security checks were deficient. Afghanistan's new cabinet gets down to business Afghanistan's one day-old government on Sunday got down to business as the country's new leader, Hamid Karzai, gathered his cabinet to discuss, how to restore security to the war torn nation. All 30 cabinet members attended the session, which also discussed the means of reviving or setting up a functioning administration. As Karzai and his cabinet met, demonstrators paraded through the streets of Kabul, lending their vocal support to the government, and demanding jobs. One of the organizers said the demonstration had 4 objectives. First, to welcome the new government; second to celebrate the end of fighting; third that armed fighters have been called off the streets, and finally to ask Hamid Karzai to give jobs back to professionals. Argentina suspends foreign debt payments. Argentina's new interim president Adolfo Rodriguez Saa, has announced he is suspending payment on Argentina's huge foreign debt. Saa, who will run the country until presidential elections on March 3, also said he will introduce a new currency alongside the Argentine peso, which has been pegged at one to the dollar for the last 10 years. He said he will not devalue the peso nor dollarize the economy , which had been considered to be the two most viable options to pull Argentina out of a four-year recession. Earlier on Sunday, the Argentine congress at the end of a gruelling all night session confirmed Mr. Saa as the country's interim president. More fighting in Kashmir India and Pakistan have sent more troops and equipment to their disputed Himalayan frontier where India on Sunday said two of its border guards were killed and 3 were wounded during the latest cross border fighting in Kashmir. Reports of heavy shelling and automatic gunfire have persisted on Sunday but have not been independently confirmed. Meanwhile, Pakistan, has accused the Indian authorities of kidnapping and torturing one of its diplomatic staff at its high commission in Delhi. A Pakistani army spokesman said its deployment was in response to Indian moves while India's defence minister said its troops were to counter a Pakistani build-up. Israeli FM Peres reportedly has presented a peace plan to Palestinian officials A major Israeli newspaper on Sunday reported that Foreign Minister Shimon Peres has drafted an interim peace plan that calls for a Palestinian state and has reportedly presented his proposal to Palestinian leaders. However, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office dismissed the reported plan as "fiction." Despite the cold water being poured on the purported plan, its apparent leak to the newspaper suggested that senior leaders from both sides may be looking past the Israeli-Palestinian violence towards a permanent peace deal. The plan, reportedly demands a ceasefire within six weeks, which is contingent on a Palestinian crackdown on "terrorism", while Israel lifts its blockades of Palestinian areas, and implements a freeze on construction projects at Jewish settlements. After the six weeks, Israel would recognize a Palestinian state and the Palestinians would then formally recognize Israel's right to exist. Arafat to defy Israeli order that bans his attendance at Christmas Eve mass Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat says he will defy an Israeli order barring him from attending Christmas Eve mass in Bethlehem. The midnight mass is held at Saint Catherine Church in Bethlehem, next to the Basilica of the Nativity and Mr. Arafat will have to cross Israeli terrority to reach the church. It's a service that Mr. Arafat has attended annually since 1995. An Israeli government official said, Israel is not restricting Mr. Arafat's religious freedom. The official pointedly added "he has more important things to do, like make the arrests he's pledged." NYC Mayor Guiliani named Time magazine's "Person of the Year". Outgoing New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who rallied his city after the September 11 terrorist attacks, has been named Time magazine's Person of the Year for 2001. Giuliani, who leaves office next month after two consecutive terms in office, has won worldwide recognition for his performance in the aftermath of the attacks. ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9WB2D Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
