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English Service News 31st March, 2002, 16:00 UTC English Service News ----------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD: The World Mourns for Britain's "Queen Mum" People around the globe are grieving over the death of "Queen Mum". World leaders called her a "pillar of strength." The mother of Britain's Queen Elizabeth was 101 years old. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1430_A_487870_1_A,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------- At least 15 killed in Haifa suicide bombing There have been two more Palestinian suicide bombings in Israel. At least 15 people were killed and more than 20 others wounded when an attacker blew himself up in the restaurant of a petrol station in the northern port city of Haifa. At least four people were wounded when an attacker blew himself up in a Jewish settlement south of Bethlehem in the West Bank. An explosion in a Tel Aviv cafe on Saturday night wounded more than 30 people. That attack was claimed by the Al Aqsa Brigades, an offshot of President Arafat's Fatah. Today's were the third and fourth suicide bombings in four days. Peace activists in Arafat's office Fifty foreign peace activists, mostly French, have joined President Arafat in his office in Ramallah despite warning shots from Israeli soldiers who have occupied most of the building. They stated they would remain to protect Arafat. Amongst them was the French farmers' leader José Bové. Yesterday they managed to bring President Arafat medication and food. A top advisor says the Israelis tried to storm Arafat's office but were repelled. He claimed there were injuries during the battles. The Israeli military commander Ron Kittrey stated his troops have been instructed not to harm the Palestinian leader. Jordan has threatened Israel with undisclosed "bilateral measures" if it continues attacking Palestinians. Observers think this may mean breaking diplomatic relations. Fischer urges restraint; peace demonstrations Earlier, during a phone call, the German and French foreign ministers, Joschka Fischer and Hubert Vedrine, agreed Israel has to guarantee the safety of President Arafat and maintain his authority's capacity to function. The two ministers called on Israel to abide by the United Nations Security Council resolution which states that Israel must stop all military operations. The French government has called the Israeli ambassador in Paris to the foreign office to tell him their stance. The Mideast violence was one of the themes at Easter peace marches in Germany. At some, speakers called for all arms sales to Israel to be stopped. British Troops Sniped at British and German troops have been fired at in the Afghan capital Kabul. According to a spokesman for the foreign troops stationed in Afghanistan, in both cases it appeared to be a single sniper. The British troops returned fire. No injuries were reported. According to press reports, the firing may have come from Afghan soldiers who were previously members of the Northern Alliance. Loya Jirga to meet in June It's been announced that a Loya Jirga, a grand tribal council of elders, will be held in Afghanistan from the 10th to the 16th of June. It will decide whether the interim leader Hamid Karzai stays in power or is replaced by a new government. Fifteen hundred delegates are expected from within the country and abroad, including 160 women. Germany is providing about three and a half million euros to the United Nations Development Programnme for the running of the gathering, the first Loya Jirga in 25 years. Bad weather obstructs earthquake helpers in Afghanistan Heavy rain and icy cold are hindering the work of international helpers in Afghanistan's earthquake area. But the spokesman of a French aid organisation said most families had been supplied with enough relief goodsfor about two weeks. The districts of Nahrin and Burka in the province of Baghlan were hit by a strong earthquake on Monday, which was followed by 15 more quakes. Nahrin and about 100 villages in a radius of 15 kilometres were partially destroyed. At least 800 people died and 500 others were injured. Investigation of the deadly rocket accident finds negligence A joint German-Danish commission investigating the explosion that killed 5 soldiers earlier this month in Kabul has prepared an initial report indicating negligence as the cause of the accident. The German newspaper, Bild am Sonntag, quoting the confidential report said none of the soldiers involved in the disposal operation had been properly trained for the mission. Furthermore, the paper says safety precautions and regulations were apparently ignored. On March the 6th, three Danish and two German soldiers were killed when a Soviet-era rocket exploded as it was being prepared for demolition. Strong quake kills four in Taiwan, hundreds injured A powerful earthquake has shaken Taiwan, killing at least four people and destroying buildings. Hundreds of people were injured across the island but officials said most of the damage was in the densely populated capital Taipei. Four workers died when a tower crane being used to construct one of the world's tallest buildings in the capital smashed to the ground. World leaders remember Queen Mum Many world leaders have sent messages of condolence about the death in Britain yesterday of the Queen Mother. She died on saturday aged 101. The Queen Mum, as she was generally known, was a unifying figure who represented continuity with the past, and had symbolised British resistance during World War II. German president Johannes Rau stated that she had been a role-model for many. Election fraud and killing in Ukraine It appears that attempts are being made to manipulate the parliamentary elections in Ukraine. The central electoral commission reports that in some districts candidates were crossed off the ballot papers. At several booths ballot box seals were damaged or stolen. On Saturday a candidate of the Social Democratic Party was shot dead. A low turnout is reported, with mostly old people going to vote. Moldovans protest against communist leaders Tens of thousands of people have again demonstrated against the communist leadership of Moldova, a former Soviet republic. Opposition leader Yuri Roshka said the communist party rules with dictatorial means. Activisits of the ethnic Romanian majority of Moldova have for months been demonstrating peacefully against the state's trying to move closer to Russia again. "No decision yet" on German president's immigration bill signature President Johannes Rau of Germany has denied a newspaper report that he's decided to sign into law a controversial bill about immigration. A spokesman for him said the bill, like all others, was being given careful scrutiny. Conservative ruled states have again urged Rau not to sign. They maintain that the bill was passed unconstitutionally and say they'll challenge it in the supreme court if he does sign. AIDS spreading faster than ever The World Health Organisation (WHO), has warned that AIDS is spreading faster than ever as people are becoming more careless. The Director of the organsation's AIDS and HIV program, Bernhard Schwartlaender, said there's an alarming trend of people no longer using precautionary measures. He said Central and Eastern Europe experienced some of the highest HIV virus infection rates: one-quarter of a million people were infected there last year alone. He warned through carelessness AIDS could spread more easily to Western Europe. In the world's worst-affected region - southern Africa - on average one in five adults is infected with HIV. In some areas, every second adult has the virus. ETA pledges to continue its terror campaign The Basque separatist group, ETA, has dismissed calls for a ceasefire. Five independent political parties last week demanded ETA end their campaign of bombings and murder. In newspapers sympathetic to the ETA cause, the Basque separatists said they would continue their battle until a Basque homeland had been created. Two passenger trains collide in Spain Spanish authorities now say 2 people were killed and 98 others injured, 9 seriously, when two passengers trains collided at a regional train station in southern Spain late Saturday night. Officials at the state-run railway said a high speed, Euro-med express train sideswiped a packed regional commuter train at the Torredembarra station, 90 kilometers south of Barcelona. Both trains were enroute to Barcelona with some 650 people on board. Railway officials said one of the trains was apparently on the wrong track. Pope delivers Urbi et Orbi Easter blessing Saying "war seems to have been declared on peace," Pope John Paul, the Second, celebrating Easter Sunday mass, has delivered his twice annual Orbi et Urbi blessing. During his sermon, the 81 year old Pontiff referred to the crisis in the Middle East saying "there has been a dramatic spiral of abuse of power". He appealed to both sides to end the spiral of violence and killing. The Pontiff, who appeared rested and in better condition than he has all week, celebrated with tens of thousands of worshipers in a sunny St Peter's Square, and wished the world a Happy Easter in some 60 languages. --------------------------------------------------------------- For more information please turn to our internet website at http://dw-world.de/english Here you'll find out what's happening in Germany, Europe and the rest of the world. News and background reports from the fields of current affairs, culture, business and science. And of course the DW website also has information about DW-RADIO and DW-TV programmes: topics, broadcast times and frequencies. You can even listen to all programmes as audio-on-demand. --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9617B 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 ==^================================================================
