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Rumsfeld: More US Special Troops Teams Ready to Go into Afghanistan. US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said Thursday that his country has several more teams of special forces teams ready to go into Afghanistan. Rumsfeld had previously indicated there are fewer than 100 US troops now in northern Afghanistan and that others had been in and out of the south. "I'd like to see as soon as humanly possible the number of teams go up by three or four times," Rumsfeld said at a press conference at Pentagon. He said that the US military is needed to improve targeting for American bombers beyond what is being done by what he has described as a small number of US special forces now on the ground in northern Afghanistan. On Thursday, US jets attacked a strategic Taliban garrison that blocks the way for fighters of the northern alliance to regain the northern city of Taloqan. That followed a day of the most intense bombing in the air campaign so far along the front line blocking the alliance's way to the capital, Kabul. The Pentagon has said success of the strikes has improved in recent days since US troops went in on the ground to help the group with communications and pinpointing targets for warplanes. US Troops Operating on Ground in Northern Afghanistan US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Tuesday that his country has a "modest" number of ground troops in Afghanistan. "We do have a very modest number of ground troops in the country and they are there for liaison purposes," Rumsfeld said at a press briefing at Pentagon. He said that US ground troops were in north Afghanistan and were helping provide targeting information for the US bombing campaign. Ground Forces had also been in and out of southern Afghanistan, he added. Rumsfeld does not rule out a more expansive ground campaign in Afghanistan. **** Taliban Claim Repulsing Major Opposition Offensive. Afghan Taliban militia Thursday morning claimed repulsing a major opposition offensive after severe U.S. bombings on their front line positions in Dara Souf area of Samangan province, around 70 kilometers south of Mazar-e-Sharif, according to the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP). According to details, the opposition Northern Alliance launched a heavy offensive after three hours of U.S. bombings on the key Taliban position, which was repulsed by the Taliban militia with full strength. One Taliban soldier was killed and five others injured during the severe fighting. "Opposition forces failed to advance even one inch and there is no change in the front line," the AIP quoted a Taliban spokesman as saying. No information of casualties to the opposition is available so far. **** Attacks on Afghanistan Must Stopped: Indonesian President. Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri Thursday told the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)'s annual session that the attacks on Afghanistan must be stopped. Without naming the United States, Megawati expressed the hope that the attacks on Afghanistan will not continue to the month of Ramadan (fasting month). **** China Opposes Terrorism in All Forms, Li Peng Says Li Peng Arrives in Algeria Chinese top legislator Li Peng said Wednesday in Algiers that China opposes and condemns terrorism in all forms, pointing out that terrorism poses threat to world peace and security. At a meeting with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, said that an enhanced international cooperation is necessary for fight against terrorism and the role of the United Nations and its Security Council should be brought into full play in this regard. "We've noticed the Arab countries are paying close attention to the anti-terror issue and the U.S.-led strike against Afghanistan," he said. "We oppose to link terrorism to a certain religion or a nation," Li stressed. He said China upholds that any military strike against terrorism must be based on hard evidence and have definite targets so as to avoid innocents' casualties. Expressing his hope for an early return of peace to Afghanistan, Li also warned against a spillover of military actions in other countries or regions. China and Algeria have reached consensus on many issues relating to anti-terror fight, Li said, adding that China is willing to coordinate better with Arab countries including Algeria to safeguard world peace and the interests of all developing countries. Echoing Li's views on cracking down on terrorism in all forms, Bouteflika said his country firmly opposes terrorism and encourages international cooperation in fighting terrorism. Algeria also upholds that it is vital to eliminate terror starting right from the roots. Recalling the traditional friendship between the two countries, Li said China will never forget that Algeria has always given firm support to China on major issues like Taiwan <http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/data/province/taiwan.html> and human rights. Li said the two countries enjoy a stable political relationship while trade and economic cooperation has developed steadily, adding that China is willing to increase exchanges and expand cooperation at different levels between the two countries. For his part, Bouteflika said he agrees with Li on strengthening bilateral cooperation, saying that Algeria will keep to the One-China policy like before. During the talks, the two leaders also exchanged views on mideast and Afghanistan. Li Peng Arrives in Algeria Li Peng arrived in Algiers Wednesday for a three-day official visit to Algeria. Algeria is the first leg of Li's five-nation visits to North Africa and Latin America, which will also take him to Cuba, Argentina, Uruguay and Tunisia . In a statement released upon his arrival, Li praised as smooth and fruitful the development of the Sino-Algerian relations. Li, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC, said the sound cooperation between the NPC and the Algerian parliament has for long made important contribution to the development of the Sino-Algerian relations. China is willing to increase the exchange of high-level visits with Algeria so as to deepen mutual understanding, enhance friendship and enlarge cooperation, he said. Li, who is visiting Algeria at the invitation of President of the National People's Assembly Abdul Qadir Bin Saleh, said he is looking forward to holding in-depth talks with Algerian leaders on issues of mutual concern. He is expected to meet with Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of the National Council Mohammed Sherif Mossaidia and Prime Minister Ali Benflis. Li's entourage includes Secretary General of the NPC Standing Committee He Chunlin and Vice Foreign Minister Yang Wenchang. **** China's Biggest Tax Fraud Comes to Light, 19 Sentenced to Death. October 30 saw the intermediate people's courts of Shantou City and Jieyang City of Guangdong Province passed sentences respectively on 16 cases of writing false value added tax (VAT) invoices, in which 20 defendants and 7 units were involved. By now, of known criminals brought to justice in the two cases of Chaoyang and Puning 30 have been given life sentence with 19 of them receiving capital punishment. Initial investigations proved that false VAT invoices made reached a worth of 32.3 billion yuan, involving 4.2 billion yuan of illegal gains by 150 criminal gangs, as the most frenzied and biggest-ever criminal case of tax fraud uncovered in China. Crackdown on tax fraud sweeping over east Guangdong Export tax refunding is a supportive state policy aimed at encouraging exports. However, with the lift of the ceiling of tax refunding rate criminals smelled benefit from it and cheats on export tax rebates again ran amuck in the two places of Chaoyang and Puning. On August 7, 2000, the State Council ordered a nationwide sweep of export tax refunding frauds as those of smuggling and obtaining foreign currency under false pretenses. A crack force formed of 13 departments as of the State Administration of Taxation and ministries of public security, supervision and finance, was summarily mobilized to organize a crackdown under a "807" working committee on illegal tax activities in east Guangdong. On September 4, 2000, 64 groups were sent out by the committee for a check on hundreds of false enterprises, an action carried out by as many as 1200 cadres and local policemen. Working groups directly swooped down on those pseudo-enterprises according to registered addresses, and found that former so-called "industrial boulevards" were no more than barren slivers of wasteland, some "factories" were merely locals' housing estates and some "companies" were but makeshifts built on garbage heaps and toilets. Just a single day brought 231 false "enterprises" into daylight, and 65 of them were involved in tax frauds. On September 12, 2000, the mid-autumn night, a batch of suspects was rounded up, including those in governmental departments and judicial organs. Some criminals had copped a heel and the big tax case of Chaoyang and Puning finally surfaced. Shocking facts of behind-the-scene deals Here making and selling false VAT invoices are rampant. On August 25, through a "Tornado" sweep 18 underground printing shops showed true color, and the confiscated invoices could load more than six trucks. Later examination showed that some 80 percent of them were false invoices. Here tax fraud and evasion are most frenzied. Among the 1,142 enterprises checked 827 were fake and 98.33 percent of these have tax fraud problems. Altogether 172,000 VAT copies of invoices were made out false and 88,000 copies forged, involving 4.2 billion yuan of taxes in their totality. Here officials were found hand and glove with "businessmen" to fabricate tax frauds. Some grassroots-level leaders directly ordered finance and tax collectors to serve those fake enterprises. Some tax cadres even opened false "enterprises" to rake in tens of millions yuan of illegal gains. On criminals' notebooks were huge amounts of money for buying Customs officials. Over tens of billions yuan in underground banks were easily transferred or drew out in foreign currencies during a very short period of time. At the same time, investigations were conducted in ferreting out 328 culprits working in governmental departments, judicial organs and other institutions, with some of them having been turned over to judicial departments. **** Chinese, German Government Heads Satisfied with Bilateral Cooperation. Both China and Germany are pleased and satisfied with the sustained development of bilateral cooperation in various fields and they are confident of the prospects of the bilateral ties, said Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji Wednesday. Zhu made the remarks while holding talks with visiting German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who arrived here earlier Wednesday on a three-day official visit as Zhu's guest. In his opening remarks, Zhu said this is the third visit by Schroeder in the past two and a half years, which fully demonstrates that Germany has attached great importance to the Sino-Germany friendly cooperation of mutual benefit. Zhu said Schroeder is leading a big entrepreneurs' delegation on this trip and he believes Schroeder's visit will yield substantial results and promote bilateral ties in an all-around manner. Germany is one of China's most important trading partners in Europe. The trade volume between the two is the biggest among all China's trade partnerships with European countries, and moreover, the direct investment in China by Germany has sharply increased and Germany has become the biggest investor in China out of the European countries, Zhu pointed out. Zhu went on to say that next year will mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany, and China is willing to join efforts with Germany to elevate bilateral ties to a higher level, especially in maintaining exchanges of visits between high-level leaders of the two countries as well as in enhancing consultations and coordination on international issues. This is not only in the basic and long-term interests of both countries and both peoples, but is also beneficial to world peace and stability, Zhu noted. Schroeder, on his part, said currently there are no problems arising between Germany and China in terms of politics. The economic cooperation between Germany and China has witnessed rapid and robust development and maintained excellent momentum, he said. He stressed that Germany regards China as a major partner for cooperation of mutual benefit, and Germany attaches vital importance to exchanges of visit between high-level leaders of the two countries. Germany and China hold the same or close views on a series of international issues. While expressing congratulations to China on the successful hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Shanghai as well as on winning the bid to host the Olympics in 2008, Schroeder said Germany will cooperate with China in preparation for the sports event. The two government heads also exchanged views on anti-terrorism in their talks. After the talks, they attended a contract-signing ceremony, held a press conference and met with German entrepreneurs. During the meeting, Zhu briefed German business people on China's economic development, encouraging them to invest in China. On Wednesday evening, Zhu hosted a welcoming banquet in honor of Schroeder, and prior to the talks, Zhu presided over a welcoming ceremony for Schroeder. **** Sharon Rules Out Peres-Arafat Meeting in Spain. Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres will not hold a formal meeting with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at an economic forum in Majorca, Spain this weekend, Israel Radio reported Thursday. This was decided by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon after his meeting with Peres Wednesday night, said the report. Peres was quoted as saying that he did not talk with Sharon about the meeting with Arafat because there was not a fixed subject, saying that he would meet with Arafat during some social activities to exchange views on issues of common concern. However, Peres defended the meeting with Arafat by saying that as a foreign minister, he should have the right to meet the Palestinian leader. "In any case, Israeli and Palestinian representatives meet twice a week, we talk all the time to try to reach a ceasefire," said the foreign minister, noting that "why can generals meet, but the foreign ministers can't hold a meeting?" "The problem is not the meeting, it's the drama of the meeting," he added. Peres once again tried to downplay expectations of the meeting, saying that if he meets Arafat, they will not engage in negotiations. During their overnight meeting, Peres and Sharon were also expected to discuss a new peace plan proposed by Peres, which reportedly includes the establishment of a Palestinian state and Israeli evacuation from the Gaza Strip. Israeli diplomatic sources said that any plan by Peres would be irrelevant unless it is endorsed by Sharon. **** Seoul Proposes to Hold 6th Inter-Korean Ministerial Meeting. South Korea Friday proposed that the sixth inter-Korean ministerial meeting be held at the Mount Kumgang of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on November 9-12. The proposal was made by South Korean Unification Minister Hong Soon-young in a telephone message to the DPRK through an inter-Korean liaison office at the truce village of Panmumjom Friday morning. In the message, Hong outlined the agenda items for the meeting, which include international developments in the wake of the terrorist attacks on the United States, schedules for the delayed fourth unions for separated families and future inter-Korean relations. The sixth meeting was originally slated to open on October 28 in Pyongyang. The DPRK changed the venue for the meeting from Pyongyang to Mount Kumgang due to "security reasons" resulting from South Korea's heightened security alert after terrorist attack in the United States. South Korean is reportedly seeking a meeting with DPRK leader Kim Jong Il on the sidelines of the sixth inter-Korean ministerial talks. _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
