Deutsche Welle
English Service News
February 24th, 2001, 16:00 UTC
Israel keeps Arafat confined to Ramallah
Israel has decided to keep Palestinian President Yasser Arafat
confined to the West Bank city of Ramallah even though he has ordered
the arrest of militants wanted by Israel. But Israeli Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon said that Israel would ease its two-month-old tank
blockade of Arafat's headquarters compound in Ramallah and allow him
to move freely around the city. The decision drew swift Palestinian
condemnation, cancellation of joint security talks and raised
tensions after renewed efforts to calm 17 months of violence. Israel
had made removal of the restrictions conditional on on the arrest of
four militants who assassinated Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi in
October. The Palestinian Authority arrested three suspects on
Thursday. Sharon said Israel now wanted the men extradited to stand
trial in the Jewish state. Arafat was widely expected to reject the
demand.
Iran welcomes Afghanistan's interim leader
Iran has hosted Afghan's interim leader, demonstrating support for
Kabul's fledgling administration amid accusations from the United
States that it is trying to destabilise its eastern neighbour. Hamid
Karzai, leading a large delegation including eight ministers on a
three-day visit, was due to meet Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei and reformist President Mohammad Khatami as well as other
senior Iranian officials. Iran insists it fully backs Karzai's
administration and is working for peace and stability in the war-torn
country. It has dismissed U.S. charges that it is part of an "axil of
evil" and is trying to destabilise the fragile peace in Afghanistan.
German special forces on active duty in Afghanistan
Defence Minister Rudolf Scharping has said German special forces have
taken part in operations alongside American and British elite
soldiers in Afghanistan. Confirming a report in the Frankfurter
Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung newspaper, Scharping said about 100 German
soldiers from the elite Kommando Spezialkraefte unit had joined
American and British troops in operations searching for al Qaeda
forces. It was believed to be the first time German special forces
had been involved in a mission with American and British elite
troops.
UNITA rebels say fight continues despite death of Savimbi
Angola's UNITA rebels have vowed to continue their struggle despite
the death of their leader Jonas Savimbi, but suggested the government
could open a path to peace by declaring a ceasefire. The 67-year-old
guerrilla leader was confirmed dead by his National Union for the
Total Independence of Angola movement after television networks
showed his bullet-riddled body. He was killed by government troops.
Analysts say Savimbi's death is expected to touch off a power
struggle within his UNITA movement that could see it splinter into
rival factions with a quick end to Africa's longest-running war
unlikely.
FARC kidnap presidential candidate in Colombia
Marxist rebels have reportedly kidnapped a Colombian presidential
candidate and her chief aide on the day army troops moved in to
regain control of a former guerrilla safe haven. Ingrid Betancourt's
campaign team and military sources said she was seized by rebels of
the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known in Spanish as FARC,
near the former safe haven on Saturday afternoon. Betancourt's
campaign manager, Clara Rojas, was also kidnapped when they traveled
to the southern zone against military advice. The FARC is currently
holding about 800 hostages, including five legislators. The collapse
of three years of negotiations,- prompted by the FARC's hijack of a
commercial airliner and kidnap of a senator Wednesday,- is expected
to spark an upsurge in violence in the run up to the elections.
Moldovan nationalists continue anti-communist protests
Tens of thousands of Moldovans have streamed into the capital
Chisinau, answering nationalists' calls for a mammoth show of people
power to try to overthrow the Communist government. At least 70,000
people from the country of four million reportedly poured into the
central square. Tens of thousands of nationalists, schoolchildren and
students have protested since January against the government's
pro-Russian policies, which they fear will play down Moldova's
cultural and linguistic links with neighbouring Romania.
Workers in Korea march on Seoul while threatening strike action
About 10,000 workers from across South Korea have marched to Seoul,
demanding job security, shorter working hours and a halt to the
government's plan to privatise utilities, which they fear will spell
massive layoffs. The protest involved a number of Korea's industrial
unions, including state-run railway, gas and power corporations and
the demonstrators threatened widespread strikes from Monday unless
their demands were met. The government has warned of stern action if
the unionised workers cripple public services. It has sought to
restructure debt-ridden state companies through privatisation, but
unions fear mass layoffs.
Muehlegg tests positive for blood boosting drug
Triple Olympic gold medallist Johann Muehlegg has tested positive for
a new blood-boosting drug. The International Olympic Committee's
medical committee said the substance detected in a urine sample taken
from the German-born skier, who was competing for Spain at the Salt
Lake Games, was darbepoetin. The substance is not specifically named
on the IOC's list of banned substances.
Germany assured of topping the medals table
Canada's Marc Gagnon has won two golds in short track speedskating,
ensuring Germany tops the Olympic medals standings ahead of the
United States. Victories in the four-man bobsled by Andre Lange and
Claudia Pechstein in the women's 5,000-meter speedskating event gave
Germany a total of 12 golds, 16 silvers and 7 bronze medals, ahead of
the U.S. with 33. Pechstein, who won in world-record time, is now the
most successful German winter sports athlete of all time. In an
astonishing finish, France claimed gold and silver in the men's
slalom event and Alan Baxter won Britain's first-ever medal on the
slopes taking the bronze.
Serbian News Network - SNN
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