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Deutsche Welle English Service News September 17th 2002, 16:00 UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD: Mixed Reactions to Iraqi Move on Weapons Inspections Iraq's offer to allow weapons inspectors back into the country threw the UN Security Council into disarray on Tuesday. Germany welcomed the offer, expressing hopes for a possible political solution to the issue. 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_634584_1_A,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Mixed reactions to Iraqi offer Iraq's offer to allow the unconditional return of UN weapons inspectors has been met with cautious optimism in the Arab world to outright skepticism from the United States. Russia said the threat of war had been averted while Washington dismissed the offer as a tactic that would fail to deter UN efforts to disarm Baghdad. Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Azziz said Baghdad's pledge had removed any justification for a US military strike. The official Iraqi news agency, INA reported President Saddam Hussein would send a letter to the UN General Assembly in the next few days. Talks are expected to take place in New York this week to resolve practical issues with the Iraqis before the weapons inspectors travel to Iraq. Japan PM wins N.Korea apology, security concessions During a historic visit to Pyongyang, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il on Tuesday apologised to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for the abduction of Japanese citizens in the 1970's and 80's. In an unusual act of contrition, Kim apologised for the kidnappings, adding that only four of the 11 people are still alive. The Japanese leader, who had put the kidnapping dispute at the top of his summit agenda, in turn apologised for Japan's harsh colonial rule of the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945. However, he rejected long-standing North Korean demands for financial compensation. instead, the two leaders agreed to discuss Japanese aid for Pyongyang at a later date. Two Koreas sign military deal After a flurry of diplomatic activity, North and South Korea finalized a landmark agreement to begin clearing mines in the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ). The two sides agreed to start clearing mines on Thursday, and with help from both militaries, the two Koreas will start re-construction of railway links on Wednesday. Also on Tuesday the defence ministers of the two Koreas separately signed a border co-operation agreement at the truce village of Panmunjom. Sri Lanka - LTTE talks "positive" Following six hours of talks behind closed doors between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger rebels, Norweigan mediators said the talks were frank and constructive. Sri Lanka's top negotiator G.L. Peiris said the government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had agreed on dates for the next three rounds of talks between late October and January. The exact dates are to be formally announced Wednesday at the close of the current talks. Other issues discussed at Tuesday's second session at a naval base 260 km southeast of the Thai capital, Bangkok, included the implementation of a ceasefire agreement, humanitarian challenges, and economic development. Top ETA leaders arrested in France Officials in Spain have confirmed the arrest of two top leaders of the Basque separatist group, ETA during a raid in southwestern France on Monday night. Interior Minister Angel Acebes said ETA suspects Juan Antonio Olarra and Ainhoa Mugica were arrested near Bordeaux, France. French authorities said Olarra had 20 arrest warrants outstanding against him, while Mugica was wanted on 12 warrants. Spanish officials declined to give further details of the joint French-Spanish operation, but newspapers in the region said both suspects were armed with pistols at the time of their arrest. Fate of beached ship to be decided soon Authorities in South Africa are expected to decide on Tuesday afternoon whether or not, a risky attempt to refloat the beached freighter Jolly Rubino would continue. Salvagers fear the operation could break up the ship and spill hundreds of tonnes of fuel oil into a nearby wildlife sanctuary. The vessel, aground off South Africa's northeast coast near the St Lucia Wetlands Park, a UN World Heritage site, had already leaked about 400 tonnes of oil with an estimated 900 tonnes still in its hold. At least 70 top side cargo containers have fallen overboard, forcing the authorities to warn members of the public not to touch any debris washed up by the sea. Camera probe under pyramid In Egypt archeologists have inserted a robot equipped with a mini-camera into a narrow shaft deep inside the largest pyramid Cheops and found a small chamber and a further door. It's closed. The find has been described as "significant" by Egypt's chief archeologist Zahi Hawwas, who said he thought he could recognise figures. The entry, broadcast live on television, was made along a shaft first examined in 1993 by a German researcher. Egyptologists also opened a 4,500-year-old sarcophagus, exposing the skeleton a man thought to be a senior pyramid builder. The stone coffin was found in June near the pyramids. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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