Deutsche Welle English Service News October 2nd 2002, 16:00 UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD: Europe Divided Over US Rejection of Inspection Deal With the United States and Great Britain rejecting the latest concessions on weapons inspections in Iraq, Europe finds itself divided on the issue once again. 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_647744_1_A,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- USA insists - Russia reticent over Iraq The USA still insists on a tough new resolution on Iraq despite Russian reticence and Tuesday's U.N.-Iraqi agreement in Vienna for a return of U.N. inspectors, possibly within two weeks. Russia welcomed as an "important step" the Vienna outcome based on past U.N. resolutions. It skirts a 1998 memorandum for access to Saddam Hussein's palaces. Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said it was "too soon" to talk about a new resolution. He wanted to await Thursday's report to the Security Council by chief monitor Hans Blix, but added, that if a new resolution was needed, then Russia would consider this. The U.S.-British draft speaks of "all necessary means" if Iraq fails to allow immediate access to "all areas". Secretary of State Colin Powell said the USA would accept no less. Visiting Turkey, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz condemned the draft. If attacked, Aziz said, Iraq would fight "effectively". Germany cautious The German Foreign Office has said Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's re-elected government will cautiously await the outcome of U.N. discussion over a tough new U.N. resolution on Iraq. Spokesman Walter Lindner said Germany was examining a request from the U.N. inspection team UNMOVIC to provide three computer experts. Already 11 German inspectors were available. In the wake of Schroeder's anti-war stance that angered the Bush administration, a new survey out today shows that 97 percent of Germans sampled oppose any German participation in a possible war against Iraq. And, 63 percent said Schroeder's stance was correct. He was due to consult French President Jacques Chirac in Paris. German Protestant Church Manfred Koch said such a war was ethnically unsupportable. Instead of resorting to arms, peace efforts were needed long-term, he said. * Hamburg-based TV and radio magazine "TV Hoeren and Sehen". Ivory Coast remains volatile West African mediators visiting Ivory Coast's capital Abidjan say they have made telephone contact with rebels holding northern regions who two weeks ago tried to oust President Laurent Gbagbo. Local radio stations today reported clashes around the central town of Tiebissou. Fifteen kilometres to its south, French troops said they had set up a "secure zone" around the capital Yamoussoukro and its airport, saying they would not let the rebels advance. Mediation spokesmen said both sides had signalled readiness for a ceasefire. The French news agency AFP says the rebels and Gbagbo's government had backed separate demonstrations by thousands of civilians; one in the rebel-held city of Bouake, and the other in Abidjan. A coup bid was crushed in Abijan two weeks ago, costing some 300 lives. Kashmir elections marred by violence Suspected Islamic militants have carried out renewed assaults in Indian-ruled Kashmir as India pressed ahead with controversial state elections which have triggered a bout of anti-poll violence. After a third phase of voting on Tuesday - in which 18 people died - another 10 have died in separate attacks by suspected militant separatists. India sees the vote as a means of enhancing the legitimacy of its rule in its only-Muslim majority state and a test of Pakistan's willingness to stop Islamic militants crossing into Indian Kashmir to join the separatist revolt. Senegalese ministers resign over ferry disaster Senegal's defence and transport ministers have resigned after a ferry carrying more than twice as many people as it was designed for capsized on Thursday night with the feared loss of nearly 1,000 lives. President Abdoulaye Wade said Armed Forces Minister Youba Sambou and Transport Minister Youssouf Sakho had both resigned over the disaster. The ferry, built to carry 550 people, was operated by the armed forces. Anger against the government among relatives of the dead and ordinary Senegalese has been growing since the extent of overloading was revealed. Eight killed as houses collapse in Syria At least eight people have been killed when several houses collapsed in Syria's second largest city Aleppo after the ground underneath gave way. The cause of the collapse was thought to be the presence of old caverns underneath the homes. More killings in Algeria ahead of polls One week ahead of communal elections in Algeria, 13 residents have been killed at the town of Oeud Chorfa, which lies 160 kilometres west of Algers. Four days ago, seven people were killed in a similar raid further to the west. Security officials blamed GIA rebels, who want to install an Islamist state. Since the start of this year, an estimated 1,100 people have died in rebel attacks and police and military operations against guerrillas. Ten days ago security forces said they had killed two suspected GIA leaders on the outskirts of Constantine. Killer Caribbean hurricane approaching USA NASA has again delayed the launch of its shuttle "Atlantis" as Hurrican "Lili" approaches the American mainland after sweeping across the Caribbean and killing at least seven people. "Lili", the region's second hurricane in 11 days, is packing winds of 165 kilometres per hour over the Gulf of Mexico. Warnings have issued for the Mississippi delta and Texas, where NASA's control centre is based. In northern Japan, Typhoon "Higos" which killed five people is weakening as it heads out to sea. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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