Deutsche Welle English Service News 19.10.2002, 16:00 UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD:
Awaiting the Irish Vote Most of Europe is tensely waiting for the result of the second Irish referendum on EU enlargement. The safe bet is on a yes vote - but what happens if the voters say "No!" again this time? 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_657261_1_A,00.html: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- US mobilises international pressure on North Korea to drop its nuclear weapons programme The United States is mobilising international pressure on North Korea to drop its alleged nuclear weapons programme. American envoy James Kelly, speaking on a visit to South Korea on Saturday, said the US would work with South Korea, Japan and other countries for the "immediate and visible dismantling" of North Korea's reported project to build nuclear bombs. The assistant secretary of state held talks with South Korean officials about co-ordinating a response to what America sees as the nuclear threat posed by North Korea. It comes days after America said North Korea admitted to pursuing a nuclear weapons programme. Mr Kelly's visit to Seoul coincides with a previously arranged visit to North Korea by a South Korean delegation, led by South Korean Unification Minister Jeong Se-Hyun. Australia and EU countries advise nationals to leave Indonesia The Australian Government said on Saturday that it had received intelligence that parts of the Indonesian capital of Jakarta may be bombed in attacks aimed at Westerners and urged its citizens to leave. Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said that "on the basis of the intelligence we have received, it is very important we draw people's attention to the risk." Meanwhile the governments of Britain, Germany and Denmark have advised their nationals to leave Indonesia, with Britain also saying it is pulling out its non-essential diplomats. The British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, says Britons should not travel to the country and those who must remain should take extra precautions in public places. The German and Danish authorities have issued similar advice. US envoy to discuss Mideast peace with Jordan king US Assistant Secretary of State William Burns arrived in Jordan Saturday for talks with King Abdullah II on international efforts to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the US embassy and officials said. A palace official told reporters the meeting would discuss efforts to renew peace talks between the two sides. Burns would also be meeting Foreign Minister Marwan Moasher and Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb, as part of a regional tour that started in Egypt. The initiative led by a diplomatic "quartet" grouping the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations is aimed at securing an independent Palestinian state by 2005 living side by side with Israel. EU enlargement at stake as Ireland votes again Around 3 million voters in the Irish Republic went to the polls for the country's second referendum on the Nice Treaty on Saturday, a referendum that paves the way for the European Union to accept new members from central and eastern Europe. Irish voters rejected the treaty in an earlier referendum last year, a decision that could derail the European Union's plan to expand. Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who has promised his nervous fellow European leaders a Yes verdict on the Nice treaty on enlargement, is calling the referendum nothing less than "a date with history." The final results will not be known before late Sunday, government officials said. Indonesian police arrested militant Muslim cleric Indonesian police arrested a militant Muslim cleric on Saturday hours after the government issued emergency anti-terror decrees aimed at giving authorities wide powers in the hunt for the perpetrators of last weekend's Bali bombings. Abu Bakar Bashir has been linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network and a regional group of militants in Southeast Asia. He denies any connection, saying he is just an Islamic teacher. Bashir had been summoned by police for questioning in Jakarta on Saturday, but entered hospital suddenly on Friday. Doctors said he would be unable to travel to face questions over a bombing in the country. Indonesia's neighbouring countries and the West have pressed for months for Indonesia to move against Bashir. Car bomb explodes in Moscow injuring seven At least seven people have been injured, including a child, after a car bomb exploded in south-west Moscow near a crowded McDonald's restaurant. Police have ruled out a terrorist motive and say it was probably connected to criminal activity. Itar-Tass news agency, quoting Moscow police, said the bomb, found in a Lada car outside the restaurant exploded at about 1pm local time. Police said the bomb was home-made and appeared to have been packed with metal filings German Greens approve coalition but oppose German involvement in US - led war on Iraq Germany's Greens, during a party congress taking place in the city of Bremen, have said they oppose the use of German territory for a US-led war on Iraq and called for a specialist German tank unit stationed in neighbouring Kuwait to be pulled out in the event of an attack. They adopted a motion urging the government to deny any foreign power the use of German territory to prepare or launch war-like measures against Iraq, as far as is permitted under international law. The Greens reiterated its backing for the government policy of pressing for the speedy return of UN weapons inspectors to Iraq. Earlier Green delegates overwhelmingly approved a coalition deal with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats. However the junior coalition party's over 700 delegates, narrowly voted down a proposal by the party executive to scrap a rule forbidding the party's co-chairs from holding parliament seats. The Green delegates also signalled they would use their power to push reforms for the flagging economy with pro-environment accents. IRA rejects calls to disband The IRA has rejected calls from British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Ulster Unionists for the organisation to disband. In a statement it said it was "not a threat to the peace process and will not accept the imposition of unrealisable demands". The senior IRA source added that "there is considerable concern within the IRA at recent developments and at sustained efforts to present the IRA as a threat to the peace process." Meanwhile Northern Ireland's political process remains in crisis following the suspension of the devolved power-sharing government on Monday, amid controversy over allegations of IRA spying within the Northern Ireland Office. Bosnia poll results leave some hope for moderates Final results of Bosnia's October 5th general election were released on Saturday and confirmed nationalist gains that could trouble international administrators. However the results leave room for moderates to keep some government in their hands. Saturday's official full results confirmed that the Bosnian state presidency, which has limited powers and reserves one place each for a Muslim, a Croat and a Serb, would be filled with nationalists from each group. Ten killed, 18 injured in Indian Kashmir explosions Ten people were killed and 18 injured in a spate of violent incidents in Indian-administered Kashmir on Saturday, police and security sources said.One explosion in the north of the state killed one and injured 15, including seven Border Security Force members, a BSF spokesman said. Meanwhile Indian security forces shot dead four Muslim rebels in the Chingus area of southern Rajouri district Saturday, police said, while five more people died elsewhere. An Indian army spokesman said the militants belonged to a group called the Tehreek-ul-Jehad-e-Islami. Chingus is situated near the Line of Control and Saturday's encounter is the third in the area since India and Pakistan announced on Thursday they would be reducing their troop deployments along their shared borders. IRA rejects calls to disband The IRA has rejected calls from British Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Ulster Unionists for the organisation to disband. In a statement it said it was "not a threat to the peace process and will not accept the imposition of unrealisable demands". The senior IRA source added that "there is considerable concern within the IRA at recent developments and at sustained efforts to present the IRA as a threat to the peace process." Meanwhile Northern Ireland's political process remains in crisis following the suspension of the devolved power-sharing government on Monday, amid controversy over allegations of IRA spying within the Northern Ireland Office. Ten killed, 18 injured in Indian Kashmir explosions Ten people were killed and 18 injured in a spate of violent incidents in Indian-administered Kashmir on Saturday, police and security sources said.One explosion in the north of the state killed one and injured 15, including seven Border Security Force members, a BSF spokesman said. Meanwhile Indian security forces shot dead four Muslim rebels in the Chingus area of southern Rajouri district Saturday, police said, while five more people died elsewhere. An Indian army spokesman said the militants belonged to a group called the Tehreek-ul-Jehad-e-Islami. Chingus is situated near the Line of Control and Saturday's encounter is the third in the area since India and Pakistan announced on Thursday they would be reducing their troop deployments along their shared borders. Unrest in eastern Congo Clashes have re-ignited eastern Congo, leaving scores of civilians and soldiers dead and, a U.N. official said, threatening to unravel months of progress towards peace. Congo's main rebel group, the Rwandan-backed Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD), said it had retaken the strategic port town of Uvira, which was captured by pro-government tribal Mai-Mai militias six days ago. French troops strengthened position near Ivory Coast's front line French troops strengthened positions near Ivory Coast's front lines as they prepared to keep loyalist soldiers and rebels apart under a West African peace plan. France, which has more than 1,000 troops in its former colony, has agreed to monitor a truce that came into effect on Thursday until a regional force can be sent to help end the month-old conflict. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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