Deutsche Welle English Service News November 21 2003, 17:00 UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD:
Istanbul Blasts Trigger Debate about EU Membership Germany responded to the second set of bombings in Istanbul with harsh words of condemnation. But the attacks have also ignited a fresh round of debate on Turkey's bid to join the EU. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://www.dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1430_A_1038581_1_A,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Suicide bombers kill 27 in Istanbul Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has confirmed that several suspects have been arrested in connection with Thursday's twin bombings in Istanbul, which killed at least 27 people and injured more than 450. He did not provide any information on who the suspects were. But our correspondent in Istanbul, Susanne Guesten, says there's been plenty of speculation. The British Consulate and the British HSBC bank were the targets of the bombings, which took place within minutes of each other. The British government has warned citizens against travel to all major Turkish cities. The Foreign Office said it had information suggesting that further bombings may be planned. The attack came just five days after similar bomb attacks on two Istanbul synagogues, which killed 25 and injured more than 300. Bush wraps up Britain tour, no word on 9 Britons in Guantanamo US President George W. Bush is returning to Washington after wrapping up three-day visit to Britain. On Friday he held an informal meeting with Tony Blair and visited the prime minister's constituency in the country's northeast. Bush failed to announce whether nine Britons being held at a US prison in Guantanamo would be transferred to Britain for trial as demanded by human rights groups. The nine are being held on US-suspicion of having terrorist links. Bush's visit has been marked by demonstrations against the US-led war on Iraq. The biggest came on Thursday, when more than 100,000 anti-Bush protesters marched through the streets of London. Sheraton Hotel, Iraqi oil ministry hit in rockets attacks in Baghdad Several people were injured in three separate rocket attacks in Baghdad on Friday. Rockets were fired almost simultaneously from donkey carts at the Iraqi oil ministry, the Sheraton Hotel and the neighbouring Palestine Hotel. Guests were evacuated from the hotels which house many journalists and contractors. Georgia tense - EU calls for calm The European Commission has called for calm in the ex-Soviet republic of Georgia amid fears that protests planned for Saturday, when the country's new parliament assembles, could erupt into bloodshed. In the capital Tblisi, roads around the parliament have been blocked off and hundreds of troops and riot police have taken up position ahead of the expected arrival of thousands of protestors. The European commission and international OSCE observers said that Georgia's recent election was marred by "spectacular" cases of fraud. On Thursday, Georgia's electoral commission declared President Eduard Shevardnadze's party the winner. Afghan and Iraqi refugees - stay in Germany "only temporary Germany's federal and 16 regional state governments have decided that war refugees from Afghanistan and Iraq should be sent home as soon as possible but delayed a final decision until early next year. Federal Interior Minister Otto Schily said Germany was only a temporary haven. Fritz Behrens, who's minister in North Rhine- Westphalia state, said both regions were still unstable. Returns now would be "irresponsible", Behrens said. As ministers met in the city of Jena, hundreds of people protested plans by Hamburg's interior minister Dirk Nockemann to expel Afghan refugees from that city. More IAEA delay over Iran In Vienna the board of the UN's atomic watchdog IAEA agency has delayed until Wednesday its verdict on Iran's nuclear programme as EU nations and the USA continue to argue over the wording of a draft resolution. The Bush administration wants Iran declared in breach of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, a move that could put Iran in the dock before the UN Security Council, But, other nations, led by France, Germany and Britain, fear this could prompt a backlash from Iran. Last month Tehran agreed to cooperate with IAEA monitors but has not yet formally signed a protocol to allow snap inspections. Michael Jackson released on 3 million dollar bail after molestation arrest Pop singer Michael Jackson was freed on three million dollars bail after being arrested on multiple charges of child sex abuse. Jackson surrendered to authorities on Thursday. Speaking on his behalf, Jackson's lawyer called the charges "categorically untrue". The allegations reportedly stem from a 12-year-old boy who stayed with Jackson at his Neverland Ranch. UN to review The United Nations is reviewing its operations in Afghanistan. The UN's Under-Secretary-General for Management, Catherine Bertini, said the organisation was reassessing its presence, after a UN aid worker was killed last week. A 29-year-old French woman was gunned down by suspected Taliban fighters in the province of Ghazni. Currently, the UN has about 800 humanitarian aid workers in Afghanistan. More than half of them are based in the capital, Kabul. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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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