Deutsche Welle
English Service News
12.03.2004, 17:00 UTC
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Today's highlight on DW-WORLD:
A Day of Infamy for Spain
After a series of explosions in Madrid killed close to 200 people
and wounded more than 1,400, Spanish officials are still uncertain
who is behind the worst terrorist attack in the country's history.
To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the
internet address below:
http://www.dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1433_A_1139101_1_A,00.html
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Al-Qaeda, ETA suspected in Madrid attacks
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar has said that no line of
investigation would be ruled out as authorities try to find out who
was behind Thursday's bombings in Madrid, which killed at least 198
people. Aznar made the statement at a press conference in the
Spanish capital. He also said he expected Sunday's general election
to go ahead without any major disruption. The Spanish government has
said it believes the Basque guerrilla group ETA was behind the
attacks. But a letter purporting to come from a group linked to the
al Qaeda terror network has claimed responsibility for the blasts.
The government has declared three days of national mourning.
Spain comes to a halt for silent salute to victims
Much of Spain came to a halt at midday this Friday to mourn the dead
and wounded from Thursday's bombings in Madrid. Some of the silent
vigils lasted as long as 15 minutes. Traffic in the capital stopped
and drivers stood beside their cars. Meanwhile, Atocha train
station, which was among those hit by Thursday's attacks, was
temporarily evacuated due to a bomb scare. But state rail authority
sources said it turned out to be a false alarm. Later on Friday, a
mass rally organised by the Spanish government is due to be held in
Madrid to show solidarity with the victims and to protest all forms
of terrorism. The march will be attended by several prominent
European government figures, including Germany's Foreign Minister
Joschka Fischer.
Palestinians would coordinate Gaza Strip administration
A senior aide to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has said that
Palestinians would make arrangements to administer the Gaza Strip
should Israel go ahead with its unilateral pull-out. He said talks
would be held between the Palestinian Authority and factions in the
West Bank and Gaza and would be coordinated with Egypt. Israeli
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said he's prepared to evacuate
Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip. He's asked the United States
for support and financial backing however Washington has said the
withdrawal should be coordinated with the Palestinians and should
also include the West Bank.
South Korean parliament votes to impeach President Roh
South Korea's parliament has voted to impeach President Roh Moo-hyun
on charges of illegal electioneering and incompetence. Roh was
immediately suspended from office and Prime Minister Goh Kun took
over as interim president. The Constitutional Court must now rule
within six months on whether to uphold the impeachment. The
unprecendented move follows hours of scuffles and protests inside
the Assembly chamber. Roh had apologised earlier for the political
crisis, but the opposition said he was too late. Meanwhile,
thousands of protesters supporting President Roh rallied Friday in
front of the National Assembly to denounce the opposition-backed
impeachment.
Diplomats: Japanese company sold uranium conversion plant to Libya
Diplomats and nuclear experts have said that a Japanese company
supplied Libya with a key piece of the technology needed to make
nuclear weapons. A report presented to the International Atomic
Energy Agency last month mentioned a uranium conversion plant
ordered in 1984 by Libya, but did not specify the country of origin.
Earlier this week Libya signed a protocol to the Non-Proliferation
Treaty allowing the IAEA to carry out snap inspections. Japan had
already been named earlier by investigators probing the nuclear arms
black market. There was no immediate comment on the revelations from
Japanese delegates attending an IAEA meeting in Vienna.
IAEA chief to visit Bush
The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog is to meet senior US officials
in Washington next week, including President George W. Bush. Mohamed
ElBaradei is expected to focus on the need to tighten export
controls to prevent black market trade in nuclear technology.
Meanwhile talks are continuing at the International Atomic Energy
Agency to resolve a deadlock on a UN resolution that would condemn
Iran's nuclear activities. A US-backed draft supported by leading
European nations would call for action against Iran if it failed to
comply with the Non-Proliferation Treaty. That is being seen as too
harsh by Non-Aligned countries who want the resolution to praise
Tehran's efforts for more transparency.
Greece asks for NATO help on Olympics
Greece has formally asked NATO to help provide security for this
August's Olympic Summer Games in Athens. A foreign ministry
spokesman said NATO was to help provide air surveillance and patrol
seaways to protect the Athens Games against a possible nuclear,
biological or chemical attack. Greece is spending three times as
much on security as Australia did for the Sydney Games four years
ago, due to increased terror fears since the September 11th 2001
attacks in the United States.
DW website blocked by Chinese authorities
Deutsche Welle has confirmed reports that the DW Internet site is
being blocked by the authorities in China. A DW spokesman said the
web site could not be accessed from at least eight cities. According
to the organisation Reporters Without Borders, the blockade may have
coincided with the beginning of the People's Congress in Beijing
earlier this month.
UN freezes Charles Taylor's assets
The UN Security Council has unanimously passed a resolution that
will freeze all assets held by Charles Taylor, the former Liberian
president. The document requires all countries to block funds and
financial assets owned directly or indirectly by Taylor and his
family. The former Liberian leader is in exile in Nigeria following
his ouster in August last year. He's been indicted by the
UN-appointed war crimes tribunal in Sierra Leone for his role in
that country's civil war.
German bobsledder killed in training
German woman bobsledder Yvonne Cernota has been killed in a training
crash. Police in the Bavarian mountain resort of Koenigsee said
Cernota was driving when her bobsleigh missed a curve and careened
off the track. She died of head injuries shortly afterwards in
hospital. She was 24. Cernota had won gold at this year's European
Championships.
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