Deutsche Welle English Service News 13.03.2004, 17:00 UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD:
Spain Lays its Victims to Rest The first funerals of those killed in the Madrid bombings on Thursday will take place on Saturday as Spain numbly moves on from emotion to emotion in the wake of the nation's worst terrorist attack. 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_1141309_1_A,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The East is Calling! On May 1st the EU expands to include 10 new members. Join DW-WORLD on a cultural and political journey across thousands of kilometers by participating in our online quiz. You'll come out a winner -- whether it's picking up a prize or expanding your mind. http://dw-world.de/go-east ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Spain mourns vicitms of Madrid train bombings Mourning continues for the victims of Thursday's devastating train bombings in Madrid, with funeral services set to be held for 40 of the victims. The death toll from the attack on four crowded commuter trains has risen to 200; over 14 hundred others were injured in the blasts. On Friday, millions of people took to the streets across Spain and other European countries to condemn the attack and denounce all forms of terrorism. In Madrid alone, some 2 million people rallied in the rain. In the German capital Berlin, thousands gathered for a silent march near the Spanish embassy. The Spanish government says the Basque separatist group ETA remains the main suspect for the attacks, despite a statement from the group denying it was involved. A group tied to the al Qaida terrorist network has claimed responsibility, but that claim has not been confirmed as genuine. IAEA diplomats agree on resolution on Iran Diplomats at the International Atomic Energy Agency say they have agreed on a United Nations resolution condemning Iran for hiding nuclear activities. Agreement was reached a day after Iran put off a UN inspection mission until the end of April. While Iran's supporters succeeded in pushing through changed wording that effectively defers the threat of Security Council action against Tehran until June, much of the resolution's language was critical, reflecting shared concerns about Iran's nuclear activities and its uneven record of cooperation with the IAEA. The UN nuclear watchdog has been working since last year to determine whether Iran's nuclear programme is peaceful or geared at secretly developing atomic weapons, as the US has charged. Israeli soldiers kill two Palestinians near Gaza Israeli soldiers have shot and killed two Palestinian militants in an off-limits military zone between Israel and the Gaza Strip. Military officials said the pair were carrying assault rifles, 10 hand grenades and a pipe bomb and apparently were attempting to cross the fence to attack the Israelil farming community. The two men have been identified as members of the Palestinian miliant groups Hamas and the Ahmed Abu al-Resh Brigades. U.S. military announces new operation aimed at destroying 'terrorist organisations' The U.S. military has announced a sweeping new operation across southern and eastern Afghanistan aimed at destroying al-Qaida and Taliban infrastructure. The announcement comes as the U. S. intensifies its hunt for Osama bin Laden and his top deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, who are believed to be hiding in the border area between Afghanistan and Pakistan. U.S. military officials have said the operation will involve the entire U.S.-led coalition and is in effect a continuation of tactics already being used, such as patrols, searches and small scale air assaults. Bosnian Serb police launch operation to trap fugitive Karadzic Bosnian Serb police say they have launched a major operation in eastern Bosnia to try to arrest top warcrimes suspect Radovan Karadzic. Local radio said security had been increased in the region overnight, with traffic checkpoints set up and patrols carried out along the Drina river, which borders Serbia. Karadzic is a former Bosnian Serb political leader wanted on charges of genocide by the United Nations tribunal in The Hague. He has been on the run from NATO-led peacekeepers in Bosnia since he was indicted more than eight years ago. Bosnian Serb police have often been accused of doing too little to arrest him. Haiti's new prime minister sworn in, promises to unite country Haiti's interim prime minister Gerard Latortue has promised to unite the country after months of bloodshed and political strife which led to the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Latortue was sworn in Friday under heavy security. He said he hoped to name a new government by Monday morning at the latest and stressed the need for reconciliation. Latortue also criticised Jamaica's decision to host a planned visit by Aristide next week, saying it would be viewed as an "unfriendly act" that would boost tensions in the Haitian capital. Latortue is a former U.N. officer and business consultant who returned to Haiti after living in exile in the United States. South Korea's acting president calls for calm after impeachment South Korea's acting president Goh Kun has urged calm as angry street rallies loom in protest of the country's unprecedented impeachment of President Roh Moo-hyun. More than 12,000 Roh supporters held a Friday night vigil near the National Assembly building and planned to converge on the capital again Saturday night. Goh earlier promised to maintain South Korea's alliance with the US, its policies toward North Korea and its plan to send 3,000 troops to help the U.S.-led coalition rebuild Iraq. The Constitutional Court must now rule on whether to uphold Roh's impeachment, a process which could take as long as six months. Opposition lawmakers voted Friday to impeach Roh on charges of illegal electioneering and incompetence. Taiwan president promises no war with China; opposition holds mass demonstration Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian has vowed no war would break out with China if he is elected to anotherfour-year term. The comments come one week before Taiwan's highly contested presidential election. Meanwhile, some two million people assembled across Taiwan to protest against president Chen, who they blame for the country's economic woes. The mass protest was organised by opposition candidate Lien Chan, in an apparent attempt to boost his campaign. While Lien has taken a more conciliatory approach towards China, Chen has angered Beijing by insisting that Taiwan is a separate country and encouraging a referendum on boosting the island's defences. At least 12 people killed in Chinese mine blast At least 12 people were killed and two others were missing after an explosion in a coal mine in southwest China in the latest incident to hit that country's accident-prone mining sector. China's mining industry has an appalling safety record with figures showing some 7,197 died in accidents in the first 10 months of last year. Earlier this month at least 26 miners were killed in a gas explosion in a mine in northern China. That incident followed a pit blast in February in which 37 miners were killed. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Serbian News Network - SNN [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.antic.org/
