Deutsche Welle English Service News March 13th 2005, 17:00 UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD:
Tough Times for Muslims in Europe A report by human-rights watchdogs confirms something many Europeans may have noticed on their own: Life has gotten harder for Muslims in Europe since the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1513012,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- In light of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in 2005, DW-WORLD has put together a special site marking the occasion. Our coverage looks at the effect of World War II on countries around the world and includes interviews with scholars as well as picture galleries. To view the site, please go to http://www.dw-world.de/english ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Israel to remove 24 outposts Israeli public radio says Israel's cabinet has decided to dismantle 24 unauthorised Jewish outposts erected in the West Bank since Prime Minister Ariel Sharon came to power in 2001. The removal is a requirement of the international "roadmap" peace plan. Palestinian ministers said they would "wait and see" if Israel did in fact remove the outposts. The news of Israel's intention precedes a trip to the region by United Nations chief Kofi Annan for several days of Middle diplomacy. He's first due to have talks with Sharon before travelling to Ramallah for a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. On Saturday, the militant group Hamas said it intended to run in Palestinian parliamentary elections in July. Lebanese stability needed - UN envoy United Nations envoy Terje Roed-Larsen has said he has reached a "consensus" with Lebanon's pro-Syrian government on how to safeguard Lebanese stability during a troop pullout promised by Syria. After talks in Beirut with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, Larsen said he saw a "way out" of Lebanon's volatility. Lebanon's anti-Syrian opposition and pro-Syrian factions have staged several mass rallies since the bombing that killed ex-prime minister Rafik Hariri last month. Pro-Syrian Hisbollah supporters have just rallied in the southern town of Nabatiyeh. The opposition plans a rival rally in Beirut on Monday. Lahoud told Larsen that the governments of Lebanon and Syria would set the date for a "full" Syrian withdrawal. Eyewitneses say more Syrian troops in trucks and buses have left northern Lebanon. Syria says 6.000 have departed the region. Iran snubs US incentives Iran has said it intends to maintain its nuclear programme despite economic incentives offered by the United States to stop enriching uranium. However Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said his country was willing to work with the world to allay fears that it was developing nuclear weapons. He said Iran was ready to temporarily suspend its uranium enrichment programme but had the right to nuclear technology. As part of the incentives, the US has dropped its opposition to Iran joining the World Trade Organisation in support of European diplomatic efforts with Tehran. The US accuses Tehran of enriching uranium as part of a covert nuclear arms programme. Earthquake shakes southeastern Iran An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale has hit south eastern Iran. According to Iran's state media the quake struck close to the town of Saravan in the province of Sistan-Baluchistan, which borders Pakistan. Regional officials said there were no immediate reports of casualties but added that rescue workers had not reached many scattered villages. In February an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale also struck south eastern Iran, killing at least 30 people. Two dead in raid on militants in Jeddah In Saudi Arabia, two people have been killed in a shoot out between Saudi security forces and suspected militants in Jeddah. Saudi officials say five police officers were wounded during the raid on a suspected militant's apartment. According to an interior ministry spokesperson, a civilian woman was also killed. One man was arrested on security related charges. The raid comes after the US embassy in Saudi Arabia issued a warning last Tuesday of a heightened threat in Jeddah. Three months ago, militants linked to Al Qaeda, attacked the US consulate in the Red Sea city. Argentina expels convicted cult leader A German-born religious cult leader has been deported from Argentina to Chile, where he faces charges of paedophilia. 83-year-old Paul Schaefer was flown out from Argentina early on Sunday. He was captured two days ago near Buenos Aires in a joint operation by Argentine and Chilean agents. Schaefer had been on the run for eight years. He is wanted by Santiago on child abuse and torture charges, some related to a mysterious sect he ran in southern Chile called "Colonia Dignidad". He also faces charges of helping to kidnap a political prisoner during Chile's dictatorship from 1973 to 1990. Schaefer is also wanted in Germany on abuse charges. Macedonians vote for local councils Voters in Macedonia have been casting their ballots in municipal elections. Some 1.7 million people are eligible to vote to choose representatives and mayors in 85 local councils. The polls have been postponed twice after disagreement broke out over a new law giving the minority ethnic Albanians more rights in local councils. The law passed in August last year, redrew electoral boundaries and made Albanian an official second language. The reforms and the municipal elections are part of the Ohrid peace accord which ended more than seven months of conflict between ethnic Albanian rebels and government forces in 2001. Central African Republic holds polls Polling is also under way in the Central African Republic for the first round of presidential and parliamentary elections. Some 1.5 million people are eligible to vote in what are the first elections since a military coup in 2003. Outgoing president Francois Bozize, who seized power two years ago, is being challenged for the presidency by ten candidates. Nine hundred and twenty eight candidates are standing for 105 parliamentary seats. Police crack Spain crime ring Spanish police have cracked a money-laundering operation worth up to 250 million euros. 41 people from five nations have been arrested at Spain's southern coastal resort town of Marbella. Police also seized luxury goods and 42 cars. The Spanish interior ministry said those arrested are suspected of laundering money for organised crime rings involved in drug trafficking, arms dealing and prostitution. Spanish authorities also believe money was diverted from the Russian oil company Yukos via the Netherlands to Spain. However Yukos has denied involvement in the money laundering operation. Those arrested were from Spain, France, Finnland, Russia and Ukraine. Nepal ex-PM warns of mass protests Nepal's ex-prime minister has urged King Gyandendra to return to a constitutional monarchy. Sher Bahadur Duba who was sacked as Prime Minister in February was released from house arrest on Saturday. He appealed to the King to begin talks with all political leaders and return power to a multi-party government or face nationwide demonstrations. Pope speaks to pilgrims at hospital In Rome Pope John Paul-the-second has spoken from his hospital room to a crowd gathered outside. It was the first time he has made a public address since throat surgery last month to ease his breathing. The Vatican said the 84-year old Pontiff would leave the hospital on Sunday evening. Pilgrims at the hospital broke into tears when the Pope spoke his first public words in several weeks. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- When the ball gets rolling on the first day of the second half of the Bundesliga season, it�s time to place your bets at DW-WORLD again. Bet, score and win is the name of the game. Compete with soccer fans around the world by predicting who will be up or down, how many goals and how tops the table. 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