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Deutsche Welle English Service News March 28th, 2001, 16:00 UTC ---------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD: Arab World Stands United Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah, left, was able to convince his counterparts, such as Lebanon's President Emile Lahoud, of his peace plan. 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_486036_1_A,00.html ----------------------------- Arab League Agrees on Peace Plan for Israel Arab leaders meeting in Beirut have unanimously agreed on a Saudi initiative for peace with Israel. But Israel has already rejected part of the Arab peace plan, saying it implies the destruction of the Jewish state. A Beirut Declaration issued at the end of a two-day summit in the Lebanese capital endorsed a plan which offered Israel security and normal ties if it returned all occupied land and agreed to live alongside a Palestinian state. The Declaration also called for a "just solution" to the Palestinian refugee problem, including repatriation or compensation. The Israelis and Palestinians remained divided over the proposal. Palestinian President Yasser Arafat embraced the plan, but an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman said that his country could not accept the right of return for Palestinian refugees while negociating for a Palestinian state. Meanwhile, the situation in the Gaza Strip and West Bank remains volatile. The Palestinians were bracing themselves for fierce Israeli reprisals after Wednesday's suicide bombing in Netanya, in which 20 people were killed. U.N. Secretary Kofi Annan condemned the attack, but called on both sides for restraint and an immediate ceasefire. Large British Force Set to Arrive in Afghanistan; Relief Has Begun for Victims of Earthquake Preparations in Afghanistan are underway for the arrival of Britain's largest combat mission in over a decade. Royal Marines and Royal Air Force (RAF) personnel on Thursday were setting up a large area land near the capital Kabul where 1600 soldiers will be based. A field hospital is also being built behind while RAF engineers set up flight logistics. Service helicopters at the base have also begun ferrying aid to the victims of this week's earthquake in Northern Afghanistan. The British troops are to participate in U.S.-led operations against remnant Taliban and al Qaeda fighters in what is being dubbed "Operation Jacana." Meanwhile, the U.N. says aid deliveries have begun to reach the survivor's of this week's earthquake near the Northern villages of Nahrin. Thousands of tents have been set up to house at least 100,000 people who have spent the last three nights sleeping outside in the cold. Monday's earthquake destroyed about 90% of the mud-brick villages in the area. Aftershocks and landslides have also hampered relief efforts. Gunman in Nanterre Commits Suicide The man arrested after a shooting spree in the French town of Nanterre has committed suicide. According to police, 33-year-old Richard Durn jumped out of an interrogation room window during questioning. Police said in a statement that Durn had scrambled through a window despite efforts to hold him back by the legs. The French justice and interior ministry have launched an inquiry into Durn's interroragation and subsequent suicide. On Wednesday, Durn opened fire on a room full of people inside a town hall in Nanterre. Eight local councillors were killed and 19 other people were wounded. Berlusconi Plays Down U.S. Terror Warning In Italy, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has played down a warning issued by the United States that extremists may launch attacks against Americans during the up-coming Easter holiday. Italian authorities were apparently infuriated after the U.S. embassy in Rome cited Italian security services and unexpectedly released a warning saying Americans could be targeted in "terrorist actions" in Venice, Florence, Milan or Verona. Italian officials had not intended to make the news public. They wanted instead to increase security ahead of the busy holiday weekend. Following the U.S. statement, Italian leaders moved quickly to quiet the fears of the millions of tourists who traditionally head to Italy's cities over Easter. No specific extremist group networks were named. Two Comic Stars Die Britain and Germany have lost two prominent entertainers -- Comedian Dudley Moore and Satirist Matthias Beltz. Moore, who was living in the Unites States at the time of his death, died of a rare brain disease at the age of 66. He was well-known for his roles in the hit movies "10" with Bo Derek and "Arthur" with Liza Minnelli. Matthias Beltz, who was 57, was found in his Frankfurt apartment after suffering from what police believed was a heart attack. Beltz had launched several long-running cabaret shows. Later in the 1990s, he entertained large German TV audiences with his satires on politicians. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 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