Deutsche Welle English Service News 05. 02. 2006, 17:00 UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD:
Germany Calls For Expanded NATO Role Germany urged NATO to take on a more wide-ranging role in battling new global threats but France and the United States disagreed over the future of the transatlantic alliance. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,1892915,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Click Back is waiting for you! DW-WORLD invites you to participate in the February version of our monthly quiz and win a 256 MB memory stick: http://www.dw-world.de/english ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Lebanese protesters torch Danish embassy Lebanese protesters have set the Danish embassy in Beirut on fire to protest against the publication of newspaper cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed. Thousands of people rallied outside the embassy and security forces fired tear gas in an attempt to keep them at bay. But smoke was later seen rising from the building after demonstrators broke into it. On Saturday, Syrian protesters also angered by the cartoons torched the Danish and Norwegian embassies in Damascus. Both countries' governments have condemned Syria for failing to stop the attacks and urged their citizens to leave the country. The European Union has condemned the violence as "utterly inacceptable". Germany warns Iran on atomic programme German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has warned Iran not to allow the dispute over its nuclear activities escalate any further. Speaking at the International Security Conference in Munich, Steinmeier said Saturday's decision by the IAEA to refer Iran to the UN Security Council was a powerful signal. He said the international community would not allow itself to be divided. Iran reacted defiantly to the nuclear watchdog's decision to report it to the UN Security Council by ordering the resumption of uranium enrichment and an end to co-operation with the IAEA. However, a spokesman for the foreign ministry has said Tehran remained open to further negotiations, especially on a Russian compromise proposal. The UN Security Council is set to discuss Iran at a meeting in March. Bomb kills 13 Pakistani bus passengers At least 13 people have been killed in a bomb explosion on a passenger bus in Pakistan's south-western province of Baluchistan. Officials say at least 20 people were injured in the blast, which occurred as the bus travelled on a regular run from the provincial capital Quetta to Lahore. Police say it appears the time bomb was planted in a bag and stored under a seat. Baluchistan, the source of Pakistan's main gas reserves, has been the scene of rising violence between rebels and security forces. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. Interpol issues Al-Qaeda alert The international police organisation Interpol has issued a worldwide alert following the escape of 23 suspected Al-Qaeda members from a prison in Yemen. Interpol said in a statement that some of the men who escaped on Friday were involved in the 2000 bomb attack on the US warship USS Cole, which killed 17 sailors, and the 2002 attack on the French tanker Limburg. Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble has urged Yemen to provide photographs, fingerprints and other details on the escapees so international arrest warrants could be issued for each of them. Germany appeals for release of hostages The fate of two German hostages held in Iraq is still unclear. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued an appeal for the release of the two engineers on Arabic Television on Friday. The two men, who work for German gas equipment installation company Cryotec, were kidnapped near an oil refinery in the northern town of Baiji on January 24th. On Tuesday, the kidnappers threatened to kill them unless Germany cut all ties with Iraq within 72 hours. That deadline expired Friday night. German Muslim groups have also called for their release, saying that once again religion was being abused and Islam discredited. US urges greater NATO role in Sudan The United States has urged NATO to play a greater role in peacekeeping efforts in Sudan's conflict-wracked Darfur region. Speaking at the International Security Conference in Munich, US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick said NATO could offer more logistics, intelligence, and planning assistance to the current African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur. He also urged the United Nations to take over the mission. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Russia was willing to send 200 peacekeepers and a helicopter strike force to Darfur as part of a UN mission. Rebels call strike in Nepal to disrupt vote A general strike called by Maoist rebels this week has brought Nepalese towns to a standstill, but locals say the call has had little effect on the capital, Kathmandu. The rebels, who want to depose King Gyanendra and turn the Himalayan country into a communist state, called the week-long strike to disrupt Wednesday's scheduled local elections. The guerrillas are believed to have killed two candidates and have pledged to step up attacks in the run-up to polling day. The royal government, which has been rocked by recent street protests, has told Nepalis to ignore the strike call and threatened to arrest those who try to stop businesses from opening or who vandalize property. Anger over Red Sea ferry disaster Survivors of Thursday's ferry disaster in the Red Sea have sharply criticised safety facilities on board. They said there were not enough life jackets and life boats when the ferry, carrying 1,400 passengers, sank following a fire in the hold. Unrest broke out in the Egyptian port of Safaga as relatives desperate for news clashed with riot police. Authorities say about 400 survivors have been rescued, and 200 bodies recovered. Rescue teams are continuing to search for around 800 passengers still missing. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Win a trip to Germany! "A Time to Make Friends" is the motto of this summer's World Cup in Germany. Tell us what you associate with the host country and you could end up winning a trip for two to Germany. 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