News for Sunday, August 8, 2004
• Iraqi PM: Gunmen in Najaf Must Leave Holy Sites Iraq's Prime Minister Iyad Allawi traveled to violence-torn Najaf Sunday to call on militant gunmen to leave that city's holy sites, including the Imam Ali shrine, quickly and lay down their weapons, so the rule of law can return.
• UAE Hands Over Wanted al-Qaida Suspect to Pakistan Pakistan has taken custody of an alleged al-Qaida operative suspected of involvement in two assassination attempts on the country's president.
• Arab League To Discuss Darfur Crisis Arab League foreign ministers are set to hold emergency talks Sunday on the crisis in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region.
• Nigeria to Host Talks Between Sudan, Rebels on Darfur The Africa Union says Nigeria will host talks this month between Sudan's government and rebels from the Darfur region, as Khartoum tries to avoid international sanctions.
• Turkey Blames Kurdish Rebels for Attempted Attack Turkish officials say a suspected Kurdish rebel was killed and another wounded overnight when a bomb they were trying to plant exploded.
• NY Times: Pakistani Arrest Reveals Possible New Threat A published report says a Pakistani computer expert whose arrest revealed terrorist threats to U.S. financial institutions also communicated with operatives of the al-Qaida network planning to disrupt the upcoming presidential election.
• Former Australian Officials Say Government Lied over Iraq A group of former Australian officials has accused Prime Minister John Howard of deceiving the country over the reasons for going to war in Iraq.
• Tehran Summons Iraqi Envoy Over Reported Detentions Iranian officials are upset over allegations by Iraq's interim government suggesting that four Iranians arrested in Iraq are spies.
• New Taiwan Envoy Fingerprinted in Washington The newly appointed Taiwanese envoy to the United States was fingerprinted on his arrival in Washington.
• Philippine Communists Postpone Release of Hostages Communist rebels in the Philippines say they have postponed the release of two soldiers held as hostages, accusing the military of refusing to halt operations in the area.
• British Police: Two Men No Longer Terror Suspects British police are no longer questioning two of the 13 men arrested Tuesday on suspicion of terrorism.
• Russian Parliament Approves Controversial Social Benefits Law The upper house of Russia's parliament has approved a controversial new law that would effectively end a range of Soviet-era benefits for the elderly, disabled and World War II veterans. The legislation has provoked street protests, and triggered a fall in President Vladimir Putin's popularity rating.
• Bangladesh Bomb Blast Kills Opposition Party Supporter One man has now died, following a bomb blast late Saturday in the northeastern Bangladeshi town of Sylhet.
• UN Warns of Disease Threat to Flood-Stricken Bangladesh The United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, warns that flood-stricken Bangladesh is ripe for a major outbreak of diarrhea and other water-borne diseases. The government estimates more than 32 million Bangladeshis have been affected by the most devastating monsoon floods to hit the country since 1998. It says more than 700 people are believed to have died and more than 1.5 million people are still living in shelters.
• Polls Show Kerry With Slight Lead Over Bush New polls show Senator John Kerry taking a slight lead over President Bush in the U.S. presidential race.
• Thai Company to Conduct Oil, Gas Exploration in Burma Gulf Officials of a Thai energy company have signed a deal with Burma's military government for the Thai company to conduct oil and gas exploration in Burma's Gulf of Martaban.
• Chechen Presidential Candidate Warns of Continued Economic Problems Chechnya's Kremlin-backed presidential candidate has warned that Chechnya's poor economy and high unemployment rates are threatening to seriously destabilize the region.
• Pope Hopes for Peace at Olympics Pope John Paul says he hopes the Olympic Games opening in Athens this week will help promote peace and understanding among peoples.
• Athens Ready to Host Olympics Athens Olympic organizers told the International Olympic Committee the host city is ready for the games to begin this week. In a report to the IOC executive board Sunday, Athens organizers said that five days before the cauldron is lit at Olympic Stadium, they are ready. The Games open Friday. Greece fell behind in construction of sports venues and other preparations for the Olympics because of political infighting and bureaucracy. As recently as two months ago, the IOC was concerned that a number of venues and projects would not be completed in time.
• Israel, Palestinian Officials Discuss Arming Palestinian Police Israeli and Palestinian security officials were meeting late Sunday to discuss allowing Palestinian police to carry arms. The proposal is aimed at restoring law and order in some areas where there has recently been internal violence and political unrest.
• Former Apartheid Party to Join South Africa's Ruling Party South African President Thabo Mbeki has welcomed the decision of the country's former apartheid party to join the ruling African National Congress party.
• At Least 24 African Refugees Dead in Attempt to Reach Italy Italian police say at least 26 African immigrants have died trying to reach Italy in a small wooden boat.
• Outgoing Singapore Leader Champions Public Involvement Outgoing Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong has encouraged the city-state's new leaders to promote participation in public affairs.
• US Senate Leader Ends China Visit U.S. Senator Ted Stevens has ended an eight-day visit to China that launched a new legislative exchange between the Senate and the National People's Congress.
• Israel to Evacuate Illegal Jewish Outposts Before US Vote The Israeli government says it plans to evacuate illegal Jewish outposts in the West Bank before the U.S. presidential election in November, following American pressure to halt settlement activity.
• Bombs Kill At Least 6 Near Karachi School Pakistani police say two bombs went off Sunday evening near an Islamic school in Karachi, killing at least six people and injuring at least 16 others.
• Pro-Beijing Hong Kong Party Leader Has Cancer The leader of Hong Kong's pro-Beijing party says he has colon cancer and cannot campaign for the September 12 Legislative Council elections.
• Militants Reportedly Abduct Iranian Diplomat in Iraq Militants in Iraq have reportedly kidnapped an Iranian diplomat, and the Iraqi government has reinstated the death penalty.
• Firefighting Legend Red Adair Dies at 89 The world-renowned champion of putting out oil well fires, Paul "Red" Adair, has died at age 89.
• Australia Helps Transportation of Iraqi Olympic Athletes Australia has come to the aid of the Iraqi Olympic team by flying it out of Baghdad to begin its journey to Athens for the Summer Games.
• Bush Administration Hails Capture of al-Qaida Suspect Bush administration officials are hailing the capture of a key al-Qaida suspect as further evidence of progress in the global war on terrorism.
• 2 Explosions Kill 7 Near Karachi Religious School Two synchronized explosions near a religious school in Pakistan's largest city have killed at least seven people and injured dozens of others.
• British Rowing Team Rescued in Failed Trans-Atlantic Attempt Four Britons trying to break the world trans-Atlantic rowing record have been rescued after heavy storms broke their boat, the Pink Lady, in half.
• US Looking at Options on Iranian Nuclear Program The White House says it will continue to rely on international diplomatic pressure to deal with Iran's nuclear intentions.
• Gronholm Wins Finland Rally Former two-time World Rally champion Marcus Gronholm maintained his lead on the final day to capture the Finland Rally on Sunday.
• English Football Club Arsenal Tops Manchester United in Opener Jose Reyes scored one goal and set up another to lead English football club Arsenal to a 3-1 win over Manchester United in the Community Shield in Cardiff, Wales. The game is the traditional curtain raiser to the English Premier League season.
• Elway, Sanders Inducted Into US Pro Football Hall of Fame Two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback John Elway, running back Barry Sanders and linemen Bob Brown and Carl Eller have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
• US Men Top Turkey in Exhibition Basketball The U.S. men's Olympic basketball team gave up most of its 14-point fourth-quarter lead against Turkey before winning the exhibition game in Istanbul, 79-67.
• Mauresmo Wins Rogers Cup Tennis Tourney Second-seeded French tennis player Amelie Mauresmo has routed Elena Likhovtseva of Russia in a 51-minute final, to win the Rogers Cup tournament in Montreal for the second time in three years.
• Homeland Security Adviser: US Has Disrupted al-Qaida Terrorist Plans President Bush's adviser on homeland security, Frances Townsend, says the recent arrests of suspected al-Qaida terrorists and the seizure of information about the group's detailed surveillance of financial centers have disrupted some of al-Qaida's plans for attacks on the United States.
• Iraqi Judge Issues Arrest Warrant For Ahmad Chalabi, Nephew An Iraqi investigating judge has issued an arrest warrant for Ahmad Chalabi - a prominent former member of the now-defunct Iraqi Governing Council.
• Bank of China's Hong Kong Branch Investigates Possible Embezzlement The Bank of China's Hong Kong operation has suspended two top executives on suspicion of theft, while banking giant HSBC has taken a major stake in another Chinese bank.
• Australian Golfer Pampling Gets 1st PGA Tour Victory Australian golfer Rod Pampling sank a 10-meter eagle putt from the fringe of the 17th hole to move past Czech Alex Cejka and earn his first PGA Tour victory at The International in Castle Rock, Colorado.
• US Tennis Star Agassi Ends 16 Month Title Drought U.S. tennis veteran Andre Agassi ended a 16-month title drought with a victory over Australian Lleyton Hewitt in the final of the Cincinnati Masters event. Agassi, who knocked out defending champion and fellow American Andy Roddick on Saturday, completed his 59th career victory Sunday, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. The title is Agassi's first since April 2003. Hewitt also lost in the final last year.