News for Thursday, April 19, 2007
• Iraqi PM Condemns Baghdad Bombings that Killed 190 Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has condemned Wednesday's bombings in Baghdad that killed 190 people in the worst day of violence since U.S. and Iraqi forces began a security crackdown in the city two months ago.
• Amnesty International: Taleban Attacks Against Afghan Civilians Increasing Amnesty International says Taleban insurgents are deliberately targeting civilians in Afghanistan to instill fear and exert control over the population.
• North Korea Delays Official Start of Economic Talks with South North Korea has delayed the official start of economic talks with visiting South Korean negotiators Thursday, but the two sides are still expected to meet informally this afternoon.
• Gates, Olmert Discuss Iran's Nuclear Program Israeli officials say Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the visiting U.S. Defense Secretary, Robert Gates, have discussed the Iranian nuclear issue.
• 24 Taleban Militants Killed in Southern Afghanistan U.S.-led coalition forces in Afghanistan say troops killed 24 Taleban fighters in a seven-hour battle in the country's restive south.
• 1 Dead, 20 Injured in Violent Protests Over Control of Bolivian Gas Field Authorities in southern Bolivia say violent protests by residents demanding control of natural gas facilities have left one person dead and more than 20 injured.
• Jailed Palestinian Leader Urges BBC Reporter's Release Imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti has appealed for an immediate release of BBC reporter Alan Johnston who was kidnapped in the Gaza Strip last month.
• Rights Group: Refugee Swap Between US, Australia Breaks International Law A rights group says a recent deal between the United States and Australia to trade refugees held at offshore detention centers breaks international law.
• TV Marti Executive Sentenced to 27 Months for Kickbacks U.S. authorities say a former senior executive with government-funded TV Marti has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for unlawfully accepting payments from a company doing business with the station.
• US Defense Secretary Visits Iraq U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is in Iraq for a previously unannounced visit, one day after bombs killed nearly 200 people in Baghdad's worst violence in months.
• Chile's Bachelet, Venezuela's Chavez Agree to Ease Political Tensions Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have agreed to ease political tensions between their countries.
• US Attorney General to Testify in Firings Probe U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday about the firings of eight federal prosecutors.
• Taleban Terrorizing Afghan Communities by Impersonating Police U.S. officials in Afghanistan say they have uncovered a new Taleban campaign to discredit the national police force and terrorize local Afghan communities. From Islamabad, VOA's Benjamin Sand reports that insurgents have been stockpiling counterfeit police uniforms and establishing illegal checkpoints in western Afghanistan.
• Former Bangladeshi PM Vows to Return to Country Former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says she will return to her country despite a ban by the military-backed interim government.
• Former Rwandan Commander on Trial for 1994 Murder of Prime Minister The trial of a former Rwandan army commander accused of killing 10 Belgian U.N. peacekeepers and a former Rwandan prime minister begins Thursday in Brussels.
• NATO: Europe Faces Missile Threat, Moscow Appears to Reject Cooperation The NATO allies have agreed that Europe faces a missile threat and have backed a U.S. offer to cooperate with Russia on defense against such weapons.
• China's Economy Continues Surge China's economy, the fourth largest in the world, grew 11.1 percent in the first quarter compared with the same period a year earlier. Economic growth has been at or above 10 percent for the past five years, and a government official says continued growth at this level could lead to problems. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing.
• Six Die During Burma's Water Festival In Burma, six people have died and 71 others injured during the country's annual New Year's water festival.
• Turkey Detains 5 More in Christian Missionary Slaying Police in Turkey have detained five more suspects in connection with an attack against a Christian publishing house in the conservative eastern city of Malatya. Three employees were killed Wednesday by knife-wielding assailants, who reportedly said they were acting to protect Islam. From Istanbul, Amberin Zaman reports for the VOA.
• Egypt Warns Against UN Sanctions on Sudan Egypt has warned the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council not to impose new sanctions on Sudan over the crisis in troubled Darfur.
• US Defers to UN Chief on Darfur Diplomacy The Bush administration confirmed Thursday it put off the imposition of new sanctions against Sudan at the urging of U.N. Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon. However U.S. officials are skeptical that diplomacy by the U.N. chief will lead to a breakthrough on peacekeeping in Darfur. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department
• Somali Sub-Clans Said to be Uniting Against Government, Ethiopia In a possible sign that fractious sub-clans of Somalia's Hawiye tribe may be uniting to oppose Ethiopia and Somalia's interim government, a top Islamist leader and the deputy prime minister of the interim government have jointly issued an ultimatum for Ethiopian troops to leave Somalia immediately or face an all-out war. VOA Correspondent Alisha Ryu has this report from our East Africa Bureau in Nairobi.
• Palestinian President: Kidnapped British Journalist is Alive Palestinian President says a kidnapped British journalist is still alive after a militant group claimed to have killed him.
• US Senator Freezes Military Aid to Colombia A leading U.S. lawmaker has frozen $55 million in military aid to Colombia due to concerns about a scandal linking Colombian politicians to paramilitary fighters.
• African Great Lakes Armies Leaders to Battle Rebel Groups The army chiefs of Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda have agreed to jointly take military action against rebel groups operating in the area. Cathy Majtenyi reports for VOA from Nairobi.
• Police Use Tear Gas Against Protesters in Kyrgyzstan Riot police in Kyrgyzstan have used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse opposition protesters pushing for the president's resignation.
• NATO General: Afghanistan Likely to See Increase in Bomb Attacks A top NATO general says Afghanistan is likely to see an increase in the number of suicide and roadside bomb attacks by Taleban rebels.
• WHO Developing Plan to Tackle Neglected Tropical Diseases Experts and concerned people from developing and developed countries are meeting at the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop a global plan of action to combat the so-called neglected tropical diseases, which affect more than one-sixth of the world's population. Lisa Schlein reports from WHO headquarters in Geneva.
• Scientists Report Sharp Drop In US Breast Cancer Rate Researchers say the number of breast cancers in the United States dropped sharply in 2003. The reduction follows a finding that links hormone replacement therapy to breast and other cancers in women. VOA's Jessica Berman reports.
• Ukrainian Opposition Leader Calls for Protests to Demand New Elections No summary available.
• Federer, Nadal Reach Quarterfinals of Monte Carlo Masters Tennis Tournament World number one men's tennis player Roger Federer of Switzerland and number two Rafael Nadal of Spain have reached the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters tournament in Monaco.
• Russia Considering Tunnel Between Asia and North America Russia is again considering an ambitious plan that dates back to czarist times: building a tunnel under the Bering Sea to Alaska. While few Americans have heard of the project, it has the strong support of a former Alaskan governor. VOA's Peter Fedynsky reports.
• Bush, Afghan President Discuss Battling Extremism President Bush called Afghan President Hamid Karzai from the White House earlier Thursday to reaffirm the strong relationship shared between the two countries.
• Africa Gets Tough on Malaria Malaria kills more than one million people each year, with nearly all of those deaths children in Africa. As the continent marks Africa Malaria Day, on April 25, new treatments have been developed that could help the international community move closer to reducing deaths by 50 percent in three years.
• US: Iranians Aid Iraqi Sunni Car Bombers A senior U.S. military officer says a renewed effort to break suicide bomb networks in Iraq has led, at least in part, to Iranian intelligence services. The statement came at the Pentagon Thursday, as U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates was visiting Baghdad on the day on a day of continued bombings, after a particularly deadly series of bombings Wednesday. VOA's Al Pessin reports from the Pentagon.
• US Skeptical of Iran in Disappearance Case U.S. officials are expressing skepticism about Iran's disavowal of knowledge about a retired agent of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation believed missing in Iran for more than a month. The United States and Iran have had a rare diplomatic exchange on the case, via their Swiss intermediary. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.
• US Oil Firm Hopeful about Renegotiations with Venezuela U.S.-based oil company Chevron says it is continuing to negotiate new contracts with the Venezuelan government for the firm's operations in the country. From Miami, VOA's Brian Wagner reports that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is demanding a greater share of control over foreign oil operations.
• Recruiting Begins For UN Darfur Mission Five countries have offered to supply soldiers and police for a United Nations mission to support a beleaguered African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur. From U.N. headquarters, VOA's Peter Heinlein reports diplomats are hoping to have a full support package in operation by September.