Thursday, January 28, 1999
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W O R L D | Thursday, January 28, 1999 |
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USA ready for more N-talk rounds WASHINGTON, Jan 27 — The USA has made it clear that the forthcoming post-nuclear tests talks with India would not be a "make-or-break affair,’’ but linked any further relaxation of sanctions to "progress’’ in the ongoing negotiation process.
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 ST. LOUIS, USA: Pope John Paul II and President Clinton greet dignitaries after they arrived in St. Louis on Tuesday. The Pope arrived in St. Louis Tuesday for his fifth visit to the U.S. mainland following a five-day trip to Mexico. — AP/PTI |
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Saddam vows revenge after US attack BAGHDAD (Iraq), Jan 27 — Vowing that his people’s “blood will not go in vain”, President Saddam Hussein yesterday threatened to retaliate against the USA as American planes attacked Iraq yet again. Decisive
win for Chandrika’s PA Pak
power officials to arrive today Freetown
death toll ‘over 3,000’
Two
Algerians among 5 held in Yemen Hussein
flies to USA |
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Strobe Talbott's India visit WASHINGTON, Jan 27 (PTI) — The USA has made it clear that the forthcoming post-nuclear tests talks with India would not be a "make-or-break affair,’’ but linked any further relaxation of sanctions to "progress’’ in the ongoing negotiation process. The eighth round of talks with India and Pakistan "will not be a make-or-break affair, if the talks produce no breakthroughs, there will simply be more rounds,’’ Assistant Secretary of State Karl Inderfurth told reporters here yesterday. Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott, who is holding crucial talks with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s special envoy and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, is leaving tonight for New Delhi for negotiations. Linking further relaxation of sanctions to progress in these talks, Mr Inderfurth, who is a member of the high-powered delegation, however, said it was the leaders of India and Pakistan and not Washington who would decide their future security needs, including in nuclear and missile fields. Stating that the ultimate objective of the USA was to remove sanctions against the two countries, he said India had an "impressive export control regime.’’ "It was our view then and it is our view now that India’s economy is stronger, not in the economic dire straits that Pakistan was,’’ he said in a reference to Washington’s decision to ease some of the embargos against Islamabad. "We did not see (allowing World Bank loans) as favouring one side of the other, or rewarding one side over the other’’ but taking "necessary steps’’ to prevent Pakistan’s economic collapse, Mr Inderfurth said. The USA and other world powers blocked most international financial institution lending to India and Pakistan after their nuclear tests in May last year. However, restrictions on Pakistan have since been eased. Mr Inderfurth said the G-7 countries were responsible for the sanctions against India with regard to development loans from the World Bank and IMF. Stating that the USA was hopeful that progress would be made during talks, he said, "We have (so far) progressed far enough in exploring our views. Our hope is that we can see even more progress in 1999 than in 1998.’’ Mr Inderfurth said that the USA would explore with both India and Pakistan more comprehensive and stringent export control procedures. He said the possibility of further missile testing by India and Pakistan clearly existed. "Both countries are,
we believe, in the process of defining their strategic
requirements and defence posture for the future. We are
hopeful that they will define those requirements in a way
that are minimum to meet their needs,’’ Mr
Inderfurth said. |
Albright fails to woo Russians MOSCOW, Jan 27 (PTI) — The US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has failed to woo Russian leaders as the two countries stood divided on a number of issues, including Iraq, Kosovo, arms control and IMF bailout, official sources said here. The two-day hectic negotiations, which ended here yesterday, resulted without easing the already strained relations between the two countries, the sources said. Albright talked to the Russian President Boris Yeltsin over the telephone for nearly half-an-hour and conveyed him that Washington and Moscow must push aside mounting foreign policy disputes to preserve their relations. Mr Yeltsin has, however, termed as “unacceptable” Washington’s acts of force in global hotspots, Itar-Tass reported. Mr Yeltsin also said that Washington should consult with other powers over future actions in Kosovo and Iraq. “Any acts of force, particularly those which circumvent the UN Security Council are unacceptable,” Mr Yeltsin was quoted by Itar-Tass as saying. MOSCOW (AP): The USA and Russia announced an agreement on Tuesday on tightening controls over American technology contained in US satellites that are launched by Russia from Kazakhstan. The aim is to prevent leakage of the technology to Iran and other countries. Seven satellites are due to be launched before the end of 2000. Russia and Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic, are due to share at least $400 million in revenue. The agreement clears the
way for heightened monitoring by Defence Department
officials of the launches, US officials said. |
Saddam vows revenge after US attack BAGHDAD (Iraq), Jan 27 (AP) — Vowing that his people’s “blood will not go in vain”, President Saddam Hussein yesterday threatened to retaliate against the USA as American planes attacked Iraq yet again. Two US aircraft fired missiles and bombs near the northern city of Mosul, a day after Iraq said errant US missiles killed at least 11 persons and injured 59 in and around the city of Basra in the south. Yesterday’s strikes by a Marine Corps EA-6B “prowler” and an F-15E strike aircraft patrolling the northern “no-fly” zone were to neutralise threats by Iraqi radar or anti-aircraft defences, the US military said. No details of the strikes were available. In Washington, the Pentagon said US jets again struck at Iraqi targets in northern Iraq after violations of the “no-fly” zone. The Pentagon acknowledged yesterday that one US missile fired on Monday had gone astray and hit a neighbourhood in Basra. But spokesman Kenneth Bacon said US officials had “no independent confirmation” that it killed any Iraqis. “We regret any civilian casualties”, Mr Bacon added. CAIRO (AFP): The Arab League on Tuesday voiced regret over the loss of civilian life in southern Iraq and urged the USA to stop attacks on Iraqi targets. “The Arab League once again renews its call to the United States to stop military operations in northern and southern Iraq to ensure security and stability in this important and sensitive Arab region”, it said in a statement. The league said it monitored developments in Iraq with great concern. UNITED NATIONS (AP): A report on Iraq by the chief UN weapons inspector was dismissed by Russia and welcomed by the USA — highlighting the deep divisions in the Security Council on how to resume oversight of Baghdad’s weapons programmes. At the heart of the disagreement is the future of the UN special commission, Unscom, which was created by the council after the 1991 Gulf war to oversee the elimination of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. Russia’s UN Ambassador Sergey Lavrov says Moscow has lost confidence in Unscom after claims that its inspectors were involved in spying and provided information to the USA and Britain to pinpoint sites which were targeted during air strikes in December. SYDNEY (AFP): The Australian Government knew that Australian members of the UN weapons inspection team in Iraq spied for the USA, a former UN weapons inspector said on Wednesday. Former us soldier Scot Ritter, who headed the concealment investigations unit of the UN special commission in Iraq until last August, also claimed the Australian Government ended up being used by the USA. Mr Ritter told The
Canberra Times in an interview that under heavy pressure
from Washington last July, Unscom was directed to relay
intelligence data back to the USA, breaching UN rules. |
Decisive win for Chandrika’s PA COLOMBO, Jan 27 (PTI) — Sri Lanka’s ruling Peoples Alliance (PA) yesterday won a decisive victory in north-western provincial council election but the opposition United National Party (UNP) and Independent Monitors rejected the results alleging electoral fraud. The ruling alliance refused the allegations of rigging and accused the UNP of setting off violence to cover up its defeat. Announcing the final results over the national television, Chief Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake said PA had secured around 56 per cent of the votes which fetched it 28 seats by virtue of being the single largest party, the alliance had won two bonus seats, taking its tally to 30, he added. The UNP, which previously governed the province secured 19 seats with about 37 per cent of the votes. It trailed the PA in most parts of the province. UNP leader Ranil Wickramasinghe told reporters here after the results were announced that his party would boycott the new council until fresh polls. The Left wing Janatha
Vimukthi Parumuna (JVP) which had led two armed
insurgencies in the past bagged three seats. |
Pak power officials to arrive today ISLAMABAD, Jan 27 (ANI) — A five-member delegation headed by the Pakistan Secretary, Water and Power, Mr Shahid Hussain, will arrive in New Delhi tomorrow to finalise the agreement for export of electricity to India, officials said here. The delegation will also include the Chairman of the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). Lt-General Zulfiqar Ali Khan, the Adviser to the Prime Minister on water and power matters. Mr Farngh Nadeem, the Deputy General Manager, Finance, Mr Mohammad Amjad, and WAPDAs Chief Engineer for private power organisation, Mr Noor-ul-Haq. "We will try to finalise the agreement but it depends on the other side as well," Mr Hussain said. He said the team was going to New Delhi with both short and long-term proposals. In the short term, he said that Pakistan could supply 450 MW of electricity to India by the year 2005 and in the long term, the export of power could go up to 1500 MW. Mr Hussain also identified Dinanath as the place on the border between Lahore and Amritsar for the supply of electricity to India. Last November, the two sides agreed to lay down transmission lines in their respective territories. A transmission line for the supply of 450 MW can be laid within six months. However, the supply of over 450 MW would require a high-powered transmission line and it would take at least two years for completion, Mr Hussain said. Electricity to India would be supplied from four private power projects — Japan Power, Sabha Power, Kohinnor Power and Southern Electric Power Company — located near Lahore, he added. The Minister for Water and Power, Mr Gohar Ayub Khan, said that the Asian Development Bank would guarantee timely payments from Indian power companies operating in states boarding Pakistan. When asked about the power shortages experienced during the past few months, Mr Khan said a number of factors, including shortage of water at the Tarhela and Mangla dams, disruption in the supply of furnace oil in Kot Addu and other thermal power plants and closure of some of the units for routine maintenance, had caused these shortages. On the question of tariff to be levelled on India for the use of power from Pakistan, the minister said it was yet to be decided. When the same question was posed to the Water and Power Secretary, he said they were going in India with different parameters. However, he refused to divulge any more details. Two round of talks have
already been held between the two countries since their
Prime Ministers discussed the idea in New York in
September, 1998. The first round was held in November,
1998 when an Indian delegation led by Power Secretary
Pardeep Biajal visited Islamabad. |
Freetown death toll ‘over 3,000’ FREETOWN, Jan 27 (AFP) — The death toll from fighting in the Sierra Leonean capital, Freetown, is estimated at “more than 3000,” hospital sources here have said. Rebels first entered the capital on January 6, and fought for control of the city for a fortnight. Last week they were routed by Nigerian-led ECOMOG intervention forces into areas south-east of Freetown, where battles are still raging. Victims, many of them mutilated, continued to pour in at the city’s five hospitals, the sources said yesterday. Last week, at least 1,140
bodies were collected from the immediate area surrounding
a hospital in the centre of the town. The area comprises
barely a tenth of the city. |
No proof of Mata Hari’s spying LONDON, Jan 27 (Reuters) — British intelligence could find no evidence to prove that Mata Hari, the legendary striptease artiste shot as a spy by France more than 80 years ago, worked as a secret agent, government papers released today showed. The 84-year-old files released by M15, Britain’s Internal intelligence agency, outline its investigation of Mata Hari, the stage name of Dutch woman Marguerite Zelle. Despite exhaustive accounts of her movements, contacts, and belongings, there was little that could be considered as proof of “espionage activities”, the Public Record office said. She was shot by a French firing squad in 1917 after being accused of passing allied secrets-including information about their new tank, to Germany. Mata Hari, which means “eye of the morning” in Malay, has been called the greatest woman spy of the century and her name became synonymous with sex, betrayal and intrigue. She was alleged to have had affairs with more than 20 German officers and was famous for her provocative oriental dancing. Meanwhile, the wartime papers also shed light on a double agent played a key role in duping Adolf Hitler into believing the allies would invade Calais, in a British plot to ensure the success of the D-Day landings. Hundreds of radio messages transmitted from London by the spy, codenamed “Garbo”, helped deceive Germany’s top commanders that the 1944 Normandy invasion was an elaborate diversion ahead of a main attack near Calais. Vital Nazi reinforcements were held back or diverted to eastern France largely on the basis of “reliable information” from “Garbo” — a Spaniard called Juan Pujol Garcia — that two fictitious Anglo-American armies were massing in Dover. He was the linchpin in a massive operation by Britain’s intelligence agency MI5, which deployed a team of 47 double agents and non-existent military preparations in Dover to fool the Germans. Recruited in 1942, Garcia
invented a network of 27 fictitious agents with a team of
three officers to feed his Nazi spymasters a constant
stream of detailed information on British war
preparations. |
Two Algerians among 5 held in Yemen ADEN, Jan 27 (Reuters) — Yemeni security forces arrested five people, including three with British passports, believed to be linked to six men who went on trial in Yemen today charged with planned murder and sabotage, a security official said. “Security forces today arrested five people linked to the six who went on trial today. Three of the five carry British passports and the other two are believed to be Algerians,” the official said. The five were arrested in Shabwa province in eastern Yemen and that authorities had started questioning them. Yemen earlier charged five
Britons and a man carrying a French passport with
planning to form an armed gang to carry out murder,
sabotage and bombings threatening Yemen’s security. |
Hussein flies to USA DUBAI, Jan 27 (UNI) — King Hussein of Jordan abruptly flew back to the USA yesterday for urgent medical treatment, hours after naming his eldest son, Prince Abdullah, as the new Crown Prince and heir, regional news agencies said. The 63-year-old monarch had returned home only last Tuesday after six months of treatment for cancer at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He had been given a clean bill of health after six sessions of chemotherapy and a stem-cell transplant, but yesterday’s reports said the king was suffering from symptoms that suggested a possible recurrence of cancer. The reports said Crown Prince Abdullah was sworn in as regent in the king’s absence only hours after taking the oath as Crown Prince. The decree said Prince
Abdullah would be granted all rights and privileges of
the Crown Prince. |
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| Taslima flees Bangladesh STOCKHOLM: Bangladesh’s controversial author Taslima Nasreen has arrived in Sweden after fleeing her country for a second time, a Swedish Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday. In Dhaka, close family members said Nasreen had been forced to exile herself again after coming under renewed threats from Islamic Fundamentalists. They said the 36-year-old author had taken a British Airways flight on Sunday night out of Dhaka bound for Sweden, under a cloak of secrecy and guarded by plainclothes security men. She arrived in Stockholm on Monday and was staying at a secret place, the Swedish authorities confirmed. — DPA Blast kills 35 Downed plane found Death sentence Ex-CJ’s plea |
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