India seeks French help for subs
PARIS, July 8 — India has sought the help of France in reviving its submarine production line and building Air Defence Ships (ADS) as part of its long-term defence co-operation with Paris, official sources said here today.

Najma seeks China’s support on terrorism
BEIJING, July 8 — India has sought China’s support on its resolution on terrorism, which it has placed with the UN, even as both nations underlined the need for global cooperation to fight the growing menace.

Clinton to pacify angry Okinawans
WASHINGTON, July 8 — Japanese anger over criminal and unruly behavior by US soldiers could overshadow global economic issues when President Bill Clinton joins a summit of world leaders on Okinawa.

TULF rejects move on Lanka statute

COLOMBO, July 8 (PTI) — A broad agreement on self-rule and a new draft constitution that would give wider powers to minority Tamils to end the decades-old ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka today ran into trouble after a leading Tamil party rejected the move.

A day after reaching a landmark consensus on the new constitution following a four-hour meeting between President Chandrika Kumaratunga and United National Party (UNP) leader Ranik Wickramasinghe, the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) outrightly rejected the agreement saying it is a “setback” to Tamil aspirations for greater political autonomy.

The LTTE has already rejected the devolution of power proposal.

However, there was no agreement on the contentious issue of transitory provisions to shift the power from the present presidential to the parliamentary democracy and analysts said sharp differences remained over its implementation.

The two leaders ended their nine-week-long talks last night with the broad agreement on powers to be devolved to regions but differed on the modalities to get it ratified by Parliament.

Later Ms Kumaratunga told the national television that the agreement was “a very historic occasion and I trust this will be the forerunner to the peace in this country.”

“We have been able to start a new chapter and we have been able to work out an agreement,” she said.

In his brief comments, Mr Wickramasinghe said they discussed devolution of powers in order to avoid division of the nation.

The two leaders reached an agreement on the unit of devolution for the Tamil-dominated North-Eastern province, constitution of interim council to run it for five years and the extent of powers to be devolved to administer it.

However, there was no agreement on the most contentious issue of transitory provisions to shift the power from the present presidential form of government to the parliamentary democracy. Nor the two leaders agreed on the modalities and time-frame to get the constitution legalised.

To attain legal status, the constitution first has to be ratified by the Parliament with two third majority followed by an approval vote in a referendum.

UNP leaders argued that the constitution could not be ratified during the term of this Parliament as the term of the House ended on August 24.

Official sources said on her part Ms Kumaratunga would refer the approved draft to the Supreme Court as well as to the moderate Tamil parties before submitting it to the Parliament.

On the transitory provisions, the UNP sources said that the President yesterday proposed to retain the powers of presidency for the rest of the six-year term stating that she had been re-elected only few months ago.

The UNP, however, wanted her to relinquish the presidency immediately after the next round of Parliament polls scheduled to be held in October this year.

The two leaders have agreed to meet at a later date to discuss the issue again. They also agreed to set up an independent commission for election, police, public service and judiciary.

30 more taken hostage in Fiji

SUVA, July 8 (AP) — A second hostage crisis erupted today in Fiji as armed rebels supporting coup leader George Speight took away 30 soldiers, police and government officials from a police station outside Suva.

A defiant Speight said there would be more unrest until the military gave in to his demands.

But Speight also offered hope for a resolution to the crisis that has gripped Fiji since he and six gunmen stormed Parliament on May 19 and took the democratically elected government hostage.

Speight was involved in talks with a four-man military delegation tonight and army spokesman Maj Howard Politini expressed guarded optimism that they were progressing well.

Earlier today, a spokesman for the second gang of hostage-takers, Iferemi Tiko, told reporters that he was a cousin of Speight and that the latest action was in support of Speight’s aims to disenfranchise ethnic Indians.

Tiko led at least 100 rebels armed with tire irons, steel pipes and other makeshift weapons who took over a military checkpoint in Korovou, about 60 km outside Suva, 2030 GMT Friday before confiscating six M-16 rifles and storming the town’s small police station.

Also today, the US Embassy in Suva said Ambassador Osman Siddique was being recalled to the USA for consultations.

Pak plans war games

ISLAMABAD, July 8 (ANI) — The Pakistan Army has prepared an extensive training programme which may ultimately lead to testing post-nuclear environment and limited war concepts, their planning, practice and validation.

Though these two concepts will have to be tested after planned war games to be conducted at each corps level and would be followed by integrated field exercises. The military commanders discussed many scenarios and professional matters on the last day of the two-day corps commanders’ conference which concluded yesterday.

The Chief Executive, Gen Pervez Musharraf , who chaired the conference emphasised that each of the formations must plan professional training and implement their respective training plans vigorously ensuring maximum participation of the officers and men.

“The participants deliberated at length over defence-related and professional matters,” said an official announcement. General Musharraf said he would soon be visiting and attending war games at each corps, meant to hone and enhance the command capabilities and professional acumen of the senior commanders.

“The war games will be followed by integrated field exercises conducted in a realistic environment,” said the official announcement.

This year, these games will be attend by General Musharraf himself as per his announcement. “It’s time for all professional abilities to be tested,” said a source, “as different things are being planned for rest of the current year.”

These war games, to be conducted through maps or models, can also be conducted on computers. They will be followed by the annual November/December field exercises to be conducted in a realistic environment. It means that these exercises will also involve the Pakistan Air Force.

Some sources say that following the war games and field exercises at each corps level, Pakistan will test the concept of post-nuclear environment by conducting an exercise in which the forces will be dispersed in view of the enemy’s striking capability and in case of a decision of a nuclear strike by Pakistan, it will also provide an opportunity for testing how the forces shall be deployed so that the enemy gets maximum punishment.

According to a retired military officer, following the Kargil crisis, Pakistan also needs to test the “limited war concept” for which it has to conduct an exercise to a level appropriate for it.

Insecurity among Pak Christians

ISLAMABAD, July 8 (UNI) — A sharp increase in violence against Christians in Pakistan, especially incidents of gangrape and abduction of girls and women, has caused insecurity among several million-strong community which even refuses to register complaints against the culprits for fear of revenge.

The Pakistani military regime and media have remained indifferent to the growing crime against the minorities as the rulers do not want to lose their standing with the clergy ,which enjoys political clout in the country, The Friday Times has reported.

The paper quoting leaders of the community said the minority group felt that the state authorities had joined hands with fanatics in persecuting them. The community face threat from another law that allowed conversion of Christian wives without a divorce from their Christian husbands.

Crime against minorities had tarnished the image of Pakistan in the international community with western countries having passed strong resolutions in the past against the victimisation of the members of the community.

A number of Christian girls were raped in May in Kala Shah Kaku area near Lahore when they were returning home from a factory. They were taken out of the factory bus at midnight and gangraped however, their relatives were reluctant to file an FIR.

This was followed by another incident when a group of five Dutch women were molested in Lahore by several youths. A small crowd had watched as they were being molested.

India seeks French help for subs

PARIS, July 8 (PTI) — India has sought the help of France in reviving its submarine production line and building Air Defence Ships (ADS) as part of its long-term defence co-operation with Paris, official sources said here today.

France, on its part, is also interested in selling its latest Mirage-2000 D fighter jets to India, they said.

“India is looking at indigenous construction of submarines and talks have been held with France to familiarise (India) with its (French) technologies”, sources said at the end of three-day meeting of the Indo-French High Committee on Defence Cooperation.

“After many years of negotiations, the meeting discussed the finer points of the deal to acquire 10 additional Mirage 2000H jets for the Indian Air Force (IAF).”

The deal is expected to be signed in New Delhi shortly.

Describing the high committee meeting as “the most successful so far”, sources said the number of programmes in defence cooperation for the year 2000-2001 has gone up to 54 compared to 15 in the previous year.

India has decided to revive construction of submarines with sophisticated technologies. “We have medium and long-term goals in the construction of submarines with French collaboration,” sources said.

Defence Secretary T.R. Prasad led the 13-member Indian delegation while Jean Bernard Ouvrieu, a special representative of French Defence Minister Alain Richard, headed the French team for talks.

Recently, India also placed an order for additional 55 French tm 333-2B2 Turbomeca engines for its Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH), built by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

India chose the French engine last July for ALH following abrupt withdrawal by a us company — the us’ Light Helicopter Turbine Engine Company — following sanctions imposed by the USA in response to India’s 1998 nuclear tests.

Sources said India and France also held discussions on the construction of 32,000-tonne Air Defence Ship (ads) which is being built at Cochin Shipyard Limited.

“In addition to 155 mm artillery guns, France is also keen to assist India in the Main Battle Tank project and other components for the ALH programme,” sources said.

Meanwhile, India has also initiated preliminary talks with the Dassault Aviation of France over the purchase of 18 Mirage 2000 D fighter aircraft and rasit-e battlefield surveillance radar for artillery from Thomson-CSF.

Najma seeks China’s support on terrorism

BEIJING, July 8 (PTI) — India has sought China’s support on its resolution on terrorism, which it has placed with the UN, even as both nations underlined the need for global cooperation to fight the growing menace.

Acknowledging that narco-terrorism and terrorism were intertwined and posed a threat to governments worldwide, China’s top legislator Li Peng and visiting Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Najma Heptulla agreed that all nations must cooperate to fight the common danger.

Ms Heptulla, who is on a five-day official good-will visit to China in her capacity as the President of the Council of Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), said India had placed a resolution with the United Nations on terrorism and hoped that China, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, would support it.

Mr Li, Chairman of the standing committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s Parliament, said China was opposed to all forms of terrorism.

The two leaders also discussed a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues of common concern during their one-hour meeting at the Great Hall of the People here last evening.

Mr Li and Ms Heptulla stressed on the need for more interaction and exchange between lawmakers of both countries. The Chinese leader also mentioned that he had suggested to Indian President the need to establish a Joint Parliamentary Forum to promote Sino-Indian relations.

Ms Heptulla hoped that China would play a more active role in the world body of Parliamentarians and invited Mr Li to be one of the presiding Vice-Presidents at the Conference of Speakers of National Parliaments to be held in New York.

Accepting Ms Heptulla’s invitation, Mr Li said China places great importance on the activities of the IPU and pledged to support Ms Heptulla’s work.

Mr Li added that the Chinese side had put forth some “constructive proposals” including equal sovereignty, non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, respecting every country’s people’s choices and safeguarding the authority of the UN.

Kiss costs General his job

WASHINGTON, July 8 (AFP) — An Army Major-General received a reprimand after an internal investigation found that he grabbed and kissed the army’s highest ranking female General against her will, the army said.

There were no witnesses to the incident, but the army’s Inspector- General found the complaint brought against Major-Gen Larry Smith by Lieut-Gen Claudia Kennedy was believable because she had no reason to lie about it.

General Kennedy, who retired last month as Deputy Chief of Staff, said in a statement she was satisfied with the army’s action against Major-Gen Larry Smith, which effectively ends his military career.

“As far as I am concerned, this matter is closed,” she said.

General Smith insisted in a statement that he did not do what General Kennedy accused him of, and said he was “deeply disappointed” by the finding of the army’s Inspector-General.

“However, for the good of my family and the army, we have elected to put it behind us and move on with our lives,” he said in a statement.

Gen John Keane, the army Vice Chief of Staff, gave him an administrative memorandum of reprimand, the army said.

Clinton to pacify angry Okinawans

WASHINGTON, July 8 (AP) — Japanese anger over criminal and unruly behavior by US soldiers could overshadow global economic issues when President Bill Clinton joins a summit of world leaders on Okinawa.

A marine corporal stands accused of fondling a junior high school girl in the latest incident in years of trouble between local residents and the US troops based in Japan.

The White House said yesterday that Clinton plans a speech to residents at Okinawa’s Peace Park upon his arrival for the July 20-23 summit as well as meetings with community leaders. It will be the first visit of a US President to the island where 26,000 US troops are stationed.

WORLD BRIEFS

BBC shocked at ‘fleshy’ video
LONDON: The BBC has slapped an early-evening ban on British popstar Robbie Williams’ new video, which features scenes of cavorting models devouring the star’s flesh. “It’s all fine for the first two and a half minutes, then it takes a rather gruesome and shocking turn,” a spokeswoman for the British Broadcaster’s show Top of the Pops said on Friday. The video for Robbie’s single rock DJ shows the singer doing everything he can — including stripping naked — to win the attention of a whirling mass of roller-skating beauties. “When he is constantly ignored, he tears the skin off his torso in one, hailing it at the girls, who then finally take notice and they licking and chewing the blood and muscle off their bodies... Robbie ends up as a dancing skeleton as people eat his flesh.” — Reuters

UK ‘to take back’ flawed N-shipment
LONDON: The British Government has agreed to take back a shipment of flawed nuclear fuel from Japan, sent last year with falsified safety records, The Independent newspaper has reported. British and Japanese officials will meet on Tuesday to agree the return of the consignment of mixed-oxide (mox) fuel at a cost of millions of pounds to the taxpayer, the paper reported on Friday. Seven months ago British Nuclear Fuel (BNFL) admitted it had misled the Japanese about safety checks on its reprocessed plutonium pellets. — AFP

Iranian protesters occupy embassy
AMSTERDAM: A small group of Iranian demonstrators occupied the German consulate in Amsterdam for nearly four hours on Friday to protest at the visit to Germany of Iran’s President Mohammed Khatami, a German Embassy official said. Around a dozen demonstrators from four separate organisations opposed to the Iranian regime handed over a protest letter to the consul, which was later faxed to the German Government. — AFP

N Korean leader to visit Seoul: Kim
SEOUL: North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-II it expected to visit Seoul at the end of this year or early next year, South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung has said. He made the statement on Friday at a dinner with a group of lawmakers from the ruling Millennium Democratic Party at the presidential Blue House, MDP spokesman Park Byung-Suk said. — AFP

Canada ratifies international treaty
OTTAWA: Canada became the 14th nation to formally ratify a treaty creating the International Criminal Court designed to prosecute war crimes and other crimes against humanity. Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy deposited ratification instruments at the UN headquarters in New York on Friday, according to a government statement released here. Also ratified was a protocol on children’s participation in armed conflict. — AFP

UN team to spread IT among poor
UNITED NATIONS: The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) launched a global action plan on Saturday to spread information technology (IT) and the vast benefits of e-commerce to the world’s poor. In a declaration approved after a three-day ministerial meeting, ECOSOC agreed to create a task force to promote cooperation between the UN, government and the private sector to promote access to new technology — particularly the Internet — in the developing world. — AP

Brazil gang storms airport, robs $ 500,000
BRASILIA: A heavily armed band of 15 men stormed the tarmac at the international airport of Brazil’s capital and robbed about $ 500,000, in gold from a commercial airliner with 70 passengers on board, the police said on Friday. The spectacular robbery took place on Thursday night as the airplane belonging to airliner Vasp was ready to take off. The airplane belonging to airliner Vasp was ready to take off. The group forced open the cargo hold and escaped in three cars after a runway shootout with airport guards. Nobody was hurt in the shootout. — Reuters

Oscar thief gets 6 years’ jail
LOS ANGELES: The truck driver who stole 58 Oscar statuettes shortly before the academy awards ceremony five months ago has been sentenced to six years’ jail, Californian prosecutors said on Friday. A Los Angeles court also ordered Lawrence E. Ledent, 38 to pay a fine of $ 50,000 — the sum that was paid as a reward to Wille Fulgear, who found the Oscars in a supermarket garbage pile. — DPA

Pope: Catholic docs should shun abortors
VATICAN CITY: Pope John Paul has urged Roman Catholic doctors to refuse to perform abortions or be party to euthanasia because the Church considered both practices “crimes” that no civil legislation could justify. In an address to doctors visiting Rome for holy year celebrations on Friday, the Pope told them they had an unshakable mission to defend life from its natural start to its natural end. — Reuters