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Deutsche Welle English Service News 28th December, 2001, 16:00 UTC Agreement reached as to how and when UN peacekeepers are to deploy in Afghanistan Afghanistan's interim Defence Minister Mohammad Fahim and British Major General John McColl, have agreed, how and when a long-awaited international security force will be deployed in Afhganistan. Fahim said the troops will be based near the Kabul airport, with 200-300 troops operating from a location in the city centre. He added about 3,000 soldiers will be deployed with around 1,000 men assigned to a security detail and the rest will be for logistical and humanitarian purposes. US warplanes continue attacks as new Afghan government demands an end to the bombing American warplanes on Friday destroyed a compound near the town of Ghanzi, 50 kilometers south of Kabul, which the Pentagon believes was used by senior Taliban commanders. The news comes just hours after the new administration in Afghanistan called for an end to the US air attacks. Responding to the report, General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the US military has not been formally asked to end its bombing campaign. Meanwhile, the US Army has taken over the operation of Camp Rhino from the Marines who are shifting their operations to Tora Bora region. The airport at the facility has been turned into a makeshift prison, where another 25 Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters were taken to, on Friday. Officially 62 people are being held. Israeli troops kill suspected suicide bomber The Israeli army on Friday shot and killed a suspected Palestinian suicide bomber in the Gaza Strip. The militant group Islamic Jihad claimed the dead man as one of its own saying he was killed after ambushing a group of Israeli soldiers and Jewish settlers at a major road junction in the Palestinian-ruled area. Meanwhile, the Israeli army lifted its cordon around Bethlehem but maintained its travel ban on Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. Palestinian officials have declined comment on either incident. Complete fire ban now in force as more than 100 bushfires threaten more homes in Australia A total fire ban, the first to be declared since the devastating fires of 1994, for all parts of New South Wales, Australia has just come into force. 7,000 firefighters across the state continue to battle more than 100 bushfires which are still burning out of control. Officials are also concerned about a blaze on the central coast west of Gosford where a large fire has broken through containment lines and is threatening homes near Spencer and Gunderman. Meanwhile, the chief of the newly established bushfire arson task force says there is little evidence so far to suggest arson has caused any of the fires. Police on Friday, arrested three teenagers on suspicion of lighting bushfires, however, the juenvilles have not been formally charged. More fighting in Kashmir More fighting has been reported in Kashmir. The Associated Press reported a small arms battle along the "Line of Control" had lasted more than 5 hours. Officials have also ordered thousands of villagers to leave the border area. Meanwhile, the Group of 8 leading industrial nations has added its voice to international calls for India and Pakistan to resume negotiations to avoid a full fledged war between the two nuclear powers. G8 Foreign Ministers released a statement in Moscow where they also demanded Pakistan crack down on terrorist groups operating from within its borders. EU publishes list of terror organizations Spain which takes over the rotating European Union presidency on Tuesday has announced the expansion of the EU's list of terrorist organizations. The list, names 12 groups and 30 individuals, including Palestinian militant groups Hezbollah, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The list also includes European based terrorist groups such as the Basque separatist group ETA, and armed groups in Northern Ireland, such as the Real IRA. By establishing a common list of terrorist groups, European law enforcement agencies hope to improve co-ordination in tackling them. Milosevic's Daughter Goes on Trial for Shooting The daughter of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic went on trial on Friday accused of endangering public safety by firing shots as her father was taken to prison on April 1. The Beta news agency reported that Marija Milosevic is alleged to have fired five shots from an unregistered pistol, at security officiers as her father was being taken from his villa in Belgrade after a 36-hour standoff. Beta said the bullets hit the car of a government negotiator who had persuaded Milosevic to surrender on charges of corruption and abuse of office. No one was hurt in the incident. Price of oil jumps as OPEC announces production cut The price of oil surged on Friday after OPEC announced it will cut oil production by 1.5 million barrels a day for six months. The cartel's 10 member states in an unprecedented alliance with non-OPEC countries is seeking to shore up crude oil prices. Prices hit a high of almost $30 (USD) after the September terrorist attacks but had slumped to less than $18 (USD) by mid November. Early trading in New York saw the price of oil jump to over $21 per barrel. German economy remains sluggish Official statistics released by the German government on Friday, indicate Europe's largest economy is showing no signs of emerging from its slump. German wholesale sales figures fell by 10.7% on the year in November confirming what many had already suspected that consumer demand remains weak. On Thursday, the Cologne-based economic forecasters, IW, predicted a sharp jump in unemployment for 2002. It's survey showed that 31 of 44 German industrial associations expect a decline in sales next year which in turn will force industry to cut costs through staff reduction ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9WB2D Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
