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Deutsche Welle English Service News January 20th, 2002, 16:00 UTC ---------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD: A Year with Georg W. Bush In the beginning it was anything but a warm embrace. When George W. Bush won the US elections, Europe had a "let's wait and see" attitude. Since then the skepticism has disappeared and Europeans are extending their arms. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1434_A_412322_1_A,00.html ----------------------------- Congo Faces Humanitarian Crisis The situation for thousands of people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has turned desperate. Three days after the eruption of a volcano in Goma, there is now the threat that lava may have poisoned a principle supply of water in the area. But despite the latest fear, desperately thirsty and homeless people continued to drink and bath in the dirty water of Lake Kivu. Two of Goma's three water pumping stations were also rendered useless by the flood of lava. Relief workers were trying to organise for clean water supplies to be brought into the town. In the meantime, thousands of refugees began returning back to Goma to try to salvage homes amid the rubble. Aid agencies said they were trying to encourage refugees to go to designated sites outside of the city where care was more easily available. Eighty percent of Goma is said to have been destroyed by lava. At least 45 people have died so far due to the volcanic eruption. Germany Pledges Aid for Afghan Reconstruction Germany has said it would pledge 320 million euros over four years in aid to Afghanistan. Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul said the aid would mainly go towards rebuilding schools, restoring the legal system and improving the status of women. Berlin had already said it would give 80 million euros in 2002 for reconstruction projects in Afghanistan, where it has also contributed troops to the international peacekeeping force. Meanwhile, Afghanistan's interim leader, Hamid Karzai, has already begun to ask the world for help in getting his devastated country back on its feet. His appeal comes just one day before officials from more than 60 governments and international organisations plan to meet in Tokyo for a conference on Afghan reconstruction. Aid experts estimate that Afghanistan will need $15 billion for reconstruction over the next ten years. U.S. Helicopter Crashes in Rugged Afghan Mountains Two U.S. Marines were killed and five injured in Afghanistan on Sunday when their Superstallion helicopter crashed in rugged terrain north of the capital Kabul. A spokesman said the transport helicopter was on a mission to deliver supplies when it went down about 30 minutes after take-off from Bagram air base. U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said there were indications that the cause of the crash was due to mechanical problems. Officials have launched an investigation. Exchanges of Gunfire in Middle East as Palestinians Rally for their Leader Exchanges of gunfire between Israeli forces and the Palestinians continued in the West Bank today while thousands of Palestinians rallied together in support of President Yasser Arafat. In the West Bank city of Ramallah, Israeli forces exchanged fire with Palestinian gunmen near Arafat's offices. Three Palestinians were reportedly wounded, according to hospital sources. Meanwhile in Gaza, more than 3000 Palestinians marched in protest of Israel's confinement of their leader while in the West Bank town of Jenin, up to 3000 Palestinians called for unity in fighting Israeli occupation. The rallies and latest gunfights followed three days of violence in which a Palestinian gunman killed six Israelis at a party on Friday. In retaliation, Israel destroyed a Palestinian radio station over the weekend, saying that it incited violence. The latest tension between both sides has further shattered international efforts to halt nearly 16 months of bloodshed. Britain Demands U.S. Explanation behind Photographed Prisoners Britain has demanded an explanation from the United States about published photograghs showing Taliban and al Qaeda prisoners kneeling and tightly manacled at the U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay. British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said in a statement that the prisoners, regardless of their technical status, should be treated humanely and in accordance with customary international law. He has asked U.S. officials to explain the circumstances in which the pictures were taken. Human rights groups have already expressed concern over the prisoners' treatment at the prison camp. Britain said on Friday that a team of its officials had arrived in Guantanamo Bay to visit three of the al Qaeda detainees who claim they are Britons. Another team from the International Committee of the Red Cross is also at the U.S. base to inspect the prison and interview each detainee. Their findings will not be made public. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- For more information please turn to our internet website at http://dw-world.de/english Here you'll find out what's happening in Germany, Europe and the rest of the world. News and background reports from the fields of current affairs, culture, business and science. And of course the DW website also has information about DW-RADIO and DW-TV programmes: topics, broadcast times and frequencies. 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