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---------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD: European Concern After India's Missile Test India's nuclear-capable ballistic missile test brings on sharp criticism from European leaders, while New Delhi's Republic Day celebrations proceed peacefully in the tense region. 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_419244_1_A,00.html ----------------------------- Deutsche Welle English Service News Saturday 26th, 2001, 16:00 UTC India Marks Republic Day with Heightened Security India has peacefully celebrated the anniversary of its birth as a republic amid tight security at a time of tension with nuclear neighbour Pakistan. No major violence was reported by early evening although in disputed Kashmir there small skirmishes between security forces and militants, during which one rebel was killed. Republic Day is India's main national holiday and authorities had feared militants would take advantage of the day by launching a new assault on a country. Across the world's second most populous nation, tens of thousands of police and paramilitary troops on full alert guarded ceremonies and key buildings. Crowds were also said to be smaller than usual. Meanwhile, Pakistan marked the day by calling for talks with India to end the tense military stand-off. In a message to the Indian Prime Minister, Pakistani military ruler General Pervez Musharraf said he wanted the two countries to be good neighbors. The message came one day after New Dehli test-fired a nuclear capable missile. Palestinian Authority Calls for Halt to Attacks; U.S. Reviews Punitive Measures against Arafat The Palestinian Authority has called on militants to stop attacks on Israel after a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv on Friday prompted retaliatory strikes by Israeli forces. Israeli warplanes fired missiles at Palestinian security targets late on Friday, wounding at least two, according to medical officials. The strikes came just hours after a Palestinian suicide bombing wounded at least 25 Israelis. Meanwhile, U.S. President George W. Bush has made his harshest comments yet on Arafat, saying he was disappointed with the Palestinian leader and his efforts to crack down on militants. In the West Bank, a senior Palestinian official said he feared Bush's latest statements about Arafat would give Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon a green light to further escalate aggression against the Palestinians. In the meantime, Washington was also looking into ways to punish the Palestinian leader for an arms shipment the U.S. says was intended for the Palestinian Authority. A peace mission to the region by envoy Anthony Zinni has also been suspended. Iranian Police Use Force to Quell Protests Police in Iran have begun to use force to stop teachers in the capital from protesting for better pay. A tense stand-off occurred when one young man was seized by police and finally let go after a crowd of about 250 people began chanting for his release. Witnesses also said several hundred teachers gathered close to President Mohammad Khatami's office, shortly before he was due to meet visiting U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. But riot police blocked the way and told the crowd the gathering was illegal, ordering them to disperse. Wage protests have become more common in Iran in the last three years. The demonstrations are seen as a source of potential embarrassment for the Iranian president's government which has been accused of financial mismanagement by those opposed to a campaign of reform for the Islamic Republic. Annan Says Iran Not Harbouring al Qaeda Fighters UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Saturday discounted reports of Iranian political interference in post-Taliban Afghanistan, and praised Tehran for helping to rebuild its neighbour. Speaking during a one-day visit to Iran, Annan also said Iranian policies were inconsistent with harbouring al Qaeda fighters. He was responding to United States' fears that al Qaeda operatives had escaped through Iran. Iranian authorities have denied helping al Qaeda members to escape from Afghanistan or seeking to undermine the interim Afghan government. Iran pledged $500 million over five years to help rebuild Afghanistan at a recent international aid conference in Tokyo. Food Aid Still Urgently Needed in Goma A US special envoy in the Democratic Republic of Congo said people there affected by the recent volcanic eruption would need food aid for at least three more weeks. The United Nations has planned to send more than 18 tonnes of grain and other food supplies to the ruined city of Goma, where UN figures state around 100,000 people have been made homeless. An estimated 400,000 people are said to be in need of food aid, over a week after the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo. SAS Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Iceland A Scandinavian Airlines flight departing from Washington made an emergency landing in Iceland earlier today after the pilot shut down one of the plane's two engines. A spokesperson for the airlines said the pilot had noticed problems with one of the engines four and a half hours after take off. He flew on one engine until the plane landed safely at an airport in Iceland. The Boeing 767 was bound for Copenhagen with 140 passengers and 11 crew on board. The passengers were later transferred to other flights. Malaysia to Deport Immigrants Malaysia has said it planned to deport 30,000 immigrants, mostly Filipinos and Indonesians, from the eastern state of Sabah as soon as possible. An official news agency quoted Deputy Home Minister Chor Chee Heung as saying that the government would soon be launching an operation to round up the immigrants from around the state. Malaysia decided this week not to take new workers from Indonesia after Indonesian workers at a textile factory attacked police trying to detain suspected drug users. Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamad said on Friday that Malaysia had too many foreign workers for its present needs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- 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. 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