Deutsche Welle
English Service News
21st December, 2001, 16:00 UTC
British Marines in Kabul for Inauguration While U.S. Forces Focus on
Search for Osama bin Laden
A small vanguard of British marines in the Afghan capital Kabul are
preparing to play a security role when the country's new interim
government and prime minister is sworn in on Saturday. The foreign
security force will increase to at least 1500 in the next few days in a
move intended to keep the peace in Kabul. Elsewhere in Afghanistan,
U.S.-led forces and agents said they were investigating thousands of men
taken prisoner in the conflict to determine their involvement in the
Taliban as well as gather clues to Osama bin Laden's whereabouts. The
United Nations human rights investigator for Afghanistan, in the
meantime, has appealed for the fighters taken prisoner to be treated
humanely and expressed concern about reported executions. In another
development, U.S. President George W. Bush took measures aimed at two
Pakistan-based groups he said had links to terrorism, announcing moves
to block their assets. India accuses one of groups of launching the
deaddly attacks on its parliament which killed 14 people.
Men in Somalia Arrested for Possible Links to Terrorist Groups
Three men have been arrested in Somalia and face questioning over
possible links to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network as well as other
extremist groups. Somali police told news sources they had arrested four
Iraqi Kurds and one Palestinian for questioning. Police also said the
men appeared to have entered the country without permission. Somalia's
transitional national government has recently shown that it was willing
to cooperate with the U.S. in the war on terrorism, amid fears that the
country could become a possible target for eventual U.S. military
action.
Germany to Contribute Troops to Afghanistan's Peacekeeping Force
Germany has agreed to contribute up to 1200 troops to the
international peacekeeping force in Afghanistan. Defence Minister Rudolf
Scharping said the cabinet had agreed to the planned deployment after
the United Nations authorised such a force on Thursday. German
parliament is due to debate the proposal on Saturday, but a majority in
favor of deployment is expected.
India Recalls Top Diplomat from Islamabad
India has said it was recalling its High Commissioner to Pakistan
because Islamabad has refused to take action against militant groups
blamed for last Thursday's suicide attack on parliament in New Delhi.
The move is likely to further strained relations between the two rival
countries. A foreign ministry spokeswoman told new sources that India
would also stop all bus and train services between the two countries
from January 1. New Delhi had demanded Islamabad shut two Pakistan-based
guerrilla groups and arrest their leaders for involvement in last week's
attack but government sources said they had seen no attempt on
Pakistan's part to take action. Pakistan has condemned the attack on the
Indian parliament, denied any involvement and has called for a joint
investigation. But New Delhi rejected a joint inquiry, saying its
evidence was conclusive.
Hamas Announces Suspension of Suicide Attacks
The militant Islamic group Hamas has announced that it was suspending
suicide and mortar bomb attacks inside Israel. The decision was taken
after a meeting between senior Hamas leaders and Palestinian Authority
officials in the Gaza Strip. There was no immediate comment from the
Palestinian Authority as to why the Hamas ringleaders were not arrested
after Palestinian President Yasser Arafat had announced this intention
several days ago. The Hamas announcement followed overnight fighting in
Gaza between Palestinian police and Islamic militants in which one
Palestinian was killed and 16 others wounded. The gunfight erupted when
police arrested five Hamas members at a refugee camp. Israel has
dismissed Hamas' latest announcement as a sham. A senior Foreign
Ministry official said the move was "tactical" and perhaps meant to
postpone the Palestinian Authority's crackdown on militants.
Peronists Back in Power in Argentina
Leaders of Argentina's Peronist Party have been thrust into power
following the collapse of Fernando De la Rua's administration. They said
their first priority would be to call early elections. Peronists, who
ruled Argentina under President Carlos Menem, said presidential
elections should be held within 90 days but appeared to disagree over
who should run the country until then. In the meantime, Ramon Puerta,
also a Peronist, has taken over the leadership temporarily since De la
Rua submitted his resignation on Thursday. Questions over an election
timetable and who should lead an interim government are to be decided at
a Legislative Assembly later today.
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