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Female Suicide Bomber Strikes Sri Lanka, 28 Killed
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At least 45 people, mostly women and children, have been wounded in the blast
As the long-running war in Sri Lanka draws to a close, more and more civilians
find themselves caught in the crossfire. A suicide bomber killed at least 28
people and injured at least 45 others, Monday, near a relief camp for people,
mainly Tamils, fleeing the fighting between Sri Lanka's army and Tamil rebels.
Sri Lanka's military says a female Tamil Tiger suicide bomber blended into a
group of civilians fleeing the fighting before detonating her bomb.Brigadier
Udaya Nanayakkara is the spokesman for Sri Lanka's military. He says the
suicide bomber was from a female cadre of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam,
better known by their initials LTTE.Nanayakkara said, "Large numbers of
civilians were coming, in seeking protection from the army. And, when they
were coming in, they were being checked. When we were checking this female by
the women soldiers, the LTTE suicide female cadre exploded herself."
Members of Sri Lankan Red Cross carry wounded civilian for medical treatment at
hospital in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka 9 Feb. 2009Victims Mostly Women, ChildrenHe
says the suicide bomb attack killed and wounded mostly women and children at a
relief camp near Vishvamadu in northern Sri Lanka. They were part of a mass
exodus of civilians, mainly ethnic Tamils, trying to escape intense fighting
between Sri Lankan troops and the LTTE.The attack came after military officials
reported more than 14,000 civilians had fled to government-protected "safe
zones" in the north. U.N. relief agencies and other groups estimate about
250,000 civilians are trapped by the fighting, mostly in rebel-held
territory.The suicide attack could not be independently confirmed, because the
Sri Lankan government has barred journalists from war-affected areas.
LTTE Shrinking?Some observers say the LTTE's pool of fresh recruits appears to
be drying up, as more and more civilians pour into the "safe zones."The LTTE
has spent a quarter of a century fighting for a separate homeland for Sri
Lanka's minority Tamil community. But their struggle appears to be coming to
an end, with the Sri Lankan army closing in on the last of their strongholds.
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Obama Takes Campaign for Economic Recovery Plan to US Public
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US president to participate in town hall meeting, hold first prime time news
conference Monday, to promote $800 billion spending, tax cut plan
Watch Live Coverage of President Obama's Press Conference tonight 8:00 pm
President Barack Obama U.S. President Barack Obama will try to boost public
support for his
economic stimulus plan Monday, with a campaign-style event and a
national television appearance.Mr. Obama begins his day by
speaking to residents of Elkhart, Indiana, at a town-hall meeting.
Elkhart is a manufacturing center that has seen its unemployment rate
surge to 15 percent from five percent a year ago.Later, the
president holds his first prime time news conference at the White
House, giving him an opportunity to promote his $800 billion spending
and tax cut plan to a national audience.The U.S. Senate is
expected to end debate Monday, on an economic recovery bill, clearing
the way for a final vote by Tuesday. Senate leaders expect the plan to
pass with votes from majority Democrats and a handful of Republicans.Most
Republicans oppose the measure, saying the bill is too costly and should
include more tax cuts.The
House of Representatives has already passed a version of the stimulus
plan. Once the Senate approves its version, both houses of Congress
must negotiate a single bill before the president can sign it into
law.President Obama has said the stimulus is needed to avert a deeper
recession, and he wants a bill on his desk by February 16.On
Tuesday, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is scheduled to
announce how the administration plans to spend $350 billion approved
last year to shore up U.S. financial institutions.Geithner's
presentation was originally set for Monday, but it was moved to Tuesday
to allow the administration to focus on the stimulus vote in the Senate.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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Egypt: New Gaza Truce Possible Soon
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Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak talked in Paris after meeting with French
President Nicolas Sarkozy
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak says a longer-term truce between Israel and
Palestinians in Gaza may be reached next week.French President Nicolas Sarkozy,
left, welcomes Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak at the Elysee Palace in Paris,
09 Feb 2009Mr. Mubarak's country has been mediating a more durable cease-fire.
He spoke in Paris Monday after meeting with French President Nicolas
Sarkozy.Israeli leaders are considering an Egyptian proposal for an 18-month
truce and prisoner swap with Hamas, which controls Gaza.A U.N. aid agency in
Gaza said today that Hamas has returned humanitarian supplies it seized last
week, clearing the way for the agency to resume operations in the territory.The
agency has been playing a key role in distributing aid to Gazans, who are
trying to rebuild their impoverished region after Israel's three-week offensive
and continuing blockade.Under the Egyptian truce proposal, Israel and Egypt
would open at least two border crossings with Gaza, easing the blockade. Hamas
has demanded an end to the blockade as part of a truce. Israeli and Arab media
say the plan also calls for Hamas militants to free an Israeli soldier in
return for Israel releasing hundreds of Palestinians, some accused of
involvement in deadly attacks.Israel has demanded the release of its soldier
and a stop to attacks from Gaza.Gaza's Hamas rulers and Israel declared
unilateral cease-fires on January 18th, ending a major Israeli offensive in the
territory. Since then, Gaza militants have fired rockets sporadically at
Israel, and the Israeli military has responded with air strikes.Israeli
artillery fire in northern Gaza Monday killed a Palestinian with the militant
group Islamic Jihad. Hours earlier, Israeli officials said the military
launched air strikes in Gaza, hitting two Hamas outposts in retaliation for
rockets fired into Israel Sunday.Some information for this report was provided
by AFP and Reuters.
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Arsonists Blamed for 'Mass Murder' in Australia
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At least 140 people have died in Australia's worst-ever bushfire disaster in
Australia
Senior Wildlife Officer Geoff McClure inspects a homestead destroyed by fire
near Alexandra, some 120 kilometres northeast of Melbourne, 09 Feb 2009At least
140 people have died in Australia's worst-ever bushfire disaster. Arsonists,
who are thought to have been responsible for some of the devastating outbreaks
in the southern state, Victoria, have been accused of mass murder by Australian
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. Queen Elizabeth has sent a message of condolence to
families of the victims.Cooler weather is helping the emergency effort, as
about 30 fires continue to torment communities across Victoria. However, there
is a warning that dangerous days still lie ahead.Victoria County Fire chief
Stewart Kreltszheim says the military will provide much-needed support..."We've
also got the army moving in today and the army are going to provide us with
some grunt [muscle-power], with some bulldozers and our tractors," he said.
Towering walls of flame, several storeys high, have destroyed entire
communities, reduced to barely more than piles of ash. To add to the loss of
life, homes, churches, supermarkets and police stations have been
obliterated.Dozens of people are still missing. Survivor Wade Horton describes
terrifying ordeal as the flames raced towards him..."The smoke was coming over
all day, but from what we could tell it was miles away and then walked up the
front and I saw it hit the top of the mountain and within a minute it was down
to the bottom of the valley and that whole valley across the other side was a
wall of fire,' he said.New Zealand has offered to send fire fighters to relieve
exhausted crews in Victoria.Britain's Queen Elizabeth, who is Australia's head
of state, has sent a message of condolence to families of the victims and has
also praised the extraordinary efforts of firefighters. The British Prime
Minister Gordon Brown has spoken to his Australian counterpart, Kevin Rudd, and
says that his government is ready to help, if needed. Mr. Rudd says that
arsonists suspected of starting some of Victoria's fires are guilty of "mass
murder." As the Australian army joins the search for those missing in the
fires, investigators have grave concerns about what they might find in the
charred remains of homes and cars.It has been an excruciating wait for
survivors, desperate for news of relatives and friends they have not been able
to contact. Doctors treating burns victims have said that some have been so
badly injured they will probably die, as Australia continues to count the
heartbreaking cost of its most savage bushfire disaster.
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Commander of US Forces in S. Korea Warns North to 'Act Responsibly'
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General Walter Sharp is warning North Korea 'all options' are open, if
Pyongyang proceeds with apparent preparations for a long-range ballistic
missile test
The commander of American forces in South Korea is warning North Korea "all
options" are open, if Pyongyang proceeds with apparent preparations for a
long-range ballistic missile test. South Korea's president is renewing his call
for dialogue with the North and appealing for calm. North Korean soldier looks
at General Walter L. Sharp during visit to border village of Panmunjom in
demilitarized zone (File) General Walter Sharp, commander of U.S. Forces in
Korea, responded Monday to signs of a possibly imminent North Korean missile
test by calling on Pyongyang for restraint."Many, many countries around the
world are watching North Korea, right now, to see if it will act responsibly or
not," Sharp said. "We call on North Korea to stop provocations and act like a
responsible country." American and South Korean defense analysts say there is
evidence North Korea is preparing a site for a test launch of its most advanced
missile - capable, in theory, of reaching U.S. territory.The United States
deploys about 28,000 military personnel here in South Korea to help deter or
defeat any repeat of the North's 1950 invasion of the South.Sharp warned that
the United States is fully capable of responding to any provocation from the
North. "We have all available options open to us," Sharp said. "That includes
everything from diplomatic to economic sanctions to military options." Despite
recent sharp rhetoric from Pyongyang few, if any, analysts believe impoverished
North Korea has the resources to sustain a major war effort against the South.
What the North does have is hundreds of artillery and missile positions along
the North-South border, capable of striking the South's territory within
minutes.Sharp warned that any potential conflict with the North would result in
some degree of destruction in the South's capital, Seoul. However, he added
that U.S. high-tech weaponry would quickly disable the North's ability to
strike. "Even as North Korea continues to improve their missile system, we
outpace them and improve our ability to find and kill those systems as quickly
as possible," Sharp said. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said, in a
radio address Monday, he is ready to sit down with North Korea "at any time to
resolve every issue." He urged South Koreans to be calm.He says he is aware
many are concerned about recent threats from the North but says South Koreans
"do not need to worry too much."
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China Defends Human Rights Record at UN Council
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Country's human rights record comes under scrutiny, for first time, by
47-member UN Human Rights Council under new mechanism called Universal Periodic
Review
China 's human rights record has come under scrutiny, for the first
time, by the 47-member U.N. Human Rights Council under a new mechanism
called the Universal Periodic Review. The report looks at progress
made in human rights based on the country's economic development, but
fails to address issues such as political and religious persecution.
Human rights organizations accuse China of a whitewash. China
takes its position on the world stage seriously and has sent a
high-powered team to defend its human rights record before the U.N.
Human Rights Council. But, China need not have worried. Opinion was
definitely in China's favor as country after country took
the floor to praise China's achievements. The head of the Chinese
delegation Li Bao Dong set the tone of the proceedings.In
presenting his country's report, he stressed steps China has taken to
safeguard its citizens' rights, to govern as a law-based society and to
improve the welfare of its people.
Li said China pursues a policy of ethnic equality and regional ethnic
autonomy."Ethnic
minorities in China benefit from special preferential policies in
political, economic, cultural and educational spheres," said Li. "The
Chinese government encourages due and multi-language teaching in
schools of ethnic minorities ... Huge investment has also been made to
protect the religious practices, cultural identities and other
heritages of ethnic minorities." During the course of the
three-hour debate, China was praised for its astounding economic feats
and promotion of human rights. A long list of speakers supported
China's use of the death penalty and Internet censorship.Algeria
deplored, what it called, the politicization of China's record by some
nations. Egypt approved China's use of the death penalty and said it
should be expanded. Sudan lauded China's system of re-education
through labor.Sri Lanka Ambassador Dayan Jayatilleka rejected criticism of
China as a manifestation of colonialism."China
has ensured the political rights of its people. The rights of
independence, self-determination and sovereignty and the social and
economic rights, to freedom from feudal exploitation and to the
satisfaction of material needs ... We reject the criticism surrounding
Tibet, which Sri Lanka considers an inalienable province of China,"
said Jayatilleka. A handful of Western countries challenged
China's record. The Canadian representative, Louis-Martin Aumais
questioned China about its alleged use of evidence obtained under
torture and its treatment of political prisoners."Canada is
deeply concerned about reports of arbitrary detention of ethnic
minority members, including Tibetans, Uighurs, and Mongols, as well as
religious believers including Falun Gong practitioners without
information about their charges, their location and well being," he
said. At the end of the session, a parade of Chinese experts
answered questions regarding its treatment of ethnic minorities,
Tibetans, and human rights defenders. It assured the delegates at the
Council that their rights, as well as the right to religious freedom
and assembly were well protected.
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Burma Recovery Plan Launched for Cyclone-Hit Areas
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Three-year plan jointly prepared by representatives from UN, ASEAN and Burma
A survivor of the cyclone Nargis stands by a house rebuilt next the wreckage of
a destroyed one in Thetkala on the outskirts of Rangoon, 16 May 2008The United
Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have
launched a recovery plan for areas of Burma hit by last year's
devastating cyclone Nargis. Their representatives say Burma's military
government has promised full cooperation on the plan.The U.N. and ASEAN say
$690 million is needed for a cyclone Nargis recovery aid plan for Burma. The
three-year plan was jointly prepared by representatives from the U.N., ASEAN
and Burma. It calls for community-based projects to rebuild livelihoods,
houses, hospitals and schools destroyed by the massive storm.U.N.
humanitarian coordinator in Burma, Bishow Parajul, says, despite
initial emergency aid, there are still many people in great need in
Burma."'Building back better' means provision of seeds and
agriculture tools and all, so they have their own farm and they can be
self sufficient and stand on their own," said Parajul.Parajul adds the UN has
received $310 million in aid to Burma so far. Many
nations, including the United States, offered immediate assistance to
Burma when cyclone Nargis in May ripped through its southern delta.Burma's
military-run government initially refused the help, leaving millions affected
by the cyclone to fend for themselves. An
estimated 140,000 people died in the disaster. Critics say some of
those people could have been saved if Burma's rulers would have
accepted the emergency assistance.ASEAN Secretary-General Surin
Pitsuwan acknowledges Burma's generals initially made assistance
difficult, but says they are now cooperating at the highest level on
recovery plans."I think we have been reassured that whatever
cooperation, whatever support that we need in order to move forward in
the implementation ... we have been promised that we will get that,"
said Pitsuwan.Despite Burmese rulers' change of heart in
accepting outside aid, Pitsuwan says they do not expect to transform or
change Burma. But he says they do hope the new level of confidence
will lead to further flexibility in their cooperation.Burma's military has
ruled the country for more than 40 years, suppressing moves towards democracy
and jailing dissidents.
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Madagascar Defense Minister Resigns After Bloodshed
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Cecile Manorohanta says she can no longer be part of government, extends
condolences to families of those killed in protests
A man tries to run from gun shots near Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana's
offices in Antananarivo, 07 Feb 2009Madagascar's defense minister has resigned,
after the deaths of at least 28 people during anti-government protests
Saturday. Cecile
Manorohanta said Monday, that she can no longer be a part of the
government, and extends her condolences to the families of those killed
in the protests.More than 200 other people were wounded Saturday when
presidential guards started shooting into a crowd of marchers.The government
has named the chief of military staff, Mamy Ranaivoniarivo, as Madagascar's new
defense minister.Opposition
leader Andry Rajoelina has vowed to continue demonstrations that began
last month. Rajoelina accuses President Marc Ravalomanana of being too
authoritarian. The African Union said Monday it is sending an
envoy to Madagascar, former Ivory Coast Foreign Affairs Minister Amara
Essy, in an effort to calm the situation.Sunday, thousands
gathered in a gymnasium to mourn the victims of Saturday's violence,
which took place as marchers approached the presidential palace. U.N.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement deploring the violence
and what he calls lack of restraint. He has also sent an envoy, Haile
Menkerios.More than 100 people have been killed during anti-government protests
since the demonstrations began about two weeks ago.Last
week, government officials fired Rajoelina from his post as mayor of
the capital, Antananarivo. Rajoelina rejected the move and appealed to
both the Constitutional Court and parliament to remove the president
from office.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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Sudan Government, Rebels Set to Start Talks in Qatar
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Delegates from Sudanese government and Justice and Equality Movement begin to
arrive in Doha for Tuesday's meeting
Representatives of Sudan's Justice and Equality rebel movement are set to begin
discussions with the Sudanese government this week in Qatar, in a bid to revive
a peace process for the conflict in Sudan's Darfur region. Rebel
representatives have been meeting with Egyptian officials in Cairo before the
Qatar talks. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, left, is flanked by African
delegates as he attends a Turkey-Africa Cooperation meeting in Istanbul
(File)Officials from the Sudanese government and the rebel Justice and Equality
Movement, known as JEM, have begun to arrive in the Qatari capital, Doha. JEM's
head of training and strategic planning, Abdullahi Osman El-Tom told VOA from
Ireland that rebel representatives were still meeting with Egyptian officials
in Cairo, and that discussions in Qatar were to begin Tuesday. The
negotiations, which will be attended by the joint U.N.-AU mediator, Djibril
Bassolé, represent the latest attempt to revive the stalled peace process for
the Darfur conflict. JEM, along with most other rebel factions, rejected a 2006
peace agreement, and the group boycotted negotiations held in 2007 in Libya.The
Justice and Equality Movement will be represented in Qatar by Djibril Ibrahim,
an advisor to the group's leader, Khalil Ibrahim, and the government side by
Nafi'e al Nafi'e, an advisor to President Omar al-Bashir. El-Tom said the
discussions are simply a first step to re-establish contact between the two
sides."We want to meet the other side, that is the government party, just an
ice breaker. And then we will try to schedule ways of how to move forward, but
the agenda is more or less open," he said. "But the most important thing is to
focus on putting an end to the violence in Darfur and improving the situation
of the IDPs and refugees."None of Darfur's numerous other rebel groups will be
represented, including factions of the Sudan Liberation Movement. JEM, which
has recently been the most active group militarily, has criticized previous
efforts at negotiations for involving too many marginal players. But some
observers worry that a process that does not involve at least some of the other
more prominent factions will have limited effectiveness.The discussions follow
renewed fighting in Darfur between JEM and government troops. Last week,
government forces retook the town of Muhajeriya in South Darfur, following
several days of bombing. JEM had captured the town in January. El-Tom says
that the government has continued bombing raids in other parts of Darfur in
recent days, and that efforts to stop the latest clashes would be among the
issues discussed in Qatar. In Cairo, JEM representatives met with Egyptian
officials about a possible role for Egypt, which borders Sudan to the north, in
future negotiations. Egypt is also sending its foreign minister and
intelligence chief to Sudan this week. The discussions will likely include the
possible arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for President
Bashir on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.
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South African Platinum Giant Cuts 10,000 Jobs
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CEO Blames Falling Demand, Prices
Neville Nicolau, on release of annual report, 09 Feb 2009South African mining
firm AngloPlatinum has decided to cut 10,000 jobs in response to falling metal
prices and crumbling demand in the world auto industry.Company CEO Neville
Nicolau made the job-slashing announcement Monday in Johannesburg.Some 8,000
contract workers, many of them South African miners, will be let go during the
first half of the year. An estimated 2,000 staff members who are retiring will
not be replaced.Platinum, which was trading as high as $2,000 an ounce last
year, fell to $981 an ounce in London markets.Platinum is used in jewelry,
electronics and in the catalytic converters of cars to filter out harmful
engine emissions like carbon monoxide.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP
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