Deutsche Welle English Service News February 12th 2005, 17:00 UTC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's highlight on DW-WORLD:
Schröder, Rumsfeld Differ on NATO's Future The US and Europe agreed in Munich Saturday on a need to renew their transatlantic security vows to confront Islamic extremism, but said they did not yet know how to adapt their alliance to new dangers. To read this article on the DW-WORLD website, just click on the internet address below: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1487513,00.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- In light of the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in 2005, DW-WORLD has put together a special site marking the occasion. Our coverage looks at the effect of World War II on countries around the world and includes interviews with scholars as well as picture galleries. To view the site, please go to http://www.dw-world.de/english ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Solana against Iran nuclear weapons European Union foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, has called on Iran to reveal the extent of its nuclear weapons program. Speaking at this year's Munich Security Conference in Germany, Solana said nuclear arsenals were the last thing anyone wanted in the Middle East. He said Iran could play an important role in the stability and democratic development of the Middle East, but atomic weapons would only make the region more insecure.German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder was unable to attend due to illness, but a speech read on his behalf called for revamping the cooperation structures between the European Union and the United States. Schroeder said the present transatlantic dialog was not adequate for the changed conditions and challenges that lie ahead. Iraq car bomb attack kills 17 At least 17 people have been killed in a car bomb attack in the Iraqi town of Musayyib, south of Baghdad. A police official said at least 20 were wounded in the explosion. In other violence, Iraqi police say a prominent judge has been shot dead in the southern city of Basra. A police spokesman said Judge Taha al-Amiri was killed by armed men who opened fire on his car as he was being driven to work. Meanwhile, a group led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al Zarqawi has claimed responsibility for Friday's car bombing outside a Shi'ite mosque in Baghdad in which at least 14 people were killed. In a separate attack earlier on Friday, insurgents opened fire on Shi'ites in a bakery, killing at least nine people. Abbas to hold talks with militants Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has travelled to the Gaza Strip, where he is expected to hold talks with leaders of the radical Hamas and Islamic Jihad movements. Palestinian officials said Abbas would try to persuade them to sign on to a permanent ceasefire with Israel. The move comes following a series of attacks on Jewish settlements carried out by Hamas. Thursday's attacks came only two days after a landmark peace summit at which Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon both declared a complete end to hostilities. The Palestinian leader sacked nine security chiefs and deputies after the attacks. Militant groups did not fully endorse Abbas' declaration of a ceasefire at the summit, but Hamas leaders insist they remain committed to an informal "cooling down" period. German minister in Qatar and Bahrain German Interior Minister Otto Schily has flown to the Golf region for three days of talks in Qatar and Bahrain. On the agenda are plans for closer cooperation in training police for Afghanistan and Iraq. In the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Schily will visit the German training project for Iraqi police detectives. For the past year, Germany has been briefing some 400 Iraqi recruits on modern investigation techniques. Germany fast-tracks demonstration law The German government is attempting to rush through a law that would prevent right-wing extremists from rallying at historically sensitive sites. The move comes amid a surge in popularity for the far-right National Democratic Party or NPD. The legislation, if adopted, would place restrictions on demonstrations if they were to glorify Adolf Hitler's regime or minimise the crimes committed by it. The government hopes that the bill will become law by May 8, when the NPD plans to hold a big rally at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of World War Two. The location is close to the new Holocaust Memorial. German soccer referee arrested Robert Hoyzer, the former German referee accused of fixing soccer matches, has been arrested. Federal prosecutors in Berlin ordered his arrest on Saturday, saying there was a danger that he might try to leave the country. Hoyzer has already admitted manipulating several second division and regional games in the German soccer league. Prosecutors said new information indicates that Hoyzer may also have been involved in earlier match-fixing activities before 2004. Russians protest and applaud reforms Hundreds of thousands of rival demonstrators massed in towns across Russia on Saturday to either condemn or condone social benefit reforms by President Vladimir Putin's government. The rallies in 62 regions were the biggest in years. President Putin publicly reprimanded members of his cabinet for mishandling his benefit reforms. New laws strips millions of the poorest Russians - pensioners, low-income families and disabled people - of rights, such as free bus travel and healthcare, replacing them with small cash payments instead. The issue has caused the biggest dent in Putin's popularity since winning re-election a year ago. Pope fails to deliver mass Concerns are again being raised over the health of Pope John Paul after he failed to deliver mass on Friday. The 84-year-old Pontiff returned to the Vatican on Thursday after spending over a week in hospital. Doctors said he has recovered from an acute breathing crisis brought on by the flu, but Vatican officials say they are taking no risks with the Pope's frail health. A Cardinal read the Pope's speech at Friday's commemorative Mass, held to mark the day the Roman Catholic Church dedicates each year to sick people. Besides his recent breathing problems, the Pope suffers from Parkinson's disease and severe arthritis. Two protestors killed in Togo Togo's government says two protestors have died during demonstrations against last week's military-backed transfer of power. Interior Minister Francois Boko said the two were hit by warning shots fired by security forces. He said two policemen were also seriously injured. The demonstration in the capital, Lome, was called to protest against the army's appointment of Faure Gnassingbe as president hours after the death of his father last Saturday. Togo's constitution was amended to allow the appointment. The move has drawn strong condemnation, particularly from neighbouring African countries. A government delegation from Togo is in Niger to answer a summons by regional leaders to justify the appointment, or face immediate sanctions. Aid operation under way in Pakistan In southwest Pakistan, a huge aid operation is still under way to bring food and supplies to thousands made homeless after a dam burst late on Thursday. Officials now say at least 80 people died when melted snow and rainwater ruptured the Shadi Kor dam in Baluchistan province. Hundreds of people are missing. The disaster has brought the death toll across Pakistan to at least 180 after a week of record rains. Weather officials say the rainy spell is expected to continue through next week. Avalanches kill 40 in Pakistani Kashmir Forty people are reported to have died in avalanches in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. Police say thirty-three people were killed when an avalanche buried several houses in the remote northeastern village of Mayyatan Wali Seri early on Saturday. Seven others are said to have been killed by avalanches elsewhere in the region. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DW-WORLD values your opinion: We look forward to hearing from you about stories we write and regularly post your letters in our reader response section. 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