Iraq promises to help the U.N. inspectors
BAGHDAD — Iraq promised to help U.N. weapons inspectors Monday by forming its own teams to search for banned weapons. It also agreed to encourage its weapons scientists to hold interviews with inspectors.
However, it was later revealed that Iraq had refused to allow reconnaissance flights by U2 aircraft to aid inspectors in their search for weapons of mass destruction.
“We’ve not had Iraqi agreement on flying the U2 planes that we wanted,” Hans Blix, chief U.N. weapons inspector, said. “They put up a number of conditions that were not acceptable to us.”
Secretary of State Colin Powell told the U.N. Security Council that action would still need to be taken should Baghdad fail to disarm. Council members from France, China and Germany said the United States should not rush into war against Iraq and diplomats from France showed signs the country would use its veto power.
Ex-Serbian president surrenders for trial
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Serbia’s former president, Milan Milutonovic, surrendered to the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal Monday.
Milutonovic served as a member of Slobodan Milosevic’s wartime defense council and is believed to have incriminating evidence against Milosevic that U.N prosecutors want publicized in court.
Milutonovic’s indictment alleges that Yugoslav and Serbian forces under his authority carried out a campaign of violence against Albanian civilians in Kosovo to maintain Serbia’s control of the area. He has denied any role in the war crimes there.
British police raid London mosque
LONDON — British antiterrorist police officers raided a London mosque as a result of the discovery of the deadly poison ricin two weeks ago in a nearby apartment.
The mosque is the base of Sheik Abu Hamza al-Masri, leader of the group Supporters of Shariah. Seven people were arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000, New Scotland Yard police said.
Constable Stephen Oake was fatally stabbed last Tuesday after the arrest of three suspects as part of the ricin inquiry. He became the first British police officer to die in connection with post-Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist sweeps.
Britain has arrested about 200 terror suspects since Sept. 11, but many have been released without charges.
Japan confirms sixth mad cow case
TOKYO — Health officials in Japan confirmed the country’s sixth case of mad cow disease.
According to a Health Ministry spokesman, experts examined samples from the cow’s brain and spinal cord three times and said it had been infected with mad cow.
Mad cow, also know as spongiform encephalopathy, is thought to cause the fatal human variant, Creutxfeldt-Jakob disease.
The infected cow was from a dairy farm on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido. The ministry has ordered the dairy farm to confine its remaining cows in hopes of containing the disease.
Libyan elected to lead human rights
GENEVA — The U.N. Human Rights Commission elected Libyan ambassador Najat Al-Hajjaji as president, despite objections from the United States.
The United States and two other nations voted against Al-Hajjaji, claiming the Libyan government continues to commit serious human rights violations.
The Libyan choice was put forward by the African Union as one of its first decisions last year. Although other European nations were shocked by the nomination, they chose to abstain from the vote. Diplomats said they did not want to alienate Africa and other developing countries.
The United States wants Libya to accept responsibility for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 and to pay compensation to families and victims.
Two top advisers differ on race issues
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice took opposing positions on the Bush administration’s role in an affirmative action case before the Supreme Court.
Rice praised the president’s stance against the University of Michigan’s use of race in its admissions programs, while Powell made it clear he remains a strong supporter of affirmative action.
Powell said race should be considered as a factor for universities to build their student bodies.
Speaking on “Meet the Press” on NBC, Rice said she favored the university’s goal to diversify, but had problems with its methods to achieve it.
Abortion activists prepare for change
WASHINGTON — This week marks the 30th anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling of Roe vs. Wade that allowed legal abortions. The anniversary is overshadowed by speculation that a high court retirement could shift the balance of power in abortion decisions.
The court splits 5-4 in favor of abortion rights. The departure of Justice Sandra Day O’Connor would be troublesome for abortion rights supporters. The departure of Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist could work against anti-abortion forces.
President George W. Bush’s potential nominees in the case of a retirement are presumed to be conservative and more likely to side against abortion rights.
Though there is no current Supreme Court case that could overturn Roe vs. Wade, both pro and anti-abortion sides say that the day is coming close.
Firefighters feel heat from harsh critics
CANBERRA, Australia — A weekend firestorm killed four and destroyed 402 homes in Canberra. Australian authorities face stiff criticism for being unprepared for the fires.
The Australian Capital Territory had just 12 pumper trucks to protect its 300,000 residents from the blazes.
Chief Minister Jon Stanhope urged angry local residents and media to blame the government and not the estimated 500 firefighters who fought the fires to protect their homes.
Nearly 300 civilians were injured and thousands have been evacuated to schools and community centers across the city.
Venezuelan political crisis intensifies
CARACAS, Venezuela — Street clashes in Venezuela killed one person and wounded two dozen by gunfire as peace talks took place between leftist President Hugo Chavez and his foes.
The clashes broke out when Chavez supporters attacked an opposition march in Charallave, 30 miles south of Caracas.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Jimmy Carter tried to salvage the peace talks that have been locked in a standoff since April.
Intensified political conflict has prompted an opposition strike in the world’s fifth largest oil exporter. The strike has raised international concern over global oil supplies.
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan plans to send an envoy to Venezuela to end the crisis.
— Compiled from news sources
January 23, 2003
