World In Brief
March 13, 2005
Hamas says it will run in parliamentary elections
Nablus, West Bank -- Hamas, the major force behind a four-year suicide bombing campaign, decided Saturday to run in a Palestinian parliamentary election, a move that threatens to undermine Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' efforts to make peace.
A victory by the militant group in the July 17 vote -- days before Israel is to begin withdrawing from the Gaza Strip -- could dictate whether the Israeli pullout spawns more talks or a stalemate.
In Gaza, meanwhile, about 2,500 unemployed Palestinians stormed the parliament building, throwing stones at police and breaking windows.
Iran says U.S. incentives won't end nuke program
Tehran, Iran --Iran on Saturday scoffed at U.S. incentives aimed at coaxing the Islamic republic to drop its nuclear ambitions.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said neither threats nor incentives would alter Iran's determination to develop peaceful nuclear technology.
The U.S. concessions, announced by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, include an end to American opposition to Iran's application for membership in the World Trade Organization and a partial lifting of the ban on sales of some spare parts for Iran's civilian aircraft.
U.N. envoy says Syria is ready to pull troops
Damascus, Syria -- President Bashar Assad on Saturday restated his readiness for a complete withdrawal of Syrian troops and intelligence agents from neighboring Lebanon, a key U.N. envoy said.
U.N. envoy Terje Roed-Larsen met with Assad on Saturday in the northern city of Aleppo.
"I will present U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan with further details of the timetable for a complete Syrian pullout from Lebanon upon arrival in New York" early this week, Roed-Larsen said in a statement.
Egyptian opposition leader released on bail in Cairo
Cairo, Egypt -- An Egyptian opposition leader who announced his presidential bid while in jail was released to a hero's welcome Saturday, weeks after Washington raised concerns about his imprisonment.
Ayman Nour stepped out of Cairo's police headquarters and flashed a V-for-victory sign to a waiting crowd of supporters. Word spread fast of the 40-year-old lawmaker's release, and, within 15 minutes, a crowd of 400 supporters swelled to a few thousand.
Former Moldovan official detained at airport
Chisinau, Moldova -- A former defense minister has been arrested on suspicion of defrauding the government of $10 million in the sale of military aircraft to the United States, prosecutors said Saturday.
Valeriu Pasat, who also served as Moldova's spy chief until 2002, was detained Friday after he arrived in the capital from Moscow, where he is an adviser to the Russian company Unified Energy Systems.
Pasat was to be held for three days on suspicion that he pocketed $10 million of the state's money in the sale of 21 MiG-29 fighter jets to the United States in 1997, according to a statement from Valeriu Gorbulea, the deputy prosecutor.
In other world news:
Frankfurt, Germany -- Hundreds of neo-Nazis marched through the streets of Dessau on Saturday, marking the 60th anniversary of the Allied bombing of the east German city last week.
Vatican City -- Pope John Paul II is preparing to leave the hospital this week, possibly as soon as Monday or Tuesday, for his return to the Vatican in time for Holy Week, according to a priest from the pontiff's hometown. The Rev. Richard Nitschke spoke to the pope's personal secretary during a visit Saturday.
From Star news services
http://www.indystar.com/articles/6/228932-9566-010.html
Hamas says it will run in parliamentary elections
Nablus, West Bank -- Hamas, the major force behind a four-year suicide bombing campaign, decided Saturday to run in a Palestinian parliamentary election, a move that threatens to undermine Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' efforts to make peace.
A victory by the militant group in the July 17 vote -- days before Israel is to begin withdrawing from the Gaza Strip -- could dictate whether the Israeli pullout spawns more talks or a stalemate.
In Gaza, meanwhile, about 2,500 unemployed Palestinians stormed the parliament building, throwing stones at police and breaking windows.
Iran says U.S. incentives won't end nuke program
Tehran, Iran --Iran on Saturday scoffed at U.S. incentives aimed at coaxing the Islamic republic to drop its nuclear ambitions.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said neither threats nor incentives would alter Iran's determination to develop peaceful nuclear technology.
The U.S. concessions, announced by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, include an end to American opposition to Iran's application for membership in the World Trade Organization and a partial lifting of the ban on sales of some spare parts for Iran's civilian aircraft.
U.N. envoy says Syria is ready to pull troops
Damascus, Syria -- President Bashar Assad on Saturday restated his readiness for a complete withdrawal of Syrian troops and intelligence agents from neighboring Lebanon, a key U.N. envoy said.
U.N. envoy Terje Roed-Larsen met with Assad on Saturday in the northern city of Aleppo.
"I will present U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan with further details of the timetable for a complete Syrian pullout from Lebanon upon arrival in New York" early this week, Roed-Larsen said in a statement.
Egyptian opposition leader released on bail in Cairo
Cairo, Egypt -- An Egyptian opposition leader who announced his presidential bid while in jail was released to a hero's welcome Saturday, weeks after Washington raised concerns about his imprisonment.
Ayman Nour stepped out of Cairo's police headquarters and flashed a V-for-victory sign to a waiting crowd of supporters. Word spread fast of the 40-year-old lawmaker's release, and, within 15 minutes, a crowd of 400 supporters swelled to a few thousand.
Former Moldovan official detained at airport
Chisinau, Moldova -- A former defense minister has been arrested on suspicion of defrauding the government of $10 million in the sale of military aircraft to the United States, prosecutors said Saturday.
Valeriu Pasat, who also served as Moldova's spy chief until 2002, was detained Friday after he arrived in the capital from Moscow, where he is an adviser to the Russian company Unified Energy Systems.
Pasat was to be held for three days on suspicion that he pocketed $10 million of the state's money in the sale of 21 MiG-29 fighter jets to the United States in 1997, according to a statement from Valeriu Gorbulea, the deputy prosecutor.
In other world news:
Frankfurt, Germany -- Hundreds of neo-Nazis marched through the streets of Dessau on Saturday, marking the 60th anniversary of the Allied bombing of the east German city last week.
Vatican City -- Pope John Paul II is preparing to leave the hospital this week, possibly as soon as Monday or Tuesday, for his return to the Vatican in time for Holy Week, according to a priest from the pontiff's hometown. The Rev. Richard Nitschke spoke to the pope's personal secretary during a visit Saturday.
From Star news services
http://www.indystar.com/articles/6/228932-9566-010.html
posted by JimG at 2:59 PM
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