Olmert appoints right-wing deputy BBC News, Jerusalem
Israel's prime minister has signed a deal to bring right-wing politician Avigdor Lieberman into his coalition.The deal is expected to be approved by the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, later this week. Mr Lieberman's inclusion in the Israeli government will be controversial. He advocates the transfer of some Arab towns out of the state of Israel. He also recently accused some Israeli Arabs of treason for speaking to Palestinian militant group, Hamas. One Israeli Arab leader has described Mr Lieberman's party as being "fascists".

Political survival
But the Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, has decided he needs to broaden his coalition in the wake of the debacle in Lebanon. Mr Lieberman will become one of several deputy prime ministers and he will also be the minister in charge of dealing with strategic threats. Avigdor Lieberman wins much of his support from Israel's big Russian community. He sees himself as a strongman, the sort of authoritarian leader he believes Israel needs. For the Israeli government, this will be a significant move to the right less than seven months after the general election seemed to strengthen the centre of Israeli politics. But there is no immediate sign this will bring a change of policy. The main focus for Ehud Olmert at the moment is just ensuring his political survival.
By Jon Leyne

Protection for Italy veil row MP BBC News, Rome
An Italian politician will be given police protection following comments she made about the Islamic veil on television. The MP, Daniela Santanche, from the right wing National Alliance, said the veil was not required by the Koran. She was labelled an infidel by an imam appearing on the same programme and there are now fears for her safety. Daniela Santanche recently published a critical book on living conditions for Muslim women called Woman Denied. She is known for her forthright comments.

'Ignorant talk'
On Friday she appeared on a chat show on Sky Italia for a heated debate which quickly spiralled out of control. "A veil," she said, "is never a symbol of liberty and it is not required in religion". "And in our country," she went on, "there is a law which forbids - for reason of terrorism - people to go around with masks on". Her comments brought a furious response from the imam who appeared alongside her. Ali Abu Shwaima, from a mosque near Milan, called her an infidel. "I will not allow the ignorant to talk about Islam," he said. "The veil is an obligation required by God." Ms Santanche has now been offered police protection for her own safety. But she is not the only one who has expressed reservations about the wearing of the veil. Last week Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said he was opposed to women covering their faces. "We are not talking about the way people dress," he said, "but about whether or not they are hiding themselves". There has also been support from Ms Santanche's political opponents. The left-wing minister for equality, Barbara Pollastrini, said everyone was free to express their opinions. "We are in a democratic country," she said. "Imam Shwaima must know that in our country, threats, intimidation and condemnations are not acceptable."
By Christian Fraser

Georgian art destroyed in Moscow BBC News
An exhibition by an ethnic Georgian artist at a top gallery in Moscow has been destroyed by a gang of masked men.Marat Guelman, the owner of the gallery, said the men burst in, "made the girls stand against the wall [and] began smashing everything down". He said he was beaten up and his face was "smashed into meat". The attack came amid a crackdown on Georgians in Russia following a diplomatic dispute. Mr Guelman has been targeted in the past by neo-Nazis. The gallery owner has been listed as an "enemy of Russia" on several nationalist web sites, for his Jewish last name, his promotion of non-traditional art and his campaigning against neo-fascists, the Associated Press reports. He said about 10 raiders - "militarised characters, fighters" - broke up an exhibition by ethnic Georgian artist Alexander Dzhikia. Television pictures showed art works torn from their frames and scattered across the floor. Mr Guelman said the attack on Saturday came only a day after customs officers had confiscated caricatures of Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President George Bush and al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. But he said he did not believe the incidents were linked. Police and government agencies have launched a crackdown on Georgian business interests in Russia, which they say are funding militarisation in Georgia, and have deported Georgians they accuse of immigration offences. The relationship between the two countries deteriorated when Georgia expelled four Russian officers it accused of spying.

UK: MoD bans TV news access to warzones:

In an unprecedented move that risks accusations of censorship, the Government has withdrawn co-operation from ITV News in warzones after accusing it of inaccurate and intrusive reports about the fate of wounded soldiers.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2417831,00.html

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Iran condemns US Gulf exercises :

Reports say the US is to hold naval exercises at the end of October with Bahrain, Kuwait, France and Britain.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6080204.stm

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US Wants UN To Ban Missile Sales To Iran - Diplomats :

The U.S., France and the U.K. are pushing for U.N. Security Council bans on the sale of missile and nuclear technology to Iran and an end to most technical aid programs from the International Atomic Energy Agency, diplomats said Tuesday.
http://tinyurl.com/yfmq3t

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Simon Tisdall: Time for Bush to talk to Iran and Syria :

Whatever else James Baker may recommend in his much-anticipated report on future US strategy in Iraq, it seems certain he will urge George Bush to open direct, high-level talks with Iran and Syria.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldbriefing/st...1930453,00.html

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Olmert pins hopes on Lieberman to stop Iran:

Lieberman as Deputy Prime Minister, will serve as Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's right-hand man to liquidate Iran's nuclear bomb before it is created.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/1,7340,L-3318962,00.html

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Labour threatens to quit Israel coalition:

Labour, with 19 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, is the main partner in Ehud Olmert's 67-member coalition. Its departure could bring down the government.
http://tinyurl.com/yjm32h

===
Report: Illegal W. Bank construction up :

Israel reportedly has suppressed a government report revealing large-scale illegal settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
http://jta.org/page_view_breaking_story.asp?intid=5257

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China denies reports of NKorean apology for nuclear test:

North Korea is not planning a second nuclear test and is willing to return to six-party talks under certain conditions, but warned that it would take action if it felt pressured, China's Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2006/10/24/2115047-ap.html

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China may back coup against Kim:

THE Chinese are openly debating "regime change" in Pyongyang after last week's nuclear test by their confrontational neighbour.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/print...0587473,00.html

===
‘Coup Possible in Pyongyang’:

A ``Beijing-friendly palace coup’’ may happen in North Korea to drive out the North’s ``dear leader’’ Kim Jong-il, a U.S. weekly magazine reported in its latest issue.
http://tinyurl.com/ygsyg2

===
EU shocked as Putin comes out fighting :

Mr Putin's response was sharp. He told the Europeans Russia would set its own terms on energy supplies, and not sign the Energy Charter Treaty, as they asked.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6077344.stm

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Niger orders expulsion of Arabs

The government of Niger has ordered around 150,000 Arabs who live in the east of the country to leave.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6081416.stm

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Ortega leads Nicaragua presidential election polls :

Daniel Ortega, candidate of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), leads presidential polls in Nicaragua with 34.2 percent of the votes, polling firm GCM said on Monday.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-10/...ent_5241701.htm

===
North warns against Ortega vote : :

"My hope is that the people of Nicaragua are not going to return to that. That's not good for your country. That's not good for my country." Mr North visited a memorial for fallen Contra rebels.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6080172.stm

===
Blowout! Chávez Holds Huge Lead in Venezuela Reelection Bid:

Support is more than double that of nearest challenger—U.S. Gov’t held in very low esteem by Venezuelans
http://www.zogbyworldwide.com/news/ReadNews1.cfm?ID=771

'Don't squeeze N Korea' - Putin BBC News
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said North Korea should not be driven into a corner if the world wants to rein in its nuclear weapons programme.He said some negotiators "failed to find the right tone" with the country. He was speaking in a live TV phone-in with Russians nationwide, broadcast on TV and radio. He said he would not try to run for office again when his term ends in 2008, but said he would try to continue to influence political affairs. On North Korea, Mr Putin said a solution could be found "with goodwill"."You must never push one of the participants in talks into a corner," he said. North Korea said earlier this month that it had tested a nuclear weapon. Mr Putin said he expected to retain political influence after stepping down at the end of his final term in 2008, but did not specify in what role. "Even in losing the job that I like, I hope I will manage to retain the essential thing - your trust," he said, adding: "With you, we can influence the life of the country" after 2008.

Russia 'alarmed'
On the question of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, which are both seeking independence from Russia's neighbour Georgia, Mr Putin said Russia had no plans to increase its territory at anybody's expense. Russia's main goal is to prevent bloodshed in Georgia's relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia, he said. If Georgia opts for the use of force, it will make a big mistake, he added. "We respect the Georgian people... Georgians made a huge contribution to Russian statehood," Mr Putin said, stressing the need for peaceful compromise. "We're very alarmed by the current [Georgian] leadership's efforts to resolve these problems through force... We want relations with Georgia to get back to normal." People were able to take part in the phone-in by telephone or e-mail, and residents in nine selected towns put their questions directly to Mr Putin. More than a million questions were submitted to the organisers' website, many about worries over wages, pensions and rising housing costs.

German troops in skull photos row BBC News
Photos apparently showing German troops posing with a skull in Afghanistan have caused outrage in Germany.The tabloid newspaper Bild, which carried the photos, says they show German troops in Afghanistan in 2003. On one of the pictures, a soldier is seen holding the skull next to his exposed penis, on another - soldiers pose with the skull on their jeep. German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung expressed disgust at the photos and ordered an immediate investigation.Two possible suspects have already been identified and are being questioned, said army chief of staff General Wolfgang Schneiderhan. One of suspects was still with the armed forces and the other had left the army, the general said.

'Repugnance and horror'
Mr Jung pledged "disciplinary or even criminal measures" for those involved, if the story was confirmed. "These pictures arouse repugnance and horror," the minister said. "Anyone who behaves this way has no place in the Bundeswehr [German military]," he added. The story was given wide coverage on German television on Wednesday. "We can't use such people in our army," Bernhard Gertz, head of the main organisation representing German troops, said on ARD television channel. "We must investigate exactly how such degeneration and misbehaviour can happen despite good training and good supervision," he added.

Authenticity?
The Bild newspaper did not say how it had obtained the photographs, nor gave any proof of their authenticity. It is not clear where the skull in the pictures came from, the newspaper admitted, adding that according to a military source it could have been taken from a mass grave. Germany has about 2,800 troops stationed in Afghanistan within Nato's International Security Assistance Force (Isaf). Unlike British, American and Canadian troops, who are fighting the Taleban in the south, the Germans are based in the relative calm of the capital Kabul and in the north of the country. Last month, the Bundestag, the lower house of the German parliament, voted to extend the mission of the German forces in Afghanistan until October next year because of the worsening security situation there.

Pyongyang warning to South Korea BBC News
North Korea has warned South Korea that its participation in UN sanctions against Pyongyang would be seen as a serious provocation. A spokesman for the country's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification warned it would lead to a "crisis of war". The comments were carried by North Korea's official news agency, KCNA. Arms and financial sanctions were unanimously approved by the UN Security Council following North Korea's nuclear test on 9 October. "If the South Korean authorities end up joining US-led moves to sanction and stifle, we will regard it as a declaration of confrontation against its own people ... and take corresponding measures," the statement said. The UN Security Council voted on 14 October to impose financial and arms sanctions on North Korea after it conducted a nuclear test. South Korea has formed a task force to look at how to impose sanctions, in line with the UN's decision. Meanwhile, South Korea's Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok has offered his resignation over his country's handling of North Korea's nuclear test. Mr Lee was criticised for not having tough enough policies against Pyongyang. "During this political strife, I thought someone with more talent than I have should come to this position and overcome the problem," he said. It comes a day after the South Korean defence minister, Yoon Kwang-ung, tendered his resignation. Japan is also debating its handling of the nuclear crisis. The country's defence chief, Fumio Kyuma, has said the country should not engage in "careless debate" over whether it should possess nuclear weapons. His comments were in reaction to those made by politicians including Foreign Minister Taro Aso, suggesting Japan discuss the development of nuclear warheads. "We have advanced technology and missile capabilities so perhaps we do have the potential to make nuclear arms. But we are not going to do so," he said.

EU backs Eta talks by a whisker BBC News
The European parliament has backed Spain's peace process with Basque separatist group Eta, in a close vote.After heated debate in the parliament, an attempt by conservatives to declare that Eta had not met pre-conditions for peace talks was only narrowly defeated. MEP Martin Schulz said it was important to lend support to the Spanish government's attempts to find peace. But opponents said the peace talks and the debate only served to give publicity to "terrorists". Hundreds of people demonstrated outside the European Union's offices in Madrid on Tuesday, protesting against the debate.The march was organised by the Association for the Victims of Terrorism, with support from the main opposition conservative Popular Party. His resolution, which supported the peace dialogue launched by Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, was approved by 321 votes to 311. An opposing resolution by the conservative grouping, the European People's Party (EPP), arguing that Spain should maintain its anti-terrorist policies, was defeated by 322 votes to 302. "The road towards dialogue is the only way we can bring an end to this spiral of violence," said Mr Schulz, a German.

Sharp divide
Mr Schulz's motion was given strong support by the European Commission. EU Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini urged deputies to back it, saying Spain's "tenacity and conviction in combating terrorism from the respect of democracy and the rule of law has paid off".The debate demonstrated the strong differences between Spain's main political parties over how to deal with the conflict in the Basque region, says the BBC's Danny Wood in Spain. The Spanish government said the vote was all about showing European solidarity against terrorism. But many Spaniards are sceptical about Eta's permanent ceasefire, which was called in March, our correspondent says. Several members of the European Parliament raised concerns about the alleged theft by Eta of more than 300 revolvers in France this week, saying it called the ceasefire into question. EPP leader Hans-Gert Poettering asked how Eta could be trusted when it had not apologised to relatives of the more than 800 killed since it took up arms in 1968. "As long as this doesn't happen we may expect they will kill once again," he said. Eta remains on the EU's list of illegal terrorist groups.

Sudan 'is arming rebels' in Chad BBC News
Sudan's government is arming rebels in Chad, the government has alleged after security was tightened in N'Djamena following rebel attacks. Chad's foreign minister said the proof was the firing of a missile at a French reconnaissance plane in the east. The rebels began their offensive in the east at the weekend but were then said to be near the central town of Mongo. A BBC correspondent in N'Djamena says tanks are stationed in key areas, such as outside the presidential palace. Troops have been recalled to base despite the Muslim holiday of Eid - the biggest festival of the year in Chad. The BBC's Stephanie Hancock in Chad says the outskirts of the capital are said to have been heavily fortified with government troops. But she says the latest reports of the rebels' location suggest they may have pulled back.

Rapid advance
"These rebels entered Chad from Sudan and they could only have procured this type of military equipment within the sight of and with the knowledge of the Sudanese authorities. Sudan cannot deny it," Chadian Foreign Minister Ahmar Allami told AFP news agency. Khartoum denies backing the rebels, and in turn accuses Chad of backing rebels in the war-torn Darfur region. Eastern Chad has a similar ethnic make-up to Darfur, where Arab militias are accused of carrying out a genocide against black Africans. On Monday night, the rebels claimed to have seized the town of Am Timan, some 600km from N'Djamena but the government denied it had fallen and urged the capital's residents to stay calm. "The government appeals to the population to remain calm and to go normally about one's business," said spokesman Hourmadji Moussa Doumgor. On Sunday, the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD) rebel seized the small town of Gos Beida. Our correspondent says there was also fierce fighting in the border town of Ade.

France
Our reporter says the role of the French army here will also be key to how the struggle for power plays out. Back in April, when rebels managed to reach the heart of the capital in a four-day advance before being overpowered, the French received widespread criticism from Chadians for the way they staunchly supported President Idriss Deby. The French army has also admitted that two days ago one of their surveillance planes narrowly avoided being shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired by rebels. While the French do still openly support the Chadian government, there are some questions over exactly how far they will go to prop up President Deby's regime - and how much they are willing to risk, our reporter says.

IRAQ: Labour Laws Trampled at New US Embassy, Ex-Foreman Says
David Phinney*
WASHINGTON - Things began looking sketchier than ever to John Owen as he boarded a nondescript white jet on his way back to Iraq in March 2005 following some downtime in Kuwait City.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=35236

*****
TURKEY: Old Killings Draw New Blood
Jacques N. Couvas
ANKARA - The ghost of colonialism and bloodshed reappeared above the hills of Ankara and Istanbul this week, in the aftermath of passing of a law by the French National Assembly which criminalises negating the alleged Armenian genocide perpetrated by Ottoman troops during World War I.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=35171 (Subscription)

In Focus: IRAQ - http://www.ipsnews.net/new_focus/iraq/index.asp

Holy Land/Unholy War - http://www.ipsnews.net/new_focus/israel_palestina/index.asp

Afghan Divide - http://www.ipsnews.net/afghanistan/index.asp

Nuclear Ambitions, Like Mushrooms - http://www.ipsnews.net/new_focus/nuclear/index.asp

===
Arundhati Roy: 'And His Life Should Become Extinct' :

The Very Strange Story of the Attack on the Indian Parliamet
http://tinyurl.com/yjkssw

Australian cleric in dress furore BBC News
Australia's most senior Muslim cleric has prompted an uproar by saying that some women are attracting sexual assault by the way they dress.Sheikh Taj el-Din al-Hilali said women who did not wear a hijab (head dress) were like "uncovered meat". But he has now apologised for any offence caused by his comments, The Australian newspaper reports. Leading Muslim women condemned the comments and PM John Howard said the remarks were "appalling". "The idea that women are to blame for rapes is preposterous," Mr Howard told reporters. A transcript of the sermon containing the original remarks has been published in The Australian. "I unreservedly apologise to any woman who is offended by my comments," Sheikh Hilali said in a statement on Thursday. "I had only intended to protect women's honour, something lost in The Australian presentation of my talk." A spokesman for Sheikh Hilali earlier said the quote had been taken out of context and referred not to sexual assault, but to sexual infidelity. The sermon was targeted against men and women who engaged in extra-marital sex and did so through alluring types of clothes, he said.

Ramadan sermon
Sheikh Hilali's critics have previously accused him of praising suicide bombers and claiming the attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001 were "God's work against oppressors". The cleric's latest comments came in a sermon delivered to some 500 worshippers in Sydney last month."If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside... and the cats come and eat it... whose fault is it, the cats' or the uncovered meat?" he asked. The uncovered meat is the problem, he went on to say. "If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab, no problem would have occurred," he added. Sheikh Hilali also condemned women who swayed suggestively and wore make-up, implying they attracted sexual assault. "Then you get a judge without mercy... and gives you 65 years," he added.

High-profile case
The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says the comments are seen as particularly insensitive because Sydney was the scene six years ago of a series of gang rapes committed by a group of Lebanese Australians, who received long prison sentences. Finance Minister Peter Costello called on Muslims to condemn the speech. "If you have a significant religious leader like this preaching to a flock in a situation where we've had gang rapes, in a way that seems to make it justifiable, then people that listen to that kind of comment can get the wrong idea," he said. "They can actually think that it's not as bad as it is." A number of leading Muslim women have already spoken out against the sermon, describing it as repulsive and offensive. Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward said the comments could be an incitement to crime. "Young Muslim men who now rape women can cite this in court, can quote this man... their leader in court," she told Australian media. She added that the cleric should be deported for inciting rape.

Youths torch bus in Paris suburb BBC News
Youths have set a bus alight in a Paris suburb, as France prepares to mark the anniversary of a wave of rioting that swept its cities last year.Passengers were forced off the bus in Nanterre by hooded youths, who then set the vehicle on fire, police said. Bus services in another area near Paris were suspended over security fears. Clashes between youths and police have risen sharply recently, amid warnings that the underlying causes of last year's unrest have not been addressed. Hundreds of young people of largely African and North African descent marched to the parliament building in Paris on Wednesday, demanding better treatment from the government. They presented a petition calling for more action to tackle discrimination and more jobs and training for the young. "Lots of people don't believe what we're doing. They don't understand the potential," Abdel Zahiri, one of the marchers, told the Associated Press news agency. "The risk of violence exists, but hope exists, too," he said.

'Ripe for riots'
A police official in Nanterre said the bus was attacked by a gang of youths armed with a flammable liquid. "There were at least 10 passengers on board, who only just had enough time to get out. Thankfully there was nobody with any handicaps onboard, or it could have ended badly," he told the AFP news agency. Separately, bus routes in the Esone area, south of Paris, were suspended because of fears of attack. The latest unrest comes two days before the anniversary of the start of a wave of rioting that swept France last year. Law and order have become major issues with presidential elections due next year. Candidates from the two biggest parties have promised a tough approach to crime. But according to the BBC's James Read, there has been less discussion of youth unemployment, social alienation and racial discrimination in impoverished suburban estates. A French intelligence report warned this week that the estates hit by riots a year ago could once again descend into violence. The conditions that led to the 2005 unrest are still in place, the report said. About 9,000 cars were torched in the three weeks of unrest last year, which spread through the country's housing estates - dominated by immigrants and their French-born children.

Prize offered to Africa's leaders BBC News
A $5m prize for Africa's most effective head of state is being launched by one of the continent's top businessmen.UK-based mobile phone entrepreneur Mo Ibrahim - who was born in Egypt - is behind the plan to rate governance in 53 African countries each year. The contest, launched in London, will award winning leaders $5m over 10 years when they leave office, plus $200,000 a year for life. "We need to remove corruption and improve governance," Mr Ibrahim said.

'No life after office'
Then the continent would not need any aid, said Mr Ibrahim, who sold Cel Tel, his pan-African mobile phone company, to MTC in Kuwait for $3.4bn last year. "The day we do not need any aid will be the most wonderful day in my life." The Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership is being launched on Thursday. The award will go to African heads of state who deliver security, health, education and economic development to their constituents. In an interview with the Financial Times newspaper, Mr Ibrahim, 60, said leaders had no life after office. "Suddenly all the mansions, cars, food, wine is withdrawn. Some find it difficult to rent a house in the capital. That incites corruption; it incites people to cling to power."The prize will offer essentially good people, who may be wavering, the chance to opt for the good life after office," said Mr Ibrahim. BBC Africa editor Martin Plaut said it would be the world's richest prize - exceeding the $1.3m awarded by the Nobel Peace Prize. It will be available only to a president who democratically transfers power to his successor. Harvard University will assess how well the president has served his or her people while in office. Nelson Mandela, former US President Bill Clinton and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan are among those who have welcomed the initiative. Mr Mandela described it as an example to the world. Mr Clinton said he wished Mr Ibrahim and his foundation "much success in its important work".

Differing opinion
And Mr Annan thanked the businessman for "establishing such a generous prize as an incentive". But not everyone agrees. Patrick Smith, of specialist publication Africa Confidential, said: "The people who know what to do and have done well are already doing it. "And the people who are doing badly and are killing their own people or stealing state resources are going to carry on doing that." Africa has one of the world's richest concentrations of minerals precious metals, yet 300 million of its residents live on less than a dollar a day.

Airbus sells 150 A320s to China BBC News
Commercial planemaker Airbus has won a multi-billion dollar Chinese order for 150 of its A320 planes, some of which will be assembled in China.The factory in the north-eastern city of Tianjin will build its first A320 in 2009 and then manufacture four a month. The deal also includes an option for China to buy 20 of the planemaker's new wide-body A350. Economic expansion is driving demand for air travel in China, a key growth market for Airbus and rival Boeing. Chinese airlines have ordered 150 Boeing 737s in recent years. The 737 is the US aerospace giant's nearest competitor to the A320. "It is a means for us to develop a long-term vision with the Chinese," said Airbus chief executive Louis Gallois. "It is clear that building the planes in China will give the Chinese an incentive to buy more of our aircraft." The deal was signed during French President Jacques Chirac's visit to Beijing, and adds to last year's order for 150 Airbus planes signed during Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to France.

Starbucks in Ethiopia coffee row BBC News
US coffee chain Starbucks is denying Ethiopia earnings of up to £47m ($88m) a year, the charity Oxfam has claimed.The charity says the firm asked the National Coffee Association (NCA) to block Ethiopia's bid to trademark two types of coffee bean in the US. The move would have given farmers a greater share of profits, it claims. But Starbucks denies approaching the NCA, and the association says Ethiopia is being badly advised and there is no economic case to back Oxfam's views.

'Backwards step'
The Ethiopian government filed applications to trademark the coffee bean names Sidamo and Harar in US courts.The charity claims that Starbucks flagged up the application to the NCA - of which the firm is a leading member. The NCA then filed its opposition at the US Patent and Trademark Office. Oxfam's Phil Bloomer said the charity had worked with Starbucks in the past and appealed to the firm to "act responsibly". "Their behaviour on this occasion is a huge backwards step and raises serious questions about the depth of their commitment to the welfare of their suppliers," he said.

'Reduce demand'
But Starbucks senior vice-president of coffee procurement, Dub Hay, denied approaching the NCA to oppose the Ethiopian move. "We did not get the NCA involved - in fact it was the other way around, they contacted us." Robert Nelson, head of the NCA, backed Mr Hay's claim, adding that his organisation opposed the Ethiopian move for economic reasons. "For the US industry to exist, we must have an economically stable coffee industry in the producing world," he said. "This particular scheme is going to hurt the Ethiopian coffee farmers economically." He claimed that the Ethiopian government was being advised to price itself out of the market and that the trademark move would reduce demand for its coffee. Oxfam said the NCA and Starbucks should not dictate to Ethiopia how best to sell its products.

Journal criticises Libya HIV case BBC News, Libya
A prestigious British science journal has spoken out about a trial in Libya involving six foreign medical workers.Five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor are accused of deliberately injecting more than 400 children with HIV-infected blood in 1998. Two years ago they were found guilty and sentenced to death, but that was overturned on appeal. Now they are facing the death penalty once more. But experts say the evidence against them is hopelessly flawed. The six foreign medics, who have been in Libyan jails for the past seven years, say they are innocent. They say poor hygiene at the Benghazi hospital where they worked was to blame for the children's infections. That is supported by evidence prepared for the defence by the man credited with discovering the HIV virus, Luc Montagnier.

Solid evidence
He found many of the children were infected with a different strain of HIV to the one suggested by the prosecution, and also had hepatitis, suggesting poor hygiene was common at the hospital. In both the first and current trials, the court refused to accept those findings. Now the science journal Nature has taken the unusual step of obtaining documents key to the prosecution's case. Nature had the documents translated into English, and had them assessed by Aids experts from six countries. Researcher after researcher said the Libyan evidence was hopelessly flawed. Professor Janine Jagger, an epidemiologist who specialises in workplace exposure to HIV, said there was nothing in the prosecution's case to suggest the children had been deliberately infected. In addition, Professor Jagger says there is solid evidence, which the court has refused to hear - that some of the children were HIV-positive long before the foreign staff joined the hospital. When a retrial of the case was ordered last year, medical experts outside Libya expected it to be dismissed immediately as soon as it began, as part of Tripoli's growing rapprochment with the West. But that has not happened. In August, the chief prosecutor again demanded the death penalty if the six are convicted. The hearings are due to resume next week.
By Corinne Podger

Sudan 'is arming rebels' in Chad BBC News
Sudan's government is arming rebels in Chad, the government has alleged after security was tightened in N'Djamena following rebel attacks. Chad's foreign minister said the proof was the firing of a missile at a French reconnaissance plane in the east. The rebels began their offensive in the east at the weekend but were then said to be near the central town of Mongo. A BBC correspondent in N'Djamena says tanks are stationed in key areas, such as outside the presidential palace. Troops have been recalled to base despite the Muslim holiday of Eid - the biggest festival of the year in Chad. The BBC's Stephanie Hancock in Chad says the outskirts of the capital are said to have been heavily fortified with government troops. But she says the latest reports of the rebels' location suggest they may have pulled back.

Rapid advance
"These rebels entered Chad from Sudan and they could only have procured this type of military equipment within the sight of and with the knowledge of the Sudanese authorities. Sudan cannot deny it," Chadian Foreign Minister Ahmar Allami told AFP news agency. Khartoum denies backing the rebels, and in turn accuses Chad of backing rebels in the war-torn Darfur region. Eastern Chad has a similar ethnic make-up to Darfur, where Arab militias are accused of carrying out a genocide against black Africans. On Monday night, the rebels claimed to have seized the town of Am Timan, some 600km from N'Djamena but the government denied it had fallen and urged the capital's residents to stay calm. "The government appeals to the population to remain calm and to go normally about one's business," said spokesman Hourmadji Moussa Doumgor. On Sunday, the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development (UFDD) rebel seized the small town of Gos Beida. Our correspondent says there was also fierce fighting in the border town of Ade.

France
Our reporter says the role of the French army here will also be key to how the struggle for power plays out. Back in April, when rebels managed to reach the heart of the capital in a four-day advance before being overpowered, the French received widespread criticism from Chadians for the way they staunchly supported President Idriss Deby. The French army has also admitted that two days ago one of their surveillance planes narrowly avoided being shot down by a surface-to-air missile fired by rebels. While the French do still openly support the Chadian government, there are some questions over exactly how far they will go to prop up President Deby's regime - and how much they are willing to risk, our reporter says.

Iran charged over Argentina bomb BBC News
The Iranian government and Lebanese militia group Hezbollah have been formally charged over the 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires.Argentine prosecutors are calling for the arrest of former Iranian President Hashemi Rafsanjani and seven others. Chief prosecutor Alberto Nisman accused the Iranian authorities of directing Hezbollah to carry out the attack. Hezbollah and Iran both deny that they were involved in the blast, which killed 85 and wounded 300. The blast, on 18 July 1994, reduced the seven-storey Jewish-Argentine Mutual Association (AMIA) community centre in Buenos Aires to rubble. Nobody has ever been convicted of the attack, but the current government has said it is determined to secure justice.

'Hallmarks'
Over the years, the case has been marked by rumours of cover-ups and accusations of incompetence, but little in the way of hard evidence. Minor figures, including a policeman who sold the van used in the attack, have been named, but no-one has been convicted. Local Jewish groups have long said the bombing bore the hallmarks of Iranian-backed Islamic militants. Iran has repeatedly and vehemently denied any involvement in the attack. Last November, an Argentine prosecutor said a member of Hezbollah was behind the attack and had been identified in a joint operation by Argentine intelligence and the FBI. But Hezbollah said that the man, Ibrahim Hussein Berro, had died in southern Lebanon while fighting Israel. The 1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, which killed 29 people, also remains unsolved.

HSBC probes Pinochet gold claims BBC News
HSBC say they are investigating Chilean reports of a multimillion gold deposit allegedly belonging to Augusto Pinochet and held in a Hong Kong bank account.Two newspapers allege that gold bars belonging to the former military leader worth $160m (£85.5m) have been found. HSBC says that, although initial checks show it does not hold the gold, it is awaiting information from the Chilean authorities to pursue the inquiry. Gen Pinochet, 90, is being investigated for tax evasion and embezzlement. "We've had no formal approach either from the Chilean government or the authorities in Hong Kong but, in light of the current media reports, we have started an investigation," HSBC spokesman Richard Lindsay told the BBC news website. "However, at present, we do not believe we hold gold or any other funds for Gen Pinochet, in Hong Kong or elsewhere."

'Not yet official'
Chile's government says it has been informed of the reports but has not received any official notification. The two newspapers, El Mercurio and La Nacion, quote unnamed officials linked with the financial investigation as their source for the reports. Chilean Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley says the authorities in Santiago received information several days ago which was relayed to the courts which are investigating Gen Pinochet's financial affairs abroad. But Mr Foxley said the information was not yet official. A spokesman for Gen Pinochet said he had no information about the alleged deposit but had no doubt that the reports had no real basis. The Chilean courts have stripped Gen Pinochet of the legal immunity he enjoyed as a former president in several cases, including for alleged human rights abuses, but he has yet to face trial.

S Korea lists steps against North BBC News
South Korea has revealed for the first time what sanctions it will take against the North following its nuclear test earlier this month. Unification Minister Lee Jong-seok said some Northern officials would be banned from the South under new travel rules. He also said that Seoul would tightly control inter-Korean trade. The announcement came despite a warning from North Korea that sanctions imposed by Seoul would be seen as an act of confrontation. South Korea has been hesitant to take strong measures against the North because of its proximity, as well as close cultural ties.

'Complicated issues'
The UN Security Council approved new arms and financial sanctions against North Korea following its nuclear test on 9 October. Member countries are currently debating how to enforce these restrictions, with the US and Japan urging other nations to fully comply with the agreed terms. The Security Council has called on all members to state how they plan to implement sanctions by mid-November. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged on Wednesday that applying restrictions on Pyongyang involved "a complicated set of issues for South Korea", but again urged Seoul to show a strong commitment to the sanctions. The US is likely to welcome Mr Lee's announcement of action against the North. Mr Lee said Seoul would enforce UN travel restrictions on North Korean officials, and added that the government would vet all financial transactions related to inter-Korean trade. In addition, he said North Korean ships arriving in South Korean ports would be subject to a more rigorous customs check. But he added that existing inter-Korean economic projects, involving a joint industrial complex and a tourism zone in North Korea, would continue. The government in Seoul has argued that these projects do not fall under the UN Security Council's resolution forbidding the transfer of material, equipment, and financial resources that may benefit North Korea's nuclear programme.

Act of 'confrontation'
Seoul's announcement came just a day after the North gave its first warning specifically directed at the South. "If the South Korean authorities end up joining US-led moves to sanction and stifle, we will regard it as a declaration of confrontation against its own people ... and take corresponding measures," the North said in a statement. US President George W Bush recently accused North Korea of trying to "test the will" of the five nations negotiating with it over its nuclear programme - the US, South Korea, Japan, China and Russia. "The leader of North Korea likes to threaten," Mr Bush said.

HK budget airline gets off ground BBC News
The inaugural flight of Hong Kong's first budget airline Oasis has finally taken off, a day later than planned. The flight to London Gatwick was meant to leave on Wednesday afternoon, but was delayed after Moscow held back its right to fly over Russian territory. After hours of delay, passengers on the fully-booked flight disembarked and spent the night at home or in hotels. Oasis has made headlines by promising low-cost long-haul flights while still offering in-flight services. Chairman Raymond Lee said the firm had been "shocked and stunned" by Russia's withdrawal of its overfly permission, after a year of negotiations. "We already paid all the money, had the receipts and the confirmation number, and this sudden cancellation... was there a misunderstanding?" he told reporters at the airport.

Compensation
He said news of the decision came an hour before the Boeing 747's maiden flight was due to take off, but the airline did not immediately inform passengers as it thought the situation would be resolved. Oasis was given clearance late on Wednesday evening, he added. "We've been approved from a very responsible and reliable source that we can definitely fly through the Moscow airspace today," he said, before the plane left. The plane left for London's Gatwick airport at 1320 local time (0520GMT) carrying 300 passengers. The passengers had spent some six hours on board the grounded plane on Wednesday before being told the flight was being rescheduled for the following day. They were offered cash coupons and a free air ticket as compensation, Oasis said. Oasis has promised to shake up the airline industry in Hong Kong and beyond as the first budget carrier to focus only on the long haul. Seats in economy class cost from US$200 including tax. The airline also offers a business class, which it says is cheaper than economy on established airlines. However, environmental groups have expressed concern about the trend of budget long-haul flights, and say that low-price fares do not reflect the true cost of the environmental damage they cause.

Putin attacks Georgia 'war plans' BBC News
Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Georgian leaders of seeking to resolve their country's territorial disputes by force.Mr Putin told Russian TV viewers that in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region "people are very concerned about the militarisation of Georgia". Russia was also "alarmed by the current leadership's policy of resolving these problems by force", he said. Russia has deported hundreds of Georgians amid a bitter diplomatic row. Mr Putin was speaking in a live TV phone-in with Russians nationwide.

Separatist pressure
The pro-Russian separatist authorities in Abkhazia and South Ossetia want independence from Georgia, but Tbilisi has vowed to reimpose its rule in the rebel regions.Mr Putin warned that it would be a big mistake for Georgia to resort to force. "We cannot allow bloodshed in this region," he said. He insisted that Russia did not have territorial ambitions in the Caucasus. "We're not trying to increase our territory. We have enough territory," he said. He stressed the need for peaceful compromise, saying "we respect the Georgian people... Georgians made a huge contribution to Russian statehood". He said Russia would be closely watching developments in Kosovo, the mainly ethnic Albanian province which broke away from Serbia.Kosovo - still officially part of Serbia - is run by a UN administration, but a final settlement is being negotiated. Many observers expect Kosovo to get some form of independence, which might be an imposed solution. Georgian and Abkhaz separatists accused each other of opening fire while Georgian Interior Minister Vano Merabishvili was visiting the flashpoint Kodori Gorge area of Abkhazia on Wednesday. Russian-Georgian relations worsened last month after Tbilisi detained four Russians whom it said were spies. Russia responded by cutting transport and postal links with Georgia and expelled hundreds of Georgians alleged to be living in Russia illegally. Police also cracked down on Georgian businesses in Moscow.

'Civilians killed' in Nato raids BBC News
Scores of civilians have been killed during Nato operations against Taleban fighters in southern Afghanistan, local officials and civilians say.Nato says it will help Afghan officials investigate what happened after raids in two districts of Kandahar province. The alliance had "credible reports" of some civilian casualties, but could not confirm reports of 60 dead civilians. It said 48 militants had been killed. Funerals have already been held for a number of those killed, relatives say. In September Nato said it had routed the Taleban in one of their strongholds in Kandahar province after a two-week-long operation in which 500 militants were killed.

'Sorry not good enough'
Locals in Panjwayi and Pashmul districts of Kandahar province say the Nato raids began on Tuesday, during the Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramadan, and continued into the night.Afghan Interior Ministry spokesman Zmarai Bashiry told the BBC that local police and officials had confirmed more than 40 villagers killed in the Nato raids. Other local officials put the death toll at between 60 and 85. A statement from President Hamid Karzai said an eight-member team of tribal and community elders would investigate the reported civilian casualties during the Nato air raids. "The team has been tasked to prepare a full and complete account of the incident and identify its causes and victims," it said. The elders would also make suggestions on how to prevent such "unfortunate" incidents in future and ensure better co-ordination with foreign forces. Kandahar provincial council member Bismallah Afghanmal said announcing an investigation was not enough. "These kinds of things have happened several times, and they only say 'sorry'," he told the Associated Press news agency. "How can you compensate people who have lost their sons and daughters?"

'Human shields'
A spokesman for the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf), Maj Luke Knittig, was unable to confirm the high death tolls.But he told reporters in Kabul: "Very sadly, civilians continue to get caught up in these engagements with tragic results. "We are helping Afghan leaders there fly over the area to make an assessment." Nato spokesman Mark Laity told the same news briefing that Taleban fighters often used locals as "human shields", and the alliance made every effort to minimise civilian casualties. A Taleban statement sent to the BBC said none of the movement's fighters had been killed in the Panjwayi clashes, and that any deaths were civilian. President Hamid Karzai has been under mounting pressure over civilian deaths and has urged foreign forces to exercise more caution. Last week, up to 21 civilians were killed in two Nato operations in Kandahar and neighbouring Helmand province. In July 2002, a US air strike in Uruzgan province left 46 civilians dead and wounded more than 100, many of whom had been at a wedding party. Hundreds of people have been killed in Afghanistan this year, the bloodiest since the Taleban were removed from power by US-led forces in 2001.

ISS supply ship fails to lock on BBC News
A Russian cargo spacecraft has failed to dock properly with the orbiting International Space Station.Mission controllers said the problem was caused by an antenna on the cargo vehicle, which failed to fold away. The Progress craft was taking water, food and other supplies to the crew, who are said to be in no danger. A Progress rocket sent up last year had to be docked manually by a crewman after communications failed a few minutes before docking. A Russian mission control spokesman said that such problems had occurred before. "There was some problem with achieving a perfect seal," he said. "We have had such incidents before and it is not something extraordinary." He added that mission control was not currently able to speak to the space station's crew and was waiting for the next communications window to do so. The supply ship was launched from Russia's Baikonur space station in Kazakhstan on Monday. The current ISS crew - Russian Mikhail Tyurin, American Michael Lopez-Alegria and German Thomas Reiter - have been on board the space station since September.

Australia fury at cleric comments BBC News
Australia's most senior Muslim cleric has prompted an uproar by saying that some women are attracting sexual assault by the way they dress. Sheikh Taj el-Din al-Hilali said women who did not wear a hijab (head dress) were like "uncovered meat". But he has now apologised for any offence caused by his comments, The Australian newspaper reports. Leading Muslim women condemned the comments and PM John Howard said the remarks were "appalling". "The idea that women are to blame for rapes is preposterous," Mr Howard told reporters. In a statement released on Thursday, Sheikh Hilali said he had been quoting another, unnamed, source and did not mean his words to condone rape. "I unreservedly apologise to any woman who is offended by my comments. I had only intended to protect women's honour," the statement published in The Australian said. "Women in our Australian society have the freedom and the right to dress as they choose. "Whether a man endorses or not a particular form of dress, any form of harassment of women is unacceptable." A spokesman for Sheikh Hilali earlier said the quote had been taken out of context and referred not to sexual assault, but to sexual infidelity. The sermon was targeted against men and women who engaged in extra-marital sex and did so through alluring types of clothes, he said.

Ban threat
The leader of Australia's largest Islamic organisation has threatened to ban the cleric from teaching at Lakemba Mosque in Western Sydney. Tom Zreika, president of the Lebanese Muslim Association, which owns the mosque, said he condemned Sheikh Hilali's words. "The board [of the LMA] has unlimited powers in respect of his teachings in the mosque. We can do anything that's required to prevent him from teaching in our mosque. If you haven't got the backing of Australia's largest and most established Islamic organisation then you are out on a limb," he is quoted as saying in The Australian. But Mr Zreika said the LMA had yet to fully review the contents of the sermon and Sheik Hilali should be offered the benefit of the doubt until any offence had been proved. A copy of the cleric's comments delivered in a sermon to some 500 worshippers in Sydney last month during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan was initially published in The Australian. "If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside... and the cats come and eat it... whose fault is it, the cats' or the uncovered meat?" he asked. The uncovered meat is the problem, he went on to say. "If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab, no problem would have occurred," he added. Sheikh Hilali also condemned women who swayed suggestively and wore make-up, implying they attracted sexual assault. "Then you get a judge without mercy... and gives you 65 years," he added. Sheikh Hilali's critics have previously accused him of praising suicide bombers and claiming the attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001 were "God's work against oppressors".

High-profile case
The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says the cleric's latest comments are seen as particularly insensitive because Sydney was the scene six years ago of a series of gang rapes committed by a group of Lebanese Australians, who received long prison sentences. Finance Minister Peter Costello called on Muslims to condemn the speech. "If you have a significant religious leader like this preaching to a flock in a situation where we've had gang rapes, in a way that seems to make it justifiable, then people that listen to that kind of comment can get the wrong idea," he said. "They can actually think that it's not as bad as it is." A number of leading Muslim women have already spoken out against the sermon, describing it as repulsive and offensive. Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward said the comments could be an incitement to crime. "Young Muslim men who now rape women can cite this in court, can quote this man... their leader in court," she told Australian media. She added that the cleric should be deported for inciting rape.

UN initiates arms trade agreement BBC News
A United Nations committee has voted overwhelmingly to begin work on drawing up an international arms trade treaty.The measure would close loopholes in existing laws which mean guns still end up in conflict zones despite arms embargoes and export controls. It could also stop the supply of weapons to countries whose development is being hampered by arms spending. Only the US - a major arms manufacturer - voted against the treaty, saying it wanted to rely on existing agreements. A total of 139 states voted for the motion. There were 24 abstentions. Major weapons manufacturers such as Britain, France and Germany voted to begin work on the treaty, as did major emerging arms exporters Bulgaria and Ukraine. Russia and China, also major arms manufacturers, were among the countries to abstain. UK Minister for International Development Gareth Thomas said an international treaty was the best way to curb the supply of weapons. "All countries should support such a treaty as it offers the hope of a safer world where children are not scared to go to school," he said.

'Suppliers club'
The UN secretary general has one year to produce a report on how to introduce common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms.The BBC's Laura Trevelyan at the UN says it could be years before an international arms trade treaty is actually agreed - but this vote is an important first step. Globalisation has made existing export controls inadequate, our correspondent says - often, a weapons company with its headquarters in a country with strict export controls will manufacture components in nations with lax laws. Some developing countries fear a treaty will just create a cartel or a suppliers' club for the major weapons exporters, our correspondent adds. Human rights organisations have welcomed the move.Amnesty International described the vote as "an historic opportunity", saying "any credible treaty must outlaw those transfers, which fuel the systematic murder, rape, torture and expulsion of thousands of people". One of those campaigning for the treaty was Richard Wilson, whose sister was taken from a bus and shot dead in 2000, while working in Burundi as a school teacher. He told the BBC's World Today that the major arms exporting countries had to acknowledge their role in providing weapons to the poorest parts of the world. "The attackers fired off nearly 1,000 rounds of ammunition. This is in the poorest country in the world. "That says something about the easy availability of weapons, and anything that can be done to reduce that can help to prevent at least some of these tragedies in the future," he said. Nobel peace prize winners, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, have also backed the idea of such a treaty. BBC defence and security correspondent Rob Watson says any eventual treaty faces many hurdles, including the question of how to stop those shady international arms dealers who are not in the habit of obtaining export licences? Assurances will also need to be provided to arms exporters like Russia and China and emerging manufacturers that any treaty is not aimed at damaging their arms industries, our correspondent adds.

Australia Muslim cleric suspended BBC News
Australia's top Muslim cleric has been barred from preaching for up to three months, after comparing immodestly dressed women to "uncovered meat". Sheikh Taj el-Din al-Hilali's comments, suggesting that women who did not wear a headscarf attracted sexual assault, have caused a storm of protest. Sydney's mosque association said the suspension would give the cleric time to consider the impact of his words. But Australian Premier John Howard said the action was insufficient. Many people - including some Muslim leaders - have called for the cleric to be dismissed from office. Sheikh Hilali sparked more controversy on Friday when, asked by reporters if he would resign, he responded: "After we clean the world of the White House first." His comments, made outside his mosque in Sydney after Friday prayers, prompted a round of applause from supporters.

Apology
Sheikh Hilali's comments about women's dress were delivered in a sermon to some 500 worshippers in Sydney last month, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. But it was not until they were published in The Australian newspaper on Thursday that a wave of anger was unleashed. "If you take out uncovered meat and place it outside... and the cats come and eat it... whose fault is it, the cats' or the uncovered meat?" Sheikh Hilali is quoted as asking during the sermon. The uncovered meat is the problem, he went on to say. "If she was in her room, in her home, in her hijab [headscarf], no problem would have occurred," he added. Sheikh Hilali has since apologised for his comments, which he said had been misinterpreted and taken out of context. "I unreservedly apologise to any woman who is offended by my comments. I had only intended to protect women's honour," he said in a statement published in The Australian. "Women in our Australian society have the freedom and the right to dress as they choose," he added. Muslim leaders decided to accept his apology and said that no action would be taken against the cleric. Mosque Association president Tom Zreika said the board was "basically satisfied with the notion that certain statements made by the mufti [were] misrepresented". "We felt the three months away would give him time to mull over what's been said," Mr Zreika told reporters. But many other Australians feel more action should be taken against Sheikh Hilali. "I believe that unless this matter is satisfactorily resolved by the Islamic community, there is a real worry that some lasting damage will be done," Prime Minister John Howard told Australian radio. "I think what he's done is so unacceptable and so out of line with not only mainstream Australian opinion but... mainstream Muslim opinion." "I know how strongly many Islamic community people felt about those comments yesterday, how damaging they saw them in terms of Australian-Islamic relations," added Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward. "I think the pressure should not be taken off just because he has agreed to be silent for three months." Sheikh Hilali has courted controversy in the past, claiming in a 2004 sermon that the September 2001 attacks in the US had been "God's work against oppressors".

Nato confirms Afghan raid deaths BBC News
Nato has confirmed that at least 12 civilians were killed in an air strike targeting Taleban militants in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday. Reports suggest at least 40 civilians died when a nomad camp was hit in Kandahar province's Panjwayi district. A team of tribal and community elders will hold an inquiry, Afghan President Hamid Karzai's office said. On Friday, at least 14 people died in Uruzgan province when their bus struck a roadside bomb, officials said. It was not immediately clear what kind of the bomb caused the blast, or who planted it.

'Things go wrong'
Nato has said 48 Taleban fighters were killed in three raids in Kandahar province, but the Taleban have denied losing any men. Local police and officials confirmed more than 40 people were killed in one of the Nato raids, Afghan interior ministry spokesman Zmarai Bashiry told the BBC. Other local officials put the death toll at between 60 and 85. One Afghan survivor told the BBC that those attacked were nomads who had been living outside a village in tents. Nato forces are the main component in Isaf, the international force deployed in Afghanistan. A spokesman, Capt Andre Salloum, told AFP news agency: "As soon as the battle ended, troops on the ground were able to identify 12 civilians." Nato forces were working with the Afghan defence ministry to conduct further investigations, he added. Another Nato spokesman, Mark Laity, said the troops sought to take maximum care to avoid civilian casualties. "We've got tight rules of engagement but sometimes things go wrong..." he said. "President Karzai quite understandably and correctly wants us to show maximum care - that's what we do."

Deadly 'mistakes'
Residents in Panjwayi say the bombing began on Tuesday and continued into the night. Local people as well as district officials have described buildings destroyed by aerial bombings during the Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramadan. "The planes came and were bombing 3am," one man said. "And, in the morning, they started hitting our village with mortars and rockets. They didn't allow anybody to come to our help." People told the BBC that the bodies of many locals had been pulled from the rubble of their homes and buried. One local man who did not want to reveal his name said 20 members of his family had been killed and 10 injured. He said that a nomad camp with no connection to the Taleban had been attacked: "There are no Taleban here. We live outside the village in an open area in tents. "Anyone can come here to see our homes and area. There are no Taleban here. We all are nomads living in tents. "Each time they say that it was a mistake. They have destroyed us all in such mistakes. For God's sake, come and see our situation."

Karzai under pressure
President Karzai's office said his investigators would make suggestions on how to prevent such "unfortunate" incidents in future and ensure better co-ordination with foreign forces. Mr Karzai has been under mounting pressure over civilian deaths and has urged foreign forces to exercise more caution. Last week, up to 21 civilians were killed in two Nato operations in Kandahar and neighbouring Helmand province. Hundreds of people have been killed in Afghanistan this year, the bloodiest since the Taleban were removed from power by US-led forces in 2001. The UN mission in Afghanistan has voiced serious concern about the Panjwayi deaths.

Israeli minister to visit Qatar BBC News
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has accepted an invitation to a conference in the Gulf state of Qatar. The visit will be the highest level visit to Qatar by an Israeli official in 10 years. On Sunday, Qatar hosts the sixth International Conference on New or Restored Democracies in Doha. Qatar and Israel maintain low-level diplomatic and commercial ties, but there has been no high-profile visit to Qatar since Shimon Peres in 1996. Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr al-Thani met Ms Livni at the UN General Assembly in September. He also recently visited Gaza in an effort to advance negotiations on the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, and has attempted to move on talks between the main Palestinian factions on a unity government. Sunday's conference, which hopes to bring together top representatives from at least 27 states, is expected to focus on reform in the Arab world. Freedom of speech and the participation of women in political life are also to be key issues.

Bangladesh pledge on power shift BBC News
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has promised to hand over power at midnight as a tense standoff with the opposition reaches its climax.Mrs Zia pledged to respect the constitution in a televised speech to the nation hours before the transfer. Two people died in clashes on Friday as thousands took to the streets. Tension is high and police are out in force. The opposition opposes the man chosen to lead an interim government which will organise elections due in January.

Peace call
Mrs Zia appealed for calm across the country as fresh violence broke out in a number of towns and cities.She promised the poll would be free and fair, and said the constitution would "safeguard a peace-loving and responsible nation". "I urge everyone, including opposition parties, to maintain peace during the tenure of the caretaker government to ensure that a peaceful and credible election is held," she told the nation. It was a matter of "great regret" that talks with the opposition aimed at defusing the current crisis had not produced results, she added. There have already been sporadic outbreaks of violence, but the BBC's Roland Buerk in Dhaka says many people fear this is the calm before the storm. He says the transfer of power threatens to spark a major confrontation between the government and opposition. On Friday, one person was killed in the eastern town of Brahmanbaria during clashes between supporters of the outgoing Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and opposition Awami League. Another died in violence near Dhaka between followers of the BNP and newly-formed Liberal Democratic Party, which contains high-profile defectors from the ruling party. More than 100 other people were hurt in clashes in the capital and elsewhere. Large numbers of police officers - many brought in from outlying districts - have been deployed in Dhaka ahead of the power transfer. Our correspondent says everyone is waiting for Saturday when the caretaker government is expected to be sworn in.

'Stooge'
The Awami League object strongly to the man tipped to head the supposedly-neutral interim administration - retired chief justice KM Hasan.They say he is a ruling party stooge and will rig the polls. They are threatening to paralyse the country if he takes office, with demonstrations and blockades of roads, railways and the country's main port. The BNP about to leave power is calling for its supporters to be ready to take on opposition activists in the streets. KM Hasan himself is remaining shut away behind his heavily-guarded gates. It is not yet clear if he will even accept the daunting task of leading this bitterly-divided country, our correspondent says. The elections are not expected to take place until January, so months of disruption lie ahead, he adds. The man killed on Friday died in clashes between the newly formed Liberal Democratic Party and the ruling BNP near Dhaka. Twelve former BNP members of parliament have joined the new party, deepening the current political crisis.

Judge 'orders arrest of Pinochet' BBC News
A judge has ordered the arrest of Chile's former military leader, Augusto Pinochet, over crimes committed at a detention centre, sources say.Judge Alejandro Solis requested the arrest of Gen Pinochet, 90, for 36 cases of kidnap, one of homicide and for 23 cases of torture. The crimes allegedly took place in the years following his 1973 coup. The Villa Grimaldi centre was run by his secret police, where thousands were tortured between 1974 and 1977. Gen Pinochet will be placed under house arrest at his home on Monday, the Reuters news agency reported. The former leader was under house arrest for seven weeks last year, over the disappearance of three leftists during his rule. More than 3,000 people were killed when Gen Pinochet was in power from 1973 to 1990.

Police deployed in Paris suburbs BBC News
Extra police have been ordered into suburbs in the French capital, Paris, on the first anniversary of two deaths which sparked riots across the country.An additional 4,000 officers were deployed amid reports two more buses had been attacked and set ablaze. Earlier, at least 500 people marched in memory of the two teenage boys, both from immigrant families, who died. Their deaths and the suggestion they had been running from police triggered three weeks of suburban clashes. During the violence - between youths of mainly North African origin and police - more than 10,000 cars were set ablaze and 300 buildings firebombed. Ahead of the anniversary police had reported an upsurge in violence. On Thursday, two buses were set ablaze.

Buses attacked
In the latest incidents, at least two more buses were set on fire. Two armed men forced passengers from a bus in the northern Parisian suburb of Blanc Mesnil, before burning it. A second similar attack took place in the same suburb shortly afterwards, police said. "What happened is four guys attacked Bus 346," witness Thierry Ange told the Associated Press news agency. "They made everyone get off, then they hit a woman and dragged out the bus driver by his tie," he said. Both vehicles were destroyed, but there were no reported injuries.

Appeal for calm
Earlier, several hundred people marched through the suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois, where the riots started.The families of the two dead youths, Bouna Traore and Zyed Benna, laid wreaths at the electricity sub-station where they were electrocuted. A monument to the boys was unveiled and the local mayor appealed for calm. "Last year we crossed Clichy by weaving between the burnt-out wrecks of cars, creating an image of our city that we didn't want to see," said mayor Claude Dillain, quoted by the Associated Press. "Once again France, and even the world, is watching us and waiting to see what we do. So I appeal solemnly for calm and dignity to prevail here." But others have warned that factors which played a key part in the riots - high unemployment, discrimination and youth alienation from mainstream society - remain unchanged. "What is being done in order to ensure Clichy does not have three times as many unemployed as the rest of France?" Mr Dillain's deputy, Olivier Klein, asked.

Karzai 'sadness' at raid deaths BBC News
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said the Afghan people are "hurt and saddened" by the deaths of a number of civilians in a Nato air raid. Nato has confirmed that at least 12 civilians were killed in an air strike targeting Taleban militants on Tuesday. But the government said initial investigations suggested 25 civilians died in the raid in south Afghanistan. Mr Karzai has called for a meeting on Monday with foreign force commanders to discuss the incident. Also on Friday, 14 people died in Uruzgan province when their bus struck a mine, officials said. The dead were mainly children and old people travelling to a picnic in celebration of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, a local official said. A Nato spokesman said it was not clear if the mine was old or had been planted recently by insurgents.

'Hurt and saddened'
Mr Karzai responded to Tuesday's deaths during a news conference at the presidential palace. "We share solidarity with the families of the victims and the people of Afghanistan are hurt and saddened by this incident," he said. He called on the international community to help strengthen Afghanistan's forces - particularly to help develop an air force - in order to "prevent these sorts of incidents from happening again". Nato has said 48 Taleban fighters were killed in three raids in Kandahar province on Tuesday, but the Taleban have denied losing any men. Local police and officials said more than 40 people were killed in one of the raids, Afghan interior ministry spokesman Zmarai Bashiry told the BBC. Other local officials put the death toll at between 60 and 85.

'Things go wrong'
Nato forces are the main component in Isaf, the international force deployed in Afghanistan. A spokesman, Capt Andre Salloum, told AFP news agency: "As soon as the battle ended, troops on the ground were able to identify 12 civilians." Nato forces were working with the Afghan defence ministry to conduct further investigations, he added. Another Nato spokesman, Mark Laity, said the troops sought to take maximum care to avoid civilian casualties. "We've got tight rules of engagement but sometimes things go wrong..." he said. "President Karzai quite understandably and correctly wants us to show maximum care - that's what we do." Residents in Panjwayi say the bombing began on Tuesday and continued into the night, during the Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of Ramadan. One local man who did not want to reveal his name said 20 members of his family had been killed and 10 injured. "Anyone can come here to see our homes and area. There are no Taleban here. We all are nomads living in tents," he said. "Each time they say that it was a mistake. They have destroyed us all in such mistakes. For God's sake, come and see our situation."

Karzai under pressure
A team of tribal and community elders would hold an inquiry, Mr Karzai's office said. It said Mr Karzai's investigators would make suggestions on how to prevent such "unfortunate" incidents in future and ensure better co-ordination with foreign forces. Mr Karzai has been under mounting pressure over civilian deaths. He has repeatedly urged foreign forces to exercise more caution. But correspondents say the fact that such incidents keep happening is eroding public confidence in his ability to pressure the international forces which support his government. Last week, up to 21 civilians were killed in two Nato operations in Kandahar and neighbouring Helmand province. Hundreds of people have been killed in Afghanistan this year, the bloodiest since the Taleban were removed from power by US-led forces in 2001.

DR Congo leader to accept results BBC News
President Joseph Kabila has told the BBC he will accept the result of the run-off election in the Democratic Republic of Congo "without question". He faces ex-rebel leader Jean-Pierre Bemba after winning the first round, but failing to secure 50% of the vote. Mr Bemba has already told reporters he will not return to war if he loses in a free and fair poll. It is the last day of campaigning ahead of Sunday's vote. The capital, Kinshasa, is reported to be calm. The two presidential candidates were belligerents in the civil war and both still have loyal armed forces. The United Nations has its biggest force anywhere in the world in DR Congo, where it is monitoring a peace agreement between warring factions signed in 2002.

Rival faction violence
Mr Kabila, who took over from his assassinated father in 2002 said his priority if elected was peace and stability in the east - which has remained unstable despite the peace deal which made Mr Bemba one of four vice-presidents. The 35-year-old president said the country needed to be brought rapidly under control "in order to permit investors to come, in order to allow our people to move from east to west, north to south and live in peace because they're basically peace-loving citizens". Earlier, UN forces freed one of his key allies from a radio station owned by Mr Bemba using a tank after an armed stand-off. Nzanga Mobutu, son of late Congolese ruler Mobutu Sese Seko, was campaigning on behalf of President Kabila in Gbadolite, in the north of the country. Four people were reported killed in rival faction violence in the town. Mr Mobutu was escorted to Gbadolite airport by UN soldiers after being released and flew off in good health. A regional spokesperson for the United Nations force told the BBC that Thursday's events were unlikely to have an impact on the presidential run-off. The stand-off in Gbadolite began on Thursday just hours after rioting broke out at the main prison in the capital, Kinshasa. A source inside the prison and a human rights groups have told the BBC's Arnaud Zajtman that five inmates were killed in the violence. Sunday's run-off vote will conclude the country's first fully democratic polls since independence in 1960.

Renewed violence hits Bangladesh BBC News
At least four people have died in fresh clashes in Bangladesh, amid a row over who will run a caretaker government to oversee elections in January.Hundreds of people were injured as police fired teargas to disperse opposition demonstrators in Dhaka. Government and opposition officials have been meeting President Iajuddin Ahmed to try to resolve the crisis. They pledged to find a replacement for the man who had been named as interim head of government after he withdrew. Presidential spokesman Rahman Chowdhury said the nominated interim PM, ex-Chief Justice KM Hasan, had declined the post. The opposition Awami League had already made clear it would not accept Mr Hasan - whom it described as a supporter of the governing Bangladesh National Party and a stooge of the government. Outgoing PM Khaleda Zia, whose mandate expired at midnight, could stay in office as a caretaker for up to 15 days if the two sides fail to reach agreement on a new interim leader.

Bombs
The opposition Awami League and its allies had threatened to paralyse the country if Mr Hasan took office. Police responded by using with teargas and rubber bullets to disperse their demonstrations. Saturday's unrest included explosions and gunfire in the capital Dhaka. The latest deaths bring to at least nine the number of people killed since Friday.Roads have been blocked and outbreaks of violence have been reported in other parts of the country. Under Bangladesh's unique system, when an administration comes to the end of its term, it hands over to an unelected interim government which has 90 days to organise elections. The opposition has been demanding a say in choosing the "chief adviser", as the interim prime minister is known. Mrs Zia appealed for calm as the fresh wave of violence hit the country. She promised the poll would be free and fair, and said the constitution would "safeguard a peace-loving and responsible nation".

Not on speaking terms
The BBC's Roland Buerk in Dhaka says Bangladeshi politics is especially bitter because of the personal rivalry between Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League and Mrs Zia. They have led the country in alternate terms since 1991 but have not spoken for years. Parliament has been boycotted regularly by whichever party is in opposition, and a culture of street demonstrations has developed. The BNP is calling for its supporters to be ready to take on opposition activists. Our correspondent says that there will be little the 25,000 police and security personnel deployed in the capital, Dhaka, can do as the powerful political parties try to enforce their dominance of the streets. With the elections not expected to take place until January, months of disruption could lie ahead, our correspondent adds.

Nepal bus crash kills at least 42 BBC News
At least 42 people have been killed after a packed bus plunged into a ravine in western Nepal.Another 43 people were injured when the bus came off the road at Luham in Salyan district, some 400km (250 miles) west of the capital Kathmandu. Many of the injured are in a critical condition, police said. They said the number of dead could rise. The bus was carrying more than 100 people when it skidded off the mountain road on the road to Tulsipur.The bus fell about 250m (950ft) into the ravine. District police officer Shankar Yadav told news agency AFP 40 bodies had been recovered at the scene and two more people had died on the way to hospital. "The number of casualties could rise as most of the injured passengers are in critical condition. Twenty-three seriously injured people have been rushed to a regional hospital in Nepalgunj," he said. Police said they were not yet clear on the cause of the accident. Crashes are commonplace on Nepal's network of poorly-maintained roads, with vehicles often old and overcrowded.

Pope demands action on sex abuse BBC News
The Catholic Church must take all necessary steps to prevent further occurrences of child sex abuse by clergy, Pope Benedict has said. To do this, the church had to find out what had happened in the past, he said. The Pope made the comments to a group of visiting bishops from Ireland, where abuse scandals dating back decades have damaged the reputation of the church. Trust in the clergy had been damaged, Pope Benedict said, and rebuilding confidence was an urgent task. In March, a report from the Archdiocese of Dublin said that more than 100 Catholic priests in Dublin were suspected of having abused children in the last 66 years. But there have been other scandals in various parts of the world. In the US, a Boston-based scandal in 2002 led to the prosecutions of a number of priests, large payouts to dozens of victims and allegations of a cover-up by senior clergy.

'Bring healing'
Pope Benedict said that abuse scandals had created deep wounds in the church. "It is important to establish the truth of what happened in the past, to take whatever steps are necessary to prevent it from occurring again," he said, according to a copy of the speech released by the Vatican. "Above all, (it is important) to bring healing to the victims and to all those affected by these egregious crimes." But Pope Benedict said the abuse scandals should not overshadow the work of Ireland's priests. "The fine work and selfless dedication of the great majority of priests and (the) religious in Ireland should not be obscured by the transgressions of some of their brethren," he said. Pope Benedict spoke in some of the strongest language he has used so far of his personal anguish and horror at what happened in Ireland, says the BBC's Christian Fraser in Rome. But some have questioned whether the Pope's comments are too little too late, and whether an apology should be made directly to the victims themselves. While welcoming the Pope's expression of regret, Colm O'Gorman, the founder of a victims' group in Northern Ireland, said more action was required by the Vatican to introduce a worldwide system of child protection measures that would be underpinned in church law, our correspondent adds.

Fox seeks to end Mexican unrest BBC News
Mexican President Vincente Fox has ordered security forces to quell violence in Oaxaca in the south.Three people, including a US journalist, were killed in clashes between masked gunmen and leftist protesters on Friday. At least six people have been killed since the unrest began in May when striking teachers and left-wing groups occupied the town centre. Protesters accuse state Governor Ulises Ruiz of abuse of power. They say they will not back down until he is ousted. Gunfire erupted when armed men tried to remove a blockade set up by protesters, the Associated Press news agency quoted a police official as saying. Both sides fired but it was not clear who shot first, he said. The Oaxaca People's Popular Assembly, which is leading the protests, accused off-duty local policemen of carrying out the shootings. The dead journalist has been named as Will Bradley Roland, a cameraman working with the independent news group Indymedia.

'No peaceful way out'
Mr Fox's office said in a statement that federal police would arrive in the southern city during Saturday. It was not clear how many were being sent. The president had previously avoided sending forces to the region for fear of involving them in the violent confrontations. Thousands of schools have been closed since the strike began in May, leaving 1.3 million children out of school.The teachers staged the walk-out, demanding higher pay and better working conditions. After police attacked one of their demonstrations in June, they extended their demands to include a call for the resignation of Gov Ruiz. The teachers were joined in their protest by left-wing groups. This week, striking teachers voted to return to classes but many protesters say they will not back down until Gov Ruiz is removed from office. Critics accuse him of corruption and repressive tactics against dissenters, whose roadblocks have driven tourism from the city and hurt business. Last week, Mexico's Senate decided by a 74-31 vote that the state government had not ceased to function, a condition necessary to remove a governor from office. But the Senate recognised that conditions of "ungovernability" existed in the state and criticised Mr Ruiz for failing to bring months of violent protests to an end. President Vicente Fox has vowed to end the conflict before he leaves office on 1 December but negotiations to find a peaceful way out have so far failed.

Even in death, Franco has the power to divide Spaniards

EL VALLE DE LOS CAIDOS, Spain-The civil war led by Gen. Francisco
Franco erupted 70 years ago, and the dictator has been dead for 30
years. But Spain is today confronting his ghost, torn over how to
remember the conflict and Franco's four-decade reign. By Tracy
Wilkinson.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBB...Io30G2B0HzvQ0E7

Fears usurp optimism in Congo vote

KINSHASA, Congo-Violence ahead of the presidential runoff sparks
the question: Will the loser abide by the poll peacefully? By
Edmund Sanders.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBB...Io30G2B0HzvT0EB

Iraqi premier makes his case to Bush

BAGHDAD-Iraq's prime minister pressed President Bush to give his
government a freer hand to fight Sunni Arab insurgents and
neutralize the Shiite Muslim militias knocking the country off
balance, in a conversation meant to smooth tensions that had
flared over security disagreements and election year rhetoric. By
Borzou Daragahi.
http://email.latimes.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eBB...Io30G2B0HzvU0EC

DR Congo votes in landmark poll BBC News
A presidential run-off is under way in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in one of Africa's most significant elections for many years.Voting is mostly peaceful but at least one person has died in protests over alleged rigging in the north-eastern town of Bumba, a UN spokeswoman says. Congolese hope the election will end years of conflict and abuse of power. President Joseph Kabila, who came to power after his father was killed in 2001, faces ex-rebel Jean-Pierre Bemba. The run-off concludes DR Congo's first fully democratic polls since independence in 1960 and is supposed to draw a line under a five-year conflict.

'For the people'
Voting started slowly in the capital, Kinshasa because of a violent thunderstorm. "We need this vote to put an end to the mess. With God's help we will," Isidor Kaombe told Reuters news agency as he waited for election officials to arrive an hour after voting was due to begin in Kinshasa. In Bumba, supporters of Mr Bemba burnt ballot boxes, after claims of vote-rigging, AP reports. The BBC's Mark Doyle in Kinshasa says it is impossible to exaggerate how the destiny of DR Congo could shape the future of Africa. Nine states border the country and all were affected by the wars caused by the long lack of real government in DR Congo, the power vacuum at the heart of Africa, he says. Some four million people are thought to have died. Its rich reserves of minerals such as gold, diamonds and coltan - used in mobile phones - have attracted a series of armed groups, both Congolese and foreign, intent on looting. "From now on, leaders will rule for the people, not just possess power forever," Theoneste Mpatse-Mugabo told the AP news agency in the eastern city of Goma. DR Congo is two-thirds the size of Western Europe but has just 300 miles of paved roads after years of conflict and gross mismanagement. UN officials say the polls are the most important on the continent since the 1994 election of Nelson Mandela that ended apartheid in South Africa. However, our correspondent says the candidates are not Nelson Mandelas and neither of them has a good record of being a democrat. Polls are to start closing at 1500 GMT in the east and an hour later in the west. Final results are not due for several weeks.

Troops standby
Mr Kabila has strong support in the east of Congo; Mr Bemba is popular in the west. Many easterners credit Mr Kabila with ending the war and blame the conflict on rebels such as Mr Bemba. Those in the west say Mr Kabila, who grew up in Tanzania, is not a true Congolese, unlike Mr Bemba. Mr Kabila won first round polls on 30 July, but fell just short of the 50% needed for outright victory. He has also gained the support of the candidates who came third and fourth - veteran nationalist Antoine Gizenga and Nzanga Mobutu, son of the country's long-time leader, Mobutu Sese Seko. At least 23 people were killed in armed clashes between security forces loyal to Mr Kabila and Mr Bemba in Kinshasa after the results were announced. United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan has called on the two candidates to ensure that the election is peaceful. Both men have promised to urge their supporters against violence and to abide by election rules. Extra UN peacekeeping troops are on standby in the east of the country. In Kinshasa, the UN is being backed up by a special European Union military force.

Cuba TV shows pictures of Castro BBC News
Cuban television has broadcast the first images of President Fidel Castro in more than a month, defiantly addressing rumours that he had died.Mr Castro said his recovery would be long and not without risk, but said he was "coming along just as planned." He called the rumours "ridiculous" and said: "Let's see what they say now." The 80-year-old, who temporarily handed over power to his younger brother in July following intestinal surgery, had not been seen since mid-September. In the new video footage the ailing president was pictured walking unassisted and - to underscore that it is not archive material - reading a copy of Saturday's edition of Granma, the Communist Party daily newspaper."Now, when our enemies have prematurely declared me moribund or dead, I'm happy to send to our compatriots and friends around the world this short film footage," he said. Cuban officials attending a ballet festival in Havana said they were delighted to see the images of President Castro. "This is excellent news for everyone - all Cubans, and all of Cuba's friends," Vice President Carlos Lage said. "We are really happy to see that Fidel is better and that every day he is moving forward," Foreign Minister Felipe Perez Roque said. "He's not been lost, just working on his [recovery] plan."

State secret
Cuban President Fidel Castro (13 September 2006)
Images of Mr Castro were shown in September to quell rumours
Earlier this month, Time magazine quoted an unnamed US official alleging that the president had terminal cancer. Mr Castro's younger brother, Raul, denied this, saying the president, was "getting better all the time". Mr Castro handed temporary power to his brother in July, prompting speculation that his 47-year rule was nearly over. Cubans were told that details of the ailment would be kept secret to prevent Cuba's enemies from taking advantage of them. Images of a frail Mr Castro were released on his birthday, on 13 August, in an attempt to quell rumours that he had died. More recently, video images were broadcast showing Mr Castro, in his hospital bed and wearing pyjamas, greeting visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Climate change 'hitting Africa' BBC News
Climate change is already affecting people across Africa and will wipe out efforts to tackle poverty there unless urgent action is taken, a report says.Droughts are getting worse and climate uncertainty is growing, the research from a coalition of UK aid agencies and environmental groups says. Climate change is an "unprecedented" threat to food security, it says. It calls for a "climate-proof" model of development and massive emissions cuts to avoid "possibly cataclysmic change". The report, Up In Smoke 2, updates previous research from the organisations - Oxfam, the New Economics Foundation and the Working Group on Climate Change and Development, an umbrella group of aid and green groups.It says that although climates across Africa have always been erratic, scientific research and the experience of the contributing groups "indicates new and dangerous extremes". Arid or semi-arid areas in northern, western, eastern and parts of southern Africa are becoming drier, while equatorial Africa and other parts of southern Africa are getting wetter, the report says. The continent is, on average, 0.5C warmer than it was 100 years ago, but temperatures have risen much higher in some areas - such as a part of Kenya which has become 3.5C hotter in the past 20 years, the agencies report. Andrew Simms, from the New Economics Foundation, said: "Global warming is set to make many of the problems which Africa already deals with, much, much worse," he said. "In the last year alone, 25 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa have faced food crisis. "Global warming means that that many dry areas are going to get drier and wet areas are going to get wetter. They are going to be caught between the devil of drought and the deep blue seas of floods." He added that the "great tragedy" was that Africa had played virtually no role in global warming, a problem he said was caused by economic activity of the rich, industrial countries. Mr Simms said unless climate change was tackled all the "best efforts" to help Africa could come to nothing. One of the biggest threats is growing climate unpredictability, which makes subsistence farming difficult, the report says. The average number of food emergencies in Africa per year almost tripled since the mid 1980s, it points out. But it says that better planning to reduce the risk from disasters, together with developing agricultural practices that can withstand changing climates, have been shown to work and could help mitigate the impact if used be more widely.

'Overwhelming'
Up in Smoke 2 also laments the failure of industrialised governments to help developing countries adapt to climate change. Between $10bn (£5.2bn) and $40bn is needed annually, the report says, but industrialised countries have given only $43m - a tenth of the amount they have pledged - while rich country fossil fuel subsidies total $73bn a year. The agencies say that greenhouse emissions cuts of 60% - 90% will ultimately be needed - way beyond the targets set in the Kyoto agreement. "Climate change is overwhelming the situation in Africa... unless we take genuine steps now to reduce our emissions, people in the developed world will be condemning millions to hunger, starvation and death," said Tony Juniper, executive director of Friends of the Earth. The report comes two weeks before a key summit on climate change in Nairobi, where delegates will look at the progress made on the Kyoto agreement that requires industrial nations to cut their emissions by an average of 5.2% from 1990 levels by the period 2008-2012. Delegates will also consider what system should be adopted when the current period ends.

Nato 'kills 70 Afghan militants' BBC News
Nato forces in Afghanistan say they have killed 70 militants in fierce clashes in southern Uruzgan province. Up to 150 militants attacked the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) troops at their base north of Tarin Kowt, Nato says. In a battle lasting many hours, the alliance called in jets and attack helicopters to repel the assault. In a separate incident in Uruzgan, a Nato soldier was killed when his convoy hit a roadside bomb. His nationality has not been disclosed. Uruzgan province is the base for Dutch and Australian Isaf troops, although it is not clear which nationalities were involved in the clash near Tarin Kowt.

Fighting back
Nato said there would be no let up in the battle against the Taliban. "We're going to keep the pressure up... in every region across the country," alliance spokesman Maj Luke Knitting told AP news agency. The BBC's Dan Isaacs in Kabul says Nato forces have faced increasingly stiff resistance from Taleban fighters in southern and eastern Afghanistan. Although Nato has claimed significant success in defeating insurgents in the region, alliance commanders believe Taleban fighters have returned to areas where they had previously been routed, our correspondent adds. Earlier this week, controversy arose over a Nato bombing raid in which at least 12 civilians were killed in Panjwayi district in the southern province of Kandahar. Gen James Jones, a top Nato commander, apologised for the deaths, but said Taleban were to blame for using villagers as cover. One Afghan survivor told the BBC that those attacked were nomads who had been living outside a village in tents. Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he was "hurt and saddened" by the incident.

Katsav 'should halt his duties' BBC News
Israel's president should halt public duties while allegations over sexual offences - including rape - are resolved, the attorney-general says.His non-binding legal opinion follows a request from the supreme court. The government does not have the power to remove Mr Katsav, 60, from his largely ceremonial position. Mr Katsav has denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to clear his name. The allegations against him were made by a number of female employees. Two weeks ago, Israeli police said they had enough evidence to charge Mr Katsav with rape, wire-tapping and other crimes. The following day, he decided not to attend the opening of parliament. A final decision on whether to bring charges is expected in a matter of weeks.

'Public expectations'
"Given the special position of the head of state, who symbolises the sovereignty of the state, it is necessary that the president suspend himself during this affair, so that it reflects what public opinion expects from the institution of the presidency," Attorney General Menachem Mazuz was quoted as saying. He also suggested that if Mr Katsav failed to step aside, parliament should act as it is "the only body that can pronounce itself on the end of the president's mandate." There was no immediate comment from Mr Katsav's office. The father-of-five was elected for a seven-year term in 2000. He has rejected calls to quit. He has said he is the victim of a "public lynching without trial or investigation". Correspondents say that while Mr Mazuz's opinion does not mean the embattled president has to resign, it piles further pressure on him to do so.

Brazil voters choose president BBC News
Voting in under way in Brazil's presidential run-off.The second round pits the incumbent, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva - known as "Lula" - against Geraldo Alckmin, a former governor of Sao Paulo. Both candidates describe themselves as centre left. Lula has strong support among the poor, while Mr Alckmin is regarded as more pro-business. Lula narrowly failed to win outright in the first round, and opinion polls suggest he is a clear favourite. Brazil's main polling organisations both predict that Lula will win about 60% of votes against 40% for Mr Alckmin.

The corruption issue
Many people in the country had expected Lula to win outright in the first round four weeks ago - but he fell short of victory after a financial and dirty tricks scandal engulfed his governing Workers' Party. The BBC's Steve Kingstone in Sao Paulo says the corruption issue has now faded in the absence of fresh revelations, and Lula has consolidated his core support by emphasising his achievements in reducing poverty. He has also suggested Mr Alckmin would sell off Brazil's remaining state companies. Privatisation is generally viewed with suspicion in Brazil. Despite repeated denials by the challenger, the accusation may have cost him votes, our correspondent adds.