13 January 2004 Tuesday 20 Ziqa'ad 1424 Iraq's division to serve Israel's interest: Riyadh ABU DHABI, Jan 12: Any plan to split Iraq into ethnic Kurdish, Sunni or Shia territory would have grave consequences for the Gulf Arab region, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Britain said on Monday. ... US starts rotating Iraq troops via Turkey ANKARA, Jan 12: The United States has started rotating troops of its Iraq occupation force through a US air base in NATO-member Turkey, a Turkish official said on Monday. ... News agency protests detention BAGHDAD, Jan 12: Reuters said on Monday it had made a formal complaint to the US military about the arrest and treatment of three of its staff held after a helicopter crash near the town of Falluja. ... Spain seeks UN return to Iraq BAGHDAD, Jan 12: The foreign ministers of Spain and Iraq called on Monday for the United Nations to return to the US-occupied country as soon as possible to help oversee the upcoming handover of power back to Iraqis. ... Israeli MPs support Sharon's threat: Unilateral measures TEL AVIV, Jan 12: The Israeli parliament approved on Monday a statement made by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon last month threatening to implement unilateral measures in the Palestinian territories outside the framework of the roadmap. ... Gaza settlers ignore evacuation talk NEVE DEKALIM (Gaza Strip): A projectile landed in Celia Goldstein's garden. It blew in the front door and sent shrapnel flying into the house. It was not a surprise. This is Gush Katif, a cluster of Jewish settlements that take up roughly one third of the Gaza Strip's coastline. ... Reformists in Iran stage sit-in against ban TEHRAN, Jan 12: Angry Iranian reformists accused hardline foes on Monday of threatening the country's future and more MPs joined a protest sit-in after thousands of liberals were barred from standing in elections next month. ... Solana lauds Iran's nuclear cooperation TEHRAN, Jan 12: European Foreign Policy chief Javier Solana on Monday applauded Iran's efforts to dispel international concerns it may be developing nuclear weapons. ... Al Azhar chief defends decree: Headscarf ban in France CAIRO, Jan 12: The sheikh of Al Azhar has again defended his decree supporting a French decision to ban headscarves in state schools, according to an interview published on Monday. ... Qatar backs Geneva initiative RIYADH, Jan 12: Qatar is the first Gulf state to officially support the Geneva peace initiative between the Israelis and the Palestinians. It has also urged the Arabs states to support the plan; ... New govt to be in place by April, hopes Vajpayee HYDERABAD, Jan 12: Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said on Monday parliamentary polls would be held "at the earliest" opportunity and hoped a new government would be in place by April. ... N. Korea offers to freeze N-reactors SEOUL, Jan 12: North Korea offered Monday to freeze its nuclear reactors producing weapons grade plutonium if compensated by Washington in a new sign officials say shows Pyongyang wants to negotiate an end to its nuclear crisis. ... US to seek record of passengers WASHINGTON, Jan 12: The US government is pressing ahead with a controversial security programme to conduct background checks and assign a colour-coded risk rating to all passengers at US airports, the Washington Post said on Monday. ... US jet drops bomb in UK by mistake LONDON, Jan 12: The United States Air Force is investigating how one of its fighter jets dropped an unarmed bomb onto the countryside in northern England last week, a spokesman said on Monday. ... BD minister accused of corruption DHAKA, Jan 12: The Communication Minister of Bangladesh, Barrister Nazmul Huda, has been accused of corruption by lawmakers of his own party in connection with the import of several thousand CNG-run three wheelers from India. ... Eight die in BD accident dhaka, Jan 12: At least eight people were killed and 15 injured on Monday when a train rammed a truck and sent it hurtling into a ditch at a foggy rail crossing near Dhaka, an official said. ... 13 killed in Nepal clashes KATHMANDU, Jan 12: At least 13 people were killed in a series of bloody clashes on Sunday marking the latest violence of a long-running Maoist insurgency in Nepal, an army official said. ... Vitamin D prevents sclerosis, say studies WASHINGTON, Jan 12: Vitamin D - which the body makes when exposed to sunlight - may help prevent multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, two studies suggest. ... Singing gunmen kill 12 in Burundi BUJUMBURA, Jan 12: Twelve Burundians were killed when a large group of gunmen singing 'Alleluia' launched a night time raid on a village outside the capital, a government official said on Monday. ... US invasion planned in 2001, says O'Neill NEW YORK, Jan 12: Former US treasury secretary Paul O'Neill said in a candid interview on Sunday that the United States began laying the groundwork for an invasion of Iraq just days after President Bush took office in Jan 2001 - more than two years before the start of the invasion. ... US pleas fail to change Brazil's decision NEW YORK, Jan 12: A day before US President George Bush's meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil said on Monday it would continue fingerprinting and photographing US visitors for at least 30 days in retaliation for new US measures. ... Neo-cons believe there is no middle way for Americans WASHINGTON: If hardcore neo-conservatives Richard Perle and David Frum had their way, the Bush administration would be issuing ultimatums on virtually a daily basis. ...

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