21 January 2004 Wednesday 28 Ziqa'ad 1424 UN team to study poll feasibility UNITED NATIONS, Jan 20: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Monday warily agreed to a US request to send a team to Iraq to study whether the country could have early direct elections for a transitional government. ... Bremer welcomes Annan's decision UNITED NATIONS, Jan 20: Senior officials from the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) and the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) on Monday welcomed the involvement of the United Nations in the transitional period ahead ... Japan's troop deployment in Iraq worries China BEIJING, Jan 20: Japan's riskiest deployment of troops since World War Two made China wince on Tuesday, but other Asian victims of Japanese wartime aggression seemed to take the news in its stride. ... US servicemen adopt Iraqi dogs BAGHDAD, Jan 20: While US troops come under almost daily assault from guerillas, Iraq's canine population are being won over with a pat on the back and a ticket out of here. ... Iraqis in endless wait for loved ones ABU GHRAIB (Iraq): At the barbed wire fence around Iraq's notorious Abu Ghraib prison, Safia Shamri pleaded with a US soldier to be allowed a glimpse of her only remaining son, who she says has been in jail since October. ... Israel hindering probe into anti-US attack: PA GAZA, Jan 20: Amid US concern at slow progress in finding the killers of three Americans in the Gaza Strip last year, a Palestinian security chief involved in the hunt blamed Israel on Tuesday for obstructing the investigation. ... Israeli bulldozer violated Lebanese territory: UN BEIRUT, Jan 20: The United Nations said on Tuesday investigations had found that an Israeli military bulldozer hit in a deadly Hezbollah rocket the day before was "violating" Lebanese territory at the time. ... Palestinians living a difficult life around Israeli wall ABU DIS: Fatina zen stayed until the end, peering down her street through the lashing rain as towering concrete slabs were slotted into place one by one across the middle of the road. ... Nato expanding Afghan operation BRUSSELS, Jan 20: Military experts will press Nato envoys this week to quicken the drive for an expansion of the international peacekeeping operation in Afghanistan before elections in June, an alliance official said on Tuesday. ... Confusion over Karzai's powers KABUL: With Afghanistan's new constitution approved, the big question remains of how Hamid Karzai will use the sweeping presidential powers he fought so hard to get. ... Bush lauds thaw in Pakistan, India ties WASHINGTON, Jan 20: US President George Bush on Tuesday met Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha, praising recent progress towards defusing tensions between India and Pakistan, the White House said. ... BD camps 'bleeding' India: Tripura CM AGARTALA, Jan 20: The chief minister of Tripura said on Tuesday his state was being "bled profusely" by militants striking from Bangladesh and demanded that New Delhi tell Dhaka to shut down alleged rebel camps. ... Delhi comes up with measures to woo voters NEW DELHI, Jan 20: The Indian government on Tuesday announced a range of measures designed to appeal to voters as it prepares for early elections. ... Rajasthan battles urbanization JAIPUR: The home of India's most famous maharajahs, their forts and their palaces - the desert state of Rajasthan - is putting on a gala show of its ancient heritage to save it from urbanization. ... S. Arabia's mufti slams unveiled women RIYADH, Jan 20: Saudi Arabia's grand mufti and its highest religious authority on Tuesday issued a scathing condemnation of Saudi women who showed up unveiled at an economic forum in Jeddah and mixed with men ... Death penalty sought for US official's killers AMMAN, Jan 20: Jordan's state prosecutor Mahmud Obeidat on Tuesday called for the death penalty for 11 people on trial over the murder of a US diplomat in 2002. ... US sends team to Libya WASHINGTON, Jan 20: US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Tuesday confirmed that a team of US experts is now on the ground in Libya, working to verify Tripoli's vow to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction. ... 18 feared dead as ship sinks in Norway BERGEN, Jan 20: Rescuers called off a search for survivors from a capsized cargo ship in icy waters off the Norwegian coast on Tuesday, leaving most of the 18 seamen presumed dead trapped inside the hull. ...

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