26 January 2004 Monday 03 Zilhaj 1424 Annan bows to pressure, may send mission to Iraq: Power transfer deadline not negotiable: US UNITED NATIONS, Jan 25: Under intense pressure from the United States UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan may announce next week that he will send a mission to Iraq ... Legality of Saddam's trial questioned BAGHDAD, Jan 25: Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein can only be tried in Iraq when the country regains sovereignty due to Geneva Conventions restrictions, International Committee of the Red Cross officials said on Sunday. ... Has Iraq distracted US from war against Al Qaeda? HAS the war to overthrow Saddam Hussein distracted the United States from more pressing matters, most notably the global war against Al Qaeda? Many top Democrats are arguing that case these days. ... Ritual, austerity cloak Sistani NAJAF: He may represent the greatest challenge to the US-led coalition's plans for restoring sovereignty to Iraq, but powerful leader Ali al-Sistani hides behind an arcane and near-impenetrable curtain of Shia ritual and austerity. ... Poland emerging as key player WARSAW: Ex-communist Poland, a close ally of the United States in Iraq and due to become the European Union's biggest new member in four months' time, is asserting itself as a key player on the world stage. ... Israel appoints new AG AL QUDS, Jan 25: The Israeli government on Sunday named a new attorney general, whose most pressing task will be to decide whether to indict Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for alleged corruption. ... Khatami sees no major change in US policies TEHRAN, Jan 25: Iran will not restore diplomatic ties with the United States until there has been a "fundamental change" in its policies towards the Islamic republic, President Mohammad Khatami said on Sunday. ... Mysterious disease kills 16 children in BD DHAKA, Jan 25: Bangladeshi experts are trying to identify a mysterious disease which has reportedly killed 16 children in the past week, officials said on Sunday. ... Second Mars rover lands, sends more pictures PASADENA, Jan 25: NASA's Opportunity rover zipped its first pictures of Mars to Earth early Sunday, delighting and puzzling scientists just hours after the spacecraft bounced to a landing on the opposite side of the red planet from its twin rover, Spirit. ... Courts clip govts' anti-terror powers LONDON: For two years, courts did little to interfere as Western governments took on sweeping new anti-terror powers in the wake of September 11. But 2004 looks to be the year the judges have their say. ... Rape-accused judge returns home CAPE TOWN, Jan 25: A high-profile South African judge accused of raping a compatriot in his hotel room during the World Social Forum (WSF) in India returned to Cape Town on Sunday and said the scandal had been the worst period in his life. ... Africa set for a spate of crucial elections JOHANNESBURG: Africa will witness several key elections this year, with some constituting a litmus test for nations emerging from war and unrest and others marking a milestone ... 120 students picked up in Nepal KATHMANDU, Jan 25: Nepalese police on Sunday arrested some 120 students while they were staging anti-monarchy demonstration in Kathmandu and the western city of Pokhara, student leaders claimed. ... Thailand uses troops as bird flu spreads BANGKOK, Jan 25: Thailand on Sunday dispatched hundreds of troops to help battle the outbreak of bird flu in the kingdom which spread to a second province on Sunday despite the mass cullings of chickens. ...

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