29 January 2004 Thursday 06 Zilhaj 1424 Karzai signed changed charter, allege delegates KABUL, Jan 28: Afghan President Hamid Karzai stood accused on Wednesday of signing a constitution into law that had been altered since its adoption this month by a Constitutional Loya Jirga, or Grand Assembly. ... Afghan polls may miss deadline: US WASHINGTON, Jan 28: The United States admitted for the first time on Tuesday that Afghanistan could miss a June deadline for general election, a development that would check the momentum in rebuilding the country. ... UK soldier killed in Kabul KABUL, Jan 28: A British soldier died and three were wounded on Wednesday when a suspected suicide bomber drove a taxi carrying explosives up to their vehicle in Kabul, the second attack on peacekeepers in the Afghan capital in as many days. ... US vows to capture Osama this year KABUL, Jan 28: The US-led coalition in Afghanistan is confident of capturing Osama bin Laden, who has long eluded determined efforts to catch him, by the end of the year, a military spokesman said on Wednesday. ... Kurds fear 'sell-out' ARBIL: The crisis over elections in Iraq is destabilizing the north of the country, where thousands of Kurds are campaigning for the right to remain autonomous amid fears they would be "sold out" by the coalition authorities. ... Three US soldiers killed in Iraq BAGHDAD, Jan 28: Three US soldiers were killed and three injured by a homemade bomb that hit a night patrol south of Baghdad on Tuesday. The incident occurred near Iskandriyah, 40 kilometres south of the capital ... UN tiptoes over Iraq elections NEW YORK: It has organized successful elections in Cambodia and East Timor, in the Balkans, Central America and Africa. But the United Nations is tiptoeing into the political minefield of Iraq ... Iran's enrichment not 'stopped' TEHRAN, Jan 28: Iran's suspension of uranium enrichment will be short-lived and the Islamic Republic will restart the programme whenever it chooses, Hassan Rohani, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said on Wednesday. ... Iran gets friendlier with neighbours DUBAI: Although Iran is facing political turmoil inside the country, its relationship with Persian Gulf and Middle Eastern countries has never been better since the 1979 revolution ended 2,500 years of monarchy in 1979. ... 13 Asian states unite to fight bird flu BANGKOK, Jan 28: Representatives of 13 countries agreed to coordinate their efforts to contain the outbreak of avian flu in Asia as they met in Bangkok on Wednesday in response to the rapid spread of the deadly disease. ... Asia hopes bird flu is no rerun of Sars SINGAPORE: It's early days but Asia is keeping its collective fingers crossed that the rapid spread of deadly bird flu will take a much milder economic toll on the region than last year's Sars epidemic. ... BD court convicts IG of contempt DHAKA, Jan 28: The High Court on Tuesday fined the Inspector General of Police, Shahudul Huq, Tk 2,000 and one month imprisonment in default for contempt of court, national dailies report on Wednesday. ... Hutton's report on Kelly's death: main points LONDON, Jan 28: Following are Lord Hutton's main findings on the suicide of weapons expert David Kelly and what they mean for the protagonists. ... There is always room for impeachment LONDON: Say the word "impeachment" and people think of Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky or, before that, Richard Nixon. In fact, it is an English invention. ... Second Mars rover facing problems LOS ANGELES, Jan 28: As Nasa scientists pored over striking new photos from Mars revealing finely layered formations of ancient bedrock, engineers labored on Tuesday to diagnose problems with two robotic rovers on opposite sides of the Red Planet. ... Kay says 'we were all wrong' WASHINGTON, Jan 28: The former US chief weapons hunter David Kay called Wednesday for a review of the US intelligence failure over Iraq's weapons of mass destruction but insisted political pressure was not to blame. ... Kerry wins another primary MANCHESTER, Jan 28: John Kerry of Massachusetts, a decorated Vietnam War veteran and four-term US senator, celebrated his second electoral victory in eight days on Tuesday and vowed to take his fight against President George Bush across the country. ... Reforming WTO still a distant goal WASHINGTON: Consensus on how to reform the embattled World Trade Organization (WTO) will not be easy to achieve, if a survey of experts is any indicator. ... N. Korea offers missile technology to Nigeria ABUJA, Jan 28: North Korea has offered Nigeria missile technology but Abuja has not taken them up on the offer, a spokesman said on Wednesday, clarifying an earlier statement that the African country was seeking such weapons. ... Study traces brain lesions in migraine CHICAGO: Researchers have identified brain lesions in migraine victims, a finding that could indicate the severe headaches are a progressive brain-damaging disease in some cases, a study said on Tuesday. ...

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