01 February 2004 Sunday 09 Zilhaj 1424 Taliban rejected 30 US pleas to expel Osama: papers WASHINGTON, Jan 31: Afghanistan's former Taliban rulers rebuffed more than 30 US requests to expel Osama bin Laden between 1996 and just before the September 11 attacks in 2001 ... US, EU raise objections to ICJ hearing: Israeli barrier WASHINGTON, Jan 31: The United States and the European Union on Friday expressed opposition to a hearing by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of a plea against the Israeli barrier. ... Annan's remarks anger Tel Aviv UNITED NATIONS, Jan 30: In an unusually strong criticism on Friday, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations chastised Secretary General Kofi Annan over his remarks on the latest suicide bombing in occupied Al Quds. ... Jewish, Arab Americans disapprove of Bush policy WASHINGTON: If US President George W. Bush believed that aligning US policies more closely to those of the right-wing Likud government headed by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon would win him more votes from Jewish Americans, he should think again. ... Bush considering probe on Iraq WASHINGTON, Jan 31: Under pressure from Capitol Hill, US President George Bush is considering the formation of an independent panel to investigate intelligence on Iraq that he used to justify the invasion ... Dutch embassy in Baghdad rocketed BAGHDAD, Jan 31: The Dutch embassy in Baghdad was engulfed in flames on Friday night after a rocket-propelled grenade struck the unoccupied building, sparking a major alert in the capital. ... Fallujah leaflet says US troops to quit Iraq FALLUJAH, Jan 31: Guerillas in Fallujah were seen handing out leaflets to locals on Saturday detailing a plan to take over Iraqi cities "once US-led coalition troops leave". ... BBC staff condemn Hutton report LONDON, Jan 31: Fallout from Britain's explosive Hutton report showed no sign of abating on Saturday as indignant BBC staff defended their ex-boss and there were renewed demands for a public inquiry into Prime Minister Tony Blair's case for invading Iraq. ... Saddam's plans were the deciding factor: Finding WMDs was secondary LONDON: The rush of experts and politicians to the microphone this week to finally admit that US and British intelligence estimates of Iraqi weapons holdings were wrong underlines the fact that the invasion of Iraq was not conjured from thin air in the few months before the war began. ... UK, French airlines cancel 5 US flights WASHINGTON, Jan 31: US intelligence identified an Al Qaeda threat to several US-bound flights, leading to the cancellation of five flights by British and French airlines on Saturday to avoid a repeat of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States. ... Sikhs protest French move to ban turban PARIS, Jan 31: A Paris boulevard became a sea of coloured turbans on Saturday as Sikhs from across Europe marched to defend their traditional headgear against a looming French ban on religious symbols in state schools. ... 200 missing after DR Congo boat accident KINSHASA, Jan 31: Around 200 people are missing after a boat caught fire and sank last week on a river in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a spokesman for the UN mission in the central African country said on Saturday. ... Rover starts moving on Mars surface PASADENA, Jan 31: The rover Opportunity signalled to NASA scientists on Saturday that it has driven onto the surface of Mars to begin a mission to explore the planet's geological history and search for signs of water. ... Bush to attend 'prayer breakfast' NEW YORK, Jan 31: Thousands of people drawn from all walks of life representing various religious denominations will attend a National Prayer Breakfast (NPB) meeting on Thursday (Feb 5) in Washington. ... US body to defend immigrants NEW YORK, Jan 31: To protect the rights of Pakistani-Americans and other Muslim immigrants, the Open Society Institute is issuing 200,000 dollars in grants to the Four Freedoms Fund ... More cases of bird flu detected in China BEIJING, Jan 31: China's window of opportunity to stop the spread of bird flu is narrowing, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned as the country stepped up checks on poultry nationwide for signs of the deadly virus. ... US presses EU to keep embargo against China BEIJING: The Bush administration has quietly lodged a series of formal protests with the European Union and its members in an attempt to persuade the body not to lift its 14-year ban on weapons sales to China, according to diplomats from several European countries. ... India's ruling coalition faces fierce fight in polls NEW DELHI: With the announcement by India's ruling coalition that it will ask for the dissolution of the lower house of parliament on Feb 6, the country is all set for national elections to get underway probably five months before the term of the house ends. ...

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