10 February 2004 Tuesday 18 Zilhaj 1424 Kabul seeks world help in stemming drug trade KABUL, Feb 9: Drug production, combined with terrorism, is the biggest problem facing Afghanistan as it attempts to rebuild after more than two decades of war, President Hamid Karzai told an anti-narcotics conference Monday. ... Afghanistan vital to world security: Nato KABUL, Feb 9: The stability of Afghanistan is vital to world security, the country's president and Nato's secretary general agreed on Monday. Speaking at a ceremony marking the handover of command of the Nato-run force that mostly polices Kabul ... Al Qaeda tape for destruction of US: paper BERLIN, Feb 9: The German authorities are holding an audio tape apparently recorded by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian suspected of being a senior member of Al Qaeda ... US troops moving to Baghdad's outskirts BAGHDAD, Feb 9: US forces in Iraq began scaling down their presence inside Baghdad with the arrival of fresh troops who are mostly moving into bases on the city's outskirts, a top US commander said on Monday. ... Al Qaeda trying to stir civil war in Iraq: US BAGHDAD, Feb 9: A militant linked to the Al Qaeda network has plotted a series of attacks in Iraq aimed at provoking sectarian violence and a civil war, the US-led occupation authority said on Monday. ... Bush's fortunes fall, Kerry's rise WASHINGTON, Feb 9: US President George Bush's political stock has tumbled sharply since December, the failure to find banned Iraqi arms looming large over his reelection not quite two months after Saddam Hussein's capture. ... US rights violations make Iraqis bitter: Arab League CAIRO: Violations of human rights and international law by US-led forces in Iraq have embittered the populace, an Arab League report obtained on Monday said. ... Paris, Berlin seek EU constitution accord by June GENSHAGEN, Feb 9: France and Germany want an agreement on a new European Union constitution before the Irish presidency of the bloc expires at the end of June, French President Jacques Chirac said on Monday. ... US plans 'democracy' for ME, S. Asia: Bush to unveil initiative in June WASHINGTON: The Bush administration has launched an ambitious bid to promote democracy in the "greater Middle East" that will adapt a model used to press for freedoms in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. ... Sharon's policies sabotaging creation of a Palestinian state TEL AVIV: Ali Jarbawi has long seen the creation of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side, as the best solution to the Middle East conflict. ... Move flouts accords, says rights group: French scarf ban VIENNA, Feb 9: The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) expressed deep concern on Monday over a planned French law to ban headscarves from schools, saying it would violate international conventions. ... Issue misread, say Muslim leaders PARIS, Feb 9: On the eve of a parliamentary vote expected to outlaw religious emblems in state schools, Muslim leaders say France does not see that girls who wear headscarves may be trying to escape family traditions, not reinforce them. ... E. Punjab CM's plane flies over PM House NEW DELHI, Feb 9: East Punjab chief minister's official plane intruded on Monday into the restricted airspace over Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's official residence, triggering a security scare. ... Congress slams BJP pledge to build temple NEW DELHI, Feb 9: The Congress party on Monday criticized the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party for promising to construct a controversial temple as part of their re-election campaign. ... Suraiyya's 'cousin' claims property MUMBAI, Feb 9: A Pakistani who claims to be the cousin of a top Bollywood actress of the 1940s has popped up in Mumbai to stake a claim to her 11-million-dollar property. ... 'If you are a Christian, raise your hand' NEW YORK, Feb 9: An American Airlines pilot is facing an internal investigation after reportedly asking Christian passengers to identify themselves, and suggesting that non-Christians on his flight were "crazy." ... S. Arabia, Russia ban US poultry imports: Bird flu toll rises to 19 RIYADH, Feb 9: Saudi Arabia, Russia and Poland have suspended poultry imports from the US state of Delaware after chickens there were found infected with bird flu. ... Putin challenger stays untraced MOSCOW, Feb 9: Speculation mounted in Russia on Monday over what had happened to a presidential candidate who is backed by an exiled tycoon and Kremlin critic and has mysteriously gone missing five weeks before the election. ... Libyan FM in landmark visit to UK LONDON, Feb 9: Libya's foreign minister became the country's most senior official to visit Britain in more than three decades on Monday, on a landmark visit that marks the diplomatic rehabilitation of the one-time pariah state. ... Kuwait orders probe into Halliburton deal KUWAIT CITY, Feb 9: Kuwaiti Energy Minister Sheikh Ahmad Fahd al Sabah has ordered a judicial probe into allegations that officials have profited from a deal with US oil services giant Halliburton to supply fuel to the US military in Iraq, the official KUNA news agency said on Monday. ... Sari goes herbal NEW DELHI, Feb 9: Saris, the bedrock of Indian women's attire, will soon come with medicinal value as traditional crafters inject refreshing herbs into the fabric. ... LTTE terms Chandrika's move a grave mistake: Early elections COLOMBO, Feb 9: Tamil Tigers said on Monday that snap parliamentary elections called in Sri Lanka were a "grave setback" to the already troubled peace process as the political turmoil sent the markets crashing. ... Youth lose faith in Iranian revolution TEHRAN: They slice through traffic on their motorbikes, racing each other at breakneck speed with one hand holding a mobile phone. They listen to heavy metal, read Gunter Grass and admire Tom Cruise. ... New efforts to catch war criminals in Bosnia SARAJEVO: Senior representatives of the international community in Bosnia announced details on Monday of a new operation aimed at apprehending the country's most wanted war criminals. ...

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