05 March 2004 Friday 13 Muharram 1425 Police request not met: official: Karbala attacks KARBALA, March 4: Police here charged on Thursday that Iraq's interior ministry failed to meet a request for more weapons and equipment in Karbala before Ashura that saw around 100 people killed in multiple bombings. ... Blasts happened 'one minute apart' BAGHDAD, March 4: The bombings in Baghdad and Karbala that killed some 170 people were carefully planned strikes that happened one minute apart, the commander of US troops in the Iraqi capital said on Thursday. ... Foreign fighters a minority in Iraq: US BAGHDAD, March 4: The number of foreigners involved in attacks in Iraq has increased significantly, but Iraqi guerillas remain the mainstay of the resistance, a senior US military official said on Thursday. ... Iraqi casualties won't move US voters: polls WASHINGTON, March 4: Iraq policy is only a low priority for American voters and the mounting civilian casualty toll there is unlikely to damage President George Bush's re-election chances, political analysts and pollsters say. ... The mystery of Iraq invasion LONDON: A year ago this month, America and Britain went to war on Iraq, claiming that Saddam Hussein had secret stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction which were a threat to his neighbours and the world. ... Annan asks UK to explain bugging allegation UNITED NATIONS, March 4: UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan met British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry on Thursday in search of an explanation of alleged British bugging of his office, but both men were mum after their talk. ... Threat to blow up France's rail tracks PARIS, March 4: Thousands of police and railway workers combed the French railway network in a fruitless search for bombs Thursday, as intelligence agents sought to identify the unknown group threatening to set off a series of explosions unless the government pays millions of dollars. ... US, Europe at odds over strategy on Iran WASHINGTON, March 4: Key European allies have rejected a US push to refer Iran to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions due to its nuclear activities ... US not to allow lawyers for Guantanamo inmates WASHINGTON, March 4: Foreign terrorism suspects held at the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, do not have the right to a lawyer when appearing before a panel that will annually consider their possible release, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. ... Conviction of 9/11 suspect overturned KARLSRUHE, March 4: The only man convicted over the Sept 11, 2001, attacks in the United States won the right to a retrial on Thursday in a German appeal ruling that prosecutors said would hamper the pursuit of dangerous extremists. ... BD MP worried over India, Israel deal DHAKA, March 4: A senior policy-maker of ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Wednesday night found "fishy" a recently reported deal between the intelligence agencies of India and Israel to share information. ... Malaysia denies US pressure over N-issue KUALA LUMPUR, March 4: Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Thursday denied that the United States had put pressure on him after his son was embroiled in the international nuclear black market scandal. ... US told DPRK it's running out of patience: WP WASHINGTON, March 4: The United States made it clear that it was running out of patience in its efforts to have North Korea dismantle its nuclear weapons programme at the recent six-day talks in Beijing ... Afghan farmers struggling KABUL: Despite last year's abundant harvest, a lack of food- storage and processing facilities has created a crisis for Afghanistan's struggling farmers. ...

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