08 March 2004 Monday 16 Muharram 1425 US accused of rights violations in Afghanistan KABUL, March 7: US forces in Afghanistan used excessive force during arrests of suspected Islamic militants, resulting in avoidable civilian deaths and possibly violating international law, Human Rights Watch said on Monday. ... Blair, Mubarak discuss Arab reforms LONDON, March 7: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Sunday for talks on the thorny issue of Arab reform. "The talks focused on internal impetus for reform within the region ... Royal genes may help Kerry: expert LONDON: If royal genes have any influence, John Kerry looks destined to dethrone George W. Bush in November's US presidential election. According to a theory its British proponents say has proved surprisingly accurate over the past century ... Inquiry call over US involvement in Haiti LONDON: For the second time in less than two years, the Bush administration is fighting accusations that it backed the violent overthrow of a democratically elected government in Latin America. ... Need to build a case for war? Step forward Chalabi LONDON: In the mayhem that followed the explosions in Baghdad and Karbala this week, Ahmad Chalabi, an ever more powerful member of the Iraqi Governing Council and a Pentagon favourite ... Sharon's role in prisoner deal questioned AL QUDS, March 7: An official investigation is to be held into how Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon came to approve a controversial prisoner exchange deal with Hezbollah, State Comptroller Eliezer Goldberg said on Sunday. ... Iran urges end to nuke probe TEHRAN, March 7: Iran called on Sunday for the UN's atomic watchdog to finish a 13-month probe of its nuclear programme and take the Islamic republic off the agency's agenda. ... S.Korea, Japan to work together on N.Korea issue TOKYO, March 7: Japan and South Korea agreed on Sunday to work closely to persuade North Korea to abandon its nuclear arms ambitions, but gave only a passing attention to thorny bilateral issues. ... Factional war in Sri Lanka feared COLOMBO, March 7: Sri Lankan troops are bracing for fighting between Tamil factions, a military official said on Sunday, as breakaway rebels claimed their leader was being targeted by death squads and vowed to hit back. ... Socialists' rule in Greece ends ATHENS, March 7: Greece's opposition conservatives won general elections by a comfortable margin on Sunday, ending more than 10 years of rule by the country's socialist party, exit polls indicated. ... Tentative détente to continue: US-Iran relations WASHINGTON: Despite the sweeping victory of staunchly anti-US conservatives in Iran's elections last month, analysts here believe the tentative detente between the two countries that began late last year ... Empress in exile finds a 'way to go on' WASHINGTON: It could be the eternal wisdom of Persia's great poets, an unforgettable bond to Iran and an everlasting love for a ruler the world shunned in his last days that have kept Farah Pahlavi anchored. ...

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2004