12 May 2004 Wednesday 21 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425 US turns down human rights body's request: Access to Afghan prisoners KABUL, May 11: The US military, under fire for its treatment of prisoners in Iraq, on Tuesday turned down a request by Afghanistan's human rights body for access to Afghans in its custody. ... US hints at employing Shia fighters BAGHDAD, May 11: The US general whose forces are fighting guerillas loyal to Moqtada Sadr said on Tuesday those fighters could form part of a new Iraqi force he wants to see in the holy city of Najaf. It could be a model for much of the country, he added. ... IGC to get custody of Saddam: lawyer KUWAIT, May 11: Saddam Hussein will be handed over to the interim governing council (IGC) before the June 30 hand over of power to face a trial and possible death sentence, a top lawyer coordinating the trial said on Tuesday. ... Sadr offers truce in return for talks NAJAF, May 11: Radical Shia leader Moqtada Sadr offered on Tuesday to end his resistance if the US-led occupation forces agreed to negotiations, according to leaflets handed out by his office in Najaf. ... British troops killed unarmed Iraqis: AI - Families allowed to file cases LONDON, May 11: Britain was hit by a double blow on Tuesday as a report accused its troops of killing Iraqi civilians without justification - including an eight-year-old girl ... US citizen beheaded in Iraq: State Dept WASHINGTON, May 11: An Al Qaeda-related website has posted a video showing the beheading of a 26-year-old American whose body was found in Baghdad over the weekend, US television networks said on Tuesday. ... US supply convoy attacked BAGHDAD, May 11: Guerillas attacked a 21-vehicle civilian supply convoy on its way to Baghdad from Jordan on Tuesday, a senior US military official said, and there were conflicting reports on whether some of the drivers were missing. ... Playing Osama's game LONDON: Despite the revelations of torture, the US-British policy is unchanged: see this historic struggle through to its conclusion for the sake of democracy and civilization; apply overwhelming force against terrorists and extremists ... US training N. African forces: paper WASHINGTON, May 11: US Special Operations forces are training countries in North Africa in anti-terror operations because the region is becoming the new base of the Al Qaeda network, The New York Times said on Tuesday. ... US slaps sanctions on Syria WASHINGTON, May 11: The White House on Tuesday slapped sanctions on Syria, including a freeze on certain assets in the United States and limits on exports of goods, including weaponry. ... Russian killed, two taken hostage MOSCOW, May 11: Russia urged on Tuesday all its remaining workers to leave Iraq after one Russian was killed and two others taken hostage in Baghdad just a month after a similar incident prompted hundreds of former Soviet nationals to flee for home. ... Bush says he is committed to state for Palestinians RAMALLAH, May 11: US President George Bush has reiterated in a letter that he is committed to a Palestinian state alongside Israel and to Middle East peace talks, a top Palestinian official said on Tuesday. ... Scientists preparing for rare astronomical event LONDON, May 11: Europe, the Middle East and much of Asia and Africa will offer prime viewing next month for an astronomical event that has not occurred for 122 years - the transit of the planet Venus across the sun. ... Four killed in Scottish factory blast GLASGOW, May 11: At least four people were killed when a huge explosion flattened a Scottish plastics factory on Tuesday, trapping workers in the wreckage, rescuers said. ... Spain says it rejected US plea to arrest Sadr MADRID, May 11: Spanish troops rejected a US request for a major offensive against the militia in Najaf before they pulled out of Iraq last month, a Spanish general in the US-led occupation force was quoted as saying on Tuesday. ... Aussie troops face action for torturing kittens TOWNSVILLE, May 11: Six Australian soldiers are facing the likelihood of dismissal after causing outrage here by admitting to a court that they tortured to death a litter of kittens. ... Congress Party may yet stage a comeback NEW DELHI: After India's mammoth election exercise ended on Monday, the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies had little of the confidence that prompted the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to call parliamentary elections ... Minions may become king makers in India NEW DELHI: India's two leading political powers were scrambling on Tuesday to tie up alliances with smaller parties after exit polls showed a hung parliament is likely in the country's just-ended marathon vote. ...

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