25 June 2004 Friday 06 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425 Karzai sends army to northwest: Factional fighting CHAGHCHARAN, June 24: Some 600 Afghan soldiers were deployed on Thursday to halt factional violence in the country's northwest that has added to nation wide security fears as Afghanistan heads for landmark polls. ... Allawi warns of worse to come BAGHDAD, June 24: Iraqi prime minister Iyad Allawi warned of worse to come after a wave of attacks left scores of dead across four cities on Thursday, but vowed to defeat the guerillas. ... Democracy impossible in Iraq: ex-envoy LONDON, June 24: US President George Bush's plan for a Western-style democracy in Iraq will never materialize, Britain's former envoy to the country said on Thursday. ... Iraq occupation turns out to be bad investment WASHINGTON: Unless you own a lot of stock in Halliburton or other big defence, security, or construction companies, chances are the Iraq war has turned out to be a pretty bad investment ... Bush quizzed over leak of agent's name WASHINGTON, June 24: President George W. Bush was questioned for 70 minutes on Thursday in the investigation into leaks that revealed to the media the name of a CIA agent married to a US ambassador, the White House said. ... Air exercise with India a 'wake-up call' for US: general WASHINGTON, June 24: The US Air Force got a "wake-up call" in air-to-air training exercises with India earlier this year that showed the United States can no longer take air superiority for granted in a conflict ... Reality is unravelling for Bush LONDON: At the Pentagon, on June 10, while business in Washington had officially halted as the body of Ronald Reagan lay in state, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld convened an emergency meeting on the Abu Ghraib scandal ... Captives allowed to watch match TEHRAN, June 24: A group of eight British soldiers captured by Iran's hardline Revolutionary Guards were allowed to watch Monday's England-Croatia clash in the European soccer championship, a top Guards commander said on Thursday. ... Pressure grows on Seoul to review decision: Troops for Iraq SEOUL, June 24: Anti-war passions flared on Thursday as South Korean activists vowed to block the dispatch of more troops to Iraq and the government banned a video of the beheading of a Korean national. ... Writer criticizes Kuwait's rulers KUWAIT CITY, June 24: An outspoken Kuwaiti columnist on Thursday accused sections of the ruling Al Sabah family of "ruining" the emirate, in a strong attack rarely seen in this country. ... Lack of linguists a 'security risk' ADELPHI, June 24: A grave shortage of foreign linguists is endangering U.S. national security, experts said at a conference on Tuesday, but critics said efforts to address it had been superficial and inadequate. ... S. Arabia urges extremists to seize offer RIYADH, June 24: Saudi Arabia has said that its amnesty offer for the extremists has been made out from a position of strength. ... 48 Muslim graves desecrated HAGENAU, June 24: Neo-Nazi vandals have struck at the Muslim minority in the Alsace region of eastern France, desecrating 48 graves of soldiers with swastikas and "SS" inscriptions, officials said on Thursday. ... This is Europe's high noon LONDON: Suppose a champion athlete like Paula Radcliffe had to run 10km through a swamp before she even got to the starting line. This is Europe's position today. ...

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