09 July 2004 Friday 20 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425 Tension in Kirkuk threat to Turkey, says military ANKARA, July 8: Continued tensions between Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen in Iraq's northern oil-rich city of Kirkuk could endanger Turkey's national security, Turkey's powerful military General Staff said on Thursday. ... Rectifying 'Arabization': the hardest job in Iraq KIRKUK: In a contest over who has Iraq's toughest job, Tahsin Hamid Yassin would be up there with the prime minister, the judge handling the Saddam Hussein trial, and the American commander of the 160,000 foreign troops based in Iraq. ... Ukrainian infantry in Iraq asks for ticket to home KIEV: Members of the Ukrainian troop contingent in Iraq want pay raises or plane tickets home on grounds that the guerilla war they are being forced to fight is nothing like the peacekeeping operation army recruiters promised them. ... 45-minute claim 'not supported', says inquiry LONDON, July 8: The British government's claim Saddam Hussein could unleash chemical and biological weapons within 45 minutes was inadequately supported by intelligence, the Financial Times said on Thursday an inquiry will conclude. ... IAEA head fails to budge Israel: 'Strategic ambiguity' JERUSALEM, July 8: Israel held fast to its policy of ambiguity about whether it has nuclear weapons and its refusal to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as UN nuclear chief Mohamed ElBaradei concluded a visit on Thursday. ... Egypt's two-pronged strategy for Gaza BEIRUT: Despite breaking the Arab consensus to sign the first peace treaty with Israel approximately 25 years ago, Egypt enjoys the confidence of the Palestinian leadership. ... Ex-Enron chief surrenders HOUSTON, July 8: Former Enron chairman and chief executive Kenneth Lay surrendered to federal agents on Thursday after being indicted on criminal charges of fraud and making false statements while the energy powerhouse collapsed into bankruptcy. ... Governor's plane caused scare at Reagan's funeral WASHINGTON, July 8: The US Air Force came close to shooting Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher out of the sky when his twin-engine plane intruded into banned air space over the US capital during the funeral last month for ex-president Ronald Reagan ... Australia, US plan missile defence WASHINGTON, July 8: The United States and one of its key Asia-Pacific allies, Australia, have agreed to develop a controversial missile defence shield to deter and protect against countries having access to ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. ... Clash near marine's home TRIPOLI, July 8: One person was killed and several were wounded on Thursday when a gunbattle erupted near the home of a Lebanese-born US marine who had been missing in Iraq. ... Germany's database plan alarms Muslims BERLIN, July 8: Germany said on Thursday it would create a central database on suspected radical Muslims, provoking concern from the country's large Muslim community. ... Another unrest on the rise in Yemen SANA'A: More than 200 people have been killed in clashes between Islamic militants and the government forces using warplanes and tanks; this is not Iraq, but the picture of new developments in Yemen. ...

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