14 October 2004 Thursday 28 Sha'aban 1425 Karzai heading for victory, says US survey WASHINGTON, Oct 13: Voters from all ethnic backgrounds supported Afghan President Hamid Karzai although, as expected, his own Pushtun voters overwhelmingly supported him, a survey released on Wednesday reported. ... Afghan 'copter crashes; eight rescued KABUL, Oct 13: Eight people were rescued Wednesday after they were stranded in a remote area of Afghanistan overnight after their United Nations helicopter developed engine trouble and made an emergency landing ... Schroeder rules out troops for Iraq: Speculations laid to rest ROME, Oct 13: German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Wednesday renewed his firm opposition to deploying troops to Iraq, a spokesman said, slapping down hints at a change in policy from his defense minister. ... Inspectors ready to return to Iraq VIENNA, Oct 13: United Nations inspectors, barred from most of Iraq since last year's invasion, are ready to return to probe the disappearance of equipment that could be used in atomic weapons, the United Nations nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday. ... 2 'intelligence agents' beheaded in Iraq DUBAI, Oct 13: A group loyal to wanted Jordanian militant Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi posted a video on the Internet Wednesday showing the beheading of two men it claimed were in the Iraqi intelligence service. ... Berlin opposes merger of Nato, US forces POIANA BRASOV, Oct 13: Germany opposes a merger of US and Nato forces in Afghanistan, its defence minister said on Wednesday as the US urged its allies to begin planning for possibly taking over command there as early as next year. ... Tel Aviv retracts charge against UN Al Quds, Oct 13: The Israeli army has retracted an accusation that Palestinian militants in Gaza used a UN ambulance to transport a rocket for firing at Israel, officials said on Wednesday. ... CIA grills Al Qaeda men in Jordan: daily AL QUDS, Oct 13: The US Central Intelligence Agency is holding top Al Qaeda suspects in a secret Jordanian jail where they are subjected to interrogation methods banned in the United States, an Israeli newspaper said on Wednesday. ... Multimedia system unveiled LOS ANGELES, Oct 13: Software behemoth Microsoft on Tuesday unveiled a new technological assault that will bring music, movies and television into consumers' living rooms through their computers. ... Remains of 'sleeping dinosaur' found LONDON, Oct 13: Scientists have unearthed the remains of a perfectly preserved 130 million-year-old new species of dinosaur which provide a first-ever look at how the prehistoric creatures slept. ... Reformists' favourite refuses to contest polls TEHRAN, Oct 13: The man Iran's embattled reformist movement had hoped would be the Islamic republic's next president, former prime minister Mir Hossein Moussavi, has rejected calls for him to stand in next June's elections ... Congress leadingin Maharashtra MUMBAI, Oct 13: India's ruling centre-left Congress party was heading for a narrow win in elections in the key western state of Maharashtra that is the heart of business and Bollywood, two television exit polls showed on Wednesday. ... Chechen war: soldiers' mothers offer mediation MOSCOW, Oct 13: Mothers of Russian soldiers fighting in Chechnya offered on Wednesday to mediate with guerillas, opening a rift with President Vladimir Putin's policy of no negotiation. ... LTTE in no hurry to free soldiers COLOMBO, Oct 13: International truce monitors in Sri Lanka have hinted that issue involving the abduction of two government paramilitary force members by the Tamil Tigers may take time to resolve. ... Turkish militant faces treason charge ISTANBUL, Oct 13: A Turkish court formally charged with treason on Wednesday a radical scholar extradited from Germany after months of legal wrangling. ... Russian law raises spectre of rule by one party: Duma adopts bill MOSCOW, Oct 13: Russia's State Duma lower house of parliament voted on Wednesday to overturn a ban on political party leaders becoming ministers, raising fears that Soviet-style one-party rule could make a comeback. ... Bosnia may close oldest museum SARAJEVO, Oct 13: A Bosnian museum that survived two world wars and the siege of Sarajevo will close to the public on Friday because of a lack of cash for salaries and winter heating, officials said on Wednesday. ... Africa turning into terror base: Bouteflika ALGIERS, Oct 13: Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said Africa risks becoming a reservoir for terrorism unless financing sources, sanctuaries and support networks for terror groups are eliminated. ... Make-or-break time in Maharashtra MUMBAI: Wednesday's Assembly polls in Maharashtra , besides choosing a new government, will also decide the fate of three generals from three different camps ... Maldives reform bid off to a rocky start COLOMBO: The Indian Ocean atoll nation of the Maldives launched moves towards democratic reform, officials said on Wednesday, but dissidents complained the process had got off to a difficult start. ...

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