09 November 2004 Tuesday 25 Ramazan 1425 4 Afghans offer to swap with hostages KABUL, Nov 8: Four Afghan journalists offered on Monday to swap places with three foreign UN workers captured by a Taliban splinter group last month, and condemned the kidnapping as against Afghan traditions and Islamic law. ... EU official questions Iraq polls feasibility THE HAGUE, Nov 8: European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, questioning the Western and Iraqi government line, said on Monday there was little prospect of Iraq holding national elections on time in January because of deteriorating security. ... Hezbollah drone over Israel leaves air force red-faced JERUSALEM, Nov 8: A flight over Israel of an unmanned Hezbollah spy plane on Sunday deeply embarrassed the Jewish state's air force, which has prided itself for decades on having total control of the region's skies. ... N-terrorism a real threat: ElBaradei SYDNEY, Nov 8: The world must take immediate action against the real threat of nuclear terrorism to prevent a September 11-style outrage, the head of the UN's atomic energy watchdog agency warned on Monday. ... US urged to end 'French-bashing' NEW YORK, Nov 8: Quit the French-bashing and let's get to work, French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier told Americans Monday in an opinion piece published in The Wall Street Journal, titled "Letter to America." ... I. Coast's army ready to work with Paris ABIDJAN, Nov 8: Top generals in Ivory Coast pledged on Monday to work with France to establish stability in the world's top cocoa grower after three days of violent anti-French riots in the main city Abidjan. ... Christians of Europe unite, says Buttiglione ROME, Nov 8: Saying Europe was facing the spectre of "a new creeping totalitarianism," Rocco Buttiglione has called on Italians to form a cross-party political movement to defend traditional Christian values throughout the continent. ... Iran accord must end N-arms plan: US WASHINGTON, Nov 8: The United States insisted on Monday that any nuclear accord with Iran must prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons and that it was in contact with European allies over a preliminary agreement with Tehran. ... Saddam's 'leg': sale being investigated BERLIN, Nov 8: German investigators said on Monday they have launched a probe into claims that part of a now legendary statue of Saddam Hussein being offered by an Internet auction house is a fake. ... Pollsters should be fired, says Bush Sr WASHINGTON, Nov 8: Former president George Bush, father of the present White House occupant, believes his son's re-election triumph caps the end of a "strange, difficult year". ... Muslim school attacked: Dutch filmmaker's death THE HAGUE, Nov 8: The Muslim community in the Netherlands has been targeted in several attacks following the murder of controversial Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh, whose suspected killer has ties with extremists. ... Mughal-i-Azam returns in colour MUMBAI, Nov 8: "Mughal-i-Azam", one of Bollywood's greatest classics, will return to the big screen this weekend after 44 years gathering dust, but this time in full colour. ... Fahd urged to lift ban on camera cell phones RIYADH, Nov 8: Four Saudi ministries have appealed to King Fahd to reverse a ban on camera-equipped mobile phones in the kingdom, a local newspaper reported on Monday. ... Eight robbers lynched in Bangladesh DHAKA, Nov 8: Eight suspected robbers were lynched and five were critically injured when a mob caught them as they were on an attempt to rob an engine-run boat at a char land in the River Januma, some 195 km from the capital city. ... BD minister accused of incompetence DHAKA, Nov 8: Ruling BNP lawmakers at a parliamentary committee meeting on Monday accused the state minister in charge of the Power Division of incompetence. ... Yusuf Islam to get 'Man of Peace' award ROME, Nov 8: Singer-songwriter and peace activist Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, will receive a "Man of Peace" award on Wednesday, two months after being refused entry to the United States on security grounds. ... Screams will not be heard WASHINGTON: With fitting irony, one of the camps used by the US marines waiting for the assault on Fallujah was formerly a Ba'ath party retreat occasionally used by Saddam Hussein's sons. Dreamland, as it was known, has an island in the middle of an artificial lake fringed by palms. ... Nato is a threat to Europe and must be disbanded LONDON: They walk the walk. They talk the talk. But they don't think the think. In the wake of the huge support given to George Bush last week, it's time we realised how different America's majority culture is, and changed our policies accordingly. ...

© The DAWN Group of Newspapers, 2004