18 November 2004 Thursday 05 Shawwal 1425 Iraq invasion has made world more dangerous: Chirac LONDON, Nov 17: Last year's invasion of Iraq and ousting of President Saddam Hussein has made the world more dangerous by provoking terrorism, French President Jacques Chirac said on the eve of a state visit to Britain. ... American Muslim group calls for investigation: War crimes in Fallujah SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 17: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest American Muslim civil rights organization, has called for an immediate probe of alleged war crimes committed in the Iraqi city of Fallujah. ... PA to probe cause of Arafat's death RAMALLAH, Nov 17: The Palestinian Authority (PA) constituted a committee on Wednesday to investigate reasons behind the death of Yasser Arafat. Interim President Rawhi Fattouh told reporters in Ramallah that committee chairman, Health Minister Jawad Tibi, will also head a delegation that will travel to France in an attempt to receive the French medical report on Arafat. ... Palestinian state should be set up soon: Paris PARIS, Nov 17: French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier on Wednesday urged the United States not to delay in pushing for a Palestinian state which should be established "as soon as possible." ... Hamas co-founder to run for presidency HEBRON, Nov 17: A co-founder of the Hamas, an academic and a lawyer on Wednesday announced their intention to run in January's Palestinian presidential election. Sheikh Talal Sidr, 51, a former Hamas supremo and junior cabinet minister, said he would campaign on a programme of "continuing the policies of Yasser Arafat, God bless his soul. ... US readies missile defence system WASHINGTON, Nov 17: The US missile defence system is still on track to go on alert by the end of this year and key military commands are conducting "shakedown exercises" in preparation, a defence spokesman said on Wednesday. ... Iran ready to help US out of Iraq 'quagmire' TEHRAN, Nov 17: Iranian President Mohammad Khatami said on Wednesday his country was ready to help the Americans get out of a "quagmire" in Iraq, but again ruled out any immediate prospect of direct talks with Washington. ... Schroeder urges US to learn from mistakes BERLIN, Nov 17: German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has welcomed the appointment of Condoleezza Rice as the new US secretary of state with a call for the United States to listen closer to its allies. ... Bush policies caused racial profiling of Muslims: body SAN FRANCISCO, Nov 17: American Arabs and Muslims increasingly became targets of ethnic profiling following 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York and the Pentagon, says the US Commission on Civil Rights in a report that was finished in September but not publicly discussed until after this month's presidential election. ... WB chief praises India over talks on Kashmir NEW DELHI, Nov 17: World Bank President James D. Wolfensohn on Wednesday lauded India's engagement with Pakistan over the Kashmir dispute and said New Delhi had a key role to play in global stability, peace and economic prosperity. ... Delhi, Tel Aviv discuss post-Arafat ties NEW DELHI, Nov 17: Foreign ministry officials of India and Israel on Wednesday discussed the post-Yasser Arafat scenario in their first meeting since the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance took power in May. ... CIA officials told not to oppose govt WASHINGTON, Nov 17: CIA Director Porter Goss has reminded agency employees that they are not to "identify with, support or champion opposition" to the US administration in the latest salvo of a struggle for political control of the intelligence agency. ... Russia working on new nuclear arms: Putin MOSCOW, Nov 17: Russia is working on new nuclear missile systems that other powers do not have in order to protect itself against future security threats, President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday. ... Speculations mount over N. Korea situation SEOUL, Nov 17: North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has visited a military unit, the country's official KCNA news agency reported on Wednesday, just hours after reports surfaced that his portrait had been removed from some public places. ... Kuwait tells aliens to leave by Dec 31 KUWAIT CITY, Nov 17: Kuwait has given a deadline to illegal residents to leave the country or legalize their status, said an Amiri decree. According to amnesty granted by Amiri decree 17/59, illegal residents can leave the country at any exit point by land, sea or air during the period beginning from Nov 20, and ends on Dec 31. ... Bombs hit three bank branches in Argentina BUENOS AIRES, Nov 17: Bombs exploded at three banks in the Argentine capital on Wednesday, including two branches of U.S. giant Citibank, killing one security guard and injuring a bomb squad officer, officials said. ... Film on Prophet released NEW YORK, Nov 17: Thousands of Muslims in the United States flocked over the Eid holidays to see the animated film, "Muhammad (PBUH) : The Last Prophet", in some 92 theatres across the country. ... Locusts swarm Cairo CAIRO, Nov 17: Swarms of pink locusts swept through Cairo on Wednesday in scenes that recalled the biblical plague of Egypt. The swarms flew high above tall towers or swooped down onto tree lined streets, where scared pedestrians stamped on them or ran for cover. ... Maoists kill eight policemen in Nepal KATHMANDU, Nov 17: Maoist rebels fighting to overthrow Nepal's constitutional monarchy killed at least eight policemen on Wednesday in an ambush on a patrol in the west of the Himalayan nation, police said. ... India should not expect much from Powell's exit NEW DELHI: Outgoing US Secretary of State Colin Powell might not have had much say in Washington's critical policy decisions in Iraq, North Korea and Iran, but he managed to jar India on several issues that resulted in a less than happy relationship with New Delhi. ... Hope and hiccups for peace in Kashmir NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's two-day visit to occupied Kashmir, which began on Wednesday, holds out the promise of a new deal for the held state. ... LTTE still enlisting child soldiers Thousands of child soldiers have been forcibly recruited by Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka despite a cease fire called in 2002 between the government and the separatists, Human Rights Watch said in its recent report. ...

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