23 December 2004 Thursday 10 Ziqa'ad 1425 Crackdown leaves Mosul paralysed: Aftermath of attack on US base MOSUL, Dec 22: US forces sealed off entire districts of the Iraqi city of Mosul on Wednesday, blocking bridges and raiding homes in a hunt for suspects after an attack that killed 18 Americans and four other people. ... US pressure forces UN body to scrap report on ME CAIRO, Dec 22: US pressure has prompted a UN agency to scrap a report on freedom and governance in the Arab world whose sections on Iraq and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict angered Washington, the lead author said on Wednesday. ... Mideast conference to revive roadmap: Blair RAMALLAH, Dec 22: British Prime Minister Tony Blair said on Wednesday a planned London conference on Palestinian reform would be a critical step toward Middle East peace talks and a Palestinian state. ... Press sees murky politics in hostages' release PARIS, Dec 22: The French press said on Wednesday that the release of journalists Christian Chesnot and George Malbrunot after four months of captivity in Iraq was surrounded by mystery and murky politics. ... Annan says he is determined to stay on UNITED NATIONS, Dec 22: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan reaffirmed on Tuesday he would not resign over allegations of corruption in the UN oil-for-food programme and plans to work with member states to institute reforms at the world body as recommended by the high-level panel. ... Blair nods to Arafat tomb in careful gesture RAMALLAH, Dec 22: British Prime Minister Tony Blair nodded briefly towards Yasser Arafat's tomb on Wednesday in what Palestinian officials said was a compromise gesture agreed at the last minute. ... Palestinians to vote in local elections today RAMALLAH, Dec 22: Candidates in 26 municipalities and localities in the West Bank wrapped up campaigning on Wednesday on the eve of the first Palestinian council elections since 1976. ... Four Palestinians killed in Gaza raid GAZA, Dec 22: Four Palestinians and an Israeli were shot dead in separate incidents of an upsurge of violence in Gaza and the West Bank on Wednesday. ... Iran closes border with Iraq TEHRAN, Dec 22: Iran banned its nationals from travelling to Iraq on Wednesday in the wake of deadly blasts that killed 66 people in Kerbala and Najaf. ... UN chief's Pakistani aide resigns UNITED NATIONS, Dec 22: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Wednesday accepted the resignation of his chef de cabinet, Iqbal Riza, effective on January 15. ... DNA damage: phone firms for more research AMSTERDAM, Dec 22: Two of the world's top mobile phone makers said more research is needed into the potential for cell phone radiation to damage DNA, following a laboratory study by 12 European institutes which found harmful effects. ... Turkey, Syria sign free trade accord DAMASCUS, Dec 22: Turkey and Syria signed a free trade agreement on Wednesday and discussed how to keep Iraq united and stable despite the violence sweeping their neighbour. ... US hurls threats to Syria BEIRUT, Dec 22: US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage warned Syria on Wednesday that Washington was prepared to impose new sanctions if it failed to clamp down on fugitive Iraqi officials and end its involvement in Lebanon. ... China protests to Japan over visa BEIJING, Dec 22: China summoned Japan's ambassador on Wednesday to protest at Tokyo's issuance of a visa to former Taiwan president Lee Teng-hui, warning that it must bear responsibility for the consequences. ... Japan, US working on new security ties TOKYO, Dec 22: Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said on Wednesday that Japan was aiming to work out with the United States a new framework of their security alliance in the face of new threats. ... Tehelka shows BJP bribed witness in Gujarat massacre case NEW DELHI, Dec 22: India's rebellious news portal Tehelka. com gave a new twist on Wednesday to a notorious massacre of Muslims during the February-March 2002 Gujarat pogrom ... Pakistan, India must tackle thorny issues NEW DELHI: A year after India and Pakistan launched their first serious attempt at a bilateral dialogue after their 1998 nuclear blasts and two major military crises, the prospect of success looks tantalizingly close and yet uphill in the last stretch. ... Pollution to drop as Delhi goes underground NEW DELHI: India's capital made tracks into the future last week when its first underground trains began to run. Designed to cut pollution and improve life for 14 million people crowded into the traffic-choked capital ... 'Guerillas behind $40m heist' in Belfast BELFAST, Dec 22: Police in Northern Ireland refused to rule out paramilitary involvement on Wednesday in the stunning theft of more than 40 million dollars from a bank in downtown Belfast. ... EU court upholds curbs on Microsoft BRUSSELS, Dec 22: A European Union court on Wednesday upheld product curbs and a record fine levied by the EU's executive commission against software giant Microsoft for abusing its market dominance. ... Colombo offers cash for info on concert attack COLOMBO, Dec 22: Police announced a reward of 20 million Sri Lankan rupees on Wednesday for information leading to arrest of the main culprit in the grenade attack that killed two persons and injured several ... Hasina son's arrival in BD stirs media speculations DHAKA, Dec 22: Awami League president Sheikh Hasina's son, Sajib Wajed Joy, arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday morning amid media speculations that the 33-year-old, presently settled in the United States, will join Bangladesh politics. ...

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