21 January 2005 Friday 10 Zilhaj 1425 WP retracts story on Saddam era torture WASHINGTON, Jan 20: The Washington Post on Thursday retracted a 2003 story about an Iraqi woman who claimed to have been arrested, sexually assaulted and made to watch soldiers of the Saddam regime mutilating her husband's body. ... UK press blames army officers, govt over Iraq abuse LONDON, Jan 20: The British press on Thursday expressed revulsion over photographs showing the abuse of Iraqi civilians, saying they heaped shame on the nation, but blamed army officials and the government instead of low-ranking soldiers ... Montazeri urges Iraqi ulema to avoid politics TEHRAN, Jan 20: Iraq should learn from the experience of Iran's 1979 revolution and not allow religious leaders to take a political role for which they are unqualified, Iran's leading dissident said on Thursday. ... Lebanonization of Iraq feared BEIRUT: Spiralling violence and political controversy over Iraq's Jan 30 election are raising fears of a Lebanon-style civil war in the divided land, analysts say. ... US, Israel force Annan into removing official UNITED NATIONS, Jan 20: Under pressure from Israel and the United States, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has decided not to reappoint the head of United Nations relief agency for Palestinians, UN officials said on Wednesday. ... WW II horror must not occur again: Annan UNITED NATIONS, Jan 20: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said Wednesday that "the evil that killed 6 million Jews and others in the Nazi death camps 60 years ago still threatens the world ... Egypt's N-lab under probe, say diplomats VIENNA, Jan 20: United Nations inspectors investigating undeclared nuclear activity in Egypt are checking out a reprocessing lab for making plutonium, diplomats said. ... 48 French students expelled over dress PARIS, Jan 20: A total of 48 students have been expelled in France since September for violating a new law that bans the wearing of religious insignia in state schools, Education Minister Francois Fillon said on Thursday. ... G7 invites India to London meeting NEW DELHI, Jan 20: India is set to make its debut at the G7 next month, becoming only the third outside country to attend a meeting of the club of rich nations in a sign of its growing importance as a world economic power. ... Indians surround Pepsi, Coke plants MANDIDEEP, Jan 20: Thousands of students and farmers on Thursday surrounded Pepsi and Coca-Cola factories in a "Quit India" campaign, accusing the US giants of selling soft drinks laced with pesticides. ... India cracks down on polluters NEW DELHI: Authorities in the Indian capital are launching a new crackdown on polluting traffic in a further bid to clean up one of the dirtiest cities in the world. ... Tsunami builds global military ties KUALA LUMPUR: Asia's tsunami has turned into a military confidence-building exercise on a global scale, as armed forces work alongside each other and forge personal relationships that could one day avert a crisis. ... Sri Lanka peace hinges on tsunami cleanup COLOMBO: It took a devastating tsunami to finally give the Sri Lankan government and its feared Tamil Tiger foes a common goal after two decades of bloody civil war - and now the clean-up may hold the key to elusive lasting peace. ... Scientists discover human mosquito repellent LONDON: British researchers have found chemicals produced by the human body that repel mosquitos, which could lead to a natural, odourless bug spray. Scientists have long known that some people are more tempting targets for mosquitos than others. ...

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