28 January 2005 Friday 17 Zilhaj 1425 Bargaining to decide top posts in new Iraqi govt: US official BAGHDAD, Jan 27: No party or coalition is likely to emerge as a crushing victor in Iraq's election and intense bargaining will decide the top positions in the next government, a US official said on Thursday. ... Ukraine, not Iraq, is the right way to spread freedom DAVOS: This global stock-taking week of the World Economic Forum in Davos began with the inauguration of a new, democratically elected Ukrainian president and will end with elections in Iraq. ... Iraq election may worsen dissension AMMAN: US President George W. Bush has hailed Iraq's first post-war election as a "grand moment in Iraqi history" but it runs the risk of deepening communal divisions and pushing the country towards civil strife. ... Airliner anti-missile system too costly: study WASHINGTON: US anti-missile technology is still too costly to install on America's passenger airlines to guard against Al Qaeda using shoulder-fired missiles to shoot down the planes, according to a study on Tuesday. ... Israel's occupier status won't change: UN GENEVA, Jan 27: Israel's planned pullout from Gaza will not change its status as occupying power in the territory under a section of the Geneva convention, the U.N. special human rights envoy for the occupied territories said. ... Islam gaining ground in Mexico: papers NEW YORK, Jan 27: Islam is gaining a foothold among the indigenous people of the southern Mexican State of Chiapas, where Christianity has been the principal spiritual belief until now. ... Europe shivers in severe cold snap WARSAW, Jan 27: Europe shivered in a severe cold snap on Thursday as temperatures hovered below freezing across much of the continent, forcing train and plane delays and ratcheting up electricity consumption to record levels. ... 'Manhattan Project' proposed to fight bio terror DAVOS, Jan 27: The world needs an effort similar to that behind the creation of the atomic bomb to tackle the multi-faceted threat of bio warfare, US Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist said on Thursday. ... Bush rhetoric out of touch with reality The most penetrating critique of the realism informing President Bush's second inaugural address, a trumpet call of imperial ambition, was made one month before it was delivered, by Lt Gen James Helmly, chief of the US Army Reserve. ... India no longer sees China as adversary: Natwar's speech at seminar NEW DELHI, Jan 27: India no longer sees itself in an adversarial role against China and regards as old mindset western notions of "balance of power" between the two countries ... India has failed to help Gujarat victims: Amnesty report NEW DELHI, Jan 27: The government in India's Gujarat state has failed to help hundreds of women raped, tortured or murdered get justice almost three years after communal riots in 2002, Amnesty International said on Thursday. ... Dhaka seeks mediation on Delhi's river project DHAKA, Jan 27: Bangladesh needs international mediation to dissuade India from going ahead with a project that proposes to link major rivers, Water Resources Minister Hafizuddin Ahmed said on Wednesday. ... Five killed as Manila raids Muslim groups COTABATO, Jan 27: Philippine helicopter gun ships and planes on Thursday attacked a suspected meeting between leaders of the Al Qaeda-affiliated Abu Sayyaf and Jemaah Islamiyah groups, the military said. ... Protests break taboo on Kremlin criticism MOSCOW: A public outcry in Russia over a government plan to scrap Soviet-era benefits has emboldened Kremlin critics long muted by President Vladimir Putin's popularity and iron rule. ...

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