04 February 2005 Friday 24 Zilhaj 1425 Scientist terms Allawi govt Iraq's most corrupt BAGHDAD, Feb 3: A top Shia candidate to become Iraq's next prime minister on Wednesday branded the interim government of premier Iyad Allawi the most corrupt in Iraq's history. ... Shia party leading in polls BAGHDAD, Feb 3: A coalition of leading Shia parties swept 72.8 Per cent of the 1.6 million ballots counted so far in Iraq's landmark national elections, according to partial results released on Thursday. ... Zarqawi made 'narrow escape' two weeks ago WASHINGTON, Feb 3: Iraqi security forces missed Abu Musab al Zaraqwi by about an hour in a raid two weeks ago, one of several occasions in which the elusive guerrilla leader came close to being captured, Iraq's interior minister said on Thursday. ... Report blames UN official for 'tainted' process: Iraq's oil-for-food programme NEW YORK, Feb 3: The much-awaited interim report by the panel investigating United Nations oil-for-food programme in Iraq, which was submitted to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Thursday ... Speech had big ideas, but left big gaps: press WASHINGTON, Feb 3: President George Bush deserves praise for setting ambitious foreign and domestic goals in his second term, but his State of the Union speech did not fully address some issues ... ME optimism hides long haul to peace TEL AVIV: Expect ceremony and symbolism when Israeli and Palestinian leaders meet next week for a summit to turn back the clock on over four years of bloodshed. ... US accuses Iran of violating N-freeze VIENNA, Feb 3: The United States has complained to the European Union about centrifuge-related work by Iran that could be used to make nuclear weapons and may violate a uranium enrichment freeze Tehran agreed with the EU ... Bush's calls for reforms cause anger in Mideast AMMAN, Feb 3: Washington's friends and foes in the Middle East expressed exasperation and outrage Thursday after US President George W. Bush harshly picked on four of them for failing to push for democratic reforms. ... Papers with Hitler's signature sold LONDON, Feb 3: Nazi memorabilia signed by Adolf Hitler was sold privately on Wednesday to an anonymous buyer after a British auction house withdrew it from a public sale because a Jewish leader complained it would be insensitive after Holocaust Memorial Day. ... 7 UK troops face trial for murder LONDON, Feb 3: Seven British soldiers will face court martial over the murder of an Iraqi civilian, Attorney General Peter Goldsmith said on Thursday. ... Mandela urges G7 to cut poor states' debt LONDON, Feb 3: South African icon Nelson Mandela challenged leaders of rich nations on Thursday to ease the plight of the poor by slashing debt, boosting aid and making world trade fairer. ... Hostage-takers in Germany: paper BERLIN, Feb 3: The German government dismissed a press report on Thursday which claimed it had granted visas to two Chechens suspected of involvement in the bloody hostage-taking at a Moscow theatre in 2002. ... Judge orders CIA to release prisoner records NEW YORK, Feb 3: A US federal judge on Wednesday ordered the CIA to release records regarding the treatment of prisoners detained in the war on terror to civil rights groups. ... Pope to stay in hospital for a week: Vatican VATICAN CITY, Feb 3: Pope John Paul's overall medical condition is "evolving positively", the Vatican said in its latest health bulletin on Thursday. ... Debate on Pope's retirement VATICAN CITY: Pope John Paul's latest illness has raised the question of what the Church would do if he were permanently incapacitated - and reopened debate over whether Popes should retire instead of reigning for life. ... Georgian PM dies from gas poisoning TBILISI, Feb 3: The prime minister of Georgia was found dead on Thursday in a bizarre gas poisoning that robs the inexperienced president, Mikhail Saakashvili, of a steadying hand to help run his turbulent country. ... Experts examine 'carbon storage' option EXETER, Feb 3: A top meeting of world experts on climate change headed towards a close here on Thursday with a close look at ways - considered outlandish only a few years ago - of capturing carbon gases that cause global warming. ... Study finds religious polarization in US CHICAGO: Voters in last year's presidential election showed a new polarization within some religious faiths, a fact that may make it all the harder for Democrats to recapture the White House ... Chechens' truce offer rejected MOSCOW, Feb 3: Chechnya's Russian-backed government on Thursday dismissed a rebel cease fire declaration, saying it was a publicity stunt that could not be trusted. ... Gyanendra calls West's bluff NEW DELHI: Two months ago, India, the United States and Britain warned Nepal's king against a unilateral grab for power. On Tuesday, he called their bluff. ...

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