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#	Title	Dateline	Author	Category	Country	Posted	Transcript	Keywords
5983	HARARE	Opposition Leader Suprised By Support	Robyn Dixon	News	Zimbabwe	27 March 2008 10:53 Thu	Zimbabwe's opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, is surprised by the amount of support he has been given in the run-up to Saturday's presidential election. Mr Tsvangirai is campaigning against current leader President Robert Mugabe. So far Mr Tsvangirai has received a lot of support from rural areas, but he is still pessimistic about turning the popular vote into an electoral win. Mr Tsvangirai is also finding it hard to campaign after his pilot was arrested and charged with fraud, after allegedly checking into a hotel room under a different name. The US and EU have both accused current President Mugabe of rigging previous elections, which he has continued to deny. LA Times correspondent Robyn Dixon in Harare is covering the elections.
5984	PARIS	Paris Serial Killed Trial	Hugh Schofield; Rory Mulholland	News	France	27 March 2008 10:54 Thu	The man called France's worst serial killer, Alain Fourniret, is scheduled to begin his trial. Mr Fourniret is charged with killing seven young women, aged between 12-22, in France and Belgium between 1987 and 2003. He also faces rape charges. Mr Fourniret moved to Belgium in the late 1980's but returned to France to allegedly kill six of his seven victims. He was extradited to France in 2006 to await trail after he confessed to the crimes whilst in Belgian custody. He has however denied kidnapping, raping and murdering British teaching assistant Joanna Parrish, 20, in 1990 while she was working in the French town of Auxerre. Mr Fourniret's wife is also charged with complicity in murder and kidnapping for helping Mr Fourniret lure his victims. Hugh Schofield and Rory Mulholland in Paris are covering the trial.
5985	BAGHDAD	Airstrike in Iraq	Said Rifai; Tina Susman; Ned Parker	News	Iraq	27 March 2008 10:56 Thu	A US air strike in support of Iraqi forces has killed a number of people in the southern Iraqi town of Hilla, south of Baghdad. The strike was aimed against Shia militants, after they clashed with Iraqi forces. US forces say four people were killed while Iraqi security forces estimate the real casualty is between 11 and 60. The strike comes after days of fighting, sparked by a crackdown by Iraqi forces on militia in the southern town of Basra. On Wednesday the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki stated the Shia militants had 72 hours to lay down their arms or face severe penalties. The radical Shia cleric and head of the Mehdi army, Moqtada Sadr, has spoken about the possibility of negotiations to end the violence. Said Rifai and LA Times correspondent Tina Susman and Ned Parker are covering this event.
5986	SEOUL	North Korea Fires Test Missiles	Anna Fifield	News	Korea	28 March 2008 11:06 Fri	North Korea has test-fired short-range missiles off its western coast a day after it expelled South Korean managers from a joint industrial park on the border. The expulsion of the managers was seen as a diplomatic protest against the Seoul government which said it would link progress at the park with progress on the North's denuclearisation effort. The newly elected South Korean government of President Lee Myung-bak has made it clear that further economic co-operation between the two countries will only be possible if North Korea fully disables its nuclear facilities. The US also wants North Korea to declare its nuclear weapons stockpiles and answer US suspicions of nuclear proliferation and possession of a secret uranium enrichment programme. Anna Fifield in Seoul is across this event.
5987	BEIJING	China To Let Foreign Diplomats Into Tibet	Jamilia Trindle; Mark Magnier	News	China	28 March 2008 11:08 Fri	China will allow a group of foreign diplomats into Tibet following increased criticism of Beijing's crackdowns on the Tibetan protests. France, the United States and the United Kingdom are among the 17 countries that have been invited on a two-day trip to tour Lhasa, the Tibetan capital. Several European leaders have threatened to boycott the opening ceremonies of the Olympic games in reaction to China's handling of the Tibetan protests. The diplomats are scheduled to leave Beijing on Friday and return Saturday. Earlier this week a group of 20 journalists were allowed to tour Lhasa. Jamila Trindle and LA Times correspondent Mark Magnier in Beijing are covering this event.
5988	HARARE	Zimbabwe Elections Tomorrow	Robyn Dixon	News	Zimbabwe	28 March 2008 11:09 Fri	Presidential candidates in Zimbabwe are entering their final day of campaigning amid reports of suspected vote-rigging and fears of not enough available polling centers. President Robert Mugabe and his rival Morgan Tsvangirai say there are severe differences in the list of the reported 5.9 million voters eligible to vote. This comes after Mr Tsvangirai stated there had been an unexplained increase in voter registration in rural areas where support for President Mugabe is strongest. International election observers have largely been barred from the country. Mugabe has been in power since independence in 1980. LA Times correspondent Robyn Dixon is covering the elections.
5989	BOGOTA	Farc Rebels Offered Deal For Hostages	Mike Ceaser; Jerry McDermott; James Ingham	News	Colombia	28 March 2008 11:11 Fri	Colombian officials have offered to release jailed FARC rebels in exchange for the release of former presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, who is reportedly ill. The offer, backed by the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, also appeals for the release of other hostages. Mr Chavez already negotiated the release of 10 hostages in January and February. Ms Betacourt is the most high profile of the many hostages who are being held in the jungle by FARC rebels. She was abducted during the presidential campaign in 2002. Mike Ceaser and Jerry McDermott in Bogota and James Ingham in Caracas are available for 2-ways.
5990	BAGHDAD	Extension on Weapons Handover	Said Fifai; Tina Susman	News	Iraq	28 March 2008 11:12 Fri	Iraq's government has extended the deadline for Shia militiamen to hand over their weapons by 10 days. The original deadline was set for today. There has been no reason given for the extension. The militiamen are fighting troops in the southern city of Basra. Iraq's parliament is to hold emergency talks on the crisis after more than 130 people have been killed and another 350 injured this week. A curfew for Baghdad has also been imposed from Thursday night until Sunday in order to "protect civilians". Said Rifai and LA Times correspondent Tina Susman in Baghdad are following developments in Iraq.
6077	BEIJING	Olympic Torch Passed to Beijing	Jamila Trindle; Mark Magnier	News	China	31 March 2008 10:51 Mon	Chinese President Hu Jintao today welcomed the Olympic torch as it was re-lit in Beijing after its arrival from Athens Greece. The ceremony was accompanied by tight security amid fears of anti-government protests. Last week human rights protesters disrupted the lighting ceremony in Athens. The torch will go on tour to 20 other countries before returning to Beijing for the games on 8 August. Jamila Trindle and LA Times correspondent Mark Magnier in Beijing are across this event.
6078	SYDNEY	Hick's Gag Order Expired	Roger Maynard; Tim Stackpool; Carol Williams	News	Australia	31 March 2008 10:52 Mon	The gag order imposed on David Hicks, the only Guantanamo Bay inmate convicted of terrorism offences, has expired. After Hicks was captured in 2001 with Taliban forces in Afghanistan he spent five years in Guantanamo Bay before pleading guilty to supporting terrorism. He then was sent to Australia to complete his nine months prison sentence, and was freed in December. The US government then banned Hicks from speaking to the media. Hicks is said to be emotionally fragile. Those close to him say it may be a while before he speaks about his experience. If Hicks does speak, under Australian law, he will not be able to accept payment for interviews. Roger Maynard and Tim Stackpool in Sydney and LA Times Guantanomo correspondent Carol Williams are available for 2-ways.
6079	BAGHDAD	Baghdad's Curfew Lifted	Said Rifai; Tina Susman	News	Iraq	31 March 2008 10:53 Mon	A three-day curfew has been lifted in Baghdad by Iraqi authorities this morning, after Mehdi Army fighters were called off the streets by Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. The cleric also demanded that the government release detainees and stop illegal and random raids, as well as for the government to apply the general amnesty law. He asked his supporters to "work with Iraqi government offices to achieve security and to file charges against those who have committed crimes". More than 240 people have died since the intense fighting broke out last Tuesday. In other news, Baghdad's Green Zone has been hit by a mortar barrage. The Green Zone houses Iraq's government and the US embassy. The area has been under mortar and rocket attacks for the past week as Mehdi Army fighters clashed with Iraqi and US security forces. Those in the Green Zone have been told to stay under cover and to wear body amour and helmets when in the open. Said Rifai and LA Times correspondent Tina Susman are covering this story.
6080	BEIT BRIDGE BORDER POST	First Election Results in Zimbabwe	Nicholas Campeaux; Bill Corcoran	News	Zimbabwe	31 March 2008 10:56 Mon	Zimbabwe's opposition MDC and ruling ZANU-PF are running neck-and-neck, according to the first election results issued by the Electoral Commission today. The votes of the six parliamentary constituencies were equally split between President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF and Morgan Tsvangirai's the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). The delays in the results have caused speculation about vote rigging. Election officials say the results have been slow to come due to presidential, House of Assembly, Senate and local elections all being held on Saturday. Based on unofficial results, Tsvangirai has claimed victory, announcing he had won 67% of the presidential vote. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) said there was evidence of "widespread and convincing" MDC wins. SADC mission chairman Jose Marcos Barrica of Angola" also said that the elections had been a "peaceful and credible expression of the will of the people". Nicholas Champeaux is reporting from the Beit Bridge border post in northern Limpopo and Bill Corcoran, who returned from Zimbabwe last Thursday, is reporting from Johannesburg.
6081	NEW DELHI	India's Football Captain Protests China's Actions	Tim Albone	News	India	01 April 2008 11:20 Tue	In protest against China's actions towards Tibetan demonstrators, India's football captain Baichung Bhutia has refused to carry the Olympic torch on its journey through the country's capital Delhi later this month. When asked why he had made this decision he responded, "I sympathise with the Tibetan cause. This is my way of standing by the people of Tibet and their struggle. I abhor violence in any form." Bhutia has also stated that his decision was not determined by any group but was a "personal decision". Large-scale protests on the recent unrest in Tibet have not been allowed in India. Tim Albone in Delhi is across this story.
6082	Kiev	Bush Backs Ukraine for NATO Membership	Alexander Kleimenov;James Gerstenzang	News	Ukraine	01 April 2008 11:22 Tue	US President George W Bush has backed Ukraine's membership of NATO, during a visit to the Ukrainian capital, Kiev. About 1,000 protesters turned out to wave anti-Bush signs ahead of the president's arrival today for a two-day visit. Bush hopes to build a strong case for the country's acceptance into NATO while he is there. The President will attend the NATO summit in Bucharest, Romania, later this week, where he is expected to discuss troop commitments to Afghanistan. Alexander Kleimenov in Kiev and LA Times correspondent James Gerstenzang who is accompanying Bush on his visit will be available for 2-ways.
6083	MOGADISHU	UN Workers Abducted	Lutfi Mohammed	News	Somalia	01 April 2008 11:23 Tue	Armed men have abducted two UN workers in southern Somalia, a government official says. The two, who worked for the UN's Food and Agricultural Organisation, were reported to have been stopped on a road heading to Buale in the southern Lower Jubba region. The United Nations is said to be investigating the incident. Lutfi Mohammed in Mogadishu is following developments in this story.
6084	KABUL	Top Taliban Leader Arrested	Tom Coghlan; Rachel Reid; Nick Meo	News		01 April 2008 11:25 Tue	Afghan police say that they have arrested a top Taliban leader in the southern province of Helmand. Helmand's Chief of police Mohd Husain Andewal says the arrest of Mullah Naqibullah occurred during an insurgent attack on police in Lashkar Gah. Three Taliban militants died and two officers were injured during the attack. Mullah Naqibullah, a Pushtun rebel commander, has escaped from prison twice in the past. Tom Coghlan, Rachel Reid and Nick Meo in Kabul are across this story.
6085	HARARE	Results Continue to be Delayed in Zimbabwe	Bill Corcoran; Nicholas Chapeaux	News	Zimbabwe	01 April 2008 11:28 Tue	Zimbabwe is still awaiting the results of Saturday's elections. No official results have been reported, but opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he has won, claiming that the delay is to allow the outcome to be rigged. An independent monitoring group says Tsvangirai received 49% of the vote - just short of the 50% needed to avoid a run-off. The ruling Zanu-PF and the opposition are level in the parliamentary vote. The international community has urged Zimbabwe to give the results soon. Nana Ampofo, an analyst for Global Insight, which specialises in political and economic forecasting, says the delay is cause for concern. Bill Corcoran who was in Zimbabwe last week and Nicholas Chapeaux in Johannesburg are covering the elections.
6131	SEOUL	US Urges North Korea In Talks	Jennifer Veale	News	Korea	02 April 2008 10:37 Wed	A US envoy has urged North Korea to act fast in order to end the deadlock over a nuclear deal. South Korea also told the North to "tone down its rhetoric" as officials meet to discuss the currently stalled proposal. There are two key issues, whether or not North Korea has a secret uranium enrichment programme and whether it has transferred technology overseas. US negotiator Christopher Hill, speaking today in the South Korean capital Seoul, said he was seeking action from Pyongyang within the next few days. The meeting comes as tensions between North and South Korea continue to grow increasingly tense. In a six-nation deal in February 2007, North Korea agreed to provide complete declaration of its nuclear weapons by the end of last year, but failed to do so. Jennifer Veale in Seoul is across this story.
6132	BEIJING	Human Rights Questioned	Jamila Trindle; Mark Magnier	News	China	02 April 2008 10:38 Wed	Human rights in China are getting worse, not better, as country draws closer to the Beijing Olympics, according to Amnesty International. Reports say that China is clamping down on dissent in the country in order to portray a stable and harmonious image. Activists and dissidents have been "cleaned-up" and many of them have been put under some sort of detention. Amnesty calls for world leaders to speak out on the situation, especially after the recent events in Tibet. It accused the Chinese government of using lethal force in Tibet and urged China to release information on those they had detained. Jamila Trindle and LA Times correspondent Mark Magnier in Beijing are covering this story.
6133	MOSCOW	Russia Provides Aid	Carl Shrek; Megan Stack; Neil MacDonald	News	Russia	02 April 2008 10:42 Wed	A Russian plane, loaded with humanitarian aid for the Serb minority in Kosovo, has been sent to Belgrade at the request of the Serbian government. Russia backs Serbia's opposition to the recent declaration of independence by Kosovo. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the aid to be sent after the government requested food, medicine and medical equipment in March. Many countries have recognized Kosovo's independence, but Russia refuses to do so. They have also stated they will block Kosovo's attempts to join the UN. 140 more tons of food are expected to be delivered to the 10% of the population who are Serbs. Carl Shrek and LA Times correspondent Megan Stack in Moscow, Neil MacDonald in Belgrade and Jeta Xharra in Pristina are across this event.
6134	BUCHAREST	More Troops For Afghanistan	Rodica Pricop; James Gerstanzang	News	Romania	02 April 2008 10:43 Wed	US President George W. Bush has asked his allies to send more troops to Afghanistan. Speaking ahead of NATO's biggest-ever summit in Romania, Mr Bush commended France and Romania for planning to send more troops to the region. Currently there are 47,000 troops from 40 different nations in the area, but NATO commanders are calling for 10,000 more to be deployed. The summit is set to start today, with plans to discuss further action in Afghanistan and the possible inclusion of the Ukraine in the alliance. Russia has warned there will be a "crisis" if Ukraine is admitted into the alliance. Mr Bush will be meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin after the summit on Sunday, to discuss the issue. Rodica Pricop in Bucharest and LA Times correspondent James Gerstanzang, who is accompanying Bush, are available for 2-ways.
6135	JOHANNESBURG	Possible Run-Off Election	Bill Corcoran; Nicholas Chapeaux	News	Zimbabwe	02 April 2008 10:45 Wed	Zimbabwe may be headed for a run-off poll between its two presidential nominees, according to the state-owned Herald newspaper. Results from Saturday's election have been slow to come in but the first official indicators believe neither the incumbent Robert Mugabe or his challenger Morgan Tsvangirai have gained 50% of the vote. Reports say that Mr Mugabe would be unlikely to participate in a run-off election, fearing that he would be unable to win, as those who voted for independent challenger Simba Makoni would likely vote for Mr Tsvangirai. The final results in the parliamentary elections are set to be disclosed today. So far Mr Tsvangirai MDC party is currently claiming the lead with 96 seats. If there is a run-off election it will take place within three weeks. Bill Corcoran and Nicholas Chapeaux in Johannesburg are following developments in Zimbabwe.
6136	WASHINGTON D.C	$50 Billion to be Spent on Global AIDS Program	Ed O	News	United States of America	03 April 2008 10:25 Thu	The US House of Representatives has passed a five year re-authorization of the Bush administration's global AIDS programme. $50 million will be spent to help people infected with HIV, support their families, and for education on how to prevent infection. The measure was passed with 308 to 116 votes. The bi-partisan bill will triple current government spending for Africa and other badly affected parts of the world including Vietnam, Lesotho, and some Caribbean nations. President George W Bush first launched the initiative in 2003 with $15 billion set for the first five years of the programme. Currently the programme supports life-saving treatment for nearly 1.5 million people. About $9 billion will also go to fight tuberculosis and malaria, which are huge burdens in many countries where the AIDS epidemic is most severe. Ed O'Keefe and LA Times correspondent Peter Nicholas are across this story.
6137	NICOSIA	Major Crossing Reopend	Mike Theodoulou; David O	News	Cyprus	03 April 2008 10:29 Thu	Greek and Turkish Cypriots have reopened a major crossing, which has symbolized the partition of the island, in the capital, Nicosia. Ledra Street was split in 1964 after an outbreak of violence between ethnic Greeks and Turkish communities. Before the street was blocked it was the island's leading shopping district. Last year the Cyprus government demolished a wall and a military checkpoint, but plans to reopen the street were rejected by former Cyprus President, Tassos Papadopoulos. Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been divided since 1974, when Turkey deployed troops after a coup by Greek Cypriots who wanted a union with Greece. Leaders of both Turkey and Cyprus have agreed to resume talks about reunifying the island. Mike Theodoulou in Nicosia and David O'Bryne and Matt Mossman in Istanbul are available for 2-ways.
6138	BUCHAREST	France to Rejoin NATO Military	Rodica Pricop; James Gerstanzang	News	Romania	03 April 2008 10:32 Thu	French President Nicolas Sarkozy has announced France's return to NATO's military command by the end of the year. Sarkozy made the announcement during the second day of the NATO summit which is being hosted in Romania's capital, Bucharest. This comes after a 40 year absence when the country withdrew from NATO's military structure in 1966 protesting about the dominance of US commanders. In other news, NATO has denied membership to Georgia and Ukraine, agreeing only on a closer relationship with the two states. A unanimous decision must be made on the decision of new members and both Germany and France were in opposition to the states becoming candidates. Rodica Pricop and LA Times correspondent James Gerstanzang who is accompanying Bush are reporting from the summit.
#	Title	Dateline	Author	Category	Country	Posted	Transcript	Keywords
6139	BEIJING	Chinese Activist Convicted	Jamila Trindle; Mark Magnier	News	China	03 April 2008 10:33 Thu	A notable Chinese activist has been convicted of "inciting subversion of state power and the socialist system" and is to be jailed for three-and-a-half years. Hu Jia's sentence comes one day after a UK-based Human Rights Group Amnesty International accused Beijing of carrying out a "wave of repression" ahead of the Olympic Games. Before his arrest late last year, Jia was an outspoken critic of China's record on human rights issues. He has long campaigned for the environment, religious freedom and for the rights of people with HIV and Aids. Jamila Trindle in Beijing and LA Times correspondent Mark Magnier are covering this story.
6140	JOHANNESBURG	MDC Wins Majority in Parliament	Bill Corcoran; Nicholas Champeaux	News	Zimbabwe	03 April 2008 10:38 Thu	The opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has won a majority of seats in parliament, taking 99 seats opposed to the ruling party, Zanu-PF's, 97. The country's presidential poll has yet to be decided, with the Zimbabwe Election Support Network stating that neither candidate had won the required 50% of the vote, which would necessitate run-off elections. MDC claim that their leader Morgan Tsvangirai has also won the presidential elections, releasing results backing their claim that Tsvangirai received 50.3% of the vote, compared to President Robert Mugabe's 43.8%. Mugabe has not been seen in public since Sunday and there are fears of unrest if the presidential contest enters a second round. Bill Corcoran and Nicholas Champeaux in Johannesburg are following developments in Zimbabwe.
6142	BEIJING	China's Courts Vow Harsh Sentences for Tibetian	Jamils Trindle	News	China	04 April 2008 10:31 Fri	China's Communist Party-run courts have vowed to come down strongly and impose harsh sentences on Tibetans accused of rioting and protesting against Chinese rule, state media reports. Last month, deadly rioting occurred in Tibet's regional capital, Lhasa. Chinese officials have accused Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, of organizing the unrest to press for Tibetan independence ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games in August. The Dalai Lama has repeatedly denied the accusations and said he wants true autonomy, but not outright independence, for Tibet.
6143	KABUL	Policemen Killed in Suicide Attack in Helmand	Nick Meo	News	Afghanistan	04 April 2008 10:37 Fri	Three police officers have been killed in a suicide attack in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province, police say. Three others were wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up near a police vehicle near Lashkar Gah, the capital of the province. Southern Afghanistan is a Taliban stronghold and grows half the country's opium poppies. Thousands of foreign troops are fighting there and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, (ISAF) has asked for as many as 10,000 more troops to boost security in Afghanistan.
6144	BAGHDAD	15 Killed in Suicide Attack on Funeral	Said Rifai	News		04 April 2008 10:39 Fri	At least 15 people have been killed in a suicide attack on a funeral procession in the province of Diyala, say Iraqi police. The funeral was being held for a Sunni policeman in the town of Saadiyah, North-East of Baghdad. Al-Qaeda is usually held responsible for attacks on funerals in Iraq. In other news, the latest American National Intelligence Estimate report says improvements in security attributed to the surge in troops last year have been maintained. The security report also highlighted how Sunni Muslim tribes have helped weaken al-Qaeda in Iraq.
6145	BUCHAREST	Putin Holds Talks With NATO	Rodica Pricop	News	Romania	04 April 2008 10:42 Fri	Russian President Vladimir Putin is holding talks with leaders of the NATO alliance in Romania's capital, Bucharest. The meeting, which is Putin's first and last as Russian head of state, will likely address the US missile defence shield and NATO membership of Georgia and Ukraine - which Russia opposes. NATO has accepted the US missile defence plan, which includes bases in the Czech Republic and Poland. Moscow has expressed fears that the shield could be used against Russia, but the US says it is designed to counter potential threats from rogue states like Iran. The alliance has however failed to agree on a blueprint for membership for Georgia and Ukraine. NATO and Russia are also expected to sign a land transit agreement allowing the Western alliance to use Russian land to deliver non-lethal supplies to its troops in Afghanistan, a NATO spokeswoman said.
6146	JOHANNESBURG	Zimbabwe's Election Aftermath	Bill Corcoran	News	South Africa	04 April 2008 10:46 Fri	President Robert Mugabe is expected to chair a meeting of the leadership of the Zanu-PF to discuss the party's next move. The 49-member Politburo is reportedly split on whether Mr Mugabe should contest a run-off election amid claims by opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai that he has won the presidency. The election commission must announce the results of the presidential election by the end of Friday to meet a legal deadline. The meeting comes two days after it was revealed that the ruling party had lost its majority in parliament, securing only 97 seats compared to the MDC's 99 seats. On Thursday, there were growing signs of a clampdown on the opposition and media. Security agents raided the offices of the MDC in Harare and at least two foreign journalists were arrested, accused of working without accreditation. One of the journalists has been named as the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist, Barry Bearak.
6218	KATHMANDU	UN Warns On Increasing Election Violence In Nepal	Emily Winterbotham	News	Nepal	07 April 2008 10:54 Mon	The UN peace mission in Nepal says election violence is increasing in the run-up to nationwide elections on Thursday. UNMIN says that Maoist activists have been assaulting and detaining rival party members and have called on the party to stop these intimidation tactics. The election is a major part of Nepal's peace process which started when Maoist rebels gave up their armed revolt. The UNMIN report says other parties have also been violating the electoral code. Detonation of bombs by militant groups opposed to the polls have also been increasing. Liam Cochrane in Kathmandu is covering the elections.
6219	KABUL	Senior Taliban Leader Arrested	Emily Winterbotham	News	Afghanistan	07 April 2008 10:55 Mon	A senior Taliban commander has been detained in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, say Afghan officials. Mullah Abdul Jabar, the Taliban deputy leader in southern Afghanistan, was on his way to Pakistan, officials say. The Taliban have not confirmed the arrest. At least two Taliban commanders have been arrested in the southern provinces in recent months. Kandahar province saw intense fighting over the weekend and the Afghan ministry of defence says 15 Taliban were killed, a claim the Taliban have not confirmed. Nick Meo and Jon Boone in Kabul are across this story.
6220	BELFAST	Omagh Bombing Civil Case Begins	Emily Winterbotham	News	Ireland	07 April 2008 10:56 Mon	A historic €18.2m civil case against those accused of plotting the Omagh bomb begins this morning in Belfast. No one has been convicted of the 1998 bombing, but relatives of the people killed are suing the five people they believe were responsible for the atrocity. Twenty-nine people died and hundreds were injured in the Real IRA bomb in the County Tyrone town. Those being sued are Michael McKevitt, Seamus Daly, Liam Campbell, Colm Murphy and Seamus McKenna. All five are defending themselves against the action and deny any involvement in the attack. Alan Murray in Belfast is covering the trial.
6221	JOHANNESBURG	High Court To Rule On Election Results	Emily Winterbotham	News	South Africa	07 April 2008 10:57 Mon	A Zimbabwean High Court judge is set to rule today on an opposition petition demanding the immediate release of the country's election results. No results have emerged from the 29 March presidential election and the Zanu-PF has asked the Electoral Commission for a further delay because of what it called "errors and miscalculations" in the results compilation. Opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, says he has defeated the incumbent Robert Mugabe outright, but an independent monitoring group says he obtained 49% of the vote - meaning a run-off would be needed. Ahead of the court ruling, Mr Mugabe called on the black population to ensure white farmers did not regain control over seized land. Over the weekend, several of Zimbabwe's white-owned farms were invaded. In 2000 there were 4,000 white farmers, however, only 300 now remain after a campaign of often violent land seizures initiated by the government's land resettlement programme. Bill Corcoran and Nicholas Champeaux in Johannesburg are following developments in Zimbabwe.
6242	CAIRO	Local Elections Spark Protests In Egypt	Reem Nada	News	Egypt	08 April 2008 10:40 Tue	Egypt is holding local elections across Egypt for the first time since 2006 amid violent popular discontent and a call for a boycott by the Muslim Brotherhood. A wide-ranging crackdown by authorities ahead of the vote left thousands of candidates from the Muslim Brotherhood and significant numbers from the liberal Wafd party and left-leaning Tagammu party behind bars or unable to register in Egypt. Some 52,000 local councillors are being selected - but the ruling National Democratic Party is standing unopposed in the great majority of seats. Soaring food prices and low wages have strengthened popular discontent with the government. Reem Nada in Cairo is following the elections.
6243	DELHI	India-Africa Summit Begins	Randeep Ramesh	News	India	08 April 2008 10:41 Tue	The first-ever India-Africa summit, which hopes to strengthen trade and diplomatic ties between the two countries, begins today. 14 African leaders will be attending the two-day summit, including Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and Uganda's Yoweri Museveni. This groundbreaking summit comes two years after Beijing hosted an Africa summit. Despite an increase of $30bn a year in trade between India and Africa it is still only half that of China's and India hopes to counter China's growing influence in Africa. At the summit, India is expected to announce a huge aid package in addition to various projects dealing with information and technology, agriculture and education in return for oil, gas and a market for the countries manufactured goods. Randeep Ramesh in Delhi is across this event.
6244	SAN FRANCISCO	Olympic Torch Protests Continue	Jill Replogle	News	United States of America	08 April 2008 10:43 Tue	As the Olympic flame continues to incite protests on the US leg of its journey, China says "no force" can stop the Olympic torch relay. Seven demonstrators have already been arrested in San Francisco after tying anti-Chinese banners across the cables of the Golden Gate Bridge. This comes after the flame's journey through Paris was cut short due to massive protests, despite the presence of 3,000 police. The torch is set to arrive in San Francisco on Tuesday and will be relayed on Wednesday. The relay began 24 March in Athens Greece and is set to end in Beijing for the opening ceremony on 8 August. The International Olympic Committee, currently holding a meeting in the Chinese capital Beijing, is to discuss whether torch relays should continue for future Games. Jill Replogle in San Francisco is covering this story.
6245	WASHINGTON D.C	Iraq Progress Report Delivered To Congress	Nancy youssef; Peter Nicholas	News	United States of America	08 April 2008 10:45 Tue	General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker are to deliver their third progress report on President George W Bush's "surge" strategy to Congress today. Both men are expected to say that the "surge" of 30,000 extra troops has helped improve security in Iraq. General Petraeus is also expected to request to continue to withdraw troops until they reach similar numbers that were in Iraq before the surge, when the general hopes to suspend further withdrawals and review security. After the release of the report the two are due to testify before Senate Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees. Republican presidential nominee John McCain, and Democratic hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, will hear the testimony. More than 4,000 US military personnel have been killed in Iraq since the invasion five years ago. Eleven US soldiers have been killed in Baghdad the past two days. Pentagon correspondent Nancy Youssef and LA Times correspondent Peter Nicholas in Washington, D.C. will be available for 2-ways.
6246	JOHANNESBURG	Election Officials Arrested In Zimbabwe	Bill Corcoran; Nicholas Campeaux	News	Zimbabwe	08 April 2008 10:47 Tue	At least five officials have been arrested by Zimbabwean police for allegedly under-counting votes cast for President Robert Mugabe in last month's election. Police say the election officials are accused of fraud, criminal abuse of duty and of taking roughly 5,000 votes from Mr Mugabe. The opposition MDC, who says its leader Morgan Tsvangirai won the election by a clear majority, is seeking a court ruling to force publication of results. But Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF is seeking a recount. There have been international calls for immediate release of the results. Bill Corcoran and Nicholas Champeaux in Johannesburg are following developments in Zimbabwe.
6249	SAN FRANCISCO	Protests Expected	Jill Replogle; Jamila Trindle	News	United States of America	09 April 2008 10:42 Wed	Protests are expected in San Francisco today, during the relay of the Olympic Torch. During the torch relay's protesters are expected to show their discontent with China's recent human rights record regarding Tibet. Thousands of police have been called in to cover the city and the torch relay route has been cut down from 8 miles to 6 miles. Many world leaders are facing calls for a boycott of the games. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, speaking at China's Peking University, stated his country would not. He also urged Beijing to tackle their "significant" human rights problems and called for a dialogue between China and Tibet. The torch is scheduled to next travel to Buenos Aires before making a tour through China. Jill Replogle in San Francisco and Jamila Trindle in Beijing are covering this story.
6250	JOHANNESBURG	Calls for Election Results	Bill Corcoran; Nicholas Campeaux, Robyn Dixon	News	South Africa	09 April 2008 10:44 Wed	Jacob Zuma, South Africa's governing ANC leader, has criticised the delay in publishing the results of Zimbabwe's presidential elections. Mr Zuma says that Zimbabwe has become an international issues, and that it is a bad idea to keep the world and Zimbabwe in the dark over the election results. Mr Zuma met with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, during his visit to Johannesburg. The High Court in Harare has now begun to consider the MDC's request for immediate release of the election results. Bill Corcoran and Nicholas Champeaux in Johannesburg and LA Times correspondent Robyn Dixon in Harare are following developments in Zimbabwe.
6251	RI-KWANGBA	Ugandan Peace Treaty To Be Signed	David Lewis ; Sarah Grainger	News	Sudan	10 April 2008 10:26 Thu	Twenty years of conflict between the Ugandan government and Lord's Resistance Army rebels are set to come to an end today with the signing of a peace agreement by rebel leader Joseph Kony. Kony is to sign the agreement in the jungle town of Ri-Kwangba in southern Sudan and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni is then due to sign separately on Monday in the southern Sudanese capital, Juba. Both parties have been in talks since 2006 to end a war that killed tens of thousands of people, displaced a further two million and saw the widespread abduction of children to serve as child soldiers. The agreement was supposed to be signed last week, but was postponed at Mr Kony's request when he told the southern Sudanese mediators he was too sick to attend. There were fears that Kony, who still faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, would not attend today's signing, but so far officials say everything is going to plan. After Mr Museveni signs on Monday, the rebels will have 30 days to gather in southern Sudan before disarmament and demobilisation will begin. LRA negotiators have said their fighters will not disarm until ICC arrest warrants have been lifted and they can be tried on war crimes in Uganda instead. David Lewis and Sarah Grainger are reporting from Ri-Kwangba.
6252	KATHMANDU	Historic Elections To Decide Future	Liam Cochrane ; Subina Shrestha	News	Nepal	10 April 2008 10:28 Thu	Historic elections are taking place in Nepal which will decide the future of the country. Voting is taking place for an assembly that is expected to revise the current constitution and abolish the 240-year-old monarchy. Thursday's elections are Nepal's first polls since 1999 and follow a 2006 ceasefire agreed between the government and Maoist rebels. Despite pre-election violence in the country, which has claimed 8 lives, so far there has been relative calm as citizens go to the polls and early indicators show a high voter turnout. EU electoral observers and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon have expressed their concern about separatist explosions and clashes between rival gangs which have fuelled tensions the country. King Gyanendra seized absolute power of the country in 2005 but was forced to give up his rule after weeks of pro-democracy protests. He has since lost all his power and command of the army. Liam Cochrane and Subina Shrestha in Kathmandu are covering the elections.
6253	BANGKOK	54 Migrant Workers Dead	Amy Kazmin	News	Thailand	10 April 2008 10:29 Thu	More than 50 illegal Burmese migrants have died in the back of a lorry taking them to southern Thailand, Thai Police report. The 54 migrants died after their container's ventilation system failed. The container measured just six meters by 2.2 meters. Surviving migrants were able to escape from the container and flag down help. Twenty-one migrants were taken to the hospital and treated for dehydration and lack of oxygen. Those who did not need medical attention were detained by authorities. The migrants had crossed by boat to the Thai town of Rangont from the southern tip of Burma. This route is often used by illegal immigrants. According to reports from Thai Police, the people inside the container attempted to get the attention of the driver to alert him they were dying, but, he told them to be quiet so they would not be found at checkpoints inside Thailand. The driver of the lorry fled the scene before he could be questioned by police. Amy Kazmin in Bangkok is across this event.
6254	BEIJING	Olympic Games to Recover from	Jamila Trindle; Mark Duffy	News	China	10 April 2008 10:45 Thu	The head of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogges told a meeting of national committees in Beijing that despite the numerous protests the 2008 Games would succeed. The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, speaking in Tokyo today, said he felt China deserved to host the 2008 Olympic Games, but that people had the right to protest. Members of the European Parliament will vote on Thursday on a draft resolution calling on EU leaders to boycott the games if there is no resumption of dialogue between the Chinese authorities and the Dalai Lama. US President George W Bush has also been called upon to boycott the Beijing opening ceremony by Presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. The Olympic torch will arrive in to Argentine capital Buenos Aires on Friday. Jamila Trindle in Beijing and Mark Duffy in Buenos Aires are covering this story.
6255	LUSAKA	Emergency Meeting Called by Zambia Leader	Kelvin Chibomba; Bill Corcoran; Nicolas Champeaux	News	Zambia	10 April 2008 10:52 Thu	Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has called for an emergency meeting of southern African leaders to address the delayed release of the Zimbabwe's presidential election results. This is the first move by neighbouring countries to intervene since the elections were held on 29 March. President Mwanawasa, who chairs the 14-nation South African Development Community (SADC), says the region needs to work together in finding a solution. The meeting of the leaders is expected to start Saturday. After an 11-day delay in the announcement the opposition party - Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) - is still hoping that legal action in the High Court will lead to the immediate release of the presidential results. The MDC claims to have gained 50.3% of the vote. The Judge reviewing the petition has announced he will try and come to a decision by Monday. Kelvin Chibomba in Lusaka, Bill Corcoran, Nicholas Champeaux and LA Times correspondent Robyn Dixon, who has just returned from Zimbabwe, in Johannesburg are available for 2-ways.
6256	ROME	Italian Elections	Philip Willan	News	Italy	11 April 2008 11:58 Fri	The Italian election campaign is in its final day, ahead of this weekend's poll. The election has arrived three years earlier then planned, after Romano Prodi stepped down as prime minister when his coalition government collapsed in January. Former prime minister, Billionaire businessman Silvio Berlusconi, 71, is attempting to secure a third term as prime minister. His main rival is the former mayor of Rome, 52-year-old Walter Veltroni. Mr Berlusconi is ahead in opinion polls but 15% of voters are undecided. Phillip Willan, Susan Hodges and Frances Kennedy in Rome are covering the Italian elections.
6257	TOKYO	Japan Renews N Korea Sanctions	Liz Noh	News	Japan	11 April 2008 12:00 Fri	Japan has again extended its economic sanctions on North Korea which were declared after North Korea's nuclear test in October 2006. The reasons for the renewal of the sanctions, according to officials, is a lack of progress on denuclearisation and a row over Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang in the 1970s and 1980s. The measures - which ban imports from North Korea and visits by its ships - were extended by another six months. The move comes despite progress on a deal between the US and North Korea aimed at ending Pyongyang's nuclear programme. The US demands that Pyongyang declares of all of its nuclear activities - including an alleged secret uranium enrichment programme. LA Times correspondent Bruce Wallace AND Liz Noh in Tokyo are covering this story.
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