Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 01-12-05

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From: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>

CONTENTS

[01] Alvaro Clerides

[02] National Council

[03] Gurel meeting

[04] Press occupied

[05] Powell Ankara

[06] Mideast Wrap

[07] Afghan signing

[08] Afghan attack

[09] Bomb Paphos

[10] Fire Nicosia

[11] Weather WEDNESDAY 5 DECEMBER 2001

[01] Alvaro Clerides

In statements following the meeting, De Soto said that both sides are determined to enter substantive talks this time.

Commenting on whether a timetable has been set for completion of this stage of the dialogue, the UN official said that all these issues will be discussed during dinner this evening. It will be held at the private residence of Turkish cypriot leader Rauf Denktash in occupied Nicosia, with President Clerides attending, in an unprecedented visit of an acting Cyprus president to the occupied territories.

Around four thirty this afternoon, Alvaro De Soto is expected to meet Rauf Denktash.

[02] National Council

At the centre of discussions, was the agreement between President Clerides and Rauf Denktash to hold face to face talks next month, with no preconditions and all issues on the table for negotiation.

[03] Gurel meeting

According to reports in the Turkish-cypriot press, Gurel said that any settlement of the Cyprus problem, must provide for the so-called sovereignty and equality of the Turkish-cypriot people.

[04] Press occupied

Under the heading "Historic Step", Turkish-cypriot daily "Kibris" takes six pages to cover the story, reporting that around two, Denktash is expected to meet political leaders, for an evaluation of latest developments.

Avrupa chose the heading "To your health", referring to tonights' dinner at Denktash's residence in occupied Nicosia, with president Clerides attending.

Most papers report that the people are celebrating following yesterday's events, because they are craving for a solution.

On a different note, some dailies, reveal the menu for tonights' dinner.

Turkish dailies also have extensive coverage, with Cumhurriet picking the heading "A Rendezvous of hope in Cyprus".

[05] Powell Ankara

The American foreign secretary held talks with his counterpart Ismail Cem and Turkish prime minister Bulent Ecevit.

He is also expected to discuss the Cyprus issue, especially in light of drastic developments, following the agreement between President Clerides and Rauf Denktash for face to face talks.

[06] Mideast Wrap

The attack followed an Israeli pledge that there would be no let-up in two days of air strikes against Palestinian security installations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip after 25 people were killed in the worst wave of suicide bombings in years.

Police said three people standing at a bus stop nearby were slightly hurt by flying glass.

Israel blamed Palestinian President Yasser Arafat for the attack, as well as the weekend bombings, because he has failed to rein in militants. Palestinian officials deny the charges and say Israel's actions amount to a declaration of war.

In the fiercest Israeli attacks in 14 months of conflict, warplanes and helicopter gunships last night attacked targets across the West Bank and Gaza, firing one missile just metres away from Arafat's West Bank office while he was inside.

Arafat was not hurt but a 15-year-old bystander and a policeman were killed in Gaza and dozens were wounded.

The strikes have deepened a rift in Sharon's coalition government over how to handle the 14-month-old Palestinian uprising.

Foreign Minister Shimon Peres Labour part was due to meet later today to consider its future in the government.

[07] Afghan signing

After negotiating through the night, the four delegation heads initialled the deal at the secluded Petersberg hotel outside Bonn that has hosted the talks, just hours before a major conference of aid donors to Afghanistan starts in Berlin.

The U.N.-brokered deal, reached before dawn on the ninth day of gruelling talks, creates a government of 30 members, including two women, reflecting Afghanistan's ethnic diversity to rule for six months until a Loya Jirga, or traditional grand assembly, is held.

Former king Zahir Shah is granted a symbolic role as the opener of the Loya Jirga, which should then set up a more permanent administration. The accord also requests the U.N. Security Council to mandate international peacekeepers to guarantee security in the Afghan capital Kabul.

[08] Afghan attack

Anti-Taliban forces moved unopposed towards Tora Bora in eastern Afghanistan, where Saudi-born militant bin Laden, is reputed to have fortified subterranean hideouts.

anti-Taliban commander Hazrat Ali said that his fighters, who left Jalalabad in a convoy of pickup trucks yesterday, were delaying a final assault to make sure they were not inadvertently hit by U.S. air strikes.

U.S. air strikes had reportedly killed 12 members of bin Laden's al Qaeda network in the previous two days in or around Tora Bora, about 35 miles south of Jalalabad.

He could not confirm reports that bin Laden's top lieutenant, Egyptian Ayman Zawahri, was among the casualties.

[09] Bomb Paphos

Police arrived at the scene and discovered that the explosion of a water pipe bomb was the cause of the damage.

[10] Fire Nicosia

The fire was spotted by neighbours and was put out by the fire department. The back of the car was damaged.

[11] Weather

Winds will be light to moderate variable, reaching five beaufort in the thunderstorms areas, over slight seas.

Tonight, rain is expected.

Winds will be light variable, two to three beaufort, over slight seas.

Temperatures will fall to nine degrees inland, 10 on the coast and two on the mountains.

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