Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 03-06-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] MIDEAST

[02] IRAN PROTESTS

[03] SARS

[04] SECURITY COUNCIL

[05] IACOVOU

[06] BEGLITIS

[07] CY NEW BOARD

[08] WEATHER HEADLINES

-- A U.S.-led Middle East peace bid was in turmoil today after a Palestinian suicide bomber killed 16 people on a Jerusalem bus and Israeli helicopters killed 10 Palestinians in strikes on militants.

Watching his "road map" peace plan engulfed in a new round of bloodletting, U.S. President George W. Bush condemned the Jerusalem bombing and called on "all the free world...to use every ounce of their power to prevent them."

-- The World Health Organisation said today the outbreak of the deadly SARS virus may be nearing an end after about eight and a half thousand cases worldwide.

-- The UN Security Council, in a resolution extending the mandate of UNFICYP in Cyprus, expresses concern at the recent, further violations by the Turkish Cypriot side and the Turkish forces at the southeastern village of Strovilia and urges them to restore the military status quo which existed there prior to 30 June 2000.

And, -- Foreign Minister George Iacovou met US Vice President Dick Cheney yesterday in Washington, as well as Secretary of State Colin Powell and US National Security Adviser, Condoleeza Rice.

[01] MIDEAST

Watching his "road map" peace plan engulfed in a new round of bloodletting, U.S. President George W. Bush condemned the Jerusalem bombing and called on "all the free world...to use every ounce of their power to prevent them."

But promises of more attacks by the militant Hamas group, which claimed responsibility for the Jerusalem blast, and a vow by Israel to track down and kill more Palestinian militants bode ill for U.S. hopes of rekindling its peace initiative.

"We've Returned to War", the Israeli daily Maariv declared in bold, red type on its front page a week after Mr. Bush, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas pledged to work for peace at a summit in Jordan.

The toll of 26 dead on both sides made yesterday one of the bloodiest days in months of conflict.

Sixteen people were killed and more than 100 wounded when a Palestinian bomber disguised as an ultra-Orthodox Jew blew himself up on a bus near Jerusalem's main open-air market during the afternoon rush hour.

Minutes later, Israeli helicopter gunships fired missiles at a car in Gaza City, killing two top Hamas militants and six bystanders. At around midnight, two more Hamas militants were killed in another helicopter missile strike.

Hamas said it sent the bomber to avenge Israel's botched attempt to assassinate Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi, a co-founder of Hamas, in a missile attack in Gaza on Tuesday.

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat denounced both the Jerusalem bombing and Israel's missile strikes on Gaza.

Mr. Sharon, undeterred by a rare rebuke from Bush for the attempt on Rantissi, vowed to pursue militants "to the fullest extent". But he also said Israel was deeply committed to moving forward towards peace.

[02] IRAN PROTESTS

Chanting "Death to dictators" and "Tanks, artillery and guns no longer have any power", around 3,000 people milled around the streets surrounding a central Tehran university dormitory early today.

Police and Islamic militia units prevented the demonstrators from approaching the university buildings -- the scene of violent unrest four years ago -- and hundreds of riot police were kept on standby in nearby streets.

The unrest comes as Iran faces mounting pressure from Washington which accuses it of sponsoring terrorism and building nuclear weapons. U.S. officials have said they support what they see as the Iranian people's desire for political change.

Analysts predicted more protests as the July 9 anniversary of violent student unrest in 1999 approached.

[03] SARS

Hitoshi Oshitani, the WHO's regional adviser on communicable disease surveillance and response, said Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome was on the wane in China -- the epicentre of the disease that has killed 789 people around the globe.

The WHO official said seven cases were reported yesterday, one in China, one in Canada, one in Taiwan and four in the United States.

Taiwan, which has the third-highest number of SARS infections and victims after China and Hong Kong, reported two new cases today.

A WHO medical officer said development of a SARS vaccine was "a few years away".

[04] SECURITY COUNCIL

In its resolution the Council "expresses concern at the recent, further violations by the Turkish Cypriot side and the Turkish forces at the southeastern village of Strovilia and urges them to restore the military status quo which existed there prior to 30 June 2000".

The Security Council "notes the limited steps taken by the Turkish Cypriot side to ease some of the restrictions imposed on 30 June 2000 on the operation of UNFICYP but urges the Turkish Cypriot side and the Turkish forces to rescind all remaining restrictions on UNFICYP".

It also "endorses the increase of the UNFICYP civilian police component by no more than 34 officers in order to meet the increased workload resulting from ''the welcome partial easing of restrictions on island-wide freedom of movement, which has been met by goodwill from Greek and Turkish Cypriots''.

Furthermore it "reaffirms all its relevant resolutions on Cyprus and in particular resolution 1251 of 29 June 1999 and subsequent resolutions".

It also welcomes "the report of the Secretary General of 27 May 2003 on the United Nations operation in Cyprus and in particular the call to the parties to assess and address the humanitarian issue of missing persons with due urgency and seriousness."

[05] IACOVOU

Speaking after the half-hour meeting with his US counterpart, Iacovou said it was ''very useful'' and they discussed the Cyprus problem, and that he elaborated on recent developments on the island.

Mr. Iacovou said he explained the Greek Cypriot side's positions regarding the solution of the Cyprus problem and ''the fact that we are facing a harsh negative stance from the Turks and that the US must turn to the Turkish side to resume procedures to solve the Cyprus problem under the good offices of the UN Secretary General''.

Mr. Iacovou also met yesterday US Vice President Dick Cheney and US National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice where they discussed the situation as regards the Cyprus problem.

He told CNA that his interlocutors acknowledge that the US has to work with a view to convince Turkey to contribute to the settlement of the Cyprus problem.

[06] BEGLITIS

Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman, Panagiotis Beglitis reiterated that procedures to solve the Cyprus problem have not been terminated and expressed the conviction that the UN Secretary-General will proceed towards this direction, provided the Turkish Cypriot side will accept negotiations to take place on the basis of his plan.

Mr. Beglitis made the statement in view of US State Department Coordinator Thomas Weston's visit to Athens for talks with Foreign Minister George Papandreou on the Cyprus problem and efforts to resume the stalled peace talks.

[07] CY NEW BOARD

Constantinos Loizides was appointed chairman, and vice Chairman is Achilleas Kyprianou, who served as CY's acting chairman.

Another nine persons were appointed members of the board.

The announcement was made during the carrier's annual general assembly, which was held yesterday.

[08] WEATHER

Tonight, the weather will be clear. Thin mist and low cloud will form locally. Winds will be variable two to three beaufort and the sea calm to slight. Temperatures will fall to 18 C inland and on the west coast, 20 C on the south and 17 over the mountains.

The fire hazard remains very high in all forest areas.

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