Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 04-05-05

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

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] DISY DECISION

[03] DEPUTIES REAX

[04] TURKISH PRODUCTS

[05] TALAT WASHINGTON

[06] GREECE BLASTS

[07] IRAQ

[08] MIDEAST

[09] WEATHER WEDNESDAY 5 MAY 2004

[01] HEADLINES

--EU member states prohibited the entry of one thousand five hundred turkish lorries because on the insurance documents the turkish authorities had crossed out the name of the Republic of Cyprus citing it is not a country recognised by Turkey.

--Three bombs exploded today outside an Athens police station raising new security concerns since Athens will host the Olympic Games in August.

--U.S.-led forces battled Iraqi Shi'ite Muslim militiamen loyal to rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in the holy city of Kerbala early today, killing three fighters.

And

--Israeli forces killed a Palestinian in raids into Gaza today as it faced international pressure to stick to a landmark plan to evacuate the territory voted down by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's own Likud party.

[02] DISY DECISION

The party's political bureau decided the two parliamentarians had created a climate of division in the party, after their decision not to abide by the party's majority decision to support the 'yes' vote in the last month's referendum on a UN plan for a Cyprus settlement.

DISY leader Nicos Anastasiades told CyBC that because of their disruptive actions, the two deputies had placed themselves outside the party ranks and the political bureau had an obligation to expel them.

He also said that the supporters of no during the referendum are not a target.

[03] DEPUTIES REAX

He said the party's decision to expel the two deputies was taken in the past and talked about a sad point in the party's history.

Deputy Rikos Erotokritou said he sides with all the thousands of voters who ignored the Democratic Rally's decision to vote 'yes' in the ferenda.

He also criticised the DISY leadership for acting in an authoritarian and despotic manner and said he will be a candidate for the European Elections.

Meanwhile, Christodoulos Taramountas of DISY announced his decision today to withdraw from the party.

[04] TURKISH PRODUCTS

According to the director of Turkey's International Transports organisation, this regulation could deeply affect Turkish exports to the EU.

Meanwhile, Mersin's Chamber of Commerce and Industry said it wasd ready to carry out commercial transactions with the Republic of Cyprus, noting it would be a great opportunity for Turkey.

[05] TALAT WASHINGTON

Speaking after his half hour meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell, Mr. Talat said the US administration agrees that the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots should not continue.

Answering questions whether he received assurances for a de facto recognition of the illegal regime, Mr. Talat said it was not a question of recognition but an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community.

Mr. Talat will remain in Washington until Friday.

[06] GREECE BLASTS

A Greek police official said initial evidence pointed to the small local anarchist and leftist groups that regularly stage minor bomb attacks around Athens.

But he added that the incident was serious enough for the police.

The pre-dawn blasts, preceded by an anonymous telephone warning, badly damaged the station in the Kalithea district and slightly injured a policeman. Kalithea is near the hotels to be used by Olympic officials during the August 13-29 Olympics.

Government spokesman Thodoris Rousopoulos said there was no evidence so far to link the blasts to the summer Olympics, and the International Olympic Committee said this was "a relatively small incident" but added it was in close contact with Greek officials.

IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said they are fully in the loop with the Greek authorities who are keeping the IOC informed, noting the incident is not connected with an Olympic venue.

Greece has drawn up a record 780 million dollar security plan involving more than 50,000 security staff for the Olympics and has asked NATO for help with air and sea patrols as well as protection against weapons of mass destruction.

Greek authorities in 2002 dismantled their biggest domestic security threat, radical leftist guerrilla group November 17.

Nobody has taken responsibility for Wednesday's bombings so far.

[07] IRAQ

The clashes came hours after Shi'ite political leaders called on Sadr to disarm and vowed to forge a domestic solution to the brewing crisis between the cleric and U.S.-led forces.

The move was the first collective effort by Sadr's political rivals to try to avoid further violence in the holy cities of Najaf and Kerbala and regain political ground lost to the firebrand cleric, whose nationalist brand of Islam has gained him support.

There was no immediate comment from the U.S. military, but witnesses said U.S. aircraft dropped Arabic-language leaflets urging militiamen to surrender.

There were similar clashes in Najaf earlier this week in which at least five militiamen were killed.

U.S. forces have vowed to capture or kill 30-year-old Sadr, a member of one of the most respected families in Najaf, the theological centre for many Shi'ites worldwide.

[08] MIDEAST

Mr. Sharon has begun consultations on how to save his scheme for "disengagement" from conflict with Palestinians, which foreign mediators called a "rare moment of opportunity", but is opposed by Jewish settlers in Gaza and their rightist backers in Likud.

As Mr. Sharon brainstormed with aides and allies to redeem his U.S.-backed plan, Israeli forces raided three Palestinian towns in Gaza in response to the killing of five settlers during Sunday's Likud vote on "disengagement".

Witnesses said Israeli troops who swept into Deir al-Balah killed a Palestinian police captain and wounded 15 people in clashes with stone-throwers, including six schoolchildren.

Israeli army bulldozers, flanked by tanks with helicopters overhead also demolished 10 houses in Khan Younis inner-city refugee camp and tried to root out more tunnels in Rafah camp used by militants to smuggle in arms from nearby Egypt.

All three areas are bastions of Palestinian armed factions.

[09] WEATHER

Tonight there will be increased cloud and locally there will be thin mist and low cloud. Winds will be north-westerly to north-easterly light, two to three beaufort, becoming north-easterly to south-easterly light to moderate, three to four beaufort. The sea will be slight. Temperatures will reach 14 C inland, 16 C on the coasts and 13 over the mountains.

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