The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 03-03-24

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Weather forecast

The temperature in Athens will range from 2 to 8 C and in Thessaloniki from &#8211;2 to 7 C.

(24/3/2003 11:11:00 рм)

[02] War against Iraq still waging

During the last hours, American helicopters attacked units of the Iraqi Presidential Guard 100 kilometers and met with heavy resistance by the antiaircraft fire by the Iraqis according to the CNN.

During yesterday's bombing of Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, Kirkuk and Tikrit, the Iraqi sources maintain that at least 80 civilians were killed while 380 were injured. The injured in Baghdad since the beginning of war number 320.

Meanwhile, US and UK troops are also encountering stiff opposition around Nasariya and Basra, where the Americans admitted that 10 of their soldiers were killed, while 12 are reported missing. From their side, the Iraqi forces stated that the dead number 25.

Besides, it was announced a few hours ago that two British soldiers in Southern Iraq are reported missing, while during the morning hours two American Tomahawk missiles went off course and fell in a desert area in eastern Turkey.

At the same time, according an American official, Russian technicians are helping Iraq to jam satellite signals, creating thus problems to the course of American and British bombs. Meanwhile, American Pentagon sources verified that the American forces discovered installations serving for the production and storage of chemical weapons near the town of Najaf, 160 kilometres south of Baghdad.

Australian defence officials say their special forces commandos have destroyed a missile command bunker deep in Iraqi territory.

The SAS has also helped coalition aircraft target enemy troops and is continuing its long-range surveillance missions.

At a briefing in Canberra, senior military officers have also detailed Australian navy strikes on Iraqi artillery positions on the al-Faw peninsula.

The Australian SAS is operating well beyond the front line.

The special forces have, according to defence officials, tracked the movements of well-armed Iraqi platoons before calling in coalition air strikes.

On a relative development, the Americans and the British reacted to the presentation of captive American soldiers by the Iraqi television, while the Iraqi Defence Minister stated that the International Treaties would be respected.

Most American TV networks, as well as the BBC did not present the video with the captive American soldiers, while according to the American Pentagon the dead American soldiers had been executed.

Besides, it was announced that a British reported that had been reported missing since Saturday, is dead, while two of his collaborates are reported missing. Additionally, a Russian correspondent of a European network was killed in Basra, while three French journalists were arrested by the Iraqis for having entered Iraq illegally.

Meanwhile, US President George W Bush has issued a "very clear" warning to Turkey not to send troops into northern Iraq.

Mr Bush also said the US was working with Kurds in the region to avoid a conflagration in tensions with Turkey.

At the same time, from his side, the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan maintained that Ankara and Washington had agreed on all issues regarding Iraq, including the issue of dispatch of Turkish troops to Northern Iraq.

On a relative development, the Iraqi Foreign Minister reiterated that if Turkey invaded Iraq it would pay a high price, while Belgium warned Turkey not to enter Iraq because it would not be acceded to the European Union.

Yesterday, however, the American ambassador and Turkish officials discussed the possibility of an agreement that would allow a limited dispatch of Turkish troops to Iraq.

Athens from its side expressed its concern over Turkey's intention to send troops to Iraq through its Foreign Minister George Papandreou to the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, while it was agreed that Iraq's territorial integrity should remain intact.

In the case Turkey sends troops to Iraq, then the Greek EU Presidency will react said Deputy Press Minister Tilemachos Chitiris to NET. Mr Chitiris also said that Greece would not ask from the Iraqi embassy to shut down.

Finally, Oscar winners Nicole Kidman and Adrien Brody have each made reference to their sadness at war in Iraq in their speeches for best actress and best actor.

The Oscars had been toned down due to the conflict, with scaled-down red carpet entrances amid the ceremony's tightest security.

Thousands of anti-war protesters gathered outside the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, along with several hundred pro-war demonstrators, using the global event as a platform for their views.

Several big-name winners including Michael Moore, Pedro Almodovar and Chris Cooper also made their feelings about war known in their speeches.

(24/3/2003 11:20:00 рм)

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