The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 03-04-02

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather forecast

(2/4/2003 11:58:00 נל)

[02] American forces advance towards Baghdad

According to an American officer, the American marines seized a bridge over the Tigris river, a development that will facilitate the advance of their troops.

At the same time, the American and British forces surrounded the town of Karbala at dawn and according to them secured control at all main road arteries around it.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Mansion in Baghdad was re-bombed at dawn today, while according to a Reuters correspondent, American aircrafts and tanks bombed also the positions of Iraqi Fedayin at the town of Najaf in central Iraq.

At the same time, Southern Iraq continued to be pounded, while heavy fighting took place at the towns of Basra, Nasiriya, Hindiya and Najaf. In northern Iraq, the American forces continued bombing areas round Kirkuk.

The American navy has attributed the fall of a Tomcat jetfighter into the sea to mechanical failure.

In the meantime, according to the British press, the American troops are expected to launch their offensive against Baghdad in 48 hours.

A US Army servicewoman who was held captive for more than a week in Iraq has been rescued, US military sources have said. The woman had been hospitalised at the Nasiriya hospital.

On a relative development, the Al Jazeera news agency has reported that the American forces arrested six Iraqi officers, who are being interrogated and who mentioned nothing about the existence of chemical weapons in Iraq.

The Asian stock markets have risen on rumours that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein may no longer be alive.

Oil prices continued their fall after a potentially crippling strike was averted at the last minute in Nigeria.

The price of US crude oil - a benchmark for global petroleum markets - dropped 4% in New York on Tuesday, while it fell another 1.9% to $29.22 a barrel in Asia.

The Asian stock markets rose after the Iraqi president failed to make an appearance on Iraqi television.

Even though a statement attributed to Saddam was read out on state television, the message was not accompanied by the usual images of the leader.

The American Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld stated that the war on Iraq would stop only if Iraq surrendered unconditionally.

Meanwhile, the Civil Servants Association and the General Confederation of Greek Workers will hold an anti war rally in Syntagma Square tomorrow. Additionally, the former will hold a 24-hour strike and the later a work stoppage from 11:00 to 15:00 local time.

At the same time, following the initiatives of the Athens Municipality, the Church and non governmental organisations, humanitarian aid for the Iraqi people continues to be collected.

(2/4/2003 11:59:00 נל)

[03] Powell to visit Brussels after Ankara

The American Secretary of State Colin Powell is in Ankara having discussions with the Turkish leadership, while tomorrow he will be visiting Brussels, where he is scheduled to meet with the Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, the Foreign and Defence commissioner for the EU, Havier Solana and Cris Paten the commissioner responsible for EU Foreign Affairs.

Meanwhile, Mr Papandreou said that the war on Iraq is testing the European institutions, expressing the hope that tomorrow's meeting in Brussels would constitute a step of real will on behalf of Washington for a substantial dialogue between Europe and the USA.

Finally, during his meeting with the American President's advisor for National Security Condoleza Rice, Defence Minister Giannos Papantoniou underlined the need for the UN to engage in developments in post war Iraq.

Earlier he had met with Mr Rumsfeld to whom he conveyed Greece and the EU's wish for a quick ending of the war against Iraq.

Finally, during the presentation of his annual report on the monetary policy to the competent Parliamentary Committee, the governor of the Bank of Greece Nikos Garganas referred to the danger of recession in the international economy due to the war against Iraq.

From his side, Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis underlined that the world economy was passing a severe strain and it is logical that this was leading to the boosting of international uncertainty.

(2/4/2003 12:00:00 לל)

[04] '17 November' trial continues

His wife present Athens Mayoress Dora Bakoyianni described the terrorists cowards and low class people, attributing his death to his profound examination of the issue of terrorism and his attempt to converge the political forces of the Right with those of the Left.

(2/4/2003 12:02:00 לל)

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