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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather forecast

(3/4/2003 11:59:00 נל)

[02] American and British troops nearing Baghdad

At the same time, according to American military sources two US aircraft have been shot down over southern Iraq.

A Black Hawk helicopter came under small arms fire, and an F/A-18 Hornet was hit by a surface-to-air missile, both near Karbala.

Meanwhile, the French news agency AFP reported that American troops repelled an Iraqi counter-attack on a key US-controlled bridge over the Euphrates south of Baghdad. Moreover, American military sources announced that units of the Iraqi Presidential Guard are moving south of Baghdad at a time when Baghdad continues to be pounded and battles carried out in Najaf. Additionally, the towns of Mosul and Kalak in Northern Iraq continue to be bombed, while in Arbil the Kurds are taking the positions of the retreating Iraqi soldiers.

Yesterday, an Iranian BBC cameraman was killed and a journalist wounded when a mine in a mine field went off in Northern Iraq.

On a relative development, journalists of the French News Agency in the town of Silop, Turkey reported that strong explosions were heard near the Iraqi borders with Turkey during the last hours.

At the same time, Arabic broadcaster Al-Jazeera says it will suspend the work of its correspondents in Iraq indefinitely after the Information Ministry baned two of them from working.

Meanwhile, the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fendonof is to hold talks with the Chinese leadership in Peking on Iraq, while the same issue will be discussed among the German, French and Russians Foreign Minister tomorrow.

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

(3/4/2003 12:00:00 לל)

[03] Powel to boost relations between EU & USA

Yesterday, Mr Powell reached an agreement with the Turkish government for the supply of the American forces via Turkey, as well as the transfer of humanitarian aid.

Meanwhile, in his address to the Parliamentary group of the European Socialist party yesterday, he said that the United Nations should undertake the responsibility of Iraq's restructuring. The Prime Minister also said that with the UN involvement the Iraqi people would not be alienated and terrorism would be confined.

In tandem, Mr Simitis stated that Greece might participate in Germany, France and Belgium's initiative in cooperating on defence issues. Additionally, he discussed through telephone with the French President Jacques Chirac, the German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and the Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstat the issue of a joint defence policy in the EU.

(3/4/2003 12:01:00 לל)

[04] Turkish proposal on Cyprus rejected

Earlier, the Greek Cypriot side had rejected the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's proposal for a summit meeting to be held among Britain, Greece, Turkey, the Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots because it does not lie within the United Nations framework.

(3/4/2003 12:04:00 לל)

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