The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 03-04-07

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather forecast

Northerly winds, moderate to gusty. The temperature in Athens will range from 7 to 13C and in Thessaloniki from 2 to 8C.

(7/4/2003 12:00:00 μμ)

[02] The Americans storm Baghdad

On a relative development, the American Lieutenant Colonel Pete Bayer told the Reuters news agency that the American forces had taken the central Presidential Mansion in Baghdad and have entered another one. He also said that the Americans had had no casualties yet.

Meanwhile, following the exchange of gunfire with the Iraqi forces, the Americans crossed the two bridges of the Tigris river and are heading to the government buildings in the west bank leaving dozens of dead soldiers.

According to our correspondent Panos Charitos, the American's targets are also the two hotels that are hosting journalists and from which the Iraqi TV is operating.

At the same time, the Iraqis lit fires in petrol filled ditches so as to decrease visibility for the American forces. The attack against Baghdad began with 65 American tanks and 40 armoured vehicles at 07:00 Greek time.

Air raids preceded that attack against Baghdad, while it seems that the Americans have under their control all routes leading to the Iraqi capital, except for the highway connecting it with Kirkuk.

In the meantime, the Americans maintain that they have 7,000 soldiers at Baghdad airport, while the first American transport aircraft landed at the airport late last night.

Our correspondent in Washington Dimitris Apokis reported that the Iraqi fronts all over Iraq had collapsed, while according to the latest information of international agencies the Americans announced the collapse of Karbala in central Iraq and the death of 400 Iraqi soldiers after a two day long battle. The British from their side announced that three of their soldiers lost their lives.

Meanwhile, an American warplane has bombed a Kurdish convoy in northern Iraq, which had been joined by members of US special forces, killing several people.

During the incident, 18 Kurds were killed and 45 were wounded.

Kurdish military commander Wajy Barzani, brother of the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), was wounded in the attack.

On a relative development, United Nations organisations are warning for the possibility of humanitarian catastrophe, while the World Health Organisation has reported that Baghdad hospitals are full of wounded and have severe shortage of medicine.

Finally, the American President's advisor on national security Condoleza Rice is in Moscow to hold discussions with Russian officials on the developments in Iraq and to discuss the issue of the attack launched against the Russian diplomatic mission that was trying to leave Baghdad yesterday.

At the same time, the American President George W. Bush and the British Prime Minister Tony Blair are meeting in Northern Ireland tomorrow to discuss the Iraq issue and the issue of Northern Ireland.

(7/4/2003 12:02:00 μμ)

[03] Demonstrations against operation of Suda base

15 prominent members of the Greek society, mainly members of the Greek Social Forum have asked from the State Council to cancel the use of the Suda base by the United States, underlining that the relevant Greek American agreements forbids the use of the base for aggressive acts against another country without the prior decision of the Security Council.

(7/4/2003 12:04:00 μμ)

[04] Annan blames Turkey and Denktash for lack of progress on Cyrpus talks

Mr Annan's plan will be publicized today, while the relevant Security Council resolution will be released on Thursday.

(7/4/2003 12:06:00 μμ)

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article