The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 03-04-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather forecast

(10/4/2003 11:54:00 рм)

[02] Erdogan rejects present Annan plan for solution of Cyprus issue

However, Mr Erdogan disagreed with the Greek position, according to which the Annan plan in its present form should constitute a basis for negotiations.

Meanwhile, the Security Council is holding a meeting now to approve its new resolution for the Cyprus issue, following the collapse of the negotiations at the Hague.

Russia, France and China disagree with the resolution draft plan prepared by Washington.

(10/4/2003 11:58:00 рм)

[03] Fighting continues despite the collapse of Baghdad

A few hours ago, American marines entered northeastern Baghdad under air cover and attacked forces that are loyal to the Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

It should be noted that the leader of the Iraqi National Congress Ahmed Chalabi, the main opposition movement leader, stated that the Iraqi President and his son Qusai are hiding in northeastern Baghdad.

At the same time, Moscow rejected allegations that Mr Saddam Hussein had sought refuge in the Russian embassy in Iraq.

On a relative development, the American forces' commander who entered Baghdad, foresees that the remaining Iraqi resistance will be dealt with in a few days, while Mahmur, the Iraqi town situated in the north, fell in the Kurds' hands a few hours ago. Additionally, American bombers are bombarding Mahmur, as well as Tikrit.

Meanwhile, American Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stated that humanitarian aid had begun been sent to Iraq, while the Iraqi ambassador at the United Nations headquarters Mohamed Al Douri admitted that the war was over.

The American President George W. Bush expressed his satisfaction over the progress of the military operations, while Mr Rumsfeld and other officials stressed that Mr Hussein should be located, accusing at the same time Syria of having helped the Iraqi regime.

From his side, the German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who is meeting with the French and Russian Presidents at St Petersburg tomorrow, described the developments satisfactory.

The Turkish President Ahmed Nezdet Sezer asked for a quick end of the war, so as terrorism and the clash of civilizations are averted, while Egypt, Iran and Jordan underlined that the Iraqis should have their own government very fast.

In the meantime, the American Vice President Dick Cheney announced a meeting between American officials and representatives of the Iraqi opposition in Nasiriya on Saturday, which the Shia opposition organization in Tehran will boycott due the continuing American presence in Iraq.

At the same time, the American Pentagon rejected accusations of the Iraqi opposition that it is supporting Mr Ahmed Chalabi, maintaining that it supports many opposition representatives, such as the Kurdish organizations in northern Iraq, the members of the Shia opposition in the south and exiled Iraqis.

Meanwhile, an American Pentagon official stated that the American air force would transfer at the Persian Gulf region many 9.5-ton bombs that can cause destruction similar to that of a small nuclear bomb. However, it was not illustrated were these bombs would be used.

(10/4/2003 11:55:00 рм)

[04] Greece willing to distribute humanitarian aid in Iraq

Meanwhile, reacting to the death of the lethal attacks against journalists in Iraq, the Athens Journalists' Union (ESHEA) began a two-hour stoppage from 12:00 to 14:00 and will march to the American and British embassies in Athens.

(10/4/2003 11:56:00 рм)

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