The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 03-04-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather forecast

(11/4/2003 11:55:00 נל)

[02] Northern Iraq goes to American hands

Meanwhile, according to the Reuters news agency, an important bridge in Hazer that had been destroyed by the Iraqis, has been repaired, allowing thus the American tanks to cross from Arbil to Mosul.

Moreover, Kurdish fighters entered Kirkuk, but the USA has assured Turkey that the town will come under their control and that the Kurds will leave. At the same time, American tanks are heading to Kirkuk, while commanders of the fighters of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan stated that the Kurds had been ordered to leave Kirkuk a while ago.

On a relative development, heavy fire was exchanged in northeastern Baghdad before dawn, while according to the French news agency, five ministries and the central market in Baghdad have been burning since yesterday.

Yesterday, a marine was killed and 22 wounded during clashes with armed Iraqis in a mosque.

American bombers used clever bombs to bomb Saddam Hussein's half-brother's home in Ramadin.

Additionally, American marines took the town of Kaim near the Syrian border, while Saddam Hussein's hometown Tikrit was bombed again.

At the same time, a photographer of the French news agency stated that he saw dozens bodies of dead soldiers at a Baghdad suburb near the airport, when fighting broke out between American troops and Fedayin paramilitaries.

It should be noted that according to the American Pentagon 105 American soldiers and 31 British have been killed from the start of the war in Iraq.

Yesterday, the USA and Britain denounced the assassination of the Shia Muslims' Shih Abdul Matzit al Hoei and one of his associates in Najaf.

Arab sources reported that the Iraqi ambassador at the United Nations Mohamed Al Douri would leave New York today. Yesterday, he stated that everything had finished, adding that there was not government that he was representing.

Regarding humanitarian aid, the British Navy reported that the first ship with humanitarian aid would reach Um Quasr tomorrow.

At the same time, in a televised message that was shown on the Iraqi TV, the American President George W. Bush and the British Prime Minister promised that the Iraqi people would decide for their fate.

Meanwhile, the American Defence Secretary Paul Wolfvotic described Syria's stance 'suspicious', adding however that the USA was not thinking of sending its troops there. From his side, trying to put an end to rumors that the USA would then attack Syria and Iran, Secretary of State Colin Powell stated that the USA had no list of the countries it would attack.

Finally, four American Senators are promoting a resolution, according to which the American government will have to publicize the criteria on the basis of which business firms will undertake the reconstruction of Iraq.

(11/4/2003 12:00:00 לל)

[03] The USA seeks cooperation with the EU on the Middle East issue

In the meantime, Prime Minister Costas Simitis told the Cabinet yesterday that the United Nations' engagement to post war Iraq on a political and economic level should take place the fastest possible.

From his side, New Democracy party spokesman Theodoris Rousopoulos stressed the need for the United Nations to play a dominant role in Iraq, underlining the need for humanitarian aid to be sent there with the participation of Greece.

(11/4/2003 12:02:00 לל)

[04] Cyprus issue comes upon a snag at the Security Council

It will become known today whether the issue will be discussed at another meeting next week or an agreement will be reached today.

(11/4/2003 12:05:00 לל)

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