The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 03-04-12

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Weather forecast

(12/4/2003 12:15:00 μμ)

[02] Chaos prevailing in Iraq

Government buildings, banks and libraries are burning, while the only buildings that are guarded are the Oil Ministry, as well as the Palestine hotel, which hosts journalists from all over the world.

Damages also took place at the archaeological museum and hospitals in Baghdad, while according to the Reuters news agency the library of the Mosul University, where rare documents were kept, was also looted.

At the same time, the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan stated that the Americans' top priority should be the imposition of law and order.

Amnesty International from its side stresses that according to International Law, the observance of order, the distribution of medicine and the maintenance of hospital units constitute a duty of the occupant forces.

Meanwhile, the American Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld stated that the American &#8211; British forces would soon resume the policing of the big Iraqi towns. However, American militaries appear reserved on such a development, while the occupant forces in Baghdad have already called on the Iraqi policemen to contribute to the restoration of order.

In tandem, the Iraqi Ambassador to the United Nations Mohamed Al Douri left New York yesterday and is heading to the Middle East. He stressed that he is confident of his country's future and of its relations with the USA.

At the same time, despite of the departure of the Kurd fighters from Mosul and Kirkuk that fell in the hands of the Americans, Turkey has announced that it will send 15 observers in the area.

In the meantime, the Americans continue pounding Tikrit, where Saddam Hussein may have fled, although the Americans maintain that the Iraqi leader is most probably dead.

On a relative development, the American President George W. Bush stated that the goal for the toppling of the Iraqi regime was achieved, warning at the same time Syria not to offer asylum to the Iraqi leader.

Moreover, the American Pentagon publicized a list with the 55 most wanted Iraqi officials, including Saddam Hussein, his sons and wife and Vice President Tarek Aziz.

At the same time, the American Secretary of State Colin Powell stated that the USA would not let the UN have control of post war Iraq. The UN would only have to play a humanitarian role.

Contrary to Mr Powell, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Zacques Chirac as well as the German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, stressed the importance of a primary role for the UN in the reconstruction of Iraq when war ends.

Mr. Putin welcomed the fall of Saddam Hussein but questioned the validity of the coalition's war aim of rooting out weapons of mass destruction.

"If in the last moment of [the Iraqi regime's] existence it did not use them, it means they do not exist," he said after a trilateral meeting in the Russian city of St Petersburg.

All three Commentators say that, crushed by their failed attempt to block war in Iraq, the leaders are trying to stake a claim in the peace.

Finally, the Russian President stated that Russia is ready to write off Iraq's debt to his country.

Meanwhile, the future of post war Iraq, the repercussions of the war in World economy will be discussed in Washington today by the G 7, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Present will also be the Greek Finance Minister Nikos Christodoulakis, who is presiding the Eurogroup and the ECCOFIN.

At the same time, anti war demonstrations will take place all over Greece. The Greek Social Forum staged a demonstration at Syntagma square at 12:00 and then a march to the American Embassy.

Finally, according to NET 105.8, Archbishop Christodoulos will visit Baghdad in the coming days, accompanying humanitarian aid of the Church of Greece that will be distributed there.

(12/4/2003 12:16:00 μμ)

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