The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 04-04-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Japanese hostages freed in Iraq, Iranian killed

Three Japanese hostages were freed today, but the murders of an Iranian diplomat and an Italian captive were chilling proof of the risks foreigners face in Iraq, where rebels are battling the U.S.-led occupation. Americas top general said talks were under way to try to bring peace to the embattled Sunni Muslim city of Falluja and to avoid a bloodbath in the Shiite shrine city of Najaf. General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a news conference Iraqs U.S. administrator Paul Bremer was using "multiple channels" in the negotiations.

[02] CIA says bin Laden tape "likely" authentic

A CIA analysis has determined that a new audio tape was "likely" the voice of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, a CIA official said today. The taped message aired by Arab television stations offered a truce with European countries if they stop attacking Muslims, and vowed revenge on the United States for Israels assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

[03] Palestinians urge world to challenge Bush policy

Furious Palestinians tried to rally the world today against President George W. Bushs decision to break with long-time U.S. and international policy to say Israel could keep parts of the West Bank captured in war. Bush coupled what Israel hailed as a historic statement on Wednesday with an endorsement of Prime Minister Ariel Sharons unilateral Gaza pullout plan and a negation of any right of return for Palestinian refugees to what is now Israel.

[04] Denktash firmly against Annan plan

Despite Turkeys support for the Annan plan, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash reiterated his opposition to the plan in an address to the Turkish parliament today stating that the plan would spell the end for Turkish-Cypriots. Denktash expressed disappointment at the Turkish governments support for the Annan plan. Turkeys Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, who has repeatedly criticized Denktash in the past for his hardline policy in Cyprus, was not present in parliament during the speech.

[05] Greek Cypriot party votes for delay to referendum

The largest Greek Cypriot political party has voted to call for a postponement of a referendum to reunite with Turkish Cypriots, dealing a new blow to hopes of ending the 30-year division of the island. The decision by the communist AKEL party was an indirect "no" vote ahead of an April 24 referendum organised by the United Nations, which if passed would allow a united Cyprus to join the European Union on May 1. After a seven-hour meeting late on Wednesday, 1,694 members of AKEL voted by a 65 percent majority to seek a postponement of the referendum.

[06] Communist party's clear "no" to Annan plan

Communist party leader, Aleka Papriga reiterated her partys pro NO vote to the Annan plan underlining it does not promote a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation but an international protectorate and strengthens the territorial sovereignty of the British bases.

[07] PASOK firm on "yes" to Annan plan

Opposition Socialist Party of PASOK President George Papandreou issued an appeal to the government to undertake initiatives at European and UN level for the implementation of the Lucerne decisions and support the proposal for the postponement of the referenda, in a statement made after the Political Party Leaders Council meeting held today.

Mr. Papandreou expressed his satisfaction since a wider consensus seemed to be forming a strong majority of the political forces favours a positive stance towards the Annan Plan.

[08] PM Karamanlis syas Annan plan more positive than negative

The Greek Presidency issued a statement after the four-hour long meeting of the Political Party Leaders Council held today under President Kostis Stephanopoulos on the developments in Cyprus and the referenda of April 24.

Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis adopted a stance including elements favouring the Annan Plan reiterating, however, that Cyprus will decide and Greece would support when describing position of the Greek government.

Mr. Karamanlis pointed out that there are positive elements and difficulties in the Annan Plan but stressed that the positive points could prove to be more important than the negative aspects and added that the plan should be examined calmly for proper usage of it's positive points. Mr. Karamanlis also suggested that injustices should not prevent from maintaining a long-term perspective, stressing that he deeply believed in the power of the European reality.

[09] Weather Forecast

Sunny weather is forecast in most parts of the country, with scattered clouds in the west possibly turning to rain in the northern Ionian and Epirus. Winds variable, moderate to very strong. Temperatures in Athens will range between 12-21 C and in Thessaloniki between 10-19 C.

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