The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-09-18

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

CONTENTS

[01] Violence Surge in Iran

Last Updated on Friday, 18 September 2009 18:19

Tens of thousands of pro- and anti- government demonstrators packed the streets of Tehran to celebrate the al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day rally, the country's annual Palestinian solidarity day. However, clashes were reported between the rival demonstrators. Pro-government supporters attacked the opposition leaders, blocking the Mir Hossein Musavi's car and preventing him from leaving the rally, reported Irna.

Pro-government supporters on motorbikes attacked and arrested several anti-government demonstrators, eye witnesses were quoted as saying.

The Parlemennews site cited witnesses as saying the attackers pushed Khatami to the ground, but opposition activists quickly repelled the attackers.

Anti-government marchers chanted slogans such as âDeath to the dictatorâ and âNot Gaza, Not Lebanon, I sacrifice my life for Iran, while pro-government ones shouted âDeath to Israel.â

Quds Day rally was introduced by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and it keeps taking place with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad being at the helm of the country.

Source: NET, ANA

News item: 26903

[02] Greek FM in Hospital

Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis was taken to hospital suffering from a respiratory infection, read a statement issued by her political office. The statement also read that her agenda would be cancelled.

News item: 26899

[03] Blast Kills 25 in Pakistan

Last Updated on Friday, 18 September 2009 17:19

A suicide car bomb killed at least 25 people in a northwestern Pakistani town. Several of the victims were killed after buildings collapsed. The blast occurred on the outskirts of Kohat, 60 kilometres off Peshawar, a Taleban-dominated city.

News item: 26896

[04] Towards Agreement on TV Duel Terms

Political parties' staff are feverishly working to draw their strategies in the final stage before October, 4 elections with focus placed on TV debates. The debate of the six political leaders will take place on Monday at 2000 hours. Government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros today sent a letter to PASOK saying that ND accepted the terms under which Tuesday's debate of the two political leaders is to be held. In the meantime, the group of journalists have requested a review of the terms of the political leaders TV debate. The journalists from the 7 television channels met to discuss the general terms of the debate which they have described as worse than ever before.

The ND sent a letter to PASOK saying that it agreed with the terms under which the debate between Mr. Karamanlis and Mr. Papandreou will be held. The letter also proposes two additional journalists apart from coordinator Maria Houkli and inclusion of Education and Infrastructures among the themes to be discussed. These proposals are described as useful improvements and not necessary preconditions.

The ND has proposed order of thematic units to come from draw. Specifically, the ND has proposed a written introductory position by the coordinator enclosed in an envelope which the journalist in the panel will choose randomly and ask the political leaders' position.

Furthermore it proposes 3 minutes for each political leader's first and second answer and one minute for their third answer. Finally it proposes the participation of two renowned journalists in addition to the coordinator who will submit questions to political leaders.

PASOK has proposed a 75 minute debate divided in 5 thematic unities lasting 15 minutes each. The journalist coordinating the debate will pose an introductory question of one minute length. Each of the two political leaders will be allowed three minutes to give his first answer and next two minutes for the second and third answer.

Monday TV Debate

With regard to the Monday debate of the six political leaders, the parties agreed to touch on Economy, Environment, Employment and Social Welfare, Foreign Policy and Education.

There will be two groups comprised of three journalists, while for the first time in a TV debate each political leader is allowed to pose a question to one political leader of his selection.

The order of political leaders seat at the panel is determined by their parties' representation in parliamentary seats.

The first group of journalists will introduce the first cycle of questions, touching on Economy, Environment and Public Administration. Each journalist will be able to pose two questions to two political leaders for each theme.

Upon the completion of the first cycle, each political leader will be allowed to submit a question to another leader of his selection, he won't be given, however, the opportunity to comment on the answer.

Then, the second group of journalists will open the second cycle of questions, touching on Employment and Social Welfare, Education and Foreign Policy.

At the end of the debate, each political leader will be able to make a political statement up to two minutes long.

State channel journalist Maria Houkli is the coordinator of the TV debate while commercial channels will be represented by Pavlos Tsimas (Mega), Nikos Evangelatos (ANT1), Andreas Konstantatos (Alter), Aimilios Liatsos (Star), Sia Kotsoni( Skai), Antonis Sroiter (Alpha).

Journalists Participating in the Debate

Following their first meeting today, the journalists participating in the political leaders' TV debate asked for a fruitful dialogue seeking better terms so they could do their job better. They maintained that restrictions imposed limit their role and are worse than any previous debate.

Government spokesman George Koumoutsakos said that progress was made during a meeting of political parties' representatives and journalists. He, however, stressed that it is technically difficult to manage a debate with the participation of six political leaders which is held nowhere else but Greece. Concluding Mr. Koumoutsakos said that whoever influences negatively a procedure of high importance will bear the responsibility of his actions.

News item: 26909

[05] Greek FM in Hospital

Last Updated on Friday, 18 September 2009 19:39

Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis was taken to hospital suffering from a respiratory infection, read a statement issued by her political office. The statement also read that her agenda would be cancelled.

News item: greece.htm

[06] Violence Surge in Iran

Last Updated on Friday, 18 September 2009 18:19

Tens of thousands of pro- and anti- government demonstrators packed the streets of Tehran to celebrate the al-Quds (Jerusalem) Day rally, the country's annual Palestinian solidarity day. However, clashes were reported between the rival demonstrators. Pro-government supporters attacked the opposition leaders, blocking the Mir Hossein Musavi's car and preventing him from leaving the rally, reported Irna.

Pro-government supporters on motorbikes attacked and arrested several anti-government demonstrators, eye witnesses were quoted as saying.

The Parlemennews site cited witnesses as saying the attackers pushed Khatami to the ground, but opposition activists quickly repelled the attackers.

Anti-government marchers chanted slogans such as âDeath to the dictatorâ and âNot Gaza, Not Lebanon, I sacrifice my life for Iran, while pro-government ones shouted âDeath to Israel.â

Quds Day rally was introduced by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, and it keeps taking place with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad being at the helm of the country.

Source: NET, ANA

News item: world-5.htm

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