Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 04-08-04

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From: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] COORDINATION GOVTS

[03] MISSING CNA

[04] MIR LAPITHOS

[05] IRAQ JORDANIANS

[06] IRAQ

[07] MIDEAST

[08] MARKETS OIL

[09] CHINA ATTACK

[10] CZECH-GOVERNMENT

[11] WEATHER WEDNESDAY 4 AUGUST 2004

[01] HEADLINES

--UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan intends to send a letter to the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus, calling for the reactivation of the Investigative COmmittee for the Missing Persons and the exhumation of remains in the occupied areas.

--Militants in Iraq freed four Jordanian and two Turkish drivers after taking them hostage to put pressure on their companies to stop working in the country.

And

--A janitor wielding a kitchen knife today stabbed 15 children and at least two teachers at a kindergarten in the Chinese capital, killing one child and leaving others blood-soaked from their wounds.

[02] COORDINATION GOVTS

Delegations from both ministries of Foreign Affairs met this morning at the ministry to determine a common action programme which they intend to present to Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos.

The Cyprus delegation is led by Foreign Minister George Iacovou and the Greek by the Foreign Ministry Director General George Genimatas.

Yesterday, Mr. Iacovou had said the two delegations intended to examine the handling at the Security Council and the European Union as far regulations for the Turkish Cypriots were concerned.

[03] MISSING CNA

According to the Cyprus News Agency, the Director of the President's Diplomatic Office, Ambassador Tasos Tzionis said the government's position is that it wants all cases concerning the missing, either Greek Cypriots or Turkish Cypriots, to be resolved.

He said that many Turkish Cypriots have provided DNA and information, adding that the government will proceed with the exhumation of remains, irrespective of the decision of the other side.

[04] MIR LAPITHOS

Informing the Britons on the financial assistance of the EU to the Turkish Cypriots,Mr. Van der Meer said that the aim of the package is to facilitate the island's reunification and to promote economic development.

[05] IRAQ JORDANIANS

The four Jordanians, who were freed in the Iraqi town of Falluja last night, will be handed over to Jordanian diplomats in Baghdad later today, according to Reuters.

Al Jazeera television reported that a militant group linked to al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had released two Turkish drivers it was holding hostage because their companies had agreed to stop working in Iraq.

In Amman, a government source confirmed the release of the four Jordanians and said local mediators were making preparations for their handover to embassy officials in Baghdad.

[06] IRAQ

A U.S. military spokeswoman said one blast among several heard in the morning was a controlled explosion scheduled for that time, adding she was not aware of any mortar attacks near the heavily fortified Zone.

Reuters reporters were unable to find any signs of damage in the area, and police said they did not know exactly where the mortars landed.

Insurgents often fire mortars or detonate car bombs near the zone as part of attempts to destabilise the government of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.

The U.S. military also periodically destroys seized weapons in controlled blasts.

[07] MIDEAST

The reported attack occurred in Tal al-Zatar village close to the town of Beit Hanoun, scene of an open-ended Israeli incursion to suppress Hamas militants who have been firing crude rockets over the fenced border into nearby Israel.

Israeli military sources declined to confirm a missile strike but said army units were trying at the time to repulse an approaching group of armed militants.

[08] MARKETS OIL

U.S. crude struck $44.28 a barrel, 13 cents up from yesterday's settlement and the highest since oil futures were launched on the New York Mercantile Exchange in 1983.

London's Brent crude was 18 cents higher at $40.82 a barrel.

Oil's latest boost was triggered yesterday when the head of the OPEC producers' cartel said there was no spare oil immediately available to cool red-hot prices.

OPEC President Purnomo Yusgiantoro said that Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest exporter, had spare production capacity but could not raise output immediately.

[09] CHINA ATTACK

Suspect Xu Heping, 51, put up a fight before he was captured by eight police who rushed to the kindergarten affiliated to the Peking University No. 1 Hospital, according to China Central Television.

One child and a teacher who sustained serious neck wounds were in critical condition, a city official and state media said. A child listed earlier as being in critical condition died of neck wounds. The children were aged five and six.

The attacker's motive was unclear and under investigation.

[10] CZECH-GOVERNMENT

Mr, Gross, Europe's youngest leader at 34 years of age, must win a vote of confidence in parliament within 30 days. His coalition has 101 seats in the 200-seat in the lower house. The vote is expected to take place on or around August 24.

[11] WEATHER

Tonight the weather will be clear but locally there will be thin mist and low cloud. Winds will be westerly to north-westerly light, two to three beaufort and the sea slight. Temperatures will fall to 23 C inland and on the coasts and to 15 C on the mountains.

The fire hazard is extremely high in all forest areas.

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