Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 04-10-21

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

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] MACSHANE CYPRUS

[03] BOUCHER CAMPAIGN

[04] CYPRUS US EXPERTS

[05] IRAQ

[06] TURKEY FRANCE

[07] LEBANON GOVT

[08] CHINA EXPLOSION

[09] CUBA CASTRO

[10] BRITAIN HARRY

[11] WEATHER THURSDAY 21 OCTOBER 2004

[01] HEADLINES

--US State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said that the UN, the US and others had very clearly supported the ''yes'' campaign in Cyprus, but dismissed allegations that bribing of any form was involved.

-- Gunmen fired on a bus carrying Baghdad airport employees to work today, killing four people and wounding 11 in a brazen assault on Iraqis helping to revive a vital link in Iraq's reconstruction.

And -- - Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said in an interview published today that he is looking to President Jacques Chirac to reassure Ankara over France's backing for its bid to join the European Union.

[02] MACSHANE CYPRUS

He added that ''if we believe the proposals are reasonable and have a realistic chance of success, we will encourage the UN Secretary General to re-engage and put all our resources and influence behind finding a solution that is acceptable to all sides.''

In a statement on the occasion of his arrival in Cyprus this morning Mr. MacShane said that ''now that the Turkish Cypriots have turned a page on the past, we need to help them continue on the road towards Europe and reunification,'' noting that doing so will make a solution much more likely, easier to consolidate and less costly.''

''This does not mean we ignore legitimate Greek Cypriot concerns on recognition and property rights. On the contrary, we should ensure that everything that the EU does takes account of these concerns. We have reached agreement on financial assistance with goodwill and dialogue we can do so on trade,'' the British Minister added.

Speaking after meeting Foreign Minister George Iacovou, Mr. MacShane said that with Turkey's accession to the EU a new future will be created for the Eastern Mediterranean and everyone will be the winner.

[03] BOUCHER CAMPAIGN

Responding to questions Mr. Boucher also expressed certainty that everybody can account for the money spent during the campaign transparently and openly.

[04] CYPRUS US EXPERTS

A US embassy official was summoned to the Foreign ministry to give information on the issue.

Mr. Iacovou said that a formal protest will be decided, depending on the developments.

[05] IRAQ

The attackers strafed the bus with gunfire as it was passing through a Baghdad neighbourhood shortly after 0400 GMT, carrying about 25 people to work at Baghdad International Airport, on the western outskirts of the capital.

Staff at Yarmouk hospital in central Baghdad said they had received 11 wounded, some of them in critical condition.

Insurgents have previously attacked buses taking people to work at U.S.-run bases, but today's assault appeared to target people only very loosely associated with the Americans.

Baghdad's airport, formerly a huge military base, now has next to no U.S. presence and is protected by an independent British contractor. Thousands of Iraqis work there, mostly for the relaunched Iraqi Airways or for cargo companies.

At a U.S. camp near the airport, a military judge was expected to deliver a verdict and possibly pass sentence on Staff Sergeant Ivan Frederick, who has pleaded guilty to five charges of sexual and physical abuse of detainees at Abu Ghraib jail last October and November.

[06] TURKEY FRANCE

"I expect a declaration from my friend President Chirac which would put an end to all the chatter," Mr. Erdogan told Le Parisien newspaper.

Mr. Chirac favours Turkey's entry but opinion polls show a large majority of French voters oppose it and deputies complained during a debate in parliament last week that starting entry talks with Ankara would make Turkish membership inevitable.

Mr. Erdogan said Turkish entry was a long process which would not end at a summit on December 17 when EU leaders decide whether to invite Ankara to start entry talks.

[07] LEBANON GOVT

Billionnaire Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri resigned on Wednesday and declined to head the new government after sharp political differences with Syrian-backed Lahoud.

Mr. Karami, a close ally to Syria, emerged as clear favorite after many MPs named him as their choice of prime minister in consultations with Lahoud. The parliamentary consultations are compulsory for the president to name the new prime minister.

Presidential palace sources said the prime minister would be named later today.

[08] CHINA EXPLOSION

And in the southwest, six miners died from a gas leak in a grim reminder that the world's biggest mining industry is also the most dangerous, with thousands of people killed in explosions, floods and other mishaps every year.

The explosion occurred last night at the mine, in Xinmi in Henan province. More than 400 people were working in the mine when the accident occurred and more than half of them escaped, it said. Rescuers were searching for survivors.

The cause of the blast was under investigation.

[09] CUBA CASTRO

Fidel Castro, 78, was picked up by bodyguards who helped him into a chair after the fall at the graduation ceremony for art instructors in Santa Clara.

The Cuban president asked for a microphone and told the crowd of about 30,000 people, some of whom broke into tears when he fell, that there was no cause for alarm.

President Castro tripped suddenly after making the speech on the steps of the mausoleum which holds the remains of fellow-revolutionary Che Guevara.

[10] BRITAIN HARRY

A photographer's lip was cut after Harry, 20, the younger son of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, pushed a camera away.

Sources said the prince, third in line to the throne, was hit on the nose by a camera as he tried to get into a car after partying at Pangea club in Piccadilly, central London.

Pictures shown on British television show the red-haired prince, who has a reputation as a playboy, scuffling with a group of photographers. Harry's injuries are not thought to be serious.

London's Metropolitan Police had no official comment on the incident but a police source said it seemed there had been no arrests and that no charges were likely.

[11] WEATHER

Tonight the weather will be clear. Winds will be north-westerly to north-easterly light, two to three beaufort and the sea calm to slight. Temperatures will fall to 14 c inland, 17 on the coasts and 13 over the mountains. The fire hazard remains very high in all forest areas.

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