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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Fresh violence in Iraq

Two attacks on Iraqi police south of Baghdad left four people dead, officers said, in the latest of a string of attacks on local authorities linked to the U.S.-led occupation.

[02] Spain hails ETA arrests, says explosives found

The arrest in France of three ETA leaders has thrown the Basque separatist guerrilla groups leadership into disarray, Spain said today. Felix Alberto Lopez de la Calle, alias "Mobutu" and believed to be ETAs military mastermind, was arrested in southwestern France on Friday together with Maria Mercedes Chivite Berango, also suspected of a senior role in the group. Felix Ignacio Esparza Luri, accused of being ETAs top logistics organiser, was also arrested in France on Friday and police seized an ETA explosives cache in a separate raid. An Interior Ministry statement said ETAs "logistical and operative leadership" had been dismantled.

[03] Arafat dismisses Sharon threat to assassinate him

Yasser Arafat said today he was unmoved by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharons threat to assassinate him. It was his first response to Sharons most explicit threat yet. In comments published on Friday, Sharon called Arafat a poor insurance risk, an ominous phrase two weeks after Israel assassinated the Hamas militant leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.

[04] Presidential Decree for contract employees expected end of May

Deputy minister of the Interior, Apostolos Andreoulakos announced today that the Presidential Decree concerning the status of contract employees meeting basic and continuous needs according to the EU Communal Directive would be ready by the end of May.

[05] PM Karamanlis to visit U.S. on April 20th

The developments in Cyprus and issues pertaining to his upcoming trip to the U.S. on April 20th were examined today during a meeting between Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis and New Democracy party secretary, Vangelis Meimarakis. Mr. Karamanlis also conducted consecutive meetings with Interior Minister, Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Public Works Minister, Giorgos Souflias.

[06] Denktash says U.N. Cyprus plan unacceptable

After meeting with the National Council today, Cypriot president, Tasos Papadopoulos announced he would be meeting with Greeces leadership that will be followed by an announcement to the Greek-Cypriots clarifying his position on the Annan plan. Mr. Papadopoulos stated he would not be visiting Athens underlining that a national conference in Greece on the final summations concerning the Annan plan would only create difficulties for Greece. The Cypriot president also denied rumours concerning his supposed resignation.

At the same time, political parties in Cyprus will evaluate the Annan plan during the next two weeks, while a demonstration against the plan will take place this evening in Nicosia organized by the Pancyprian Citizens Union.

From his end, Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash said today the deal was unacceptable and threatened to lobby against the referendum.

[07] Weather Forecast

Mostly sunny on Palm Sunday with some scattered clouds in the west. Northerly winds, strong to very gusty on the seas. Temperatures in Athens will range between 9-17 C; and mostly sunny in Thessaloniki with temperatures between 5-16 C.

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