The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 04-04-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] CIA says taped message "probably" Zarqawi

A recent audio taped message by militant al Qaeda supporter Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was "probably" authentic, a CIA official said today. The voice on the tape, posted on an Islamist Internet site, urged militants to step up attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and against Shiite "collaborators." Zarqawi is widely believed to be in Iraq and is suspected of possibly being behind some of the violence that has erupted in the country.

[02] Arafat says not afraid of Sharon's death threat

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said in an interview published today that he did not fear Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharons threats to assassinate him.

[03] Fierce fighting sweeps Iraqi cities, Shi'ite areas

U.S.-led forces battled Sunni guerrillas and a spreading Shiite uprising today, with Iraqi passions inflamed by the explosion of a rocket in the grounds of a mosque that witnesses said killed 25 people. The last three days have seen 35 coalition soldiers and at least 200 Iraqis killed in a burgeoning two-front war now calling into question U.S. plans to transfer sovereignty to Iraqis in June.

[04] Moderate earthquake in northern Greece

A moderate earthquake shook northern Greece today, but authorities said there were no reports of damage or injuries. The quake had a preliminary magnitude of 5.2 and occurred at 4:32 a.m. Greek time, near the Greek border with Albania, about 70 kilometers west of the northern Greek city of Florina according to the Athens Geodynamic Institute and was felt in the prefectures of Florina and Kastoria.

[05] Pasok pres. G. Papandreou states support of Annan plan

The main opposition party of PASOK is assuming initiatives within the international community regarding the Cyprus issue. Today, foreign and defense affairs coordinator Anna Diamantopoulou departed for Brussels where she will meet with EU expansion commissioner Gunther Verheugen.

Also today, Pasok president, George Papandreou met with top party officials with whom he discussed the Cyprus issue and the Annan plan. Mr. Papandreou announced today that his main opposition party backs the Annan peace plan for Cyprus stressing that the Annan Plan cannot be evaluated isolated from its past and should be judged based on its future in the European Union. Mr. Papandreou acknowledged that the plan includes difficult regulations pointing out, however, that a yes will be a brave, historical and patriotic stance. In any event, Mr. Papandreou said PASOK would support the Cypriot people regardless of their decision.

Mr. Papandreou stated that at the initiative of PASOK the European Socialist Party is going to proceed with the establishment of a special committee in the Euro-Parliament to monitor the implementation of the solution in Cyprus.

[06] Greece's letter to U.N.

Greece will submit a letter to the United Nations today stating that it agrees with putting the "Founding Agreement" for Cyprus to separate referenda in the two Cypriot communities, as per UN secretary general Kofi Annans letter on March 31 to prime minister Kostas Karamanlis and in implementation of the New York agreement in February, according to foreign ministry spokesman George Koumoutsakos today.

[07] Veteran Turkish Cypriot leader to vote "no" on Annan plan

Veteran Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash confirmed today that he would campaign for a no vote in an April 24 referendum on a plan to reunite Cyprus. Denktash fears Turkish Cypriots will be swamped by the majority Greek Cypriots over time in a reunited Cyprus, despite guarantees contained within the U.N. blueprint which would allow both communities broad autonomy over their own affairs.

[08] Cyprus pres. Papadopoulos to address the nation on Annan plan tonight

Cypriot President Tasos Papadopoulos will address the nation tonight to present his views on UN General-Secretary Kofi Annans blueprint for the islands reunification ahead of its accession to the European Union on May 1. Papadopoulos will be the first leader on the Greek side to express his position and could play a pivotal role in the outcome of the referendum that is to be held on both sides of the Green Line on April 24. Although he has not made his position known publicly, Papadopoulos is said to be opposed to the Annan plan. Turkeys prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, supports the plan, although he noted that Turkey did not get everything that it wanted. The prime minister of the Turkish-Cypriot pseudo-state, Mehmet Ali Talat, is already campaigning in favor of the plan while veteran Turkish-Cypriot leader, Rauf Denktash, is not.

[09] Weather Forecast

Sunshine is forecast in all parts of the country with scattered clouds in the north and west. Winds south-southwesterly, moderate to strong. Temperatures in Athens will range between 12-24 C and in Thessaloniki from 10-21 C.

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