THE NEWS IN SPECIAL ENGLISH, MARCH 04, 2008
It is twenty-three hours thirty Universal Time. I'm Jim Tetter in Washington.
The United Nations Security Council has voted to approve a new resolution against Iran for its refusal to stop enriching uranium. Fourteen of the council's fifteen members voted for the resolution. Indonesia did not vote. Indonesia's U.N. ambassador says his nation is not sure more restrictions would help the situation. The resolution strengthens existing restrictions on trade and on the travel and property of people involved in Iran's nuclear and missile programs. The restrictions were declared because of concerns that Iran may be developing nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful.
Israeli forces withdrew from northern Gaza early Monday. But, Israeli air attacks and Palestinian rocket fire continued after the troop withdrawal. More than one hundred Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers were killed during Israel's five-day offensive in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised to seek more military action in Gaza. But, Hamas said the Israeli withdrawal is a victory for the Palestinians. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas suspended peace talks with Israel to protest the offensive.
Officials in Washington have confirmed that the American military has launched two missiles at terrorist targets in southern Somalia. A Defense Department spokesman told reporters the attack in the town of Dobley was aimed at known al-Qaeda terrorists. He said the United States will continue to target terrorists and their operations wherever the military may find them. In Dobley, witnesses said at least two missiles destroyed a house and injured several people. They said extremist Islamist religious leader Hassan Turki was in town on Sunday to meet with other militants.
Russian police have arrested several demonstrators in Moscow. They were taking part in an unapproved protest against what organizers say was an unfair presidential election. Witnesses say hundreds of police arrived before the protest began. Among those detained were a well-known human rights campaigner, Lev Ponomaryov. Many of the demonstrators accused officials of supporting a police state. In St. Petersburg, opposition leader Garri Kasparov led a peaceful protest. On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin's chosen candidate, Dmitry Medvedev, won the presidential election with more than seventy percent of the vote.
Colombian police say they have found documents showing that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez paid three hundred million dollars in support of Colombian rebels. Colombia's national police chief said the documents were on three computers found after the attacks Saturday on a rebel base in Ecuador. Oscar Naranjo said the documents include a letter from a top commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. Commander Raul Reyes was one of seventeen rebels killed during the attack. Mr. Naranjo said the documents also show the group's efforts to get fifty kilograms of uranium. He said this shows the rebels' desire to be involved in international terrorism.
You are listening to the news in VOA Special English.
At least, two bombs have exploded in the Iraqi capital. At least fifteen people were killed when a bomb exploded in the center of Baghdad. More than forty others were injured. Iraqi security officials said a second bomb exploded near an Iraqi army security position in eastern Baghdad. That attack by a suicide bomber killed at least two police officers and wounded five others. The United States military said Iraqi soldiers guarding the position probably saved the lives of other people. The military blamed the attacks on Sunni Islamist al-Qaeda forces in Iraq.
United Nations officials in Nepal have confirmed that U.N. workers were among those killed in a helicopter crash. A spokesman says seven U.N. workers and three crew members were on the aircraft that went down in an eastern district. Police said ten bodies were pulled from the wreckage. [The] cause of the crash was not immediately known.
The top United States military officer has arrived in Pakistan. Admiral Mike Mullen is expected to discuss military cooperation with Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and military leaders. The United States plans to send twenty-two members of the military to Pakistan this year to train Pakistani security forces. An American embassy spokeswoman in Islamabad says the Americans will arrive in Pakistan between June and October. They will train Pakistani officers in methods to fight against al-Qaeda and Taliban militants near the Afghan border.
The Defense Department has expressed concern about China's increasing military power, saying it threatens security in Asia. A new department report says the international community has limited knowledge of China's military changes. It says this lack of information about China's military and security operations increases the chance for misunderstanding. The report also says China's military modernization is aimed at the Taiwan Strait.
Human Rights Watch has called on China's National Peoples' Congress to approve human rights legislation and policy reform. Congress's yearly meetings begin March fifth. The American-based rights organization made the request in a letter to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. It urges Mr. Wen to act on his promises of supporting social justice and building the rule of law. Human Rights Watch is urging China to carry out reform on ten issues, including civil and political rights. China promised to improve its rights situation before the Olympic games take place in Beijing later this year.
Briefly, here again is the major news.
The United Nations Security Council has voted to approve a new resolution against Iran for its refusal to stop enriching uranium. Officials in Washington have confirmed that the American military has launched two missiles at terrorist targets in southern Somalia. And, Colombian police say they have evidence that Venezuelan President Chavez paid three hundred million dollars in support of Colombian rebels.
That's the news in Special English. This is Jim Tetter reporting.
