The Daily Star: Internet Edition Sun. December 17, 2006

Vol. 5 Num 909

Sun. December 17, 2006


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International

Iraqi PM asks Saddam-era soldiers to join new army
Iraq's embattled prime minister offered an olive branch to former supporters of Saddam Hussein yesterday, calling for them to join the country's new leaders in a national peace process.

India's top scientists oppose US N-deal
India's top nuclear scientists have repeated their fears that a landmark nuclear deal with the United States will place limitations on the country's weapons programme, the media reported Saturday.

Russia hopes for UN consensus on Iran by year's end
'Tehran could hide sensitive nuke work if attacked'
Consensus in the UN Security Council on Iran's nuclear programme can be reached in the next two weeks if negotiators take "a realistic approach," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Saturday, RIA Novosti

'Karzai's outbursts strengthen Taliban'
Afghan President Hamid Karzai's incendiary claims that the Pakistani government is backing the Taliban have harmed ties between the key US allies and could boost the Islamist militia, analysts say.

US to hold bilateral talks with N Korea in Beijing
US chief negotiator Christopher Hill said Saturday he will meet with his North Korean counterpart in Beijing ahead of the opening of next week's six-way nuclear disarmament talks.

US must not quit despite 'ugly' combat: Rumsfeld
Outgoing Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, a lightning rod for critics of the Iraq war, urged the United States on Friday not to retreat in the face of "the agonies and ugliness of combat.

US legislators in Cuba to jump start dialogue
The largest delegation from the US Congress to visit Cuba since 1959 arrived in Havana on Friday seeking to open a dialogue with the communist government of acting President Raul Castro despite WhiteHouse

Chief judge on Saddam panel steps down
The chief investigator on the 10-judge panel that sentenced Saddam Hussein to death said Saturday that he has relinquished that role, allowing another judge to take over the post for the Iraqi High Tribunal.

Iran hails elections as message to West
Iran hailed nationwide elections to local councils and a powerful clerical body as a success on Saturday and said healthy voter turnout would help the Islamic Republic confront its Western foes.

British prostitute killer hunt focused on 5 suspects
Police in Britain hunting a killer dubbed the "Suffolk Strangler" after the deaths of five prostitutes are focusing on five key suspects, media reports said yesterday.

Windstorm leaves 1m Americans in the dark
The worst windstorm in more than a decade tore through the Pacific Northwest, leaving more than a million people without power Friday and killing at least six.