"The head of Iraq's main Shi'ite Muslim movement returned home yesterday from 23 years of exile in Iran promising to push for an Islamic state, threatening to complicate US efforts to foster a pluralistic society in the country. In an interview with Iranian state radio broadcast yesterday, he said all of the people of Iraq can realise their aspirations for reconstructing and creating a developed and independent country under the banner of Islam He also called the presence of coalition forces unjustified and called for their departure," reported the AFP news service.
"Saddam Hussein has urged Iraqis to transform mosques into centres of resistance, a newspaper reported yesterday, quoting a message purported to have been written by the ousted president," reported the AFP news service.
"US officials here gave out around US$65,000 in emergency payments yesterday to Iraqi civil servants who have not received their last month's salaries because of the war. Workers were being given US$20 each as the United States tried to entice employees back to their jobs and help stimulate the post-war economy after the fall of Saddam Hussein," reported the AFP news service.
"Nigeria said on Friday it had reported a suspected SARS case to the World Health Organisation (WHO) after a Chinese man, who had arrived from Taiwan and had symptoms of the respiratory illness, died in hospital," reported the Reuters news agency.
"US and Canadian regulators said on Friday that they had warned more than 40 website operators to stop making unproven claims about preventing or treating SARS with items such as air purifiers and herbs," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Pakistan yesterday mulled the appointment of a high commissioner to India after accepting New Delhi's nomination of its chief diplomat for Islamabad, part of the gathering momentum towards peace between the arch rivals," reported the AP news agency.
"US Secretary of State Colin Powell arrived at Jerusalem last night for talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders about the internationally-backed Mideast peace road map which he stressed should be implemented without any delays," reported the AFP news service.
"Sri Lankan ministers yesterday asked President Chandrika Kumaratunga to call snap elections to avoid a deepening crisis in the cohabitation government. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe held an emergency Cabinet meeting hours after warning Kumaratunga not to go ahead with plans to take over the functions of a ministry," reported the AFP news service.
"The brains of thousands of mentally-ill and handicapped people were illegally removed after their deaths by doctors in British hospitals and kept for medical research, the Times newspaper said yesterday. A government inquiry will announce tomorrow that the brains were given to researchers without the consent of the families over a period of 30 years," reported the Reuters news agency.
"The US Transportation Department revised guidelines to clarify the definition of a service animal, which until now had been limited to animals that help passengers to manage physical disabilities. The most common is a guide dog," reported the Reuters news agency.
"A large tornado struck near Oklahoma City on Friday night, a day after another twister tore through a separate area south of the city, destroying 300 homes and injuring more than 130 people," reported the Reuters news agency.
"More than 200 people may have been killed when a door fell off a Russian-built aircraft flying over the Democratic Republic of Congo, a source at Kinshasa airport said yesterday, as officials remained mute over the freak accident," reported the AFP news service.
"A camouflage-clad gunman fired hundreds of rounds as he roamed the halls of a university business school in Ohio, killing one person and wounding others. University President Edward Hundert said that the man is a former Case Western student and employee who had filed a lawsuit against the university. His original lawsuit was dismissed, and he lost an appeal about a month ago, Hundert said on NBC's Today show. He did not identify the man and did not elaborate on the lawsuit," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Two women were publicly stripped, beaten and whipped with nettles by Indian villagers in a form of vigilante justice allowed under Ecuadorean law. The women, who villagers say tried to swindle them, remained behind bars on Friday," reported the AP news agency.
"Muslim rebels linked to al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for a bomb explosion in the southern Philippines yesterday in which at least 13 people were killed and dozens wounded," reported the Reuters news agency.
"After claiming victory in a three-monthwar on drugs that left hundreds dead, Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra announced a crackdown on mafia-style power brokers yesterday," reported the AP news agency.
"The United States declared Saddam Hussein's Baath Party dead, with the war's commander Gen. Tommy Franks telling Iraqis in a radio message that the instrument of their deposed dictator's power was dissolved and promising to purge its influence from the country it dominated for 35 years," reported the AP news agency.
"The U.S. administration in Iraq saw the beginning of a shakeup in staff, with its new chief, L. Paul Bremer, meeting in Qatar with the man he will replace, retired general Jay Garner. Barbara Bodine, coordinator for central Iraq, including Baghdad, within the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance, left her post. Her replacement and the reasons for her leaving was not announced," reported the AP news agency.
"An Iranian opposition group based in Iraq, the Mujahedeen Khalq, began turning in its weapons under a U.S. agreement reached after American forces ordered it to lay down arms or face attackAn Iranian opposition group based in Iraq, the Mujahedeen Khalq, began turning in its weapons under a U.S. agreement reached after American forces ordered it to lay down arms or face attackAn Iranian opposition group based in Iraq, the Mujahedeen Khalq, began turning in its weapons under a U.S. agreement reached after American forces ordered it to lay down arms or face attack," reported the AP news agency.
"Refugees and other foreigners in Iraq - mostly Palestinians - have been fleeing to Jordan because of intimidation and attacks, the U.S.-based Human Rights Watch group said in a report released," reported the AP news agency.
"A larger-than-life statue of Saddam on a horse and a family photo album of former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz are among items recently confiscated by Jordanian customs officers searching travelers from Iraq. Officers at al-Karamah border post are finding and seizing archaeological treasures, artwork and manuscripts, Mahmoud Qteishat, director-general of Jordan's Customs Department," reported the AP news agency.
"Refugees and other foreigners in Iraq - mostly Palestinians - have been fleeing to Jordan because of intimidation and attacks, the U.S.-based Human Rights Watch group said in a report released," reported the AP news agency.
"A larger-than-life statue of Saddam on a horse and a family photo album of former Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz are among items recently confiscated by Jordanian customs officers searching travelers from Iraq. Officers at al-Karamah border post are finding and seizing archaeological treasures, artwork and manuscripts, Mahmoud Qteishat, director-general of Jordan's Customs Department," reported the AP news agency.
"U.S. weapons hunters - empty-handed after seven weeks of field work - are still operating without translators, have had almost no contact with Iraqi scientists and can't tell what's missing from looted sites where suspected weapons of mass destruction were thought to be hidden, planners involved in the search say," reported the AP news agency.
"Weapons of mass destruction may still be in the hands of Iraqi special units and could be used against coalition forces, said Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. U.S. authorities are interrogating Iraqi prisoners to find out whether banned weapons may still be in the hands of Iraqi Special Republican Guard units that eluded capture when Saddam Hussein's regime collapsed," reported the AP news agency.
"A day after returning to his country after more than 20 years in exile in Iran, the leader of Iraq's largest Shiite Muslim group, Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, denounced the U.S.-led occupation forces and demanded they pull out and allow the Iraqi people to establish their own government," reported the AP news agency.
"A food-ration system showcased by Saddam's government as an example of efficiency and social equality will be revived for a massive food-aid distribution program led by the United Nations, a top official said Sunday. James T. Morris, head of the U.N. World Food Programme, said the six-month, $1.85 billion programme would involve the distribution of 2.8 million tons of food.
"Iraqi oil experts, reassessing damage to their industry from postwar looting, have scaled back projections by one-third and expect to produce only 1 million barrels a day in June," reported the AP news agency.
"The Baghdad bounce gave Prime Minister Tony Blair a lift in personal ratings, but the war on Iraq has also earned him the title of the nation’s worst Briton among some TV viewers," reported the Observer.
"The top American officials in charge of running post-war Iraq are being relieved of their jobs in what US officials said was part of a broad shake-up of US operations in Iraq. Some US officials involved in rebuilding Iraq are now concerned the change in personnel could further slow operations," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Nato could eventually help to stabilise Iraq, but is in no hurry to commit itself after being almost ripped apart by the crisis before the war began," reported the AFP news service.
"Anthrax that killed five people in 2001 after it was sent through the US mail may have been placed in envelopes by someone using a Maryland pond as a processing facility," reported the Reuters news agency.
"The British queen's representative in Australia and the country's titular head of state has agreed to step aside while rape allegations he vehemently denies are resolved. Opinion polls show 76% of Australians believe Hollingworth should quit after a church report earlier this month slammed his handling of a paedophile priest," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Relief workers tried yesterday to get water and food to thousands of refugees who fled fighting between tribal militias in eastern Congo, as calls grew for the UN to intervene more forcefully in the anarchic situation. Fighting between the rival Hema and Lendu tribes in and around the town of Bunia has killed at least 14 people in recent days and driven tens of thousands of civilians from their homes," reported the Reuters news agency.
"Iceland's ruling conservatives held a wafer-thin lead on Sunday in elections but the vote was so close that it was unclear who would form the next coalition government," reported the Reuters news agency.
"A woman was arrested for dousing herself with perfume, spraying the house with bug killer and disinfectant, and burning scented candles to seriously injure her chemically sensitive husband," reported the AP news agency.
"Syria gave haven to families of Iraqi regime leaders, but not the leaders themselves, Syrian President Bashar Assad said in an interview in the May 19 edition of US magazine Newsweek. US Secretary of State Colin Powell met with Assad in Damascus on May 3, following heated criticism from Washington over Syria's alleged links to anti-Israeli groups and the former Iraqi regime," reported the Reuters news agency.
"American authorities have promised rewards to Iraqis for information leading to discovery of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons programmes, the US-run Information Radio said. The difficulty in finding any banned weapons now threatens US and British plans to end UN sanctions against Iraq," reported the AP news agency.
"Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers planned to meet this week, the highest-level encounter in three years, but the two sides disagree harshly about a new international Mideast peace plan. International efforts to promote the road map plan to end 31 months of violence and set up a Palestinian state remained intense," reported the AP news agency.
"The man chosen to lead U.S. efforts to put postwar Iraq on track to democracy, L. Paul Bremer, said upon his arrival in the capital that his goal is to help Iraqis regain control of their own destiny after decades of rule by Saddam Hussein," reported the AP news agency.
"Dr. Rihab Rashid Taha, a scientist who became known as "Dr. Germ'' for helping Iraq make weapons out of anthrax, surrendered to U.S. forces. Ibrahim Ahmad Abd al Sattar Muhammad, armed forces chief of staff since 1999 was also in custody," reported the AP news agency.
"Police in Baghdad packed guns again for the first time since the war, as the capital faced a new type of lawlessness - arsons, car thefts and kidnappings. U.S. authorities distributed sidearms among the 5,000 police who have reported for duty; police guarding important sites will have assault rifles," reported the AP news agency.
"Some 300 Iraqi soldiers marched on the U.S. Army's main Baghdad base to demand back pay and a future in the new Iraq, joining a growing chorus of Iraqi civil servants hoping for a quick return to normalcy - and salaries - under the U.S. occupation," reported the AP news agency.
"Iraqis pulled bound and blindfolded bodies out of a newly discovered mass grave outside the southern city of Basra, excavating a site thought to contain the remains of up to 150 Shiite Muslims killed by Saddam's regime," reported the AP news agency.
"Some 15,000 Iraqis cheered as a Shiite Muslim cleric, Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, who led the largest anti-Saddam movement visited one of the Shiites' holiest shrines after returning from more than two decades in exile," reported the AP news agency.
"The leader of a prominent clan from near Saddam's birthplace turned over scores of weapons and explosives as a show of solidarity with American forces, the first head of an area tribe to voluntarily disarm his people at the request of the U.S. Army," reported the AP news agency.
"German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, during a visit to Malaysia, said his country supported a speedy end to sanctions against Iraq, but forecast a lengthy U.N. debate over a U.S.-backed plan for ruling the country. France's foreign minister was quoted in an interview with Le Monde as saying the U.S. proposal is a starting point but he urged a stronger role for the United Nations," reported the AP news agency.
"A Cabinet minister who had threatened to resign if Britain went to war in Iraq quit. International Development Secretary, Clare Short, angrily accused Prime Minster Tony Blair of breaking his promise to give the United Nations a central role in the country," reported the AP news agency.
"Some 300 Iraqi soldiers marched on the U.S. Army's main Baghdad base to demand back pay and a future in the new Iraq, joining a growing chorus of Iraqi civil servants hoping for a quick return to normalcy - and salaries - under the U.S. occupation," reported the AP news agency.
"Iraqis pulled bound and blindfolded bodies out of a newly discovered mass grave outside the southern city of Basra, excavating a site thought to contain the remains of up to 150 Shiite Muslims killed by Saddam's regime," reported the AP news agency.
"Some 15,000 Iraqis cheered as a Shiite Muslim cleric, Ayatollah Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim, who led the largest anti-Saddam movement visited one of the Shiites' holiest shrines after returning from more than two decades in exile," reported the AP news agency.
"The leader of a prominent clan from near Saddam's birthplace turned over scores of weapons and explosives as a show of solidarity with American forces, the first head of an area tribe to voluntarily disarm his people at the request of the U.S. Army," reported the AP news agency.
"German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, during a visit to Malaysia, said his country supported a speedy end to sanctions against Iraq, but forecast a lengthy U.N. debate over a U.S.-backed plan for ruling the country. France's foreign minister was quoted in an interview with Le Monde as saying the U.S. proposal is a starting point, but he urged a stronger role for the United Nations," reported the AP news agency.
"A Cabinet minister who had threatened to resign if Britain went to war in Iraq quit. International Development Secretary, Clare Short, angrily accused Prime Minster Tony Blair of breaking his promise to give the United Nations a central role in the country," reported the AP news agency.
"Three explosions rocked the Saudi capital of Riyadh late Monday, including one caused by a car packed with explosives that crashed into a residential compound housing westerners, causing casualties. The Islamic Movement for Change and two smaller groups in the region claimed responsibility," reported the AP news agency.
"A truck bomb explosion ripped through a government compound in northern Chechnya yesterday, killing at least 41 people including six children and wounding more than 100 others," reported the AP news agency.
"Lithuanians gave a huge Yes to European Union entry in a weekend referendum, early results showed, with nine out of 10 voters in favour of joining the wealthy bloc next year," reported the Rueters news agency.
"Rescue and cleanup crews picked through wreckage in several states after another batch of storms roared through the middle of America, doing heavy damage in Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee," reported the AP news agency.
"Australia wrestled with its worst constitutional dispute in three decades yesterday when a chorus of critics demanded the British Queen's representative quit – saying his offer to step down temporarily to fight rape accusations isn't enough," reported the Rueters news agency.
"Israel re-imposed a travel ban on the Gaza Strip yesterday despite its pledge to visiting US Secretary of State Colin Powell for humanitarian gestures towards the Palestinians as part of a new peace plan," reported the Rueters news agency.
"Around half million people from across Italy were treated to a magical night outside Rome's Colosseum on Sunday when Paul McCartney gave a free concert by the 2,000-year-old venue," reported the AFP news service.
"Prince William has reluctantly agreed to be featured on a Royal Mail stamp next month to mark his 21st birthday, becoming the first ever member of Britain's royal family to be honoured in this fashion," reported the dpa news agency.
"British police will be allowed to hold terror suspects without charge for twice as long under proposals unveiled by the government yesterday. The changes will increase the time suspects held under terrorism legislation can be locked up without charge from seven to 14 days," reported the Rueters news agency.
"The United States declared Saddam Hussein's Baath Party dead, with the war's commander telling Iraqis that the instrument of their deposed dictator's power was dissolved and promising to purge its influence from the country it dominated for 35 years," reported the AP news agency.
"The new American civilian administrator of Iraq arrived yesterday to take over the task of piecing this country back together amid a change in key posts responsible for guiding Iraq toward democracy. L. Paul Bremer's arrival reflects a turn to new leadership at the top as the civilian reconstruction agency makes inroads to restore law and order and government functions, even as many ordinary Iraqis complain about persistent insecurity and the slow pace of resuming basic services like power and water," reported the AP news agency.
"A senior British minister, Clare Short, the secretary for International Development, resigned from the Cabinet yesterday, accusing Prime Minister Tony Blair of not keeping promises about the reconstruction of Iraq," reported the AP news agency.
"The United States and Iran held several meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, in an effort to ease friction between the two countries. The meetings focused on a wide range of issues, including postwar Iraq, in which the Bush administration is attempting to deter Iran from trying to influence the formation of a new government in Baghdad," reported the AP news agency.
"Singapore must align itself with Washington because only the United States can stop global terrorism, the city-state's founding father Lee Kuan Yew was quoted as saying Monday," reported the AP news agency.
"North Korea said yesterday that a 1992 agreement with South Korea to keep the Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons was nullified, citing a sinister US agenda," reported the AP news agency.
"A European tourist abducted in Algeria's vast Sahara desert has told how hostage-takers kept on the move to stay ahead of pursuing soldiers, as former captives voiced relief after the ordeal. All the European tourists were reported missing over the past three months after travelling in six groups without guides in a vast desert covering two million square kilometres in Algeria alone," reported the AFP news service.
"Israeli forces killed a 12-year-old Palestinian boy and two gunmen in a raid on a Gaza Strip town yesterday as Palestinians marked the 55th anniversary of the loss of their homeland to the new state of Israel. The violence coincided with US and European efforts to promote a new peace plan known as the road map," reported the Reuters news agency.
"The bodies of 17 illegal immigrants were discovered at a truck stop in south Texas on Wednesday, victims of what officials described as a botched smuggling operation," reported the AFP news service.
"Dubbed the man nobody knows, provincial governor Nestor Kirchner has become Argentina's president-elect by default, after his controversial rival Carlos Menem pulled out of the race on Wednesday," reported the AFP news service.
"Anti-apartheid giant Walter Sisulu will be buried from the back of a gun carriage on Saturday, with tens of thousands, including his close friend Nelson Mandela, attending his funeral in Soweto township, south of Johannesburg," reported the AP news agency.
"French union leaders vowed early yesterday to continue strike action that has already caused two days of chaos throughout the country, after they failed to resolve a dispute with the government over pension reforms during marathon overnight talks," reported the AFP news service.
"Attackers on a motorcycle set off a series of explosions early yesterday at 18 Shell gas stations in this southern Pakistani city, police and company officials said. Four employees suffered minor injuries," reported the AP news agency.
"A Philippine local official sought a ban yesterday on sexy billboard advertisements along main streets since these distract motorists and cause traffic jams. Victor Ferrer, a councillor of Manila's suburban city of Quezon, said his proposed ordinance would slap jail terms and fines on violators," reported the dpa news agency.
