The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 01-10-11

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

CONTENTS

11/10/2001 1:54:00 μμ

NEWS HEADLINES

Air strikes against Afganistan continue World economic development slows down says United Nations report Vartholomeos supports initiative for a Religious Conference Miller satisfied with Greek measures against terrorism 6th PASOK Congress begins today Phanari relations and identity cards issues frozen by the Holy Synod Housing loans for Greek migrants reach 15,000,000 drachmas 2002 budget may be revised Jet fighter crashes, pilot gets saved New standards to be set for mobile phone radiation "Nikiforos-Toxotis" military exercise cancelled 0,75% rise in the Athens Stock Exchange NEWS IN DETAIL

[01] Air strikes against Afganistan continue

According to eyewitnesses, a big fire is raging near the airport in Kabul. The CNN has reported that Kandahar inhabitants began to leave the town this morning carrying their belongings on donkeys and carts following yesterdays air strikes.

American Pentagon officials, who believe that the Afgan air defence has been completely neutralized, have stated that during the bombing several Taleban leaders and Osama Bin Laden associates have been killed.

American warplanes are reported to have begun using 5,000lb "bunker busting" bombs, which appears to mark the start of the next phase in the allies' campaign.

From its side, the Afgani Islamic news agency has reported that the bombardments have resulted in the death of 76 people and the injury of 100 more.

The world' s largest Muslim body has condemned the suicide attacks on the United States, but avoided siding openly with the US military campaign in Afghanistan.

Foreign ministers from the 56-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) held an emergency meeting in Doha, Qatar, with the aim of reaching a joint position on terrorism and the current crisis.

The OIC chairman and Qatar emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, warned that an anti-terrorism campaign which spread to other Muslim states would not be accepted. His warning came after the first reports of civilian casualties from the US attacks, among them UN workers, and reflected Arab concerns that the campaign could widen to take in long-standing US enemies like Iraq.

However, British Prime Minister Tony Blair did not rule out the possibility of military action against other cou ntries. Besides, the FBI has publisiced a list with the 22 most wanted terrorists all over the world, some of which are Muslims and live in Iran and Iraq.

A third person has tested positive for anthrax in Florida, prompting officials to launch a criminal investigation into the source of the disease.

She is believed to be an employee of the same tabloid newspaper publishing company for which two victims worked. A 63-year-old photo editor died from the disease earlier this month. The development came as US embassies abroad were told to stock up on the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin as a precaution in case of anthrax attacks.

Finally, a Canadian man has been shot dead and his Filipina wife seriously wounded in a drive-by shooting on Wednesday night in Kuwait City. The incident may have been related to the US-led strikes against Afghanistan, diplomats and security sources told Reuters news agency. At the same time, a French man and two Pakistani journalists, who entered illegally Pakistan, are facing charges of espionage.

[02] World economic development slows down says United Nations report

[03] Vartholomeos supports initiative for a Religious Conference

Mr. Papandreou said that he would present his initiative to the European Union. According to the Greek Foreigm minister, contacts have already been made as regards with the issue with the President of the European Commission Romano Prodi, Simon Perez, Yiasser Arafat and his American, Russian and Turkish counterparts. Besides, the Greek Foreign minister will begin a tour of the Arab world on Sunday, visiting first Syria and Iran.

[04] Miller satisfied with Greek measures against terrorism

Commenting on the extra measures taken by the Greek government following the recent terror attacks against the USA, Mr. Miller said that the Greek government had done a very good work until now. Mr. Miller is to meet with New Democracy party leader Costas Karamanlis today.

[05] 6th PASOK Congress begins today

Mr. Simitis is expected to refer to issues of Domestic and Foreign affairs and especially to the latest International developments, stressing also that the war against terrorism is everybody' s concern. However, the Prime Minister explained that the political views to be voted for on Saturday would not in any way consist a government policy. 6,500 delegates, who will be representing various organisations of the movement will vote on Sunday to elect the President of the Central Committee.

The delegates will also deal with the latest International development, while a political declaration will be voted for on the same issue. Presiding at the Congress will be Mrs. Vaso Papandreou following a unanimous decision of the party' s Executive Bureau. Present at the Congress will be Palestinian leader Yiasser Arafat, who arrived in Athens yesterday and had successive meetings with the opposition political party leaders. Mr. Arafat is meeting today with the President of the Hellenic Republic Constantinos Stephanopoulos and Prime Minister Costas Simitis.

[06] Phanari relations and identity cards issues frozen by the Holy Synod

[07] Housing loans for Greek migrants reach 15,000,000 drachmas

[08] 2002 budget may be revised

[09] Jet fighter crashes, pilot gets saved

[10] New standards to be set for mobile phone radiation

[11] ''Nikiforos-Toxotis'' military exercise cancelled

[12] 0,75% rise in the Athens Stock Exchange

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