May, 2005

• 31 May

  27 die in Iraq as US detains Sunni chief `in error’

  BAGHDAD (AFP) — A double suicide attack killed at least 27 people in Iraq on Monday, while in an embarrassing turnaround US forces released a moderate Sunni political leader they admitted had been detained “by mistake.” In the eastern province of Diyala, an Iraqi air force aircraft crashed with four …

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• 31 May

  France, Europe limp on after `Non’ vote

  FRENCH PRESIDENT JACQUES Chirac tried on Monday to limit the damage from his people’s rejection of the European Union constitution while the leaders of the 25-nation bloc battled to keep the new charter alive. Chirac spoke to several EU partners to reassure them that France, for decades one of the …

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• 31 May

  Politicians press ahead with campaign for remaining polls

  BEIRUT (AP) — A decisive victory in Beirut legislative elections for the son of slain former Premier Rafiq Hariri marked a turning point in Lebanese politics — a solid rejection of pro-Syrian politicians that began with the February assassination. Hariri’s ticket won all 19 seats up for grabs in Beirut …

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• 31 May

  Women demand apology over vote violence

  CAIRO (AFP) — Egyptian women have launched two separate initiatives, one calling on citizens to wear black clothes and the other a white ribbon, to protest the assault of several women during last week’s referendum. Female activists protesting against the nature of the constitutional referendum submitted to Egyptians on May …

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• 31 May

  S. Arabia questions citizens handed over by Syria on suspicion of trying to enter Iraq

  RIYADH (AP) — Authorities are interrogating more than 30 Saudis who may have been trying to enter Iraq from Syria to join the insurgency, but were sent home at a time when Syria is under heavy American pressure to stop foreign fighters from crossing its borders. Brig. Mansour Al Turki, …

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• 31 May

  Rafsanjani pledges ‘interactive’ diplomacy

  TEHRAN (AFP) — Leading Iranian presidential candidate Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani released his election manifesto on Monday, promising a “interactive and constructive diplomacy” but without mentioning relations with the United States. In a 24-page “pact with the people,” the top cleric also vowed to “effectively” defend human rights, improve freedom of …

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• 31 May

  Don’t rule out Osiraq-like strike — planner

  TEL AVIV — Military action would not stop Iran’s nuclear programme but could be a last resort to delay any quest for an atomic bomb, the mastermind of Israel’s 1981 air strike on the Iraqi reactor at Osiraq said on Monday. While Israel and its US ally have not excluded …

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• 31 May

  Aid agency head arrested after rape report

  KHARTOUM (Reuters) — Sudan arrested the local head of an international aid agency on Monday over a report on hundreds of rapes in Darfur in the first such action against a top relief worker since a rebellion in the area began in 2003. Paul Foreman, the country head of the …

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• 31 May

  Rival factions fight for key town

  MOGADISHU (Reuters) — Rival Somali factions armed with truck-mounted machineguns fought on Monday for control of a town where President Abdullahi Yusuf plans to set up a temporary capital, killing and wounding several people, residents said. Hundreds of militiamen attacked the southern town of Baidoa at about 3:45am (0045 GMT) …

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• 31 May

  Doctors’ silence over king feeds rumours

  RIYADH (AFP) — Saudi Arabia moved again on Monday to reassure the world over the health of King Fahd, but the absence of any medical report after four days in hospital is causing rumours about the gravity of his condition. “Stable and reassuring” — the two words have been repeated …

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