Transcript
I'm Bill Thompson from the VOA News Center in Washington.
A suicide attack after an election rally has killed at least 27 people and wounded more than 90 others in Pakistan's restive northwest tribal region. It happened in the northwest tribal region as witnesses and officials say the suicide bomber rammed his car near an election office after a rally held by supporters of slain former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party, just hours before the mandated end of campaigning for Monday's elections. Opposition parties have charged that Monday's vote will be rigged and threatened demonstrations if they believe there are irregularities.
President and Mrs. Bush arrive in Tanzania today where Mr. Bush will sign a pact with President Jakaya Kikwete that will provide the eastern African nation with nearly 700 million dollars in aid. Mr. Bush began his five-nation African visit in Benin. "I stand here by your side as a friend, a believer in your vision and a partner in your willingness to confront the disease and poverty and-that affect mankind." President Bush says his administration is actively engaged in resolving conflicts in Africa, but he says the United States is also involved in many of the continent's successes.
Independence for Kosovo is an important step closer. The European Union has given a final approval to creation of a civilian police and justice mission to keep the peace and prevent human rights abuses. A declaration of Kosovo's independence from Serbia could be made tomorrow. Both Serbia and Russia oppose the EU mission as well as Kosovo's move toward independence. But the United States is widely expected to join its European allies in recognizing Kosovo's independence.
At least 13 police officers and one civilian are dead after hundreds of Maoist rebels attacked police facilities in Orissa state in eastern India. Police say the rebels looted weapons during the attacks late Friday in at least two towns. In late December, nearly 300 Maoist rebels and their supporters escaped from a prison in eastern India.
Malaysian police used teargas and water-cannon today to disperse an anti-government protest by about 300 ethnic Indians. The demonstrators defied a police ban on protests to gather in the capital of Kuala Lumpur to peacefully protest alleged discrimination. Hindoos accused the government of racial discrimination in favor of ethnic Malays.
A senior US nuclear scientist says North Korea appears committed to going ahead with a nuclear disarmament agreement, but wants promised energy aid first. VOA's Stephanie Ho reports from Beijing.
Sigfried Hecker just returned from a private visit to North Korea. Speaking to reporters in Beijing Saturday, he said North Korean officials have told him they will not provide a full declaration of the country's nuclear programs until other countries provide fuel oil and other aid. Hecker says Pyongyang also wants to be removed from the US list of state sponsors of terror. "They said until that is done, they will not be able to produce what Ambassador Hill calls a 'complete and correct' declaration. " Ambassador Christopher Hill is the chief US negotiator in the North Korean nuclear talks which include the United States, North Korea, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia. Under an agreement reached last year, the five other countries pledged to provide aid and other concessions to North Korea. In return, North Korea was to disable its nuclear programs and provide a complete accounting of them by the end of 2007. Now though, the United States and North Korea differ on whether an acceptable declaration has indeed been made. Stephanie Ho, VOA News, Beijing.
Israeli army officials say Palestinian militants fired several rockets at Israel from the Gaza Strip today, but the blast caused only minimum damage. The rocket fire is in apparent response to the death of the key Islamic Jihad commander Aieman Ifajad who was killed yesterday in an explosion in the Gaza Strip. Islamic Jihad and witnesses blame Israel, but the Israeli military denies any involvement.
And authorities in Bangladesh have made an arrest three and a half years after a deadly grenade attack on a political rally. Police arrested Muffti Abul Zandal, a member of a banned militant group, in connection with the August 2004 attack that left more than 20 people dead.
I'm Bill Thompson, VOA News. More news on the Internet at voanews.com.
Vocabulary
Hindoo: a native or inhabitant of Hindustan or India. n. 印度人, 印度教教徒
Malay: n. 马来人