Dovish ex-General wins Israel’s Labour leadership

JERUSALEM, Nov 20: Dovish former General Amram Mitzna won Israel’s Labour Party leadership ballot, pledging to remove Jewish settlements in the Gaza strip within a year if he becomes Prime Minister in a general election 10 weeks away.

But opinion polls have shown that the Haifa mayor, a newcomer to national politics, has no chance of defeating popular right-wing Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of the Likud Party in the January 28 vote.

A surge of gun and suicide bomb attacks on Israelis in a two-year-old Palestinian uprising for an independent state has prompted many Israeli voters to swing to the right.

Israeli troops killed a Palestinian militant in the West Bank city of Tulkarm yesterday, witnesses and medics said. They said four passers-by were also killed.

"We will separate from the Palestinians, either with an agreement or unilaterally," Mitzna, 57, told reporters while the rank-and-file of Israel’s main opposition party cast ballots.

"If I am elected, I will evacuate settlements in the Gaza strip within a year," he added.

"I do not think you will find anyone in Israel supporting our continued stay in the Gaza strip. It is pointless. It contributes nothing to security and it isn’t even the land of our ancestors."

Seven thousand Jewish settlers live in fortified enclaves in Gaza among more than a million Palestinians embittered by military blockades imposed to combat the Palestinian uprising.

Mitzna’s victory over incumbent Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, the hawkish former Defence Minister who led Labour out of Sharon’s ruling coalition last month over spending for Jewish settlements, returned the party to its Left-wing roots.

"Labour, which for decades spearheaded social and economic reforms and made security and peace its top priorities — along with a willingness to reach a compromise with our neighbours —will give Israel an alternative and lead it to a different reality," Mitzna, 57, said in a victory speech. An ailing economy is also high on the agenda in Israel’s election campaign, which has compounded uncertainty in the W Asia at a time when the United States is seeking calm so it can try to win Arab support for a possible war against Iraq.

Final official results gave Mitzna 54 percent of the Labour vote to 37 percent for Ben-Eliezer and seven percent for veteran politician Haim Ramon, in line with opinion poll projections.

Ben-Eliezer conceded defeat before the last results were in.

In an open-necked white shirt, a throwback to Labour’s pioneering Socialist days, Mitzna held aloft the hands of the two men he defeated in a show of unity at party headquarters.

He offered Ben-Eliezer the number two spot on Labour’s list of parliamentary candidates in the general election and told its elder statesman Shimon Peres, who was also on stage: "Your way is my way."

Peres was an architect of interim peace deals with the Palestinians now largely shattered by two years of fighting.

In comments to reporters, Mitzna reiterated he would reopen peace talks with Palestinian leaders, with whom Sharon refuses contact and wants replaced, to decide the future of the West Bank.

He was quoted by the daily Ha’aretz as saying that if such talks failed, Israel, under his leadership, would unilaterally erect a "security border" with the West Bank within a year.

Jewish settlement blocs close to Israel’s border would fall within the security boundary, while all settlements in isolated areas to the east would be dismantled, Mitzna said.

That would entail the evacuation of more than half the total settler population of some 200,000 in 145 communities.

Opinion polls show most Israelis, like much of the international community, believe the settlements should be dismantled as obstacles to peace.

Palestinian militants have frequently targeted settlers in the West Bank and Gaza, lands Palestinians want for a state.

The international community regards Israeli settlements in the occupied territories as illegal. Israel disputes this.

Sharon, who now heads a caretaker right-wing Government, faces a leadership challenge from hawkish Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a November 28 Likud election. Opinion polls show Sharon defeating his rival.

Ahmed Abdel-Rahman, a top aide to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, said the Palestinian leadership was prepared to negotiate peace with a new Israeli leader, provided he agreed to end "occupation of our lands" within a year.

At least 1,670 Palestinians and 640 Israelis have been killed in the Palestinian uprising that began in September 2000 after US-brokered talks on a Palestinian state stalled. (AGENCIES)

Top UN weapons inspectors say Iraq talks constructive

LARNACA, CYPRUS, Nov 20: Chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director Mohamed Elbaradei arrived in Cyprus today, saying their talks with Iraqi officials had been constructive.

They had flown out of Baghdad earlier after receiving promises of total cooperation from Iraq to resume the disarmament process.

Blix, head of the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC), told journalists he and Elbaradei had "good discussions with representatives of the Iraqi Government, and we were assured they will fully implement" the recently adopted UN Security Council resolution on disarmament.

He described the conversations as "businesslike and professional."

In response to a question, he said did not want to "pre judge what Iraq will say," when it submits a report on December 8 in which it is required to give a full report on its alleged programmes for weapons of mass destruction.

But he said he was confident that "war can be averted."

Asked if he were more hopeful than when he arrived in Iraq on Monday, Blix said "we’ve come some part of the way; we look forward to continuing." The UN Security Council "wants assurances" that Iraq is free of weapons of mass destruction, "and we have to get those assurances."

Elbaradei said he and Blix had impressed on the Iraqis that inspectors want "an accurate and complete report" on December 8, and "they made it clear they will do everything possible to cooperate with us."

While describing their trip as a "constructive visit," he added that Baghdad’s verbal commitment "has to be translated on the ground."

Blix said the Iraqis "were somewhat concerned about the short time for presenting such a big report, and they had particular concern on reporting on the peaceful industries, like the chemical industry, which are devoted to peaceful purposes. They have quite a lot of that, and they were quite concerned about it.

"They assured us they will do everything possible to make sure the declaration would cover all activities," he added.

He told journalists that both he and Blix would be returning to Iraq periodically "if things go normally, but obviously we would have to if there is a crisis."

Blix is scheduled to pay a courtesy call to Cypriot President Glafcos Clerides today and will leave Cyprus later in the day.

Elbaradei said he will remain in Cyprus until tomorrow but did not say what his plans were.

Larnaca is the logistics and support base for the inspectors entering and leaving Iraq.

The inspectors have a mandate from the Security Council to find the biological, chemical and nuclear weapons that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s regime is suspected of developing.

If Iraq does not cooperate, it will face "severe consequences", expected to be military action led by the United States, which has pushed the Security Council to act against Saddam. (AFP)

2 security personnel killed in Maoists attacks

KATHMANDU, Nov 20: Two security personnel have been killed and seven injured in separate attacks by suspected Maoist rebels in the Nepalese capital, police sources said today.

A group of armed rebels attacked an army vehicle and set on fire a police van in West Nepal district of Dang last night killing one and injuring seven, they said.

The driver of the army vehicle was killed and seven soldiers were injured, two seriously, when Maoists hiding in a forest randomly opened fire at the army patrolling team in Bijuli village of Dang district yesterday, radio Nepal said quoting the Chief District Administrator.

The army vehicle was heading towards Ghorahi from Tulasipur in Dang district on regular patrolling. Those injured in the incident were flown to Kathmandu on a helicopter and are undergoing treatment in hospital.

After the attack the Maoists also set on fire an empty police van.

Following the incident additional forces were sent to the area to hunt down Maoists. The casualties on the Maoists side is not yet known, the officials said.

Meanwhile, in another incident a police officer was killed by suspected Maoist rebels in front of an engineering college in the capital, police sources said.

A group of three Maoists fired three bullets at policeman Rajaram Malla while he was watching television at a retail shop in front of the Kathmandu engineering college at Kalimati, Kathmandu, they said.

The police was on duty at nearby Lincoln School and USAID office at Ravibhavan, they said.

The police have taken into custody over a dozen suspected people in connection with the incident and released some of them after interrogation. "We are actively searching out for the murderer," the police official said.

Law and order situation has deteriorated in the capital for the past few week despite deployment of security personnel at various parts of the city. Ten days ago the Maoists shot dead a US embassy security personnel at his home at Buddhanagar of Kathmandu.

In another incident the ultras killed a 14-year-old boy at Rajapur village of Bardia district yesterday for allegedly providing information to security forces. They killed him four days after abducting him from his house, the ‘Kathmandu Post’ daily said. (PTI)

Bush in Prague to advertise terror is NATO’s main threat

PRAGUE (CZECH REPUBLIC), Nov 20: In this locked-down Bohemian capital patrolled by US F-16 jets, President George W Bush warned that terrorism is "the biggest threat" to today’s NATO and beckoned allies to stand with him against Saddam Hussein.

Diplomats, convening a NATO summit focused on expansion and modernization, said the alliance will not take up arms collectively against Iraq. Bush instead sought individual pledges of backup if war comes.

Should the Iraqi President refuse to surrender his weapons programs, Bush told Czech TV, "then we will lead a coalition of the willing and disarm him.

"And of course, I hope our NATO friends come with us".

In the splendor of Prague Castle and Hrzansky Palace, he met today with Czech President Vaclav Havel and Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla. Their Army has specialists in countering biological and chemical attacks, as are feared in any confrontation with Saddam’s military.

"Certainly there are many nations who see things as the President does," said White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer.

The administration disclosed that US Ambassadors in 50 countries have been told to solicit support from allies for personnel and equipment to assist US forces in the war on terrorism and, possibly, an attack on Iraq.

A senior administration official, speaking today on condition of anonymity, said the preliminary surveys are meant to formalize offers of support that have been made to Washington on an ad hoc basis for months.

Bush was also meeting with President Ahmet Necdet Sezer of Turkey, which shares a border with Iraq, and NATO secretary-general George Robertson in advance of the summit that convenes tomorrow under extraordinary security. Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair and French President Jacques Chirac were in line for separate meetings with Bush tomorrow. Bush had no plans to meet with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany, who infuriated Bush by riding to re-election on a campaign opposing Bush’s Iraq policy.

Emphasizing unity, the 19 NATO leaders are to approve membership invitations to seven former communist states and plans for a 21,000-strong rapid response force that could mobilize in seven to 30 days to confront threats from terrorists, renegade Governments or regional crises.

Bush was using the speech to students to outline the need for the new force, which was conceived by Defense Secretary Donald H Rumsfeld. Touching on the themes of that address, Bush said in his interview on Czech TV: "Everybody can contribute something. But it all has got to be done within the strategy of the true threats we face in the 21st century, which is global terrorism. That’s the biggest threat to freedom right now."

Reminders of such 21st-century threats crowded the skies over Prague and the streets of Wenceslas Square, which weathered the invading German troops and Soviet tanks of another era. (AP)

Blast at Algerian bakery kills at least 10

ALGIERS, Nov 20: An explosion ripped through a bakery in Algeria today killing at least 10 people, the official APS news agency said.

It did not say if the blast, which occurred in the town of Sebdou, in Tlemcen province, 440 km west of Algiers, was an accident or an attack by radical Islamic rebels.

The guerrillas traditionally step up their attacks during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, which they deem as an auspicious period for their struggle against the Government.

The agency, which quoted a statement from the local Government, said several people were also injured in the blast. (AGENCIES)

Bush warns Saddam not to deny weapons exist

PRAGUE, Nov 20: US President George W Bush today warned Iraqi President Saddam Hussein that should he deny possessing weapons of mass destruction, he will have entered his "final stage" as Iraq’s leader.

"We’re threatened by terrorism, bred within failed states. It’s present within our own cities," said Bush in a keynote speech ahead of a NATO summit.

Bush said Iraq was an outlaw nation that possessed weapons of mass destruction. He vowed Iraq would be held accountable to the terms of a UN resolution that returned weapons inspectors to Baghdad this week.

"We now call an end to that game of deception and deceit and denial. Saddam Hussein has been given a very short time to declare completely and truthfully his arsenal of terror," said Bush.

"Should he again deny that this arsenal exists, he will have entered his final stage with a lie, and deception this time will not be tolerated. Delay and defiance will invite the severest consequences," he said. (AGENCIES)

US asks allies for contributions to an Iraq war

WASHINGTON, Nov 20: The United States is asking about 50 countries about what they might contribute — from combat troops to reconstruction aid — during and after a possible war with Iraq, US officials said today.

The effort, conducted by US Ambassadors, appears designed as much to keep up pressure on Iraq to cooperate with UN weapons inspectors and end its suspected weapons of mass destruction programs as to seek practical help in the event of a war.

US President George W Bush has repeatedly threatened to lead a coalition — with or without UN support — to disarm Iraq if it fails to cooperate with the UN inspectors, who are preparing to resume scouring Iraq for chemical, biological and nuclear weapons programs after a four-year Hiatus.

"If conflict were to become necessary, we’d like to know your ideas, your thoughts, on what you might be able to contribute," said one US official describing what the State Department asked US Ambassadors to find out.

The official, who asked not to be identified, said the US request included "combat forces, logistics, humanitarian aid and rebuilding (Iraq) afterward."

US officials declined to name which nations were being approached, but one said he believed 52 were on the list. The Canadian Government said the United States had sounded it out on the issue last week.

Another US official said the talks were meant to show that the United States was serious about enforcing the UN resolution giving Iraq one last chance to disarm, although he noted Bush has repeatedly said a war would be his last resort.

"To get Saddam to respond positively to the resolution you’ve got to make it very clear that we are very serious about this," said the official. "No one should doubt our seriousness and that’s reflected in having these kinds of conversations." (AGENCIES)

Palestinian officials welcome Israeli labour vote

RAMALLAH, WEST BANK, Nov 20: Palestinian officials said today the election of Amram Mitzna as leader of Israel’s Labour Party, with a chance of becoming Prime Minister, revived hopes peace moves will be restarted.

But Palestinian militants said they saw little difference between centre-left labour and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s rightist Likud Party and vowed to continue their uprising until Israel ended its occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Mitzna, a Dovish former general and mayor of the city of Hafia, won the leadership ballot yeterday, pledging to remove Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip within a year if he becomes Prime Minister in a general election on January 28.

Opinion polls suggest he has little chance of defeating Sharon in the national poll.

"If Mitzna continues his victory to the Prime Ministry, a very important breakthrough will take place. His programme revives hopes for resuming a meaningful peace process," Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Ahmed Korei told Reuters.

"With him as Prime Minister, it is possible to reach a final deal within one year," said Korei, one of the negotiators of the 1993 Oslo peace deals.

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said if Mitzna followed the example of late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who sealed 1993 land-for-peace deals, "our hands will be extended". Mitzna said if he is elected in the national vote he will evacuate settlements in the Gaza Stip in a year and separate from the Palestinians, either with an agreement or unilaterally.

Ahmed Abdel-Rahman, a top aide to Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, said the Palestinian leadership was prepared to negotiate peace with a new Israeli leader, provided Israel ended "occupation of our lands" within a year.

Militant groups, which are opposed to peace deals with Israel and have killed scores of Israelis in suicide attacks, said they made no distinction between Israeli political parties. Labour spent 20 months as Sharon’s main partner in a national unity coalition before pulling out earlier this month.

"When it comes to the main issues of the Palestinian-Israeli struggle, they are all the same," senior Islamic Jihad official Mohammad Al-Hindi said.

Hamas leader Ismail Abu Shanab said: "Mitzna brings nothing new. He speaks of the familiar Labour Party positions."

Many Israelis and Palestinians have become more hawkish as a result of violence that erupted in September 2000 and has since claimed lives of 1,674 Palestinians and 640 Israelis. (AGENCIES)

Western planes strike targets in Southern Iraq

WASHINGTON, Nov 20: Western planes today bombed three air defense communications facilities in Southern Iraq after Iraqi air defenses fired missiles, the US military said.

The strikes at about 6 AM local time (1630 hrs Ist) hit facilities between Al Kut, about 160 kms southeast of Baghdad, and Al Basrah, about 394 kms Southeast of Baghdad, a statement from US Central Command said.

"Today’s strike came after Iraqi air defenses fired surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft artillery at coalition aircraft," the statement said.

The last strike on the southern "no-fly" zone was on Monday. US and British warplanes patrol "no-fly" zones over southern and northern Iraq.

The zones, created by western allies after the 1991 Gulf war, are not recognized by Baghdad.

The White House and Pentagon have said that continued firing by Iraqi defenses at US and British jets patrolling the no-fly zones was a direct violation of the November 8 UN resolution on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. (AGENCIES)

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