AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, April 24

AAP General News (Australia)
04-24-2004
AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Midday, April 24
Midday Round-Up: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1130

Korea Explosion US (WASHINGTON)

The United States says it's willing to help North Korea after a deadly train crash,
despite a standoff over the communist state's suspected nuclear arms program.

International aid officials say 150 people died in the crash -- which occurred when
two trains laden with explosives collided in the town of Ryongchong -- with over 1,200
injured.

North Korea has issued a rare plea for help by seeking international aid with the United
Nations humanitarian agency in Geneva.

US State Department spokesman RICHARD BOUCHER says America will evaluate the information
as it comes in, adding there is no obstacle to providing aid as it has done so in the
past.

The US has labelled North Korea part of an axis of evil along with Iran and prewar
Iraq but is nevertheless a major food donor to the impoverished, reclusive state.



US Libya (WASHINGTON)

US President GEORGE W BUSH has lifted most economic sanctions on Libya, to reward the
country for giving up its programs for weapons of mass destruction.

Presidential spokesman SCOTT MCCLELLAN says Libya has set a standard that the US hopes
other nations will emulate.

BUSH's decision allows the resumption of most commercial activities, financial transactions
and investments, and enables US firms to buy or invest in Libyan oil.



Iraq (BAGHDAD)

Rebel Shi'ite cleric MOQTADA AL-SADR has threatened to unleash suicide bombers if US
forces attack Iraq's holy city of Najaf.

The Najaf-based cleric, addressing a sermon in the neighbouring town of Kufa, says
he'll shed blood to keep the city in the hands of him and his supporters.

He says many men and women have asked his blessing for martyrdom operations against
the Americans.

US forces are stationed just outside Najaf and have vowed to kill or capture SADR and
destroy his Mehdi Army militia, but have allowed time for talks to defuse the situation.

Meanwhile, the United Nations special envoy to Iraq says an interim government can
be formed by June the 30th and the deadline for the handover of power by the US should
not be extended.

LAKHDAR BRAHIMI says the handover can be achieved if everyone cooperates.

And Oslo has rejected an American appeal to keep Norwegian troops in Iraq after a planned
pullout in June.



Mideast (WASHINGTON)

The White House has told Israel to stick to a pledge not to harm Palestinian President
YASSER ARAFAT, after Israeli Prime Minister ARIEL SHARON said he was no longer bound by
the promise.

A senior administration official says the US has made it entirely clear to the Israeli
government that it opposes any such action.

SHARON says he's told President GEORGE W. BUSH that he's released himself from a commitment
not to harm ARAFAT.

BUSH himself has given up dealing with ARAFAT, but US officials say their government's
goal is to marginalise him and elevate other Palestinian leaders in his place.



Terror Aust (CANBERRA)

Energy suppliers say the national electricity grid is as safe as possible, after Attorney-General
PHILIP RUDDOCK confirmed it was the target of a suspected terrorist.

Thirty-four-year-old FAHEEM KHALID LODHI of Punchbowl in Sydney appeared in court on
Thursday on seven terrorism-related offences.

He's accused of undertaking acts in preparation for a terrorist attack on a major infrastructure
facility.

Mr RUDDOCK says he understands it's alleged that LODHI collected information about
the national electricity grid.

Energy Supply Association of Australia head BRAD PAGE says the community can be assured
the electricity industry is acutely aware of the need to protect the grid.



US Guantanamo (CARACAS)

Venezuela's vice president has demanded an investigation into alleged human rights
abuses committed by the United States on detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

JOSE VICENTE RANGEL says there has been permanent and systematic violation of the rights
of almost 600 detainees at Guantanamo.



Brazil Prison (PORTO VELHO)

Police retaking control of a prison after a bloody uprising have found five more mutilated
bodies of inmates, bringing the death toll to 14.

During the five-day rebellion, some prisoners ate cats and tossed human body parts
from the prison's roof.

Rondonia state military police spokesman CLAUDIO DA COSTA says police entered the prison
and found five more inmate bodies, all of them mutilated and some of them cut into pieces.



Mitsubishi (SYDNEY)

The federal government is being urged to intervene to safeguard 10,000 jobs at risk
at Mitsubishi's Australian headquarters.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp's German partner DaimlerChrysler has announced it won't participate
in a capital increase planned by Mitsubishi.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union says the government should meet with the
South Australian government and the car industry to save every job.

He says 3,000 jobs will be lost directly and 7,000 indirectly if Mitsubishi shuts its
South Australian operations.

The South Australian government says governments are powerless to ensure the survival
of Mitsubishi's Australian operations.



Anzac (MELBOURNE)

One of only six surviving World War One diggers is expected to join the hundreds of
thousands of Australians commemorating Anzac Day this weekend.

105-year-old MARCEL CAUX is likely to take pride of place in a chauffeured jeep at
the head of the Sydney march.

As crowds gather for services in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, thousands
are ignoring government warnings to stay away from Gallipoli on Anzac Day.

Earlier this month, the government advised Australians to defer all non-essential travel
to Turkey in light of recent terrorist activity.

But hordes of Australians have arrived in Turkey over the past few days.



ATSIC Vanstone (CANBERRA)

Aboriginal communities are to get so-called one-stop shops to provide a range of government
services.

Details of the services have been revealed in a letter from Indigenous Affairs Minister
AMANDA VANSTONE to all indigenous organisations.

Known as Australian government indigenous coordination centres, they were not detailed
in the Prime Minister's announcement last week about the abolition of the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Commission.



Ad (SYDNEY)

A 34-year-old man from the southern Sydney suburb of Sans Souci has been charged with
sexually assaulting two women who answered an ad for a job as a personal assistant.

The women allegedly told police they were lured to a hotel near Sydney airport after
flying from interstate.

And also in Sydney, a 22-year-old Rockdale woman has been charged with murder after
another woman was found shot dead at a unit in Sydney's south this morning.

Both the man and the woman will face Parramatta Local Court today.



BRIEFLY . . .




China's announced four confirmed or suspected SARS cases, one of whom has died, as
the disease that killed nearly 800 worldwide last year returns to haunt the country.




The Los Angeles City Council has voted to create a 21-kilometre stretch of smoke free beach.




And in New York, two gay lovers have spent four hours engaging in sexual acts up a
tree in the city's Central Park before being charged with criminal mischief, public lewdness
and disorderly conduct.



IN SPORT . . .



Oly Shooting (SYDNEY)

Dual Olympic shooting gold medallist MICHAEL DIAMOND has won the right to defend his
title in Athens.

DIAMOND shot 117 out of a possible 125 targets at the Athens World Cup to beat young
gun NATHAN CASSELLS by six targets.




Super Aust (SYDNEY)

Fireworks are expected as arch-rivals New South Wales and th ACT do battle in Super
12 rugby at Aussie Stadium in Sydney tonight.

After a simmering build-up, both teams have much to play for, including Test jerseys.

The sixth-placed Waratahs need a win to keep their final-four hopes on track, while
the competition-leading Brumbies can all but wrap up a home semi-final if they win.

Lock DAVID GIFFIN has been ruled out of the ACT side after failing to recover from a back injury.



Super Krige (WELLINGTON)

Stormers captain CORNE KRIGE has been cited for a head-butt on Chiefs centre DEREK
MAISEY during a Super 12 rugby match in Hamilton, New Zealand, last night.

KRIGE, who's playing his last Super 12 season, will appear before the judiciary committee
of the New Zealand Rugby Union on Monday.

The Stormers were outplayed by the Chiefs who won 29-14.



ENDS MIDDAY BULLETIN

AAP RTV swe/wjf

KEYWORD: MIDDAY ROUND-UP

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