Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation: News in English, 04-07-09

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From: The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation at <http://www.cybc.com.cy/>

CONTENTS

[01] HEADLINES

[02] OLYMPIC FLAME TODAY

[03] SPOKESMAN FLAME

[04] USA MEASURES

[05] GREECE CYPRUS

[06] MIDEAST DOCUMENT

[07] MIDEAST PERES

[08] IRAQ BULGARIA

[09] IRAQ FILIPINO

[10] EGYPTIAN KILLED

[11] WEATHER FRIDAY 9 JULY 2004

[01] HEADLINES

--Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides reiterated that on many occasions the government expressed its desire for the Olympic Flame to pass through the Turkish occupied part of Cyprus.

--The United States welcomed the package of measures announced by the European Commission to economically strengthen the Turkish Cypriots, implying that they will announce similar measures.

--The International Court of Justice will rule today that the barrier Israel is building inside the West Bank is illegal and should be removed, a leaked copy of the ruling showed.

And

-- Militants in Iraq held a Filipino and two Bulgarians under death threat on Friday to press demands for Manila's troops to go home and for prisoners to be freed.

[02] OLYMPIC FLAME TODAY

After a welcoming ceremony at the St. George Church, the flame was taken to Larnaca.

A ceremony was due to take place at Kimon Square at the Palm Trees Promenade. The last torch bearer of the flame's international tour, is Olympic champion Stavros Tzortzis who will take the flame to Larnaca Airport. The flame is expected at Crete, the first leg of its relay in Greece, were the Olympics will be held next month.

President of Athens 2004 Organising Committee, Gianna Angelopoulou, will arrive at Larnaca to pick up the flame and accompany it back home at around twenty past two.

CyBC continues its live coverage of the Torch relay in Cyprus.

[03] SPOKESMAN FLAME

He said the decision not to allow the flame pass from the occupied areas belonged to the Athens 2004 Organising Committee which is solely responsible.

Mr. Chrysostomides said the development occurred after the committee's unsuccessful contacts.

[04] USA MEASURES

State Department SPokesman Richard Boucher said Washington welcomes the Commission's measures and looks forward to their implementation, especially as far as trade with the occupied areas is concerned, noting that this might help towards the island's reunification.

He also said the US are examining a wide range of programmes in coordination and cooperation with the EU.

[05] GREECE CYPRUS

Chairing the council is Foreign Minister Petros Molybiatis and members are deputies from all parliament parties, except the Communist party.

The council will also examine the Grecoturkish relations and Europe's future after accession.

[06] MIDEAST DOCUMENT

"...the construction of the wall and its associated regime are contrary to international law," said the document leaked to Reuters.

The document said that the barrier infringed the rights of Palestinians living on land occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war. It said the barrier should be removed and compensation paid for damage it had caused.

Israel has said it will not accept the ruling by the Hague-based court, which was made at the request of the U.N. General Assembly.

Israel had said that it needs the barrier of fences, ditches and concrete wall to keep out suicide bombers. Palestinians call it a land grab that destroys their hopes of a viable state.

[07] MIDEAST PERES

Mr. Sharon said he would meet Mr. Peres on Sunday for talks to shore up his coalition weakened by departures of right-wing partners furious over his plan to evacuate settlers from Gaza to "disengage" from conflict with the Palestinians.

To win cabinet approval, Mr. Sharon amended his plan to be carried out in phases requiring more cabinet votes and starting only next year, a time lag critics say could create a vacuum for further violence that might further delay or derail a pullout.

Mr. Peres said that for the good of the country the situation demands that Israel pulls out of Gaza as soon as possible. "It is a pity to waste time, money and lives," he said.

[08] IRAQ BULGARIA

Foreign Minister Solomon Passy told state radio that Bulgaria is a stable state with a predictable foreign policy and they cannot expect it would change its foreign policy because of one or another group.

State radio said the foreign ministry had identified the two hostages as civilian truck drivers. Their captors threatened yesterday to kill them in 24 hours unless U.S.-led forces freed prisoners, Arabic satellite television Al Jazeera reported.

Mr. Passy said Bulgaria had contacted the U.S. government over the demand that the United States free imprisoned Iraqis, but gave no details.

Bulgaria has 470 troops in the U.S.-led force in Iraq, based in the southern city of Kerbala.

Meanwhile, the Lebanese-born U.S. marine, who turned up in his native country after going missing in Iraq, will leave today for Germany and then most likely head to the United States.

[09] IRAQ FILIPINO

Gunmen holding Angelo de la Cruz said they would behead him unless Manila, a staunch U.S. ally, pulled its largely symbolic force of around 50 humanitarian workers out of Iraq within 72 hours.

Mrs Arroyo, facing a stiff test only weeks after winning a new term in May elections, said she could give no details on the government's strategy because it might endanger De la Cruz.

Several senior lawmakers, leftist groups, and the influential Catholic Church called on the president to do everything in her power to save De la Cruz, a 46-year-old father of eight who, like millions of his compatriots, sought work abroad to help feed his family.

De la Cruz's family said Angelo went to Saudi Arabia a year ago to work as a trailer driver after being unemployed for five months.

[10] EGYPTIAN KILLED

Milant Kaltas, 54, was shot while walking outside the block of apartments he was staying at Koumantarias street.

A nearby resident heard the shots and found the Egyptian national in a pool of blood at the building's entrance and informed the Police.

The scene of the crime has been sealed off and police investigations are underway.

[11] WEATHER

Tonight the weather will be clear but thin mist and low cloud will form locally. Winds will be westerly to north-westerly light, two to three beaufort and the sea calm. Temperatures will fall to 22 C inland and on the coasts and to 20 over the mountains. The fire hazard is very high in all forest areas.

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