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		<title>Ukraine president forms coalition</title>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:11:16 +0000</pubDate>
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47453000/jpg/_47453369_008932014-1.jpg" width="226" height="170" alt="Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych (r) and Prime Minister Mykola Azarov in parliament in Kiev, Ukraine, 11 March 2010" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0">
				<div class="cap">Russian-born Mykola Azarov (left) is seen as close to Viktor Yanukovych</div>
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<p class="first"><b>Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has secured a coalition in parliament and one of his loyalists has been named as the new prime minister.</b><p>Parliament approved the nomination of ex-Finance Minister Mykola Azarov as prime minister shortly after the coalition agreement was announced. </p><p>Mr Azarov said his priority was to push through a "realistic" budget for 2010. </p><p>Mr Yanukovych had been trying to pull together a loyal coalition after winning presidential polls last month. </p><p>He has faced resistance from defeated presidential contender and outgoing Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was forced out in a vote of no confidence last week. </p><p>On Thursday Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn said that the coalition had been formed on the basis of an agreement signed by the Party of the Regions, the Communist Party, and his Lytvyn bloc. </p><p>The coalition includes a total of 235 deputies from the 450-member chamber, he said. </p><p>Earlier this week the parliament approved an amendment making it easier for parties to form coalitions by allowing them to recruit individual deputies rather than just parliamentary blocs. </p><p><b>'Empty coffers'</b></p><p>Ukraine has been suffering from political deadlock amid a three-way political contest between Mr Yanukovych, Mrs Tymoshenko, and former President Viktor Yushchenko, impeding efforts to deal with a severe economic crisis. </p><p>The International Monetary Fund has suspended part of a $16.4bn (&#163;10.8bn) loan for Ukraine, demanding that the government implement economic reforms.</p>

	
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47454000/jpg/_47454869_-1.jpg" width="226" height="170" alt="Yulia Tymoshenko, 9 March 2010" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0">
				<div class="cap">Yulia Tymoshenko attacked the appointed of the new cabinet</div>
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<p>After the coalition agreement was announced on Thursday, Mr Azarov said he hoped the IMF would resume lending, while promising to "eliminate the financial problems created by the previous government". </p><p>"The country has been plundered, the coffers are empty, state debt has risen threefold," said the Russian-born Mr Azarov, who is seen as a Yanukovych loyalist. </p><p>"The main task today is to redraft and get approved a realistic budget." </p><p>Mr Yanukovych also appointed other members of the cabinet, including Kostyantyn Khryshchenko - currently Ukraine's ambassador to Russia - who was named as foreign minister. </p><p>Mr Yanukovych is seen as closer to Russia than his predecessor Mr Yushchenko. </p><p>The new president's initial victory in 2004 elections was overturned amid the pro-Western street protests that became known as the Orange Revolution and that helped bring Mr Yushchenko to power. </p><p>Mr Yushchenko and Mrs Tymoshenko were allies during the Orange Revolution, before becoming engaged in a bitter power struggle. </p><p>Mrs Tymoshenko says the change to the law on forming coalitions is unconstitutional. </p><p>The BBC's David Stern reports from Kiev that according to analysts, the amendment may indeed be unconstitutional, since a similar alteration had previously been rejected. </p><p>But he says this will not stop Mr Yanukovych - who signed the amendment into law shortly before forming his cabinet - from pushing forward with his policies. </p><p>Mrs Tymoshenko said the appointment of the new government "proves our country has no guarantor of the constitution", while dismissing the cabinet as "made up completely of Ukrainian oligarchs". </p><p>"I predict the first thing they will do is to divide amongst themselves the financial spoils... and the strategic state assets for shady privatisation," she was quoted as saying.
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47453000/jpg/_47453369_008932014-1.jpg" width="226" height="170" alt="Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych (r) and Prime Minister Mykola Azarov in council in Kiev, Ukraine, eleven Mar 2010" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></p>
<div class="cap">Russian-born Mykola Azarov (left) is seen as tighten to Viktor Yanukovych</div>
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<p class="first"><b>Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has cumulative a confederation in council and one of his loyalists has been declared as the brand brand brand brand new budding minister.</b>
<p>Parliament authorized the assignment of ex-Finance Minister Mykola Azarov as budding apportion prior to long after the confederation agreement was announced. </p>
<p>Mr Azarov pronounced his priority was to lift by a &#8220;realistic&#8221; bill for 2010. </p>
<p>Mr Yanukovych had been perplexing to lift together a constant confederation after winning presidential polls final month. </p>
<p>He has faced insurgency from degraded presidential contender and effusive Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was forced out in a opinion of no certainty final week. </p>
<p>On Thursday Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn pronounced which the confederation had been shaped on the basement of an agreement sealed by the Party of the Regions, the Communist Party, and his Lytvyn bloc. </p>
<p>The confederation includes a sum of 235 deputies from the 450-member chamber, he said. </p>
<p>Earlier this week the council authorized an legislative addition creation it simpler for parties to form coalitions by permitting them to partisan particular deputies rsther than than only parliamentary blocs. </p>
<p><b>&#8216;Empty coffers&#8217;</b></p>
<p>Ukraine has been pang from domestic deadlock among a treble domestic competition in between Mr Yanukovych, Mrs Tymoshenko, and former President Viktor Yushchenko, stopping efforts to understanding with a serious mercantile crisis. </p>
<p>The International Monetary Fund has dangling partial of a $16.4bn (&pound;10.8bn) loan for Ukraine, perfectionist which the supervision exercise mercantile reforms.</p>
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47454000/jpg/_47454869_-1.jpg" width="226" height="170" alt="Yulia Tymoshenko, 9 Mar 2010" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></p>
<div class="cap">Yulia Tymoshenko pounded the allocated of the brand brand brand brand new cabinet</div>
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<p>After the confederation agreement was voiced on Thursday, Mr Azarov pronounced he hoped the IMF would resume lending, whilst earnest to &#8220;eliminate the monetary problems combined by the prior government&#8221;. </p>
<p>&#8220;The nation has been plundered, the coffers have been empty, state debt has risen threefold,&#8221; pronounced the Russian-born Mr Azarov, who is seen as a Yanukovych loyalist. </p>
<p>&#8220;The main charge now is to redraft and get authorized a picturesque budget.&#8221; </p>
<p>Mr Yanukovych additionally allocated alternative members of the cabinet, together with Kostyantyn Khryshchenko &#8211; now Ukraine&#8217;s envoy to Russia &#8211; who was declared as unfamiliar minister. </p>
<p>Mr Yanukovych is seen as closer to Russia than his prototype Mr Yushchenko. </p>
<p>The brand brand brand brand new president&#8217;s primary feat in 2004 elections was overturned among the pro-Western travel protests which became well known as the Orange Revolution and which helped move Mr Yushchenko to power. </p>
<p>Mr Yushchenko and Mrs Tymoshenko were allies during the Orange Revolution, prior to apropos intent in a sour energy struggle. </p>
<p>Mrs Tymoshenko says the shift to the law on combining coalitions is unconstitutional. </p>
<p>The BBC&#8217;s David Stern reports from Kiev which according to analysts, the legislative addition might in truth be unconstitutional, given a identical modification had formerly been rejected. </p>
<p>But he says this will not stop Mr Yanukovych &#8211; who sealed the legislative addition in to law prior to long prior to combining his cupboard &#8211; from pulling brazen with his policies. </p>
<p>Mrs Tymoshenko pronounced the appointment of the brand brand brand brand new supervision &#8220;proves the nation has no guarantor of the constitution&#8221;, whilst dismissing the cupboard as &#8220;made up utterly of Ukrainian oligarchs&#8221;. </p>
<p>&#8220;I envision the initial thing they will do is to order amongst themselves the monetary spoils&#8230; and the vital state resources for untrustworthy privatisation,&#8221; she was quoted as saying.</p>
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		<title>Pinera sworn in as new quake hits</title>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:07:11 +0000</pubDate>
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47454000/jpg/_47454882_pineiraafp226b.jpg" width="226" height="170" alt="Sebastian Pinera receives the presidential sash (11 March 2010)" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0">
				<div class="cap">Sebastian Pinera is Chile's first conservative president in 20 years</div>
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<p class="first"><b>Sebastian Pinera has been sworn in as president of Chile, minutes after it was hit by the largest aftershock since last month's devastating earthquake.</b><p>The 7.2-magnitude tremor was centred in O'Higgins Region, some 140km (90 miles) south of the city of Valparaiso, where the inauguration ceremony took place. </p><p>Mr Pinera's presidency ends two decades of left-wing rule in Chile. </p><p>The tycoon not only faces the challenge of reconstruction, but takes over from the highly-popular Michelle Bachelet. </p><p>Ms Bachelet left office with an 84% popularity rating despite criticism of her government's response to the 8.8-magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsunami, which left close to 500 people dead. </p><p>Earlier, Chile's disaster management chief resigned, six days after the head of the navy's oceanography service was dismissed for failing to provide a clear warning of the tsunami. </p><p>A BBC correspondent in the capital, Santiago, said buildings shook and people rushed out onto the streets after Thursday's tremor. </p><p>However, there have so far been no reports of any damage. </p><p><b>Thousands homeless</b></p><p>The inauguration ceremony in the port city of Valparaiso, which houses the National Congress, was intended to be an austere affair. The planned dinner was cancelled and the whole event scaled back out of respect for victims of the quake. </p><p>Ms Bachelet, Chile's first woman president, was constitutionally barred from seeking re-election. </p><p>She handed the red, white and blue presidential sash to Mr Pinera, whose election win ended 20 years of centre-left rule in Chile. </p><p>"I'm leaving office with sadness for the suffering of our people, but also with my head held high, satisfied with what we have accomplished," she said in her farewell address. </p><p>Seldom can an incoming president have faced such a massive and immediate challenge, says the BBC's Gideon Long in Santiago. </p><p>Thousands of people have been made homeless by the quake, and around half a million homes destroyed. </p><p>"We won't be the government of the earthquake, we'll be the government of reconstruction," the 60-year-old billionaire said recently. </p><p>Last month, the conservative leader named his cabinet, leaving out any figures linked with the former military ruler, Augusto Pinochet. </p><p>In his election campaign, Mr Pinera said he would focus on boosting economic growth and producing jobs while continuing with the outgoing president's social policies. </p><p>Mr Pinera is one of the country's richest men. He made his fortune introducing credit cards to Chile, then went on to buy a television channel, a stake in Chile's most successful football club, and put millions of dollars into other investments. </p><p></p><hr /><p><b>Are you in Chile? What do you think are the challenges facing Mr Pinera? What should his priorities be? Were you affected by Thursday's aftershock? Send us your comments using the form below.</b></p><p>

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<div class="cap">Sebastian Pinera is Chile&#8217;s initial regressive boss in twenty years</div>
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<p class="first"><b>Sebastian Pinera has been sworn in as boss of Chile, mins after it was strike by the largest movement given final month&#8217;s harmful earthquake.</b>
<p>The 7.2-magnitude shock was centred in O&#8217;Higgins Region, a little 140km (90 miles) south of the city of Valparaiso, where the coronation rite took place. </p>
<p>Mr Pinera&#8217;s presidency ends dual decades of severe order in Chile. </p>
<p>The aristocrat not usually faces the plea of reconstruction, but takes over from the highly-popular Michelle Bachelet. </p>
<p>Ms Bachelet left bureau with an 84% recognition rating notwithstanding critique of her government&#8217;s reply to the 8.8-magnitude trembler and indirect tsunami, that left tighten to 500 people dead. </p>
<p>Earlier, Chile&#8217;s mess supervision arch resigned, 6 days after the conduct of the navy&#8217;s oceanography use was discharged for unwell to yield a transparent notice of the tsunami. </p>
<p>A BBC match in the capital, Santiago, pronounced buildings shook and people rushed out onto the streets after Thursday&#8217;s tremor. </p>
<p>However, there have so far been no reports of any damage. </p>
<p><b>Thousands homeless</b></p>
<p>The coronation rite in the pier city of Valparaiso, that houses the National Congress, was dictated to be an stern affair. The programmed cooking was cancelled and the total eventuality scaled behind out of apply oneself for victims of the quake. </p>
<p>Ms Bachelet, Chile&#8217;s initial lady president, was constitutionally barred from looking re-election. </p>
<p>She handed the red, white and blue presidential cincture to Mr Pinera, whose choosing win finished twenty years of centre-left order in Chile. </p>
<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m withdrawal bureau with dolour for the pang of the people, but additionally with my conduct hold high, confident with what we have accomplished,&#8221; she pronounced in her farewell address. </p>
<p>Seldom can an incoming boss have faced such a large and evident challenge, says the BBC&#8217;s Gideon Long in Santiago. </p>
<p>Thousands of people have been done without a country by the quake, and around half a million homes destroyed. </p>
<p>&#8220;We won&#8217;t be the supervision of the earthquake, we&#8217;ll be the supervision of reconstruction,&#8221; the 60-year-old billionaire pronounced recently. </p>
<p>Last month, the regressive personality declared his cabinet, withdrawal out any total related with the former troops ruler, Augusto Pinochet. </p>
<p>In his choosing campaign, Mr Pinera pronounced he would concentration on boosting mercantile expansion and producing jobs whilst stability with the effusive president&#8217;s amicable policies. </p>
<p>Mr Pinera is one of the country&#8217;s richest men. He done his happening introducing credit cards to Chile, afterwards went on to buy a radio channel, a interest in Chile&#8217;s many successful football club, and put millions of dollars in to alternative investments. </p>
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		<title>Greeks stage fresh general strike</title>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:32:47 +0000</pubDate>
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	<p class="caption">BBC's Malcolm Brabant: "There is a great deal of anger on the streets"</p>
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<p class="first"><b>Public services and transport in Greece have ground to a halt as workers stage a third general strike in protest at the government's austerity measures.</b><p>Flights are grounded, and most schools and hospitals closed in the 24-hour walk-out called by the two main unions. </p><p>Riot police fired tear gas at stone-throwing protesters during a large demonstration in the capital, Athens. </p><p>The government says it sympathises with public anger over tax rises and wage cuts but is refusing to back down. </p><p>The country currently has a spiralling public deficit of 12.7%, more than four times higher than eurozone rules allow. </p><p>The government has pledged to cut this to 8.7% this year, and also reduce the 300bn-euro (&#163;275bn; $410bn) national debt, by cutting public sector salaries, raising the average retirement age, and increasing sales taxes. </p><p><b>'Deep freeze'</b></p><p>Thursday's march in central Athens was the largest since the troubles in Greece began, with an estimated 25,000 people taking part, says the BBC's Malcolm Brabant. </p><p>Riot police, who were out in force to avoid a repeat of the violence seen during the previous strike last Friday, fired tear gas to disperse dozens of hooded protesters who threw rocks and other projectiles at the start of the march. </p><p></p>
	

	
		    
			    
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			<b>Between bankruptcy and recession, between the devil and the deep blue sea, there is no other alternative to the abyss</b>
		<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/end_quote_rb.gif" align="right" width="23" height="13" alt="" border="0" vspace="0"><br />	</div>
	
	




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	<div>Dimitris Daskalopoulos<br />Greek employers' association</div>


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<p>The violence spread after the end of the march to a nearby square, and more than a dozen businesses and several vehicles were damaged. Police said 12 people were detained and two officers injured. </p><p>Minor clashes were also reported in the second city Thessaloniki, where about 14,000 people marched through the city. </p><p>Thursday's strike was called by Greece's main private sector union, GSEE, and its public sector sister union, ADEDY, which together represent half of the country's five million workers. </p><p>Earlier, air traffic controllers closed the country's airspace for 24 hours and ferries were left in harbours as maritime unions joined the strike. </p><p>Officers from the police, fire and customs services also walked out. </p><p>Buses and trams are not operating in Athens or Thessalonik, hospitals are dealing only with emergencies, and news broadcasts have been suspended because many journalists are on strike. </p><p>Unions say the European Union-backed austerity plan will only hurt the poor and aggravate the recession-hit country's economic problems. </p><p>"They are trying to make workers pay the price for this crisis," GSEE leader Yiannis Panagopoulos told the Associated Press. "These measures will not be effective and will throw the economy into deep freeze."</p>
	

	
		    
			    
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			                            GREEK FINANCIAL CRISIS
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			                    <div class="mva"><div class="bull">Deficit: 12.7% of output, four times higher than EU limit</div>


<div class="bull">Debt: 300bn euros (&#163;275bn; $410bn)</div>


<div class="bull">Unemployment: 10%</div>


<div class="bull">Inflation: 2.8%</div>


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            Q&#38;A: Greece's economic woes
            
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<p>Although public anger against the tax rises and pay cuts is increasing, some analysts believe the strikes are having little impact, and the government is refusing to back down, saying it has no alternative, our correspondent says. </p><p>Potential rebels within the governing socialist party who have objected to the belt-tightening have been forced to toe the official line. </p><p>Dimitris Daskalopoulos, the head of Greece's employers' association, denounced the street protests in his first major public pronouncement. </p><p>He said the government had no alternative but to reform the country and accused strikers of wanting to maintain the deplorable conditions that had forced Greece to look for charity from foreign markets. </p><p>"Between bankruptcy and recession, between the devil and the deep blue sea, there is no other alternative to the abyss," he told reporters. </p><p>"It is necessary to start again and to reform the country." </p><p><b>Budget crunch</b></p><p></p>

	
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47451000/jpg/_47451170_athensasleepap226b.jpg" width="226" height="170" alt="Passengers wait for flights at Athens airport (11 March 2010)" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0">
				<div class="cap">Air traffic controllers have closed Greece's airspace for 24 hours</div>
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<p>On Friday, MPs approved an additional 4.8bn euros ($6.5bn) in savings, which included rises in sales taxes, a cut in holiday bonuses paid to civil servants and a pensions freeze. </p><p>The measures came on top of the government's initial 11.2bn-euro ($15.2bn) austerity plan. </p><p>Another general strike has been called for 16 March. </p><p>By spring, Greece must refinance a large chunk of its national debt or risk defaulting on its loans. </p><p>Concerns about its giant debts currently make it more expensive for Greece to borrow money compared with most other European nations. </p><p>Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is seeking assistance from fellow eurozone nations to make it cheaper to borrow funds on the international financial markets. </p><p>EU leaders have pledged to help Greece, but have not outlined any concrete measures. </p><p></p>

	
		
			
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46891000/gif/_46891454_govts_in_debt02_466gr.gif" width="466" height="310" alt="European debt and deficit figures" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0">
				
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<p></p><hr /><p><b>Are you in Greece? Are you taking part in the strike? What do you hope it will achieve? Send us your comments using the form below.</b></p><p>

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<p class="caption">BBC&#8217;s Malcolm Brabant: &#8220;There is a good understanding of annoy on the streets&#8221;</p>
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<p class="first"><b>Public services and ride in Greece have belligerent to a hindrance as workers theatre a third ubiquitous set upon in criticism at the government&#8217;s purgation measures.</b>
<p>Flights have been grounded, and many schools and hospitals sealed in the 24-hour walk-out called by the dual main unions. </p>
<p>Riot military dismissed rip gas at stone-throwing protesters during a large proof in the capital, Athens. </p>
<p>The supervision says it sympathises with open annoy over taxation rises and salary cuts but is refusing to behind down. </p>
<p>The nation now has a arching open necessity of 12.7%, some-more than 4 times aloft than eurozone manners allow. </p>
<p>The supervision has affianced to cut this to 8.7% this year, and additionally revoke the 300bn-euro (&pound;275bn; $410bn) inhabitant debt, by slicing open zone salaries, raising the normal early retirement age, and augmenting sales taxes. </p>
<p><b>&#8216;Deep freeze&#8217;</b></p>
<p>Thursday&#8217;s impetus in executive Athens was the largest given the troubles in Greece began, with an estimated 25,000 people receiving part, says the BBC&#8217;s Malcolm Brabant. </p>
<p>Riot police, who were out in force to equivocate a repeat of the assault seen during the prior set upon final Friday, dismissed rip gas to sunder dozens of hooded protesters who threw rocks and pick projectiles at the begin of the march. </p>
</p>
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			<b>Between failure and recession, in in between the demon and the low blue sea, there is no pick pick to the abyss</b><br />
		<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/end_quote_rb.gif" align="right" width="23" height="13" alt="" border="0" vspace="0"><br clear="all"/>	</div>
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<div>Dimitris Daskalopoulos<br/>Greek employers&#8217; association</div>
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<p>The assault widespread after the finish of the impetus to a circuitously square, and some-more than a dozen businesses and multiform vehicles were damaged. Police pronounced twelve people were incarcerated and dual officers injured. </p>
<p>Minor clashes were additionally reported in the second city Thessaloniki, where about 14,000 people marched by the city. </p>
<p>Thursday&#8217;s set upon was called by Greece&#8217;s main in isolation zone union, GSEE, and the open zone sister union, ADEDY, that together paint half of the country&#8217;s 5 million workers. </p>
<p>Earlier, air trade controllers sealed the country&#8217;s airspace for twenty-four hours and ferries were left in harbours as nautical unions assimilated the strike. </p>
<p>Officers from the police, glow and etiquette services additionally walked out. </p>
<p>Buses and trams have been not handling in Athens or Thessalonik, hospitals have been trade usually with emergencies, and headlines broadcasts have been dangling since many reporters have been on strike. </p>
<p>Unions contend the European Union-backed purgation devise will usually harm the bad and irritate the recession-hit country&#8217;s mercantile problems. </p>
<p>&#8220;They have been perplexing to have workers compensate the cost for this crisis,&#8221; GSEE personality Yiannis Panagopoulos told the Associated Press. &#8220;These measures will not be in effect and will throw the manage to buy in to low freeze.&#8221;</p>
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			                            GREEK FINANCIAL CRISIS
			                        </div>
<div class="mva">
<div class="bull">Deficit: 12.7% of output, 4 times aloft than EU limit</div>
<div class="bull">Debt: 300bn euros (&pound;275bn; $410bn)</div>
<div class="bull">Unemployment: 10%</div>
<div class="bull">Inflation: 2.8%</div>
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<p>            Flanders: Advantage Greece</p></div>
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<p>            Q&amp;A: Greece&#8217;s mercantile woes</p></div>
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<p>            Why Greece&#8217;s problems matter</p></div>
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<p>            In pictures: Greek set upon protests</p></div>
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<p>Although open annoy opposite the taxation rises and compensate cuts is increasing, a small analysts hold the strikes have been carrying small impact, and the supervision is refusing to behind down, observant it has no alternative, the match says. </p>
<p>Potential rebels inside of the ruling revolutionary celebration who have objected to the belt-tightening have been forced to toe the central line. </p>
<p>Dimitris Daskalopoulos, the conduct of Greece&#8217;s employers&#8217; association, laid open the travel protests in his primary vital open pronouncement. </p>
<p>He pronounced the supervision had no pick but to remodel the nation and indicted strikers of wanting to say the abominable conditions that had forced Greece to demeanour for gift from unfamiliar markets. </p>
<p>&#8220;Between failure and recession, in in between the demon and the low blue sea, there is no pick pick to the abyss,&#8221; he told reporters. </p>
<p>&#8220;It is required to begin again and to remodel the country.&#8221; </p>
<p><b>Budget crunch</b></p>
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<div class="cap">Air trade controllers have sealed Greece&#8217;s airspace for twenty-four hours</div>
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<p>On Friday, MPs authorized an one some-more 4.8bn euros ($6.5bn) in savings, that enclosed rises in sales taxes, a cut in legal holiday bonuses paid to polite servants and a pensions freeze. </p>
<p>The measures came on tip of the government&#8217;s primary 11.2bn-euro ($15.2bn) purgation plan. </p>
<p>Another ubiquitous set upon has been called for sixteen March. </p>
<p>By spring, Greece contingency refinance a large cube of the inhabitant debt or risk delinquent on the loans. </p>
<p>Concerns about the hulk debts now have it some-more costly for Greece to steal income compared with many pick European nations. </p>
<p>Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is looking benefit from associate eurozone nations to have it cheaper to steal supports on the general monetary markets. </p>
<p>EU leaders have affianced to assistance Greece, but have not summarized any petrify measures. </p>
</p>
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46891000/gif/_46891454_govts_in_debt02_466gr.gif" width="466" height="310" alt="European debt and necessity figures" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></p></div>
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<p><b>Are you in Greece? Are you receiving partial in the strike? What do you goal it will achieve? Send us your comments regulating the form below.</b></p>
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		<title>Iraq PM takes early lead in poll</title>
		<link>http://www.mydailyglobalnews.com/iraq-pm-takes-early-lead-in-poll/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mydailyglobalnews.com/iraq-pm-takes-early-lead-in-poll/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:03:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[daily news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[global news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>

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				<div class="cap">Final results could take a fortnight to emerge</div>
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<p class="first"><b>Preliminary results from Iraq's election show the grouping of PM Nouri Maliki is leading in two southern provinces, the electoral body says.</b><p>The partial results from Najaf and Babil, in the Shia south, are the first released - four days after balloting. </p><p>Full initial results, which will be made public when 30% of the ballots are counted, could be released later by the Independent High Electoral Commission. </p><p>Final results for all 18 provinces are not expected for a fortnight. </p><p>The commission results showed Mr Maliki's State of Law coalition with 124,734 votes in the two provinces with at least 30% of votes counted, followed by 103,583 for the Shia-dominated Iraqi National Alliance. </p><p>It is unlikely one party will form a government alone and there may be months of negotiations on a coalition. </p><p>About 6,200 candidates from 86 factions campaigned for seats in the 325-member parliament. </p><p>Voter turnout was 62%, officials said, despite attacks that killed 38 people on Sunday. </p><p>It was down on the 75% turnout figure for the 2005 general election.
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<div class="cap">Final formula could take a fortnight to emerge</div>
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<p class="first"><b>Preliminary formula from Iraq&#8217;s choosing show the organisation of PM Nouri Maliki is heading in dual southern provinces, the electoral physique says.</b>
<p>The prejudiced formula from Najaf and Babil, in the Shia south, have been the primary expelled &#8211; 4 days after balloting. </p>
<p>Full primary results, which will be done open when 30% of the ballots have been counted, could be expelled after by the Independent High Electoral Commission. </p>
<p>Final formula for all eighteen provinces have been not approaching for a fortnight. </p>
<p>The elect formula showed Mr Maliki&#8217;s State of Law bloc with 124,734 votes in the dual provinces with at slightest 30% of votes counted, followed by 103,583 for the Shia-dominated Iraqi National Alliance. </p>
<p>It is doubtful one celebration will form a supervision alone and there might be months of negotiations on a coalition. </p>
<p>About 6,200 possibilities from 86 factions campaigned for seats in the 325-member parliament. </p>
<p>Voter audience was 62%, officials said, notwithstanding attacks which killed 38 people on Sunday. </p>
<p>It was down on the 75% audience figure for the 2005 ubiquitous election.</p>
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		<title>Cuba: The smoker&#8217;s paradise</title>
		<link>http://www.mydailyglobalnews.com/cuba-the-smokers-paradise/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mydailyglobalnews.com/cuba-the-smokers-paradise/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:47:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[<p><b>Smoking may be going out of fashion in many countries, but in Havana, Matt Frei finds Cuba's love affair with the cigar continues.</b></p>

	
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				<div class="cap">Fidel Castro was for years a keen smoker</div>
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<p>The United States famously takes a very fundamentalist attitude to smoking in public. </p><p>Want to light up in a restaurant or a bar in Manhattan? Forget it. </p><p>How about a stealthy cigarette on the pavement outside our office in Washington? No way. </p><p>They will call the cops. The people who do smoke are forced to huddle in underground garages and behind garbage bins as if they were doing crack cocaine. </p><p>For a very casual and occasional smoker like me the ostracism has been enough to make me quit for good. Until, that is, I went to Havana. </p><p><b>Smoking passion</b></p><p>Can you imagine my surprise when I saw the cleaning woman in my hotel room, vacuuming the carpet with a huge cigar protruding from her lips? </p><p>I do not think they distinguish between smoking and non-smoking rooms in Cuba. </p><p></p>

	
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				<div class="cap">A product endorsement from Cuban cigars' marketing director, Ana Lopez</div>
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<p>The security guard hovering at the front door was chomping on something the tobacco industry proudly refers to as a "Wide Churchill". </p><p>Cuba smokes with a vengeance. Perhaps it is another way of thumbing its nose at Uncle Sam. </p><p>It is certainly another item on the long list of idiosyncrasies. </p><p>From the vintage Buicks and Chevys rattling along the pot-holed streets like miracles of recycling, to the crumbling colonial facades, to the earnest posters calling for perpetual revolution, courtesy of the Castro brothers. </p><p><b>Exploding cigar</b></p><p>Lucky for cigars, Fidel Castro smoked them with relish. They were his official vice of choice. </p><p>Even today as an octogenarian retiree, he apparently still likes the occasional puff. </p><p>When he was younger Castro used to smoke as many as six cigars a day. He was so reliably hooked on them that the CIA even had the brilliant idea of blowing one of them up. </p><p>That was assassination attempt 105, I think, out of the 638 which the Cuban intelligence proudly lists. </p><p>For his part Castro took the threat seriously and recruited four of Cuba's best cigar rollers to work undercover in a former palace that had once belonged to a sugar cane baron. </p><p>Here they rolled the Commandante's daily supply in secret, safe from the tampering of the CIA. This is now the Cohiba cigar factory, producing perhaps the world's finest and most expensive brand. </p><p><b>Cigar festival</b></p><p>Our visit to Havana happened to coincide with the annual cigar festival. This has to be one of the strangest trade fairs on the planet. </p><p>For a whole week some of the world's most ostentatious capitalists descend on one of the world's last bastions of genuine communism, to smoke themselves to near death. </p><p></p>
	

	
		    
			    
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			<b>They serve five courses and a different cigar with each one of them</b>
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<p>The highlight is a gala dinner hosted by Habanos, Cuba's state monopoly cigar manufacturer. </p><p>Cigars account for the country's most lucrative export after nickel. </p><p>If you are a paying guest, the dinner costs $500 (&#163;350) a head. They serve five courses and a different cigar with each one of them. </p><p>The charming young blonde woman I was sitting next to - the head of a well known international distributor - had brought along a packet of cigarettes, for a quick smoke between cigar courses. You do not want to be caught short. Do you? </p><p>It was an astonishing collection of guests. </p><p></p>

	
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47449000/jpg/_47449387_festival_226bbc.jpg" width="226" height="170" alt="People attending cigar festival in Havana" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0">
				<div class="cap">Cuba's annual cigar festival welcomes visitors from around the world</div>
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<p>There was the Japanese toy tycoon with the long ponytail. </p><p>The morbidly obese Beijing bigwig who used his monster cigar like a bayonet. </p><p>The Russian Mafioso with pitted skin that looked as if someone had stubbed several cigarillos out on his cheeks. </p><p>A brace of British lords, who squeezed their Cohibas cigars in deep appreciation of their elasticity, and the posse of very quiet Americans, who had slipped under the US state department's radar. </p><p>The waiters - there were hundreds of them - glowered at the assembled crowd who were puffing on something that cost more than they were lucky to earn in a whole month. </p><p>The highlight of the evening? An auction of humidors, stuffed with cigars, which fetched $1m or so. The whole evening was the very definition of capitalist excess. </p><p><b>Smoky atmosphere</b></p><p>So why did the authorities broadcast it live on state television? And why did it not kick-off the counter-revolution in a country plagued by genuine poverty and shortages of just about everything? </p><p>It appears that national pride in Cuban cigars - still the best in the world - trumps resentment. </p><p>Call it another miracle trick of a regime that has already survived the collapse of communism and the illness of Fidel Castro. </p><p></p>

	
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				<div class="cap">Tobacco plantations supply one of Cuba's most important exports</div>
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<p>The dinner took place in a conference centre that resembled an airport hangar. </p><p>A thousands guests, each supplied with five cigars. Imagine the air. </p><p>This was either the passive smoking Olympics or for active smokers just another Friday night out in Havana. </p><p>So I joined in - with relish - trying not to lose face with the world champion smoker on my right. After four hours, only three cigars and one cigarette, I had to call it quits. </p><p>My lungs demanded it. My brain agreed. </p><p>I ran out of the giant hall, past guest and tables that had disappeared behind dense clouds of smoke. A waiter flung open the door, clearly fearing the worst. </p><p>I inhaled the night air like a drowning man gasping for breath. </p><p>The next morning I sent all my clothes to the hotel laundry, brushed my teeth about four times and began nursing a nicotine hangover that lasted for two solid days. </p><p>My big mistake was not to follow Bill Clinton's edict. I smoked and I inhaled. </p><p><b>How to listen to: From Our Own Correspondent</b></p><p>BBC Radio 4: Saturdays, 1130. Second weekly edition on Thursdays, 1100 (some weeks only) </p><p>BBC World Service: See <b>programme schedules </b></p><p>Download the
    
         
        
        
            
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><b>Smoking might be going out of conform in many countries, but in Havana, Matt Frei finds Cuba&#8217;s love event with the cigar continues.</b></p>
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47449000/jpg/_47449598_castro_cigar_getty.jpg" width="226" height="282" alt="Photo of Fidel Castro smoking a cigar in 1959" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></p>
<div class="cap">Fidel Castro was for years a penetrating smoker</div>
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<p>The United States famously takes a really fundamentalist perspective to smoking in public. </p>
<p>Want to light up in a grill or a club in Manhattan? Forget it. </p>
<p>How about a cat-like cigarette on the cement outward the bureau in Washington? No way. </p>
<p>They will call the cops. The people who do fume have been forced to throng in subterraneous garages and at the back of rubbish bins as if they were you do moment cocaine. </p>
<p>For a really infrequent and occasional smoker similar to me the displacement has been sufficient to have me give up for good. Until, which is, I went to Havana. </p>
<p><b>Smoking passion</b></p>
<p>Can you suppose my warn when I saw the cleaning lady in my road house room, vacuuming the runner with a outrageous cigar extending from her lips? </p>
<p>I do not think they heed in in between smoking and non-smoking bedrooms in Cuba. </p>
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47452000/jpg/_47452703_cigarlady_afp_226.jpg" width="226" height="170" alt="Woman smoking cigar" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></p>
<div class="cap">A product publicity from Cuban cigars&#8217; selling director, Ana Lopez</div>
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<p>The confidence ensure hovering at the front doorway was chomping on something the tobacco attention proudly refers to as a &#8220;Wide Churchill&#8221;. </p>
<p>Cuba smokes with a vengeance. Perhaps it is an additional approach of thumbing the nose at Uncle Sam. </p>
<p>It is positively an additional object on the prolonged list of idiosyncrasies. </p>
<p>From the selected Buicks and Chevys rattling along the pot-holed streets similar to miracles of recycling, to the exploding colonial facades, to the aspiring posters job for incessant revolution, pleasantness of the Castro brothers. </p>
<p><b>Exploding cigar</b></p>
<p>Lucky for cigars, Fidel Castro smoked them with relish. They were his central clamp of choice. </p>
<p>Even currently as an octogenarian retiree, he assumingly still likes the occasional puff. </p>
<p>When he was younger Castro used to fume as many as 6 cigars a day. He was so reliably bending on them which the CIA even had the shining thought of floating one of them up. </p>
<p>That was gangland slaying try 105, I think, out of the 638 which the Cuban comprehension proudly lists. </p>
<p>For his partial Castro took the hazard severely and recruited 4 of Cuba&#8217;s many appropriate cigar rollers to work clandestine in a former house which had once belonged to a sugarine shaft baron. </p>
<p>Here they rolled the Commandante&#8217;s every day supply in secret, protected from the tampering of the CIA. This is right away the Cohiba cigar factory, producing maybe the world&#8217;s excellent and many costly brand. </p>
<p><b>Cigar festival</b></p>
<p>Our revisit to Havana happened to happen at the same time with the annual cigar festival. This has to be one of the strangest traffic fairs on the planet. </p>
<p>For a total week a little of the world&#8217;s many magnificent capitalists deplane on one of the world&#8217;s final bastions of genuine communism, to fume themselves to nearby death. </p>
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			<b>They offer 5 courses and a opposite cigar with any one of them</b><br />
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<p>The prominence is a celebration cooking hosted by Habanos, Cuba&#8217;s state corner cigar manufacturer. </p>
<p>Cigars comment for the country&#8217;s many remunerative trade after nickel. </p>
<p>If you have been a profitable guest, the cooking costs $500 (&pound;350) a head. They offer 5 courses and a opposite cigar with any one of them. </p>
<p>The desirable immature blonde lady I was sitting subsequent to &#8211; the conduct of a good well known general distributor &#8211; had brought along a parcel of cigarettes, for a discerning fume in in between cigar courses. You do not wish to be held short. Do you? </p>
<p>It was an startling pick up of guests. </p>
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47449000/jpg/_47449387_festival_226bbc.jpg" width="226" height="170" alt="People in attendance cigar legal holiday in Havana" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></p>
<div class="cap">Cuba&#8217;s annual cigar legal holiday welcomes visitors from around the world</div>
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<p>There was the Japanese fondle aristocrat with the prolonged ponytail. </p>
<p>The morbidly portly Beijing bigwig who used his beast cigar similar to a bayonet. </p>
<p>The Russian Mafioso with pitted skin which looked as if someone had stubbed multiform cigarillos out on his cheeks. </p>
<p>A prop of British lords, who squeezed their Cohibas cigars in low high regard of their elasticity, and the posse of really still Americans, who had slipped underneath the US state department&#8217;s radar. </p>
<p>The waiters &#8211; there were hundreds of them &#8211; glowered at the fabricated throng who were blasting on something which price some-more than they were propitious to consequence in a total month. </p>
<p>The prominence of the evening? An auction of humidors, pressed with cigars, which fetched $1m or so. The total dusk was the really clarification of entrepreneur excess. </p>
<p><b>Smoky atmosphere</b></p>
<p>So because did the authorities promote it live on state television? And because did it not kick-off the counter-revolution in a nation tormented by genuine misery and shortages of usually about everything? </p>
<p>It appears which inhabitant honour in Cuban cigars &#8211; still the many appropriate in the universe &#8211; trumps resentment. </p>
<p>Call it an additional spectacle pretence of a system of administration which has already survived the fall of communism and the seizure of Fidel Castro. </p>
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47452000/jpg/_47452849_tobacco_crop_afp_226.jpg" width="226" height="170" alt="Tobacco harvest" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></p>
<div class="cap">Tobacco plantations supply one of Cuba&#8217;s many critical exports</div>
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<p>The cooking took place in a discussion centre which resembled an airfield hangar. </p>
<p>A thousands guests, any granted with 5 cigars. Imagine the air. </p>
<p>This was possibly the pacifist smoking Olympics or for active smokers usually an additional Friday night out in Havana. </p>
<p>So I assimilated in &#8211; with penchant &#8211; perplexing not to remove face with the universe hold up smoker on my right. After 4 hours, usually 3 cigars and one cigarette, I had to call it quits. </p>
<p>My lungs demanded it. My brain agreed. </p>
<p>I ran out of the hulk hall, past guest and tables which had left at the back of unenlightened clouds of smoke. A waiter flung open the door, obviously fearing the worst. </p>
<p>I inhaled the night air similar to a drowning male panting for breath. </p>
<p>The subsequent sunrise I sent all my garments to the road house laundry, brushed my teeth about 4 times and began nursing a nicotine hangover which lasted for dual plain days. </p>
<p>My big inapplicable designation was not to follow Bill Clinton&#8217;s edict. I smoked and I inhaled. </p>
<p><b>How to attend to: From Our Own Correspondent</b></p>
<p>BBC Radio 4: Saturdays, 1130. Second weekly book on Thursdays, 1100 (some weeks only) </p>
<p>BBC World Service: See <b>programme schedules </b></p>
<p>Download the</p>
<p>            <b>podcast</b></p>
<p>Listen on</p>
<p>            <b>iPlayer</b></p>
<p>Story by story at the</p>
<p>            <b>programme website</b></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Afghan plea for &#8216;no proxy wars&#8217;</title>
		<link>http://www.mydailyglobalnews.com/afghan-plea-for-no-proxy-wars/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mydailyglobalnews.com/afghan-plea-for-no-proxy-wars/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:47:30 +0000</pubDate>
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				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[daily news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[global news]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[South Asia]]></category>

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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47452000/jpg/_47452272_008931633-1.jpg" width="226" height="170" alt="Afghan President Hamid Karzai (left) addresses a joint news conference with Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the prime minister's official residence in Islamabad, Pakistan on Thursday, March 11, 2010" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0">
				<div class="cap">Mr Karzai (left) said stability in Afghanistan depended on Pakistan</div>
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<p class="first"><b>Afghanistan does not want other countries' "proxy wars" fought on its soil, President Hamid Karzai has said.</b><p>He was speaking following talks with Pakistani leaders in Islamabad, and a day after Iran and the US traded blows over their activities in Afghanistan. </p><p>Mr Karzai said he did not want India and Pakistan, or anyone else, to fight their wars on his country's territory. </p><p>Parties to the Afghan conflict are rethinking policy ahead of 2011 when the US says it will begin to withdraw. </p><p>On Wednesday Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad paid a short visit to Kabul. He accused the US of playing a "double game" in Afghanistan after the US used the same term to condemn Iran's role. </p><p><b>Pakistan role</b></p><p>Mr Karzai is making his first visit to Pakistan since his controversial re-election last year. </p><p>The trip comes amid an expected surge of Western troops in Afghanistan this summer. It also follows the recent arrests of Taliban leaders in Pakistan which indicate the military there may be willing to reign in the militants. </p><p>The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says Mr Karzai is visiting Pakistan amid a thaw in relations between the two countries on the one hand, and some fundamental shifts in the regional situation on the other. </p><p>The Afghan leader held detailed meetings with both President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. He has also met Pakistan's army chief, Gen Ashfaq Kayani. Before heading to Islamabad, he had a meeting with the visiting US defence secretary Robert Gates. </p><p>"Without Pakistan and without its co-operation with Afghanistan, Afghanistan cannot be stable or peaceful," Mr Karzai told a news conference in Islamabad. </p><p>"It is also, I believe, recognised in Pakistan that without a stable and peaceful Afghanistan there cannot be stability or peace in Pakistan. </p><p>"Afghanistan does not want a proxy war between India and Pakistan in Afghanistan. It does not want a proxy war between Iran and the United States in Afghanistan," he said. </p><p>Mr Karzai also called on Islamabad to hand over the alleged Taliban second-in-command Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, arrested last month. Mr Gilani said his government was still considering the request. </p><p>Our correspondent says the purpose of Mr Karzai's visit appears to be to take Pakistani leaders into his confidence on the impending Western troop surge, and to find out to what extent Pakistani political and military leaders would be willing to withdraw support from the Taliban. </p><p>For their part, the Pakistanis need guarantees about limiting Indian influence in Afghanistan, our correspondent says. </p><p>They are also keen to have a role in training Afghan forces, a proposal which Mr Karzai has reportedly cold-shouldered for the moment. </p><p>Earlier, a spokesman for Mr Zardari the two presidents had agreed to hold a joint Afghan-Pakistan jirga (tribal gathering) after a similar meeting is held in Afghanistan. </p><p>A joint jirga process was initiated in 2007 but never took off because of mutual suspicions.
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47452000/jpg/_47452272_008931633-1.jpg" width="226" height="170" alt="Afghan President Hamid Karzai (left) addresses a corner headlines discussion with Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani at the budding minister's central chateau in Islamabad, Pakistan on Thursday, Mar 11, 2010" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></p>
<div class="cap">Mr Karzai (left) pronounced fortitude in Afghanistan depended on Pakistan</div>
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<p class="first"><b>Afghanistan does not wish alternative countries&#8217; &#8220;proxy wars&#8221; fought on the soil, President Hamid Karzai has said.</b>
<p>He was vocalization following talks with Pakistani leaders in Islamabad, and a day after Iran and the US traded blows over their activities in Afghanistan. </p>
<p>Mr Karzai pronounced he did not wish India and Pakistan, or any one else, to quarrel their wars on his country&#8217;s territory. </p>
<p>Parties to the Afghan dispute have been rethinking routine forward of 2011 when the US says it will proceed to withdraw. </p>
<p>On Wednesday Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad paid a short revisit to Kabul. He indicted the US of personification a &#8220;double game&#8221; in Afghanistan after the US used the same tenure to reject Iran&#8217;s role. </p>
<p><b>Pakistan role</b></p>
<p>Mr Karzai is creation his initial revisit to Pakistan given his argumentative re-election final year. </p>
<p>The outing comes among an approaching swell of Western infantry in Afghanistan this summer. It additionally follows the new arrests of Taliban leaders in Pakistan that prove the troops there might be pacific to power in the militants. </p>
<p>The BBC&#8217;s M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says Mr Karzai is on vacation Pakistan among a unfreeze in family in in in between the dual countries on the one hand, and a little elemental shifts in the informal incident on the other. </p>
<p>The Afghan personality reason minute meetings with both President Asif Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. He has additionally met Pakistan&#8217;s armed forces chief, Gen Ashfaq Kayani. Before streamer to Islamabad, he had a assembly with the on vacation US counterclaim cabinet member Robert Gates. </p>
<p>&#8220;Without Pakistan and but the co-operation with Afghanistan, Afghanistan cannot be fast or peaceful,&#8221; Mr Karzai told a headlines discussion in Islamabad. </p>
<p>&#8220;It is also, I believe, recognized in Pakistan that but a fast and pacific Afghanistan there cannot be fortitude or assent in Pakistan. </p>
<p>&#8220;Afghanistan does not wish a substitute fight in in in between India and Pakistan in Afghanistan. It does not wish a substitute fight in in in between Iran and the United States in Afghanistan,&#8221; he said. </p>
<p>Mr Karzai additionally called on Islamabad to palm over the purported Taliban second-in-command Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, arrested final month. Mr Gilani pronounced his supervision was still deliberation the request. </p>
<p>Our match says the purpose of Mr Karzai&#8217;s revisit appears to be to take Pakistani leaders in to his certainty on the imminent Western couple surge, and to find out to what border Pakistani domestic and troops leaders would be pacific to repel await from the Taliban. </p>
<p>For their part, the Pakistanis need guarantees about tying Indian change in Afghanistan, the match says. </p>
<p>They have been additionally penetrating to have a purpose in precision Afghan forces, a offer that Mr Karzai has reportedly cold-shouldered for the moment. </p>
<p>Earlier, a orator for Mr Zardari the dual presidents had concluded to reason a corner Afghan-Pakistan jirga (tribal gathering) after a identical assembly is reason in Afghanistan. </p>
<p>A corner jirga routine was instituted in 2007 but never took off since of mutual suspicions.</p>
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		<title>Hamas releases British journalist</title>
		<link>http://www.mydailyglobalnews.com/hamas-releases-british-journalist/</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:29:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Middle East]]></category>
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				<div class="cap">Mr Martin was taken by a British diplomatic convoy to Israel</div>
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<p class="first"><b>The Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas has released a British journalist accused of espionage in the Gaza Strip.</b><p>Paul Martin, a freelance journalist accused by the movement of working for Israel, was arrested on 15 February. </p><p>Hamas, which runs the enclave, has not filed any charge against him in court but said it was deporting him because it "believed him to be guilty". </p><p>Mr Martin denied the accusation and said his release was a "great victory for the rights of journalists". </p><p>"I was never accused of any crime although I was interrogated for something which was blatantly impossible for me to have done," Mr Martin said in a statement. </p><p>"I think eventually it was realised that there was no case against me, but it took a long time for extremely suspicious security people to absorb this message." </p><p>Mr Martin's lawyer said the charges were "ridiculous" . </p><p>His family also strongly rejected the Hamas accusations, saying he was an innocent journalist. </p><p>"We are extremely relieved that Paul has been released and pleased that the authorities responded to our appeals," his wife Anne said. </p><p>He had gone to Gaza to give evidence in the defence of a Palestinian man he had interviewed, who had also been accused of spying for Israel. </p><p>"Paul has maintained his innocence throughout this ordeal," Mrs Martin said. </p><p>No charges were brought against Mr Martin in court, but he was made to leave Gaza on the orders of Hamas. </p><p>He has been forbidden from returning to Palestinian territory, including the West Bank, Hamas said. </p><p>"My release is a great victory for the right of journalists to be able to cover difficult stories in a fearless and accurate way without being subject to arrest, or worse at the hands of a group that dislikes their journalism," Mr Martin said. </p><p>He thanked people who helped secure his release. </p><p><b>'Defamation'</b></p><p>The journalist and film-maker was handed over to a delegation from the British consulate and driven in a diplomatic vehicle to the Erez crossing with Israel, BBC Gaza correspondent Jon Donnison says. </p><p>Mr Martin was originally held for two weeks. Hamas then announced his detention would be extended to a month. </p><p>Senior Hamas leader Mahmud al-Zahar held a news conference to announce the release at his home in Gaza. </p><p>"After concluding the investigation, it was found that Paul Martin has been found guilty of being an agent for Israel," he said. </p><p>Mr Martin "was working on defaming the image of the Palestinian people by saying that they smuggle weapons through tunnels", the Associated Press reported. </p><p>He said Mr Martin was now barred from entering all Palestinian territory, although Hamas authority does not extend to the West Bank, which is run by the rival Fatah movement. </p><p>Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007 after winning elections there in 2006.
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<div class="cap">Mr Martin was taken by a British tactful procession to Israel</div>
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<p class="first"><b>The Palestinian Islamist transformation Hamas has expelled a British publisher indicted of espionage in the Gaza Strip.</b>
<p>Paul Martin, a freelance publisher indicted by the transformation of operative for Israel, was arrested on fifteen February. </p>
<p>Hamas, that runs the enclave, has not filed any assign opposite him in justice but pronounced it was deporting him since it &#8220;believed him to be guilty&#8221;. </p>
<p>Mr Martin denied the indictment and pronounced his recover was a &#8220;great feat for the rights of journalists&#8221;. </p>
<p>&#8220;I was never indicted of any crime nonetheless I was interrogated for something that was blatantly unfit for me to have done,&#8221; Mr Martin pronounced in a statement. </p>
<p>&#8220;I think in the future it was realised that there was no box opposite me, but it took a prolonged time for intensely questionable confidence people to catch this message.&#8221; </p>
<p>Mr Martin&#8217;s counsel pronounced the charges were &#8220;ridiculous&#8221; . </p>
<p>His family additionally strongly deserted the Hamas accusations, observant he was an trusting journalist. </p>
<p>&#8220;We have been intensely relieved that Paul has been expelled and gratified that the authorities responded to the appeals,&#8221; his mother Anne said. </p>
<p>He had left to Gaza to give justification in the counterclaim of a Palestinian male he had interviewed, who had additionally been indicted of espionage for Israel. </p>
<p>&#8220;Paul has confirmed his ignorance via this ordeal,&#8221; Mrs Martin said. </p>
<p>No charges were brought opposite Mr Martin in court, but he was done to leave Gaza on the orders of Hamas. </p>
<p>He has been banned from returning to Palestinian territory, together with the West Bank, Hamas said. </p>
<p>&#8220;My recover is a good feat for the right of reporters to be means to cover formidable stories in a intrepid and correct approach but being theme to arrest, or worse at the hands of a organisation that dislikes their journalism,&#8221; Mr Martin said. </p>
<p>He thanked people who helped secure his release. </p>
<p><b>&#8216;Defamation&#8217;</b></p>
<p>The publisher and film-maker was handed over to a commission from the British consulate and driven in a tactful car to the Erez channel with Israel, BBC Gaza match Jon Donnison says. </p>
<p>Mr Martin was creatively hold for dual weeks. Hamas afterwards voiced his apprehension would be lengthened to a month. </p>
<p>Senior Hamas personality Mahmud al-Zahar hold a headlines discussion to make known the recover at his home in Gaza. </p>
<p>&#8220;After final the investigation, it was found that Paul Martin has been found guilty of being an representative for Israel,&#8221; he said. </p>
<p>Mr Martin &#8220;was operative on shaming the picture of the Palestinian people by observant that they filch weapons by tunnels&#8221;, the Associated Press reported. </p>
<p>He pronounced Mr Martin was right away barred from entering all Palestinian territory, nonetheless Hamas management does not magnify to the West Bank, that is run by the opposition Fatah movement. </p>
<p>Hamas took carry out of Gaza in 2007 after winning elections there in 2006.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Extradition over Auschwitz theft</title>
		<link>http://www.mydailyglobalnews.com/extradition-over-auschwitz-theft/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mydailyglobalnews.com/extradition-over-auschwitz-theft/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:44:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[daily news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Europe]]></category>
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46949000/jpg/_46949348_aushwitzsig466.jpg" width="466" height="220" alt="Arbeit Macht Frei sign" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0">
				<div class="cap">Hundreds of thousands of people passed under the sign to their deaths</div>
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<p class="first"><b>A court in Stockholm has ruled that a Swedish man can be extradited to Poland to face trial over the theft of a sign from the Auschwitz death camp.</b><p>Investigators accuse Anders Hogstrom, 34, of instigating the theft of the infamous Arbeit Macht Frei sign from the camp gates last December. </p><p>The sign was recovered shortly afterwards, cut into three pieces. </p><p>Mr Hogstrom, 34, a former neo-Nazi leader, is likely to appeal against his extradition, his lawyer said. </p><p>Five Polish men have already been arrested over the theft. </p><p>The sign, which weighs 40kg (90lb), was half-unscrewed, half-torn from above the death camp's gate. </p><p>The 5m (16ft) wrought iron sign - the words on which translate as "Work sets you free" - symbolises for many the atrocities of Nazi Germany. </p><p>The theft caused outrage in Israel, Poland and around the world. More than a million people - 90% of them Jews - were murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz in occupied Poland during World War II.
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/46949000/jpg/_46949348_aushwitzsig466.jpg" width="466" height="220" alt="Arbeit Macht Frei sign" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></p>
<div class="cap">Hundreds of thousands of people upheld underneath the pointer to their deaths</div>
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<p>		<br clear="all"/></p>
<p class="first"><b>A justice in Stockholm has ruled that a Swedish male can be extradited to Poland to face hearing over the burglary of a pointer from the Auschwitz genocide camp.</b>
<p>Investigators credit Anders Hogstrom, 34, of instigating the burglary of the barbarous Arbeit Macht Frei pointer from the stay gates final December. </p>
<p>The pointer was recovered before long afterwards, cut in to 3 pieces. </p>
<p>Mr Hogstrom, 34, a former neo-Nazi leader, is expected to interest opposite his extradition, his counsel said. </p>
<p>Five Polish group have already been arrested over the theft. </p>
<p>The sign, that weighs 40kg (90lb), was half-unscrewed, half-torn from on top of the genocide camp&#8217;s gate. </p>
<p>The 5m (16ft) wrought iron pointer &#8211; the difference on that interpret as &#8220;Work sets you free&#8221; &#8211; symbolises for most the atrocities of Nazi Germany. </p>
<p>The burglary caused snub in Israel, Poland and around the world. More than a million people &#8211; 90% of them Jews &#8211; were murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz in assigned Poland during World War II.</p>
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		<title>Ferguson issues Rooney challenge</title>
		<link>http://www.mydailyglobalnews.com/ferguson-issues-rooney-challenge/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mydailyglobalnews.com/ferguson-issues-rooney-challenge/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:30:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Man Utd]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8561285.stm</guid>
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47453000/jpg/_47453853_ronny_rooney_graphic466.jpg" width="466" height="282" alt="Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0">
				
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<p class="first"><b>Sir Alex Ferguson has challenged Wayne Rooney to surpass Cristiano Ronaldo's 42-goal season for Manchester United.</b><p>England striker Rooney reached 30 with two against AC Milan as United beat them 4-0 to send them crashing out of the Champions League 7-2 on aggregate. </p><p>"That has to be his goal now doesn't it?" said Ferguson referring to Ronaldo's 42-goal tally in 2007-08. </p><p>However, Rooney said: "I'm delighted to get two more goals but I haven't set a target. I just want to keep scoring." </p><p>The 24-year-old, who also scored twice in the first leg in Milan, added: "Overall, it was a great result and we are delighted to get through. </p><p>"The first goal was vital. We set out to get an early goal to kill the game off and when we got it we shattered Milan's confidence. </p><p>"That was the major turning point. Now we can just look forward to the quarter-finals draw [on 19 March] and see how it goes from there. </p><p>"There is no preference. They are all difficult games at this stage of the competition."</p>
	

	
		    
			    
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			                            ROONEY'S UNITED GOAL RECORD
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			                    <div class="mva"><div class="bull">09-10: <b>30 </b> (so far this season)</div>


<div class="bull">08-09: <b>17</b></div>


<div class="bull">07-08: <b>18</b></div>


<div class="bull">06-07: <b>23</b></div>


<div class="bull">05-06: <b>19</b></div>


<div class="bull">04-05: <b>17</b></div>


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<p>Former team-mate David Beckham, currently on loan from La Galaxy to AC Milan, hailed Rooney as one of the best players in the world after his latest performance. </p><p>The veteran England midfielder Beckham said: "Wayne is such an exceptional talent. </p><p>"Without a doubt he is one of the best players, if not the best, in the world at the moment with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi." </p><p>Ferguson added: "Wayne continued tonight what he has done all season - he was absolutely sensational. </p><p>"(But) it was a marvellous performance from all my players, especially in the second half when our second goal effectively ended the contest. </p><p>"When we play with that tempo we're very difficult for anybody to play against.</p>




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<p>"Ji-Sung Park, in particular, showed sacrifice, intelligence and discipline and we needed that against [Milan midfielder] Andrea Pirlo." </p><p>Asked who he would like to face in the last eight of the competition, Ferguson added: "With the kind of team I've got, it doesn't matter who we get." </p><p>Beckham, despite his disappointment on the night, admitted he will remember the occasion for a long time thanks to the rapturous reception he received from United's supporters on his return to Old Trafford. </p><p>"It was a disappointing night because we lost the game, but returning here is always special," he said. "It was an unbelievable reception I got, incredible, and I have to say thank you. </p><p>"If this is my last appearance at Old Trafford, I'll take the memory of the fans away with me - they were incredible. </p><p>"Of course I now want United to go on and win it. They deserve it."</p>

	
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47450000/jpg/_47450706_beckhamscarfwave226170pa.jpg" width="226" height="170" alt="David Beckham wearing a green and gold scarf at the end of the game at Old Trafford" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0">
				<div class="cap">David Beckham put on a protestor's scarf at the end of the game</div>
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<p>Beckham left the field wearing a green and gold scarf thrown to him by a fan protesting against the Glazer family, who own the club, but he denied that meant he is anti-Glazer. </p><p>"I'm a Manchester United fan. I saw the scarf there, I put it round my neck," he said. "It's the old colours of United, that's all I knew. </p><p>"To be honest it's not my business. I support the club. I always have done and I always will do. </p><p>"It's nothing to do with me the way everything is run, that's to do with other people but I'm a United fan and I will always support them. </p><p>"Obviously you can hear it week in and week out. There's always protests going on. Let's hope it gets sorted out." </p><p>Milan coach Leonardo, meanwhile, admitted his side had simply been outclassed at Old Trafford.</p>
	

	
		    
			    
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            Great second half performance by United, it was a professional job they did tonight
            
        
        
    
    



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			                    <div class="mva">
	<div class="mva">matthew</div>


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<p>"I guess we can analyse the game in many ways, but the one thing we cannot deny is the performance of United," said the Brazilian. "They played a truly great game. </p><p>"Conceding a goal so early made a comeback even more complicated for us. </p><p>"In the first leg we played an equal match. We lost but we dominated for some periods. Today was different. </p><p>"We have some problems but United is a very strong team, they can use your mistakes in the best way. They are very clinical and that is what you have to be in this competition."
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47453000/jpg/_47453853_ronny_rooney_graphic466.jpg" width="466" height="282" alt="Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></p></div>
<p>		<br clear="all"/></p>
<p class="first"><b>Sir Alex Ferguson has challenged Wayne Rooney to transcend Cristiano Ronaldo&#8217;s 42-goal deteriorate for Manchester United.</b>
<p>England striker Rooney reached thirty with dual opposite AC Milan as United kick them 4-0 to send them crashing out of the Champions League 7-2 on aggregate. </p>
<p>&#8220;That has to be his idea right divided doesn&#8217;t it?&#8221; pronounced Ferguson referring to Ronaldo&#8217;s 42-goal total in 2007-08. </p>
<p>However, Rooney said: &#8220;I&#8217;m gay to get dual some-more goals but I haven&#8217;t set a target. I only wish to keep scoring.&#8221; </p>
<p>The 24-year-old, who additionally scored twice in the initial leg in Milan, added: &#8220;Overall, it was a good outcome and we have been gay to get through. </p>
<p>&#8220;The initial idea was vital. We set out to get an early idea to kill the diversion off and when we got it we cracked Milan&#8217;s confidence. </p>
<p>&#8220;That was the vital branch point. Now we can only demeanour brazen to the quarter-finals pull [on nineteen March] and see how it goes from there. </p>
<p>&#8220;There is no preference. They have been all formidable games at this theatre of the competition.&#8221;</p>
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			                            ROONEY&#8217;S UNITED GOAL RECORD
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<div class="mva">
<div class="bull">09-10: <b>30 </b> (so far this season)</div>
<div class="bull">08-09: <b>17</b></div>
<div class="bull">07-08: <b>18</b></div>
<div class="bull">06-07: <b>23</b></div>
<div class="bull">05-06: <b>19</b></div>
<div class="bull">04-05: <b>17</b></div>
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<p>Former team-mate David Beckham, right away on loan from La Galaxy to AC Milan, hailed Rooney as one of the most appropriate players in the universe after his ultimate performance. </p>
<p>The maestro England midfielder Beckham said: &#8220;Wayne is such an well-developed talent. </p>
<p>&#8220;Without a disbelief he is one of the most appropriate players, if not the best, in the universe at the impulse with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.&#8221; </p>
<p>Ferguson added: &#8220;Wayne one after another tonight what he has finished all deteriorate &#8211; he was positively sensational. </p>
<p>&#8220;(But) it was a noble opening from all my players, generally in the second half when the second idea effectively finished the contest. </p>
<p>&#8220;When we fool around with which dash we&#8217;re really formidable for anybody to fool around against.</p>
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<p>&#8220;Ji-Sung Park, in particular, showed sacrifice, comprehension and fortify and we indispensable which opposite [Milan midfielder] Andrea Pirlo.&#8221; </p>
<p>Asked who he would similar to to face in the final 8 of the competition, Ferguson added: &#8220;With the kind of group I&#8217;ve got, it doesn&#8217;t make a difference who we get.&#8221; </p>
<p>Beckham, notwithstanding his beating on the night, certified he will recollect the arise for a prolonged time interjection to the rapturous accepting he perceived from United&#8217;s supporters on his lapse to Old Trafford. </p>
<p>&#8220;It was a unsatisfactory night since we mislaid the game, but returning here is regularly special,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It was an unimaginable accepting I got, incredible, and I have to contend appreciate you. </p>
<p>&#8220;If this is my final coming at Old Trafford, I&#8217;ll take the mental recall of the fans divided with me &#8211; they were incredible. </p>
<p>&#8220;Of march I right divided wish United to go on and win it. They merit it.&#8221;</p>
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				<img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47450000/jpg/_47450706_beckhamscarfwave226170pa.jpg" width="226" height="170" alt="David Beckham wearing a immature and bullion headband at the finish of the diversion at Old Trafford" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></p>
<div class="cap">David Beckham put on a protestor&#8217;s headband at the finish of the game</div>
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<p>Beckham left the margin wearing a immature and bullion headband thrown to him by a air blower protesting opposite the Glazer family, who own the club, but he denied which meant he is anti-Glazer. </p>
<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m a Manchester United fan. I saw the headband there, I put it turn my neck,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s the old colours of United, that&#8217;s all I knew. </p>
<p>&#8220;To be honest it&#8217;s not my business. I await the club. I regularly have finished and I regularly will do. </p>
<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s zero to do with me the approach all is run, that&#8217;s to do with alternative people but I&#8217;m a United air blower and I will regularly await them. </p>
<p>&#8220;Obviously you can listen to it week in and week out. There&#8217;s regularly protests going on. Let&#8217;s idea it gets sorted out.&#8221; </p>
<p>Milan manager Leonardo, meanwhile, certified his side had simply been outclassed at Old Trafford.</p>
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			                            606: DEBATE
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<p>			<b></p>
<p>            Great second half opening by United, it was a veteran pursuit they did tonight</p>
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<div class="mva">matthew</div>
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<p>&#8220;I theory we can break down into parts the diversion in most ways, but the one thing we cannot repudiate is the opening of United,&#8221; pronounced the Brazilian. &#8220;They played a indeed good game. </p>
<p>&#8220;Conceding a idea so early done a quip even some-more difficult for us. </p>
<p>&#8220;In the initial leg we played an next to match. We mislaid but we dominated for a little periods. Today was different. </p>
<p>&#8220;We have a little problems but United is a really clever team, they can make use of your mistakes in the most appropriate way. They have been really clinical and which is what you have to be in this competition.&#8221;</p>
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		<title>Biden tries to ease Mid-East row</title>
		<link>http://www.mydailyglobalnews.com/biden-tries-to-ease-mid-east-row/</link>
		<comments>http://www.mydailyglobalnews.com/biden-tries-to-ease-mid-east-row/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:19:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[daily news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[global news]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Middle East]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[news]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8561998.stm</guid>
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	<p class="caption">Mr Biden said Israeli plans undermined trust needed for talks</p>
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<p class="first"><b>US Vice-President Joe Biden says there must be no delay in resuming Mid-East peace talks, despite a row over Israeli plans for new homes in East Jerusalem.</b><p>Mr Biden repeated his criticism of the timing of the building decision, but praised the response of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the controversy. </p><p>He also stressed that the United States had "no better friend than Israel". </p><p>The Palestinian Authority earlier said talks would be "very difficult" if the plans for the homes were not rescinded. </p><p></p>
	

	
		    
			    
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			<b>The statement is unacceptable because it talks about an error in timing and not the error in substance, which is the continuation of settlements that must stop</b>
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	<div>Saeb Erekat<br />Chief Palestinian negotiator</div>


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<p>President Mahmoud Abbas informed Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa that he had "demanded that the Americans help us revoke this order" at a meeting with Mr Biden in Ramallah on Wednesday, chief negotiator Saeb Erekat told the BBC. </p><p>Earlier, Mr Moussa said the Palestinians had decided not to take part. </p><p>Both sides had only agreed on Monday to hold indirect, "proximity talks" in a bid to restart the peace process, which has been stalled for more than a year. </p><p><b>'Willing partners'</b></p><p>In a speech at Tel Aviv University on Thursday, Mr Biden said the US had "no better friend in the community of nations than Israel" and that their relationship was "impervious to any shifts in either country, and in either country's partisan politics". </p><p>But, he added, the decision by the Jerusalem municipality to approve the 1,600 new housing units in the settlement of Ramat Shlomo had "undermined the trust required for productive negotiations" and warranted his unequivocal condemnation. </p><p></p>
	

	
		    
			    
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			                            <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47453000/jpg/_47453361_-37.jpg" align="right" width="66" height="66" alt="Paul Wood" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0">
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			                    <div class="mva"><b>By Paul Wood <br />BBC News, Jerusalem</b></div>
			                
			                     
			                    <div class="mva"><br /></div>
			                
			                     
			                    <div class="mva">Mr Biden was careful to praise Mr Netanyahu's statement that a mechanism would be put in place to make sure future announcements of such building did not come at sensitive moments during the peace process. And he emphasised that building would not take place at Ramat Shlomo for several years.</div>
			                
			                     
			                    <div class="mva"><p>It seems that the White House had decided to try to avoid another damaging and protracted tussle with the Israeli prime minister about settlements. After all, Israel came out on top in the last test of wills - agreeing to something far less than the total settlement freeze that Washington and the Palestinians had been demanding.</p><p>The particular formula put forward by Israel for Ramat Shlomo - and seemingly accepted by the US - still leaves the Palestinians in a very difficult position.
    
         
        
        
            
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            Can the US broker peace?
            
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<p>"Sometimes only a friend can deliver the hardest truth," he told the audience. </p><p>However, the US vice-president said he also appreciated the response of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, "who announced this morning that he is putting in place a process to prevent this sort of occurrence, and who clarified that the beginning of actual construction would likely take several years". </p><p>"That's significant because it gives negotiations the time to resolve this as well as other obstacles," Mr Biden said. </p><p>Close to 500,000 Jews live in more than 100 settlements built since Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. They are illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this. </p><p>Mr Biden warned Israeli leaders that in President Mahmoud Abbas and his Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad, they "finally have willing partners who share the goal of peace between two states". </p><p>"Their commitment to peace is an opportunity that must be seized." </p><p>He said Washington would continue to hold both sides accountable for any statements or actions that inflamed tensions and prejudiced the outcome of the indirect talks brokered by the US special envoy, George Mitchell. </p><p>"The most important thing is for these talks to go forward and go forward promptly and go forward in good faith," he added. "We can't delay because when progress is postponed, extremists exploit our differences." </p><p><b>'Crisis ended'</b></p><p>Mr Abbas has refused to resume direct negotiations with Israel for 17 months because of its refusal to put a complete stop to the expansion of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. </p><p>In November, Israel announced a 10-month suspension of new building in the West Bank, under heavy US pressure. But it considers areas within the Jerusalem municipality as its territory and thus not subject to the restrictions. </p><p></p>
	

	
		    
			    
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<p>Tuesday's announcement by the Israeli interior ministry that the Jerusalem authorities had approved the expansion of Ramat Shlomo overshadowed the visit by Mr Biden, the highest ranking Obama administration official yet to go to the region. </p><p>On Thursday morning, Mr Netanyahu telephoned the vice-president and "expressed his regret for the unfortunate timing" of the decision. </p><p>"Both agreed the crisis was behind them," his office said. </p><p>Mr Netanyahu reiterated that he had not been aware of the announcement, and said he had summoned Interior Minister Eli Yishai to reprimand him. </p><p>The final approval process for the settlement would probably take more than a year, with construction starting several years from now, he said. </p><p>Mr Erekat dismissed Mr Netanyahu's statement, saying it was "unacceptable because it talks about an error in timing and not the error in substance". </p><p>"All decisions regarding settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem should be cancelled," he told AFP news agency. </p><p></p>
	

	
		    
			    
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			                            POINTS OF TENSION IN JERUSALEM
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			                    <div class="mva"><div class="bull"><b>1 Gilo:</b> 850 homes approved for publication and planning objections in Nov 2009</div>


<div class="bull"><b>2 Pisgat Zeev:</b> 600 homes approved for publication and planning objections in Jan 2010</div>


<div class="bull"><b>3 Sheikh Jarrah: </b>Several Palestinian families evicted in past 18 months to make way for Jewish settlers after court ruled in ownership dispute</div>


<div class="bull"><b>4 Ramat Shlomo:</b> 1,600 homes approved for publication and planning objections in Mar 2009</div>


<div class="bull"><b>5 Silwan: </b>Demolition orders on 88 Palestinian homes built without difficult-to-get permits - Israel planning controversial renewal project</div>


<div class="bull"><b>6. West Bank barrier:</b> Making Palestinian movement between West Bank and Jerusalem harder - Israel says it's for security</div>


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			<img name="holdingImage" class="holding" src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47452000/jpg/_47452676_jex_629420_de34-1.jpg" alt="US Vice-President Joe Biden"/></p>
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<p class="caption">Mr Biden pronounced Israeli skeleton undermined certitude indispensable for talks</p>
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<p class="first"><b>US Vice-President Joe Biden says there contingency be no check in resuming Mid-East assent talks, notwithstanding a row over Israeli skeleton for brand brand brand new homes in East Jerusalem.</b>
<p>Mr Biden steady his critique of the timing of the bureau office bureau office building decision, but praised the reply of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the controversy. </p>
<p>He additionally stressed which the United States had &#8220;no improved crony than Israel&#8221;. </p>
<p>The Palestinian Authority progressing pronounced talks would be &#8220;very difficult&#8221; if the skeleton for the homes were not rescinded. </p>
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			<b>The matter is unsuitable given it talks about an blunder in timing and not the blunder in substance, which is the check of settlements which contingency stop</b><br />
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<div>Saeb Erekat<br/>Chief Palestinian negotiator</div>
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<p>President Mahmoud Abbas supportive Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa which he had &#8220;demanded which the Americans assistance us devaluate this order&#8221; at a assembly with Mr Biden in Ramallah on Wednesday, arch adjudicator Saeb Erekat told the BBC. </p>
<p>Earlier, Mr Moussa pronounced the Palestinians had motionless not to take part. </p>
<p>Both sides had usually concluded on Monday to reason indirect, &#8220;proximity talks&#8221; in a bid to restart the assent process, which has been stalled for some-more than a year. </p>
<p><b>&#8216;Willing partners&#8217;</b></p>
<p>In a debate at Tel Aviv University on Thursday, Mr Biden pronounced the US had &#8220;no improved crony in the village of nations than Israel&#8221; and which their attribute was &#8220;impervious to any shifts in possibly country, and in possibly country&#8217;s narrow-minded politics&#8221;. </p>
<p>But, he added, the preference by the Jerusalem urban area to authorize the 1,600 brand brand brand new housing units in the allotment of Ramat Shlomo had &#8220;undermined the certitude compulsory for prolific negotiations&#8221; and fitting his undeniable condemnation. </p>
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			                            ANALYSIS
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<div class="mva"><b>By Paul Wood <br/>BBC News, Jerusalem</b></div>
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<div class="mva">Mr Biden was clever to regard Mr Netanyahu&#8217;s matter which a resource would be put in place to have certain destiny announcements of such bureau office bureau office building did not come at supportive moments during the assent process. And he emphasised which bureau office bureau office building would not take place at Ramat Shlomo for multiform years.</div>
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<p>It seems which the White House had motionless to try to equivocate an additional deleterious and long scuffle with the Israeli budding apportion about settlements. After all, Israel came out on tip in the last exam of wills &#8211; similar to something far reduction than the sum allotment solidify which Washington and the Palestinians had been demanding.</p>
<p>The sold regulation put brazen by Israel for Ramat Shlomo &#8211; and clearly supposed by the US &#8211; still leaves the Palestinians in a really formidable position.</p>
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<p>&#8220;Sometimes usually a crony can broach the hardest truth,&#8221; he told the audience. </p>
<p>However, the US vice-president pronounced he additionally appreciated the reply of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, &#8220;who voiced this sunrise which he is putting in place a routine to forestall this arrange of occurrence, and who simplified which the commencement of tangible bureau building a whole would expected take multiform years&#8221;. </p>
<p>&#8220;That&#8217;s poignant given it gives negotiations the time to finalise this as great as alternative obstacles,&#8221; Mr Biden said. </p>
<p>Close to 500,000 Jews live in some-more than 100 settlements built given Israel&#8217;s 1967 function of the West Bank and East Jerusalem. They have been bootleg underneath general law, nonetheless Israel disputes this. </p>
<p>Mr Biden warned Israeli leaders which in President Mahmoud Abbas and his Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad, they &#8220;finally have peaceful partners who share the idea of assent in in between dual states&#8221;. </p>
<p>&#8220;Their joining to assent is an event which contingency be seized.&#8221; </p>
<p>He pronounced Washington would go on to reason both sides underneath obligation for any statements or actions which delirious tensions and biased the result of the surreptitious talks brokered by the US special envoy, George Mitchell. </p>
<p>&#8220;The many critical thing is for these talks to go brazen and go brazen soon and go brazen in great faith,&#8221; he added. &#8220;We can&#8217;t check given when swell is postponed, extremists feat the differences.&#8221; </p>
<p><b>&#8216;Crisis ended&#8217;</b></p>
<p>Mr Abbas has refused to resume approach negotiations with Israel for seventeen months given of the warding off to put a finish stop to the enlargement of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. </p>
<p>In November, Israel voiced a 10-month cessation of brand brand brand new bureau office bureau office building in the West Bank, underneath complicated US pressure. But it considers areas inside of the Jerusalem urban area as the domain and to illustrate not theme to the restrictions. </p>
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			                            <img src="http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47446000/jpg/_47446094_ramatshlomoap226b.jpg" width="226" height="170" alt="Ramat Shlomo" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0">
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<p>            In the shade of a allotment </p></div>
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<p>            An Israeli allotment in close-up</p></div>
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<p>            Middle East &#8216;haunted by the past&#8217;</p></div>
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<p>Tuesday&#8217;s proclamation by the Israeli interior method which the Jerusalem authorities had authorized the enlargement of Ramat Shlomo overshadowed the revisit by Mr Biden, the top ranking Obama administration department central nonetheless to go to the region. </p>
<p>On Thursday morning, Mr Netanyahu telephoned the vice-president and &#8220;expressed his bewail for the hapless timing&#8221; of the decision. </p>
<p>&#8220;Both concluded the predicament was at the back of them,&#8221; his bureau said. </p>
<p>Mr Netanyahu reiterated which he had not been wakeful of the announcement, and pronounced he had summoned Interior Minister Eli Yishai to rebuke him. </p>
<p>The last capitulation routine for the allotment would substantially take some-more than a year, with bureau building a whole starting multiform years from now, he said. </p>
<p>Mr Erekat discharged Mr Netanyahu&#8217;s statement, observant it was &#8220;unacceptable given it talks about an blunder in timing and not the blunder in substance&#8221;. </p>
<p>&#8220;All decisions per settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem should be cancelled,&#8221; he told AFP headlines agency. </p>
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			                            POINTS OF TENSION IN JERUSALEM
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<div class="bull"><b>1 Gilo:</b> 850 homes authorized for announcement and formulation objections in November 2009</div>
<div class="bull"><b>2 Pisgat Zeev:</b> 600 homes authorized for announcement and formulation objections in January 2010</div>
<div class="bull"><b>3 Sheikh Jarrah: </b>Several Palestinian family groups evicted in past eighteen months to have approach for Jewish settlers after justice ruled in tenure dispute</div>
<div class="bull"><b>4 Ramat Shlomo:</b> 1,600 homes authorized for announcement and formulation objections in March 2009</div>
<div class="bull"><b>5 Silwan: </b>Demolition orders on 88 Palestinian homes built but difficult-to-get permits &#8211; Israel formulation argumentative renovation project</div>
<div class="bull"><b>6. West Bank barrier:</b> Making Palestinian transformation in in between West Bank and Jerusalem harder &#8211; Israel says it&#8217;s for security</div>
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