BBC Monitoring International Reports articles from February 2007

BBC Monitoring International Reports archives from February 2007

BBC Monitoring News Diary for Wednesday 28 February 2007.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Main stories at 0200 gmt CUBA: Watching for reactions after President Fidel Castro made first live-broadcast since undergoing stomach surgery some six months ago; Castro spoke by telephone...

Japan, North Korea aim for normalization talks on 7-8 March.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by Japanese news agency Kyodo Tokyo, 28 February: Japan is negotiating with North Korea to hold a working group meeting on normalizing bilateral relations on 7-8...

(Refile) Japan, North Korea aim for normalization talks on 7-8 March.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by Japanese news agency Kyodo Tokyo, 28 February: Japan is negotiating with North Korea to hold a working group meeting on normalizing bilateral relations on 7-8...

Four dead, more than 30 injured in train derailment in China.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Urumqi, 28 February: At least four passengers were killed and more than 30 injured in a train...

Cuba's Castro calls Chavez during Venezuelan president's talk show.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Radio Nacional de Venezuela website on 27 February Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias held a telephone conversation with Cuban President Fidel Castro during the 269th...

South Korean Afghan mission to go on despite loss of soldier.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap SEOUL, 28 February: South Korea vowed Wednesday [28 February] to keep up efforts to support the US-led coalition forces in...

Japan, N Korea to hold talks on normalizing ties 7-8 March.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by Japanese news agency Kyodo Tokyo, 28 February: Japan and North Korea have agreed to hold working-group talks March 7-8 in Hanoi on normalizing bilateral ties in...

China's NPC dismisses two members linked to corruption.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 28 February: A former provincial-rank official and a well-connected businessman were...

BBC Monitoring quotes from Russian press on Wednesday 28 February 2007.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The following is a selection of quotes from articles published in the 28 February editions of Russian newspapers, as available to the BBC at 2300 gmt on 27 February 2007. Iran Vremya...

Uganda: Plague outbreak claims nine in western region.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Alfred Wasike entitled "Plague kills nine people in Masindi" published by Ugandan newspaper The New Vision website on 28 February A plague, an infectious killer disease,...

Uganda said talking to Somali Islamists over troops' deployment.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report by Felix Osike entitled "Uganda talks to Islamic Court militia" published by Ugandan newspaper The New Vision website on 28 February President Yoweri Museveni last night...

Ugandan government urges rebels to renew cease-fire pact.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Emmy Allio, John Odyek and Joyce Namutebi entitled "Government woos LRA back to talks" published by Ugandan newspaper The New Vision website on 28 February The government...

Kazakh leader starts state-of-the-nation address.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report by Kazakh Khabar TV on 28 February Right now, the head of state, Nursultan Nazarbayev, is addressing a joint session of both parliamentary chambers with his annual...

Tanzania: Vaccines against Rift Valley fever arrive from South Africa.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of unattributed report entitled "RVF jabs sent out to regions" published by Tanzanian newspaper Daily News website on 26 February The first batch of vaccines against Rift Valley Fever...

Summary of Russian press for Wednesday 28 February 2007.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Kommersant 1. Petr Netreba and Dmitriy Butrin article comments on Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov's visit to Japan. "Fradkov flooded Japan with investment projects", such as...

Provisional poll results indicate victory for Senegalese incumbent.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Radio France Internationale on 28 February [Presenter] According to provisional results of Senegal's presidential elections outgoing President Abdoulaye Wade has won an...

Tanzania: State admits "doing little" to popularize new information bill.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Adam Ihucha entitled "Government has done little on media bill-minister" published Tanzanian newspaper The Guardian website on 27 February The government has said it has...

Uganda reportedly to deploy troops in Somalia 28 February.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report by Rodney Muhumuza and Grace Matsiko entitled "UPDF leave for Somalia today" published by Ugandan newspaper Daily Monitor website on 28 February The deployment of...

Kazakhstan may see its GDP indicator of 2000 double in 2008 - president.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency Astana, 28 February: The set goal of doubling Kazakhstan's GDP indicator of the year 2000 can be achieved as early as in 2008, the head of...

Summary of Uzbek Namangan TV Asr news 1430 gmt 27 Feb 07.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Presenter: Shaxlo Soliyeva 1. 0000 Farming news. A video report says that many private farms in Namangan Region didn't meet their targets on grain and cotton in 2006. It reports that over...

Kenya: Somali pirates reportedly free four hostages.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Susan Anyangu and Caroline Mango entitled "Four pirates arrested in Somalia" published by Kenyan newspaper The Standard website on 28 February Four of 10 people who...

Kazakhstan to remain state with presidential form of government - leader.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Astana, 28 February: Kazakhstan will remain a country with a presidential form of government, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said at...

BBC Monitoring Pan-Arab TV headlines 28 Feb 07.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) AL-ARABIYA TV 0400 GMT: Al-Arabiya TV correspondent in West Bank Israeli troops raid again West Bank town of Nablus... Iraqi government says to host international conference in Baghdad next...

BBC Monitoring quotes from China, Taiwan press 28 Feb 07.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The following is a selection of quotes from editorials and commentaries carried in 27-28 February 2007 website editions of mainland Chinese, Hong Kong and Taiwan newspapers available to BBC...

New Zealand boosts aid for Sudan, Nepal.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of news release carried by New Zealand government website on 28 February New Zealand is to provide 1m dollars [approx 700,000 US] for humanitarian assistance in Sudan and 500,000...

Summary of Iranian Gorgan radio news in Turkmen 1600 gmt 27 Feb 07.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) 1. 0000 News headlines 2. 0100 Iran's supreme leader has approved new composition of Expediency Council. 3. 0225 President Ahmadinezhad, addressing a forum in Tehran today, praised...

Kazakh leader orders to build 200 schools, hospitals over next three years.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency Astana, 28 February: Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has ordered to build 200 schools and hospitals in the republic over the next...

China's top legislature ratifies treaty defining borders with Vietnam, Laos.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) ["China's Top Legislature Ratifies Treaty on National Borders With Vietnam And Laos" - Xinhua...

Strong wind overturns train in China's Xinjiang; no casualties reported "so far".
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) ["Train Overturned by Strong Wind in NW China" - Xinhua headline] Urumqi, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) - At...

Apparent text of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's speech at awards ceremony.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) [Apparent text of speech by PRC Premier Wen Jiabao at state science and technology awards ceremony in Beijing...

Xinhua article on China's progress in building democracy, legal system in 2006.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) ["Special Article Ushering in the Two Sessions" by Xinhua reporters Zou Shengwen, Tian Yu and Zhang Zongtang:...

China railways minister sends task force to fatal derailment in Xinjiang.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) ["Strong Wind Derails Train, Leaving More Than 30 Casualties in NW China" - Xinhua headline] ...

BBC Monitoring quotes from Indonesian press 28 Feb 07.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The following is a selection of quotes from editorials and commentaries published in 28 February editions of Indonesian newspapers available to BBC Monitoring: Global warming Jakarta's...

Pakistan seminary girls ask Islamabad "to rebuild" mosques or face "action".
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Pakistani newspaper Dawn website on 28 February [Report by Dawn correspondent: "Madressah girls vow to continue occupation"] ISLAMABAD, Feb 27: Students of the...

Pakistan said deploying additional forces along Afghan border in Waziristan.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Pakistani newspaper Dawn website on 28 February [Report by Dawn correspondent: "More border troops being deployed: Aurakzai"] PESHAWAR, Feb 27: NWFP Governor NWFP...

Bangladesh paper reports on business interests of foreign companies.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Bangladeshi newspaper New Age website on 28 February The controversial UK-based Asia Energy and a little-known South Korean investment company, Luxon Global, continued...

Eritrea reportedly imports arms from Pakistan, Ukraine.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by Eritrean opposition Awate.com website on 27 February Sources inform Gedab News that ships loaded with arms cargo have been arriving from Pakistan and former...

Bangladesh reportedly unwilling to export its coal - paper.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report by Bangladeshi newspaper New Age website on 28 February Energy adviser Tapan Chowdhury on Tuesday [27 February] claimed that the proposed coal policy would be finalised...

Ugandan writer calls for resumption of Juba peace talks.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of commentary by Opiyo Oloya entitled "Get back to the drawing board on Juba talks" published by Ugandan newspaper The New Vision website on 27 February A conference called by Rwot...

Bangladesh fire-damaged TVchannel to resume transmission soon - paper.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report by Bangladeshi newspaper New Age website on 28 February Satellite television channel NTV, the office of which housed in BSEC Building at Karwan Bazar [in Dhaka] was...

Indian foreign secretary holds "very friendly" talks with UN secretary-general.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Indian newspaper The Telegraph on 28 February [Report by K P Nayar: "Six Months To Make Peace With UN Boss"] New York, Feb 27 - Nearly six months after India's nominee...

Nepal press selection list 28 Feb 07.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) THE KATHMANDU POST 1. United Nations secretary-general's special representative to Nepal Ian Martin has warned that constituent assembly elections scheduled to be held by mid-June will have...

Bangladesh press selection list 28 Feb 07.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) DAINIK ITTEFAQ 1. A probe committee submitted its primary report on the fire incident that blazed a building housing two private television centres, while intelligence agencies reportedly...

India, Vietnam set bilateral trade target of 2bn dollars.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Indian news agency PTI New Delhi,StartDateStartDate 27 February: Satisfied with the growth in two-way commerce, India and Vietnam Tuesday set a target of USD two billion...

Pakistan talk show on Islamabad's stand in case of US attack on Iran.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) [Words within double slant lines are in English] Programme: "Capital Talk" Reception: Good Duration of programme: 60 minutes Karachi Geo News television in Urdu at 1500 gmt on...

Ethiopian opposition parties urge government to withdraw troops from Somalia.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report by Ethiopian weekly newspaper The Reporter on 25 February The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces [UEDF], Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement [OFDM], CUD [Coalition for...

Pakistan editorial says Taleban gaining strength due to US's "own follies".
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Pakistani newspaper Pakistan Observer website on 28 February [Editorial: "Taleban's resurgence brings Cheney to Islamabad"] US Vice President Dick Cheney hopped to...

Indigenous groups' strike "cripples" life across Nepal.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Nepalese newspaper The Himalayan Times website on 28 February Kathmandu, [Wednesday] 28 February: Life across the nation was crippled today due to a general strike [bandh]...

North Korea calls on South to resume humanitarian projects.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap [Yonhap headline: "N. Korea Offers To Resume Humanitarian Projects"] PYONGYANG/SEOUL, Feb. 28 (Yonhap) - North Korea...

New Guinean premier pledges to promote peace, change.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report by Radio France Internationale on 28 February [Presenter] Workers returned to work yesterday in Guinea following the appointment of Lansana Kouyate as new prime minister....

Russian interior minister to be replaced shortly - paper.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Russian Ekho Moskvy radio on 28 February [Presenter] Another reshuffle may occur shortly in the Russian leadership. The Gazeta daily reports that Interior Minister Rashid...

First Armenian election bloc applies for registration.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Armenian news agency Arminfo Yerevan, 27 February: The election bloc Impeachment has become the first political force to apply to the Central Electoral Commission [CEC] of...

BBC Monitoring quotes from Iranian press 28 February 2007.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The following is a selection of quotes from editorials and commentaries published in 28 February 2007 editions of Iranian newspapers available to BBC Monitoring at 0530 gmt. Nuclear issue...

Vietnam's foreign minister, Indian leaders hold talks on bilateral cooperation.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by Vietnamese news agency VNA website [VNA report: "India Attaches Importance to Ties With Vietnam"] New Delhi (VNA) -India attaches importance to the...

Four policemen taken hostage in southeast Iran - agency.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report headlined "Armed bandits take four Law Enforcement Force personnel hostage" by Iranian Fars News Agency website Tehran, 28 February: The commander of the country's Law...

Maoist chief wants Parliament to declare Nepal republic.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Nepalese daily newspaper Rajdhani on 28 February Nepalgunj [mid-west Nepal], 27 February: Maoist chairman Prachanda has said that it is possible to end the monarchy and...

Iranian president arrives in Khartoum for Sudanese visit.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad has just arrived in Khartoum, reported Sudan TV 28 February. He was met at the Khartoum International Airport by his host, President Umar al-Bashir,...

Kazakh president pledges responsible energy policy.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency Astana, 28 February: Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has said there was a need to draft a strategy for strengthening Kazakhstan's...

Waziristan local officials claim US warplane "violated" Pakistani airspace.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Pakistani newspaper The News website on 28 February [Report by Mushtaq Yusufzai: "Afghan army, coalition target Pak post"] Peshawar: A joint post of Pakistan Army and...

Armenian opposition parties refuse to go to polls within old bloc.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Armenian news agency Arminfo Yerevan, 26 February: "Our opposition colleagues have turned down the proposal of the People's Party of Armenia [PPA] to run for the...

Ukrainian premier leaves for Germany.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Interfax-Ukraine news agency Kiev, 28 February: Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych today left on a one-day working visit to Germany. As already reported, in...

Deputy foreign minister say US attack against Iranian installations unlikely.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Iranian Mehr news agency The deputy foreign minister for Euro-American affairs has advised the so-called 5+1 group to return to the negotiation table. Speaking to a...

Australian foreign minister mocks opposition on uranium exports.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Radio Australia on 28 February Australia's foreign affairs minister, Alexander Downer, says the country's uranium exports are expected to be worth 700m dollars [approx...

French minister says Airbus restructuring plan essential.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The French minister-delegate in charge of employment, Gerard Larcher, has said the restructuring plan to be presented by Airbus today is essential, while reiterating the French government's...

China's Taiwan spokesman slams pro-independence groups on 2-28 anniversary.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) ["Beijing Accuses Taiwan Pro-Independence Groups of Twisting '2-28 Uprising'" - Xinhua headline] ...

Kazakh president calls for setting up Eurasian economic union.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency Astana, 28 February: Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has proposed setting up a Eurasian economic union. "We propose setting up a...

Kazakh subject detained in Russia with 61 kg of Afghan heroin.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) A citizen of Kazakhstan was detained in Novosibirsk Region following the discovery of 61 kg of heroin, thought to have originated from Afghanistan, Russian ITAR-TASS news agency reported at 1025...

Kazakh president stresses need for WTO accession.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency Astana, 28 February: Kazakhstan's accession to the WTO on favourable conditions is one of the priorities of the government's work, Kazakh...

One killed, 27 others injured in clash in Nepal.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) ["One Killed, 27 Others Injured in Clash in Nepal" - Xinhua headline] Kathmandu, Feb. 28...

European rights commissioner concerned about tortures in Chechnya.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg has said that inmates in Chechnya's remand centres are tortured, Kavkaz-Tsentr news agency reported on 28 February. "Today I...

Sri Lankan Tamil "political prisoners" end hunger strike.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by the TamilNet website on 28 February The Tamil political prisoners at Magazine Prison, Colombo, who started a fast-to-death campaign on 21 February demanding their release,...

Ethiopian police said probing terrorist plots in country.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Ethiopian weekly newspaper The Reporter on 25 February The federal police commissioner, Werkeneh Gebeyehu, has said that even if the sha'biyyah [Eritrean government]...

Vietnamese president, Cambodian king agree to strengthen ties.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by Vietnamese news agency VNA website [VNA report: "Vietnam, Cambodia Determined To Strengthen Relationship"] [Text disseminated as received without OSC...

BBC Monitoring quotes from Afghan press 28 Feb 07.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The following is a selection of quotes from editorials published in 28 February editions of Dari- and Pashto-language Afghan newspapers: Dick Cheney's visit to Kabul Hewad (state-run...

Ugandan writer blames upcoming Commonwealth summit for media crackdown.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Charles Onyango-Obbo entitled "Blame CHOGM for media and parties' crackdown" published by Ugandan newspaper Daily Monitor website on 28 February When the government...

Chechen refugees picket UNHCR office in Azerbaijan.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Azerbaijani news agency Turan Baku, 28 February: About 40 Chechens, who resettled to Azerbaijan after military operations started in Chechnya, picketed the UNHCR office...

Kazakhstan's economic competitiveness should be boosted - president.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency Astana, 28 February: Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has said there is a need to draw up a strategy for ensuring the competitiveness...

Uganda: Acholi traditional leaders to meet in Sudan over stalled peace talks.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report by Samuel O. Egadu, Frank Nyakairu, Mercy Nalugo and Emmanuel Mulondo entitled "Acholi leaders head to Juba to save talks" published by Ugandan newspaper Daily Monitor...

Belarusian ambassador condemns US sanctions.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Washington, 28 February: The US administration has imposed financial and economic sanctions against a group of top Belarusian officials....

President speaks of "very good" Iran-Sudan ties before leaving for Khartoum.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by Iranian news agency IRNA website Tehran, 28 February: President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad said here Wednesday morning [28 February] that Iran-Sudan political relations...

South Korea to send new troops to Iraq amid renewed security concerns.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap Seoul, Feb. 28 (Yonhap) - South Korea held a farewell ceremony on Wednesday for hundreds of troops to be dispatched to Iraq to...

Afghan, ISAF forces kill three Taleban rebels in south.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency Kandahar, 28 February: Three Taleban fighters have been killed in [southern] Zabol Province. Commenting on the...

Malaysian PM arrives in Yemen on three-day visit.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by Malaysian news agency Bernama website [Unattributed report: "Abdullah Arrives In Yemen For Three-day Visit"] SANA'A, Feb 28 (Bernama) - Malaysian Prime...

Iranian president, Ugandan foreign minister discuss ties, cooperation.
February 28, 2007... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by Iranian news agency IRNA website Tehran, 28 February: President Mahmud Ahmadinezhad here Wednesday morning [28 February] called on independent states to extend...