BBC Monitoring International Reports articles from May 2006

BBC Monitoring International Reports archives from May 2006

Non-Aligned Movement meeting closes; five documents issued.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Abdul Muin Majid entitled: "Five documents mark end of NAM-CoB meeting", carried in English by Malaysian news agency Bernama website Putrajaya, 30 May: The curtains fell...

Barbados probes deaths of African migrants thought bound for Canaries.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Caribbean Media Corporation news agency website on 31 May Bridgetown, Barbados: A four-member assessment team from the International Police Organization (Interpol) is in...

Malaysia denies "mistake" in inviting two Palestine groups to forum.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by Malaysian news agency Bernama website Putrajaya, 30 May: Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar Tuesday [30 May] denied that there was a diplomatic slip in...

Turkey brief for Wednesday 31 May 2006.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) News schedule \ Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov arrives, meets Foreign Minister Gul, Premier Erdogan, President Sezer \ King of Sweden continues visit \ Omani National Economy...

Iranian communications expert comments on plan to regulate Persian blogs.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) website Tehran, 31 May: More than 95 per cent of Persian blogs are written in line with national interests; moreover, on sensitive...

Four arrested for murder of aid workers in north Afghanistan.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report by Afghan independent Aina TV on 30 May [Presenter] Armed people killed four people working for the Action Aid organization on the Aqcha - Mangajek highway. Three of...

Turkish TV reports new tension with Greece over boat near disputed islet.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by Turkish NTV television's NTV Online website on 30 May Ankara/Athens: There has been renewed tension between Turkey and Greece in the Aegean, less than a week...

Estonian commentary views conference of European parliamentary speakers.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by TALLINN MOLODJOZH ESTONII (INTERNET VERSION-WWW) IN RUSSIAN 0000 GMT 30 MAY 2006 PAGE NO. P 1 on 30 May [Commentary by Aleksandr Shegedin: "Tallinn Receives Parliament...

Kenyan president condoles Indonesian counterpart over earthquake deaths.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of unattributed report entitled "Kibaki condoles with Indonesians" published by Kenyan opposition newspaper Kenya Times website on 31 May President Mwai Kibaki has sent a message of...

Iraqi TV reports attacks on UK forces, Iraqi army patrols.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Iraqi Al-Sharqiyah TV on 31 May An explosive charge went off while an Iraqi Army military patrol was travelling on a road in the Al-Sabtiyah area in northern Ba'qubah in...

Estonian editorial wants more transparency from presidential candidates.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by TALLINN SL OHTULEHT (INTERNET VERSION-WWW) IN ESTONIAN 0000 GMT 25 MAY 2006 on 25 May [Editorial: "Russian Accent"] Of the proposed presidential candidates, only the...

Estonian commentary reports discussion at 'NATO Society' conference.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by TALLINN MOLODJOZH ESTONII (INTERNET VERSION-WWW) IN RUSSIAN 0000 GMT 29 MAY 2006 PAGE NO. P 5 on 29 May [Commentary by Jevgeni Ashmihmin: "Alliance in the Resort"] ...

Somali president arrives in Libya.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report by Libyan radio on 31 May President of the Republic of Somalia Abdullahi Yusuf [Ahmad], member of the Presidential Council of the Community of the Sahel and Sahara...

USA: Court ruling protecting bloggers' sources hailed as historic.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of press release by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) on 30 May Reporters Without Borders today hailed a Californian appeal court's "historic" decision on 26 May...

UN says HIV/AIDS rates declining in India's Maharashtra, southern states.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Indian news agency PTI United Nations, 31 May: The incidence of HIV/AIDS is declining in the western Indian state of Maharashtra and southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu,...

Latvian commentary examines political implications of Orthodox Patriarch's Visit.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Latvian newspaper Diena on 30 May [Commentary by Askolds Rodins: "Political Religion"] At the invitation of Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, surrounded by a...

Japan protests South Korean ballot boxes on disputed islets.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by Japanese news agency Kyodo Tokyo, 31 May: Japan has filed a protest with South Korea against setting up ballot boxes for absentee voting for Wednesday's...

BBC Monitoring quotes from the African press 31 May.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The following is a selection of quotes from editorials and other material published in the 31 May editions of the African press. Unless otherwise stated, the newspapers are published in English....

World consensus backs Iran's nuclear rights - foreign minister.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Iranian TV news channel on 31 May [Presenter] The Iranian foreign minister has described as a great victory the decisive support of 116 countries for the stances and rights...

Taleban destroy British military vehicle in Afghan south, no casualties.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Pakistan-based Afghan Islamic Press news agency Kandahar, 31 May: A spokesman for the Coalition forces says that a British military vehicle has been destroyed in a clash...

Bangladesh: Watchdog condemns attack on journalists.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of press release by Paris-based organization Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) on 30 May Twenty-five journalists were injured yesterday when members of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist...

"Discontent" over pay reported within Kenyan paramilitary force.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Maxwell Masava entitled "GSU officers grumble over perks" published by Kenyan opposition newspaper Kenya Times website on 31 May Fresh discontent has emerged within the...

Abbas referendum call "unconstitutional" - Palestinian Speaker.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Palestinian radio Voice of Palestine on 31 May Legislative Council Speaker Aziz al-Duwayk has described His Excellency President Mahmud Abbas's call for holding a...

China, Taiwan to open new direct shipping route.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 31 May: Passenger ferry service will begin between another pair of Chinese mainland...

Far-right leader promotes "white" Slovakia on public radio.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from article by "knm" and "hr" entitled "Chief of outlawed fascists spoke about white Slovakia on state radio" published by Slovak newspaper Sme on 29 May Bratislava: Although the...

Austrian officials warn of radical imams, integration problems.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Klaus Stoeger, entitled "'Hate preachers' active' - Interior Ministry warns. Radical imams preaching in 'some mosques' in Austria", published by Austrian newspaper Die Presse...

Czech court confirms prison sentences for three drug-dealers.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by Czech news agency CTK Brno, South Moravia, 31 May: The Supreme Court has ruled that three men who organized smuggling of cocaine from Curacao Island, Lesser...

All attempts to isolate Iran are counterproductive - Russian foreign minister.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Russian news agency RIA Novosti Moscow, 31 May: Moscow believes that the situation around the Iranian nuclear programme will be resolved through negotiations since no...

Taleban claim capture of district in south Afghanistan.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by Afghan independent Pajhwok news agency website Kabul, 31 May: Heavy fighting erupted between Taleban and Afghan police as the former claimed they had occupied...

Official says Chinese parliament chief's four nation visit "fruitful".
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 31 May: China's top legislator Wu Bangguo's four-nation visit to Romania, Moldova, Greece...

Three Bulgarian MPs, chief mufti were communist police agents - ministry.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by the Bulgarian news agency BTA Sofia, 31 May: The Interior Ministry has evidence that three current MPs - Yunal Lyutfi, Krasimir Karakachanov and Petur Beron -...

Karzai, Afghan foreign ministry condemn killing of NGO workers.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by Afghan independent Pajhwok news agency website Kabul, 31 May: President Hamed Karzai has condemned the killing of four staffers of a non-governmental...

German defence minister views Afghan security with "concern".
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by German news agency ddp on 31 May Berlin: Given the latest terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, Federal Defence Minister Franz-Josef Jung (CDU [Christian Democratic Union])...

Kenyan writer censures state over push to curb media freedom.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of commentary by Mbothu Kamau entitled "Media freedom must remain guaranteed" published by Kenyan opposition newspaper Kenya Times website on 31 May Indications from government...

Opposition party accuses authorities of ignoring Georgian Armenians' problems.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report by Armenian news agency Arminfo Yerevan, 30 May: The opposition New Time Party [NDP] staged a rally at Stepan Shaumyan Square in Yerevan today and expressed concern about...

Bangladesh ruling party cadres stop publication of local daily - paper.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of Star report entitled: "BNP cadres force halt of publication on Kushtia daily; press attacked, journos threatened" by Bangladesh newspaper The Daily Star website on 31 May Ruling BNP...

Romania counts on France ratifying EU accession treaty.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by Romanian news agency Rompres Bucharest, 31 May: In a televised interview on Tuesday 30 May, Romanian President Traian Basescu said French President Jacques...

Ukrainian, Russian defence ministers discuss cooperation in Baku.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Interfax-Ukraine news agency Baku, 31 May: Ukraine and Russia have discussed the possibility of launching Ukrainian long-range air defence S-200 and S-300 missiles at...

Kenyan deputy information minister defends Da Vinci movie.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of commentary by Koigi Wamwere, Kenyan assistant minister for information, entitled "Why we should not stop the Da Vinci Code from showing" published by Kenyan newspaper The Standard...

Zimbabwe: Watchdog alarmed by bill to intercept communications.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of press release by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on 30 May New York, 30 May: The Committee to Protect Journalists [CPJ] is alarmed by a bill before...

Libyan authorities arrest 293 infiltrators, deport 90.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Libyan radio on 31 May Sources of the general administration for relations and cooperation at the General People's Committee for Public Security have said that the...

Somalia situation worse than Sarajevo, Kosovo - UN official.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report entitled "Somali refugees crossing into Kenya" published by Kenyan newspaper The Standard website on 31 May The United Nations Special Adviser on Displacement yesterday...

North Korean leader Kim Il-sung's grandmother praised.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by North Korean news agency KCNA Pyongyang, 31 May: Ri Po-ik, born on 31 May, 1876, was an ardent patriot who saw off her children and grandchildren on the road to...

China says technical issues behind deactivation of satellite over Brazil.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Ullisses Campbell: "No Rights to Images", published by Brazilian newspaper Correio Braziliense website on 29 May Due to technical problems, the satellite responsible for...

Rebel Kurd suspect arrested in eastern Turkey.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by Turkish news agency Anatolia Elazig, 31 May: Turkish gendarmerie arrested a woman, wanted by security forces for being a member of the terrorist PKK [Kurdistan...

Oligarchs lesser evil than bureaucrats - Russian opinion poll.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report by Russian news agency Ekho Moskvy Moscow, 31 May: Most Russians believe that state officials abusing office for personal enrichment do much more harm than businessmen...

Belgian minister cancels Afghan visit, postpones troops boost.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Wouter Verschelden, entitled "No extra 300 troops for Afghanistan until December", published by Belgian newspaper De Standaard website on 31 May [Defence Minister] Andre...

Russian foreign minister arrives in Turkey.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by Turkish news agency Anatolia Ankara, 31 May: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Turkish capital of Ankara on Wednesday [31 May]. Lavrov will...

North Korean leaders visit grave of Kim Il-sung's grandmother.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by North Korean news agency KCNA Pyongyang, 31 May: Wreaths were laid before the grave of ardent patriot Ri Po-ik in Mangyongdae Wednesday [31 May] on the occasion...

Taiwan welcomes forthcoming launch of new direct ferry route with China.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Y.F. Low carried in English by Taiwanese Central News Agency website Taipei, 31 May: The government welcomes the launch of a new ferry route between one of Taiwan's...

North Korea reports foreign minister's talks with Chinese counterpart.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by North Korean news agency KCNA Beijing, 30 May: Talks between DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] Foreign Minister Paek Nam-sun and Chinese Foreign...

North Korea lists incidents of US "aerial espionage" in May.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by North Korean news agency KCNA Pyongyang, 31 May: The US imperialists committed at least 170 cases of aerial espionage against the DPRK [Democratic People's...

South Korea to expand aid to Africa.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by South Korean news agency Yonhap Seoul, 31 May: World Bank head Paul Wolfowitz hailed Wednesday [31 May] South Korea's prowess in information technology, saying...

Russia: Switch to digital TV to take five years at best.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Moscow, 31 May: Russia's switch to digital television will take five years at best, head of the Russian TV and Radio Broadcasting Network...

BBC Monitoring Quotes from Pakistan's Urdu Press 31 May 06.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The following is a selection of quotes from editorials published in 31 May editions of Urdu-language Pakistan newspapers available to BBCM. Killings in Kabul Nawa-i-Waqt [Islamabad,...

South Koreans urged not to vote for Grand National Party by pro-North group.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by North Korean news agency KCNA Pyongyang, 31 May: The Federation of Koreans in the US reportedly issued an appeal on 27 May urging the South Korean people not to...

Website reports shoot-out in Russia's Ingushetia.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Ingushetiya.ru website on 31 May 31 May: There has been nothing serious in the village of Nesterovskaya, a duty unit of the Ingush Interior Ministry has said. "There was a...

Ukrainian president's wife discusses charity projects with George Bush's wife.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report by Ukrainian Ukrayinska Pravda website on 31 May During her working visit to the USA, the Ukrainian president's wife, Kateryna Yushchenko, has met the US president's...

Cuba: Reporter jailed after covering government evictions.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of press release by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on 30 May New York, 30 May: The Committee to Protect Journalists [CPJ] condemns the detention of...

Pakistan: Watchdog condemns killing of cameraman.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of press release by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) on 30 May New York, 30 May 2006: The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the killing of Munir Ahmed...

BBC Monitoring Quotes from Israel's Hebrew Press 31 May 06.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The following is a selection of quotes from editorials published in 31 May editions of Hebrew-language Israeli newspapers available to BBCM. Coalition Ma'ariv (centre-right): "From the...

China: World Weekly paper closes, publisher jailed.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post website on 31 May Authorities said yesterday they had shut the illegal World Weekly newspaper and jailed a businessman who...

Chinese official meets delegation from Pakistan People's Party.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 31 May: Ismail Amat, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's...

Iraqi PM distinguishes between two types of militias.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Iraqi Prime Minister Kamil Nuri al-Maliki has announced he has a plan based on the understanding that there were "two types of militias", those who take part in the political process and those...

Chinese premier discusses ties with North Korean foreign minister.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by North Korean news agency KCNA Beijing, 30 May: Premier of the State Council of China Wen Jiabao, who is member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau...

Chinese PM, Indian defence minister review efforts to solve border dispute.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Anil K. Joseph carried by Indian news agency PTI Beijing,StartDateStartDate 31 May: Efforts to find a political settlement to the vexed Sino-Indian boundary dispute by...

Iraqi PM regrets "Arab brothers" stand after power change.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Iraqi Prime Minister Kamil Nuri al-Maliki has voiced regret that none of the Arab neighbouring countries visited Iraq following the formation of the new cabinet. In an interview with Al-Iraqiyah...

Two guards shot dead in Nepal capital's latest robbery.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Nepalnews.com website on 31 May In yet another broad daylight robbery in the capital, two security guards of Nabil Bank were killed when a group of armed robbers opened...

German experts criticize Afghan, DRCongo missions.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Martin Roy, entitled "Strategy sought: Bundeswehr association demands sensible concept for foreign missions; Experts warn of German losses", published by German news agency ddp...

Chinese spokesman slams Taiwan national security report.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 31 May: The so-called "security report", released recently by the Taiwan authorities,...

Thai cabinet resolves to hold general elections 15 October.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report entitled: "October 15 elections allow for 90-day party ruling", published in English by Thai newspaper The Nation website on 31 May The cabinet yesterday resolved to hold the...

Tanzanian media owner denies being anti-Islam.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Hannah Mwandoloma entitled "Dont use wealth to trample on others - Mengi" published by Tanzanian newspaper The Guardian website on 30 May IPP Ltd executive chairman...

Burmese democracy party prepares to appeal leader's house arrest.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Norway-based Burmese Democratic Voice of Burma on 29 May [Presenter] The Central Executive Committee of the National League for Democracy (NLD) is preparing to take legal...

BBC Monitoring quotes from Middle East Arabic press for 31 May 06.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) The following is a selection of quotes from editorials and commentaries published in the 31 May 2006 editions of Arabic language newspapers in the Middle East and North Africa, as available to...

Ivorian minister comments on ongoing voter identification process.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by Radio France Internationale on 31 May [Presenter] The chief of French forces in Cote d'Ivoire has given a rather mitigated report on the situation [in the country]. Gen...

Nepal home minister criticizes security forces.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from unattributed report by Nepalese newspaper Kantipur on 31 May Kathmandu, 30 May: Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula on Tuesday [30 May] criticized the security forces and...

Afghan ex-premier criticizes Karzai's "weak", "corrupt" government.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Former Afghan Prime Minister Borhanoddin Rabbani has said President Hamed Karzai's administration is "weak, corrupt and incompetent" and incapable of halting the Taleban advance. He has also...

Slovene president holds talks with Darfur rebel group.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report by Ales Gaube entitled: "Drnovsek with the rebels just before midnight", published by the Slovene newspaper Dnevnik website on 31 May; subheadings as published: ...

Uzbek eastern town gets direct flights to Moscow.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report by Uzbek radio's Youth Channel on 31 May A direct flight has been launched to connect Andijon [eastern Uzbekistan] with the capital of the Russian Federation. Until now,...

China, Arab states "share extensive interests" - Chinese foreign minister.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report in English by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Beijing, 31 May: Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said here Wednesday [31 May] that China and...

Analysis: Changes in first 15 years of Russia's state broadcaster.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Editorial analysis by Stephen Ennis of BBC Monitoring on 31 May Russia's state TV channel Rossiya, formerly known as RTR, celebrated its 15th birthday on 13 May. For many liberal observers,...

Shanghai Cooperation Organization parliament leaders' joint statement - text.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Text of report by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency) Moscow, 30 May: The first meeting of parliamentary speakers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization [SCO]...

Kazakh border with Uzbekistan not guarded properly.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from report by Interfax-Kazakhstan news agency Shymkent, 30 May: Based on results of an inspection, prosecutor's bodies of South Kazakhstan Region (SKR) have revealed shortcomings...

Germany reports 13 per cent rise in HIV infections in 2005.
May 31, 2006... (From BBC Monitoring International Reports) Excerpt from unattributed report, entitled "Record increase in AIDS infections!", published by German newspaper Bild on 31 May Berlin: According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) in Berlin,...