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WORLD NEWS - 00:30 UTC, April 19, 2006By Voice of America
Broadcast: Wednesday, April 19, 2006
It is zero hour thirty Universal Time. I'm Jim Tedder in Washington.
Chinese President HuJinTao has began a visit to the United States. The Chinese President arrived in the northwestern state of Washington Tuesday. He is to hold talks with the Chariman of Microsoft Corporation Bill Gates and officials from the Boeing Aircraft Manufacturing Company. On Thursday he wiil meet with President Bush at the White House. The talks are expected to deal with trade issues concerning China's trade surplus with the United States.
Israel says the Hamas-led Palestinian government is to blame for the bomb attack Monday in Tel Aviv锛堢壒鎷夌淮澶?級. But officials say acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has dicided not to order military action against the Palestinian government at this time. The decision came at a meeting of Israel's security Cabinet. Reports say Mr Olmert rejected a proposal to declare the Palestinian authority an enemy state. He also reportedly barred several Palestinian law makers from living in East Jerusalem. The bomb attack killed nine people. Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for the attack. Hamas said the bombing was in self-defence against Israeli operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The United States says nations meeting in Moscow had failed to agree on restrictions against Iran for its nuclear program. Five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany met in Moscow Tuesday. Under-Secretary of State Nicolus Burns raised the issue of restrictions during the meeting. Mr Burns said diplomats at the meeting recognized the need for what he called a strong reaction to Iran's violations of its international responsibilities.
Russia and China are opposed to restrictions against Iran. They say the UN Nuclear Agency should deal with the issue. The talks in Moscow are expected to continue Wednesday. The talks will include diplomats from the Group of eight major industrial nations.
Oil prices reached record high levels on Tuesday. Prices rose to more than $71 for a barrel or container of oil. The new high came during trading Tuesday on the New York Merchantil Exchange
Prices later fell back. Experts have blamed rising oil prices on concerns about Iran's nuclear program and political tensions in Iraq and Nigeria.
Iraqi troops have clashed with rebels for a second day in a mainly Sunni Arab area of Bagdad. The United States military says the fighting began Monday in the Adhamiya area of the capital
It started when about 50 gunmen fired on Iraqi forces. American troops have been involved in the fighting. American officials say at least 5 rebels have been killed, another 7 were captured. The total number of deaths and injuries is unclear. In other parts of Bagdad a rebel bomb attack killed at least 4 Iraqis. Officials say the bomb was aimed at nearby place officers. On monday, heavy fighing was reported between American forces and rebels hiding in an Islamic religious center in Ramadi.
Three human-rights groups have called for actions against King Gyanendra of Nepal and the country's top political and military officials. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists made the call in Geneva Switzerland. They met there to discuss human rights in Nepal. The groups are urging restrictions on travel of top Nepalese officials. They also call for restrictions in the movement of foreign investments owned by the officials. In Nepal, thousands of people continue to protest against the king. Police in Katmandu arrested at least 25 Home Ministry workers; they are the first government employees to be arrested since the protests began thirteen days ago.
President Bush says he wants to see those responsible for the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri brought to justice. He spoke Tuesday after talks at the White House with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Mr. Bush also repeated his support for an independent Lebanon. Mr. Siniora thanked Mr. Bush for his support of the investigation into the murder of the former Lebanese prime minister. He also said that he is trying to build good relations with Syria. Syria withdrew its forces from Lebanon after the murder of Mr. Hariri. Early investigations into the killing suggest Syrian involvement, but Syria denies this.
Sudan's Health Ministry has reported the country's first cases of bird-flu. Health officials say they have conform the owner of a chicken farm in Khartoum has been infected. They also found the virus in chickens on the man's farm and a farm in nearby Jazeera state. Officials say they have already destroyed thousands of birds. Earlier Tuesday, China's Health Ministry conformed that a 21-year-old man from Hubei province was infected. It is the latest human case of the deadly H5N1 bird-flu virus in that country. Bird-flu has killed more than 100 people since 2003 mostly in Asia. The disease also has infected birds in parts of Africa, the Middle East and Europe.
Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe says he would take steps against opponents he suspects of planning violent protests. Mr. Mugabe says anyone who leads a campaign of violence would face the law. He spoke in a message marking the anniversary of Zimbabwe's independence from Briton. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has called for street protests to end the president's rule. Mr. Mugabe has led Zimbabwe for the past 26 years, and economic crisis continues in Zimbabwe, unemployment is more than 70%.
Briefly here again is the major news. Chinese president Hu Jintao has begun a visit to the United States; Israel says the Hamas lead government in the Palestinian authority is responsible for the bomb attack Monday in Tel Aviv; and the United States says nations meeting in Moscow had failed to agree on restrictions against Iran for its nuclear program.
That's the news in Special English. This is Jim Tedder reporting.
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