 The US House of Representatives has supported a call to ban cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of foreign terrorism suspects. It voted 308 to 122 to back a measure passed by the Senate to include the ban in new defence spending legislation. The symbolic move by both chambers is not binding on the White House, but is seen as highly embarrassing. The Bush administration had threatened to veto any legislation limiting interrogation tactics. Republican Senator John McCain, who is a former prisoner of war in Vietnam, has been lobbying for the bill. A member of the House of Representatives, John Murtha, said torture would not help the US win the hearts and minds of people it was used against, and Congress was obliged to speak out. The backing in both wings of Congress - which are controlled by the Republicans - comes amid continuing negotiations between Sen McCain and the Bush administration for strict guidelines on the treatment of detainees. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk
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Editor - 09:08:00 12-15-05
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 Enemies of the state? Police fail even to question men held as a terror threat |
Four men deprived of their liberty for four years on suspicion of being international terrorists disclose today that they have not once been questioned by police or security services since being arrested. The four, who were among 16 suspects detained without trial under post-11 September terror legislation, later overturned by the law lords, give harrowing accounts of the treatment they have suffered. All are now under virtual house arrest. Although three face deportation, The Independent has learnt that there is no prospect of the men ever being questioned over the offences they are alleged to have committed.In interviews with Amnesty International, the four - three Algerians and a Palestinian - say their detentions have harmed their physical and mental health. They also complain that their treatment has had a devastating impact on their wives and families....
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/article333258.ece
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Editor - 09:04:00 12-15-05
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| US offers access to cotton market |
The US has offered to give West African states duty-free access to its cotton market, in a bid to inject fresh momentum into world trade talks. The offer forms part of the growing focus at the talks on measures aimed at helping the world's poorest countries. The US and other rich states are accused of refusing to make sufficient concessions on subsidies to farmers. Trade representatives have admitted that little progress has been made so far during the talks in Hong Kong. Squabbling between the US and European Union over support for farmers has dominated the World Trade Organization (WTO) summit. The World Bank waded into the agriculture argument as well, arguing that least developed countries were being treated unfairly. "In the three days the meetings have taken so far, the rich countries have transferred more than $2bn to their farmers in various forms of support," said World Bank vice-president Danny Leipziger. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/4530090.stm
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Editor - 09:01:00 12-15-05
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| Sydney police get riot powers |
Emergency measures to prevent civil unrest have been passed in the Australian state of New South Wales, following a wave of racial violence. Police will have new powers to enforce strict curfews, confiscate cars and ban alcohol sales. More violence is feared this weekend, as text messages inciting unrest are being sent to many parts of Australia. According to local media, more than 1,000 extra officers will be deployed in the suburbs of Sydney. The state parliament passed the new rules in a special emergency session on Thursday. State Premier Morris Iemma told the New South Wales parliament that the authorities were determined to give police the powers they needed to stop the violence. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4530488.stm
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Editor - 08:58:00 12-15-05
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| Big turnout in Iraq election despite scattered attacks |
Undeterred by scattered violence, Iraqis voted in overwhelming numbers in an election on Thursday, with minority Sunni Arabs who boycotted the last poll determined not to miss out on power again. The demand to vote was so strong that polling stations were kept open an extra hour in some areas to allow those waiting in line to cast ballots. In Saddam Hussein's home province more than 80 percent voted, an electoral official said.The largely peaceful vote, which will raise U.S. hopes that a stable government can pave the way for American troops to pull out of Iraq, was in sharp contrast to January's election for an interim assembly, when 40 people died.Sunni Arabs mostly boycotted that poll but took part with enthusiasm on Thursday, backed by nationalist rebels who vowed to protect those who voted....
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051215/ts_nm/iraq_dc
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Editor - 08:51:00 12-15-05
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| Canada-US war of words escalates |
Canada's Prime Minister, Paul Martin, has warned the US that he will "not be dictated to", saying Canadians expected him to stand up for their country. Mr Martin was responding to comments made by US Ambassador David Wilkins. On Tuesday, the diplomat urged Canadian politicians to watch what they said about the US while campaigning for January's general election. Mr Martin is fighting for re-election after his minority government was ousted in a no-confidence vote. Relations between the two neighbouring countries suffered after Canada refused to support the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. Last week, Mr Martin lambasted Washington over its decision not to join the global effort to combat climate change. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4530744.stm
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Editor - 08:47:00 12-15-05
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