 An action plan to tackle the massive oil spill off Lebanon's coastline caused by the conflict is due to be discussed in Greece on Thursday. Officials from the UN, the EU and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) are meeting to agree a way to halt the spread in the Mediterranean. Oil spilled into the sea following Israel's bombing of a power station. The slick now covers 170km (105 miles) of Lebanon's coastline and is spreading out to sea. Environmentalists and health officials have warned that the spill poses a direct threat to marine life and could increase the risk of cancer among people living in the affected areas. It could take up to 10 years for the affected coastline to recover, they say. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk
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Editor - 11:24:00 08-16-06
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 HEZBOLLAH'S RECONSTRUCTION ROLE Armed Militants Helping Lebanon Rebuild |
From rockets to reconstruction: the Islamic militant group Hezbollah has quickly switched its priorities from fighting Israeli troops to helping with reconstruction efforts in southern Lebanon. Hardworking, well organized and not about to disarm or retreat, they are impressing local residents. The orders from Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah were very clear, but militia commander Suliman couldn't carry them out this time. The head of the Shiite extremist group told his fighters by radio on Saturday that as part of the cease-fire agreement starting this week they were to switch from military camouflage to civilian clothing. Suliman would have gladly obeyed, but there was just one problem. "Unfortunately I only have one pair of trousers," says the Hezbollah veteran while grinning embarrassedly. "What can I do?" So even though the guns have fallen silent, Suliman still thoroughly looks the part of militant fighter. ...
http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,432054,00.html
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Editor - 11:19:00 08-16-06
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| 'Siege' warning to Mexico rival |
Supporters of Mexico's left-wing presidential candidate have pledged to place his rival "under siege" if he is declared winner of the disputed poll. A spokesman for Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's party said Felipe Calderon would not be able to operate outside his office if he was made president. Mr Lopez Obrador disputes the official results which give a narrow victory to his rival and wants a full recount. A partial recount has been completed, but the results are not yet known. Election officials have until 6 September to declare a president-elect or annul the election. If declared the victor, Mr Calderon "will be a president under siege... he will not be able to operate outside his office", said Gerardo Fernandez, of the left-wing Democratic Revolution Party (PRD). ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4797113.stm
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Editor - 10:03:00 08-16-06
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| Iran 'will discuss nuclear halt' |
Iran is ready to discuss the suspension of its uranium enrichment programme as demanded by Western powers, the country's foreign minister has said. Manouchehr Mottaki told a news conference that Iran was ready to talk but still regarded any suspension of its programme as "illogical". A package of incentives has been offered to Iran by six world powers in return for a halt to its programme. Tehran has said it will respond to the offer by 22 August. "We are ready to discuss all the issues, including the suspension. There is no logic behind the suspension of Iran's activities. We are ready to explain this to them," Mr Mottaki said. ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4797827.stm
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Editor - 10:01:00 08-16-06
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| Mossad missed Hezbollah threat |
Israel's storied foreign-intelligence service failed to fully understand the threat posed by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, based on a view among many analysts that the guerrilla organization was an evolving political group, according to U.S. officials and private intelligence specialists. The Mossad had intelligence about most Hezbollah weapons, including rockets fired into Israel and other hardware. But the service knew little about the military and intelligence side of Hezbollah, a diverse organization made up of Islamic terrorists, conventionally armed militia forces, a charity wing and a political movement. Mossad is famous for past exploits, including the global campaign in the 1970s to track down and kill Palestinian terrorists in retaliation for the deaths of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Its specialty has been recruiting agents inside terrorist groups and using their information to effectively counter or limit attacks. ...
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20060816-122813-5639r.htm
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Editor - 09:59:00 08-16-06
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| Job fairs help injured troops find new work |
Staff Sgt. Martin Jones is hunting for a new job after 18 years in the Army -- but not by choice. Sgt. Jones, 35, of Atlanta, planned to complete 20 years of service and retire. That plan was cut short in October after he deployed to help train the Iraqi army. Four roadside bomb explosions over a month left him with hearing loss in both ears, shrapnel in his right side, crushed bones in his left arm and nerve damage to his hand. Facing a medical discharge and still recovering, Sgt. Jones traded his fatigues for a dark suit Wednesday to impress private-sector and government recruiters at a job fair aimed at giving wounded warriors an edge in entering the work force. "It's extremely frightening," he said. "It's been a hard transition, with the reality setting in that life as I knew it is changing." With more than 20,000 U.S. troops wounded in action in Iraq and Afghanistan, ...
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20060811-123446-5829r.htm
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Editor - 09:55:00 08-16-06
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