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War news highlights, Syrian Mufti, Frenchman stabbed, Road Map, Bulgaria, Egypt Jordan Times, 3/28/03 Syrian mufti calls for suicide attacks on US, British troops DAMASCUS (AFP) — Syrian mufti Sheikh Ahmad Kaftaro, the country's top Muslim religious authority, called Thursday for suicide bombings against the US and British invaders in Iraq. "I call on Muslims everywhere to use all means possible to thwart the aggression, including martyr operations against the belligerent American , British and Zionist invaders," he said in a statement, a copy of which was faxed to AFP. "Resistance to the belligerent invaders is an obligation for all Muslims, starting with (those in) Iraq," the mufti said. This is the first time that a senior Syrian religious figure has called for suicide attacks against US and British troops attacking Iraq. Syria views suicide attacks by Palestinians against Israel as a legitimate resistance to occupation. Kaftaro called on Muslims everywhere to boycott US and British products and those from countries backing their attack on Iraq. He also urged "free citizens" all over the world to demonstrate, strike and disrupt airports and ports and any other facilities that support the war effort in Iraq. Separately, Syrian President Bashar Al Assad predicted the US and Britain would never be able to bring Iraq under their full control and would face popular Arab resistance, in an interview published on Thursday in Lebanese daily As Safir.
Iraq war disagreement ends in stabbing GENEVA (AFP) — A Frenchman was stabbed 20 times at a garage in Geneva following an argument with a workmate over the war in Iraq, police said Thursday. The 31-year-old was taken to hospital with stomach wounds and is in a stable condition, police added. His alleged attacker, a 47-year-old Swiss man of Tunisian origin, disagreed with his support for the US-led war on Iraq. The Swiss man told police that his workmate had been winding him up about Iraq since last year. On Wednesday the Frenchman told him that "the Americans were going to drop mushrooms on Iraq, and that would be the end of the dictator Saddam," police said. After the attack, the Swiss man said his only regret was "not to have finished the job". He has been charged with attempted murder.
US will release Middle East roadmap soon — Bush CAMP DAVID (AFP) — The United States will "soon" release a "roadmap" towards peace between Israel and the Palestinians, President George W. Bush said Thursday. Bush reiterated in a press conference with British Prime Minister Tony Blair that he had a "vision" for Middle East peace, though critics have said he is unwilling to invest presidential prestige in the crisis. "Soon we will release the roadmap that is designed to help turn that vision into reality," Bush said, but he did not specify exactly when the plan would be published. "Both America and Great Britain are strongly committed to implementing that roadmap," he said. The road map, created by the diplomatic quartet of the US, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union, lays out steps to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and create a Palestinian state by 2005. Earlier this month, Bush promised to release the long-delayed roadmap for peace as soon as a Palestinian prime minister with real powers was confirmed in office. Officials said they were pleased with Palestinian reform efforts, particularly the naming of a prime minister, and signalled they would press Israel hard to accept the long-delayed roadmap.
War divides Americans on racial lines NEW YORK (AFP) — US public support for the war in Iraq is sharply divided along racial lines, with black Americans largely opposing the use of military force, according to a poll published Thursday. The New York Times/CBS poll — based on five days of interviews conducted after the war began — found that 78 per cent of white respondents supported military action "to oust Saddam Hussein," compared to 44 per cent of blacks. At the same time, 71 per cent of whites said they were proud of what the US was doing in Iraq, a view shared by just 33 per cent of blacks. The findings of the poll reflected directly on President George W. Bush's standing among African-Americans. Thirty-four per cent of blacks said they approved of the job he is doing, compared with 75 per cent of whites. A number of black political leaders have been at the forefront of the antiwar movement in the US, arguing that young men and women from their community would be disproportionately represented on the front lines.
Iraq war aftermath `more dangerous' than war itself — Mubarak CAIRO (AFP) — Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak warned Thursday that the aftermath of the US-led war on Iraq will be "even more dangerous" than the war itself. "War is having serious repercussions, but its aftermath will be even more dangerous," state television quoted Mubarak saying. He did not elaborate on the nature of postwar dangers, but Egyptian officials have warned of instability spreading across the region. Mubarak repeated that Egypt was not providing any assistance to the US-led coalition. "It's not the case and it won't be the case," he said. US President George W. Bush on Tuesday asked Congress to approve nearly $5 billion in direct aid and loan guarantees to key US allies in the Middle East. If the US lawmakers approve, Egypt will get $300 million to assist its economy with difficulties brought about by the war, of which a portion could be used to secure up to $2 billion in loan guarantees. Egyptian state-run newspaper Al Ahram meanwhile on Thursday hailed Iraq's resistance, comparing the Iraqi forces "to David fighting the US Goliath."
Bulgaria turns down US request to expel Iraqi diplomats SOFIA (AFP) — Bulgaria does not intend to comply with a US request for it to expel Iraqi diplomats on its soil, Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg said on Thursday. "For the time being, we see no reason to ask these diplomats to leave Bulgaria," said Saxe-Coburg, adding that each country should "decide for itself" how to respond to Washington's request, according to the BTA news agency. Washington announced last week that it had formally asked governments worldwide to shut down Iraqi embassies and diplomatic missions in their respective countries until new authorities were in power in Baghdad. Sofia, a supporter of the US-led war on Iraq, is allowing US refuelling aircraft to use an air base at its Black Sea coast and has agreed to deploy some 150 experts in nuclear, biological and chemical defence to a country neighbouring Iraq, if required. Several countries agreed to expel Iraqi diplomats from their soil following the US request. But many countries, including Spain and Portugal, which back the US-led campaign in Iraq, turned down Washington's request.
Opinions expressed in various sections are the sole responsibility of their authors and they may not represent Al-Jazeerah's.
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