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> Wed., Nov. 9, 2005
FSRN
FREE SPEECH RADIO NEWS
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Today's lead stories:
Senate Rejects Measure to Create Panel to Investigate Detainee
Treatment
Alberto Fujimori Awaits Extradition from Chile to Peru
Cross Country Election Wrap-Up
Diaz Trial Underway in Genoa
A Look at the 2007 Farm Bill
Oil Companies Testify in the Senate
FSRN Headlines
SADDAM DEFENSE TEAM BOYCOTTS TRIAL
A secret burial was held today for the Iraqi trial lawyer
who was gunned down yesterday in Baghdad. Adil al-Zubeidi
is the second defense attorney murdered from the legal team
in the Saddam Hussein trial. After Zubeidi's burial, the defence
team announced they no longer recognize the jurisdiction of
the court and will now refuse to participate in the trial's
proceedings.
CHALABI VISITS WASHINGTON
Iraq's deputy prime minister Ahmed Chalabi is in Washington
DC, where he met earlier today with Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice. Chalabi has been accused of handing over faulty intelligence
on Weapons of Mass Destruction in the run-up to the invasion
of Iraq. Iraq's vice president is also in Washington today.
TALABANI VISITS ITALY
Meanwhile, the Iraqi President is in Italy this week on an
official visit. Diletta Varlese reports from Brescia.
During a meeting yesterday with Italian Prime Minister Silvio
Berlusconi, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said that he wants
Italian troops to remain in Iraq for now. Berlusconi said
yesterday that, "Italy was against the war" and
that he had tried to persuade Bush And Blair not to invade
in 2003. Italian troops did not participate in the invasion
of Iraq, but were later deployed for the ongoing occupation.
Berlusconi said Italian troops are in the country not for
war, but for a peacekeeping mission. Iraq's President thanked
Berlusconi for the Italian military presence and asked him
not to withdraw before the end of 2006. Italy will hold national
elections in April of 2006. Romano Prodi, the center-left
presidential candidate met with Talabani and said that if
his coalition wins in the upcoming elections, Italy will start
a gradual withdrawal of its troops from Iraq. For FSRN, Diletta
Varlese, Italy.
FRANCE TO DEPORT RIOTERS
In France, riots have persisted after thirteen consecutive
nights...despite the recent declaration of a state of emergency
and the implementation of curfews in a number of areas throughout
the country. Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy told parliament
today that foreign nationals found guilty of participating
in the riots will be subject to summary deportation.
ANOTHER OPENING IN THE LINE OF CONTROL
India and Pakistan today opened a second crossing point on
the heavily militarised line of control in Kashmir. ONE MONTH
AFTER THE DISASTER, The two sides have agreed to open 5 points
along the 742 kilometer line of control. In Srinagar, Shanawaz
Khan has more.
At Kaman Post in Uri the event was low key as compared to
the opening of the crossing point at Chakan Da Bagh on Monday.
There were no Civilians near the venue. only relief goods
were exchanged between the two sides. Kaman Post made history
earlier this year when the passengers of the First trans Kashmir
Bus crossed a newly-constructed bridge along the Line of Control
at this point in April. Today, the bridge lies damaged and
the Trans Kashmir Bus has been suspended. Officials from both
sides exchanged relief material under the bridge today, in
a symbolic gesture of solidarity. The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad
road that was badly damaged by the October 8th earthquake
has been cleared on the Indian side, while landslides still
block the road on the Pakistani side. Authorities on the two
sides have yet to clear any of the applicants for crossing
the line of control. No civilians were allowed to cross today.
For FSRN I'M Shahnawaz Khan.
ADA IN STATE PRISONS
The US Supreme Court heard arguments today in a consolidated
state's rights case, which will decide if state-held prisoners
can sue for monetary damages under the federal Americans with
Disabilities Act. Greg Gorman reports from Washington DC.
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Wednesday in Goodman
v. Georgia and Georgia v. United States. In the combined cases,
a paraplegic Georgia state prisoner accuses a state-operated
prison of violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act
for failure to provide handicapped facilities, patient privileges,
or proper medical access. The Justices will decide if the
Americans with Disabilities Act is applicable within a state-operated
prison system and will rule on whether discrimination cases
brought against individual states should be granted immunity
if they are found to be in violation of a federal Act. This
will be the first time that new Chief Justice John Roberts
will hear a specific case regarding the sovereign rights of
state governments over the federal government. A decision
in the case is expected by the beginning of next year. For
Free Speech Radio News in Washington, DC, I'm Gregory Gorman.
[top]
Senate Rejects Measure to Create Panel to Investigate
Detainee Treatment (3:04)
The Senate rejected a measure last night that would have
created an independent panel, modeled after the 9/11 Commission,
to investigate the Bush administration's treatment of detainees.
Congress is still buzzing over several outstanding issues
from detainee abuse to secret CIA prisons to investigating
whether the Bush administration mislead the public into war.
And one committee is at the center of it all: the Senate Intelligence
Committee. Mitch Jeserich brings us this update from Capitol
Hill.
[top]
Alberto Fujimori Awaits Extradition from Chile to
Peru (4:31)
The already tense relations between Chile and Peru got more
difficult with the surprise arrival of the former Peruvian
president Alberto Fujimori in Chile's capital. The former
leader is wanted on more than 20 charges that include corruption
and human rights abuses, but as FSRN's Santiago reporter Jorge
Garretón explains, Fujimori wants a trial in Chile
before returning to Peru to contest next April's presidential
election.
[top]
Cross Country Election Wrap-Up (3:25)
Voters headed to the polls from coast to coast yesterday,
deciding on local, county and state measures. There was little
surprise in New York, where Republican incumbent Mayor Mike
Bloomberg beat Fernando Ferrer. But Republicans had a tough
time in gubernatorial elections in both Virginia and New Jersey,
and in California, where every ballot initiative endorsed
by Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was defeated.
FSRN’s Rebecca Myles brings us this cross-country election
wrap-up.
[top]
Diaz Trial Underway in Genoa (2:21)
Four years after the G8 summit in Genoa, the Diaz trial
– in which 28 policemen are accused, comes in to a pivotal
point as the first testimony was heard. During the violent
raid on the Genoa Social Forum and the Indymedia buildings,
over 90 people were arrested. All 90 were later released with
no charges. At least 62 people suffered injuries after police
savagely beat people. FSRN’s Manuela Aldabe is at the
trial, where she spoke with Mr. Pagani, who represents Lena
Zuke, who gave his testimony to the court today.
[top]
A Look at the 2007 Farm Bill (3:16)
President Bush told Brazilian President Lula da Silva that
the US is willing to cut farm subsidies if the Europeans do
the same. As the stalemate continues over the question of
farm subsidies, the Senate recently agreed to extend the current
regime of farm subsidies to 2011 – which were set to
expire in 2007. Meanwhile, US agriculture officials have been
traveling to 48 states asking farmers for unput on the 2007
Farm Bill. FSRN’s Leigh Robertes reports from the Farm
Bill Forum, hosted by Agriculture Secretary Michael Johanns
in Washington state.
[top]
Oil Companies Testify in the Senate (3:30)
Top oil industry executives testified today before the Senate
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on how they plan
to use their profits. They defended themselves against all
the accusations, but agreed that the U.S. should work on developing
alternative energy sources. Anastasia Gnezditskaia reports
from Washington, DC.
[top]
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