A round-up of international news in brief
Poland 'at heart' of CIA operations
WARSAW - Poland was the heart of the CIA's secret detention network in Europe until recently, an analyst of the US-based Human Rights Watch organisation told a Polish newspaper.
"Poland was the main base for CIA interrogations in Europe, while Romania played more of a role in the transfer of detained prisoners," analyst Marc Garlasco said in an interview with Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza. - (Reuters)
EU move urged on Kosovo
The EU should begin preparations for a possible move to take over the policing of Kosovo from the UN, foreign ministers of the bloc will be urged on Monday.
The proposal is part of a report by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn that makes clear that the EU seeks a leading role alongside others in Kosovo once its future has been settled.- (Reuters)
Asian nations warn Burma
KUALA LUMPUR - Southeast Asian nations yesterday demanded that military-ruled Burma expedite democratic reforms and free Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, in the strongest display yet of their growing frustration with the junta.
Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations made clear their exasperation with fellow member Burma at their annual meeting in Kuala Lumpur. - (AP)
Bird flu kills 70th Asian victim
BANGKOK/WASHINGTON - Bird flu killed a young Thai boy, Asia's 70th victim of the deadly virus, authorities said yesterday as two reports detailed how a pandemic could cause a serious recession in the US.
China also reported a new case of H5N1, the fifth person in the country known to have been infected with the virus. The 31-year-old woman has since recovered. - (Reuters)
Basque party 'in talks with state'
BARCELONA - Outlawed Basque separatist party Batasuna, accused of being the political wing of guerrilla group Eta, is in contact with Spain's ruling Socialists, its leader, Arnaldo Otegi, said in a book published yesterday.
Prime minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's government has pledged to start negotiations with Eta only if it halts violence altogether. - (Reuters)
UN grounds Darfur aid flights
The UN has grounded some aid flights and evacuated workers in parts of West Darfur State because of the escalating violence crippling humanitarian efforts in Sudan's vast west.- (Reuters)
Islamists to guard churches
Volunteers from Indonesia's largest Islamic organisation will guard churches across the world's most populous Muslim nation on Christmas amid fears of terrorist attacks on those places. - (Reuters)