BBC news 2007-10-20 加文本

BBC 2007-10-20


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BBC News with Victoria Meakin.

The former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto has said she would never surrender to militants following the suicide attack on her motorcade in Karachi which killed more than 130 people. Speaking to the BBC, Ms. Bhutto said, despite being at constant risk of such attack, she would go ahead with her plan to fight the elections in January. "It could happen again and what I really need to ask myself is that do I give up, do I let the militants determine the agenda. I have been having a party meeting and, believe me, the spirit amongst the party is one that I'm so proud of because they say we can't let the militants dictate to us what is going to happen, and that we have to try and save Pakistan by saving democracy. So, my supporters are ready." Ms Bhutto says she didn't blame the government for last night's attack, but she said she believed some of the militants' sympathizers had infiltrated Pakistan state operators.

President Bush has announced further sanctions against the Burmese military authorities following the violence suppression of anti-government protests. Mr. Bush said the US financial assets of more members of the military government had been frozen and inner controls on US exports into Burma tightened. Mr. Bush called on Burma's powerful neighbors to exert their influences as well. "I ask other countries to review their own laws and policies, especially Burma's closest neighbors, China, India and others in the region. People of Burma are showing great courage in the face of immense repression. They're appealing for our help. We must not turn a deaf ear to their cries."

The Bolivian authorities say government troops have now withdrawn from the country's busiest airport to avoid a confrontation with hundreds of local residents who have been protesting. The airport was taken over by the military on Thursday in dispute between the national and local governments over landing fees. From Bolivia, Lowla onmeidave reports.

President Evo Morales ordered the military intervention, in what he says, was an attempt to protect the airport's good reputation. But in Santa Cruz, it was interpreted as a provocation. Here many people support campaign for autonomy from central government. Both sides are now in talks. But even if the question of the airport fees is resolved, the long-standing dispute over autonomy shows little sign of disappearing. In fact, this latest clash may even have boosted the campaign.

The president of Argentina, Nestor Kirchner, has condemned the killing of three policemen in the city of Lepratti. the President demanded a swift investigation into the deaths of the police officers who've been guarding a government building. Mr. Kirchner said it was no coincidence the killings had occurred so close to national elections on October 28.

World News from the BBC.

One of the Republican presidential candidates in the United States Sam Brownback has pulled out of the race for the White House. Recent opinion poll showed only minimum support for Senator Brownback and he had raised only $94,000 to spend on the campaign.

The American conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh has raised more than two million dollars for children of US marines killed in action by auctioning a letter from the Senate majority leader Harry Reed. In the letter, Mr. Reed criticized Mr. Limbaugh for describing troops who fought in Iraq but did not support the war as phony soldiers.

Human rights activists have appealed to the Swiss bank UBS not to launch the Chinese oil company PetroChina on the Shanghai Stock Exchange because of its economic links with the Sudanese government. The activists suing include Nobel Prize winners have signed a letter saying the revenue the Sudanese government earns from PetroChina is paying for the war in Darfur. Our Africa editor Martin Plaut reports.

The signatories say the China National Petroleum Corporation provides revenue to the Sudanese government helping pay for its war in Darfur. In addition, they accused the company of benefiting from the forced displacement of locals from oil concessions. And they say the company allows the Sudanese military to use landing strips(飞机跑道) and refueling facilities in its oil concessions. In reply, UBS says it can't discuss the work of its clients, but points out that although the China National Petroleum Corporation is a controlling shareholder in PetroChina, they are two separate legal entities.

The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo says about 1,200 rebels have deserted the command of renegade General Laurent Nkunda. President Joseph Kabila said he hoped that more would surrender ahead of the deadline for General Laurent Nkunda's troops to disarm and integrate into the regular armed forces.

BBC News.