BBC news 2008-03-24 加文本

BBC news with Michael Poles

The heavily-fortified Green Zone in the Iraqi capital Baghdad has suffered a day of attacks from rockets and mortars. Some fell short of their targets, and killed at least 15 civilians, including five members of one family. Across Iraq, a day of heavy violence led to the death of at least 50 people. In the most deadly incident, a suicide bomber crashed a fuel tanker into a checkpoint in the Northern City of Mosul, killing 13 soldiers in a huge blast. Hugh Sykes reports.

In suburban Baghdad, 7 people were killed and 16 wounded by men shooting at random from three cars, driving through a street with an open air market. The day began in Baghdad with two mortar and rocket barrages aimed at the Green Zone, where US, and British diplomats, and senior members of the Iraqi government live. There was another barrage on Sunday evening. In these three attacks altogether, several of the missiles fell short and killed at least 15 people in residential areas.

Scientists in the United States say they have made a significant breakthrough in stem cell technology. They created tailor-made cells for treating Parkinson’s disease in mice. One of the main challenges has been to make cells that are an exact match for the recipient. Here’s our science reporter Neil Bouldler .(wWw.hxen.net)

Mice are not men, and this new research doesn’t mean a cure for Parkinson’s in humans is coming any time soon. What’s more important here is the stem cell technology that’s been used to treat these mice. The stem cells derive from the tails of these mice were developed in the lab into specialized nerve cells which the researchers injected into the brains of the mice with induced Parkinson's symptoms. The treatment appeared to alleviate many of the symptoms.

The rival Palestinian groups, Hamas and Fatah, have agreed to hold direct talks to try to settle their bitter feud over the control of the West Bank in Gaza. The discussions expected next month are the first real sign of progress since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip from Fatah last June. Our BBC correspondent says any resolution will depend on how and when Hamas gives up control of the Gaza Strip. But a leading Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk said the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas would have to share power with Hamas.

"If there is any complicated in this way, we have to go to directly to the people, and make a new election, and see what the Palestinians do and going to see about their future. I think this is a good solution, and this is the democratic solution.“

The American Vice President Dick Cheney says the establishment of a Palestinian state is long overdue, but will depend on painful concessions by Israel and the Palestinians. Mr. Cheney said Palestinian hopes for a separate state could be jeopardized by rocket attacks against Israel. He was speaking after talks in the West Bank with the Palestinian President who called on Israel to stop targeting Palestinian militants and to hold a settlement activity.

World News from the BBC.(www.Hxen.com)

The tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan will shortly become the world’s newest democracy. Polling starts shortly in the country’s first fully free elections. Chris Morris is in Bhutan.

Over the last few years, the former king and his son-in-heir have decided the time has come to give their people democracy. The election campaign has been low-key by international standards. Both the political parties set up to contest the elections, and committed to the royal Bhutanese philosophy of gross national happiness. The idea that respect for traditions and the environment are as important as economic growth. Despite all the reservation both thousands of people have traveled back to their villages to cast their votes. And the turnout is expected to be high.

Forensic officials in Colombia say they have only a week in which to identify "corpse" at the center of a row between Ecuador and Colombia. An Ecuadorian couple said the body, one of the two recovered after a Colombian attack on rebels inside Ecuador earlier this month is that of their son. Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa has warned of grave diplomatic consequences, if it’s proved that an Ecuadorian was killed in the Colombian attack.

The Education Minister in Afghanistan says a record number of children are now attending school in the country. The Minister Hanif Atmar said nearly 7 million children were enrolled in classes for the starts of the new school year, and that’s around a third of them were girls. He told the BBC that the numbers have increased thanks to foreign funding.

And that’s the latest BBC News.