The New Nation - Internet Edition

69 dams damaged by quake in danger of bursting: China

AP, Chengdu

Nearly 70 dams scarred by the force of China's most powerful earthquake in three decades were in danger of bursting, the government said Sunday, while looming rains added to worries about relief efforts for millions of homeless survivors.

The confirmed death toll from the May 12 quake rose to 62,664, with another 23,775 people missing, Cabinet spokesman Guo Weimin said. Premier Wen Jiabao has said the number of dead could surpass 80,000.

A magnitude 5.8 aftershock rattled the quake area Sunday afternoon, the U.S. Geological Survey said, causing office towers to sway in Beijing, some 800 miles away. There was no immediate information on any new damage caused.

State television reported Sunday that a survivor was rescued alive Friday, more than 11 days after the earthquake hit.

Xiao Zhihu, an 80-year-old bedridden man, was rescued in Mianzhu north of the provincial capital Chengdu after being trapped in his collapsed house, the report said. He survived because his wife was able to get food to him through the rubble, but there were no further details given or a reason for the two-day delay in reporting the rescue.

The Water Resources Ministry said in a statement Sunday that 69 dams in central Sichuan province were in danger of collapse, without giving any further details. The government had earlier said some 391 dams had been affected by the quake, mostly small structures.

Sichuan is home to the world's largest water project, the Three Gorges dam located about 350 miles east of the epicenter, which authorities have said was not damaged in the quake.

Meanwhile, the State Meteorological Bureau said Sunday that parts of Sichuan would suffer "heavy and even in some areas torrential rains" later Sunday and Monday, warning of possible mudslides.

Some people paused Sunday to attend church almost two weeks after the quake hit. In Chengdu, worshippers gathered at the Ping'an Bridge Catholic church to say prayers for the victims.

A collection plate was passed around, and people gave everything from a few pennies to 100 renminbi notes ($15).

One worshipper, retiree Liang Biqing, 58, said the disaster had changed her views on China's place in the world and shown her that people globally all share the same troubles.

"This shows that there are no barriers, no nationalities, when it comes to disasters," she said.

China desperately needs tents to house quake victims, with more than 15 million homes destroyed in the disaster.

The first of eight Russian military transport planes carrying tents, medicine and food landed Sunday in Chengdu, the country's ITAR-Tass news agency said. Other aid flights were to arrive by Monday.

Nations urge deep emission cuts by US, Japan

AP, Kobe

European and developing countries urged the United States and Japan on Sunday to commit to deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 - a step they say is needed to defuse a coming ecological disaster caused by global warming.

The calls at a meeting of environment ministers from the Group of Eight industrialized nations in Japan coincided with rising concern that momentum is draining from U.N.-led efforts to force a new climate change agreement by a December 2009 deadline.

The G8 nations - the United States, Britain, Japan, Germany, Italy, Canada, Russia and France - are largely on board with a proposal to attempt to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases responsible for global warming by 50 percent by 2050. But a major focus of the meeting in Kobe is midterm targets for 2020, which scientists say are needed to avoid a potentially disastrous rise in world temperatures of more than 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit over levels prior to the industrial age.

"A long-term goal is not a substitute for midterm, mandatory targets," said Matthias Machnig, Germany's environment minister.

The European Union has pledged a 20 percent emissions reduction by 2020, and has offered to raise it to 30 percent if other nations sign on. A U.N.-brokered agreement last December included a footnote referencing the need for cuts of between 25 percent and 40 percent. The United States, however, has not committed to a midterm goal, demanding that top developing countries like China also commit to reductions. Japan has called for emissions by industrialized countries to begin to fall in the next one or two decades, but it too has stopped short of setting a 2020 target. U.N.-led talks are racing to meet a 2009 deadline to strike an accord to take over from the Kyoto Protocol, whose first phase will expire in 2012. The head of those talks, U.N. climate chief Yvo de Boer, has said he fears enthusiasm for the effort was waning, and he called for G8 countries to send a stronger signal they were serious. Japanese Environment Minister Ichiro Kamoshita, the host of the Kobe meeting, called for the world's richest countries Sunday to take the first steps in battling climate change, urging them to together reduce their emissions by more than 50 percent by mid-century.

"Developed countries should take the lead in emissions reductions and identify fair and equitable quantified national targets so that the global greenhouse gas emissions peak within the next 10-20 years," he said in an address, without specifying a reduction target.

Proponents say deep midterm cuts would force governments to take action quickly, spurring progress against warming. Goals for 2050 are important, they say, but give the world too much time to take steps that ought to be taken more urgently.

UN chief tells Myanmar to focus on saving lives

AFP, Yangon

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Sunday the world must focus on saving the lives of desperate cyclone survivors in Myanmar, which is pushing for billions of dollars to start rebuilding efforts.

Making a high-profile bid to press the reluctant military regime to allow a full-scale disaster relief operation, Ban opened a donor pledging conference here by rejecting Myanmar's insistence that relief work is already over.

Instead, he said, there were countless numbers of survivors still without enough food, water and shelter-and that their plight should be the priority in the wake of Cyclone Nargis, which left 133,000 people dead or missing.

"I ask all of us to keep our eye firmly on the immediate objective-saving lives," Ban told the gathering of nations and aid groups, where the regime was set to ask for 10.7 billion dollars in reconstruction aid.

"I expect the relief effort will run for several months, probably six months at least, as we feed and care for those who have lost everything," he told the meeting, with Myanmar's Prime Minister Thein Sein in attendance.

"Destroyed infrastructure must be rebuilt," Ban said. "That cannot be our chief concern today."

Suspicious of the outside world, Myanmar's ruling generals have enraged the international community by refusing to let in most foreign aid workers more than three weeks after the tragedy struck.

Ban said Friday he had persuaded Senior General Than Shwe, the country's leader, to give foreign aid workers unlimited access to Myanmar, including the hard-hit Irrawaddy Delta which has been all but sealed off by the junta.

"Prompt and full implementation will be key," the UN chief said in his conference address. "I shall be closely, continuously and personally engaged."

There has been little sign of change on the ground, however, and Than Shwe-who rules the country with an iron hand from a remote bunker capital-did not attend Sunday's meeting.

Thein Sein, making the regime's first public comment on the issue, appeared to link the admission of aid workers to the country with rebuilding work.

"For those groups who are interested in rehabilitation and reconstruction, my government is ready to accept them, in accordance with our priorities and the extent of work that needs to be done," Thein Sein said.

"We will consider allowing them if they wish to engage in rehabilitation and reconstruction work."

Once known as Burma and now one of the most isolated countries on the planet, Myanmar has often reneged on its commitments-but nations at the conference warned they would push the junta to get aid workers in.

"I will make clear in unequivocal terms the responsibility of the Burmese regime to allow the unfettered access that the international community wants to see," said Douglas Alexander, Britain's top international development official.

The storm hit May 2-3, washing away entire villages and ruining crucial rice fields that are essential to feed the impoverished nation. The European Union's top aid official has already warned there could be a famine ahead.

South Africa immigrant violence leaves 25,000 displaced

AFP, Johannesburg

An anti-immigrant backlash in South Africa stretched into a third week Sunday amid mounting concern over 25,000 foreigners who have fled the violence.

The Red Cross in South Africa has said it is caring for 25,000 destitute people who had been driven from their homes around Johannesburg and Pretoria, the hotspot of the unrest which has left at least 42 dead over the past two weeks. Thousands have left makeshift homes in slum areas to shelter at police stations, community centres and churches where they are being cared for by aid groups providing tents, blankets and food.

Sunday newspapers made for alarming reading, with The Sunday Times headlining with "It's a State of Emergency" and The Sunday Independent front-page announcing "Ethnic Cleansing, SA Style."

Aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, warned Saturday of the danger of illness among the displaced and said the government needed to make a decision on how victims would be looked after.

A growing humanitarian crisis was also reported in Cape Town in the Western Cape province where attacks spread for the first time last week.

Cape Town spokesman Billy Jones said there had been lootings across the province on Friday night and Saturday morning, forcing foreigners to flee and leave their property unattended.

"We had 200 arrests related to the lootings. It happened everywhere, mob style, people go into the premises and just start taking stuff," he told AFP.

"People out of fear just vacated their property voluntarily."

US soldier killed in Afghanistan

AP, Kandahar

A suicide bomber hit a Canadian military convoy in southern Afghanistan on Sunday, wounding two children, while a U.S.-led coalition soldier was killed in an operation in the west, officials said.

The bomber struck the Canadian convoy in the southern city of Kandahar, said police officer Abdul Karim.

One military vehicle appeared to be damaged, according to an AP reporter at the scene of the attack.

Two children - an 8-year-old and 12-year old boy - were wounded in the attack, Karim said. There was no information about Canadian casualties.

Separately, a U.S.-led coalition soldier was killed during an operation in the western Farah province, the coalition said in a statement. It did not provide any further information.

Insurgents have been targeting Afghan, U.S. and other foreign troops in their attempts to weaken the government of President Hamid Karzai.

Over 1,200 people - mostly militants - have died in insurgency-related violence so far this year, according to an Associated Press count.

Abbas fears Olmert probe may hold up peace talks

Reuters, Ramallah

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Saturday he feared a criminal investigation of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and looming U.S. elections could hold up Middle East peace talks.

Senior Abbas aide Tayeb Abdel-Rahim reported the Palestinian president's briefing comments to his ruling Fatah faction in the West Bank city of Ramallah on the latest developments in U.S.-brokered peace talks with Israel.

Abdel-Rahim said Abbas "hopes that recent events, such as the obstacles facing the Israeli prime minister, and American preoccupation with elections would not obstruct the peace process desired by Palestinians."

Israeli police questioned Olmert on Friday for a second time. Israel's chief prosecutor said on Monday investigators suspected Olmert had taken cash-filled envelopes from New York fundraiser Morris Talansky.

Olmert, who was first questioned three weeks ago, has denied any wrongdoing but said he would resign if indicted.

On Thursday, Abbas said negotiations with Israel on sensitive final status issues were continuing, but that gaps were still wide between the sides.

The issues include the fate of Jerusalem, Jewish settlements, setting borders and the right of return for refugees.

Western diplomats and Palestinian officials said Abbas had told them he believed Olmert was serious about reaching a final deal with the Palestinians despite his problems at home.

Olmert and other Israeli officials have reported some progress in the U.S.-sponsored talks but chief Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qurie said no agreement had been reached yet on any of the issues under negotiation.

Strong aftershock jolts quake-hit China

AFP, Chengdu

A strong aftershock jolted quake-hit Sichuan province in China on Sunday, causing residents of the provincial capital Chengdu to run into the streets, an AFP journalist witnessed.

The US Geological Survey put the magnitude of the quake at 5.8, saying it struck at 4:21 pm (0821 GMT).

China's state-run Xinhua news agency put the magnitude at 6.4, citing the Sichuan Earthquake Bureau.

The quake was centred in Qingchuan county, about 250 kilometres (155 miles) northeast of Chengdu.

There were no immediate reports in China's state media of damage or casualties.

Chengdu residents began filtering back inside soon after the quake, with many taking it in stride. "I am not afraid. We are getting used to it," a young woman, walking down a Chengdu street with two girlfriends, told AFP.

The aftershock was one of dozens to shake the region after an 8.0-magnitude quake struck north of Chengdu on May 12, causing wide devastation.

The May 12 quake has killed at least 62,664 people and left 23,775 missing, the government said on Sunday.

Pakistan ruling party moves to clip Musharraf's power

AFP, Islamabad

Pakistan's main ruling coalition party Saturday unveiled a proposed package of constitutional amendments designed to clip the wings of key US-ally President Pervez Musharraf.

Announcing the package, Pakistan People's Party leader Asif Ali Zardari told a news conference here the amendments would remove the president's powers to dismiss the government and would strengthen the parliament.

He said the government would open talks with Musharraf, the former army chief, on the package and would also discuss it with all political parties. "We intend to walk him away, rather than impeach him away," Zardari said when asked if his government wanted to remove the former military strongman who became a civilian head of the government last year.

Zardari said the proposed bill, which would require a two-third majority in the parliament for approval, will be presented to the parliament as soon as possible.

Zardari, widower of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto, said dozens of judges deposed by Musharraf last year would be restored via a mechanism provided in the package.

The dispute over reinstatement of the judges had caused strains on the coalition government which was formed after Musharraf's allies were defeated in February elections.

Bhutto's party emerged as the single largest party but did not win enough seats to form the government on its own in the 342-member national assembly.

Under the proposed bill the president's powers to appoint the chiefs of the army, navy and air force would be transferred to the prime minister and parliament will appoint the chief election commissioner.

Obama kicks off VP search

Internet

While Sen. Hillary Clinton continues to dog him in the Democratic primary, Sen. Barack Obama is continuing his efforts to move on to the general election. The latest move: the beginnings of a search for a VP candidate. The CBS Evening News reported, "Sources tell CBS News Barack Obama has set up a search committee, headed up by Washington insider Jim Johnson, who did the same job for John Kerry and Walter Mondale." USA Today calls the move a "sure sign that the primary season is winding down," while the Washington Post reports Obama and his aides "played down the move, describing it as only a preliminary exercise and stressing that they remain focused" on the Democratic primary battle.

More Speculation On Clinton As VP The New York Times reports while Clinton "and her advisers insist that she is determined to win the Democratic nomination," former President Bill Clinton, "has begun privately contemplating a different outcome for her: As Senator Barack Obama's running mate."

Friends "of the former president say his musings have been more casual: He believes that an Obama-Clinton ticket could help unify the party, and he thinks she has earned a meeting with Mr. Obama to discuss the possibility." Others are considering the possibility as well, with the New York Post reporting that California Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D), "a Clinton booster, told The Post, 'I am one that believes that if it works out that Senator Obama is the nominee, the strongest ticket would be Senator Clinton as vice president. No question in my mind.'"

However, Bloomberg News reports Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson "dismissed reports that aides to the two Democratic candidates have talked about Clinton running with Obama in the general election. 'There have been no conversations with the Obama campaign,' Wolfson said on a conference call."

Chinese 'propaganda’ portrays me as 'devil’: Dalai Lama

AFP, London

The Dalai Lama has said he was saddened that Beijing's state "propaganda" had left many Chinese considering him a "devil with horns". On the first of five days of talks and teachings in the central English city of Nottingham, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said Beijing's control over information left millions thinking he was a "demon".

Emotional human values were lacking in modern China, he added. "Millions of innocent Chinese will have no other way to get information except government propaganda," he said in a talk at Nottingham Arena Saturday. "If millions feel that the Dalai Lama is a demon, then I feel very sad. "This is no help to solve the problems." His strength of character and inner peace lay in the fact he, and other Tibetan Buddhists, had truth, he said. "Violent methods cannot eliminate truth. Through violent suppression, truth becomes stronger."

The 72-year-old monk called for a renewed emphasis on compassion and affection in the world.

Brown under pressure as sniping mounts

AFP, London

Prime Minister Gordon Brown faced speculation Saturday that his disgruntled party could mount a leadership challenge, as senior figures warned him to change or perish.

Although only one Labour Party deputy broke ranks and publicly called for Brown to go after Thursday's devastating by-election defeat, reports said many in the ruling centre-left party wondered how much more they could take. Brown's problems deepened when the main opposition Conservatives swept to victory in the previously safe Labour seat of Crewe and Nantwich in northwest England, with a mammoth swing of nearly 18 percent.

Labour deputy Graham Stringer, an outspoken critic of Brown, told the BBC it was time for a senior figure in the party to mount a challenge. "Is it more damaging for the party to change the leader or cross our fingers and hope that things get better?" he asked. Another outspoken Labour lawmaker, Frank Field, stopped short of calling for Brown's head but said the prime minister's cabinet lacked substance.

"The team needs to be rebuilt with some heavy hitters," he told Sky News.

Other critics refused to be identified, but their message was clear-Brown is fast losing the support of his party, less than a year since he took over from Tony Blair.

One unnamed senior Labour figure told The Guardian newspaper: "People are not far away from thinking that we cannot win under Gordon Brown.

"We wish it was different from what it is. But it is hard to avoid looking at the facts."

The Times newspaper quoted cabinet sources as saying most ministers now doubted whether Labour could turn around its deficit in opinions polls with Brown in charge.

Senior ministers told the daily the party could not sit still and do nothing if it seemed to be heading towards certain defeat at a general election that must take place in the next two years.

The Sun newspaper quoted a cabinet minister as saying: "We have a collective responsibility to do the right thing by the party. We have big problems and they have to be sorted out."

But the process for ousting a Labour leader is lengthy and arduous, unless the cabinet tells a sitting prime minister his time is up, according to the Labour rule book.

Mugabe fights for survival with start of campaign

AFP, Harere

With his rival back in the country, Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe fought for his political survival Sunday as he kicked off his election campaign.

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai arrived home Saturday after a six-week absence vowing to end the three decade rule of post-independence leader Mugabe in a run-off election scheduled for June 27.

Despite fears of an assassination plot and the threat of treason charges, Tsvangirai returned to Zimbabwe looking relaxed and launched into a blistering attack on Mugabe who has presided over the economic collapse of the country. Mugabe was set to deliver his first official campaign speech in Harare on Sunday in which he is expected to tear into Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party with his habitual fiery rhetoric. Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa set the tone when he linked the opposition to colonial-era enemies Britain and white farmers-but he admitted that the ruling ZANU-PF party was now fighting for survival.

"We are now fighting with our backs to the wall," he told the state-owned Sunday Mail newspaper.

Former trade union leader Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe in a first round of voting on March 29, but not by enough to secure an outright victory.

He had been abroad since shortly after a first round of elections on March 29, lobbying regional leaders to pressure Mugabe into hold elections under the watchful eye of regional peacekeepers and election observers.

Both the MDC and ZANU-PF were scheduled to hold rallies on Sunday.

The aftermath of the disputed first-round polls, the results of which were delayed by nearly five weeks, has been marked by violence that the opposition claims is designed to rig the run-off.

Rights groups and the United Nations have said the attacks are being directed at followers of Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), with pro-government militias accused of a campaign of terror in the countryside.