World Scene
April 3, 2008
IRAN
China gives IAEA data on nuke plan
VIENNA, Austria — China has recently given the International Atomic Energy Agency intelligence about Iran's nuclear program despite Beijing's opposition to harsh U.N. Security Council sanctions on Tehran, diplomats familiar with the matter told the Associated Press.
China and Russia have acted as a brake within the Security Council, consistently watering down a U.S.-led push to impose severe penalties on Tehran for its nuclear defiance since the first set of sanctions was passed in late 2006.
A Chinese decision to provide information for use in the agency's attempts to probe Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program would appear to reflect growing international unease about how honest the Islamic republic has been in denying it ever tried to make such arms.
COLOMBIA
Court approves extradition to U.S.
BOGOTA — A feared far-right warlord can be extradited to the United States to face charges of drug trafficking, the country's Supreme Court ruled yesterday.
President Alvaro Uribe quickly said he would sign the order to extradite Carlos Jimenez, 42, also known as Macaco.
Colombia's far-right paramilitaries have been in a peace process with the government since 2003; they voluntarily handed themselves over to be kept in prison, and more than 31,000 fighters laid down their arms. Last August, Jimenez became the first militia leader to lose his benefits under the peace deal when the government accused him of continuing to control paramilitary death squads and trafficking from behind bars.
FRANCE
Mission to help ill hostage begins
PARIS — France said yesterday it is working with Spain and Switzerland to get medical help for Ingrid Betancourt, a former politician being held hostage by Colombian rebels.
According to her son, she may be within hours of death if she doesn't get a blood transfusion.
Mrs. Betancourt — who is both French and Colombian — is among hundreds of hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, but her release has become a cause celebre in France. The former Colombian presidential candidate has been held in a jungle for more than six years.
THAILAND
Government revives its war on drugs
BANGKOK — Thailand launched a war on drugs yesterday, reviving a controversial project of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Critics said his 2003 drug war cost many innocent lives.
Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung defended the new campaign as he inaugurated it.
About 2,300 people were killed during Thailand's drug war. Human rights activists said there were many extrajudicial executions by police and other security forces. The government said drug gangs carried out most of the killings to eliminate informers or rivals.
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