WHAT HAPPENED ON 12th February 2001?

11th February 2001

COURT SENTENCES PALESTINIAN TO DEATH

A Palestinian security officer has been sentenced to death for collaborating with Israeli forces. A Palestinian military court in the West Bank town of Hebron was told that the officer supplied key information. Hassan Mohammed Hassan Musalam is also said to have opened fire on Israeli soldiers to give them a pretext for attacking Palestinian neighbourhoods. The Palestinian Authority executed two men for collaboration last month.

12th February 2001

OFFICERS IN DRUGS FOR CONFESSION PROBE

Nine police officers face 42 disciplinary charges after a probe into claims they supplied hard drugs to prisoners in return for confessions. The Police Complaints Authority said the nine were all from West Yorkshire. The investigation ` Operation Passport ` relates to officers in a squad dealing with serious crime in Leeds. The charges against the nine include falsehood prevarication discreditable conduct & neglect of duty.

12th February 2001

POLITICS The Government & the Liberal Democrats have called off their talks on reforming the House of Lords until after the General Election. VISIT Nelson Mandela's successor Thabo Mbeki is to pay a state visit to the UK The Queen has invited South Africa's President to stay at Windsor Castle from June 12 to 15. NHS Gynaecologist Paul Vinall 53 who worked for Leeds Health Authority has been charged with 33 indecent assaults on 23 people. He will appear before Leeds magistrates on March 19.

11th February 2001

CROATIAN RALLY BACKS ACCUSED GENERAL

Over 100 000 people have taken part in a demonstration on the promenade in the Croatian town of Split organisers say. The demonstration is in support of Gen Mirko Norac accused of war crimes during Croatia's "Homeland War" against Serbian & Yugoslav forces in 1991-5. The Croatian news agency HINA said the protest rally organised by war veterans was being held under the motto "We Are All Mirko Norac". Many Croatians feel strongly that all war crimes were committed by the Serbs.

12th February 2001

OFFICERS IN DRUGS FOR CONFESSION PROBE

Nine police officers face 42 disciplinary charges after a probe into claims they supplied hard drugs to prisoners in return for confessions. The Police Complaints Authority said the nine were all from West Yorkshire. The investigation ` Operation Passport ` relates to officers in a squad dealing with serious crime in Leeds. The charges against the nine include falsehood prevarication discreditable conduct & neglect of duty.

12th February 2001

POLICE REMOVE VANDALISED GUN POSTERS

Police posters showing a man in a pool of blood & the words: "young gifted and dead" have been removed after half of them were attacked with white paint. The 60 posters were unveiled in Brent north-west London less than two weeks ago as part of a crackdown on gun crime The Government-backed campaign was called "Not Another Drop". Police said the posters had also attracted complaints from families of a number of shooting victims.

11th February 2001

POLICE HUNT ROBBERS AFTER CHEMIST THEFT

Armed robbers who stole prescription drugs from a chemist are being hunted by police. The incident took place at the Mackie Chemist store in Shawlands Glasgow at 7.50pm on Friday. Staff & customers were left shaken after they were threatened by the two men who ran off along Pollokshaws Road The robbers were aged between 20 & 30 and one may have had an Irish accent. One man was wearing a balaclava while the other had tights over his head.

12th February 2001

OFFICERS IN DRUGS FOR CONFESSION PROBE

Nine police officers face 42 disciplinary charges after a probe into claims they supplied hard drugs to prisoners in return for confessions. The Police Complaints Authority said the nine were all from West Yorkshire. The investigation ` Operation Passport ` relates to officers in a squad dealing with serious crime in Leeds. The charges against the nine include falsehood prevarication discreditable conduct & neglect of duty.

12th February 2001

CROAT GENERAL ACCUSED OF DRUG SMUGGLING

A former general in the Bosnian-Croat militia has gone on trial in Croatia on charges of smuggling drugs. Ivan Andabak was indicted last November for allegedly smuggling 660kg of cocaine into the country. UN officials say they also suspect him of involvement in the assassination of Bosnian Deputy Interior Minister Jozo Leutar in 1999 Hina agency reports. Bosnia-Hercegovina's request for the extradition of Mr Andabak a Croatian citizen to face trial has been denied.

11th February 2001

KAZAKHSTANA prisoner sentenced to 10

years for murder has sewn his mouth shut in protest against the sentence. The man went on hunger strike after he was jailed for murdering his friend's wife and sewed his mouth shut to prevent attempts at force-feeding. RUSSIA11-year-old Dmitriy Sysuyev died in the southern town of Krasnodar after being hit by the mayor's official car. Mayor Nikolay Priz's car was passing a school at high speed with its siren on. The car's passengers "disappeared" before police arrived the driver said.

12th February 2001

OFFICERS IN DRUGS FOR CONFESSION PROBE

Nine police officers face 42 disciplinary charges after a probe into claims they supplied hard drugs to prisoners in return for confessions. The Police Complaints Authority said the nine were all from West Yorkshire. The investigation ` Operation Passport ` relates to officers in a squad dealing with serious crime in Leeds. The charges against the nine include falsehood prevarication discreditable conduct & neglect of duty.

12th February 2001

GALLOWAY ARRESTED AT ANTI-NUCLEAR DEMO

Police have arrested 266 people including Labour MP George Galloway at a demonstration outside the Faslane Trident submarine base on the Clyde. Scottish socialist party leader & MSP Tommy Sheridan was also arrested. Hundreds of protesters are blockading the base to demand nuclear missiles on four Trident subs there be removed. The missiles breach international law because they cannot distinguish between civilian & military targets they say

11th February 2001

AGENDA AT WESTMINSTER

The Commons will begin with questions to Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon. The questions will be followed by Opposition Day debates entitled Conditions in Her Majesty's Prisons & Shifting the Balance. Peers will hold a third reading debate on the Criminal Defence Service (Advice and Assistance) Bill (Lords). They will also hold the committee stage debate on the International Criminal Court Bill (Lords).

12th February 2001

OFFICERS IN DRUGS FOR CONFESSION PROBE

Nine police officers face 42 disciplinary charges after a probe into claims they supplied hard drugs to prisoners in return for confessions. The Police Complaints Authority said the nine were all from West Yorkshire. The investigation ` Operation Passport ` relates to officers in a squad dealing with serious crime in Leeds. The charges against the nine include falsehood prevarication discreditable conduct & neglect of duty.

12th February 2001

Carl Josephs unsuccessfully sued the

force in 1999 for racial harassment unlawful arrest & false imprisonment. Mr Josephs 28 of Birmingham says he has since been stopped another 10 times He plans a new legal action & hopes the Human Rights Act will help his case The police force declined to comment.

11th February 2001

CANARY SAVES COUPLE FROM BLAZING HOUSE

A couple have been saved from almost certain injury by the swift actions of their pet canary. The couple had been cooking chips after a night out when they fell asleep at their home in Wombwell South Yorkshire But the sound of their pet canary cheeping frantically in its cage woke them up to find the chip pan on fire and the house full of smoke. Firefighters who attended the blaze said the couple had a lucky escape.

12th February 2001

OFFICERS IN DRUGS FOR CONFESSION PROBE

Nine police officers face 42 disciplinary charges after a probe into claims they supplied hard drugs to prisoners in return for confessions. The Police Complaints Authority said the nine were all from West Yorkshire. The investigation ` Operation Passport ` relates to officers in a squad dealing with serious crime in Leeds. The charges against the nine include falsehood prevarication discreditable conduct & neglect of duty.

12th February 2001

LETTER BOMBS SENT TO COMPANY AND FARM

Army bomb disposal experts have defused a letter bomb sent to an agricultural firm in North Yorkshire police say. The delivery to a company in Thirsk is being linked to similar attacks on firms in recent months & is thought to be the work of animal rights groups. Meanwhile a farm in the Lauderdale area on the Scottish borders has also received a letter bomb. Police said there was no reason why the recipient should have been targeted.