WHAT HAPPENED ON 21st September 2003?

20th September 2003

UN MUST HAVE "SIGNIFICANT" IRAQ ROLE

The UK Germany & France have agreed the UN must play a "significant role" in Iraq & that power be transferred "as soon as possible" Tony Blair said. After Berlin talks with the French & German leaders Mr Blair said the world "has an interest" in securing Iraq. He said he was confident that the differences that emerged within Europe over the war in Iraq can be resolved. But Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder & President Jacques Chirac said there were differences still to be sorted out

21st September 2003

BLAIR SPANISH PM HOLDING TALKS ON IRAQ

Tony Blair is holding talks with Spanish premier Jose Maria Aznar in a bid to gain broader international involvement in rebuilding Iraq. Mr Aznar was one of the few leaders to support the US-UK invasion of Iraq. The talks at Chequers follow Mr Blair's summit in Berlin with German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder & French president Jacques Chirac. Mr Chirac made it clear that serious differences of approach remain over the extent of the UN's future role in Iraq.

21st September 2003

ARGENTINA SNUBS FRENCH EXTRADITION PLEA

An Argentine judge has refused to extradite to France an ex-naval captain accused of killing two French nuns. Alfredo Astiz was sought by France over the disappearance of nuns Alice Domon and Leonie Duquet in 1977 during Argentina's military dictatorship. Astiz nicknamed the "Blond Angel of Death" was convicted in absentia of murder by a court in France in 1990. He was arrested in Argentina on Tuesday but Argentine law permits him to choose whether to face trial at home or abroad

20th September 2003

STRAW DEPLORES ATTACK ON LEADING IRAQI

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has condemned the "cowardly" assassination attempt of Aquila al-Hashimi one of three women on Iraq's Governing Council He said the Government "deplores" the shooting of Ms Hashimi outside her Baghdad home & supported her work to build a "free & democratic Iraq". Ms Hashimi had been due to fly to New York as part of an Iraqi delegation to the UN General Assembly next week. She is in a critical condition with serious abdominal injuries.

21st September 2003

BLAIR SPANISH PM HOLDING TALKS ON IRAQ

Tony Blair is holding talks with Spanish premier Jose Maria Aznar in a bid to gain broader international involvement in rebuilding Iraq. Mr Aznar was one of the few leaders to support the US-UK invasion of Iraq. The talks at Chequers follow Mr Blair's summit in Berlin with German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder & French president Jacques Chirac. Mr Chirac made it clear that serious differences of approach remain over the extent of the UN's future role in Iraq.

21st September 2003

WAR MAIN VOTE-WINNER IN BRENT ` KENNEDY

Oposition to the Iraq war was the "principal component" in the Liberal Democrats' by-election victory in Brent East leader Charles Kennedy has said. "People are questioning the basis on which they were sold the case for war " he told the BBC's Breakfast With Frost. However he said military action was "by no means" the only reason people had chosen to vote Liberal Democrat. "At the last...election on the same One had only to look around in Brent East where rubbish was piled up to see why Labour had lost he said.

20th September 2003

ANTI-CANCER DRUG GIVEN GENERAL RELEASE

Cancer patients in England & Wales are to be offered a new drug that can distinguish cancerous from healthy cells & destroy the former. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma patients will be able to take rituximab marketed under the name MabThera with chemotherapy. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence has approved the drug. Consultant haematologist Dr Mike Potter said MabThera is the first treatment in almost 30 years to improve NHL survival rates compared with chemotherapy alone.

21st September 2003

BLAIR SPANISH PM HOLDING TALKS ON IRAQ

Tony Blair is holding talks with Spanish premier Jose Maria Aznar in a bid to gain broader international involvement in rebuilding Iraq. Mr Aznar was one of the few leaders to support the US-UK invasion of Iraq. The talks at Chequers follow Mr Blair's summit in Berlin with German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder & French president Jacques Chirac. Mr Chirac made it clear that serious differences of approach remain over the extent of the UN's future role in Iraq.

21st September 2003

IRAQ PLANNING MASSIVE ECONOMIC REFORMS

Foreign investors are to be allowed to buy complete control of enterprises in Iraq ` except for its oil & mineral industries it has been announced. The reforms will allow foreigners to gain ownership of businesses that were previously state-controlled. The interim goverment said the reforms would "significantly advance efforts to build a free & open market economy". They would also spur economic growth and speed Iraq's re-entry into the international community.

20th September 2003

US CLEANING UP AFTER HURRICANE ISABEL

Americans in eastern states are cleaning up after Hurricane Isabel caused major damage & cost 25 lives. The hurricane with winds gusting up to 100mph left 4.5m people without power and disrupted flights & rail services President Bush has declared parts of Virginia North Carolina & Maryland major disaster zones. Pennsylvania New York & Washington DC were also hit. Winds have dropped to 20mph & Isabel now classified as a tropical storm is expected to peter out over Canada.

21st September 2003

BLAIR SPANISH PM HOLDING TALKS ON IRAQ

Tony Blair is holding talks with Spanish premier Jose Maria Aznar in a bid to gain broader international involvement in rebuilding Iraq. Mr Aznar was one of the few leaders to support the US-UK invasion of Iraq. The talks at Chequers follow Mr Blair's summit in Berlin with German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder & French president Jacques Chirac. Mr Chirac made it clear that serious differences of approach remain over the extent of the UN's future role in Iraq.

21st September 2003

LATVIANS VOTE IN FAVOUR OF JOINING EU

Latvia has voted to join the European Union by a wider margin than analysts and exit polls had predicted. Final official results showed voters in the former Soviet republic's referendum backed EU entry by 67% to 32.3%. The turnout was just over 72.5%. President Vaira Vike-Freiburga praised Latvians for their "smart decision". Latvia was the last of eight East European states to vote for EU entry. All eight will now join the EU next May together with Malta & Cyprus.

20th September 2003

UN MUST HAVE "SIGNIFICANT" IRAQ ROLE

The UK Germany & France have agreed the UN must play a "significant role" in Iraq & that power be transferred "as soon as possible" Tony Blair said. After Berlin talks with the French & German leaders Mr Blair said the world "has an interest" in securing Iraq. He said he was confident that the differences that emerged within Europe over the war in Iraq can be resolved. But Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder & President Jacques Chirac said there were differences still to be sorted out

21st September 2003

BLAIR SPANISH PM HOLDING TALKS ON IRAQ

Tony Blair is holding talks with Spanish premier Jose Maria Aznar in a bid to gain broader international involvement in rebuilding Iraq. Mr Aznar was one of the few leaders to support the US-UK invasion of Iraq. The talks at Chequers follow Mr Blair's summit in Berlin with German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder & French president Jacques Chirac. Mr Chirac made it clear that serious differences of approach remain over the extent of the UN's future role in Iraq.

21st September 2003

LEADER OF HOUSE OF LORDS DIES AGED 62

Lord Williams of Mostyn Leader of the House of Lords has died aged 62 after collapsing at his family home. The Prime Minister led tributes to his Cabinet colleague calling him "a fine politician with excellent judgement". Gareth Williams was appointed Leader of the Lords in June 2001 after two years as Attorney General & a distinguished legal career. Married with three daughters & a son he was appointed by Tony Blair to see through Labour's planned Lords reforms.

20th September 2003

PETROL TAX RISE "STEALTH TAX" ` TORIES

The Chancellor has been accused of "penalising" motorists to support public finances as it emerged petrol may rise by 5p a gallon from next month Shadow Transport spokesman Tim Collins said the rise stated in the April budget by Mr Brown but deferred by the war was a "stealth" tax on motorists. UK drivers already pay the highest fuel taxes in the developed world he said. The Treasury said the October 1 hike may not happen if oil prices stabilise but gave no date for a decision.

21st September 2003

BLAIR SPANISH PM HOLDING TALKS ON IRAQ

Tony Blair is holding talks with Spanish premier Jose Maria Aznar in a bid to gain broader international involvement in rebuilding Iraq. Mr Aznar was one of the few leaders to support the US-UK invasion of Iraq. The talks at Chequers follow Mr Blair's summit in Berlin with German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder & French president Jacques Chirac. Mr Chirac made it clear that serious differences of approach remain over the extent of the UN's future role in Iraq.

21st September 2003

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