VP status a first for Israel at U.N.
United Nations Israel was elected one of 21 vice presidents of the next General Assembly session Monday in what the Jewish state called a historic move toward its full representation on key U.N. bodies.
The 191-member assembly approved the uncontested slate of vice presidents after electing veteran Swedish diplomat Jan Eliasson president of the 60th General Assembly session to start in September with a summit on U.N. reform and poverty.
The election marks the first time an Israeli will serve as a General Assembly vice president in 53 years. Under pressure from the United States, the regional group of European, North American and other countries invited Israel in 2000 to be a temporary member until the Asian Group – where it belongs geographically – approves full membership. Arab nations have blocked its admission.
Pair freed in Aruba in missing-girl case
Oranjestad, Aruba Two former hotel security guards in Aruba, the first men detained in the disappearance of Natalee Holloway, were released Monday. Three young men who took the 18-year-old Alabama honors student to a beach the morning before she went missing May 30 remained in custody.
The release of Antonius “Mickey” John, 30, and Abraham Jones, 28, came before a judge reviewed a motion for release filed Monday, a lawyer said.
No one has been charged. Lawyers for the detainees and freed men say they are innocent.
The men’s release came a day after the teen’s mother said she believes the security guards were innocent while the three young men knew what happened and should be pressed to tell the truth.
White powder scare affects parliament
Canberra, Australia Authorities closed a loading bay at Australia’s Parliament House today after a package of white powder was found, the latest in a series of similar scares at official buildings in Canberra.
The find came as Pakistan’s President Gen. Pervez Musharraf was given a welcome on a lawn outside the building at the start of an official visit to Australia.
A Parliament House spokeswoman said there was “no danger to people in the building.” It was not immediately clear if the powder was dangerous.
The discovery was the latest of similar incidents deemed hoaxes.
Uzbekistan incident called ‘massacre’
Moscow A human rights group today called Uzbekistan’s crackdown on protesters last month a “massacre” and urged Washington to suspend talks on long-term plans for the U.S. military base there until the Central Asian nation agrees to an international investigation.
Uzbekistan hosts a U.S. military base established to help fight the war in neighboring Afghanistan.
Human Rights Watch said it interviewed 50 victims and witnesses who said government troops fired repeatedly on demonstrators gathered in a square in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijan on May 13 and killed many as they fled. The group said hundreds had been slain.
The Uzbek government has denied firing on civilians. President Islam Karimov branded the protesters Islamic extremists.