Israel to control entry into Gaza
Jerusalem
Israel ruled out giving the Palestinians their own gate to the world, insisting Monday it will control traffic in and out of Gaza after Israeli settlers and soldiers leave. Palestinians complained Israel is unwilling to loosen its grip on the coastal strip.
Just a week before the pullout begins, Israel’s Security Cabinet met to consider how to deal with the crossing point at Rafah between Gaza and Egypt. Rather than endorse a plan for international inspectors to handle customs and security, the Israelis insisted on moving the crossing to the point where Gaza, Egypt and Israel meet – and on retaining Israeli control.
No final decision was made, however, indicating key issues will be left unresolved when the pullout begins. The two sides also are discussing removal of rubble, the fate of greenhouses and other matters.
The Rafah crossing to Egypt is Gaza’s only link to the outside world, as the seaside territory is surrounded on the other two sides by Israel. The border crossing issue is also considered vital by Israelis, who worry about weapons smuggling into Gaza and about the flow of cheap goods into Israel.
Brazilian dicatorship worked on A-bomb
Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
A former president has disclosed that the military dictatorship that ruled Brazil for two decades tried to develop an atomic bomb, but says the program was scrapped when an elected government assumed power in 1985.
The 1964-85 dictatorship was long suspected of seeking nuclear weapons, but ex-President Jose Sarney’s comments Sunday were the first confirmation of the program.
Sarney, who led the first democratic civilian government after the dictatorship ended and previously denied the existence of the program, said he was informed that the military had dug a deep well for an eventual nuclear test explosion in a remote area of the northern state of Para.
Sarney said he denied the existence of the atomic weapons program when he was president so as not to jeopardize talks intended to head off a nuclear arms race with neighboring Argentina.
Probe: Plane in Toronto crash was OK
Toronto
Investigators have ruled out engine or mechanical failure in last week’s jet crash at the Toronto airport, and appeared Monday to be focused on runway conditions, stormy weather and pilot error as possible causes.
Air France Flight 358 from Paris landed at Lester B. Pearson International Airport amid heavy thunderstorms, skidding off the runway for about 200 yards before slamming into a ravine and catching on fire.
None of the 309 passengers and crew members died. At least 43 people were injured and several remained hospitalized Monday, including the captain.
India, Pakistan extend cease-fire
New Delhi
India and Pakistan agreed Monday to extend a two-year-old cease-fire in disputed Kashmir, but did not discuss the question of reducing their military presence there, an Indian official said.
Delegates at the talks also agreed not to develop new guard posts or defense installments along the cease-fire line dividing the Himalayan territory claimed by both nations, said Navtej Sarna, a spokesman for India’s External Affairs Ministry.
Both sides “reaffirmed their commitment to uphold the ongoing cease-fire,” and agreed not to violate each other’s air space, Sarna said.
Local army commanders from both sides will meet monthly to try to deal with any problems.
In 2003, India and Pakistan agreed on a truce along the disputed cease-fire line dividing Kashmir between them as part of peace efforts. Before that, the two armies routinely exchanged fire, causing almost daily casualties.