Washington won't send storm team to Cuba
WASHINGTON -- The United States yesterday effectively withdrew an offer to send a US team to Cuba to assess damage from Hurricane Wilma, saying President Fidel Castro had politicized the mission. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the United States would still like to give $100,000 in aid to independent, nongovernmental organizations in Cuba to help those hit by last month's hurricane, which flooded Havana and western shore areas. Last week the State Department announced that Cuba had accepted US disaster aid for the first time ''in memory," and that a three-member US technical team was on standby to go to the communist-ruled island to assess what was needed after Hurricane Wilma. Castro immediately denied his government had accepted such a gesture and said on live television he was annoyed Washington was distorting Cuba's intentions. The Cuban leader said he had only accepted a visit by the assessment team in an effort to build regional cooperation in dealing with the growing danger posed by hurricanes. (Reuters)
Northern Ireland
Police make arrests in $47m bank heist
BELFAST -- Police made their first arrests in last year's $47 million bank robbery, one of Europe's largest ever, officials said yesterday. The theft, widely blamed on the Irish Republican Army, has tarnished its image, despite repeated denials. The arrest of a 30-year-old man yesterday in Belfast occurred a day after two others were taken into custody in the city of Kilcoo, police said. The IRA-linked Sinn Fein political party protested the arrests, asserting they were politically motivated. Member Willie Clarke argued that the men were targeted because they have supported the IRA's cause. The alleged involvement of the IRA in the December robbery was a setback for Sinn Fein, which represents most of the Catholics in the province, in negotiations over a power sharing agreement. Since the robbery, the IRA has declared that it has disarmed and scrapped its hidden weapons stockpiles -- moves that have raised hopes of reviving a joint Catholic-Protestant administration. A senior police official denied political motivation, saying that officers had acted on tipoffs. (AP)
Australia
Fear of 'home-grown' terror suspects cited
CANBERRA -- An Australian government warning about a possible terrorist threat was prompted by fears that home-grown extremists were moving closer to attacks in Sydney and Melbourne, local media reported today. Prime Minister John Howard said yesterday he had received specific information about a possible terrorist threat, but declined to give details about the nature or location of the threat. ''The intelligence relates to home-grown terror suspects in the country's two biggest cities who are believed to be building the capability to mount an attack," the Australian newspaper reported. The Sydney Morning Herald said the new intelligence did not reveal the precise location or timing of the attacks. Australia has not lifted its terror alert warning from medium and Howard said today the intelligence he had seen this week did not point to an imminent attack. (Reuters)
Saudi Arabia
King asks US to release Hussein's half brother
RIYADH -- The Saudi king has asked President Bush to release Saddam Hussein's half brother on humanitarian grounds, the daily newspaper Al-Riyadh reported yesterday. The paper quoted sources it did not identify as saying King Abdullah sent a letter to Bush asking him to release Barazan Ibrahim al-Tikriti because he was suffering from an advanced stage of cancer. The paper did not say when the letter was sent. Al-Riyadh is guided by the government and close to the monarchy. The report came on the eve of the Muslim feast Eid al-Fitr, when it is traditional to show compassion and release prisoners from jail. Eid al-Fitr celebrates the end of the holy month of Ramadan. (AP)
