At Least 45 Civilians, 62 Taleban Killed by NATO, US-led Air Strikes in Afghanistan

Afghan officials say an investigation into NATO and U.S.-led air strikes in southern Afghanistan shows that 62 Taleban and 45 civilians have been killed.
The toll was the latest in a series of conflicting reports about how many people died when fighter jets pounded militants in a village in southern Helmand province late Friday.
A NATO spokesman has acknowledged that some civilians were killed in Helmand province, but has said the death toll is nowhere near as high as Afghan officials have claimed.
The figures were provided to an investigation team by local officials. They were impossible to independently verify because the area is remote and difficult to reach.

The militants had sought cover in the village after intense fighting with foreign troops.
The U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, William Wood, has said Taleban militants are to blame for many civilian casualties because they involve civilians in attacks.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai has accused NATO and U.S.-led forces of carelessly killing 90 civilians in recent operations against the Taleban.

Bush Says Troop Surge Reducing Violence in Iraq, Democrats Promise to Change Course in Iraq

President Bush says U.S. troop reinforcements in Iraq are helping to reduce sectarian violence and car bombings in Baghdad. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, opposition Democrats say they will try again to change course in Iraq through legislation on defense spending.
Looking ahead to the Fourth of July, Independence Day in the United States, President Bush says Americans will remember the spirit of liberty that inspired the nation's Founding Fathers to pledge their lives and their fortunes to defend freedom.
In his weekly radio address, Mr. Bush uses the holiday to defend wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, saying a new generation of Americans has volunteered to protect the ideals of the nation's founding fathers and keep their fellow citizens from harm.
The president is hoping to rebuild support for an unpopular war at a time when he is under pressure from opposition Democrats and some senior members of his own party to show that his decision to send more troops to Iraq is succeeding.
"We're still at the beginning of this offensive, but we're seeing some hopeful signs. We're engaging the enemy, and killing or capturing hundreds," he said.
A majority of Americans now believe the invasion of Iraq was a mistake. A Newsweek magazine poll earlier this month said 73 percent of Americans disapprove of the president's handling of the war.
Mr. Bush often invokes the sacrifices of those killed in Iraq to justify continuing the fight. In his radio address, he says the father of a fallen Marine sniper urged him to "finish the mission. Bring freedom to the Iraqi people."
"On this Fourth of July, we remember Luke Yepsen and all the men and women in uniform who have given their lives in this struggle," said Mr. Bush. "They've helped bring freedom to the Iraqi people. They've helped make Americans more secure. We will not forget their sacrifice."

In the Democratic radio address, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says the president's policies in Iraq are not working and it is time to reduce the number of U.S. troops there to force Iraq's government to take greater responsibility for the country's security.
"We passed legislation to change course in Iraq only to see the president veto it," he said. "But we also supplied our troops with better equipment and protection and provided our veterans with health care that they really earned and needed."
Reid says the upcoming Senate debate on defense spending is a new opportunity to change course in Iraq. Two Republican senators last week criticized the war. Reid says more Republicans are, in his words, saying the right things about Iraq. He says it is important now that they vote the right way.
Reid also uses the Democratic radio address to praise what he says are the successes of the past six months of his party's control of Congress, including a higher minimum wage, ethics reform, and more funds for those affected by Gulf Coast hurricanes.

Volatile East Timor Votes for New President

Hundreds of people lined up at the crack of dawn Wednesday polling stations in the East Timor capital of Dili to cast their ballot for a new president.

Voters were choosing between the outgoing prime minister and Nobel laureate Jose Ramos Horta and the former independence fighter, speaker of Parliament and president of the ruling Fretilin party, Francisco "Lu'Olo" Guterres.

The two men received the most votes during the first round of presidential elections a month ago. Because neither won an outright majority, a second round of voting was required.
Presidential candidate Lu'Olo spoke with reporters shortly after casting his ballot in Dili. He says this election will determine the future of East Timor and its people.

While there were no major incidents of violence during the election campaign, people here are still traumatized by fighting that broke out a year ago after nearly half the security forces were fired.

The violence involving the security forces nearly toppled the government after it spiraled into anarchy, with gangs battling in the streets. Around two-thirds of the residents of Dili fled to makeshift refugee camps, where tens of thousands still remain today.

Order was restored after the government requested an international peacekeeping force. The peacekeepers remain in Dili, helping to maintain a fragile peace.

Antonio Alvez, a priest in this largely Catholic nation, sums up the feelings of many East Timorese.

"I hope we just try to elect the best man to look after our country. We only need peace. I don't care about poverty, about what we eat, what (we) dress but just I want when I go to bed, I want to sleep in peace," he said. "We are tired of war, enough, for 25 years, war, war, war!"

East Timor is one of the poorest nations in Asia, and half the population is unemployed. Many thought independence five years ago would bring prosperity, but so far, many people remain mired in poverty.

East Timorese voted to break from Indonesia's harsh 24-year rule in 1999 but full independence was only achieved in 2002 after several years under U.N. supervision.

Most people here believe peaceful elections will bring stability and allow East Timor to continue the task of building a democratic nation.

Mr.Ban

Mr. Ban told VOA he is generally encouraged by recent Middle East developments. He pointed in particular to the Mecca agreement that led to formation of a Palestinian national unity government.
At the same time, the secretary-general said he was disappointed at news that the Palestinian coalition has not endorsed the three basic peace principles set down by the Middle East Quartet.
Among the key stops on his 10-day visit will be in Riyadh, where a 2002 Saudi Arabian peace proposal will be reconsidered. It offers Israel full recognition by Arab States and permanent peace in return for a withdrawal to pre-1967 borderlines, the establishment of an independent Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, and a return of Palestinian refugees to lands lost in the 1967 war.
The plan was widely criticized at the time,not least because Israel has several objections to it. But both Israeli and American officials have recently noted that it contains positive elements. Secretary-General Ban says the Saudi plan has the potential to move forward the long-stalled peace process.
"I think the Arab peace initiative of 2002 by Saudi Arabia is one of the pillars, which will facilitate the peace process in the Middle East," said Ban Ki-moon. "It is encouraging that Americans and Israelis are now trying to revisit this Arab peace process. I know that there are still reservations shared by Israelis. But one cannot always be fully satisfied with one or two agreements. We must build upon these good principles."
As U.N. secretary-general, Mr. Ban leads one of the members of the Quartet, which also includes the United States, Russia and the European Union. His visit to the region coincides with a similar trip by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Mr. Ban says he hopes to meet her when they are both in Israel. Their agenda is expected to include the Arab peace proposal.
Mr. Ban said, however, that his hopes for the Saudi proposal were dampened somewhat by the new Palestinian unity government's refusal to accept international principles laid down by the Quartet, including recognition of Israel's right to exist.
"Initial reports coming from this national unity government seem to be a little bit disappointing," said U.N. secretary-general. "They have not clearly stated they will abide by these three principles. I urge that the national unity government will surely adhere to and respect principles laid out by the Quartet. It is important that parties concerned should respect the right to exist, particularly Israel's, and engage in dialogue without resorting to violence."
In addition to his stop in Saudi Arabia, the secretary-general's 10-day Middle East trip will take him to Jordan, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories. Notably, he will not visit two other regional players, Syria or Iran.
The U.N. chief also says he hopes to convene a meeting of the full Middle East Quartet sometime in April.