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Parliment rejects U.N. plan for Kosovo

By TIMES WIRES
Published February 15, 2007

Serbia's Parliament on Wednesday overwhelmingly rejected a U.N. plan that would give virtual independence to the breakaway province of Kosovo. The rejection sends a strong signal that Serbia will be unlikely to compromise over its southern province, meaning a resolution will probably have to be imposed by the U.N. Security Council. The proposal does not explicitly call for Kosovo's independence, but envisions granting the province its own flag, anthem, army, constitution and the right to apply for membership in international organizations. Kosovo's Prime Minister Agim Ceku said Serbia's views would have no impact on the province's future status. "What matters is what the European Union and the international community are saying, and not what Belgrade is saying," he said. Kosovo has been a U.N. protectorate since 1999.

CIA flights come under investigation

Switzerland on Wednesday followed Italy and Germany in raising the threat of criminal prosecution of CIA operatives involved in antiterrorism operations in Europe. The Swiss Cabinet authorized the start of criminal proceedings against those responsible for the abduction in Italy of an Egyptian Muslim preacher allegedly taken on CIA flights through Swiss airspace. Meanwhile, the European Parliament on Wednesday approved a report accusing Britain, Germany, Italy and other European nations of turning a blind eye to CIA flights transporting terror suspects to secret prisons overseas in an apparent breach of European Union human rights standards. The report deals mainly with EU members and does not mention Switzerland, which is not a member.

NATO strike kills Taliban leader

A NATO airstrike early Wednesday destroyed a compound housing a Taliban leader blamed for a wave of violence across southern Afghanistan, killing him and at least 10 others, NATO said. A resident said 20 people were killed, but there was no way to independently verify the number at the remote site outside Musa Qala.

Two antiterror laws are set to expire

Two measures introduced by Canada in the rush to protect the country against terrorist threats after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, are expected to be allowed to expire early next week, with opposition politicians saying there is no longer a need for such sweeping laws. The two measures, which have not been used, allow the police to hold suspects without charges for 72 hours if they are accused of plotting an attack and authorize judges to compel witnesses to testify in terror cases.

Rights group: 120 killed in protests

At least 64 people were killed in Guinea in the past two days as the West African country imposed martial law, a local human rights group said Wednesday. Thierno Madjou Sow, president of the League of Human Rights in the capital of Conakry, said the latest deaths bring his group's tally to at least 120 killed since violent protests began Saturday. Opposition leaders and trade unions accuse President Lansana Conte of violating a power-sharing agreement and have demanded he relinquish power.

[Last modified February 15, 2007, 01:24:12]