Sudan - Durar Region Conflict
It may take up to two years to disarm the Arab militia in the Dufar region of western Sudan. 1.2 million people are displaced as a result of the
fighting and over 50,000 have been killed in the last 19 months alone. The U.N. is calling Dufar the "world's worst humanitarian crisis", while the
U.S. is calling it genocide. Sudanese President Omar el-Bashir is not responding to international pressure to end the conflict.
Afghanistan - Poppy crops increase
Afghans have planted more than 50, 000 more acres of poppies than the previous year, bringing the total up to 250,000 acres. The narcotics trade in
the country is undermining the U.S effort to bring stability to the country.
Caribbean - Hurricane Jeanne threat grows
Hurricane Jeanne is predicted to strengthen and grow into a major hurricane before striking the Bahamas tomorrow and moving on to Florida. The
Caribbean is still struggling from the results of a record hurricane season.
Nigeria - Fighting causes Shell to evacuate employees
Royal Dutch/Shell has evacuated it's employees from two plants in Nigeria after rebel forces have clashed with troops. Government officials are
claiming that oil production will not be stopped, but last year 40% of production was halted during conflicts such as this one. Amnesty International
estimates that up to 500 have been killed in the last 3 weeks.
Gaza - Mortar bomb kills woman
A Palestinian mortar bomb killed a woman in a Southern Gaza settlement, and the day before 3 Palestinian gunmen killed 3 Israeli soldiers guarding a
settlement in the same area. Palestinian militants fire rockets and mortar rounds into Israeli settlements almost daily, but this is the first
resulting death in almost 2 years.
Iraq - Six Egyptians and four Iraqis kidnapped
Gunmen kidnapped six Egyptians, and four Iraqi workers who were employed by an Iraqi cellular phone company called Iraqna Mobile Net . Two of the
victims were kidnapped from their Bag dad office. On the same day a rocket hit a busy Bag dad street killing 4 Iraqis and wounding 14 others. Mortar
rounds were fired at the Italian Embassy also, but this was before office hours, so there were no injuries. Fighting continues between insurgents and
American forces throughout the country, the worst being in the Suni region North of Baghdad.
Brazil - U.N. sends nuclear inspectors to Brazil
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is sending a team of inspectors to Brazil after Brazil denied a IAEA member access to a uranium
enrichment facility in February and March of this year. Brazil has one of the world's largest uranium reserves, and said that they were simply trying
to protect trade secrets. The IAEA team is expected to arrive next month.
Lebanon - Israeli warplanes violate Lebanese airspace
For the last 3 days Israeli warplanes have been overflying Lebanese airspace, but without retaliation from Lebanese or Hezbollah gunners who control
the region. Lebanon has filed complaints with the United Nations, accusing Israel of repeatedly violating their country's sovereignty.
**Sources include: Reuters, AZCentral.com,Scotsman, Klaheej Times, NYNewsday.com, ABC, UPI
[edit on 24-9-2004 by dbates]