BBC 2007-04-18 加文本

BBC 2007-04-18



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BBC World News with Fiona McDonald.

President Bush has addressed a memorial service for the 32 people killed by an armed man at a university in the United States on Monday. Mr. Bush told the thousands of mourners, many of whom wept openly, that it was impossible to make sense of such violence. The gunman has been identified as a 23-year-old student at Virginia Tech University. Cho Seung-hui is originally from South Korea. A short time ago, the superintendent of Virginia State Police Colonel Steve Flaherty gave reporters details on the investigation so far. "As many of you know, we recover two weapons, nine-millimeter handgun as well as a 22-caliber handgun, investigators, ah, trace these weapons and confirm that Cho did legally purchase these weapons in accordance with Virginian law. There is no evidence this time to suggest that Cho left behind any type of a suicide note, Virginia State Police has been coordinating the efforts to contact all the family members and let them know the status of their loved one. "

A town on the outskirt of the Northern Nigerian city of Kano has been locked down by the army overnight with tight curfew restrictions following a day of violence by Islamist militants. Several hundred of the heavily armed fighters have gathered in Panshekara after they attacked a police station on Tuesday, killing at least 13 people.

The leaders of the two biggest opposition parties in Nigeria, Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the former military Head of State Muhammadu Buhari have been in day-long talks aimed at hammering out a strategy to contest presidential elections next Saturday. Both men are presidential candidates, although Mr. Abubakar has only just been given legal clearance to stand, a decision he described as significant. "That is a victory for, for democracy, is a victory for rule of law, and you know the protection of our constitution in this country and the judiciary has to be commanded for its courage, for its defense of our young democracy. "

Two opposition members of parliament have appeared in court in Uganda, charged in connection with a demonstration last Thursday in which 3 people died. The protest in the capital Kampala was against proposals to give away part of a national forest. The MPs were accused along with 25 other people of participating in a riot. Our correspondent in Kampala Sarah Grainger says the politicians in question have been detained overnight.

"As all being remanded in custody, um, it was too late, it came to court very very late today, considering that we had expected it in the morning, um, and it was too late for the bail applications and the bail process to go through, the men have all been remanded in custody. "

World News from the BBC.

Serbia has told the United States not to interfere in Kosovo. The warning comes after a senior American official, the Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns said independence would be the best way forward for the province and its majority ethnic Albanian population. Reporting from Pristina, Nick Corton.

Nicholas Burns's comments come at a very sensitive time. The UN Security Council is currently considering a report by Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari, which recommends a form of supervised independence for Kosovo, granting the province a constitution, a flag and an anthem. At the same time, Serbia has launched a diplomatic offensive, vehemently opposing the plan and calling in the support of Russia, a traditional ally.

Gunfights between drugs gangs and the police in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro have left at least 19 people dead. The violence occurred in the shantytown district of Mineira. The authorities say the attacks lasted for several hours. More details from Gary Duffy.

The shooting caused chaos in the central district of the city where some of the drug dealers taking refuge at one stage in a nearby cemetery where a number of funerals were taking place. Local TV showed families running to escape, and one man is said to have been seriously wounded when sitting on the bus. Police say it was after the shooting they recovered the bodies of at least 13 suspected drug dealers, and say they had made several arrests and seized weapons including grenades.

The mayor of the Japanese city of Nagasaki has been killed while campaigning for reelection. The mayor, Iccho Ito, was shot twice outside the city's main railway station and later died in hospital. Police say they have arrested a known gangster.

And South Africa have qualified for the semi-finals of the cricket World Cup with a decisive nine-wicket win over England. They join Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka in the last four.