Soga says needs time with family
Soga says needs time with family
INDONESIA: Reunited in Indonesia with her family after nearly two years, a Japanese woman once abducted to North Korea spent hours talking to her husband, a former U.S. soldier Washington says deserted to the Stalinist state in 1965.
Hitomi Soga, who met and married Charles Robert Jenkins after she was abducted as a young student nurse, said she needed time following Friday's emotional reunion to settle in with her family, including her two daughters, Mika, 21 and Belinda, 18.
"I am happy that the four members of our family have been able to spend, for the first time in a year and nine months, precious time (together) in a beautiful, tropical country," Soga said in a statement issued on Saturday.
Soga, 45, thanked the Indonesian government for helping to achieve the reunion.
"I would like to have time for discussions with my family without rushing, while staying in Jakarta," Soga said.
-- Reuters
;REUTERS; ANPAO..u.. High-Japan-elections Japan party chiefs make last pitch for Sunday poll JP/2/HIGH
Japan party chiefs make last poll pitch
JAPAN: Leaders of Japan's ruling and opposition parties made their final appeals to voters on Saturday, a day before an election that could determine the fate of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
Koizumi's ruling coalition cannot be ousted from power as a result of the election for parliament's upper house, as it holds a majority in the powerful lower chamber.
But a poor showing in elections for the upper chamber would weaken his clout and might invite calls for his resignation.
A hoarse-voiced Koizumi urged a large crowd of voters gathered in Tokyo's Ginza shopping district -- despite pouring rain -- to back his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
A survey published by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper on Friday showed that voters were about evenly split between the LDP and the main opposition Democratic Party.
-- Reuters
;REUTERS; ANPAc..u.. High-Dutch-security Dutch security raised over terror attack fears JP/2/HIGh
Dutch security upped amid terror fears NETHERLANDS: Dutch authorities have stepped up security at key locations after receiving information that radical groups may be planning terror attacks, the interior ministry said on Saturday.
"This is due to indications available to the Public Intelligence and Security Service about the activities of several radical Muslims, that could be seen as being preparations for terrorist attacks," the ministry said.
Extra police could be seen around Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. Security has also been increased at government buildings and royal palaces.
-- Reuters
;AP; ANPA ..r.. Hong Kong-Politics Hong Kong leader meets opposition critic, pro-democracy leaders JP/2/HIGH
Tung meets with Beijing critic
HONG KONG: Hong Kong's leader Tung Chee-hwa met on Saturday with one of his harshest critics in an apparent effort ahead of key legislative elections to dampen public outrage over China's recent rejection of demands for full democracy.
Tung spent an hour with Hong Kong opposition legislator Emily Lau and a group of prodemocracy district councilors.
Lau, one of the most vocal critics of the government, has repeatedly called for Tung's resignation.
Hong Kong and Chinese authorities have made conciliatory gestures recently in an apparent attempt to quell local anger over Beijing's April decision to rule out direct elections for Hong Kong's leader in 2007 and all lawmakers in 2008.
Lau said her group urged Tung to appeal Beijing's ruling, but he said Wednesday he doesn't have the authority to do so. Tung's office did not immediately comment on Saturday's meetings.
-- AP ;AP; ANPA ..r.. High-Austria-Klestil Schwarzenegger, Putin, royals attend Austrian president's funeral JP/2/HIGH
Dignitaries attend Klestil funeral
AUSTRIA: Leaders and royals from across Europe, as well as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, were among thousands bidding a final farewell on Saturday to Austrian President Thomas Klestil.
The state funeral to bury Klestil, who died this week just two days before his term was to end, concluded four days of national mourning that began Wednesday when his casket was brought to the presidential offices in the imperial Hofburg Palace. About 20,000 filed past the casket as Klestil lay in state for three days.
Klestil died of multiple organ failure late Tuesday, a day after he was airlifted to a Vienna hospital following heart failure. He was 71.
-- AP
;AP; ANPA ..u.. Kashmir-Violence Seven killed in gunfights in Indian-controlled Kashmir, 30 wounded JP/2/HIGH
Seven killed in Kashmir gunfights
INDIA: Fighting between security forces and militants in Indian- controlled Kashmir left six suspected rebels and a soldier dead, while at least 30 civilians were wounded when a grenade exploded on a busy street on Saturday, police said.
Three of the guerrillas and the soldier were killed in a gunbattle overnight in Punch district, a police officer said on Saturday. A police officer was also wounded.
The three other slain rebels were killed in a separate battle in the same region, about 150 kilometers southwest of Srinagar, the officer said on condition of anonymity.
-- AP