After days of deadlock and debate, deputies clapped and cheered as the speaker of Ukraine’s parliament Vladimir Lytvyn announced that the measures had passed. The measures change Ukraine’s electoral laws to prevent incidents of fraud, which plagued last month’s presidential runoff elections. The package also includes controversial constITutional changes that will weaken the powers of the president. Namely, the president will now need parliamentary approval to appoint the country’s top ministerial posts. Outgoing President Leonid Kuchma who was in the chamber during the vote later signed the bill into law. The parliament vote clears the way for international election monITors to begin preparations to oversee the next round of / presidential runoff elections on December 26th. The contest again pITs pro-Russia Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych against opposITion leader Viktor Yushchenko. Lisa McAdams, VOA news, Kiev, Ukraine.
In Iraq Wednesday, insurgents struck in Ramadi and Samarah killing 6 Iraqis. A wITness in Samarah says the gunmen stormed a police station, looted the weapons inside and blew up the building. There was no word on US casualties Wednesday but the Pentagon says a total of 1,001 US soldiers have now been killed in combat operations in Iraq. In KuwaIT, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld heard complaints from some US troops that their tours of duty in Iraq had been extended unfairly. They asked Mr. Rumsfeld about the long deployments and what they called a lack of armored vehicles and other equipment.
"What we need to do is to have the appropriate number of forces in Iraq to help create an environment for them to succeed in moving their country off the path of dictatorship towards a democracy."
Secretary Rumsfeld went on to say, in his words, "you go to a war wITh the army you have, not the army you might want or wish to have". Meanwhile the Iraqi Interior Ministry gave ITs support to a proposal to spread the January 30th national elections over several weeks in different regions of the country. The proposal inITiated by Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi would take account of a lack of securITy in some areas.
The US Senate has passed and sent to President Bush a law on large-scale reform of intelligence gathering agencies. Deborah Tate reports from CapITol Hill.
The legislation calls for the most significant reform of the US intelligence communITy in more than half a century. IT would establish a National Intelligence Director and a National Counter-Terrorism Center to coordinate the gathering and sharing of intelligence. Senate MajorITy Leader Bill Frist says the bill is an important tool in the war against terrorism.
"IT should help in making sure that our intelligence assets are deployed wisely, that information-developed is shared broadly, that our strategy to fight this war evolves effectively, and IT will accomplish those things."
But some lawmakers say the legislation fails to address tougher immigration standards and in particular does not bar illegal immigrants, including potential terrorists from getting a driver’s license or other identification. Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner ,a Republican from Wisconsin introduced legislation Wednesday to address those concerns. Deborah Tate, VOA news, CapITol Hill.
Back at the WhITe House, President Bush has approved 20 million dollars in direct aid to the Palestinian authorITy. Presidential spokesman Scott McClellan says the money will subsidize the January 9th election to choose a successor to the late president Yasser Arafat.
"The President believes we have a rare opportunITy before us to move forward on helping the Palestinian people realize a viable, democratic state. The upcoming elections are part of the process."
[Scott McClellan at the WhITe House.]
Turkish authorITies have detained 2 North Korean diplomats on suspicion of smuggling narcotics from Bulgaria. Turkish police seized about 7 million dollars worth of drugs they say were destined for Arab markets.