News from the rest of the world, this February 18, 1998 as presented by the BBC World Service Newshour Program.
Starting with Iraq. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Anan said he was reasonably optimistic Friday that 11th-hour meetings with Iraqi officials this weekend could derail the threat of U.S.-led military action. Annan arrived at Saddam International Airport here on what he termed a very important mission to get Iraqi President Saddam Hussein’s government to open up presidential palaces now off limits to U.N. weapons inspectors. If Annan fails to get an agreement to open the sites, U.S.
and British officials have made it clear that U.S. missile and air strikes are imminent. “I am reasonably optimistic that we will find a peaceful solution,” Annan said. “I hope that my talks in the next few days will permit me. and President Saddam Hussein to find a way out of this crisis.”.
Meanwhile, the Irish and British governments suspended Sinn Fein yesterday from the Northern Ireland peace talks, but said the party could return to the negotiating table March 9 if the IRA maintains its cease-fire. After a week of accusation, recrimination, and litigation, the governments rejected Sinn Fein’s assertion that it is separate from the Irish Republican Army and thus that it should not be kicked out because the police in Northern Ireland believe the IRA killed two men in Belfast last week. The governments said Sinn Fein had : a “clear link” to the IRA and had to be suspended to maintain the integrity oft the peace process. Sinn Fein had been seeking High Court injunction here to prevent the action, but dropped its case yesterday after learning the governments had acted before the court had finished hearing arguments. “Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams called the expulsion “disgraceful,” and said anger on the streets was “palpable.” But he appealed to supporters “to stay calm, to channel their anger and their frustration into calm and disciplined protest.”.
And finally, Seventy seven soldiers and an opposition politician are due to appear in court to face charges treason connected with a failed coup attempt last October, police said. The politician is Dean Mungomba, leader of the Zambia Democratic Congress..
And that’s a small slice of what happened this February 18, 1998 as presented by the BBC World Service Newshour.
