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WORLD NEWS - 00:30 UTC, May 7, 2006By Voice of America

Broadcast: Sunday, May 07, 2006


In the news of this hour, the American Secretary Of State has discussed the possible settlement of the Iranian nuclear situation with Russia's foreign minister. Condoleezza Rice spoke 1 with Sergei Lavrov by telephone on Saturday. Ms Rice called Mr. Lavrov after Russia and China objected to part of the proposed United Nations' resolution on Iran. The proposed resolution would permit restrictions 2 and military force against Iran, if Iran continues to process uranium. Russia's ambassador to the UN said the resolution should have one goal, he said it should make sure the Iranian nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council met on Saturday to discuss the proposed resolution.

A United States military helicopter has crashed while carrying out military operations in eastern Afghanistan. All 10 American soldiers on the helicopter were killed. A military spokesman said the helicopter crashed on Friday near Asadabad, the capital of Kunar province. The crash area is east of Kabul near the border with Pakistan. Officials are investigating the crash. The military says there was no sign that enemy fire shot down the helicopter.


Britain's Defense 3 Minister Des Browne has confirmed that a British helicopter has crashed in the Iraqi city of Basra. Mr. Browne said he could not confirm the number of death. But Iraqi officials say at least 4 crewmembers were killed. The cause of the crash is being investigated. Iraqi police say at least 5 civilians 4 were killed in a crash between British troops and the crowd near the area of the helicopter crash. At least one British vehicle was set on fire. Officials in Basra declared a curfew until Sunday morning.

Also in Iraq, an attacker exploded a bomb in an Iraqi army base in Tikrit. The explosion killed 3 army officers and the bomber 5. And the United States military said one American soldier was killed in Baghdad.

The former director of the Central Intelligence Agency has said his surprising resignation was just one of those mysteries. Porter Goss made the comment Saturday to CNN news. Top Bush's administration officials say air force general Michael Hayden is the leading candidate to replace Mr. Goss. The officials said the president's nominee 6 to replace Mr. Goss could be announced this Monday. General Hayden currently serves as the aid to director of national intelligence John Negroponte. General Hayden also is the former director of the national security agency.


You are listening to the news in VOA Special English.


A state-run newspaper in Burma says many members of the opposition 7 National League for Democracy have resigned. The New Light of Myanmar newspaper says the members resigned because they were dissatisfied with the party, but the spokesman for the party Nyan Win told the Associated Press that members told him that local officials caused the resignations. He said members feared punishment if they did not resign. Last month, Burma's government threatened to ban the party of Aung San Suu Kyi. The government said that National League for Democracy has links with terrorism.



Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas has met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of the Fatah party. The two discussed the government's financial crisis. Media reports say the two men did not reach any agreements, but they agreed to meet again as soon as Sunday. Western countries have suspended aid to the Palestinian authority because Hamas has refused to denounce violence. The ruling group also has refused to recognize Israel's right to exist. The government has not been able to pay about 165,000 workers.

British Finance Minister Gordon Brown says the government must renew itself and deal with changes to come. The ruling Labor 8 Party suffered loses in local elections on Thursday. Mr. Brown said he and Prime Minister Tony Blair have plans to strengthen the party. On Friday Mr. Blair replaced Foreign Minister Jack 9 Straw with Margaret Beckett, the Environment Minister. He also changed defense ministers.

A United Nations worker has been shot and wounded in eastern Chad. Media reports say the incident took place in Abeche late on Friday. The woman was taken to a hospital in N'Djamena. Details of her condition have not been released. Several UN agencies are carrying out aid efforts in eastern Chad, the place where hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees from Darfur have fled.

And a horse named Barbaro has won the Kentucky Derby Race in Louisville, Kentucky. Barbaro pulled away from the other horses and won easily. He finished the 2-kilometer-race in just over two minutes. Horses named Bluegrass Cat finished second and Steppenwolfer finished third.


And so briefly 10 now here again is the major news of this hour. The American Secretary Of State has discussed a possible solution to the Iranian nuclear situation with Russia's foreign minister. A United States military helicopter has crashed in eastern Afghanistan killing 11 10 American soldiers. And in the United States, the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency has said his surprising resignation was just one of those mysteries. So ends the news in VOA Special English.