Iran Nuclear: An Iranian nuclear official says Tehran is ready for a conditional return to what he called "intrusive" nuclear inspections, but that uranium enrichment will continue. Mohammad Saeedi, deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, told state television today (Saturday) Tehran would allow short notice inspections if the U.N. Security Council dropped the issue and returned the case to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Zawahiri Video: Al-Qaida's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, has lashed out at both Pakistan and the United States. In a video message posted on an Islamic website today (Saturday), al-Zawahiri called on the Pakistani military to help fight the government of President Pervez Musharraf. Al-Zawahiri said every soldier should disobey orders to kill Muslims in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Egyptian militant also said the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq has achieved nothing but losses, disasters and misfortune in three years of war.
Philippines - Terror: One of Asia's most wanted fugitive terrorist leaders has escaped an early morning raid by Indonesian police in a central Java town. But police say they killed two other wanted militants. Security officials say Malaysian fugitive Noordin Mohammed Top was not at a safe house targeted in a today's operation (Saturday) in the town of Wonosobo.
Security forces in the Philippines have been placed on high alert ahead of Monday's May Day rally, in which protesters are expected to repeat calls for President Gloria Arroyo's resignation. Authorities warned today (Saturday) that security forces will not tolerate violence during Monday's expected rallies. Countries throughout the world mark May first as a holiday honoring workers, and in many nations it is accompanied by protests and marches.
Kyrgyzstan Rally: Thousands of protesters rallied in Kyrgyzstan's capital of Bishkek today (Saturday) to call for reforms promised by President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. The demonstrators demanded Mr. Bakiyev limit presidential powers and give more authority to the parliament as promised during his election campaign. They also called for him to eradicate corruption and crime, or step down, as he also pledged. The rally was noisy, but peaceful.
China Fire: Chinese authorities say 10 people were killed and eight others injured when an arsonist set fire to a building in eastern Zhejiang province. China's Xinhua news agency says the fire started early this morning (Saturday) in the dormitory of a bathroom supply company in Wenzhou city. Five of the workers died of their injuries after jumping six stories to the ground. Police have detained the suspected arsonist, also a worker at the company.
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