VOA 阅读 WORLD NEWS –February 1, 2010

It is 00:30 universal time and here is the news in special English.

Afghan President Omid Kozai again has called for Taliban militants to stop fighting his government and accept the Afghan constitution. Mr. Kozai spoke at a news conference in Kabul where he urged Taliban members to work for peace. Mr. Kozai also said he will soon open a council of elders to discuss efforts to bring Taliban members together with government. Three days ago he and western allies agreed to a program aimed that providing former Taliban fighters with jobs and housing in exchange for renouncing extremism. Pakistan’s Taliban has denied reports that its leader Hakimullah Mehsud died from wounds received in a United States missile attack earlier this month. A spokesman for the group dismissed the reported death as propaganda. The Pakistani army says it is investigating but so far there is no confirmation. The army’s announcement followed a report on Pakistani Television that Mehsud had died and was buried in the Orakzai tribal area. Conflicting reports about the militant leader’s death first appeared after the January missile attack that killed at least 12 militants in South Waziristan . The Taliban released 2 voice recordings after the bombing as proved that Mehsud survived the attack. Some reports say he may have been killed in another attack a few days later.

The Obama administration says the American military will soon begin medical flights to bring injured earthquake victims from Haiti to the United States . A statement from the Whitehouse said the flights will begin early Monday. The flights were suspended last week in a dispute overwhelmed the patients would be treated and who will pay for their care. Earlier aid workers were able to fly three very sick children to a United States hospital on a private plane. The children were flown from Port-au-Prince to Philadelphia Pennsylvania . One was treated for tetanus, one had pneumonia. The third was a baby with severe burns.

Chinese officials say a 30-member scientific team has arrived in Sichuan province to study from the earthquake that struck the area Saturday. The quake killed one person an injured at least 13 others. The American experts say the earthquake measured 5.2 in strength. Its center was near the city of Suining . Officials say the quake destroyed more than 200 houses and forced more than 2,000 people to move. Sichuan province is still rebuilding from a very powerful earthquake in May of 2008. Almost 90,000 people were killed or went missing in the quake. More than 5 million people lost their homes.

You are listening to the news in VOA special English.

Egyptian officials say lawyers are questioning 25 suspects accused to plotting terrorist attacks against Israeli visitors and other targets. An independent newspaper in Cairo reports that the group was planning to attack the burial place of 19th century rabbi. His grave on the Nile Delta is a place visited by Jews. The newspaper reported security officials as saying the group was also planning to attack American ships in the Suez Canal . The 25 Egyptians were arrested over the past few weeks near the city of Mansoura . They reportedly had weapons and explosives.

Yemen says it has rejected a truce offer from Shi'ite rebels and killed at least 20 fighters during a continued offensive. The Yemeni government said its forces fought rebels in the Northern Provinces of Malahaid and Sa'adah. It says a rebel commander was among those killed. On Saturday Shi'ite rebel leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi offered to accept 5 government conditions for a cease fire. Yemeni officials say they rejected his offer because he demanded a stop to oppositions by government forces as a precondition. They say Mr. Houthi also failed to accept a six-government condition for a truce, a promise to end rebel attacks on nearby Saudi Arabia .

The Palestinian militant group Hamas says a founding member was killed earlier this month and was one of those important weapons suppliers. Hamas official said Mahmoud al-Mabhouh bought weapons for the group in its long conflict with Israel . They say he was visiting Dubai when he was killed at his hotel on January 20^th. Hamas has blamed Israel for the killing. Israeli officials have refused to confirm or deny involvement. Dubai police say their main suspects are members of a professional criminal group. The police say the group members carried European travel documents and had been watching al-Mabhouh’s movement.

American officials say President Obama’s administration still wants the accused chief planner of the 2001terrorist attacks to be trialed in New York City where most of the victims died. The president spokesman said federal officials have been discussing the issue with the mayor of New York and other local officials. He said the administration understands the concerns of the people of New York and will cooperate with local officials on a solution. Many New Yorkers recently changed their minds about such a trial and now wanted to take place outside of the city.

Malawi has taken over the chairmanship of the African union. Malawi ’s president Bingu wa Mutharika will serve as AU commission chairman for the next year. The change caused intense debate in the meeting of AU governing council. Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi had sought a second one-year turn as chairman. He wanted to continue efforts to create a central governing base for Africa . African leaders rejected Mr. Gadhafi’s proposal for a second turn.

And now briefly, here again is the major news of the hour.

Afghan President Omid Kozai again has called for Taliban militants to stop fighting his government and accept the Afghan constitution. The Taliban in Pakistan has denied the report that its leader Hakimullah Mehsud is dead.

And the Obama administration says military medical flights wills start again Monday to bring injured earthquake victims from Haiti to the United States for treatment.

And that’s the news in special English.