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Show World Briefs Myanmar needs more time to draft constitution, establish democratic state r A Quick took' Former Iraqi leader confronted by crowd BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - An angry crowd confronted Iraq's former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi at a Shiite shrine south of Baghdad on Sunday, forcing him to flee in a hail of stones and shoes. ALlawi called the attack an assassination attempt. In Baghdad, one.of the five judges in the trial of Saddam Hussein stepped down because one of the co-defendants may have been involved in the execution of his brother, a court official said Sunday. Another official said police had uncovered a plot to fire rockets at the courtroom when the trial convenes Monday for a third session. The confrontation in Najaf began when about a dozen men, some armed with clubs, tried to block Allawi from entering the Imam AH mosque, one of the holiest Shiite shrines in Iraq. Allawi's bodyguards fired shots in the air to disperse the crowd. Once Allawi and his entourage were inside, the crowd grew to about 60 and as the group left, they were showered with stones and shoes _ a sign of contempt in Iraqi culture. Allawi and his security force knocked over barricades as they scampered to their vehicles and sped away. Gaza militants fire rockets at Israeli village JERUSALEM (AP) - Palestinian militants fired two rockets from Gaza into an Israeli village Sunday evening, despite Israeli airstrikes earlier in the day launched in response to previous attacks. There were no serious injuries, but the exchanges carried the danger of sudden escalation. The rockets hit an Israeli village four miles from the Gaza fence, demonstrating a longer range than usual for the homemade rockets. The Israeli airstrikes Sunday were the first since Oct. 27, the military said.After Israel withdrew from Gaza in September, destroying all 21 Jewish settlements there, Israeli leaders pledged to retaliate for any Palestinian attacks from the territory. The military moved artillery to the Gaza-Israel border and has been pounding areas used by militants to launch rockets. Early Sunday, Israel stepped up its attacks, sending its air force to blast Gaza targets three times. Palestinians said a bystander was slightly wounded in one of the strikes. p "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your tresspasses." *^_ Matthew Oasis Books 753-8697 "They are just one party," Aung Toe said, adding that the NLD had "ignored the wishes of the people" by pulling out of the convention. The United States criticized the extension when it was first reported by Suu Kyi's party last week, with a State Department spokesman calling it "another step in the wrong direction by Burma's military leaders." Myanmar is also known as Burma. Myanmar has been under increasing pressure from the United States to emerge from its isolation and make genuine steps toward instituting a democracy. Last month, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called the junta "one of the worst regimes in the world" for its record on human rights and free speech. President Bush said the price of Myanmar's "refusal to open up is isolation, backwardness, and brutality." On Friday, the U.N. Security Council agreed to hold a briefing on Myanmar in the next two weeks, which U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said was a step toward getting Myanmar on the council's agenda and subjecting the country to regular international scrutiny. Myanmar's neighbors also have ratcheted up the pressure. A group of regional lawmakers said Saturday the country should be expelled from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations if the junta does not move toward democracy in the next year. Myanmar has had no constitution since the military took power in 1988. Photo byAP In 1990, the NLD won a landMYANMAR STREET VENDORS SELL FRUITS and vegetables on an Anawrathar street in downtown Yangon, slide general election victory but Myanmar, Sunday Dec. A, 2005. Myanmar's military junta reopened a national constitutional convention Monday, the military refused to hand over calling on its citizens to support the meetings it says are a step toward democracy in the politically isolated power, claiming it first had to Southeast Asian nation. write a new constitution. Aung Toe said the commission vention began in 1993 but was arrest after undergoing surgery in could not provide a timetable for suspended three years later .when the capital, Yangon. when the constitution would be NLD members walked out, saying Suu Kyi's longest period of completed, but he ruled out havthey were being forced to rubberhouse arrest was in 1989-1995, ing it done by next year. stamp the junta's decisions. during which she was awarded "We have no intention at all to the 1991 Nobel prize. Her current Suu Kyi, 60, was last taken into delay the constitution-drafting detention was extended for a year custody on May 30, 2003, after a process," Kyaw Hsan said. "But in November 2004. pro-government mob attacked her sufficient time is needed to estabmotorcade while she made a politNLD spokesman U Lwin said lish a firm, stable and disciplined ical tour of northern Myanmar. he had not heard from Suu Kyi, democratic state." .... .. She was held first by the miliwho is not allowed to have visitors An earlier constitutional contary, and later transferred to house or telephone conversations. YANGON, Myanmar (AP) - Myanmar defended its haphazard efforts to draw up a constitution as delegates prepared to work on the much-delayed document, saying Saturday the country has the right to choose its own path toward democracy and the process cannot be rushed. Meanwhile, the government confirmed for the first time that it has extended pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's detention by six months. The Nobel Peace Prize winner has been held without trial under an anti-subversion law for 10 of the last 16 years. Officials said the country's constitutional convention would resume Monday after an eightmonth hiatus. It has been widely dismissed as a sham by the ruling junta's critics, who say the delegates were mostly hand-picked by a government intent on maintaining its grip on power. The government, however, insists the 1,000 delegates expected to attend the event were coming of their own free will, and the convention eventually would lead to democracy. The meeting follows closeddoor discussions in February and March. "Based on its constitution, the government and people hand in hand will endeavor to build a disciplined and democratic nation," Aung Toe, the chief justice and vice chairman of the National Convention Convening Commission, told reporters. Aung Toe dismissed suggestions the process was less credible because the country's largest political party -the National League for Democracy - was boycotting the event due to Suu Kyi's continued detention. Information Minister Brig. Gen. Kyaw Hsan confirmed Saturday that Suu Kyi's house arrest had been extended by six months. The extension had been expected, since the government has shown no signs of wishing to talk with the NLD to resolve the country's political deadlock. From page 2 gence official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media, said a missile attack on Thursday triggered a huge explosion in a stockpile of bombmaking materials, grenades and other munitions. Miran Shah is a strategic tribal region where remnants of al-Qaida The Student Vfelnesj Center is sponsoring a Physical Activity Competitionforthe duration of Spring Semester 2006! This is for all Empkyees and Students! are believed to have been hiding and where Pakistani forces have launched several operations against them. Assailants fired at least four rockets Saturday night at the town of Mir Ali, near where Rabia died, an intelligence official said Sunday on condition of anonymity because of the secretive nature of his job. One hit a power line, disrupting electricity to several villages, while the other three landed near an army base. No one was hurt, he said. 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