Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said the rebels' demands were "impossible"
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Air strike 'kills Libyan rebels'
Libya's government has dismissed as "mad" the conditional ceasefire offer made by the rebel administration.
Spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said troops loyal to Col Muammar Gaddafi would never withdraw from the rebel-held cities they were besieging.
He also condemned recent coalition air strikes as "a crime against humanity" and said there had been civilian casualties in one attack on Thursday.
Nato is investigating a report that seven civilians were killed near Brega.
The account, from a doctor in Adjabiya, could not be independently verified.
On Friday, the head of the rebel Transitional National Council, Abdul Jalil Ibrahim, discussed how a truce might come about after meeting UN special envoy Abdelilah al-Khatib in the eastern city of Benghazi.
"We have no objection to a ceasefire but on condition that Libyans in western cities have full freedom in expressing their views and also that the forces that are besieging the cities withdraw," he told reporters.
Moussa Ibrahim Libyan government spokesman“We will not leave our cities - we are the government, not them”
"Our main demand is the departure of Muammar Gaddafi and his sons from Libya. This is a demand we will not go back on."
Mr Abdul Jalil, who quit as justice minister in protest at the use of violence against demonstrators, also said he believed the coalition should begin arming the rebels despite the UN arms embargo on Libya.
"We think that if the international community wants to protect civilians according to the international resolutions, they should take the appropriate measures, which include giving the go ahead to arm the rebels," he added.
Moussa Ibrahim dismissed the offer of conditional ceasefire, describing the rebels as "tribal, violent, with no unified leadership, al-Qaeda links."
"The rebels never offered peace. They don't offer peace. They are making impossible demands."
"If this is not mad, I don't know what is," he added. "We will not leave our cities. We are the government, not them."
Mr Ibrahim also said six civilians had been killed by an "immoral" air strike in the eastern village of Zawia el Argobe, 15km (9 miles) from Brega.
"Some mad and criminal prime ministers and presidents of Europe are leading a crusade against an Arab Muslim nation," he told reporters in Tripoli. "Sounds familiar? It's a crime against humanity."
A doctor in the town of Ajdabiya, Suleiman Refardi, told the BBC that the coalition air strike had targeted a government convoy that included tanks, artillery and lorries carrying ammunition.
Dr Suleiman Refardi said a missile hit a truck carrying ammunition, sending out shrapnel
A direct hit on an ammunition truck and trailer in a street in Zawia el Argobe sent a hail of shrapnel into nearby houses, he said.
Four of the dead were female, including three children from the same family, aged between 12 and 16. Three boys, aged between 14 and 20, were also killed.
Dr Refardi said he had spoken to the family of the girls who had been killed and "there was no anger" at the coalition forces.
"If these tanks had entered Ajdabiya it would have been a massacre," he said. "They [the Libyan people] are expecting more than this, because they know the Gaddafi forces are using civilians as a shield."
Nato officials told the BBC they were making inquiries "down our operations chain to find out if indeed there is any information on the operation side that would support this claim".
Meanwhile, the BBC's Wyre Davies in Ajdabiya says rebel forces there are pressing on to the front line around Brega.
Despite recent setbacks, rebel forces are gathering at the front line around Brega Plenty of enthusiastic, if disorganised, insurgents are driving through in pick-up trucks with heavy-duty machine-guns mounted on the back, he reports.
In another development, the former interior minister, Gen Abdul Fatah Younis, who defected to join the opposition, visited rebels on the frontline, where he was greeted like a hero, the BBC's Nick Springate reports.
In the only rebel-held city in western Libya, Misrata, forces loyal to Col Gaddafi continued bombard rebel fighters and civilians using tanks and artillery, a doctor in the city told the BBC. The main clinic was targeted, he said.
"I've treated two people from the same family who were hit with a mortar - one girl whose chest was open and one lung was completely destroyed," he added. "Her sister had her right arm amputated."
Another doctor said at least 140 people had died in Misrata since 18 March.
This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-africa-12944905
UK base for giant radio telescope
An artist's impression of telescope dishes at the heart of the network Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire has been selected as the headquarters for a £1.3bn project to build the world's biggest radio telescope.
An agreement to run the Square Kilometre Array from Jodrell Bank was signed in Rome by Australia, China, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Germany, Italy, and the UK.
SKA is designed to answer some key questions about the Universe.
Its location is undecided but could be built in Australia or Southern Africa.
Alien life
The new headquarters at Jodrell Bank will open in January 2012, superseding the existing project office at the University of Manchester.
Professor Richard Schilizzi, director SKA, said: "The move to Jodrell Bank Observatory comes at a crucial time as the project grows from a concept to an international mega-science project.
"The new location and facilities will support the significant expansion that is planned."
The Square Kilometre Array takes its name from the size of its collecting area. But instead of a single radio dish 1km across, it will be made up of thousands of smaller ones.
The Square Kilometre Array will give insights into the formation of the first stars The total collecting area will be approximately one square kilometre giving 50 times the sensitivity, and 10,000 times the survey speed, of the best current-day telescopes, the SKA project said in a statement.
So far, partners from 20 countries are involved in the 1.5bn euros (£1.3bn) project, which is not expected to be completed until about 2024.
It is hoped the array will reveal how planets and galaxies are born, give clues the nature of dark energy and help to detect signs of alien civilisations.
Professor John Womersley, chair of the SKA Founding Board, said: "Given the current economic environment, it is reassuring that so many partners have recognised the importance of supporting the SKA.
"Our partners have taken this step not only because of the inspirational nature of the discoveries that the SKA will make, but also because of the economic benefits that international mega-science projects can bring to participating countries."
This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/science-environment-12947435
Prostate screening has no benefit
Radiotherapy is used to treat prostate cancer Prostate cancer screening does not save lives, according to a 20-year study, published in the British Medical Journal.
One in four newly diagnosed cancers in UK men is prostate cancer.
Last year, the body which regulates screening in the UK advised against routine screening.
The UK National Screening Committee said this study provided further evidence that the harms outweigh the benefits.
Prostate cancer kills 10,000 people in the UK every year.
While there is no screening programme, men over 50 may still request a test.
This latest study was carried out in Norrkoping in Sweden. It followed 9,026 men who were in their 50s or 60s in 1987.
Dr Anne Mackie UK National Screening Committee“The potential harms significantly outweigh the benefits of screening”
Nearly 1,500 men were randomly chosen to be screened every three years between 1987 and 1996. The first two tests were performed by digital rectal examination and then by prostate specific antigen testing.
The report concludes: "After 20 years of follow-up, the rate of death from prostate cancer did not differ significantly between men in the screening group and those in the control group."
The favoured method of screening is the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.
However, around 15% of men with normal PSA levels will have prostate cancer and two-thirds of men with high levels of PSA do not in fact have prostate cancer.
One study has suggested that to prevent one death from prostate cancer you would have to screen 1,410 men and treat 48 of them.
Dr Anne Mackie, programmes director of the UK National Screening Committee, said: "This evidence provides further support for the recommendation the Committee made in November not to screen for prostate cancer at this time.
"At the moment the potential harms significantly outweigh the benefits of screening. We will re-assess the evidence for prostate cancer screening against our criteria again in three years, or earlier if new evidence warrants it."
Dr Sarah Cant, head of policy and campaigns for The Prostate Cancer Charity, said: "Whilst this research suggests that screening men for prostate cancer doesn't reduce the number of men dying from the disease, this was a relatively small study and not all the screening rounds used the PSA test, which is the most effective test we have at the moment to indicate prostate problems that might be cancer.
"We know from another larger study that screening using the PSA test can reduce mortality rates.
"However, this previous trial showed that screening can lead to many men undergoing unnecessary treatment for a harmless prostate cancer. The Prostate Cancer Charity therefore doesn't believe there is enough evidence yet to support a screening programme."
This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/health-12911174
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Live - Scottish Premier League
Rangers can go top of the league with a win over Dundee United, while bottom club Hamilton aim to close the gap on St Mirren. 
This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/9444340.stm
Mexican attorney general resigns
Mr Chavez is the second attorney general to resign under President Calderon Mexico's Attorney General, Arturo Chavez, has resigned, President Felipe Calderon has confirmed.
Mr Chavez had been leading efforts to tackle Mexico's violent drugs cartels and reform the justice system for 18 months.
He said he was leaving for urgent personal reasons.
Mr Chavez is to be replaced by investigative prosecutor Marisela Morales, who will be Mexico's first female attorney general.
President Calderon thanked Mr Chavez for his service, saying he had helped bring many cartel leaders to justice.
"His work has been fundamental to Mexico's efforts to establish the rule of law and guarantee security," he said.
The appointment of Marisela Morales must still be approved by the senate.
President Calderon said her mission would be "to deepen the strategic role of the attorney general's office, in particular in the fight against organised crime".
Earlier this month Ms Morales, 41, was given a bravery award by the US government for her role in the fight against drug trafficking.
The resignation of Arturo Chavez comes three weeks after the whistle-blowing website Wikileaks released a US diplomatic cable describing his appointment in 2009 as "totally unexpected and inexplicable".
In his previous role as the top prosecutor in Chihuahua state, he was accused of mishandling investigations into the murder of women in Ciudad Juarez on the US border.
He is the second attorney general to resign since President Calderon began deploying the army to fight drug-trafficking gangs in 2006.
Around 35,000 people have since been killed in drug-related violence.
This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-latin-america-12929236
Prostate screening has no benefit
Radiotherapy is used to treat prostate cancer Prostate cancer screening does not save lives, according to a 20-year study, published in the British Medical Journal.
One in four newly diagnosed cancers in UK men is prostate cancer.
Last year, the body which regulates screening in the UK advised against routine screening.
The UK National Screening Committee said this study provided further evidence that the harms outweigh the benefits.
Prostate cancer kills 10,000 people in the UK every year.
While there is no screening programme, men over 50 may still request a test.
This latest study was carried out in Norrkoping in Sweden. It followed 9,026 men who were in their 50s or 60s in 1987.
Dr Anne Mackie UK National Screening Committee“The potential harms significantly outweigh the benefits of screening”
Nearly 1,500 men were randomly chosen to be screened every three years between 1987 and 1996. The first two tests were performed by digital rectal examination and then by prostate specific antigen testing.
The report concludes: "After 20 years of follow-up, the rate of death from prostate cancer did not differ significantly between men in the screening group and those in the control group."
The favoured method of screening is the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test.
However, around 15% of men with normal PSA levels will have prostate cancer and two-thirds of men with high levels of PSA do not in fact have prostate cancer.
One study has suggested that to prevent one death from prostate cancer you would have to screen 1,410 men and treat 48 of them.
Dr Anne Mackie, programmes director of the UK National Screening Committee, said: "This evidence provides further support for the recommendation the Committee made in November not to screen for prostate cancer at this time.
"At the moment the potential harms significantly outweigh the benefits of screening. We will re-assess the evidence for prostate cancer screening against our criteria again in three years, or earlier if new evidence warrants it."
Dr Sarah Cant, head of policy and campaigns for The Prostate Cancer Charity, said: "Whilst this research suggests that screening men for prostate cancer doesn't reduce the number of men dying from the disease, this was a relatively small study and not all the screening rounds used the PSA test, which is the most effective test we have at the moment to indicate prostate problems that might be cancer.
"We know from another larger study that screening using the PSA test can reduce mortality rates.
"However, this previous trial showed that screening can lead to many men undergoing unnecessary treatment for a harmless prostate cancer. The Prostate Cancer Charity therefore doesn't believe there is enough evidence yet to support a screening programme."
This article is from the BBC News website. � British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/health-12911174
Friday, April 1, 2011
Houston Winners Kim, Wagner Contend Again
Enlarge Associated Press
Lee Westwood, of England, chips on the 15th hole during the second round of the Houston Open PGA Tour golf tournament, Friday, April 1, 2011, in Humble, Texas.
Associated Press
Lee Westwood, of England, chips on the 15th hole during the second round of the Houston Open PGA Tour golf tournament, Friday, April 1, 2011, in Humble, Texas.
Associated Press
Padraig Harrington, of Ireland, hits out of a bunker on the second hole during the second round of the Houston Open PGA Tour golf tournament, Friday, April 1, 2011, in Humble, Texas.
Enlarge Associated Press
Ernie Els, of South Africa, waves to his ball during a birdie attempt on the 15th hole during the second round of the Houston Open PGA Tour golf tournament, Friday, April 1, 2011, in Humble, Texas.
Associated Press
Ernie Els, of South Africa, waves to his ball during a birdie attempt on the 15th hole during the second round of the Houston Open PGA Tour golf tournament, Friday, April 1, 2011, in Humble, Texas.
Associated Press
Phil Mickelson tees off the 3rd hole during the second round of the Houston Open PGA Tour golf tournament, Friday, April 1, 2011, in Humble, Texas.
Associated Press
Retief Goosen, of South Africa, tees off the 16th hole during the second round of the Houston Open PGA Tour golf tournament, Friday, April 1, 2011, in Humble, Texas.
Enlarge Associated Press
Ryuji Imada, of Japan, tees off on the 13th hole during the second round of the Houston Open PGA Tour golf tournament, Friday, April 1, 2011, in Humble, Texas.
Associated Press
Ryuji Imada, of Japan, tees off on the 13th hole during the second round of the Houston Open PGA Tour golf tournament, Friday, April 1, 2011, in Humble, Texas.
Enlarge Associated Press
Jose Maria Olazabal, of Spain, tees off on the 11th hole during the second round of the Houston Open PGA Tour golf tournament, Friday, April 1, 2011, in Humble, Texas.
Associated Press
Jose Maria Olazabal, of Spain, tees off on the 11th hole during the second round of the Houston Open PGA Tour golf tournament, Friday, April 1, 2011, in Humble, Texas.
Associated Press
Jhonattan Vegas, of Venezuela, loses his driver after a tee shot on the 11th hole during the second round of the Houston Open PGA Tour golf tournament on Friday, April 1, 2011, in Humble, Texas.
Enlarge Associated Press
Chris Kirk hits his second shot on the first hole during the second round of the Houston Open PGA Tour golf tournament, Friday, April 1, 2011, in Humble, Texas.
Associated Press
Chris Kirk hits his second shot on the first hole during the second round of the Houston Open PGA Tour golf tournament, Friday, April 1, 2011, in Humble, Texas.
Associated Press
Chris Kirk reacts after missing a birdie putt on the first hole during the second round of the Houston Open PGA Tour golf tournament, Friday, April 1, 2011, in Humble, Texas.
Course knowledge matters at the Houston Open.
PGA Tour rookie Chris Kirk shot a 3-under 69 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over defending champion Anthony Kim and 2008 winner Johnson Wagner after two rounds at Redstone.
Kirk was 9-under par, and played his last few holes just as the wind picked up in the afternoon and made scoring more difficult.
Kim and Wagner took advantage of the calm morning conditions and used their background at the course to move into contention. Kim shot a 64, the lowest round of the day, and Wagner had a 67.
"I've got very good feelings as soon as I step on the property here," Wagner said.
Padraig Harrington, first-round leader Jimmy Walker and Josh Teater were two shots back at 7 under.
Organizers groomed the Tournament Course at Redstone to simulate conditions that players will see at the Masters next week, and the set-up lured many of the world's top players to Houston.
Phil Mickelson (70) and Lee Westwood (72) were part of a large group at 4 under and Ernie Els (72) and Fred Couples (72) were among the players at 1 under.
Kim is trying to become the first back-to-back winner of the event since Vijay Singh won in 2004 and '05, the last two years it was played at the adjacent members' course.
The Tournament Course became the host in 2006, and Kim has enjoyed almost every visit.
Before he turned pro, Kim was the only player to break par in winning a collegiate event here in 2006. He tied for fifth in the Houston Open as a tour rookie in 2007 and shot three sub-70 rounds last year to earn his third career victory.
"It helps, knowing I played well before, knowing I made a couple putts when it mattered," he said. "Some shots I had are similar, some putts I had are very similar, so I try to remember those things, and play off that."
Kim's 64 was four strokes better than his lowest round when he won last year.
Starting on the back nine, Kim made six birdies in his first 10 holes, including chip-ins on Nos. 12 and 16. He needed only 22 putts to equal his lowest round since January.
Kim said before the tournament that his swing needed major retooling and that he spent several days working with coach Adam Schreiber on changes. Kim's gratified that the work is already producing results.
"It feels great to have that feeling of confidence and go out there, make some good golf swings and make a couple of putts after that," Kim said.
Wagner feels a more emotional connection to Redstone, after earning his first tour victory here three years ago. He needs to win this week to qualify for the Masters, but says next week's major has hardly crossed his mind.
A Charlotte resident, Wagner ranks the tournament at Quail Hollow near his home and the Houston event as important as any he plays all year.
"There are a few regular tour events that I treat as a major," he said. "Houston and Charlotte will always be my two favorite events that we play."
Kirk has some background at Redstone, too. He played for Georgia and competed in the same collegiate event that Kim won in 2006.
"I think he likes this course," Kirk said. "I shot a bunch of 74s, or so, nothing very memorable."
Kirk, second on the Nationwide Tour money list last year, birdied two of his last three holes to take the outright lead and make up for a double bogey on the par-5 4th.
"I made one bad swing off the tee, and it wasn't even really that bad," Kirk said. "One of those things. No matter how good you're playing, that kind of stuff happens sometimes."
Harrington also ran into trouble, after briefly tying for the lead early Friday. He made three straight bogeys on his back nine to fall back, then reached the par-5 8th in two shots to set up an eagle to get back to 7 under.
"I just fell asleep there," said Harrington, sporting a beard this weekend because he forgot to pack a razor. "I really kind of battened down the hatches for the last couple of holes, trying to not make too many mistakes after I lost my way."
The average score for the players who started in the morning (71.46) was more than two shots better than the average for the players who teed off later in the day (73.78).
"As that wind picked up, the ground got really firm," Kirk said. "You had to be a little more careful, really think your way around."
Former President George H.W. Bush watched the early rounds from a golf cart and greeted Mickelson and Couples as they walked off greens. Bush regularly attends major sporting events in Houston, where he lives.
Source: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=135027263&ft=1&f=
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