From Washington, this is VOA News.
A prominent U.S. newspaper says that the burning of the Qurans at a NATO airbase in Afghanistan last month could have been stopped. And results are trickling in from the Iranian election. I’m Joe Paulker reporting from Washington.
Syrian troops shelled several districts in the (flashpoint city) Homs Saturday where standoff continued between authorities and Red Cross workers trying to deliver medical supplies and food to those stranded in the area. Activists and medical workers say forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad fired mortars into at least four neighborhoods across Homs early Saturday. The number of injured is unknown. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on Syria to give humanitarian workers (immediate access) to people who desperately need aid in its besieged cities.
A prominent American newspaper says a series of events that led to the burning of Qurans at a NATO base in Afghanistan last month could have been stopped at several points "along a chain of (mishaps), poor judgments and ignored procedures". The February 20 book burning at Bagram Air Base sparked days of violent anti-American protests across Afghanistan that left at least 30 people dead and (frayed relations) between the U.S. and Afghanistan. The New York Times quotes a U.S. official close to the joint Afghan-American investigation into the incident as saying at least six people involved in the Quran burning, including American military leaders and an American interpreter, could face (disciplinary) action.
Partial results from Iran’s parliamentary elections show loyalist supporters of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei have taken the lead. Early returns from provincial towns Saturday show conservative rivals of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad winning seats in several constituencies across the country. State media estimates that the (turnout) at more than 65% of the country’s 48 million eligible voters.
British Petroleum has announced it has reached a multi-billion-dollar agreement with fishermen and other plaintiffs who sued over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. BP says the $7.8 billion deal represents a partial settlement in the case and expects the money to come form the $20 billion (compensation fund) that it previously set up. Residents of the Gulf are still wailing from the oil spill that captivated the public attention in the summer of 2010.
“Business is off. The people aren’t coming in quite the numbers that they normally do. Of course it could be the economy, it could be the perception that this place is tainted, you know, it’s hard to say, but the numbers are down, definitely. The fishing’s good but the people just aren’t here.”
The U.S. government case involving BP has not yet been resolved.
Tornado spawned by powerful (storms) that killed more than two dozen people across several states in the eastern central United States, causing (epic destruction) in some areas. Authorities say at least 27 people were killed in the states of Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio on Friday.
Russians headed to the polls Sunday for a presidential election that is expected to return Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to the presidency, despite unprecedented protests against him and his ruling United Russia Party. Jessica Golloher has more for VOA from Moscow.
Voting has already begun in some regions of Russia as Muscovites (contemplate) for whom they will cast their ballots in Sunday’s presidential election. There are four opposition candidates running against Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, although many believe they don’t stand a chance against the authoritarian leader who was president from 2000 to 2008. And, according to the latest independent poll before the elections, conducted by the Levada Center, Mr. Putin is expected to win with 62 to 66 percent of the vote. Recent polls show that 80% of Russians believe that Mr. Putin will return to the presidency and 57% still believe he is the nation’s leader even though Dmitry Medvedev is officially president. Jessica Golloher for VOA News, Moscow.
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This is Joe Paulker form the VOA News center I n Washington.