Here is the news in Special English. I’m Mario Ritter in Washington.
Suspected militants have fired on an Afghan government delegation. The delegation was visiting one of the villages where an American soldier reportedly killed (16 civilians) on Sunday. The attack Tuesday took place in Kandahar province. It killed an Afghan soldier and wounded at least one policeman. No group has claimed responsibility for the shooting. But the Taliban has sworn to answer the Sunday attack. The militant group promise to (cut off) the heads of Americans. Also Tuesday, hundreds of people protested in Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan. It was the first major (public demonstration) against the killings on Sunday.
Former United Nations chief Kofi Annan says he expects the Syrian government to answer his proposals Tuesday. Mr. Annan has suggested ways to settle the country’s (deadly unrest) and continuing campaign against protest.
Kofi Annan: “I’m expecting to hear from the Syrian authorities today since I left some concrete proposals for them to consider. And once I receive those, eh their answer we will know where, how to react. But let me say that the killings and the violence must cease”
Mr. Annan spoke in Turkey after meeting with members of the Syrian National Council. The council is the (main opposition group) outside Syria. He left the Syrian capital, Damascus on Sunday after two days of talks ended without a settlement. Mr. Annan is the U.N.-Arab League’s (special diplomat) for Syria. In related news, Syrian reports say President Bashar al-Assad has set May 7 as the date for parliamentary elections.
Israel says Palestinian militants have fired at least five rockets toward southern Israel since a ceasefire (took effect) Tuesday. Israeli officials say no injuries have been reported from the rockets which landed in open areas. Earlier, Egypt said it had negotiated a truce between Israel and the Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. The (truce) was organized after four days of air attacks killed at least 25 Palestinians.
Voters in the southern American state of Alabama and Mississippi are making their choice for the Republican Party’s nominee for president Tuesday. Opinion studies show the two top competitors are in a (close race). Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich all campaigned for support in the mainly conservative states on Monday. A win in either southern state would be very important for former Massachusetts Governor Romney. He has won almost 40% of the delegates needed to win the Republican Party nomination. Mr. Santorum, former Senator from Pennsylvania, is Mr. Romney’s (closest opponent). A candidate needs 1,144 delegates to gain the party’s nomination.
United States’ retail sales made their biggest gain in five months in February. The Commerce Department reported that Americans bought more cars, clothing and (long-lasting goods) like washing machines. Economists closely watch the sales of businesses that sell to the public. Consumer demand accounts for about 70% of the United States’ economy. The increased sales follow several months of employment gains. Retail sales have increased although (gasoline prices) have also risen sharply in recent months.
You are listening to the news in VOA Special English.