tribuneindia...Spotlight

			Thursday, May 6, 1999
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18 LTTE men killed
COLOMBO, May 5 (UNI) — At least 18 LTTE rebels, including 11 Sea Tigers were killed in sporadic clashes with the Lankan security forces in the embattled north-east, the Defence Ministry said. Eleven Sea Tigers were killed in an attack launched by the Sri Lankan Navy on LTTE boats off Mullaituvu on May 1, a press release issued by the Ministry said. In three separate incidents three more rebels were killed by the troops. Besides seizing some arms and ammunitions from the LTTE.
2 Indians jailed
DUBAI, May 5 (AFP) — A court in the United Arab Emirates has jailed two Indians for trying to commit suicide, which is forbidden in Islam, a newspaper said today. ‘The Gulf News’ said one of the Indians, a 48-year-old employee of a contracting firm, slashed his wrists with a razor, apparently due to financial problems. Other, a 28-year-old, stabbed himself several times before being rushed to hospital by workmates. The daily said the man, who is to be deported after serving his time in jail, was believed to have had domestic problems.

Peace envoy back
MOSCOW, May 5 (AP) — Russia’s special envoy to Yugoslavia, Viktor Chernomyrdin, returned home today to brief President Boris Yeltsin on his peace talks in the United States of America and plan his next mission. My optimism has grown after this trip to the Untied States of America", Mr Chernomyrdin said upon arriving in Moscow today morning. Mr Chernomyrdin has become the main mediator between Nato and Yugoslavia, and he has sounded consistently upbeat as he shuttles between world capitals to discuss the Kosovo crisis. His efforts have not yet produced any breakthroughs, and Nato and Yugoslavia remain at odds on what kind of international force would be used to implement any peace agreement.
Prodi elected
STRASBOURG, May 5 (DPA) — The European Parliament today voted with a large majority for designated European Union Commission President Romano Prodi. The former Italian Premier received 392 votes, with 72 against and 41 abstentions. It was the first time Parliament had elected a commission president and follows extended rights granted to Parliament under the E.U. treaty of Amsterdam.
14 scale Everest
KATHMANDU, May 5 (AP) — Five climbers and nine of their Sherpa guides today became the first this year to scale Mount Everest, The world’s highest mountain, the Nepalese Tourism Ministry said. The climbers include two Americans, two Swedes and a Canadian. Peter Athans, (42), a veteran mountain guide from Boulder, Colorado, and William Crouse, (36), of Carbondale, Colorado, reached the 8,848 metre (29,028-foot) summit at 10:31 a.M. Local time (0445 hrs gmt). They had climbed 12 hours from their camp four at 8,000 meters (26,400 feet) high south Col, the last stop for climbers before their attempt on the summit. They were accompanied by five Nepalese Sherpa guides.