Kofi Annan sees problems in Afghanistan

U.N. Secretary General said the recent riots in Afghanistan revealed "deeper problems" in that country that need to be addressed.

The riots sparked by a U.S. military vehicle crash in Kabul were the worse in years with at least 20 killed and 160 injured. Major international aid offices were attacked by the rioters who chanted anti-American slogans. Major unrest was also reported in other parts of the country.


U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan. AFP file photo from Yahoo News.

According to a U.S. military official, the crash resulted due to brake failure, and the soldiers in the vehicle fired their weapons to defend themselves from a hostile crowd.

"We have an insecure situation in parts of the country, we have the question of drug cultivation and production, we have the need to strengthen security forces and national institutions," Annan said.

Get news, chat, jokes, lyrics, food recipes and more at AsiaPacificUniverse.com!

Travel Asia Pacific

Quake could trigger Merapi eruption

Indonesian volcanologists say that theoretically and statistically earthquakes increase chances of an eruption by an active volcano.

"Because a volcano's activities are linked to its system of fluid dynamics, any temblor would certainly have an effect," said Gede Suwantika, head of the volcano monitoring office in Yogyakarta, Java.

"Statistically, this rising activity is already shown by the much higher frequency of heat clouds emitted by Merapi during the post-earthquake period."

The 6.3 shaker left some 200,000 people homeless, most not more than 20 miles from the volcano.

Merapi emitted 86 lava trails and 88 heat clouds on Monday, according to the volcanology office.


Get news, chat, jokes, lyrics, food recipes and more at AsiaPacificUniverse.com!

Travel Asia Pacific

Indonesian quake toll continues to rise

The earthquake toll in Indonesia rose to more than 5,000 Sunday as international relief efforts accelarated.

However, victims at the quake sites said they had received only little assistance.


Indonesian soldiers drive past wrecked buildings in Imogiri, south Yogyakarta on May 29, 2006. Reuters photo from Yahoo News.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono moved to Yogyakarta to personally supervise relief efforts and spent the night Saturday in a tent along with other residents of the city.

Government officials say that about 200,000 people are homeless because of the quake. Heavy rain and the threat of a Mount Merapi eruption are compounding the problems.


Get news, chat, jokes, lyrics, food recipes and more at AsiaPacificUniverse.com!

Travel Asia Pacific