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news without borders
Ma in historic
meeting with
Chinese envoy
TAIPEI: Taiwan’s
President Ma Ying-jeou
made history yesterday
when he became the
island’s first leader
to meet with a senior
Chinese official since the
end of a civil war in 1949.
Ma greeted Beijing’s
senior negotiator on
Taiwanese affairs, Chen
Yunlin at a government
guesthouse in central
Taipei amid tight security
as rowdy anti-China
protests continued outside
the venue. The two
men shook hands and
exchanged gifts.
Chen, who is Beijing’s
most senior negotiator
on Taiwanese affairs,
theSun | FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7 2008
REUTERSPIX
briefs
11 dead in southern Russia
blast: Report
MOSCOW: Eleven people were killed by a suspected
terrorist blast that ripped through a minibus in the
southern Russian city of Vladikavkaz yesterday, security
forces said, quoted by Russian news agencies. The blast
occurred in a busy street in the centre of the city, which
lies in the North Ossetia region of the restive Russian
Caucasus. Witnesses said the bus was packed with peo-
ple at the time of the blast. “As passengers were getting
on and off an explosion occurred outside the vehicle,”
Interfax quoted an anonymous press officer for the local
Chen (left),
branch of the interior ministry as saying. – AFP
Ex-Bangladesh PM returns
home to contest polls
DHAKA: Former Bangladesh premier Sheikh
presented Ma with an ink photographers. sides should see the reality shakes Hasina Wajed returned home yesterday after five
painting of a horse, as Ma said meetings this and should not deny each hands with months of medical treatment abroad, to lead her
“ma” is Chinese for horse. week between Taiwanese other’s existence in order Ma during a party in the December parliamentary elections.
In his only comment and Chinese officials, to promote the welfare of meeting at Police said at least 100,000 supporters packed the
during the meeting, Chen which saw the two sides the people and cross-strait the Taipei route to the airport to greet her after the govern-
told Ma: “This is by a sign a range of economic peace and to resolve our Guest House ment lifted all curbs on political rallies ahead of
master artist.” agreements, “symbolise differences,” he said. in Taipei the first polls in seven years. Sheikh Hasina told
Ma, who earlier this a major step forward for Chen arrived for a yesterday. reporters that she had returned “to rescue the
year became the island’s cross-strait ties.” five-day visit on Monday, country from a great crisis.” – Reuters
third democratically “The development becoming the most senior
elected president since fits the expectations of Beijing official to step foot China rock star ‘arrested’ in
1996, gave Chen a ceramic the people of both sides on the island.
vase, making no audible and will contribute to With his local mob-violence case
comment as he did so. cross-strait stability and counterpart Chiang Pin- BEIJING: One of China’s top rock stars, detained since
Ma, referring to the prosperity,” Ma said. kung he signed four deals September, has been formally arrested in connection
60 years of hostilities “But we cannot deny aimed at drawing the two with mob-related violence, state media said yesterday.
between the two formerly that differences and sides closer economically, Zang Tianshuo, 44, a household name in China, runs a
bitter enemies, made a challenges still exist, such but which have sparked bar in in northern Hebei province, near Beijing, which
short speech to a room as Taiwan’s security and widespread protests from had been investigated over several gang fights in the
packed with officials and Taiwan’s position in the supporters of formal stability-obsessed capital, Xinhua news agency said.
their wives, as well as international community. independence for the Zang was voted the most popular singer-songwriter
television cameras and “In the future both island. – AFP at the 9th Chinese Music Awards in 2003. – Reuters