It is twenty-three hours thirty Universal Time and here is the news in Special English. ▼ British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced his resignation. Queen Elizabeth on Tuesday appointed the leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron, as the new prime minister and asked him to form a new government. Mr. Cameron later spoke to a crowd near the government headquarters in London. He said he accepted the queen's request. He said he would form a coalition government with the Liberal Democratic Party and its leader, Nick Clegg, will be deputy prime minister. He also praised Gordon Brown's long record of public service. Mr. Brown's resignation ends thirteen years of Labor party rule. American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the United States will keep its promises to Afghanistan long after the last American soldier has left. Secretary Clinton made the comment at the start of day-long discussions in Washington with Afghan officials. The talks are aimed at repairing relations between the two governments. The Afghans have complained of civilian deaths in military operations. The United States has criticized possible corruption in the Afghan government and in the presidential election. In opening remarks, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Secretary Clinton spoke of the strong Afghan and American partnership. Ms. Clinton said it would outlast the current conflict.
Iraqi officials say two explosions in Baghdad have killed at least five police officers and wounded fourteen others. The explosions Tuesday took place in a neighborhood in southern Baghdad that is home to a Christian community. The explosions came a day after attacks across Iraq killed at least one hundred ten people. It was Iraq's worst day of violence this year. Iraqi officials have blamed al-Qaeda-linked militants for Monday's bombings and shootings. The attacks also wounded hundreds of people in nine Iraqi cities and towns. There has been no official claim of responsibility.
In Thailand, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has appealed for an end to two months of anti-government protests in the business area of Bangkok. He warned that they must leave by Wednesday or face what he called “necessary action.” Anti-government protesters say they will not end their demonstrations until the deputy prime minister faces charges for a deadly campaign against the group. The protest leader said Monday the official, Suthep Thaugsuban, must surrender to police.
Burma's detained democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is seeking to have overturned her two thousand nine conviction for violating terms of her house arrest. Her lawyers entered her appeal Monday. The country's highest court will decide whether to send the case to a special appeals court for consideration. She has already lost two appeals. Burma's military rulers have kept the democracy leader under arrest for fourteen of the past twenty years. The recent extension of her arrest keeps her detained through elections planned for later this year.
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Three companies are blaming each other for the recent explosion and sinking of an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Two committees of the United States Senate listened as officials from BP, Transocean and Halliburton traded accusations Tuesday. The Chairman of BP America, Lamar McKay, said his company is responsible for all costs of cleaning up the oil spill. He says Transocean was responsible for operating the rig. Transocean Chief Executive Officer Steven Newman said Halliburton completed work on the oil well days before the explosion on April twentieth. Mr. Newman called the accident “a catastrophic failure” of some of that work. But, Halliburton President Tim Probert said his company performed its duties as BP ordered.
Russian news agencies now say fifty-two people are reported dead from two methane gas explosions at a coal mine in western Siberia. Officials say thirty-eight miners are still missing. They say those who may still be alive in the mine are threatened by rising water. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with injured miners at a hospital in the Kemerovo area of Siberia. He also has visited the Raspadskaya coal mine to inspect the rescue operation. Mr. Putin has demanded a detailed investigation into the accident. Among those killed were nineteen rescue workers who had entered the huge mine before the second explosion.
Administration officials say President Barack Obama has promised to hold Israel and the Palestinian Authority responsible for any actions that destroy trust during planned peace talks. A White House statement says Mr. Obama made that comment in a phone call Tuesday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Mr. Obama urged both parties to negotiate seriously and move from United States-negotiated talks to direct negotiations as soon as possible.
Sudan has asked the international police agency Interpol for help in arresting the leader of the most powerful rebel group in Darfur. The Sudanese Media Center reports that the Justice Minister said Khalil Ibrahim should be arrested wherever he is. The news agency says the leader of the Justice and Equality Movement is wanted for a deadly attack in two thousand eight in Khartoum and Omdurman.
The United States and China are set to restart human rights talks this week for the first time in two years. The Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor will lead the American team. China's delegation will be led by Foreign Affairs Ministry Director General for International Organizations Chen Xu. ▲ And now briefly, here again is the major news of the hour read in VOA Special English.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth has appointed Conservative party leader David Cameron as the new prime minister. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the United States will honor its promises to help Afghanistan for years to come. And, Iraqi officials say two explosions in Baghdad have killed at least five police officers.
That's the news in VOA Special English coming to you from Washington. Source: VOA Special English May 11, 2010 2330UTC
