Foreign Desk
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
CENTRAL ASIA
KARZAI ESCAPES ROCKET ATTACK KABUL, Afghanistan – Assailants fired a rocket at an American helicopter taking President Karzai on a rare foray into Afghanistan’s troubled provinces yesterday, but it missed and he escaped injury.
Mr. Karzai has survived at least one previous attempt on his life. He made light of the attack, which renewed concern about the American-backed leader’s safety amid Taliban threats to derail the October 9 presidential election.
Three suspects were arrested.
The American military said the rocket missed the chopper as it approached a landing zone near the city of Gardez, 60 miles south of Kabul. Mr. Karzai planned to open a school in Gardez.
“The rocket was fired at the helicopter as it was landing, and missed,” American spokesman Major Mark McCann said.
The helicopter did not touch down and returned the president to Kabul. Two lumbering Chinooks escorted by helicopter gun ships were seen over the downtown area shortly before noon. No one was hurt by the attack, either on the ground or in the air, presidential spokesman Jawed Ludin said.
Mr. Ludin said the rocket came down in a village about a mile from Gardez. However, Major McCann and the local governor said the impact site was only 300-500 yards from the landing zone.
– Associated Press
MIDDLE EAST
LEBANESE AUTHORITIES BAN ‘DA VINCI CODE’ BEIRUT, Lebanon – Deeming its contents insulting to Christianity, Lebanese authorities have banned “The Da Vinci Code,” a novel that has drawn harsh criticism – and millions of readers – with its depiction of Jesus Christ marrying Mary Magdalene and fathering a child.
American author Dan Brown’s fast-paced, globe-trotting thriller was pulled off shelves around Lebanon on the orders of the General Security Department this week after the Catholic Information Center, which speaks for Lebanon’s Catholic community, recommended that it be banned.
“We were asked for our opinion on the book and we gave it,” the Reverend Abdo Abu Kasm, who heads the center, said yesterday. “We cannot accept that anyone insult our dignity and beliefs. …Christianity is not about forgiveness to the point of insulting Jesus Christ.” The 2003 book portrays Roman Catholic leaders as demonizing women for centuries and covering up the truth about the Holy Grail, which Mr. Brown says is Mary Magdalene herself. More than 10 books have been written trying to discredit the historical and theological content of Mr. Brown’s novel. Mr. Brown, who has said he is too busy working on a sequel to talk much about the book, has said he is grateful his work is generating debate.
– Associated Press
PERSIAN GULF
PICTURES OF SITE PROMPT DEMAND FOR IRAN ULTIMATUM America seized on satellite pictures of a possible Iranian nuclear weapons testing site yesterday to demand that Tehran be given an ultimatum to come clean or face United Nations sanctions.
“This clearly shows the intention to develop weapons,” said a senior American official after a Washington think-tank released its analysis of images of an isolated explosives testing facility at Parchin, about 20 miles from Tehran.
But Iran dismissed the claim as “another lie” and some American officials privately distanced themselves from the accusation. British officials were also skeptical. The International Atomic Energy Agency rejected American accusations that it had gone soft on Iran and that it was deliberately keeping quiet about Teheran’s alleged refusal to admit nuclear inspectors to Parchin.
An IAEA spokesman said a report issued two weeks ago “is objective and contains all the facts in our possession.” He added that inspectors were “discussing with Iran dual use items and equipment” — implying that the IAEA is interested in visiting Parchin.
– The Daily Telegraph