12 July 2003 Military News

ATTACK ON COALITION BASE IN AFGHANISTAN CENTCOM 12 Jul 2003 -- One suspected rocket impacted in the vicinity of the perimeter fence at about 12:25 p.m. EST here today.
Money from Marines means more jobs for Iraqis Marine Corps News 12 Jul 2003-- With the stroke of a pen and hand shakes all around, the First Marine Expeditionary Force July 9 awarded more than $200,000 in contracts to three Iraqi construction companies.
Key Iraqi plant, Marine make headway Marine Corps News 12 Jul 2003-- A Marine is using his engineering background to help get production started at a local chemical plant, which produces substances needed throughout Iraq for city services and a variety of industries.
F Co. leads raid on illegal arms market Marine Corps News 12 Jul 2003-- Marines of F Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marines led a raid on a suspected arms market June 21.

Rebuilding Afghanistan requires reform of key ministries, UN envoy says UN News Centre 12 Jul 2003 -- Afghanistan must improve the functioning of key security structures in order to restore long-sought stability, Lakhdar Brahimi, the senior United Nations envoy there, said this weekend.
No Progress Reported in Latest Round of Sudanese Peace Talks VOA News 12 Jul 2003 -- The latest round of Sudanese peace talks ended with no progress on agreeing terms of a draft peace proposal.
SUDAN/PEACE TALKS VOA 12 Jul 2003 -- The latest round of Sudanese peace talks ended with no progress on agreeing terms of a draft peace proposal.
UNICEF/BURUNDI VOA 12 Jul 2003 -- The United Nations children's fund says heavy fighting in Burundi, especially around the capital, has forced tens-of-thousands of people to flee their homes.
BUSH/AFRICA/WRAP VOA 12 Jul 2003 -- At the conclusion of his five-nation Africa trip, President Bush pledged U-S support for economic development on the continent. He also promised to help African end regional wars and fight threats of terrorism.
Chechnya: Russian Forces Kill Rebel Commander RFE/L 12 Jul 2003 -- The Russian military said today troops killed a leading Chechen rebel military commander responsible for training female suicide bombers.
African Union Summit Focuses on Resolving Civil Wars VOA News 12 Jul 2003 -- African leaders are meeting for a third and final day at a summit of the African Union that has focused on ways to resolve the continent's many civil wars.

Armitage Says Junta to Blame for Lack of Progress Toward Burmese Reconciliation Washington File 12 Jul 2003 -- Deputy secretary issues statement after meeting with U.N. envoy for Burma
HONG KONG / CHIEF EXECUTIVE VOA 12 Jul 2003 -- The pressure continues to mount on Hong Kong's chief executive, Tung Chee-hwa. Pro-democracy forces have been pushing for his resignation for some time, calling him incompetent and insensitive. Friends and officials of the Chinese government are now openly questioning Mr. Tung's effectiveness as well.
CHINA FLOODS VOA 12 Jul 2003 -- This summer's floods have killed 569 people in China, and have forced another 630-thousand to flee their homes in recent days. Worried officials say the flood season has at least another month to go.