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today's update on caravan to the middle east

arusha | 02.06.2003 20:07

update for the day

After having occupied and negotiated with officials at the Italian Embassy in Jordan, the delegation had got an 'ok' from embassies in Jordan, including from the American, to cross over to Iraq. They also obtained a written statement about wanting to cross over into Iraq which was approved by the US command.
The delegation once again made its way to the border today. They got past the first checkpoint but were stopped at the second one, where they were told to go back into Jordan. The activists then sat down on the ground. Six activists were subsequently injured as American soldiers dragged the peaceful sitters back onto their jeeps. The drivers did not want to get off the jeeps and were persuaded to go back to Jordan. One activist speaking on the radio said that they were the only ones refused entry into Iraq.
Back in Jordan, the Jordanian authorities wanted to take away their cameras in order to keep the films.
Luca Casarini has been urging the Italian Foreign Ministry to get involved.
The problems this delegation has met trying to enter into Iraq have been published in the Italian press, in the Manifesto, on Sunday.

There is a refugee camp in this stretch of no man's land, peopled by Palestinians. The delegation wanted to remain in the no man's land in order to go and greet the people from the camps, which are run by the UN. The American soldiers did not allow it. The delegation said that the refugees were being treated badly, but we have no more details about this at the moment.

For a complete coverage (in Italian ), go to www.yabasta.it

arusha

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  1. ENGLISH INFORMATION — globalradio