Worldview media wrap 18/2/2005

British newspaper The Times has revealed that a civilian nuclear installation in north-west ENGLAND cannot account for 30 kilograms of plutonium, enough for seven or eight nuclear bombs.

An annual audit of nuclear material has shown that the SELLAFIELD plant shows the material missing, on its books at least, says The Times.

A spokeswoman, quoted by BRITAIN’s Press Association newswire, says they are not alarmed at the accounting shortfall, as it could be due to the complex measuring processes involved.

But returning to the region embroiled in its own nuclear problems — especially following yesterday’s “common front” announcement by IRAN and SYRIA against the U-S — the Lebanese leadership continues to be haunted by the press.

Two former leaders of LEBANON, now living in exile in PARIS, have told FRENCH newspapers that the current pro-Syrian leadership must step down after the killing of former prime minister, (mr) RAFIQ HARIRI.

A former president of LEBANON between 1982 and 1988, (mr) AMIN (ghe-MAY-el) GEMAYEL, told Liberation newspaper that SYRIA is “guilty by omission… because it omitted responsibility for security on the ground”.

And an exiled prime minister between 1988 and 1989, (mr) (me-SHELL ah-OON) MICHEL AOUN, told L’Orient Le Jour that it is important to continue the political offensive to bring down the government.

Meanwhile, most of AUSTRALIA’s newspapers have today (fri) leapt upon the fallout of an Israeli consul to
AUSTRALIA’s expulsion from his position, and this country, by AUSTRALIA’s top spy service.

As all good spy stories must have a love interest, why not make it the daughter of AUSTRALIA’s Attorney-General, (mr) PHILIP RUDDOCK.

The story, originally found in this week’s Australian Jewish News, says (ms) CAITLIN (kate-LIN) RUDDOCK reportedly met the expelled consul, (mr) AMIR LATY, while the two were studying in BEIJING, and remained friends in CANBERRA.

“This issue has nothing to do with me,” Ms RUDDOCK told the SYDNEY Morning Herald. “You should speak to my dad’s office.”

It’s never been explained why Mr LATY was expelled from his position, but it is understood that ASIO believed he was a spy.

And that’s what the media are looking at on Friday, the eighteenth of February, 2005.

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