Putin accuses West of sparking arms race

MOSCOW President Putin has attacked the United States and Nato, accusing them of starting a new arms race with their plans for a missile defence shield in Eastern Europe. He gave warning that Russia was now rich enough to respond with new weaponry (Tony Halpin writes).

Mr Putin attacked the US and Europe for expanding Nato close to Russia’s border at a time when Moscow had closed military bases abroad. He said that Russia would stand up to the West and defend itself against US plans to establish a missile defence shield in Eastern Europe.

“A new round of arms race has started to unfold,” Mr Putin told ministers and regional governors in a televised address. “It’s not our fault, we didn’t start it . . . funnelling multibillions of dollars into developing weapons systems. We are being forced to take retaliatory steps. Russia has and always will have a response to these new challenges. In the near future, Russia will start production of new weapons systems that will not be inferior and in some cases excel those held by other countries.”

Mr Putin also accused Western governments of seeking to gain control of the vast energy reserves that have fuelled Russia’s booming economy.

He said: “Many conflicts, foreign policy actions and diplomatic moves smell of oil and gas. Behind all that there often is a desire to enforce an unfair competition and ensure access to our resources.”

Gunman kills 5 in attack on city council

Kirkwood A gunman stormed a city council meeting in a suburb of St Louis, Missouri, and opened fire, killing two police officers and three council officers.

Charles Lee “Cookie” Thornton had lost a federal lawsuit against the local council ten days earlier. He alleged that he was being harassed after he was ejected from public meetings for disorderly conduct, apparently over 150 parking tickets that he had received. Thornton critically injured Mike Swoboda, the Mayor, and wounded Todd Smith, a local reporter, before police shot him dead.

“The only way that I can put into a context that you might understand is that my brother went to war tonight with the people, the Government that was putting torment and strife into his life,” Gerald Thornton, the brother of the gunman, told KMOV-TV.

A police spokeswoman said that Thornton killed one officer outside City Hall, then walked into the council chambers, shot another and continued firing. A witness said that he shouted “Shoot the Mayor!” as he fired shots in the chambers, hitting Mr Swoboda.

Janet McNichols, a reporter covering the meeting for the St Louis Post- Dispatch, told the newspaper that the gunman rushed in and opened fire with at least one weapon. He started yelling about shooting the Mayor while walking around and firing, hitting Tom Ballman, a police officer, in the head. He then shot Kenneth Yost, the public works director, who was sitting in front of the Mayor. (AP)

Le Pen sentenced over Nazi comment

Paris The French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen received a three-month suspended jail sentence for describing the Nazi occupation of France as “not especially inhumane”.

Le Pen, 79, the leader of the National Front, was found guilty of denying a crime against humanity and complicity in condoning war crimes, over the remarks he made in an interview with the far-right magazine Rivarol in 2005. He was also fined 10,000 euros.

Le Pen, who said in the interview that German excesses in France were inevitable, did not attend the hearing, but his lawyer said that he was certain to start an appeal. (AFP)

Al-Qaeda attack fear

Berlin German intelligence chiefs believe that al-Qaeda may be planning an attack on the country, which has so far avoided a major assault by Islamic extremists. Germany has more than 3,000 troops in Afghanistan. (AP)

Eleven die in blaze

VIENNA At least 11 people died in a fire at a retirement home in Egg in western Austria. Dozens of firefighters struggled to extinguish the flames on the higher floors of the building, which housed 24 people. The cause of the fire was unknown. (AFP)

Food aid for poor

Islamabad Pakistan will provide subsidised food for millions of its poorest people. President Musharraf announced a ration card scheme, in response to an increase in energy costs and inflation, ten days before the general election. (Reuters)

Whale hunt support

Tokyo Nearly two thirds of Japanese support annual whale hunts and more than half agree that whales should be used for food, according to a survey by a newspaper. Australia has been urging Japan to halt its current hunt near Antarctica. (AP)

Arms race warning

Moscow President Putin has attacked the US and Nato, accusing them of starting a new arms race with their plans for a missile defence shield in Eastern Europe. He gave warning that Russia was now rich enough to respond with new weaponry.

Traffic fines mix-up

Philadelphia A traffic court judge apologised to Edward Harris, who was hounded for 17 years by officials who confused him with Edwin Harris, his twin brother, who owed $1,800 (£900) in unpaid tickets and fines. (AP)

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