AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Aug 2

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AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Aug 2EVENING ROUND-UP: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1630

HOUSING HOWARD (PERTH)

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says the primary objective of an inquiry into housing affordabilityis to make it easier for people to buy their first home.

Treasurer PETER COSTELLO announced the inquiry today,

Mr HOWARD says home ownership gives Australians a fundamental feeling of security and stability.

Mr HOWARD says that the productivity commission inquiry will examine all perceivedbarriers to home ownership, including stamp duty levied by state governments.

The commission will be required to report to the government by March 31 next year.

Mr HOWARD says the problems of housing affordability are in part the result of thesuccess of the government's economic policies, including low interest.

But Labor treasury spokesman MARK LATHAM and housing spokesman GAVAN O'CONNOR say theinquiry shows a lack of government policy.

Labor says the inquiry is the second in 18 months and an excuse for further inaction.

The Australian Democrats say the inquiry is welcome, but it should be looking at housingaffordability for everybody, not just first home buyers.

Meanwhile, the Master Builders Association says state and local governments share mostof the blame for the rising cost of housing.

And Queensland Premier PETER BEATTIE says the new inquiry should look at the impactof federal taxes on house prices.

RUSSIA BLAST (MOSCOW)

Rescuers are searching for survivors from a suicide bomb which has killed dozens ofpeople in southern Russia.

Authorities say the bomber drove a truck packed with explosives through the gates ofa military hospital in the republic of North Ossetia, close to the troubled Chechnya region.

Conflicting official reports put the number of dead between 26 and 35, with up to 79people injured.

The hospital is used to treat Russian troops wounded in fighting with Chechen separatist rebels.

IRAQ (BAGHDAD)

A message said to have been recorded by SADDAM HUSSEIN has urged Iraqis to drive outAmerican forces fro their country.

Satellite television station Al Jazeera has broadcast the tape, which says God willgrant victory to those who fight to evict the US invaders.

The CIA says analysis of the tape has shown it's highly likely to be SADDAM's voice.

Meanwhile a US soldier has died in Baghdad from a gunshot wound received the day before,apparently by accident.

And firefighters in Iraq have failed to put out a fire at an oil pipeline near a refineryin the country's north and US authorities say they will have to shut down the line.

KOREA HOWARD (PERTH)

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says China's involvement in helping to defuse the NorthKorean nuclear crisis is the key to resolving the issue.

Mr HOWARD has welcomed North Korea's reported decision to hold discussions on its nuclearweapons program with South Korea, the United States, Japan, China and Russia.

Mr HOWARD says the news is a victory for diplomacy.

The United States and South Korea say they're now optimistic about the prospects forending the crisis over North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

The acceptance has ended months of haggling over the format of talks to end the crisis.

LIBS VIC DOYLE (BENDIGO)

Victorian Opposition Leader ROBERT DOYLE has declared a new Liberal war on crime.

He's recommitted the state party to a policy of minimum mandatory sentencing for violentcriminals offenders.

Mr DOYLE's told delegates at the Liberal Party state council in Bendigo that communitysafety is the most pressing issue of concern for Victorians.

DRUGS HOWARD (PERTH)

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says a decrease in the number of deaths from heroin dosesis proof of the success of the government's tough on drugs strategy.

Mr HOWARD says the government remains committed to a three-pronged approach to drugs.

He says this is based on involving education, law enforcement and rehabilitation.

However, he also says the government's responsibility is limited, and parents havethe biggest role to play in preventing drug abuse.

LIBERIA (UNITED NATIONS)

The UN Security Council has resolved to form an international peacekeeping force for Liberia.

It says a key role of the force will be to enforce a ceasefire agreed last month betweengovernment forces and rebels seeking to overthrow President Charles Taylor.

CHINA HK (HONG KONG)

Hong Kong's chief executive TUNG CHEE-HWA says the province's people will be consultednext year on constitutional reform.

Opposition Democratic Party MP LAI CHI-KEONG says Tung revealed the timetable forconsultation to him in response to a question at a public meeting yesterday.

KOREA RAELIAN (SEOUL)

South Korea has denied entry to CLAUDE VORILHON, the leader of the Raelian sect whichruns Clonaid, a company that claims to have created the first human clone.

The cult leader, known as RAEL, was held in custody when he arrived at Incheon InternationalAirport early today aboard a Korean Air flight from Toronto.

The cult leader had planned a 17-day stay in Seoul that would include a series of publiclectures on human cloning.

Clonaid, based in Las Vegas, Nevada, was founded in 1997 by the Raelians, who claim60,000 followers worldwide -- 4,000 of them in South Korea.

GRIMSON (SYDNEY)

A homeless man accused of stabbing a worker dressed as an angel at Sydney's Kings Crosslast night has been remanded in custody after appearing in court.

GREGORY GRIMSON, aged 35, was charged with maliciously wounding with intent to inflictgrievous bodily harm TRYSTAN O'BRIEN overnight.

Police said Mr O'BRIEN and two colleagues, all dressed as angels, were standing atthe corner of Bayswater and Darlinghurst roads handing out pamphlets for a local bar aboutmidnight (AEST).

CHEST (SYDNEY)

Police are investigating a murder after a pharmacist was shot at point-blank rangewhile leaving his southwest Sydney workplace last night.

Police say the man ran towards a workmate for help but collapsed and died in frontof her behind a busy shopping strip along Canley Vale Road, at Canley Heights.

Investigators say they have no strong leads in the hunt for the 38-year-old's killer.

They say the victim's black brief case was stolen during the shooting.

AND BRIEFLY . . .

Authorities in Bolivia say police have seized two tonnes of cocaine that was to havebeen be shipped to Spain.

Bushfires on Canada's west coast have driven nearly 7,500 people from their homes andburned dozens of houses.

Illegal immigrant YOUSSEF TECLE has faced a Sydney court charged with murdering a manwhose body was found in a wheelie bin a month ago.

A 50-year-old costume worn by television's original Superman has been sold for $A200,000.

AND IN SPORTS . . .

CRICKET AUST (CAIRNS)

Australia has cruised to victory over Bangladesh in the first of three one-day cricketmatches, winning by eight wickets in Cairns.

Australia bowled out Bangladesh for 105 and wiped off the runs in 22.3 overs with MATTHEWHAYDEN unbeaten on 46 and DAMIEN MARTYN - in his return from World Cup injury - not outon zero.

CYCLING WORLD AUST (STUTTGART)

Australia's ANNA MEARES has won the silver medal in the kierin at the world track cyclingchampionships.

MEARES finished fast but was just held off by SVETLANA GRANKOVSKAYA from Russia.

BASKET YOUTH (SIBENIK)

Australia has been knocked out of medal contention at the under-22 women's basketballworld championships in Croatia by the United States.

America, the tournament favourite, overpowered the Sapphires 80-56 to relegate themto a playoff for fifth.

LEAGUE DRAGONS (SYDNEY)

St George Illawarra captain LANCE THOMPSON has declared himself a certain starter inthe Dragons' must-win National Rugby League showdown tomorrow with high-flying Penrith.

GOLF PGA (GRAND BLANC)

Australian golfer PAUL GOW is two strokes from the lead after shooting a five-under67 in the second-round of the US PGA Tour's Buick Open which was suspended due to darkness.

SOCCER LIVERPOOL (AMSTERDAM)

Socceroo HARRY KEWELL blasted a long-range effort only for it to be blocked by a defenderduring his new team Liverpool's 0-0 draw against Ajax in the Amsterdam.

TENNIS SERENA (LOS ANGELES)

Tennis world number one SERENA WILLIAMS will be unable to defend her US Open titlenext month after undergoing surgery today to repair a partially torn tendon in her leftknee.

WILLIAMS is expected to recover fully from the procedure but will be sidelined sixto eight weeks.

ENDS EVENING ROUND-UP

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