AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Feb 16

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AAP National News Wire Round-Up for Evening, Feb 16EVENING ROUND-UP: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE AAP RTV FILE AT 1630

IRAQ DEMO NSW (SYDNEY)

More than half a million Australians have taken to the streets and joined worldwideprotests against the looming war with Iraq.

Police in Sydney say more than 200,000 people converged on the city's CBD, while organisersput the number at 500,000.

Police say safety fears forced them to re-route the march.

The rally started and was to finish in Hyde Park, but was re-routed to The Domain.

It's part of a series of anti-war demonstrations across Australia and around the worldthis weekend.

Labor politician LAURIE BRERETON says if Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD doesn't listento those opposed to war, it'll be political suicide.

Meanwhile, in Adelaide, organisers say about 50,000 people attended the anti-war rallyin Adelaide, with thousands more protesting in regional centres.

In Brisbane, Federal Opposition Leader SIMON CREAN was shouted down by anti-war demonstratorswhen calling for United Nations backing before an invasion of Iraq.

Police say around 50,000 people marched through the city in opposition to a war in Iraq.

Earlier Greens Senator KERRY NETTLE told peace supporters that Australians will becomeaccessories to the murder of innocent civilians if there's a war in Iraq.

IRAQ DEMO POLITICAL (CANBERRA)

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says public opinion cannot be measured by the hundreds ofthousands of Australians who've turned out at anti-war rallies.

The prime ministers comment comes as an estimated 10 million people protested acrossthe globe against United States' threats to invade Iraq.

But Mr HOWARD has told the Seven Network he's not convinced the anti-war crowds areevidence public opinion is firming against war.

Mr HOWARD made his statement after returning from a whirlwind trip to the United States,Britain and Indonesia to discuss a possible war on Iraq.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister ROBERT HILL says anti-war rallies are sending a messageto governments to try to resolve the situation in Iraq without military force.

And the Australian Democrats say Mr HOWARD will ignore mass public protests againstwar with Iraq at his peril.

IRAQ UN (UNITED NATIONS)

The United States and Britain have begun reworking a draft resolution to authoriseforce against Iraqi president SADDAM HUSSEIN amid a global outpouring of anti-war sentiment.

Diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, say the final product may be a softertext that does not explicitly call for war.

In Friday's dramatic Security Council meeting, weapons inspectors gave a relativelyfavourable accounting of Iraq's recent cooperation.

Before that report, US and British diplomats were working on a toughly worded resolutionfor military action.

But the measured reports by inspectors, staunch opposition to war led by France, Russiaand China, and massive anti-war protests, have come as a blow to their plans.

IRAQ ORDERS (CANBERRA)

Defence Minister ROBERT HILL says Australian troops won't be asked to destroy Iraq'swater supplies or target civilians if they become involved in a war on Iraq.

Senator HILL has assured Australian troops they won't be called on to directly killcivilians in the event of a conflict.

The United States has warned of an attack of overwhelming force if it goes to war with Iraq.

Meanwhile, analysts say the cost of fighting a protracted war in Iraq and occupyingBaghdad may far exceed the 1990-91 Gulf War's $A102 billion.

IRAQ VACCINE (CANBERRA)

Defence Minister ROBERT HILL says the crew of HMAS Kanimbla was not inoculated againstanthrax earlier because of unanswered questions about the vaccine.

Senator HILL says most of the 2,000 Australian service personnel sent to the PersianGulf were vaccinated soon after their deployment was announced on January 10.

He's told the Ten Network vaccinations proceeded across the forces almost immediatelyafter health experts had resolved some questions about the vaccine.

HOWARD INDON (JAKARTA)

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD has found some common ground with President MEGAWATI SUKARNOPUTRIat their meeting in Jakarta.

But as Mr HOWARD laid out his foreign policy, which is at odds with that of Indonesia,the past conflict over East Timor emerged as a nagging problem.

A top Cabinet minister and the President herself spoke out publicly about Jakarta'sdiscontent over support in Australia for independence movements in Papua and Aceh provinces.

On Iraq, Mr HOWARD and Mrs MEGAWATI agree that Australia's grievance is not based onreligion and that disputes should be solved through the United Nations.

BURMA US (WASHINGTON)

The United States says it's highly sceptical that Burma's military is serious about reform.

And it's warned it may step up sanctions as its patience wears thin.

Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights, Democracy and Labor LORNE CRANER hasdelivered a highly pessimistic survey of the political situation in Burma.

ZIMBABWE PROTESTER (BRISBANE)

An Australian human rights activist will seek a warrant for the arrest of ZimbabweanPresident ROBERT MUGABE in a Paris magistrates court tomorrow.

London-based gay and human rights campaigner PETER TATCHELL says he'll seek the warrantunder the French anti-torture law.

Mr MUGABE is attending this month's Franco-African summit in Paris.

BUSHFIRES VIC ASH (MELBOURNE)

Victorian firefighters have had little time to reflect on the 20th anniversary of theAsh Wednesday fires, with crews still battling the one-million-hectare blaze in the state'snorth-east.

JOHN TINDALL of the Country Fire Authority says it was decided several months ago thatthe risk of summer fires was too great to plan a statewide commemoration.

Fires on February 16, 1983, claimed the lives of 47 Victorians and destroyed more than2,400 homes.

Mr TINDALL says more than 3,000 firefighters are still fighting fires that have beenraging for 40 days.

VICTIMS (SYDNEY)

Victims of crime will be given a voice in court under proposed new laws announced byNew South Wales Premier BOB CARR.

The laws would give rape or assault victims -- or the family members of murder victims-- an opportunity to tell the judge about the impact the crime on their lives.

If they choose, victims or their representatives will be able to address the courtafter the offender has been found guilty but before sentencing.

UK FOSTER (LONDON)

The lover of Australian conman PETER FOSTER claims her boyfriend has been treated likea terrorist by British immigration officials.

41-year-old CAROL CAPLIN has blamed mysterious powers-that-be for deporting FOSTERfrom Ireland back to Australia after last year's so-called Cheriegate scandal.

FOSTER, who has a criminal history, helped Mrs BLAIR buy two flats in Bristol at knock-downprices.

AND BRIEFLY . . .

A woman has become Britain's oldest mother of twins by giving birth at 58.

A four-year-old girl has been airlifted to hospital after being bitten by a funnelweb spider in south-eastern New South Wales.

London newspapers report British information group Reuters will announce it's cutting1,000 jobs after its worst ever financial performance.

AND IN SPORTS . . .

WCUP WARNE MCGRATH (MELBOURNE)

Australian fast bowler GLENN MCGRATH says team-mate SHANE WARNE has brought his potentialcricketing downfall upon himself.

MCGRATH says WARNE was naive in taking a pill from his mother and should've known therisks of taking something given to him.

GOLF PGA (SAN DIEGO)

Tiger Woods has shot a four-under round 68 to grab a one-stroke lead heading into thefinal day of the Buick Invitational.

Playing in his first event since December knee surgery, WOODS had a three-round totalof 12-under 204 at Torrey Pines.

American BRAD FAXON is one shot back after a round of 71.

WCUP KENYA (CAPE TOWN)

Kenya has beaten Canada by four wickets in their World Cup Group B match in Cape Town.

Canada scored 197 in 49 overs, with IAN BILLCLIFF the top scorer with 71.

Kenya reached the target in 48.3 overs.

ENDS EVENING ROUND-UP

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KEYWORD: EVENING ROUND-UP