Volume 4 Number 317 Mon. April 19, 2004       Advertise with The Daily Star -- Advertising on the Website    Advertising in the Printed E dition-- Home  News Today's Index Front Page Business Political Sports Point-counterpoint Metropolitan National International Culture General Views Editorial Letters to Editor Write to Editor Sections Others About Us Contact Advertisement Supplements Archives International EU, ME slam Rantissi assassination US defends Israeli killing, Annan terms it a violation of int'l law The White House Saturday defended Israel's assassination of Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantissi, while European and Middle Eastern governments slammed the killing as Israel vowed to continue "eliminating   Iraq tense amid Najaf, Falluja standoffs US forces waited outside Najaf yesterday with no sign of a breakthrough in efforts to avert a bloody confrontation with rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in an Iraqi city holy to the world's Shia Muslims.   Sonia concedes Cong trailing in 2 key states India's main opposition leader Sonia Gandhi acknowledged her Congress party was trailing in two crucial northern states ahead of the national election that begins Tuesday.   Taliban attacks weakening: US 8 Afghan troops killed A spring offensive by Taliban and al-Qaeda guerrillas in Afghanistan's restive south is the weakest in two years, US officials say, but Taliban militants vowed yesterday to keep up their attacks.   Bush pushes for renewal of Patriot Act President Bush Saturday urged the US Congress to renew the Patriot Act, the post-Sept. 11, 2001 law that beefs up law enforcement powers, as he sought to highlight his national security credentials.   'No need to name Vajpayee's successor' Asserting that there was no need to name Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's successor at this stage, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has said its focus at present was on the "success in polls and notthe   Jesse Jackson asked to help free US captive The Rev. Jesse Jackson will contact religious leaders in Iraq to seek the release of Thomas Hamill, the American civilian truck driver abducted in Iraq, Hamill's wife said Saturday.   Blair is back to his domestic woes Any cheer gained by British Prime Minister Tony Blair from an Easter holiday and a mutual back-slapping summit with US President George W.   'Pro-incumbency factor beneficial for NDA' A pro-incumbency factor is prevailing in the country which is beneficial for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government at the Centre as it is all set to increase its   EU-Asia talks continue under shadow of Myanmar The European Union and Asia were to wrap up annual talks yesterday overshadowed, not for the first time, by EU distaste over the military dictatorship ruling Myanmar.   3 UN police die in Kosovo jail shootout A Jordanian policeman opened fire on a group of international UN police in Kosovo Saturday, killing two Americans before he was killed when officers returned fire.     Advertisement