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The United States appeared further isolated in its attitude towards Baghdad, with most of the world saying UN arms inspectors needed more time to search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.

Even Foreign Secretary Jack Straw of staunch US ally Britain, while condemning Iraq's attitude to the inspectors as "a charade", said the continuation of the searches was up to the UN Security Council - not any one state.

Following reports from the UN arms chiefs to the Security Council on their first two months of operation, the United States said Baghdad was not cooperating with the inspectors or complying with UN resolutions to give up weapons of mass destruction Washington says it possesses.

Germany, France, Russia and Canada said the arms experts needed more time, as did Secretary-General Amr Moussa of the 22-member Arab League and states neighbouring Iraq.

UN weapons chief Hans Blix said Iraq had cooperated in opening sites for inspection but had fallen short of filling in gaps in December's declaration on its weapons programmes. He said further moves were up to the Security Council.

The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, told the Security Council two months of inspections had produced no evidence Iraq was reviving its nuclear arms programme, dismantled by the UN in the 1990s. He sought more time.

While Straw called Baghdad's performance "a charade", he hedged his bets on how soon a US-led assault on Iraq might go ahead.

He said after a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels: "The decision about continuation of inspections is a matter for the Security Council, not for any one state."

US has threatened war

The United States has threatened a unilateral attack on Iraq if Baghdad does not give up biological, chemical and nuclear weaponry which Iraq says it does not have.

Baghdad said it had complied with UN demands.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell did not mince his words: "Iraq's time for choosing peaceful disarmament is fast coming to an end."

He gave no hint on when a decision to go to war might come. He said Washington would consult its allies over the next week and after that, it would decide what to do.

"The issue is not how much more time the inspectors need to search in the dark. It is how much more time Iraq should be given to turn on the lights and to come clean. And the answer is not much more time," Powell said.

Britain has already sent troops to the Gulf to join US forces there, diverging from European partners Germany and France and other international heavyweights such as Russia and China.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac, whose opinions have drawn fire from US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld, said the arms inspectors needed more time.

"We are of the opinion... that the inspectors will get more time for their work," Schroeder told journalists in Berlin.

At a later news conference after meeting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Schroeder said: "We are both of the opinion that nobody has the right to undertake any kind of action without a decision of the Security Council."

Chirac, who discussed the issue with Schroeder by phone, echoed his call and urged Baghdad to give the inspectors "full and entire cooperation".

Germany's Joschka Fischer, also attending the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels, said: "War is no alternative. I think one can conclude that the inspectors are doing a great job which should definitely go on."

The EU meeting produced a statement seeking more time for the inspectors in what officials said was a "unified position". Diplomats said the declaration papered over cracks that would inevitably emerge if Washington went to war.

Russia says new resolution not needed

In Moscow, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov said the reports of the arms inspectors were only intended to provide a preliminary survey of their work and set basic outlines for the future.

"At the present time, there is no need to adopt new (UN) resolutions on Iraq," he was quoted by Itar-Tass news agency as saying.

The Arab League's Amr Moussa said in an interview with Reuters in Berlin that the arms inspectors should get as much time as they needed, three months or more if necessary, to check for banned weaponry.

"There should be no outer limit for peace. War is a very serious and dangerous proposition, you have to avoid it by all means up until it is the only necessity and one the whole world community decides.

"So if they need more time, they should be given more time. Why should we be in a hurry to wage war?" he asked on the eve of talks with the German foreign minister.

Prime Minister Abdullah Gul of Turkey, a close NATO ally of the United States and a key to any war with Iraq, said conflict with Baghdad could spell economic and human disaster and called for increased efforts to avert it.

In New Delhi, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi urged Baghdad to cooperate fully with the weapons inspectors, but said all countries bordering Iraq opposed a US-led invasion.

www.upi.com By Carmen Gentile UPI Latin America Correspondent From the International Desk Published 1/27/2003 7:08 PM

SAO PAULO, Brazil, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- While U.S. leaders used this week's economic forum to rally international support for its hard-line stance on Iraq, Brazil's president took a decidedly different agenda to Davos, Switzerland, calling on industrialized nations to make the battle against hunger the world's top priority.

In talks dominated by the imminent threat of a U.S. attack on Iraq and the results of the latest U.N. weapons inspections, Brazil's new, leftist leader, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, asked leaders to take a step back from the precipice of war and consider focusing on the creation of a worldwide fund to end hunger and poverty.

Lula, as the president is known, gave nearly the same address to participants of the anti-globalization meeting on Friday in the southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre, where he received raucous applause for his declaration that "the world needs peace and comprehension, not war."

The only world leader to attend both the World Social Forum and economic forum in Davos, Lula stressed at both meetings that industrialized nations "need to start seeing the world in a new way."

"We all need to make an option for development and growth as part of a new world order," said Lula. "Hunger cannot wait."

A former union leader and metal worker who quit school as a young boy so he could help support his family, Lula used both international forums to bolster a hunger eradication agenda that has become his top priority at home.

Even in the months leading up to his Jan. 1 inauguration, Lula had been designing his much touted "Zero Hunger" plan. The initial goal is to assist 10 million people via an aggressive food allotment program over the next five years.

Government statistics show that some 44 million out of an estimated 175 million Brazilians are eligible for Zero Hunger benefits, earning less than a dollar a day.

Lula drew a grave picture of starvation in South America and especially Africa, asking G-7 industrialized nations and international investors to help get the initiative off the ground.

"We urgently need to join forces to ensure the victory of hope over fear, as we have in Brazil," Lula said. "We urgently need an understanding in favor of peace, against hunger. Brazil can be counted on to participate in this effort."

The Brazilian leader's presence at both meetings put Lula in the international spotlight on two continents, a move that puts him into the upper echelon of prominent developing nations' leaders after less than a month in office.

Popularity and name recognition come at a price, however.

Some leftists, both in Brazil and the world over, criticized Lula for attending the World Economic Forum.

Analysts note that Lula has called for social reform at home while maintaining the free-market reforms enacted over the past eight years by his predecessor, Fernando Henrique Cardoso. But that might have to change.

Party politics aside, Lula's presence in Davos appears to signal his willingness to work with both the left and right in order to promote Brazil abroad.

During his address Sunday, he pledged to continue reform efforts in the Brazilian government, most notably in the areas of taxes and pensions.

"I've told (Finance Minister Antonio) Palocci: You don't need to be a progressive or a leftist. You can even be a little conservative. In Brazil, we are only going to be radical when it comes to ending hunger," said Lula.

That said, the Brazilian president took the opportunity to condemn what he called the "uninformed youths" that issue negative credit ratings for South American countries. Jitters on Wall Street regarding a possible Lula's presidency were in part to blame for Brazil's sagging economy in the months leading up to the new president's administration.

"Here are people who can't even name the capital of Colombia and they're telling the world whether certain countries are credit-worthy or not," said Lula. "We cannot allow ourselves to be the victim of speculators."

The Brazilian president curbed his comments by stressing that "We (the developing world) cannot blame the first world (developed world) for our problems."

"We have to look inward," he said.

cbs.marketwatch.com By Sital Patel, Medill News Service Last Update: 8:55 PM ET Jan. 27, 2003

WASHINGTON (CBS.MW) -- The Bush administration reiterated its commitment to improving trade relations with Brazil on Monday, saying it is encouraged that the new Brazilian government's proposed economic reforms already have spurred a drop in interest rates and strengthened the real.

Leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took power three weeks ago. His election had sparked worries among many international investors who feared the former labor leader would not continue market-friendly policies as president.

However, since his inauguration interest rates charged by investors have dropped by more than 10 percent and the Brazilian exchange rate against the dollar has appreciated.

Lula has outlined economic policy reforms in four key areas: fiscal, monetary, trade and structural. His administration hopes these reforms will expand economic growth for Brazil.

"We have seen an agenda designed to fight poverty and increase economic growth and stability," said John Taylor, U.S. undersecretary of the treasury. Taylor spoke to the Brazil-U.S. Business Council.

John Shott, senior fellow at the Institute for International Economics, said both countries would gain from free trade "and recognizing that there are interlinkages in bilateral, regional and global trading involved is important."

Nearly every country in the Western Hemisphere has agreed to negotiate for a Free Trade Area of the Americas in November. The goal of the FTAA is to have in place a free trade agreement for the entire region by 2005, similar to the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Brazil and the United States will lead those talks this year.

The European Union's high tariffs on some of Brazil's major exports, including livestock and soybeans, have been a roadblock to expanding its economy. Thus the United States and most Latin American economies have a common interest in reaching a regional trade deal because of the high tariffs with Europe.

But Brazil, the largest Latin American economy, is the nation most skeptical of the plan. About a quarter of Brazil's total exports, about $15.5 billion, are shipped to the United States.

"In Brazil, lots of the new industries think they need more time to fully compete with richer countries," said Lincoln Gordon, a scholar in Latin American affairs at the Brookings Institution. Generally lowering trade barriers is good for everybody, but distributing these gains evenly is critical, he added.

Peter Allgeier, deputy U.S. trade representative, cited the U.S. trade agreement with Chile as an example of an ideal pact because it does not exclude any products and includes open trade in services as well as manufactured goods.

"It's important to remember it's a two-way street," said Allgeier, "both in economic development and eliminating poverty." He added that every country is different and any trade agreement reached would be catered to that economy and its special needs.

www.pacifica.org ATTN: ALL STATIONS From: Democracy Now! Re: Rundown Date: 01-27-03 PRSS Channel: A67.7

9:00-9:01 Billboard:

Israel considers full reoccupation of Gaza Strip; Weekend raid kills 14 Palestinians and injures dozens

UN weapons inspectors set to ask for more time Iraq: U.S. threatens to go to war alone and unleash massive attack (possibly nuclear) on Iraq

From Porto Allegre to Davos to New York: We hear from activists at the World Social Forum, World Economic Forum and at anti-war protests outside the United Nations

9:01-9:08 Headlines

ISRAEL CONSIDERS FULL REOCCUPATION OF GAZA STRIP; WEEKEND RAID KILLS 14 PALESTIANS AND INJURES DOZENS

Israel is considering fully reoccupying the Gaza Strip. This comes after a massive Sunday invasion of Gaza City that left 14 dead and over 50 injured. In addition Israel locked down the West Bank and Gaza Strip last night and closed all border crossings.

The moves came just days before Israel’s general election on Tuesday. Prime Minister Gen. Ariel Sharon is predicted to defeat the new leader of the Labour Party, Amram Mitzna, who has pledged to withdraw from the Gaza Strip within a year.

Sunday’s invasion of Gaza City marked the deepest raid into Gaza City in the two years of the second intifada. We go Gaza City for a report.

Guest: Kristen Schurr, journalist living in Gaza. She is currently in Gaza City.

9:06-9:07 One Minute Music Break

9:07-9:50: UN WEAPONS INSPECTORS SET TO ASK FOR MORE TIME IN IRAQ: MEANWHILE U.S. THREATENS TO GO TO WAR ALONE AND UNLEASH MASSIVE ATTACK (POSSIBLY NUCLEAR) ON BAGHDAD

At the United Nations today, chief UN weapons inspector Hans Blix is expected to say their work is just getting started and that more time is needed.

Meanwhile Secretary of State Gen. Colin Powell indicated yesterday that it would be useless to give the inspectors more time. Powell made these comments at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Powell went on to say the U.S. would be willing to wage war against Iraq alone if European nations would not fight. Powell said Washington had a "sovereign right to take military action on Iraq alone or in a coalition of the willing.” He also claimed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein had ties to Al Qaeda but offered no evidence.

Both the United States and key ally Britain could use Monday's report to press for military action against Iraq on the grounds of Baghdad failing to cooperate with the inspectors in line with UN disarmament Resolution 1441.

In other Iraq news, CBS News is reporting that the U.S. is considering to wage an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iraq in the opening days of war if the Bush Administration chooses military action against Iraq.

The military plans to drop between 300 and 400 cruises missiles in the first 24 hours of attack, easily exceeding the total fired over six weeks in the 1991 Gulf war.

The aim is to cause such "shock and awe" that Iraqi troops will lose their will to fight at the outset. Just in case they do not get the message immediately, the US plans do the same again on day two.

And the Los Angeles Times is reporting that Pentagon is quietly preparing for the possible use of nuclear weapons in a war against Iraq.

The military planners have been studying lists of potential targets and considering options, including the possible use of so-called bunker-buster nuclear weapons against deeply buried military targets.

Guest: Phyllis Bennis, fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington DC, specializing in Middle East and United Nations issues She is the author of the book Before and After: U.S. Foreign Policy and the September 11th Crisis, Lower Third: Institute for Policy Studies

Guest: Andreas Zumach, Geneva-based UN correspondent with the German newspaper Die Tageszeitung. Last month Zumach obtained an unedited copy of Iraq's 12,000-page report to the United Nations, including portions on how Iraq acquired its weapon capability from Germany, the U.S. and others. Lower Third: journalist, Die Tageszeitung

Links: Institute for Policy Studies: www.ips-dc.org

9:20-9:21 One Minute Music Break

9:50-9:58 FROM PORTO ALLEGRE TO DAVOS TO NEW YORK: WE HEAR FROM ACTIVISTS AT THE WORLD SOCIAL FORUM, WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM AND AT ANTI-WAR PROTESTS OUTSIDE THE UNITED NATIONS

Yesterday Brazil Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez lashed out at Venezuelan opposition leaders, predicting they would fail in their bid to oust him from power.

Chavez said, "Our struggle against the terrorists and fascists has further strengthened the will of the Venezuelan people. It is one thing to try to get rid of me, and another thing to succeed. I have the popularity to remain in power."

Chavez’s comments came at the third annual World Social Forum in Porto Allegre, Brazil where up to 100,000 activists and academics from around the world are meeting in Brazil this week.

During Thursday's opening march for the forum, an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 people demonstrated in Porto Alegre.

The World Social Forum is being held as a counterpoint to the World Economic Forum the annual gathering of the world's biggest capitalists and heads of state, taking place simultaneously at the luxury Swiss ski resort of Davos.

One of the few individuals who attended both forums was Brazilian’s new president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He addressed the World social forum last Friday among criticisms that his attendance at the World Economic Forum this week would be like as one said“going to a banquet with people responsible for the misery in the world”

Three years ago, Lula had called the WEF the “grand strategic event for neoliberalism”. Over the weekend in Davos he called for rich countries to join his fight to eliminate hunger affecting up to 44 million of Brazil's 175 million citizens.

Meanwhile in New York, hundreds of anti-war protests gathered outside the United Nations to protest war.

Guest: America Bera-Savala, organizer with ATTAC in Sweden. She is in Brazil at the World Social Forum

Guest: Serena Tinari, Indymedia journalist in Davos

Guest: Miles Solay, organizer with Not in Our Name

Link: www.notinourname.net

9:58-9:59 Outro and Credits

For a copy of today’s program, call 1 (800) 881 2359. Our website is www.democracynow.org. Our email address is mail@democracynow.org.

Democracy Now! is produced by Kris Abrams, Mike Burke, Angie Karran, Ana Nogiera and Alex Wolfe. Mike Di Filippo is our engineer and webmaster.

www.miami.com Posted on Tue, Jan. 28, 2003 BY TIM JOHNSON tjohnson@herald.com

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration on Monday heaped praise on the month-old government of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, rating his administration's early economic policies as sound and applauding its social goals.

''It's a great start,'' said John B. Taylor, the Treasury Department under secretary for international affairs. ``The signs are good, and we are encouraged.''

Uncertainty about the incoming Brazilian leader, known widely as Lula, sparked turmoil in the financial markets last year and fears that the one-time leftist labor leader and the Republican White House would clash on ideological grounds.

But the remarks Monday showed that the Bush administration views U.S. relations with Brazil, the world's ninth-largest economy, as worthy of extensive cultivation.

EMBRACING REFORMS

Taylor, speaking at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said da Silva's government has embraced many of the reforms of the center-right government of former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, reassuring jittery capital markets. The da Silva government has set goals of giving autonomy to the central bank, reforming bankruptcy laws, maintaining fiscal discipline and sticking by a flexible exchange rate, he said.

Joining in the praise was Peter Allgeier, a deputy U.S. trade representative, who told a chamber luncheon that the Bush administration is watching with satisfaction as trade with Brazil increases.

''It looks like we will import more than $15.5 billion worth of goods this year. This makes us the largest export market for Brazil,'' Allgeier said. ``We are edging out the European Union, taking just over a quarter of Brazil's exports.''

Taylor emphasized that the Bush administration looks kindly on the da Silva government's focus on alleviating poverty.

''We're all already quite encouraged by the economic leadership that President Lula and his economic team have shown,'' Taylor said, adding that a focus on ``ending hunger, combating corruption, dealing with drug trafficking [are] very worthwhile, important goals which rightly should be emphasized.''

NO QUICK MOVES

Taylor said the da Silva government has shown signs of fiscal restraint despite high expectations that it would take quick, and possibly deficit-producing, action to create jobs.

''Already [there are] indications that new increases in spending will involve offsets to other kinds of spending,'' Taylor said. ``There's also talk about tax reform.''

An outside international economist with experience in Brazil, John Williamson, of the Washington-based Institute for International Economics, said da Silva has ''handled things very well, very responsibly'' and has even shown abent for international affairs.

''You have Lula going to [the world economic forum of business leaders] in Davos, Switzerland, and competing with [Secretary of State] Colin Powell for headlines,'' Williamson said.