Free Republic

The father of Pakistan's atomic weapons programme last night admitted on national television that he had illegally traded nuclear secrets to other countries. Contradicting reports from recent days, Abdul Qadeer Khan also claimed that he had done so without the knowledge of the government. Speculation is now mounting that Dr Khan may not be prosecuted. A former army chief, Mirza Aslam Beg, an ally of Pakistan's president, Pervez Musharraf, yesterday told the Guardian he believed Dr Khan would have to be kept out of court "because he knows too much". Mr Beg added: "If [Dr] Khan had appeared in a...

Orgies of bloody murder have left Congo traumatised By Declan Walsh, in Bunia, D R Congo 31 May 2003 When the came for Joseph Nzeloy, the Congolese gunmen had an argument. Should they kill the farmer's family by slicing open their stomachs, cutting their throats or chopping off their heads? After a thought, they decided. With a gun to his temple, Mr Nzeloy, 62, watched as the killers grabbed his wife, eight children and two brothers, and bound them. Then, one by one, they sliced their throats. Mr Nzeloy survived after being left for dead. "I heard everything but could...