October 13, 2004

The People's Republic Of China rejects an offer by Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian to begin a peace dialogue, deriding the offer as "meaningless", and accusing Chen of making "an open and audacious expression of Taiwan Independence " by explicitly stating that the " Republic Of China is Taiwan and Taiwan is the Republic of China". (VOA)

President George W. Bush and challenger Senator John Kerry meet at Arizona State University in Tempe , Arizona for the last of three U.S. Presidential Debates . (ABC)

--- The British Foreign Minister Jack Straw comments on Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip , saying that the United Kingdom "unreservedly condemns all acts of Terrorism including the firing of Qassam Rocket s", but that " Israel has an obligation under international law to ensure that its response to terrorism is proportionate to the threat it faces, as well as a duty to avoid innocent civilian casualties", and that "[Israel] is not meeting those obligations". (BBC) (E-Politix)

--- Israel arrests Imad Qawasameh , a senior Hamas leader, in Hebron . The Hebron branch of Hamas has claimed responsibility for a double Suicide Bombing on August 31 in the Israeli city of Beersheba that killed 16 people. (BBC) (Haaretz)

--- The Israel i Army expands its operation in the Gaza Strip into Beit Lahiya . A missile fired from an Israeli helicopter kills a Hamas militant, Mohammed Marous , and wounds three others. Separately, two Fatah militants are killed. (Haaretz) (Reuters)

--- Hamas launches two Qassam Rocket s at the Israel i town of Sderot . Residents are alerted by a newly installed early warning system; no injuries are reported. (Haaretz) (Reuters)

--- Interim Iraq i Prime Minister Ayad Allawi issues an Ultimatum to the city of Fallujah , warning that a major new military operation will be launched if all foreign militants are not expelled from the city. (Reuters)

--- Relations between local insurgents and foreign Arab militants in the Iraq i city of Fallujah deteriorate, with locals threatening to expel the foreigners by force. Locals have killed at least five foreign fighters in recent weeks, and foreign fighters have taken refuge in the city's commercial district after being denied shelter in residential neighborhoods. (MSNBC)

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