Am summary

AAP General News (Australia)
12-21-1998
Am summary

CANBERRA, Dec 21 AAP - The main stories in today's 0800 AEDT edition of ABC Radio's AM
program:

* Republicans and Democrats prepare for a Senate impeachment trial. President Bill Clinton
says he will not resign and hopes for a fair and prompt resolution. Republicans unlikely to
get a two-thirds Senate majority to oust Mr Clinton but a simple majority could censure him.
An opinion poll puts Mr Clinton's approval rating at 72 per cent. Speaker-elect Bob Livingston
quits after admitting cheating on his wife.

* Iraqi President Saddam Hussein speaks of the honour and glory of his troops in an address
to the nation after four days of airstrikes by the United States and Great Britain. The people
want to know why America persecutes their country. Baghdad largely spared from the bombing,
with airstrikes concentrated outside the capital.

* The Pentagon releases satellite photos showing damage caused by British and American
forces. Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman General Hugh Shelton says the hitlist was devised to
minimise civilian casualties while causing utmost damage to military installations. UNSCOM
leader Richard Butler denies Iraqi allegations he colluded in the timing of the airstrikes.

* British Prime Minister Tony Blair says the airstrikes have put Saddam back in his cage
but admits it will be difficult to get UNSCOM inspectors back into Iraq. He says the four days
of airstrikes averted the need for more serious action and denies putting service personnel at
risk because of American internal political matters.

* Private hospitals launch a new push to dismantle the universality of Medicare and bolster
health insurance by allowing people to opt out of Medicare in favour of a fund. Interview with
Australian Public Hospitals Association executive director Ian Chalmers.

* Australian Business warns members against using the new exemption from unfair dismissal
protection against existing workers, saying they may be liable to action from sacked workers.
Interview with AB general manager, workplace relations, Jack Goluzd.

* Former non-union stevedores will launch a $125 million Federal Court class action in
Brisbane, claiming a federal government conspiracy which left them the victims. Australian
Stevedores Guild president Paul McTernan says the government was behind the aborted Dubai
training scheme. The guild was set up to represent sacked workers. Interview with Mr McTernan.

* Four Western Australian Liberal Party branches move to have Senator Sue Knowles expelled.
The appeals and disciplinary committee has met to hear complaints stemming from false death
threat allegations by former Liberal powerbroker Noel Crichton-Browne. Senator Knowles is
accused of conspiring with Labor to have the allegations raised in state parliament.

* Special UN envoy Jamsheed Marker had to be airlifted by military helicopter from Dili as
protesters, some with machetes, stormed the airport. Marker had warned fresh unrest could
delay peace talks that had gained momentum.

* Some Papua New Guinea tsunami survivors are in a desperate situation, after being
relocated to waterlogged land that cannot support them. Interview with Brother James of the
Catholic Franciscan Order.

AAP fh/br

KEYWORD: AM SUMMARY

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