European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 13, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 12 stars and stripes Friday april 13 2007 in the world italian official defends Swap of hostages by Ariel David the associated press Rome Italy foreign minis Ter told parliament thursday that Rome decided against mounting a Rescue operation to save an ital Ian journalist and two afghans opting instead to negotiate with the Taliban so As not to endanger the hostages briefing the italian Parlia ments lower chamber Massimo Dalema defended a much Riti sized prisoner Swap that led to the March 19 release of la Republica journalist Daniele Mastrogi Como who was kidnapped two weeks earlier along with his afghan Driver and translator according to Dalema the afghan government considered the imprisoned Taliban who were part of the Deal not to be dangerous the Swap with five Taliban Mili Tants was criticized by the United states and some european nations and afghan lawmakers and foreigners working in the country said it gave incentive for Mili Tants to stage More kidnappings Dalema said me afghan government agreed to the release without problems or difficulties and considered that the prisoners presented a limited Dan Ger As Many of them were not fighters but Taliban spokesmen the storm Over the Deal Resur faced when the Taliban on Sun Day beheaded Mastrogi comos translator after seeking another prisoner Exchange leading to criticism in Italy that the govern ment had abandoned the afghan hostage the afghan and italian govern ments said the prisoner Swap was supposed to include translator and freelance reporter Ajmal Naqshabandi but that the Taliban reneged on the Deal Mastrogi comos Driver was be headed during the kidnapping Dalema told the chamber of deputies that the Taliban pretended to release Naqshabandi removing his bindings and letting him go but later detained him once again in wants Money Back from 90 War payments London the United nations is seeking the return of Mil Lions of dollars in compensation to victims of the 1990 iraqi inva Sion of Kuwait after an investigation showed they were Given More Money than they were entitled to Britain foreign office said thursday an audit revealed that several thousand victims had been Over paid by More than s80 million by the in compensation commis Sion which was set up to compensate victims of the Gulf War a foreign office spokesman said on condition of anonymity in line with government policy the commission has asked Brit Ain and other governments to collect the overpayment the spokesman said adding that the foreign office had sent letters to 113 British claimants asking for the return of a total of about within 30 Days from the associated press n Africa fears spreading Al Aida analysis no mention of terror group link in recent suicide attacks by John Leicester the associated press hunted islamic militants and gave them amnesty neighbouring Morocco jailed thousands of suspects but new approaches May be needed in the face of the deadly dangers posed by Al Aida in North Africa Bac Toback bombings and suicide at tacks in both countries Over the past two Days show that neither the Iron fist nor the outstretched hand has neutralized the threat of islamic terror in North Africa could Europe just a boat ride across the Mediterranean be next the moroccan and algerian governments avoided talking about an Al Aida link or inspiration in the bombings in Casablanca and Algiers on tuesday and wednesday respectively it would not be in their interest to do wants foreign tourists and investors to keep bringing in jobs and currency Al Geria does not want it publicly recognized that its Homegrown islamic insurgency is becoming another offshoot of Osama bin Laden network nor do they want Al Aida to make an Issue of the support both nations provide to the us War on terror but Hallmarks of what has be come a Laidas Way of spreading terror seemed evident in both bombings and a Laidas Wing in North Africa claimed Respo Sibili Oua Hab police look for evidence in a car that exploded next to a police station in Algiers on wednesday bombs ripped through the algerian prime ministers office and a police station coordinated terror attacks that algerian authorities said killed at least 23 people and wounded 160 by for the Algiers attack in a Tele phone Call to Al Nazeera television wednesday was april Lith was it a Mere coincidence that the now infamous number was chosen again As a Date for killing and maiming Likely not the list since changed the world is growing april 11 2002 a suicide bombing of a synagogue in Tuni Sia kills 21 mostly German tourists tunisian investigators link the attack to Al Aida 112004 train bomb Ings in Madrid Spain kill 191 peo ple and wound More than 1800 Muslim militants claim responsibility for the attack saying they acted on a Laidas behalf March 11 2007 a moroccan blows himself up in an internet cafe in Casablanca Morocco after the owner catches him surf ing jihadist web Sites if s not known what the bomber in that attack Abdelfattah Randi was looking for or whether he was at the cafe to download instructions from a handler the blast however led police to what they say was a larger plot to at tack police stations and the port in Casablanca the country larg est City and its commercial Capi Tal As Well As tourist Sites across Morocco it is possible the three men who blew themselves up after police cornered them tuesday in Casa Blanca As Well As a fourth Man strapped with explosives who police shot and killed were plan Ning to execute attacks on wednesday As Well moroccan investigators have not uncovered links Between the Casablanca and Algiers bomb Ings but Interior minister Chamb Benmousa said we dont Rule it out at a news conference he said the moroccans who blew them selves up had relatively Small explosive belts while the algerian bombs were planted in cars he said the timing of the bombings could have been coincidental death toll in bombings in Algiers at 33 by Atman Lewis the associated press Algiers Algeria Potice rolled out in Force in algerian capital thursday As the death toll from Alai declaimed Sui cide bombings Rose to 33 the government said another 57 people remained hospitalized with injuries from the two blasts wednesday that targeted the prime ministers office and a police station said Interior minister Yazid Zerouni quoted by the official news Agency aps after visiting hospitals wednesdays bombings Lent credence to fears that Alsaid As new Wing in North Africa is coalescing into a deadly Possi Bly Region wide threat they were the deadliest at tacks by Al Aida its regional arms or affiliates in Noni sur gency areas since hotel bomb Ings in Amman Jordan in no vember 2005 killed 60 people according to Ben Venzke head of the Intel enter a us government contractor that Moni tors Al Aida messaging president Abdelaziz Boute Fli a held an emergency meeting with senior officials to find ways to neutralize terrorists abilities to inflict harm prime minister Abdelaziz Elkhadem said according to aps Elkhadem said wednesday that legislative elections would proceed As planned on May 17 Nestle to acquire Gerber for billion Swiss company will become no 1 in Babyhood Market by Eliane Engeler the associated press Geneva Nestle said thursday it will buy Gerber products co for s55 billion giving worlds biggest food and drink company the largest share of the global Babyhood mar Ket the acquisition from pharmaceutical maker Novartis a helps further Nestle Sas recent focus on health and nutrition following its Pur chases of the us weight control company Jenny Craig and Novartis medical nutrition Nestle which owns brands such As nescafe Perrier and dreyers is also the worlds larg est manufacturer of infant nutritional products largely through its leading positions in developing countries such As Brazil and China but had no presence in baby food in the United states Gerber which Nestle has coveted for More than a decade dominates the us Babyhood Market with a 79 percent share according to Morgan Stanley the acquisition of Gerber is the perfect complementary fit said Nestle chairman and ceo Peter Brabeck Letmate it not Only gives Nestle the leadership position in baby food but it also constitutes a decisive step to establish Nestle nutrition As the undisputed global Leader in the nutrition Field adding Gerber will help the company nutrition business generate annual sales of close to billion the company said it expects Gerber to generate sales of around Bil lion this year Nestle first tried to acquire Gerber in 1994 but lost to Sandoz a which later merged with lib Agergy to form Novartis since then Novartis has taken Steps to broaden Gerbers business beyond jarred foods in 2000 Gerber began Selling a line of pow Ders oils and other toiletries for children and in 2002 it launched microwavable meals for older toddlers it also has a life insurance uni but the Babyhood business has never been a Good fit for a Parent company that mainly Sells medications Novartis based in Basel has shed several non Ore businesses in recent years in Decem Ber Novartis sold its medical nutrition Divi Sion to Nestle for billion Fabrice Coffrini nestles headquartered in Vevay Switzerland said thursday it will buy Babyhood maker Gerber products co from pharmaceutical giant Novartis for billion pushing it to no 1 in the Babyhood Market the Purchase is expected to be completed during the second half of this year subject to approval by regulatory authorities Nestle said