Diana Buttu, a human rights lawyer and legal advisor and spokesperson for the Palestine Liberation Organisation's negotiations team, was in Belfast recently to speak at West Belfast's Féile an Phobail and to update politicians and trade unionists on the crisis in Palestine. Free article

19 August 2004 Free article

THE largest demilitarisation rally to date in Crossmaglen attracted several thousand people following reports of the birth of a two-headed calf in the area. Photographs of the calf were carried in newspapers last week and re-ignited fears of radiation contamination by British military surveillance equipment entrenched throughout South Armagh. Free article

HUNDREDS of local people attended this year's Ligoniel Martyrs commemoration in North Belfast on Saturday 7 August. Among the marchers were Theresa McCloskey of the Ligoniel Commemoration Committee, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD, Antrim Town Councillor Martin Meehan, local Councillor Eoin Ó Broin and ANC representative Army Moseia. Free article

Barbecues are planned by Israeli prison officials to grill meat near the cells of hunger striking Palestinian prisoners. Israel's prison service reported on Monday that 1,602 political prisoners had refused food on Sunday 15 August. Free article

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and his supporters were on Monday celebrating a decisive victory over the country's conservative opposition. National Electoral Council President Francisco Carrasquero said in a national broadcast the "No" option opposing Chavez's recall Free article

THIS week marks the 30th anniversary of the escape of 19 republican POWs from Portlaoise Jail. The carefully executed escape was one of the most daring in the history of IRA jailbreaks. At around 12.25pm on 18 August 1974, at a given signal, a handful of prison guards were simultaneously overpowered and relieved of their keys. Free article

The 35th anniversary of the burning of Bombay Street was marked by a special Mass in Clonard Monastery, West Belfast, on Sunday 15 August. Free article

The Ardoyne Commemoration Project last Sunday marked the 35th anniversary of the first deaths of the 99 political victims from Ardoyne over the 30-year conflict. Sammy McLarnon and Michael Lynch were shot dead by the RUC on 15 August 1969. Free article

Recently elected Deputy Mayor of Belfast Joe O'Donnell will be guided in his year in office by a desire to give a platform to those in this city from various backgrounds "who are doing sterling work yet whose voices are often not heard". Free article