No second thoughts on Gulf war: Powell

BLOOMINGTON (Minn.): Gen. Colin Powell chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says he has no regrets about ending the Gulf War before

Saddam Hussein was forced from power in Iraq, reports AP.

*1 have had not the slightest second thought," Powell told a Minnesota Meeting dinner audience of about 1,200.

He said If US forees had Iraqi capital, "We'd still be in Baghdad, trying to sort out 2 to 3 thousand years of history in that region as to who's tn charge of what.”

In response to a question on deaths from so-called "friendly fire," Powell said the military needs to Improve its ability to identify vehicles at night.

"We have to do more work," he said. "But I would sav voti should

never expect a war to be error-free."

Powell said the end of the Cold War means the United States can cut back on its military.

Storm in a teacup

COLOMBO : A foreman working for the Mercedes-Benz dealership here was among nearly 2,000 peggars rounded up by police ahead of Aborted South Asian summit, press reports said, reports AFP.

The Sinhala Language Lankadeena newspaper said the dealer petitioned court saying the foreman had been picked up by police last week during a roundup of beggars from the streets of Colombo as part of efforts to spruce up the city for the summit

The man had stepped out of his workshop for a cup of tea when he was bundled Into a vehicle and taken to a rehabilita tlon camp in southern Srl Lanka where he is still being detained, the newspaper said.

.It said 120 similar complaints of mistaken identity had been received by the authorities during the police iw*>p on

Maxwell couldn't buy wedding ring for wife

LONDON : Robert Maxwell's widow, on the eve of his funeral Sunday, said dramatic scenarios flashed through her mind when the publishing magnate was reported missing from his yacht off the Canary Islands, reports AP.

Elisabeth Maxwell said she had wondered If her husband had fallen accidentally, was murdered, or had a heart attack. But she told the Sunday Mirror, one of her husband's newspapers. that suicide was out of the question.

"I could never believe that he would take his own life — if was absolutely not in the man's makeup," said Mrs Maxwell, who was married to the flamboyant billionaire for 46 of her 70 years.

"He was a tremendous fighter. Suicide would have been totally out of character." she said In an Interview In Jerusalem, where Maxwell was to be burled Sunday.

It was the first lime she spoke at length for publication since her 68-year-old husband's body was found Tuesday evening tn the sea off Grand Canary Island, hours after being reported missing from the yacht. Lady Ghlslolne.

She said Maxwell could not afford to buy her an engagement ring on his soldier's pay, giving her a diamond ring much later in life. She also recalled when Maxwell was told he had lung cancer and only six weeks to live at age 32.

"1 would hide under his bed at the clinic each night be cause he wanted me to hold his hand so death would not take him without my knowing." she told the Sunday Mirror

And now Barbara

Bush tulip

THE HAGUE (Netherlands) : With a sprinkle of champagne. a beaming US first lady Barbara Bush on Saturday gave her name to the newest variety of Dutch tulip that will be ex ported to the United States, reports AP.

The bright pink "Barbara Bush Tulip" was christened at the official residence of Dutch Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers as President Bush met with European Community leaders.

Mrs Bush, standing next to Ria Lubbers, the wife of the Dutch Prime Minister, doused one of the new hybrid tulips' In champagne and was then given a bunch by 7-year-old Nicky Westerhof.

"Beautiful, really." the First Lady sold

And what about the color? "Just my favorite,* she added

She then whispered something to Nicky, a bashful blonde dresaed In traditional Dutch dress and wooden ctogc Uke

many other youngsters in this country. Nicky to just beginning to team English al school

She later boasted, to her native tongue, about her short conversation with the wife of the US President

"She said. Helio - and that I can understand I can also say it back.", said Nicky whose father heads the Dutch Bulb Growers Association

The fate blooming Barbara Bush tuto la one of 2,400 varieties of tulips that, along with windmills and wooden shoos, has become a symbol of the Netherlands which produce. 8.9 bllhon tulip bulbs per year